Pioneers

I have wanted to write for a few weeks but nothing was coming to me.  Today I was thinking about my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and other ancestors.  For those that do not live in Utah it is Pioneer Day, that is the day that Brigham Young made it to the Salt Lake Valley and said, “This is the place.”   To others and myself this day is a huge part of our history.  My family was one of the first members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  My ancestors walked across the plains to find a place where the outside world would leave them alone.  

The lost their homes when mobs came in and burned their homes down and caused them to move from Ohio, Missouri, and then Illinois.   The mothers holding their babies as they walked across the frozen tundra without shoes leaving a trail of blood in their wake.  Fathers clinging to their wives and families hoping that this next move would be their last.  Not much is said in American History about the “Mormons” until the time of the Mormon Trail, but this is my history. 

I am proud of my ancestry.  I have been blessed to grow up hearing stories about those brave men and women who died, buried children, and crossed the plains all in the name of freedom of religion.  I have not once blamed others for our loss but instead hoped that I can live up to my heritage.  What did this heritage teach me?   Why is it important to know your ancestors stories?

What I learned from my ancestors is that I can accomplish anything.  I am positive when my family first left Kirtland, Independence, and lastly Nauvoo, they were scared about the great unknown, but they went.  They went in faith because they knew their cause was just.  Those ancestors knew that they would be blessed because they were on an errand of the Lord’s.  No matter what they followed what they believed in.  They taught their children to pray, fast, and read the scriptures.  Parents wanted a better life for their children were willing to do walk over 2,000 miles for it.  Is this any different than what I want?  No, I want the same thing. 

So why is it important to know the stories?  We all have a story to share.   We all want to know about our grandparents what they went through.  As someone how loves history it is important to know what they did.  I found a picture today that might be a ship my grandfather was on in World War II.  This is a huge find because it is part of my history.  Men and women that followed in faith is my story.  My story is one of great ancestors. 

I won’t lose a home because of what I believe in, I won’t have to walk 2,000 miles to find peace for what I believe in, and I won’t have to bury my kids because of the that same fact also.  I live in a time where I am not persecuted for what I believe in.   I might have to answer questions and explain my faith, but I am happy to.  I love my heritage; I am blessed beyond belief because of it.  Thank you to my family that came before me.  Thank you to those who taught their children to work hard and follow what their believe in. 

Gordon B. Hinckley said this, “Those 19^th century pioneers to whom we pay a special tribute never set out to be heroes, and yet the accomplished heroic things.  This is what makes them Saints.  They were a band of believers who tried to do the right thing for the right reasons, ordinary men and women who were called on to perform and extraordinary work.  Although our journeys today are less demanding physically, than the trek of our pioneers 166 years ago, they are no less challenging.  Certainly it was hard to walk across the continent to establish a new home in a dry western desert.  But who can say it that was any more difficult than the task of living faithful, righteous lives in today’s confusing sinful world, where the trial is constantly shifting and where divine markers of right and wrong are being replaced by political expediency and diminishing morality.  The road we travel today is treacherous, but our reward will be the same as that which awaits worthy pioneers of all ages who live faithfully the teachings of Jesus Christ.”

We live in a world where doing the right thing is not always easy just like that trek.  However, just like then we have to stand up for what is right.   We will always be blessed if we do what is right!   So while our journey might be different than those that came before us we are still required to do what is right.  It might not be in fashion, it is certainly not cool, but right is always right!  Let’s be pioneers in our times for standing up for what is right!