Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked....

Some of you may remember the 150th anniversary celebration of the pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley. It was held twelve years ago in 1997. As a part of that celebration, there was a pioneer trek reenactment that went from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake City. My little sister, Naomi, made that trek. It took three months....pulling her handcart, and getting an occasional ride on a wagon. There were many folks and groups who joined the group for short periods of time, myself included. But Naomi was one of the "all the way" people. There were many families with young children that made the entire trek. But Naomi was the youngest person to make the trek alone. She left high school early and had her 18th birthday the first day of the trek. It rained that entire day.

Although my grandparents immigrated to the US as children, partly for religious freedom---Naomi was the first Mormon Pioneer in our family, as my parents are converts to the church. After her three-month trek of experiences, she spoke in our home ward sacrament meeting. Little did she know the dozens of speaking engagements that were to follow.

Some of you may recall an Ensign article after that trek, about a man named "Turbo" who drove a wagon the entire three months. He was not LDS, but ultimately was baptized at "This is the Place" state park the day the wagon train rolled into Salt Lake City. Naomi was instrumental in his learning about the gospel, and our family felt a connection with him. A week after the trek was finished, he had an accident loading his covered wagon onto a trailer to haul home to Iowa. During the blur of days to follow my family stayed by his side in the hospital, picked up his family at the airport, and pondered over and over all the miracles that had so recently taken place in his life. Turbo never woke up.

Most of my family gathered in Salt Lake City at the "This is the Place" park, along with 50,000 other people, to greet the wagon train as they walked and rolled into the valley. The prophet was there as well--the experience still brings my emotions to the surface easily. Definately a day in church history that I am privledged to have taken part in.