Every July 24th, members of the LDS church around the world honor the Church’s pioneer heritage in songs, by sharing stories or reenacting early pioneer journeys. It has been over 170 years since the first pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.
Why is it important for us to continue to honor and remember our pioneer heritage? Here's how the organizers of the "Days of 47" answer:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ANNUAL CELEBRATION
On July 24, 1847, Brigham Young and a determined company of Mormon pioneers realized their dreams upon entering the Great Salt Lake Valley, thus becoming the vanguard of one of the greatest treks in American history. Pulling handcarts or driving wagons with oxen or horses, thousands of pioneers carried a firm commitment to America’s belief in freedom of religion as they slowly trudged across the plains to a vast desert landscape that became known as the Utah Territory. Coming together from many nations, they sought to create a new life. This trek of the early Utah pioneers exemplifies the courage, foresight and faith that continue to inspire modern-day pioneers.
By remembering those remarkable 1847 pioneers and all those who followed, The Days of ’47 seeks to make their accomplishments and hardships live today through a variety of activities and celebrations each year. We believe the example of past and present pioneers’ courage creates a vision for our combined future that everyone can follow while we continue recognizing Pioneers — Pushing toward our Future!
I think I found part of my answer in this quote by Sis. Jenny Reeder:
“When I learn about Latter-day Saints — pioneers from the nineteenth century and from across the globe — I realize we all have very real mortal challenges. Our heritage, whether that be those who crossed the plains, or those who were baptized in Africa or Russia, or if those keeping the flame of faith alive in an inner-city ward, reveals our identity as covenant people. Like me, they were not perfect, but like them, I can learn from their faith, sacrifice, testimony and understanding of gospel doctrine. I, too, am a Latter-day Saint, and I, too, contribute to building the Kingdom.” — Jenny Reeder, historian, Church History Department
We all have very real mortal challenges:
Challenges in providing for our families
Challenges in parenting
Challenges with people at work
Challenges in building family harmony with relatives
Challenges in church service
Challenges in finding enough time for personal scripture study
Challenges to our belief system
Challenges with mental health
Challenges with keeping a family united
Challenges with caring for aging parents
As I have found out more about the difficult life of my great grandfather, Joseph Moulton, I can see how he responded in faith to his challenges. He trusted that God would provide and care for him and those he loved. He went pressed forward despite the challenges he faced.
Challenges of providing for his large family
Keeping a pioneer family sheltered and fed was difficult. When he became a polygamist, the challenges became almost overwhelming. Joseph had two or more homes to care for! Keeping all three wives happy was a challenge. (Note: One of the wives lived in the house that is still standing in Heber City on Main street—the “Granny’s Drive In”)
Challenge of serving as a missionary
Joseph was called to going to serve as a missionary in the Southern states, but it was during a time that his family needed him. He obediently went and was called home to care for his family after about 6 months in the field. We have a letter he wrote to his family during this time. (See Joseph's memories on Family Search.)
Challenge of work
Josep was supervising the work of building a canal in the Heber Valley. He was probably working with a volunteer labor force.
Challenge of serving in the Church
Joseph served in the Bishopric for years. He was valiant in keeping own testimony strong and dealing with members who had strong opinions. He also served on the Wasatch Stake High Council.
Challenge of finding time for scripture study
Joseph was known as a scriptorian and searched the scriptures for answers to the problems he was facing. Somehow he figured out how to make time.
Challenge of parenting 23 children!
Being father to so many was never never easy. He did the best he could.
Challenge to our belief system
Joseph was in the penitentiary for u.c. (unlawful cohabitation) 2 days in 1885 because he believed in the doctrine of Plural Marriage.
Challenges with mental health
Annie, one of his three wives, struggled with mental illness. We don't have many details, but we know she spent some time in an institution.
Challenges with keeping our family united
Following the disastrous trip to Old Mexico in 1891, the family was split apart. Our great grandmother, Mary Jensine Jensen Moulton, essentially became a single parent.
Challenges of caring for aging parents
Joseph's parents, Thomas and Sarah Denton Moulton, both lived in Heber City. Joseph, along with his brothers and sisters, helped them as they aged. Joseph was 47 years old when his father died (Thomas was age 82) and 43 when his mother died (Sarah was age 70).
Here are some additional historical highlights that impacted the life of my great- grandfather,
Joseph Moulton.
