Family Home Evening - "Faith"

Family Home Evening lesson -Faith 

Topic: 

Some of the greatest faith-promoting stories come from Mormon pioneer history. 

Opening Prayer: 

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 97:8 

“Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and 

their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every 

sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me.” 

Discussion: Some of those “willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice,” were the Mormon 

pioneers.  Despite terrible conditions the pioneers traveled over 1,000 miles to arrive in Utah.  In 

their extremities the pioneers came to know God and His matchless power. 

Here are some faith-promoting stories from the pioneers:  

Pioneer stories of faith 

Agnes Caldwell 

One day, young Agnes Caldwell and Mary Hurren encountered rattlesnakes.  They carefully 

jumped past the rattlesnakes for what seemed to be more than a mile.  They attributed their safety 

to the Lord’s protecting hand. 

James Bleak 

The Lord promised James Bleak his family would arrive safely in Utah.  One day, James’ 5-year- 

old son Thomas fell into the river.  When they took him out, he appeared to be dead. After no 

success, the company suggested they bury Thomas.  James refused, remembering the Lord’s 

promise.  He and his wife prayed and revived James. 

On another occasion James became ill.  Members of the company told his wife Elizabeth that 

James must be left behind.  Elizabeth wrapped James in a blanket and left him at the side of the 

road.  That night a lady asked Elizabeth about James and upon finding out the company had left 

him, the lady reminded Elizabeth of the prophetic promise they received.  A wagon went back 

for James and the company nursed him back to health.  The family arrived safely in Salt Lake 

City on November 30th, 1856. 

Ann Rowley 

One night when there was no food for dinner, Ann Rowley prayed and found two hard sea 

biscuits from her sea voyage.  She knew the Lord could multiply food as he did in the New 

Testament with loaves and fishes to feed the 5,000.  Ann put the biscuits in a dutch oven with 

water and asked for God’s blessing.  She put on a lid and placed the dutch oven in the coals. 

 When she took off the lid, the dutch oven was filled with food. 

Francis Webster 

One day in Sunday School, a group of adults criticized the church for letting the Martin Handcart 

company suffer on their 1856 trek.  An older man named Francis Webster stood up and said: 

“I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold 

historic facts mean nothing here, for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. 

Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes! But I was in that company 

and my wife was in it, and Sister Nellie Unthank whom you have cited here was there, too. We 

suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation, but did 

you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Every one of us came 

through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with Him in our 

extremities!…I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of 

food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of 

sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up for I cannot 

pull the load through it. I have gone to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing 

me! I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I 

knew then that the Angels of God were there…Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? 

No! Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with 

God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin 

Handcart Company.” 

Ellen Unthank 

Ellen’s parents died along the pioneer trail.  Eventually Ellen Unthank‘s legs had to be 

amputated.  Despite losing the bottom half of her legs, Ellen reared six children, worked and 

didn’t complain about her situation.   Once a year Ellen and her children volunteered to clean the 

church meetinghouse. 

Louisa Mellor 

After traveling through waist-high frozen streams and snow 4-5 feet deep, Louisa Mellor‘s 

mother could not keep up with the company and said she could go no further.  Louisa prayed 

with faith God that would help them reach camp.  As Louisa walked back to her mother, she 

found a pie in the road.  After eating the pie, Louisa and her mother were able to cotinue their 

journey and reach camp at 10 p.m.. 

James Willie 

James Willie came to America from England when he was 21.  James married and 

joined the Church. A decade later he returned to England to serve a mission. After his 

mission, James joined the pioneers as captain of the Fourth Handcart Company.  He 

led his company by example, wading every stream back and forth until his feet bled and 

he was unable to stand. 

Levi Savage 

When Levi Savage warned pioneers of the dangers that lied ahead of them, he was rebuked for 

not having enough faith.  Despite his rebuke, Levi stayed with the group and helped them 

through their sufferings. He said “Brethren and sisters, what I have said I know to be true; but, 

seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you, will help you all I can, will work with you, will 

rest with you, will suffer with you, and if necessary I will die with you. May God in his mercy 

bless and preserve us. Amen”   Levi lived true to his word, working tirelessly to help suffering 

pioneers along the trek. 

