Pioneer Trek Reinactment: Women's Pull

In winter 1846, members of the Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were forced to flee their homes again in Nauvoo, Illinois.  These early Church members were forced to leave the United States due to religious persecution to the safety of the Rocky Mountains.  These vanguard Saints first arrived in the Salt Lake Valley July 24, 1847.

Latter-day youth commemorate the Mormon pioneers by building, pulling, and camping beside handcarts designed like those used by early Church pioneers. Part of this Pioneer Trek reenactment customarily involves what is known as the "women's pull" where only the women pull the carts.  The 'women's pull' usually involves the young women pulling their handcarts alone up a steeper section of the trail without the boys. 

This part of Trek remembers that some of the men died along the way or were conscripted by the US Government to leave their wives and children out on the frontier, and participate in the Mexican-American War.  LDS men were ordered to march from Nebraska to California.  These conscripted soldiers are referred to as the Mormon Bittalion. The consequence of this conscription is many women were forced to drive wagons and pull handcarts on their own.  

It has been hinted by Latter-day Saint prophets that women will again play a major role in the events of the Last Days leading to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  While LDS women may not be literally required to pull handcarts alone as their forebarers did, There is a part of the Book of Mormon involving the people of Limhi where, because of war, there were very few men. Could these events be a type and shadow of events to come?  Yes or no, I have confidence that the faith of the LDS women are up to the challenge, whatever it may entail. 

Allegory of David ahd Saul

I went out to see the Angel Sudio production of "David" at my local movie theater with several of my kids. I enjoyed it.  The animation, orchestration, voice acting, and story adaptation are excellent.  The music was very good.  Not quite to the level of "Prince of Egypt" or "Joseph: King of Dreams", but very, very good. "Psalm 8", "Adventure Song", "Shalom", "Why God" and "Follow the Light" are amazing but just not as catchy as "Deliver Us", "When You Believe", and "More than You Take".  But it's probably unfair to compare to Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston singing "When You Believe". . 

1 Sam 15:22 "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams"

The aspect of the movie that I most enjoyed was pondering on the story of Saul and David as an prophetic allegory of the Last Days.  Many of the stories in the Old Testament, in addition to having a prophetic parallel to the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ, also have a prophetic parallel to the Last Days.

There is a prophetic parallel in the story of Joseph sold into Egypt being the means of saving the other 11 brothers (even Judah) during a great famine. The United States today represents ancient Egypt in biblical times.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints boldly and unapologetically declares that we represent spiritual Joseph and Ephraim today.  And the spiritual ordinances and covenants we perform in everlasting temples are for the benefit of not only ourselves but for the whole human family.  The covenants, and sealing ordinances of the House of the Lord are for the blessing of every kindred, nation, tongue, and people. 

The modern Jews in Israel and throughout the world are represented by Saul in the Old Testanent story.  The Jews are Hashem's people whose obedience and faith is meant to bring the light of Hashem into the world.  Sadly,, an elite few in posotions of global governance have been a bad example supporting policies encouraging moral corruption and economic oppression. But, like Saul, despite these failings, Judah is still chosen. 

Modern Ephraim, like David has found refuge, sustainence, and the sword of God's Spirit in the Temple/Tabernacle/House of the Lord.  And while our leadership remain subject to the appointed worldlty 'powers that be', Those worldly powers, in addition to their moral corruption; have engaged in self-injurious foreign policy and economic behavior.  Israel is the promised land for the Jews, but the fate of Saul on Mount Gilboa may be fixed. 

Nevertheless, the promises of God toward the faithful of His people are also fixed.  God will finally make bare His Holy Arm in the eyes of all nations.  No longer will the world be eating honey from the carcass of a dead lion. Samson will himself finally destroy the corrupt temple of Dagon. Goliath will be slain by the smooth river stone of God's people keeping their temple covenants, Joseph will reveal himself to his brothers saving them from spirirual famine.  David will emerge to peacefully unify all the House of Israel, and Jesus Christ will suddenly and literally appear, returning to His purified Temple to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Preaching After the Holy Order of God

We live in a narcissistic society that confuses sympathy with empathy.  Narcissists feel entitled to sympathy in everything.  However,  empathy values truth, while also seeing things from the other person's perspective.  Empathy has the courage to tell someone their view is harmful and wrong and the compassion and patience to explain why.  

This is a major theme of the Book of Mormon in preaching the gospel after the "Holy Order of God".  The gospel is not just sunshine and rainbows.  Sometimes love and empathy requires correction and even an occasional denial of sympathy.  Sometimes giving sympathy can actually just be plain apathy, and denying sympathy while providing patient correction reflects true compassionate empathy. 

Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is not just peaching "greasy grace"; nor is it "hell, fire, and damnation.".   Teaching after the Holy Order of God us balanced and binds up the wounded and broken hearts sometimes, but at other times it cuts deep and even widens already tender wounds. 

Jacob 2:9  Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have received from God, to admonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.

And this is what lead prophets in the Book of Mormon like Jacob to address the anti-Christ Sharem and Alma to address Korihor.  And it is what led Elijiah to face the false priests of Baal on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18.  And this spirit motivated Jesus Christ Himself to call out the corruption of Scribes and Pharisees of His day and motivated the Apostles to contend against the many false doctrines that continually were trying to creep into the Church.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: