"By the early
1850's leaders of the Church were considering economic ways to move
thousands of European converts to Zion. Most were poor and lacked
sufficient funds to purchase a wagon, team of oxen, and the required
provisions for the long trip from Iowa to Salt Lake. In 1855 Brigham
Young proposed the concept of handcarts. Each cart would carry only the
necessary provisions needed for a family, which was no more than 17
pounds per person. Several families would share a tent. Since handcarts
travel faster than slow oxen, it was felt that handcart companies could
travel to Salt Lake with fewer provisions and at a faster pace than
wagon trains." -- West Jordan Utah Stake Presidency
The
Play
The
Mormon Trail is a play produced by the West Jordan Utah Stake that
depicts the journey of the Willie and Martin handcart companies.
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larger image
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larger image
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larger image
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The play
begins with criticisms of the two handcart companies by members of a
Sunday School class in Cedar City and Francis Webster's testimony to them
that he was "thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin
Hand Cart Company." The play continues with Francis Webster talking
with two of his grand children, Billy/Dick Leigh (referred to as Richard
in the play) and Amy
Jane (Jen) Leigh. As Francis and the two children discuss the handcart
trek, the play depicts the events. Click here
for pictures from the play.
The
Mormon Trail was produced as a teaching play. Through the pioneers as
our role models we view object lessons and learn how gospel principles can
help us overcome our trials, our "snow storms", "starvation", and even death.
Click here
for pictures from the play.
The
Video
Video copies of
the play on DVD (122 minutes) are available for the
cost of reproduction and shipping. The cast and supporting staff spent
thousands of man-hours producing the play, and I helped shoot the video
and then spent several hundred
hours editing the tapes and creating the finished video. My reason for getting involved with
the play (I live in a different Stake) was to make the video available to my
family. If you would like copies of the video, email me (using the email
address given below) your name, address and the number of copies you would
like, and and I will send you my postal address so you can send your
check. After I've received your check, I'll send the disks via First Class
mail. The
cost is $4.00 each, and that includes shipping. You have no obligation to
buy the disks until you send me your money. Please put DVD in the subject
of your email.
"By the early
1850's leaders of the Church were considering economic ways to move
thousands of European converts to Zion. Most were poor and lacked
sufficient funds to purchase a wagon, team of oxen, and the required
provisions for the long trip from Iowa to Salt Lake. In 1855 Brigham
Young proposed the concept of handcarts. Each cart would carry only the
necessary provisions needed for a family, which was no more than 17
pounds per person. Several families would share a tent. Since handcarts
travel faster than slow oxen, it was felt that handcart companies could
travel to Salt Lake with fewer provisions and at a faster pace than
wagon trains." -- West Jordan Utah Stake Presidency
