Pioneers

Today is Pioneer Day.  Members of our church celebrate today and remember the pioneers who left their homes and journeyed across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley.  They left because they were being persecuted; their homes and crops were attacked and burned by mobs, the men were beaten and sometimes killed, even the women and children were attacked.  In order to find a place where they could live and worship in peace, they left their home and country and found a new home in unclaimed territory.  The journey was perilous and many did not make it.  But after traveling (mostly on foot) for 1300 miles, the Saints finally reached the Salt Lake Valley. 

As we remember the early pioneers, we also celebrate modern day pioneers.  I see Ryan as a modern day pioneer; he and his brother are the first in his family to join the church.  I see my brothers and sister as modern day pioneers; they are the first in our family to serve a mission for the church.  Check out this video:



There is one hymn that every church member associates with pioneers, and in fact, the pioneers themselves sung it along the trail.  I found this beautiful video using an original arrangement of the hymn on YouTube, the words to the hymn follow:



Come, Come, Ye Saints

1. 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!

 

2. 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!

 

3. 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!

 

4. 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!

 Happy Pioneer Day!