111 Days to the Cove

Week #5 - April 26 thru May 2, 2009

James Kirkwood, age 11 was from Scotland. He was traveling with his widowed mother and three brothers, one, Thomas, was 19 years old and crippled so he had to ride in the handcart. His mother and his 21 year old brother had to pull him across Rocky Ridge. That left James to look after his 4 year old brother, Joseph, who had frozen feet. As they climbed Rocky Ridge, it was snowing and there was a bitter cold wind. It took the whole company 27 hours to travel 15 miles. James had no choice but to carry his little brother, sometimes on the front and sometimes on his back. They were left behind the main group as they traveled slowly to camp. When the two finally arrived at the fireside, James “having so faithfully carried out his task, collapsed and died from exposure and overexertion.” (Remember by the Riverton Wyoming Stake)

D&C 88:113 Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant,… in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love….

Carry someone younger on your back for 5 minutes. Think about having to do that for 27 hours.

The handcart companies were made up of people from different countries speaking different languages. How alone those must have felt that couldn’t understand anyone around them. Think about what you could do to help someone in that situation. What if you were that person? At school or church, look around to see if you see someone that looks left out or alone. Be the first to reach out to that person and help them feel more comfortable in the situation. Think about how you feel. Write your feelings in your journal.

Read “ The Introduction to the Book of Mormon”. Write your thoughts in your journal.

111 Days to the Cove

Week #4 - April 19 thru April 25, 2009

“The Mormon trail proved to be a testing ground and learning experience for virtually all who made the journey. It further bonded together a people who would establish hundreds of permanent settlements in the Mountain West and make it Mormon country. Among those making the trek as youngsters were future Prophets, Apostles, Relief Society presidents, and other valuable leaders in the Church. To learn of the skills and testimonies they forged as young pioneers is to better understand what would later enable them to serve successfully as leaders in their communities and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (Susan Arrington Madson, I Walked to Zion)

Think about the qualities that the pioneers had that you would like to have too. Write those qualities in your journal and try to incorporate them into your own life. Work on them one at a time!

“ We camped at the Sweetwater River. A meeting was held. It was decided that we could go no further, the snow so deep and no food. We were doomed to starvation. They gave me a bone of an ox that had died. I cut off the skin and put the bone in the fire to roast. And when it was done some big boys came and ran away with it. Then I took the skin and boiled it, drank the soup, and ate the skin, and it was a good supper. The next day we had nothing to eat but some bark from trees…” Peter Howard McBride ( Age 6 at the time of the handcart journey)

When you eat dinner tonight, think about this short story and remember to be thankful for all that you have to eat.

Read 1 John 4:19. We love Him ( The Savior) because he first loved us. Be the first to show kindness to someone that needs kindness today!