James Cole 

Brigham Young sent James Cole to help stranded handcart companies.  One night James 

dreamed he would meet his future wife among the stranded saints.  From his dream he said his 

future wife was beautiful, wore a fur cap, and a green veil tied over her cap.  He explained his 

dream to a member of his recue team (William Kimball) who replied, “We will see no beautiful 

girl with a fur cap and a green veil in these frozen Saints.”  As James’ rescue party  arrived to 

help the stranded pioneers, William Kimball saw a 23-year old, Lucy Ward wearing a green veil. 

He said, “Brother Jim, there is your dream girl.” James asked Lucy to get in the wagon and she 

said, “No, I don’t know you.”   Later Lucy realized she wanted to marry James and on November 

2, 1856, William Kimball married them at Fort Bridger. 

Activity: Divide into two teams. Take turns, pulling the following questions to see who knows 

the answers (at bottom,) to learn more about the Mormon handcart pioneers. 

1. What year did the Mormon pioneers arrive in Utah? 

2. When was the first statewide Pioneer Day celebration? 

3. How many pioneers were in the advance party led by Brigham Young? 

4. When did the first Mormon pioneer enter the Salt Lake Valley? 

5. What interrupted the first Pioneer Day celebration? 

6. When did the Mormon pioneers start for the west? 

7. How long was the trek from Nauvoo, Ill,. to Salt Lake City? 

8. What did Brigham Young say upon entering the valley? 

9. How much weight could go into a handcart? 

10. How many members of the Willie and Martin handcart companies died on the trip? 

11. How many pounds of clothing were adults allowed to bring? 

12. When did Utah's leaders petition the U.S. government for statehood? 

13. What did President Millard Fillmore do to get his name onto state maps? 

14. How many miles of trail did Mormon pioneers "blaze?" 

15. Why did the pioneers prefer oxen as pack animals? 

A) They didn't balk at mud or quicksand. 

B) They didn't need a complicated or expensive harness. 

C) Indians didn't like their flavor, so they didn't steal the animals for food. 

D) All of the above 

16. How fast did the pioneers go? 

17. Who owned the first wagons to cross the Mississippi River and leave Nauvoo? 

18. What life event inspired William Clayton to write "Come, Come Ye Saints?" 

19. How long did the first group take to get from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake? 

Answers appear below 

1. 1847. Don't worry, the questions get harder. 

2. July 23 to 24, 1857 

3. 148 to 143 men, three women and two children. 

4. Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow arrived on July 21, 1847 -- the group arrived over a period of 

four days. Brigham Young, sick with a fever, arrived on July 24. 

5. When Mormon pioneers found out about the approach of Johnson's Army, they stopped the 

celebration. This was the beginning of the Utah War. Pioneer Day was not celebrated during the 

Army occupation until 1862. 

6. Most left Nauvoo, Ill., between February and September 1846, stopping for the winter in 

Nebraska and then continuing on the next spring. 

7. Roughly 1,300 miles. 

8. According to the LDS Church, his words were "This is the right place." According to another 

report, he said, "This is the place; drive on." 

9. About 500 pounds. 

10. 220. Only 250 handcart pioneers died, so the majority were in these two companies. 

11. 17 pounds. Children could bring 10 pounds. 

12. July 1849, as the State of Deseret, with boundaries ranging from Oregon to Mexico and San 

Diego to Colorado. 

13. President Fillmore granted the pioneers' request for statehood, albeit a smaller state than 

requested, and allowed them to name Brigham Young as governor. 

14. Less than one mile, from Donner Hill to the mouth of Emigration Canyon. The rest of the 

trails had already been blazed by people going, among other places, to Oregon and California. 

15. D, according to a historic resource study published by the National Parks Service. 

16. With normal conditions, the Mormons averaged 2 mph. They averaged 10 miles a day. 

17. Charles Shumway. 

18. The safe birth of his son. 

19. 111 days. 

