In October 1856, two Mormon Pioneer handcart companies met with disaster when an early snowstorm struck them as they crossed the high plains of Wyoming. All members of the Willie Handcart Company and Martin Handcart Company suffered pain and hardship because of the elements, and many lost their lives for their faith. For nearly 150 years, the spirit and inspiration of their sacrifices were obscured in the emptiness of central Wyoming.
Then during the 1990s, through the leadership of Riverton Wyoming Stake President Scott Lorimer, key handcart sites were brought out of obscurity through the development of a visitors center and monuments on the Mormon Trail that draw thousands of people off the more-traveled highways each year.
Because of his efforts, and the work and support of his wife, Dee, the Wyoming State Legislature declared by joint resolution that May 12, 2001, would be "Scott and Dee Lorimer Day." They were honored in ceremonies on that day at Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Wyo., with President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, the featured speaker.
During his address, President Faust said the work done by President and Sister Lorimer went beyond monument building.
After commending Wyoming's government leaders for their resolution, he went on to say, "We honor and memorialize them, but we also seek in a larger sense to memorialize some of the most dramatic events in the history of the world which took place on Wyoming soil."
Among the others who participated on the program at the college's Arts Center Theater were Alan Simpson, former U.S. Senator from Wyoming; Bob Peck, Wyoming State Sen.; John Keck, director of state parks and cultural resources; Eli Bebout, former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives; President Lloyd Larsen, who succeeded President Lorimer as stake president.
Accompanying President Faust were his wife, Ruth, and Elder Donald L. Staheli of the Seventy, president of the North America Central Area, and his wife, Afton.
Capping their day, President Faust presented the Lorimers with the framed document from Wyoming's 56th Legislature which began: "A joint resolution recognizing Scott and Dee Lorimer for their vision, leadership and steadfast determination to acknowledge the Handcart History." Dated March 1, 2001, it was signed by Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer and members of the legislature.
During his tenure at the head of the Riverton stake, President Lorimer led efforts that resulted in the purchase of Rock Creek Hollow near South Pass City and the construction of a monument there. A monument was also built at Rocky Ridge which marked the site of severe stress that led to the deaths of several members of the Willie company. Finally, President Lorimer was instrumental in the negotiations for the purchase of the Sun Ranch by a Church-owned entity from the Sun family which had owned it for more than a century. That purchase was critical to providing public access to Martin's Cove, which is on Bureau of Land Management property, and also to the development of the Mormon Handcart Visitors Center.
The legislative resolution noted that the sites, especially the visitors center, have attracted tens of thousands of new visitors to the state each year. It also credited the Lorimers with helping preserve Wyoming history.
The monuments mark the first rescue of the Willie and Martin companies, but President Faust mentioned that the true beginning of efforts by President Lorimer and members of his stake was the "second rescue." President Lorimer said that his stake joined together in prayer for three years after he was sustained as president seeking guidance for the "Willie Project." He said that neither he nor stake members knew exactly what the "Willie Project" was, but continued in faith. Finally, through inspiration and aided by advances in family history technology, the stake discovered that the temple work had not yet been done for some of those of the Willie and Martin companies who died. The stake immediately sprang into action, and through frequent visits to the Ogden Utah Temple six hours away, performed ordinances relating to the members of the two handcart companies, especially those who died on the journey.
President Faust noted it was appropriate that Sister Lorimer should be honored along with her husband and shared a personal anecdote. He said when he was flying by helicopter to do some filming at Rocky Ridge, they weren't able to find the location. So they flew to Riverton to refuel and contacted Sister Lorimer at her home. "She was willing to drop all that she was doing to come with us and be our guide," President Faust said. "When we landed at Rocky Ridge, I got out of the helicopter Dee was in the back seat and I said, 'Scott, look who I have brought you!' He ran over to the helicopter, embraced her and started to cry."
Then President Faust talked about the tragedy faced by the Willie and Martin companies, pioneers who paid "such a terrible price in the agony of suffering for the faith."
He said: "We wonder why a kind and merciful God did not temper the elements to spare them from their profound agony. I think I have found the answer to my own satisfaction. I may be wrong, but I believe their lives were consecrated to a higher purpose through their suffering and their example. Their love for the Savior was burned deep into their souls and into the souls of their children and their children's children, and it will be so forever. The motivation for their lives came from a true conversion, the very center of their souls."
Just prior to presenting the legislative resolution to the Lorimers, President Faust paid a final personal tribute to President Lorimer, comparing him with Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon. Adapting Alma 48:17, he quoted, "If all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto [Scott Lorimer], behold the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."
Former Sen. Simpson also paid tribute, saying of the Lorimers' efforts in promoting Wyoming and preserving its heritage: "This is a gift of the heart. It is a gift of faith. It is a gift of God."
Recognition was given to the men who served as President Lorimer's counselors in the stake presidency and their wives, John and Kay Kitchen and Kim and Dianne McKinnon, as well as the army of stake members and others who helped with the pioneer projects.
Finally, the Lorimers were emotionally touched by a rendition of the hymn "Come, Come, Ye Saints," sung by their five daughters, son, two sons-in-law and future son-in-law.
Prior to the ceremonies at the college, the Riverton Wyoming Stake served a dinner for the Lorimers and the Fausts and other invited guests.
E-mail: ghill@de
