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Carole Mikita ReportingRemembering the past is something President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talks of often, that's why this weekend, he will travel to Iowa.
Historians describe the form of transportation as ingenious. Between 1856 and 1860, thousands of Latter-day Saint converts from Europe put their belongings in handcarts in Iowa City, the end of the railroad line, and walked 1300 miles to the Salt Lake Valley.
Mel Bashore, Librarian, LDS Church History Dept.: "There was a man going to the gold fields in 1850, pushing a wheelbarrow and hundreds of Mormons coming that year saw the man. And then in September of 1851 it began to be discussed among the mormons that maybe they could make two-wheeled carts."
Their leader, Brigham Young, believed they could travel as successfully by handcart as in covered wagons or ox carts.
Think about putting all of your worldly possessions into that small space and walking on that kind of rough terrain.
An actual handcart from the 1860s is one of few remaining antiques to endure the hardships of the load, the trail, the weather.
Eight of the ten handcart companies traveled well, but the Martin-Willie Handcart Companies got stuck in a snowstorm. Nearly 200 died.
Paul Willie, great-great grandson of Capt. James Willie: "Unlike the Donner Party that turned to cannibalism, the Mormons stuck together. Brigham Young, when he found out what had happened, he organized a rescue party and sent them out to get them."
Their descendants call the trek a test of strength, courage and faith. They believe by remembering, they pay tribute.
President Hinckley will address several thousand at the University of Iowa Sunday evening. His remarks will go by satellite to Latter-day Saint meetinghouses throughout the world.
We'll travel to Iowa City this weekend and will have live reports on Eyewitness News this weekend.
