On December 14, 1911, Roald Amundsen and his small Norwegian team became the first explorers to reach the South Pole, arriving five weeks before the British expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott in one of history’s most dramatic polar races. Amundsen had secretly changed his plans from the Arctic to the Antarctic, sailing on the polar ship Fram and using expert ski skills and dog teams to cross the icy plateau and discover new routes like the Axel Heiberg Glacier. He left a tent, a flag, and a letter for Scott, whose party reached the Pole weeks later but tragically perished on their return north. Though Amundsen’s success was long overshadowed by the loss of the British team, today both expeditions are honored at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, reminding us that life’s journeys—like theirs—are filled with danger, courage, and choice. As Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, our mortal adventure is worth the risk because of who we can become, inviting each of us to trust God and learn from our own trials as part of His Story.

Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/south-pole-7

This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.

Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.