Honored Pioneers

Come Come ye Saints

"Following that first vanguard which reached Salt Lake country July 1847, came numerous companies on horseback and on foot, in covered wagons and pushing handcarts. The trail was marked by the graves along the way. Eighty thousand people with their livestock and their world's goods went trudging across the interminable distance. Those who went in the spring found the streams swollen by melting snows were hard to cross, and deep water, quicksand, and steep banks increased the difficulties. Those who went in summer found in addition that the sands were hot and the way long. Those who were unlucky enough to travel in the early winter found to their sorrow that the winds were penetrating and the snows were deep and the way was hard. But faith is indomitable, and a great cause gave them their inspiration. There was no turning back. The story is told on one lady who heard the story of this incomparable trek for the first time, and in amazement she said: "How in the world could those people give up their comfortable homes and go forth to endure the hardships and dangers they had to face in making new homes in the wilderness?" "My good lady," replied the informer, "they thought that God was marching by their side." Then pausing a moment he said: "And I do not know but that they were right." Pres. Spencer W. Kimball

Maybe I could have done this.

Maybe I could have done this.

Don't think I could have done this.

How in the world did they do this?

George Albert Smith said: "The pioneers are witnesses of the divinity of Christ. It was because they knew that Christ lived, and that he was the Son of God, that those who came here as pioneers were able to turn their backs upon the comforts of their homes and the associations of their friends to dwell in the wilderness, that the gospel in its purity might be established and that there might go forth from this land the law of the Lord."

~

Today, I remember our faithful pioneers. Words cannot express my gratitude for them and their sacrifices. So many of their stories are etched in my heart. I look forward to the day when I will met some of these stalwarts and simply say thanks!

When I wonder if I could have done what they did, I do not doubt for one moment that I would have packed up and headed out. Would I have made it to Salt Lake? I don't know. What I do know is that I would have started the trek and given it everything I had because... I BELIEVE IN CHRIST.

Salt Lake City ~ July 24, 1997: My sister Debbie and I were standing along the parade route waiting for the "Days of '47" parade to begin. It was slightly past the parade start time. One float, loaded with a group of rowdy non-LDS participants, were growing impatient. Someone in the group asked, in a rather loud voice: "What's the hang up?" To which a "lady" in the group said: "I don't know, but I think they are waiting for that prophet guy, or whoever he is." She was referring to President Hinckley. Debbie and I looked at each other with shocked facial expressions and simultaneously made a quiet hissing/sizzling sound. Soon the parade started, and as the float with the unpatients headed to their starting point, smoke begin bellowing out from under their float. The float caught on fire, and was unable to participate in the parade. Whoops!