Discussion: 

Closing Prayer: 

Family Home Evening - "Little Pioneer Children"

Little Pioneer Children 

My kids are still small so instead of focusing on dates, and places, and details 

about the suffering and hardships the pioneers faced, this lesson is about how 

children today can be pioneers. It is based on the song “Pioneer Children Were 

Quick to Obey” in the Children’s Songbook. –Jocelyn C. 

FHE Theme: Little Pioneer Children                                                             

Scripture: 2 Nephi 31:20                                                                           

Song: “Pioneer Children Were Quick to Obey”                                                

Story: For little kids I suggest including this story from the June 2008 

Friend “What is a Pioneer?” (Mormon Channel, (audio) about 5 minutes) 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/magazines/friend/2008/6/whats-a- 

pioneer                                                                                                    

Family Discussion: Start by asking: “What is a Pioneer?”                                          

Now it’s time for family discussion, which is the best part of FHE (besides 

the treats at the end)!  Take the song “Pioneer Children Were Quick to 

Obey” line for line and ask questions (words by Viginia Maughan Kammeyer): 

“Pioneer children were quick to obey.”  What does “quick to obey” mean 

and why is it important? 

“Walking along the wagons all day.”  Why did they have to walk? Why was 

this hard for them? 

“Then in the firelight, kneeling to pray, little pioneer children.”  Do you 

think they prayed like we do at our house?  What do you think they 

prayed for?  What do you think they were thankful for in their prayers? 

“Carrying water and gathering wood, building a campfire and cooking the 

food.”  What chores do you have to do?  Would you rather have the chores 

of a pioneer child?  Did you know they sometimes had to burn buffalo 

chips when wood wasn’t available? 

“Learning and helping the best that they could, little pioneer children.” 

 Do you always do things the best that you can?  Are you trying your 

hardest to learn and help? 

“Children today can be pioneers too.”  What does this mean? 

“Willing and cheerful in all that we do.”  How can we be more willing and 

cheerful with our families, at church, or with our friends? 

“Walking our pathway with heaven in view, little pioneer children.” Have 

each member of your family tell how they plan on walking “with heaven in 

view”. 

Close: Song “Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked” (Children’s 

Songbook), Prayer and a little treat! 

Family Home Evening - Pioneer Heroes

  

  

Pioneer Heroes: Brigham Young  

Week 29 – A Year of FHE 2011  

ayearoffhe.blogspot.com  

  

  

What You'll Need: scriptures, GAK 507: Brigham Young, GAK 411: Brigham Young Enters the  

Salt Lake Valley, baby food jars, heavy cream, pennies, dish towel, coloring page, coloring tools.  

  

Quote: David B. Haight ­ As we look at Brigham Young and reflect upon the inspiration and  

direction that came to that most unusual man, we recall how he was able to...move forward,  

with the wagon trains crossing the West and into the Salt Lake Valley into what would become  

Zion.  

  

Opening Song: Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked  (PCS #214)  

  

Lesson:  

  

Joseph Smith was the first Prophet of the Latter­days.  Joseph established the church, started  

building Temples, restored the Priesthood and did many other wonderful things.  When Joseph  

Smith died the church needed another Prophet to lead and guide it.  The Lord called Brigham  

Young as the 2nd Latter­day Prophet.  

  

(Show GAK 507: Brigham Young)  

  

As a boy, Brigham Young was never able to attend school.   He had to work on his family farm  

and help his father do very hard work.  He also had to help his mother and sisters take care of  

the house.  Brigham said, "I used to work in the woods logging and driving team, summer and  

winter....I learned to make bread, wash the dishes, milk the cows, and make butter*...Those are  

about all the advantages I gained in my youth. I know how to economise (save money), for my  

father had to do it”. Brigham always worked hard.   

  

*You may want to begin your butter making activity now. See Activity section for instructions.  

  

At the age of fourteen, Brigham Young began work for a furniture maker and house painter. He  

was really good at his job.  He was known for the beauty of his stairwell decorations, fanlight  

doorways, door frames, stair rails, louvered attic windows and, above all—fireplace mantels”.  

  

When Brigham was an adult he joined the church and followed Joesph Smith and the teachings  

of the gospel faithfully.  

  

As the Prophet of the church Brigham Young led the Pioneers across America to settle in Utah.   

