Teens Re-enact Historic Pioneer Handcart Trek

It certainly wasn’t how most teenagers spent their Easter weekend. 

Over 300 teenagers ages 13-to-18 set aside their phones, gaming systems, and other comforts of modern life to re-enact what pioneers experienced on the Mormon Pioneer Handcart Trail in the mid-19th century.

The youth and adult leaders from the Lewisville Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donned pioneer-era clothing and pulled full-scale replica handcarts for over 16 miles in the LBJ National Grasslands.

As part of the re-enactment, the youth were divided into families, led by a volunteer couple they referred to as ‘Ma and Pa.’ Volunteer crews of adults, including a trail boss, company captains, a medical team, activity leaders, and cooks, joined the families to ensure the safety of the group and to help them along the way.

After a year of planning and preparing, the activity was designed to help the youth relate to what the pioneers endured, to gain a greater appreciation for their ancestors, and to recognize their own inner strength to overcome tough situations in life. 

“We create a re-enactment to try and literally have them walk in the pioneers’ shoes as much as they can,” said Linda Bird, Lewisville Stake young women’s president. “We try to have them step into that role and step away from their regular lives – away from technology and the busyness of their lives – to create this meaningful experience for them.”

“This trek helped me see just a shred of what the pioneers had to go through,” said Connor Jones, 18, a senior at Founders Classical Academy. “It gave me a greater sense of gratitude and understanding for the way they lived their lives and the trials they had to endure.”

Events along the trail involved stories or lessons about the history of pioneers and their journey. Some pioneer experiences were simulated such as crossing through water, having the women push and pull the handcarts by themselves for a time while the men were away, carrying a hand-sewn, stuffed baby, or choosing a different path when faced with alternate routes. 

“It’s amazing how faithful the pioneers were to travel thousands of miles in harsh conditions. Wow, they had a lot of faith!” said Blake Salway, 13, a 7th grader at Downing Middle School. “We experienced just a little of what they went through, and it was really hard.”

In the evenings, the groups participated in pioneer-style games, singing, and even square dancing. The youth were encouraged to explore their family history before the trek and come with stories to share of hardships their ancestors endured.

“We only had to go through a small portion of what the pioneers did. But what they went through was worth it to get to the end destination,” said James Booth, 15, a sophomore at Flower Mound High School. “It’s built up my faith that what they went through was no small struggle.”

After three days and two nights on the trek, shoes were caked in mud, arms and legs sported a few scratches, bruises and bug bites, muscles were sore, bodies were dusty and tired, but, incredibly, their faces were all smiles. 

“It’s harder to teach when there are so many distractions, so this experience takes all of the outside distractions away and allows them to share, learn, and grow,” said Steve Woodland, counselor in the stake presidency. “The end result is that they start to get a greater appreciation for the things they take for granted – a greater appreciation for their parents, their siblings, and even reflect on the quality of their friendships. It’s a great benefit for these youth.”

The Mormon Trail is a 1,300-mile cross-country route that members of the Church of Jesus Christ traveled to escape religious persecution and settle in the Salt Lake Valley of Utah. An estimated 70,000 pioneers who made the journey were faced with brutal cold, starvation, disease, loss of loved ones, and exhaustion.

“We want the kids to look back and appreciate the sacrifice the pioneers went through. Likewise, we also want them to look forward and use that to know they can do hard things,” said Bird.

All photos courtesy of Clairissa Cooper