4th of July and Pioneers

We had a fun 4th of July, as usual we went to my sister Kelly's for a BBQ and then to the Martin's yard to watch the stadium fireworks. I made some cute festive treats for the occasion.

Red, white and blue drink! Neat huh?

I had also made a cute wreath for some decorations cuz I don't have any.

The last couple of weeks I had Boyd and Lucy take swim lessons at the Payson pool. It has been really good for them. They both said it's so hard! They have 2 teenage boys as their teachers and they have been so patient and good to the kids! I only wish I had separated Boyd and Lucy into different classes though just because of the competition between them is no good. But, they are doing better this week and have just 1 more lesson left.

Tonight we had a Relief Society activity and shared pioneer stories. At the beginning of this year, it was the first time I went through my family history and I seriously had no idea that I even had pioneer ancestors at all. I have quite a few and there is really a lot written about them. I wanted to bring a story and have been reading a ton just through searching several names I had to see what came up. Seriously my mind was blown again to read their stories- they are incredible!

This part is probably really boring to other people, but this is the story I abridged to share for the activity:

Aroet Hale moved to Kirtland, Ohio in 1835 with his family. There he was baptized, being nine years old, by Wilford Woodruff, into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His father Johnathan Hale helped build the temple which was dedicated in 1836. In July of 1837, Johnathan Hale was called to lead a group of saints to Far West and then Adam-ondi ahman. There a mob militia attacked their camp terrorizing and searching for guns and supplies. Aroet's mother Olive was lying sick in a wagon box in their tent, she hid 2 pistols in her dress. 4 mob men came into her tent, lifted her bed throwing her from side to side until she was nearly exhausted, but they didn't get her pistols. They arrested Johnathan, stole his 2 rifles and food and scattered his livestock. Being the eldest son, at age 12 Aroet had to take care of his sick mother and younger siblings until his father was released and then they were able to cross the frozen River to Missouri. Those 2 pistols saved them later when they had no food, they made a trade for food.

In the spring of 1841 the family arrived in Nauvoo and began work on the temple. Johnathan and Aroet hauled rock to help build the temple. One evening the prophet Joseph Smith stayed with the Hale family where they first heard him speak on the subject of Celestial Marriage and baptism for the dead. In the next few years Aroet became well aquainted with the prophet by joining the Nauvoo legion as the drummer boy. All of the saints were distraught to hear of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, but continued on. The Nauvoo temple was dedicated in 1846. Johnathan and Olive were sealed there and Aroet received his endowment and ordained a seventy by Orson Hyde. In the same year the saints were driven out of Nauvoo. Johnathan's family was asked to stay until every saint was out of Nauvoo and settled in Winter Quarters.

President Young was asked to form the Mormon battalion consisting of 500 men. Aroet wanted to join the battalion, but President Heber C Kimball advised him to stay with his family and prepare for winter. His father had just broken his leg and his mother was about to give birth. The weather was very warm, the river water very bad and in a few weeks nearly all the camp was taken down with the chills and fever. A great many died including his father Johnathan. Aroet's mother was very sick and called him to her side 4 days later for her final words, “Aroet, promise me one thing, that you will take good care of my darling children and go to the mountains with President Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. There is where your dear father started to go with them. Don't be persuaded to turn back by any of our relations that are writing to us. Do as I have counseled you and I bless you and the Lord will bless you” His mother Olive died from malaria, and then 7 days later his newborn baby sister died as well as his 2 year old sister. As an 18 year old, Aroet was in charge of his remaining siblings- Rachel 17, Alma 10, and Solomon 7years.

For one year Aroet worked building houses in Winter Quarters, saving to earn his team of oxen, cattle, wagon and supplies for the journey across the plains. Aroet's family was organized into the Heber C Kimball company leaving for the Great Salt Lake Valley on May 9^th, 1848. He was appointed to be a hunter for the group and had much luck finding buffalo and antelope. From his journal Aroet wrote “Our travels across the plains was a long, tiresome trip over one thousand miles with ox teams. It was hard on old people and women with children. The young folks had enjoyment. Presidents Young and Kimball were very kind and indulgent to the young. They frequently stopped within a mile or so apart. The young would visit from one camp to the other and frequently would get music and have a good dance on the ground. Sometimes the older folks would join with us. On one occasion, President Young took part in the enjoyment. I formed an acquaintance with a young lady crossing the plains that I afterwards married. Her name was Olive Whittle, a daughter of Thomas Whittle. So I did my sparking along the road. So I did not have so much to do after I got into the valley.”

They arrived to Salt Lake in the fall of 1848. The hardships did not end there. Aroet's family received a piece of land and started to build a home. He could not afford windows or a door before the first winter hit. It was freezing and food supply was scarce. The next spring and summer harvests were very small because of the infestation of crickets and grasshoppers. Aroet married Olive Whittle in September and later sealed in the endowment house by president Brigham Young. 

There is more of the story, but I wanted to focus on the pioneer travels of this young kid. I am SO GLAD I WASN'T A PIONEER! I really don't know if I could say I would have been faithful through  all of those trials like the ones in his story- I can't even imagine! The people who came before me and sacrificed everything they had to build up the church are amazing! 

Oh yeah, on Monday I went camping with my family. I don't camp normally, but my dad peer pressured me into going with them. They found a place in Nephi called Big Mountain something with some small cabins and camp sites. 4 of my siblings and their families went also and it was actually pretty fun. There was a swimming pool, good thing because it was hot!! And we just sat around visiting and all the cousins played. I totally didn't even take one picture- oops! Well, anyway, that's what I've been up to the last little while. It's weird that summer is over half way over!