Sisters and Brothers—
With Pioneer Day being celebrated last Friday, my thoughts have been turned to pioneers that have influenced my life. My family history is filled with names of people who crossed the plains — some even in early companies led by Elder Heber C. Kimball — under great peril and at tremendous sacrifices. More than one of my great-great grandparents completed this journey as young children.
While those early Church pioneers certainly provided a standard of faith that has made its way to hundreds of descendants in the last 175 or so years, I am equally blessed by more modern pioneers of the gospel who have made their own unique brand of sacrifice to follow Christ and build His kingdom.
My wife’s mother and father both joined the church in high school, then taught the gospel to Adria. Adria’s mother remains an “early Church” pioneer who is building on her own legacy of faith that will hopefully go for another 175 years, too.
Members of our ward — who I won’t embarrass in this arena — are examples of church pioneers for their families. They have entered the covenant path and found peace in this life and hope in eternal life in the world to come.
Pioneers don’t have to wear long dresses and suspenders. They can use smartphones and the Internet.
What all pioneers have in common is a conviction that leads them to action, despite challenges, sacrifices and adversity.
And many of those sacrifices come after the seemingly unending “journey” has ended. My great-great-great grandmother, Mary Pugh Scott, was a young, 27-year-old mother when, after four months of hardship in one of the first wagon trains to leave Nauvoo, Illinois, she entered the Salt Lake Valley, using their wagons for shelter along City Creek.
However, she recognized the fact that, although the dusty journey across the plains was over, her struggles weren’t. In her journal, she wrote:
“At last we near the end of the long, long journey, as we enter the Valley of the Mountains and look out over the vast land of Zion. I am dismayed by the very immensity of the view. The boundless Silence and I see miles of sage brush every where. Behind us now are the heart aches and many thousands of silent tears, that fell on the long unknown trail. I remember my dear home in England, of the flowers and trees and beautiful surroundings at that safe place.
“And I am home sick for my Dear Mother and Father. But just as I have covered those endless hundreds of miles, so now I will begin work with renewed Faith, begin the task of building a good home in this new wilderness.”
Sometimes, even after we’ve battled through a storm — physical, spiritual or emotional — we still find ourselves “dismayed by the immensity of the view.” We may only see sagebrush around us, where we would rather see “amber waves of grain.” However, we can all “begin work with renewed faith, beginning the task of building” whatever needs to be strengthened in our lives.
We are the builders of our lives. And what we should be building is a strong foundation of Him who is with us through every storm … and beyond — our Savior, Jesus Christ.
May we all reflect on our role as pioneers, leading to a brighter day, despite the sagebrush before us. As we press forward, line upon line, precept upon precept, we will enjoy a surplus harvest of blessings.
I look forward to seeing many of you — specifically those whose last names begin with Q to Z — later today in sacrament meeting. For those who can’t attend, worthy priesthood holders of the appropriate office are authorized to administer the sacrament in homes. As always, let me know of any questions regarding this direction.
I love you all and find comfort and peace in my life as I learn from your pioneer-strength faith and discipleship. Have a great week.
Bishop Bennett