Pioneer trek, for those who may not know, is a tradition(?), occasional activity(?), curse(?), wherein large groups of church youth ages 14-18 are organized into “families” and a smattering of adult leaders are designated as “ma’s” and “pa’s,” Meg Walter writes.
Together, they dress in pioneer garb — including suspenders and bonnets — and travel to desolate locations to pull handcarts through windstorms and recreate the misery our faith’s early pioneers undoubtedly felt crossing the plains to Utah in the mid-1800s.
Walter writes about trek and compares her experiences to a new show on HBO Max titled "Back to the Frontier" that follows three families trying to survive as 1880s homesteaders.
I attended trek as a youth and after walking for miles and miles, we camped and made dinner and s'mores. After walking for so long in the scorching heat, nothing will ever taste better than those s'mores did. Overall, the experience was challenging and hard but also surprisingly fun for me.
Read more about what Walter has to say comparing "Back to the Frontier" to pioneer trek.
Tell me: What were your experiences with trek like if you've participated in one before?
5,000 episodes: The power and reach of ‘Music & the Spoken Word’
"Music & the Spoken Word" celebrates its 5,000th episode today. The musical broadcast was started during the Great Depression and has continued to air regularly for the last nearly 100 years even through wars and a global pandemic.
“Because of a song, or at times, a message, someone’s heart was touched and it gave them a feeling, and that feeling translated into action, giving them the ability to go out and do something hard, or to endure to the end, or to carry on,” said "Music & the Spoken Word" presenter Derrick Porter.
The choir sings anywhere from 300-400 pieces per year, and since coming out of the pandemic, choir members have sung everything completely from memory.
“It’s really not about the notes on the paper — it’s about the message, it’s about the spirit. It’s about really finding a way to share your testimony, as well as to feel closer to God," said Leslie Darcus, a choir member for the last five years.
Today's special broadcast will feature numbers that were a part of the very first “Spoken Word” broadcast on July 15, 1929, as well as some of the most referenced songs from listeners, Lottie Johnson reported — drawing from a list that includes:
Our state's population continues to grow, and so do the health care demands. Hospitals, clinics and other providers are responding by opening new facilities or services.
Last year alone, the state added more than 50,300 new residents, most of it along the Wasatch Front. In February, a report by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah puts the state’s population at roughly 3,507,000 residents, Lois Collins reported.
Said John Poelman, interim executive director of the One Utah Health Collaborative, “We expect the Gardner projections include not just raw population growth, but also rising average age and chronic conditions, all of which will drive higher demand for care.”
Poelman added that “Utah will need to grow its healthcare capacity across the board, but especially in areas where we already fall short. Access to primary care, behavioral health and aging-related services are where we should prioritize expansion.”
The growing population has been accompanied by higher disease incidence, as well. Utah and the U.S. in general are both experiencing an increase in requests for mental health care and services for an aging population, among other needs that must be met, Collins writes.
Read more about Utah's expanding health care options.
Join us for this year’s Deseret News Marathon, Utah’s longest-operating marathon! Runners will race down historic Emigration Canyon into the Salt Lake Valley, finishing in front of thousands of adoring fans along the Days of ’47 Parade route. Sign up today at run.deseret.com!
Utah
Delta’s newest direct flight will link Utah to South America for the first time (KSL.com)
Scorching heat, extremely low humidity expected as Forsyth Fire battle continues (St George News)
22 hikers found during search and rescue roundup near Virgin (St George News)
Ogden Fire Chief Mike Mathieu speaks about four-plus decades of first responder service, leadership (Standard-Examiner)
Community comes together to support those devastated by Deer Creek Fire (Fox 13)
Utah's growth rate slows to lowest rate since 'Great Recession' (KUTV)
Gradual weekend warming trend for the Wasatch Front, heat holds in southern Utah (ABC 4)
West Nile virus found in Cache County mosquitoes (KSL.com)
Health
Measles detected in Provo wastewater system (Deseret News)
Omega-3 supplements combined with weightlifting may improve overall health (Healthline)
Faith
Learning the power of the Savior’s Atonement after going to a mission where Elder Eyre didn’t speak the language (Church News)
Aimee Cobabe: The importance of repeated lessons in gospel learning (Church News)
Politics
At Turning Point's student summit, Gen Z conservatives cheer Trump — and challenge him (Deseret News)
Republicans are already planning their next spending package (Deseret News)
Here’s what a California Democrat told a Utah crowd about the GOP’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ (KSL.com)
Trump announces 30% tariffs against Mexico, EU to begin on Aug. 1 (CBS News)
The Nation and the World
How the deadliest hours of the devastating Texas floods unfolded (NBC News)
Iliamna volcano in Alaska rumbling despite being dormant for over 100 years, scientists say (ABC News)
'Was this avoidable?': Families of Air India crash victims seek answers (BBC)
Sports
Big 12 fielding year of QBs, BYU and Utah must be ready (Deseret News)
X Games says its Salt Lake event delivered big numbers, served as a ‘turning point’ (KSL.com)
This BYU official will soon have a huge role in March Madness (Deseret News)
BYU’s Simon Kwon to meet Arizona State’s Bowen Mauss in 127th Utah State Amateur final (Deseret News)
🗓️ Events Calendar
We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah during this month. Check it out, and let us know if we are missing anything!
Here are some highlights for events in Utah today:
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