“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 on 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.
-Francis Webster, Martin Handcart Company
You may be wondering what a Trek is and why we do it. Well, this is the place! There’s a rich history and legacy left by our ancestors who sacrificed and gave their all to leave their homes, businesses, and loved ones to walk approximately 1,300 miles across rough, brutal terrain in all types of weather in search of religious freedom and to follow a living prophet.
From 1856 to 1860, about 3,000 Latter-day Saints pulled handcarts across the American plains to gather in the Salt Lake Valley. These pioneers trekked more than a thousand miles through heat and cold; through mud, sand, and sometimes snow; and through rivers and over mountains. They faced trials that required great faith and perseverance. Through these experiences, they developed new skills, strengthened their faith, and developed resilience to face whatever challenges they would face in their lives.
Our purpose for doing Trek is not exactly the same as the original pioneers. We’re not fleeing religious persecution or settling in a new land, but we are trying to help our youth strengthen their faith, develop new skills, develop resilience, and learn that they can do hard things. We are also seeking to turn the “hearts of the children to the fathers” and help our youth feel connected to our ancestors and their stories.
Most importantly, our purpose is to help all participants Trust in the Lord.
We can’t guarantee what anyone’s experience will be on Trek, but we can promise that you will get out of it what you put into it. If you come to Trek ready to participate, help, meet new people, draw closer to the Lord, and have a great time, you will come away with a life-changing experience that you will always remember and tell stories about for years to come.
Layton Legacy Trek – 2018 Highlight Video
This website is not endorsed nor affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, we are believers in Christ and invite you to learn more about Him.