It was a very hard trip and many pioneers got sick and died.  But Brigham Young had seen a  

vision of the Salt Lake Valley and knew they had to keep traveling until they found it.    

  

(show GAK 411: Brigham Young Enters the Salt Lake Valley)  

  

After many months of traveling and hardships Brigham Young arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. He  

was very sick when he got there, but he lifted himself from his bed and said, "This is the right  

place."  Then he pointed to a place where the Saints would build the Salt Lake Temple.  he also 

started to build the St. George Temple and dedicated it when it was finished.  He died before the  

Salt Lake Temple was completed.  

  

Brigham Young, second President of the Church, was the pioneer leader who guided the Saints  

west to the Salt Lake Valley. He taught the people to stand for truth and righteousness, to work  

hard, and to be educated.  

  

Bear your testimony about the strength and character that Brigham Young had.  You may also  

share testimony of the Pioneers and their struggles, obedience and faith.   

  

Practice Song: If you are teaching your family the JULY Song of the Month, go over the words  

and music with your family.  

  

Activity: Choose from the following activities as they best suit your family.  

  

Make Pioneer Butter (at end of pdf)  

  

Brigham Young talked about learning to make butter when he was a boy.  Pioneers always made  

their own butter. Click Here to download pdf of recipe and photo intrustions.  

  

Brigham Young Coloring Page (at end of pdf)  

  

  

Treat: Brigham Young's Favorite Doughnuts  

  

This recipe belonged to Emily Dow Partridge Young, wife of Brigham Young. Because there was  

not a great variety of foods, when something was made it was generally made in large quantities  

and Grandmother Young's recipe was double this size. You may double the recipe or cut it in half  

and you'll find the doughnuts are as tender and crispy and delicious as anything made out of a  

modern cookbook. Nutmeg, incidentally, was the chief spice in the early days and was grated  

tediously by hand over tiny metal nutmeg graters.  

  

(makes two dozen doughnuts)  

  

2 cups buttermilk  

2 large eggs, beaten  

1 cup sugar  

5 cups sifted flour  

2 teaspoons (baking) soda  

1 teaspoon baking powder  

1 teaspoon salt  

1 teaspoon grated nutmeg  

1/4 cup melted butter or shortening  

  

­ Combine buttermilk, eggs and sugar and blend well.   

­ Beat in sifted dry ingredients. Then stir in melted butter.   

­ Roll or pat dough on floured board about 1/4 inch thick and cut with 2 1/2­inch doughnut  

cutter.   

­ Fry in hot fat (375° F) till golden brown on both sides.   

­ Drain and sprinkle with sugar as desired.   

  

*photo and recipe via mormontimes.com  

Make Your Own Butter  

A tutorial by Emilie Ahern  

  

  

  

Supplies  

­ 1 small baby food jar for each child  

­ 1 nickle for each child (optional)  

­ heavy whipping cream  

­ salt  

­ thin kitchen towel/cheese cloth  

  

Directions  

1. Wash a small empty baby food jar out with soapy water.  Rinse well and fill it halfway with warm water.   

  

2. Place nickle(s) into jar and microwave on high for 3 minutes. (the metal does not spark, not sure why,  

but it doesn't).  Make sure water comes to a full boil and stays there for at least two minutes.  Remove  

from microwave with oven mitts.  

  

3. When cool enough to handle remove nickel and clean jar and nickel thoroughly with dish soap. Rinse  

well and dry with paper towels.  

  

4. Fill each baby food jar about half way to the top with heavy cream, add a pinch of salt.  Add nickel and  

put the lid on securely.  

  

5. Shake the jar for about 5 to 10 minutes.  Make sure the top is properly closed as it could leak.  Around  

five minutes you should notice the cream coating the jar.  

  

6. In about 5­10 more minutes you'll notice a large lump of butter has formed.  Bonus: that watery liquid  

is pure, bonafied Buttermilk.  Use it to make pancakes tomorrow morning.  

  

7. Scoop the butter out of the jar and place it inside a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth.  You may  

squeeze gently. This extracts all of the left over liquid and leaves you only with the solid butter.  

