Winter Quarters July 20, 2016

After a fairly short drive today, we arrived at Winter Quarters visitor center.

Pioneer statue in front of the Winter quarters visitor center also known as the Mormon Trail Center.

We were again greeting by a young sister missionary.  She gave us out tour of the center and told us about what happened there.  We watched a short film.  It told what happened, mostly using actual accounts from those who lived here at the time.  We so appreciate the way church produces such quality films and are able to bring the spirit into our hearts.  The center also has displays that talk about the migration of the saints.  She took us to each display and talked about them, and of course bore her testimony.

This was Brigham Young's Camp chair.  It was given to him by a friend.

We are so impressed with what the saints were able to accomplish and the faith and commitment to carry on in the face of losing family members and everything else that they had to deal with.  They were totally incredible. We know they grew and learned things that they needed to by going through the challenges.  But, they went through so very much for what they believed.

The pioneer cemetery across the street from the visitor center is where at least 300 pioneers are buried.  Half of them were children under the age of 3.  When they arrived here in Winter Quarters, many of them got sick from Malaria and from malnutrition and other diseases.

The statue in the Cemetery dedicated to all the pioneers who lost their lives on the trek west.

This statue in the cemetery shows a young father and mother standing over the open grave of their child.  When we thought about how hard that would have been, it touched our hearts.

We enjoyed the peaceful time we had in the cemetery.  Just south of the cemetery, is the Winter Quarter's Temple.

Winter Quarters temple