July 24, 1847

The day had to have been hot. It was the middle of summer in the desert. There must have been dust and sagebrush and a hot sun beating mercilessly. In the midst of this scene, a wagon crested a small hill after passing through Emigration Canyon. In the back lay a man. He was very sick and unable to sit up but he asked that the driver back the wagon up and lift the canvas so he could gaze across the empty, barren desert. It was then that he declared, "It is enough. This is the right place. Drive on."

This man, Brigham Young, and the first group of Mormon pioneers drove on into the valley, ending their long journey to the west. Over the next few years, thousands of Mormon pioneers would crest this same hill through Emigration Canyon and catch the first glimpse of their new home that their beloved prophet, Brigham Young, had seen in a vision and promised that it would be a place where the Saints could settle and "make the desert blossom like a rose".

What fascinates me about this inspiring story is that when Brigham Young was lifted up in the back of that wagon in order to gaze for the first time across this valley, there was nothing there. With physical eyes, there was nothing to see. And yet he saw something great. That phrase keeps running through my head tonight...he saw greatness where others saw desolation. How many times in my life have I written off an experience or even an individual because I wasn't able to see the "big" picture. How many times have I missed something important because I was only using my physical senses. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we have been blessed with the greatest of all gifts...the gift of the Holy Ghost. And this great gift manifests itself to us in so many individual and beautiful ways. We have been given spiritual gifts that help us see things in a different way. Not in the way the world looks at things, but with the potential to see things as God sees them. Can you imagine looking at people and circumstances and opportunities and events and being able to witness them as He sees them? Those early pioneers needed their spiritual gifts and strengths. Physical strength alone could not carry them over the barren plains of the Midwest or help them scale the Rocky Mountains dangerous peaks. They had to see beyond what their physical eyes could show them. Just like Brigham Young, they had to rely on the Spirit to show them the spiritual possibilities. The Lord would bless them. I believe this early group of Saints must hold a very dear place in the Savior's heart for the sacrifices they willingly made in His name.

Every year, on the 24th of July, the citizens of Utah celebrate Pioneer Day. We celebrate with great energy and enthusiasm and zeal. We have the opportunity to celebrate our beginnings...and not many states have a prophet of God and men and women of such great faith representing the beginning of their history. What a unique state. What a unique place to live. What an incredible opportunity to walk where these individuals walked and to have an opportunity to see some of the many ways and the individual talents that were used to make this desert bloom like a rose. With great courage and fortitude, our little family decided to celebrate the day at one of our very favorite Utah places...Pioneer Village.

It was a busy day.

First, there was the pie eating contest. Like any stalwart pioneer boy, JC decided to enter the contest and win honor for his family. He did us proud.



Next we headed over to the playhouses where the children love to play "train robbers" on the wooden train. Actually, HB pretended she was the server on the train and served the 2 train robbers a delicious meal of plastic baguettes, croissants, and broccoli. I thought it was the merging of 2 very strange imaginary worlds.

Then it was off to the blacksmith shop to make some decorative metal leaves and on to the Main Street parade. After watching a fabulous parade of pioneers and their decorated handcarts, we needed to get the ponies rounded up and the livestock in their pens. HB actually took care of the goats, lambs, bunnies, llamas, and pigs while the boys headed back for more fire and forging at the blacksmith shop.

Well, after chores, it was time for school. The kids headed over to the schoolhouse and made it just in time. Girls on one side, boys on the other. The teacher taught them how to raise their hands and stand in recitatory position when giving an answer or asking a question. Then they learned what happened when you used your free agency to make a bad choice.

First you end up on a barrel in front of the room with your nose pressed against the wall and your hands behind you. JC was kind enough to volunteer to be punished in front of the entire class.

If you choose to use your free agency improperly a SECOND time, it was back to the barrel/corner/nose thing but this time with 2 books in your hands. Again, poor JC.


If there is a third offense, the teacher would just smack you a few times with a paddle, send you home, and let you explain why you're home early. Ah, the good ole' days. Public education would probably see a major turn around if we could just go back to the old ways.

But the kids had a great day at school. Learned the Deseret Alphabet, state history, and got to write on chalkboards with chalk. In a world of dry erase boards, this was big stuff for my 21st century kids.


Well, off to the barber shop to get a tooth pulled for 7 cents and a shave then on to the bank for a withdrawl in order to get the candy sticks at the general store. Off to the apothecary for some herbs, the hat store for a fabulous look at the new hats, and a stop at the leather shop to pound some stuff into leather (not to knowledgable about the leather store.)





We visited the Anderson's at their Scandinavian home and helped them weave a little on the loom and then headed down to the family whose name I can't remember to help do the wash in the backyard. (One room cabin where a man, his 2 wives, and 10 children all lived snug as bugs. Actually, rumor has it the 1st wife made a beeline out of there when wife number 2 showed up. The 10 kids got to slug it out in the loft above the cabin.) We voted on our favorite handcarts from the parade and then immediately headed back to Main Street to see the "candy cannon". Interesting experience. They literally shot salt water taffy out of a cannon. How you ever tasted candy that has been shot out of a 19th century piece of war machinery? It has a really unique flavor...and of course there was a stampede of children fighting over sulfur burned taffy. Tears were shed, punches thrown, and T-shirts/pockets/etc. filled to the brim as children hoarded their loot.
Naturally, after such a long, hot, hard day, we immediately headed for the nearest Wendy's to get ourselves a Frosty treat. While we honor our pioneer heritage, we also revere our 21st century miracles.

We finished off our fabulous day with a trip to the Faulconer's for the annual pig roast. It was amazing! Christian had BBQ'ed a whole pig to perfection (literally...the head had been disposed of the night before in the trash can. You don't throw pig heads away in broad daylight!), there was a band, tables with beautiful centerpieces, and enough food to keep us happy all night long. It was out on the front lawn and we had a smashing time visiting with old friends. Thank you Faulconer family!

(I forgot my camera so I had to google "roasted pig" for an image. Remember...Christian's pig didn't have a head. And it wasn't sitting on the grill when we got there. The meat was divine but I had to separate myself from the actual pig. HB immediately announced she couldn't eat any meat that still had a snout on it.)


It was a wonderful day! Perfect from start to finish. Happy Pioneer Day! Remember who you are...