  

8. Scrape from towel into a small dish.  Place in fridge for 10­15 minutes to firm up if desired.  

  

9. Spread onto toast or other bread item and enjoy!  

  

Yield: One small baby jar filled half way makes a finished yield of about 1 Tablespoon of butter. You can  

have multiple family members participate with small jars if you want a higher yield or you may use a  

larger jar.  You could use a pint canning jar, but add more nickles and more salt before shaking.  Just  

always fill you vessel only half way full.  

  

P.S. I did this with the girls with the larger size baby jars and it took the same amount of time.  10­15  

minutes total. 

Family Home Evening - "Courage Questions"

Courage Questions:  

1. Watch chapter 21 from The Docudrama of the Restoration, Handcart Pioneers DVD. (Video clip 

provided online for viewing.) 

2. Courage is the ability to bravely face your fears and not being discouraged from doing what you 

need to do. 

3. Courage is a virtue that calls us to move forward with faith. 

“In addition to the legacy of faith bequeathed by those who crossed the plains, they also left a great 

heritage of love—love of God and love of mankind. It is an inheritance of sobriety, independence, hard 

work, high moral values, and fellowship. It is a birthright of obedience to the commandments of God 

and loyalty to those whom God has called to lead this people. It is a legacy of forsaking evil.” 

James E. Faust, Ensign, July 2002, © 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. 

4. How did the “Handcart Pioneers” show great courage? 

List as many hardships that the “Handcart Pioneers” faced with courage. 

(See activity game or watch “Handcart Pioneers” DVD for help.) 

5. Do you, like the pioneers, have the courage and the consistency to be true to the faith? 

“It is not enough to study or reenact the accomplishments of our pioneers. We need to identify the great, 

eternal principles they applied to achieve all they achieved for our benefit and then apply those principles 

to the challenges of our day. In that way we honor their pioneering efforts, and we also reaffirm our 

heritage and strengthen its capacity to bless our own posterity....We are all pioneers in doing so.” 

Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov. 1997, © 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc.  All rights reserved. 

6. How can we be courageous in follow the Savior? 

If we never forget the marvelous heritage we received from the pioneers who courageously suffered 

unimaginable trials and sometimes death for the gospel we can find the courage to we need today to be 

courageous in always choosing what is right, even when others might laugh and scorn you. 

“Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have 

courage as well.” 

Thomas S. Monson

Family Home Evening - Handcart Courage

Powerfully Teaching 

Your Children 

Gospel Principles 

Each lesson contains 5 timed activities: 

(Choose the activities that fit your family’s schedule. 

Additional resources are provided as extra time may be available.) 

  Reverence Time: Song, prayer, scripture and video clip 

  Lesson Time: Lesson summary and points to ponder 

   Story Time: Story 

  Activity Time: Object lesson or activity 

  Treat Time: Prayer, theme related recipe & music video 

  

Objectives: 

    

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Reinforces Principles of: 

Emphasize the importance of having courage to endure our trials. 

Talk about how the Lord blesses us during our times of trial. 

Courage 

Lesson Plan: “Handcart Courage”

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Sing Together: 

Prayer: 

Scripture Time: 

Video Clip: 

Approximate Time: 5 minutes 

Children’s Song Book #220 “The Handcart Song”. 

If you wish to have an online music file to accompany you visit: 

http://www.lds.org/churchmusic 

(Note: Navigate to the Interactive Church Music Player where you can listen to and print Church hymns and 

children’s songs.) 

Doctrine &Covenants 128:22 

22. Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not 

backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, 

and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into bsinging. Let the dead 

speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, 

before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their 

prison; for the prisoners shall go free. 

Watch chapter 21 from The Docudrama of the Restoration, Handcart Pioneers, DVD. 

(Video clip is also provided for viewing online.)

www.ldsfamilyfun.com  ©2006 Living Scriptures, Inc. All rights reserved. May be used freely for personal, non-commercial purposes. 

(For younger children, it may be helpful to summarize the following ideas): 

Lesson 

Summary: 

Points to 

Ponder: 

Courage is a virtue that calls us to move forward. 

