MY HERITAGE...

Today is a special day in Utah...it is our Pioneer Day.

I have been thinking about how very grateful I am for
my pioneer heritage and of the great souls that came before me,
they that prepared the way that I might not only live in freedom
but be blessed to have religious freedom, which is such a great blessing to me.

I am grateful for my good parents who carried on these blessings

to me that their parents gave to them. They taught me to love and

respect my ancestors who gave up everything they had in search of

religious freedom....And here in Utah, they finally found it...a place
where they could worship and serve not a King or man but their God,
the creator of Heaven and earth.

This man is...Charles A. Harper and this is his wife Harriet...

they my great great grandparents.

He left Scotland, his homeland, to join the Mormon church.

He came with the first company of pioneers seeking a place of religious
freedom. He was the companies wagon expert and a great cook too.
It was a tough and arduous journey over many miles of plains and mountains.

Brigham Young was the leader and president of
the church, he had seen a vision as to where they were to go.

When they came out of the rugged mountains he said;
"This is the right place!" And so they settled here.

It was a barren desert and they knew they wouldn't be
bothered here, so they went to work and made it blossom as a rose,
into the beautiful Salt Lake City that it is today.

On the back of this statue is listed all the names of those

who were in that first company to enter the Salt Lake Valley.

My great great grandfathers name is listed there. I am so

grateful to him, for now I can have that great freedom in my life.

An original picture of some pioneers coming into the valley.

My grandfather went back at his own expense and brought

many more companies to Salt Lake City. He served all his life

setting up settlements all over Utah.

He died at the age of 83,

pretty old for a pioneer of that time. I am so thankful for him

and other family members who had so much to do with settling Utah.

The pioneers...they were a hearty bunch of wonderful diverse people.

They came with many talents and gave all they had to live the gospel

they loved so much. They came out of every country you can think of,

some of mine came from England, Norway, Sweden,Scotland.

I am so thankful for them because now I can live here...

a place that means everything to me.

The pioneers built the Salt Lake Temple...

this beautiful building in the back ground here.

It stands today and will forever stand
as a testament to these great people.

I still can hardly understand how they did it.
As one stands and looks up at it, it is so stunning!

Built out of granite stone, carved out of the near by mountains,
you wonder.... how did they do it?!

It would be a monumental task even in this day
with all the knowledge and power tools and heavy
machinery to do it.

They were amazing people...our pioneers.

Can you imagine coming across mountain passes like this...

in the winter time...with wagons...and clothing that was not

warm enough and not enough food for man or animal?


Being driven by what you believed in so strongly, seeking to live it in freedom.
Knowing that God was your guide, trusting in him for protection and care.

Salt Lake City today...a most beautiful, clean city...

It has blossomed as the rose.

The... "This is the Place"... monument. It stands at the mouth

of the canyon that the pioneers came through,

as a testament and tribute to all of those great souls.

~Another view of the mountains that surround Salt Lake City~

When the pioneers first got into the Salt Lake Valley,

they were directed by Brigham Young to start a choir.

They were refined people from many countries all over

the world and it was so important for them to continue

on with all they things that they loved.

This is the same choir that you know as the famous

world choir... or... America's choir,

"The Mormon Tabernacle Choir."

So today as every year since the pioneers came, we celebrate.

We celebrate them and us and the joy of living in Utah.

We celebrate with a huge parade and rodeo, and families

gather together to remember their precious ancestors and their

families of today...with hearts filled with great gratitude for blessings unnumbered.

The president and prophet of our church today...
Thomas S. Monson...saying Hello to all from the parade route.

I am so grateful for my pioneer ancestors and I love them
with all my heart for all that they did to bless my life today...

~HAPPY PIONEER DAY~