The legacy of Mormon pioneers who made the trek from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City over a century ago is treasured by all Mormons. For all Mormons, the pioneers that made the courageous trek from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City are our shared legacy whether or not there is any personal connection to these souls. Unlike others who made the journey West for gold and other purposes, the Mormon pioneers made the journey to avoid religious persecutions following the murder of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
I grew up hearing and reading the stories of Mormon pioneers. Their examples of perseverance, faith, commitment, devotion, love, courage, and endurance have helped me often in my life. Whenever I feel as if my lot is hard I only have to cast my mind’s eye towards the pioneers and I am inspired to push on and to put my trust in the Lord. Whenever I start to doubt, to murmur, or feel sorry for myself, I make a conscious effort to recollect the applicable lesson from the pioneers and I am able to banish Satan and his manipulations completely out of my thoughts. The late President James E. Faust, had a message for those of us who may “feel that we’ve had more trials, sorrows, pricks, and thorns than they can bear and in their lives…” He continued:
Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful…
The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope. This change comes about through a refining process which often seems cruel and hard. In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the Refiner’s Fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process.
Even the Apostle Paul spoke of the necessity of adversities in our lives. He wrote in 2 Corinthinans 12:7, And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Last night our Ward (local Church unit) had our annual Christmas party. We had a wonderful time and we all felt the true spirit of Christmas as we fellowshipped and enjoyed each other’s company. The highlight of the evening was the program which focused on Christmas celebrations of the Pioneers. Through reenactments and music, we relived the gratitude that the pioneers felt for the Christmas season. We were reminded that the pioneers were real people who suffered and lost much, but were still able to have hope, love, and joy in their lives.
The pioneers have a permanent place in my life and heart. I feel as if I know them personally. I only have to turn on a mental switch to see hundreds of men, women, and children marching for miles and miles, suffering all manner of tribulations along the way. I am able to see clearly in my mind’s eye the tears of a mother who had to bury not just one but sometimes two or more children along the way, the devastated face of a young girl who lost both parents on the way, the bloodied and frozen feet of a father as he pulled and pushed a handcart in the snow.
Many of these pioneers had to leave loved ones behind for one reason or another. One such pioneer was William Clayton. Brother Clayton joined the Church in England in the early 1800s. He was a gifted violinist who helped to build the Nauvoo Concert Hall. The evening of Wednesday, April 15, 1846 finds him sitting by a campfire with many other pioneers somewhere in Iowa. His wife, Diantha, did not make this journey for she was heavy with child and due to have her baby soon. That very day, Brother Clayton found out that his wife had given birth to a healthy son but she was very sick with ague and mumps. It was with a sense of rejoicing mixed with sadness (at the news of his wife’s sickness) that Brother Clayton wrote the words to a new song. This song, ” Please follow the link given above to hear this beautiful hymn. As you read the words below, please ponder and see in your mind’s eye the Mormon pioneers, men and women just like us, trudging through snow and mud, burying their loved ones along the way, to a place where they can worship their God without persecution and ridicule.
Come, come ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear; But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day.
Tis better far for us to strive, Our useless cares from us to drive;
Do this, and joy your hearts will swell, All is well, All is well!Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward, If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we’ll have this tale to tell, All is well, All is well!We’ll find the place which God for us prepared, Far away in the West,
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid; There the Saints will be blessed.
We’ll make the air with music ring, Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we’ll tell, All is well, All is well!And should we die before our journey’s through, Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too; With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again, To see the Saints their rest obtain,
Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell, All is well, All is well!
If you are interested in learning more about the Mormon pioneers, please visit the sites below. You will discover for yourself the kinds of trials the Mormon pioneers endured. You will see the routes and trails they followed to get to their promised land. You will feel their burning testimonies as they walked day after day. You can learn more about Brother William Clayton by reading his journal. You can also read other journals by other pioneers such as Hosea Stout, Eliza Roscy Snow, James Armistead, and Brigham Young. (The Prophet Brigahm Young was the second leader of the Church. He organized and led around 70,000 Mormons from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City)
William Clayton’s Journal