“In addition to the legacy of faith bequeathed by those who crossed the plains, they also 

left a great heritage of love—love of God and love of mankind. It is an inheritance of 

sobriety, independence, hard work, high moral values, and fellowship. It is a birthright 

of obedience to the commandments of God and loyalty to those whom God has called 

to lead this people. It is a legacy of forsaking evil.” James E. Faust, Ensign, July 2002, 

© 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. 

  

Do you, like the pioneers, have the courage and the consistency to be true to the faith? 

“It is not enough to study or reenact the accomplishments of our pioneers. We need to 

identify the great, eternal principles they applied to achieve all they achieved for our 

benefit and then apply those principles to the challenges of our day. In that way we honor 

their pioneering efforts, and we also reaffirm our heritage and strengthen its capacity to 

bless our own posterity....We are all pioneers in doing so.” Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov. 

1997, © 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc.  All rights reserved. 

   

“Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. 

Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a 

willingness to die manfully, but as the determination to live decently. A moral coward is 

one who is afraid to do what he thinks is right because others will disapprove or laugh. 

Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have 

courage as well.” Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov. 1986, © 2006 Intellectual Reserve, 

Inc.  All rights reserved. 

    

What can we do to help others find the courage they need to follow the Savior? 

    

“We can reach out to strengthen those who wallow in the mire of pornography, gross 

immorality, and drugs....They can be salvaged and saved....Let us never forget that we 

have a marvelous heritage received from great and courageous people who endured 

unimaginable suffering and demonstrated unbelievable courage for the cause they 

loved...You and I know what we should do.” Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1991, © 

2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc.  All rights reserved. 

Approximate Time: 5 minutes

www.ldsfamilyfun.com  ©2006 Living Scriptures, Inc. All rights reserved. May be used freely for personal, non-commercial purposes. 

Approximate Time: 2 minutes 

After the last of the supplies were loaded into the handcart Aaron closed the door of their home. “The rest 

of our belongings will soon be in the hands of our enemies,” he sighed. 

             

Margaret walked to the handcart and exclaimed,  “The gospel and our family are all that we need Aaron!” 

   

Aaron lifted the handcart’s handle and with their heads held high the family joined the rest of the company 

to begin the trek to Zion. Some of the women in the company weren’t as willing to leave so much behind 

and had put on several layers of clothing and tied teapots and other cooking utensils to their waists, but 

Margaret and Aaron had packed only the items allowed. 

  

“The Lord will bless us for our obedience. If not in this life, then in the next,” Margaret had told Aaron. 

   

Aaron lovingly looked at his wife. He knew how much courage it had taken for her to leave behind the baby 

cradle her father had built for her when Nicholas was born. He remembered her hugging him and weeping 

for joy, “Oh Papa it’s beautiful. I will cherish it for the rest of my life.” 

  

The trail that had started off hot and dusty, turned wet and muddy, and then hard and freezing. The company 

had started late and were now caught in a blizzard. Despite the extreme cold Aaron was burning up with 

fever. Margaret wrapped baby Ruth in a blanket and placed her next to her husband in the makeshift shelter. 

“Nicky, be a brave boy while Mommy’s gone. I need to find the Elders to come and administer to Papa.” 

   

There was an eerie sound as the wind and mourners wailed in unison. Tears froze to Margaret’s cheeks as 

she prayed for strength. Trudging through the snow Margaret tripped over something. A weak cry came 

from the snow covered mound. Digging frantically Margaret uncovered the small body. She gathered up the 

child in her arms, quickly carried it to the shelter, and began to massage the listless body. 

  

“Father, please help me save the life of this child!” she prayed. Pink slowly replaced the blue hue of the 

child’s body and the cry became stronger. Weeping for joy, Margaret thanked the Lord for this miracle. 

  

A small hand touched Margaret’s shoulder, “Momma. Papa won’t open his eyes. I begged and begged him 

to, but he won’t,” whispered Nicholas as his body shook with suppressed sobs. 

  

Margaret gently laid the child down and knelt next to her husband. Lovingly caressing his face, with all the 

courage she could muster, Margaret said goodbye to her eternal companion. “This isn’t the end Aaron. The 

Lord has blessed us and we’ll be together again, forever!” 

