This is a talk for Sacrament Meeting, which is based upon and quotes talks given by then Elder Thomas S. Monson (Pioneers All) and Janette Hall Beckham (Modern Pioneers), both from April 1997 General Conference.
Pioneers are a big part of our family. I love the heritage that they have given to me. Our daughter Libby is named for a pioneer in our family, Speedy Esther Ellsworth. When Libby was one year old, in 1997, there was the big 150th anniversary celebration of the Pioneers coming into the Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young. At the time, we lived downtown Salt Lake City just a few blocks from the parade route.
In the historic parade that year was a large group that had reenacted the original trek and had walked and ridden in wagons from Council Bluffs, Iowa. They had arrived in Salt Lake at the “This is the Place” park amid great fanfare just the day before, to lead the parade this day.
At our house we had a large group of family and friends for breakfast before we headed over to the parade route to watch this group of modern pioneers go past, still in their dusty dressed and worn out pants. Tears were streaming from their faces and mine, as we waved to each other as they went by.
I am still moved by the memory of that day. The feelings of love and gratitude for what the great pioneers of the past had done for me and for the Church fill my heart.
My talk today is not just for the Young Women but also to the Young Men and the rest of us here today (those of us that consider ourselves young!)
We have all heard many stories about the pioneers from 1847 and their trek across the plains and coming into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24th. When we think of pioneers, we usually think of our own examples in our family of someone who fits the definition: “one who goes before, showing others the way to follow.” Many of us have great examples of pioneers who have made great sacrifices and left comforts behind in response to the call of faith.
In my own family, my great-great Grandma and Grandpa Blain. They joined the church in England and sold all of their possessions to sail with their seven children to America. As they were preparing to leave, my Grandpa Blain died, leaving Isabel to travel alone with her children. And they sailed anyway. They arrived with the pioneers entering the valley that July. Several years later she was asked by Brigham Young to be apart of a group that settled the Manti area. She was very poor and had only a little flour. In her journal she recorded that Brigham Young promised her that if she would always share that flour with whomever knocked on her door and asked, she would never be without food. Her testimony reflects her faith–that she followed this promise.
The journey Isabel took, that hundreds of other Mormon Pioneers took as well, is described as one of the great epics in United States history. As that struggle to make it to the Salt Lake Valley ended, each member of the trek arrived with a heart full of joy and thanksgiving. A journal page read “We bowed ourselves down in humble prayer to Almighty God with hearts full of thanksgiving to Him, and dedicated this land unto Him for the dwelling place of His people.”
We honor them and praise those who have endured incredible hardships. We praise their names and reflect on their sacrifices.
But what about our time? Are there pioneer experiences for us? Will future generations reflect with gratitude on us for our efforts and examples? President Thomas S. Monson said that “[we] can indeed be pioneers in courage, in faith, in charity and determination.” and the Apostle Paul said, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
The courage to take a step of faith is necessary as never before. For many of you, the first step of faith is baptism. Recently, while I was in Utah, I received a text from a young woman in the Ramona Oaks ward. Would I fast with her and her parents and the missionaries, who were fasting for one of her friends who was receiving the discussions from the missionaries and wanted to be baptized. They were fasting that the parents of this young investigator would be softened, and that she would have strength these next few weeks as challenges to her young faith would arise. Through her faith, her parents have agreed to let her be baptized.
Both of these girls are modern pioneers. Their example of faith and choosing a righteous path encourages others to follow. As it says in Proverbs 4:26, “Ponder the path of thy feet.” You can strengthen one another, you have the capacity to notice what goes unnoticed. You can reach out to those not on the path and rescue others your age.
You have strength and power in your testimonies. President Monson told a story of a time when he was in Czechoslovakia, before he was President. During a time when meetings for the Church was dangerous and freedom was curtailed, he met a young woman named Olga. She was about 25 years old and had, in the previous two years, brought 16 young men and young women her age into the Church. As President Monson met with them, he knew that they were truly converted to the gospel. They had learned the truth of the gospel and felt the strength of testimony–all from Olga. When President Monson complimented Olga and thanked her for having a testimony she was willing to share, she said, “Oh, Brother Monson, I have 14 others with whom I am working!” Later President Monson learned that almost all of those 14 became members of the Church. Your testimonies can make you a pioneer to your friends and also your family members.
So many of you are great examples. Some of you may choose invite a non-member or less-active young woman to go to a movie or the beach this summer. You may see a friend in the grocery store- someone you don’t see often and church and choose to engage them in a conversation there. You may send a text or facebook post of happiness and encouragement to another friend you haven’t seen since school let out.
Heavenly Father loves you for your strength and your courage. He is always there for you. He will not leave you alone. One of the great promises He has given to us when we are trying to live righteously and are serving Him is that He “Will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”
President Janette Hales Beckham told the story of a young woman named Kara who became a pioneer in her family. She came from a family that never attended church meetings. Her eighth birthday came and went, and she was not baptized. But being with the same courage of those early pioneers, she approached her father when she turned 12 and asked if she could be baptized. He said yes. Now she has been married in the temple, and she can instill her pioneering strength, her integrity, and her faith in her own children. What a great pioneer heritage she has given to them.
When you ask what are some of the noble characteristics of the pioneers that are found today, many of those traits describe your mom or dad, a grandmother or grandfather, an older sister or brother. You often see your leaders as pioneers- an advisor, sunday school teacher or bishop.
One young woman said that she was “Grateful for her modern pioneer mom. She joined the Church at 15, having spent the summer with Latter-day Saint relatives.”
Another young woman referenced her older brother who decided to follow the counsel of the prophet [when he began dating] to date no one exclusively. Her brother knew that so many teenagers were pairing off in dating. Her brother was extremely creative and careful to maintain high standards and keep good company. She said, “This may seem like a small thing, but it impressed me and helped me do the same thing when I began dating. When you are promoting righteousness, you’re being a hero in someone else’s like.
There are many occasions that we need to remember the early pioneers and each of us–pioneers of today– must have the same character and determination. We must have faith to walk away from those things that would tear us down or hold us back from our destinations. We must listen to the words of our prophets, love the Lord and keep the commandments.
We can make it. Heavenly Father wants us to. Our faith and courage and determination will bring us to him. Our steps of faith will bless future generations, just as those of the past have blessed ours. Through the things that we do, our children and our grandchildren will receive the blessings that the Lord has promised those who follow Him.
As the Pioneers of this generation, may our faith keep us on the path of eternal life. May our testimonies strengthen those around us and may our example shine brightly to bring others unto Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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