For the next few days, Oran Rose will learn what his ancestors endured — religious persecution and an arduous trek from Illinois to Utah to find freedom to worship.

Rose, of Clayton, is a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Today, he and 180 other young church members met in Roanoke Rapids where they planned to leave for a weekend in Hume, Virginia, at the Marriott Ranch for a wilderness weekend.

“We’e just trying to go out there and learn how the pioneers lived their lives,” Rose said. “To understand more of their lifestyle and how they had to give up everything.”

Rose refers to the exodus of Mormons from Missouri and Illinois after state sanctioned extermination orders in Missouri and continued persecution in Illinois in the 1840s.

Things have changed, Rose said. “People don’t have that hate. They didn’t know what they were doing when they were persecuting.”

Rose’s ancestors made the trek. “It will give me a better understanding of what they went through.”

That his ancestors endured this persecution gives him understanding of how he needs to mold his life. “It means I need to do my part, just live the standard they set up. They made it a lot more easier for us to go through.”

Bailee Creger of Goldsboro said the weekend away from conveniences will help her. “It’s about getting more in tune with nature,” she said, “not being so modernized, missing out on showers.”

Creger said the pioneer trek for religious freedom demonstrated true faith “and belief in the prophet.”

The trek out of Missouri and Illinois was done with many pulling their possessions in handcarts, said Frank Jones, a Halifax County attorney, and Roanoke Rapids church member. “We want them to know the trials they went through and have an appreciation of their heritage.”