June 1837-Heber C. Kimball and other LDS missionaries go to England.
Dec 1841-Thomas Moulton Family joins the church in Irchester England.
Joseph’s mother, Sara Denton, begins saving money in a fruit jar for 15 years, always hopeful that her family could one day gather with the Saints in Zion.
1846-Joseph Moulton born.
1853-Joseph Moulton is baptized.
1849-Brigham Young sets up the PEF-Perpetual Emigration Fund to help pay for passage to America
Family lives chiefly on barley flour for nearly a year to save money for the trip to America.
May 4, 1856-(age 10) Joseph leaves Irchester, England with his family. His mother is pregnant with baby #7. She receives a blessing that if she would go to Utah she would make the journey safely without losing even one member of her family.
November 1856-After 6 weeks at sea the family arrives in New York harbor. They take the train to Iowa City, Iowa where the family helped making preparations and get their two handcarts ready for the trek.
1856-(Age 11) Joseph walked about 1100 miles during the 117 days as a member of the Willie Handcart Company. Crosses icy streams caring for younger brothers and sisters. Joseph’s little brother, James Heber walked with a rope tied around his waist to keep him from straying.
They had two carts. One pulled by the parents with two youngest riding. The other pulled by 19 year old and 15 year old girls with two boys, ages 12 and 11 year old Joseph helping as they could. They arrive in winter Quarters (Florence Nebraska) late in the season.
August 18, 1846—Although late in the season, the Willie Company decides to go forward. They receive an extra 100 pound bag of flour to pull on their handcart. They were on meager rations by this time and Joseph was one hungry 10 year old. He received only 9 ounces of flour a day. His mom got 13 ounces and his father 15 ounces. Joseph would go with his mother to glean wild wheat to add to food supplies.
October 20, 1846 The snows began to fall in high desert of Wyoming. Four inches of snow.
October 21, 1846 the rescuer wagons reached Willie camp. Frozen and starving survivors were grateful for the help. 40 members of the company had already died by the time they reached Rocky Ridge where another snowstorm slowed their progress. A kind elderly woman, seeing Joseph’s little 8-year old brother struggle, took his right hand. That act saved his right hand, but his left hand was exposed to the cold and many of his fingers were later amputated.
November 9, 1856-Willie Company arrives in Salt Lake Valley. 69 members of the company had died, but the promise given to the Moulton family was fulfilled, and not one member of the family perished on the trek.
Joseph's family spent 3 weeks in Salt Lake City and then they moved to Provo in 1857. They lived (a family of 10!) in a one room adobe house for one year. Sarah had more children after arriving in America. Then the Moulton family moved to Heber City in 1859.
We can learn about other "real mortal problems" faced by Joseph from some of his other activities:
Joseph was a "down and backer" going to the Missouri River to meet immigrants and bringing them back to Utah.
1866-He was a scout in the Black Hawk War.
1868-He married and settled in Heber City UT.
He helped plan the Wasatch Canal and was a foreman on the construction.
He was a good singer and a member of the “Heber Sunday School Choir.”
In 1876 (eight years after marrying his first wife, Elizabeth Giles) Joseph marries two Danish sisters (Jensine Mary and Annie Jensen) and becomes a polygamist.
In 1885 he is sent to the state penitentiary for 2 days for "unlawful cohabitation".
In 1890 "The Manifesto" was issued. Joseph tried to keep his polygamous family together by moving to Dublin, Old Mexico in 1891. It was pretty much a disaster. At that time there were 3 wives and 23 children.—My grandfather Hyrum Chase Moulton, was a six year old boy at the time.
March 6, 1935 Joseph Moulton dies at the age of 84 in Heber City, Utah.
Despite all their mortal challenges, our pioneer ancestors "moved on". Elder Ronald A. Rasband, of the Quorum of the 12 apostles, asks:
“What moved them on?
What pushed them forward?
The answer is a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As a great grandson of pioneers, I add my witness and testimony that their struggles were not in vain. What they felt, I feel.
What they knew, I know and bear record of.” (Ensign, July 2018)
Life is full of very "real mortal problems" for all of us.
We can choose to "move on and push forward" as well.
We honor our pioneer ancestors by saying to ourselves:
"They did hard things. I, too, can deal with the hard things in my life."
