Thursday, August 30, 2007

The Trail Center

This evening, Tony and I and our friends JoAnn and Will Toronto went to the Mormon Trail Center to see the special traveling exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The Trail Center holds a dear place in my heart because we spent many a primary activity chasing kids and begging for reverence in the place. So tonight, it was so great to get to take some time and really experience the Trail Center. Having experienced several Nebraska winters already, it is incredible to believe the conditions the pioneers experienced during their stay at Winter Quarters...a time in which the death rate was so high, nearly every family lost at least one family member during their stay in Winter Quarters.
I love this quote by Brigham Young, found hanging on a banner above an exhibit detailing the life of the saints as they prepared for their journey to Utah. It certainly applied to the pioneers as they scratched their way across the country to their new home, but I find it a subtle reminder to me about my responsibilities today also. The Dead Sea Scrolls were great...
but my favorite part of the trip, as always, was viewing the temple at dusk from the cemetery adjacent to the temple plot.

Seeing the tombstones in the same frame as the temple speaks to my soul about the purpose of the temple and the blessings that come from within.

3 comments:

D&A said...

Thanks for sharing... I LOVE YOU! --Ange

Rosanne said...

I was there five years ago for my very best friend's wedding! Ah, memories. Thanks for shairng your beautiful spiritual thoughts. :)

Cherie said...

These pictures bring back memories of our trip from AK to VA. We stopped off at the Winter Quarters Temple and had a wonderful visit. It is an amazing place.