Happy Pioneer Day!
July is the month we honor the original pioneers; those faithful Saints who paved the way for us to enjoy the blessings of the gospel in our lives. Many sacrificed much. In return, they learned valuable lessons and received some treasured blessings.
Francis Webster said of his experience, "I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, 'I can go only that far and there I must give up for I cannot pull the load through it.' I have gone to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me! I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the Angels of God were there.
"Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No! Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company."
Elder Ballard and Elder Walker share some pioneer stories. Links to their speeches:
Click on the link pioneer campaign to see if you have pioneers among your ancestors. See what you can learn about your own ancestors. Although this site honors those who crossed the plains, it's important to remember not all pioneers did so as a Primary song reminds us:
Leave your fam'ly dear,
Or walk a thousand miles or more
To be a pioneer!
You do need to have great courage,
Faith to conquer fear,
And work with might for a cause that's right.
To be a pioneer!
President Uchtdorf and President Monson have reminded us of the same thing:
"What a joy and privilege it is to be a part of this worldwide Church and be taught, and uplifted by prophets, seers, and revelators!... As the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is now being embraced around the world, we are all pioneers in our own sphere and circumstance." (President Dieter F Uchtdorf)
"A dictionary defines a pioneer as 'one who goes before, showing others the way to follow.' Oh how the world needs pioneers today!" (President Thomas S. Monson)
We can all be pioneers in our own ways. We can show others the path to follow. We can live with great courage and faith. We can work hard in righteous endeavors. In doing so, we can be modern day pioneers. We can change our lives and the lives of others, including our descendants. That's all a part of the great work we were sent to earth to accomplish.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "If we are faithful, the day will come when those deserving pioneers and ancestors, who we rightly praised for having overcome the adversities in the wilderness trek, will instead praise you, for having made your way successfully through a desert of despair, for having passed through a cultural wilderness, and having kept the faith, for having been true to the faith. And yes, you will rightly go on praising them for what they did in their days, but one day, [they] including some of your ancestors, will praise you for having come safely home, through that cultural wilderness and that desert of despair."
What are you doing to fortify your faith and live worthy of the praise of these pioneers?
ATTENTION YOUTH! Want to learn more about your pioneer ancestors or about family history in general. You are in luck! Our youth program continues on Wednesdays from 10 am to 6 pm through August 10th. Come for a few minutes or a few hours and be taught by our Youth Consultants. Treats are served!
Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!
The Burley Family History Center will be closed
Sunday, July 3rd and Monday, July 4th
for the 4th of July!
Check these links for great ideas:
LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES
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