     

by Margie Nauta Lee © 2006 Living Scriptures. Inc. 

www.ldsfamilyfun.com  ©2006 Living Scriptures, Inc. All rights reserved. May be used freely for personal, non-commercial purposes. 

What you need:   A copy of the of the “Handcart” game (art work included with this lesson), scissors,  

   tape and tooth picks. Optional: poster board and glue.  

          

Preparation       1. Print out the “Handcart” game board, cards, and handcarts. 

        2. Cut along dotted lines. Tape together. Optional: Glue game board to poster board 

 for more durability. 

 3. Cut out game cards and die (or use a die you have from another game). Follow the 

     instructions on printouts. 

 4. Make a handcart for each player: 

 A. Cut along dotted lines. 

 B. Fold dark brown solid lines inward–towards center. 

  C. Fold solid tan lines outward–away from center. 

  D. Slide tabs in front together and tabs in back together. Tape to hold. 

  E. Poke tooth pick through dot on 1st wheel, through dots on wagon box, 

      and then through 2nd wheel. Snap off pointed ends of tooth pick and then 

      carefully flatten ends with a hammer. 

  F. Make handle by folding lines inward (this will form a half U–shape. 

      Slide into dotted lines at the front of the box (that have been cut). Tape to hold. 

    

Activity:        (Younger children will need help from an older sibling or parent.) 

1. Each player picks a handcart (up to 10 players). Then rolls the die. The player with the   

 highest number goes first. Line up your handcarts with the first player on start and the  

 other players (clockwise) following on the game board. 

2. Player rolls the die to see how many spaces to move. Follow directions on the space 

 landed on. If sent to jail, wait until your next turn, roll die and then began moving 

 from that space. 

 Example: You are sent to Liberty Jail. On your next turn you roll a 3. You can move 3  

 purple spaces to “Take a shortcut” or 3 spaces back to the main trail. If you are sent to  

 Carthage Jail, on your next turn you roll a 1. You move to start. 

3. If you land on “Have a handcart race,” 1st player (the handcart) lays on the floor face  

 down. 2nd player (the pioneer) holds their feet (facing away from 1st player). 1st 

 player walks on their hands as the 2nd player pulls them (this is like a wheelbarrow  

 race, but pulling instead of pushing). 

4. The first player to reach the Salt Lake Valley wins.

www.ldsfamilyfun.com  ©2006 Living Scriptures, Inc. All rights reserved. May be used freely for personal, non-commercial purposes. 

  Approximate Time: 5 minutes (not including prep, chill and bake time) 

Pioneer Muffins 

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Chill Time: 3 Hours–minimum 

Bake Time: 30 minutes         

2/3 Cup boiling water 

2 Teaspoons baking soda 

1/3 Cup butter 

1 Cup sugar + 2 1/2 Tablespoons molasses 

2 eggs 

1 1/3 Cups buttermilk (or substitute 1 1/4 cups milk + 2 Tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice) 

1 2/3 Cup all purpose flour 

2/3 Cup whole wheat flour 

1/2 Teaspoon salt 

2 1/3 Cups Bran (we used 1 1/3 Cups All Bran Cereal and 1 Cup Raisin Bran Cereal 

(Optional: 1/2 Cup chopped walnuts, 1/3 Cup chopped dried fruit of your choice) 

Add baking soda to boiling water and set aside. 

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. 

Continue beating while you add the eggs. 

Slowly mix (just until moist–batter will be lumpy) in the buttermilk, flour, and salt. 

Slowly add the soda water. 

By hand, gently fold in bran. 

If desired fold in walnuts and/or dried fruit. 

Cover bowl and refrigerate muffin mix for 3 hours (it’s best when refrigerated overnight). 

Spoon approximately 1/8 cup mix into well greased muffin tin or cupcake liners. 

Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. 

Makes 1 dozen muffins. 

Treat Time: Serve muffins warm with butter, honey butter, or fresh jam. 

Closing Prayer and blessing on the food: 

Music Video: Watch chapter 9 from The Docudrama of the Restoration, Handcart Pioneers, DVD. 

(Video clip is also provided for viewing online.)