The company also took part in some of the challenges planned by the trail bosses, such as pulling a sick family member in the handcart, sharing and negotiating for food and even re-enacting the recruitment of the men to fight the American-Mexican war with the Mormon Battalion, while the women are left to pull the handcarts by themselves.

After the "women's pull," where only the women pulled the handcarts up a steep hill, numerous teens and leaders sat in the tall grass and cried — some in pain, but most in newfound awe.

"I don't think I had a real appreciation for what was going on today until we had a women's pull," said Dennis Jensen, the Young Men's leader. "I pulled off to the side and wept because I knew how hard it was going to be. I've seen the strength in womanhood today."

"I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to recommit and see what our ancestors went through. Not just one day but months and months."

The teens, too, noticed a change in their attitudes before and after the trek.

"It was really hard to push a handcart," said Kira Ellis, 15. "But in the end, it was fun. I learned a lot from it."

Although their complaints at the start differed drastically from what their ancestors must have grumbled about, those comments gradually transformed into a camaraderie reminiscent of what may have been experienced on the trail: "We have to help the others," "We can do it" and "We're almost home."

This Is the Place Heritage Park has 42 handcarts and has taken groups of almost 300 people on a trek. Most groups spend months preparing by sewing authentic pioneer dresses, bonnets, aprons, collared shirts, handkerchiefs and satchels.

As part of their Youth Conference, the Centerville teens had a dutch oven dinner and also participated in an LDS testimony meeting, where they shared their feelings about the experience.

"We just went (five) miles and it was hard," said Kyle Young, 17. "But everyone helped each other. Everyone was struggling, but everyone helped. This was far better than I thought it would be."

"It was a good experience," said Chris Goone, 16. "But horrible for my ancestors."

"I never had the appreciation for everything our ancestors did. And they had to do that for thousands of miles," said Britney Larsen, 15.

Leaders urged teens to think of themselves as modern day pioneers, an appropriate title because underneath the bonnets and cowboy hats, teens wore Nike and Adidas shoes and applied sunblock and Chapstick.

"Not only did the Saints come across the plains, but think about what they did before they came across," said Bishop Scott Collins of the Centerville 3rd Ward. "We came and pushed handcarts for a day. But that's a day. Think about what it is that's hard in your life that the Lord is asking you to do. What is your handcart today that you've been asked to pull?"

Although the journey was meant to illustrate the past, Collins told the teens to let their newfound "pioneer" experience help build their faith today.

"Not many of us have been asked to make the sacrifices like Joseph (Smith) made for what he believed in," park events coordinator Cliff Harris told the teens. "Because of his knowledge, he died for what be believed in, so we lived the way we could here in Utah. . . . But whether you crossed the plains or converted later in life . . . we're all pioneers."

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