“Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; . . . And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.” (D&C 4:3,5)
Recently, as I was praying, I asked the Lord to help me focus on His work instead of helping me do mine. I told the Lord I was willing to march forward wherever His footsteps took me. Well, the Lord took me seriously. Within the week, I received four invitations to serve. Mind you, these invitations do not include the daily opportunities given to me to help my neighbor, help a stranger find their ancestors on the Family Tree app or share a portion of my testimony about the Savior; three of the four were stake callings.
First, I was called to be the Historical Committee Chair for the 2025 Pioneer Trek for our stake, then invited to participate in a 2026 Pioneer Trek in a completely different part of the country. Next, I was asked to be part of a Stake Family History Training Team; then lastly, I was released and recalled to our Stake Relief Society Presidency.
Although, continuing to serve as the Stake Relief Society counselor over family history, and being part of a family history training team made sense considering my love for ancestral sleuthing, but the pioneer trek seemed a bit over the top. First of all, I’ve never been on a Pioneer Trek much less know what a Historical Committee Chair does, and though it involves ancestral stories combined with documenting the Trek, it still seemed like a stretch. So, I decided to call my cousin, Kay, who use to organize and lead massive treks in Colorado.
Since it has been decades since Kay and her husband have been pushing hand carts through mountain passes, I was surprised to learn they were recently asked to consider becoming Pioneer Trekkies once again. So, naturally, she asked me if I’d be willing to join them if their 2026 Trek moves forward. “Hmm”… I thought; “It will be quite an adventure.”
In 2026 my cousin will be nearly 70 years old, her husband will be in his 70’s, and I will be a young, naive nearly 67 year old from sea level, hiking and pushing a handcart in the rockies. My response to my cousin’s request to possibly join them on this quest was, “I need to get in shape! And spend time hiking in high altitudes.” While I am certain this endeavor will be hard, glorious, and educational, I’m also certain the Lord is preparing me for something more.
As I contemplated my recent invitations to engage in the Savior’s work, I couldn’t help saying out loud, “The Lord sure does have a sense of humor!” Yet, in all seriousness, I know the Lord doesn’t simply ask you to do things. Deeper layers of purpose, resulting in our growth and development, usually lay at the center. I’m confident I will learn new things, meet new people, but mostly gain experience and have multiple opportunities to fully rely on the Savior.
“The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, . . . that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world.” (D&C 1:19-20)
What my stake leaders didn’t know, but the Savior was quite aware, is nearly forty-five years ago, I had the privilege of experiencing the majesty and intensity of the Rocky Mountains by participating in a fall semester with The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Although it has been over forty years since I strapped on my backpack and laced up my hiking boots, I do remember a few things about outdoor survival and relying on the Lord through my NOLS experiences.
At the end of my first month of backpacking in Wyoming’s Wind River Range with my NOLS Fall Semester 1 classmates, my group elected to fast during our four-day, forty mile walkout. Even though I had a warm sleeping bag, a tent, and amazing winter gear for protection, I still experienced hypothermia after two days of fasting and traversing snow-covered boulder fields with whipping winds threatening to sweep me off into the lake below. I’m certain, had I traveled with the Willie and Martin handcart companies, it would have only been by the grace of God that I would have seen the Salt Lake Valley. Otherwise, I’m sure I would have frozen to death along the trail.
As I reflect upon my NOLS adventure, thoughts about the pioneers crossing the plains and traversing the mountains lingered in my soul. Where I was equipped with a sixty-pound pack on my small frame, stuffed with warm clothes, protective wear, and all sorts of things to help me survive for the three-month course, I envisioned those who crossed the plains and braved the snowy mountains with worn out clothes and shoes. I stand amazed at their tenacity and commitment to press on.
While my body weakened from lack of nutrition and navigating mountain trails, I felt the experience helped me gain an inner strength previously untouched. Perhaps times of great exertion, both physically and spiritually, often bring the blessing of fortitude moving forward.
“As President Hinckley reminded us last April, ‘Whether you are among the posterity of the pioneers or whether you were baptized only yesterday, each is the beneficiary of their great undertaking.’ All of us enjoy the blessings of their efforts, and all of us have the responsibilities which go with that heritage.”
Certainly, one does not have to cross the plains, hike through mountains or cross the ocean to be considered a pioneer or gain spiritual stamina. My thoughts turned to my Great-great-grandparents, Andreas Anderson and Johanna Olasdotter who were born in Sweden and left for Denmark planning to take their family to America. Andreas and Johanna, had saved enough money for their family’s passage, but shortly after their voyage began, a storm arose forcing them to shore. Andreas died in Denmark about a year later after joining the Church, leaving Johanna with their seven children and an eighth child on the way. Although, he never made the journey to Zion, some members of their children did.
Andreas’ oldest child and my great-grandfather, Nils Peter Anderson, was the first of his family to embark on a transatlantic journey in 1875, finally settling in Brigham City, Utah. Other siblings followed, but some of Andreas and Johanna’s children chose to remain in Denmark.
“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.” (A of F 1:10)
Johanna’s journey became one of serious struggles after Andreas died. She was now a widow with eight fatherless children and feared the Danish authorities would send her back to Sweden since she’d only been there a year. Whereas Andreas had an unwavering testimony of the Gospel, Johanna was skeptical of this new religion, only joining because of him. Yet, after Andreas’ death, that changed.
My Grandfather Orlando Anderson recorded his father’s (Nils Peter) memories of Andreas’ death. Orlando stated that “Grandma (Johanna) said that a short time after Grandpa (Andreas) died that Grandpa came to her and shook her by the shoulders and said, ‘Var trofast, Johanna, för evangeliet är sandhed.’ [Be faithful, Johanna, for the gospel is true.]¹” Johannes did eventually cross the ocean and join her children in Utah where she lived the remainder of her life.
Without question, Andreas and Johanna prayerfully sought and followed the Lord’s counsel and guidance to make the journey to Zion and gather with the saints. I’m certain Andreas envisioned and believed full heartedly in the possibility of gathering with the saints alongside his beloved wife, Johanna, and his blessed eight children. I believe they were willing to march forward wherever the Savior’s footsteps took them even though their vision was not to be realized in this life, yet trusting they would all be together eternally.
When we prayerfully ask, “Where do you need me, and what do I need to do?”, we are not merely asking for direction; we are inviting God to shape us. We are opening our hearts to the layers of purpose that He has prepared for us. He knows our past, present, and future, and we are trusting that every call to serve we feel impressed to except is for our good—and for the good of those around us. Whether it’s leading a committee, walking the path of the pioneers, or connecting with our ancestors through family history work, we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. We are engaged in the Lord’s work of salvation; to help Him “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”², and He will be by our side every step of the way encouraging us to become who He needs us to be.
Notes
- Andreas Anderson’s Death as Told to Orlando Anderson by His Father Nils Peter Anderson from 13 September 1941 to 14 September 1941
- Moses 1:39
