"This great pioneering movement of more than a century ago goes forward with latter-day pioneers. Today pioneer blood flows in our veins just as it did with those who walked the west. It's the essence of our courage to face modern- day mountains and our commitment to carry on. The faith of those early pioneers burns still, and nations are being blessed by latter-day pioneers who posses a clear vision of this work of the Lord."

Quote by President Gordon B.Hinckley April 1997
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Each year the people of Utah celebrate the arrival of the first Mormon Pioneer company to the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.

The journey West began in the spring of 1846 and was marked with great hardships, sacrifices and struggles. When the year 1846 ended, the main body of Pioneers were camped at Winter Quarters, Nebraska. They would travel 1,300 miles blazing the trail to be known as the Mormon Trail and arriving at their destination in July 1847.

Hardship was not new to the Mormon people they had been forced from their homes in Kirkland Ohio and Jackson County Missouri. And so once again because of pressure from local and state governments the Mormon Pioneers left Nauvoo Illinois.

Despite the mountain of hardships facing the Pioneers they were workers. They planted gardens, built and developed way stations along the trail.

On June 29, 1846 as they reached the Missouri River and began crossing onto Omaha Indian lands. Captain James Allen of the United States Army caught up with the wagon trains. He recruited nearly five hundred men for service in the Mexican War.

Thus the Mormon Battalion was organized. The men were to serve twelve months and would have a story to tell all of their own.

Of course the reaction to the government's request was not exactly favorable. They were being called to serve a country that did not want them. Leaving their families behind to face the hard winter and come west without them, they left.

Along the Mormon Trail the Pioneers left their story of birth, death, sacrifices, struggles and courage. The trials endured by this group of people live on in the Salt Lake Valley.

I have listed below excellent links that tell the Pioneer Story. I hope you visit each of them and find out "the rest of the story".

   

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