Happy Pioneer Day

[_harmony]

Doesn't sound much like the God of love, does it?

No. But it does resemble the Mormon God. ;)

It resembles the Mormon prophet at the time.

[_Daniel Peterson]

It resembles the Mormon prophet at the time.

No. It doesn't, actually.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

It resembles the Mormon prophet at the time.

No. It doesn't, actually.

Hello,

Speaking of things 99.999% of the world doesn't give a crap about...

V/R
Dr. Cam

[_Daniel Peterson]

Speaking of things 99.999% of the world doesn't give a s*** about...

I'm not sure, Mister CamWC4Me, whether you were speaking of the subject focus of this message board on which you spend so much time and effort, or simply re-introducing yourself after a brief absence.

Please clarify.

[_just me]

Can we please keep my thread about pioneers and Pioneer Day? Please?

Daniel, thanks for linking your article. I will go read it now.

[_harmony]

Overwhelmingly, in my now fairly considerable experience, believing Latter-day Saints around the world regard the 1846-1869 Utah pioneers as at least among "their pioneers" whether or not those pioneers are biological ancestors. I'm perplexed by those very few who don't -- though I'm not at all surprised that unbelieving or nominal members of the Church feel no connection to earlier Saints.

We had a missionary farewell in sacrament meeting today, thankyouGod. So much more worthwhile than the ancestor worship of years' past. I see no more virtue in Utah pioneers than I do in any others who opened the West.

I claim no ancestor on pioneer treks to Utah, although I have several who opened the Kansas/Missouri frontier. I have no claim on anyone who led the way to Utah statehood, although I have one who signed the Declaration of Independence. I have no claim on Mormon royalty, although I have one who married into Scotland's royal family. I have no ancestor who was involved in polygamy; we tended to be faithful to our marriage vows, although we can document some who didn't bother with marriage vows at all.

Thus I feel no connection with Utah pioneers; their experiences were not my family's. I am DAR, not DUP. My stake is having a hand cart trek next month; many of my ward members are participating. Even if my health allowed it, I would not join. It would be a waste of time for me. They were not mine.

Happy Pioneer Day to you.

[_just me]

Obviously, I feel that Pioneer Day would be something more than 1% of the posters here would be interested in seeing as it is a Mormon discussion board. LOL

I wish I could share some of my pioneer stories without giving away my in real life identity.

[_harmony]

Obviously, I feel that Pioneer Day would be something more than 1% of the posters here would be interested in seeing as it is a Mormon discussion board. LOL

I wish I could share some of my pioneer stories without giving away my in real life identity.

You could change the names to protect the innocent. (That would not be Brigham...)

[_Daniel Peterson]

As I say, the overwhelming majority of faithful Latter-day Saints feel a strong connection to the Utah pioneers, regardless of biological ties to them or a lack thereof.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's sentiments are typical:

"We will always cherish our memories of the early Saints—their sacrifices, sorrows, and tears but also their courage, faith, and trust in the Lord as they too followed His prophet in their time.

"I have no ancestors among the nineteenth-century pioneers. However, since the first days of my Church membership, I have felt a close kinship to those early pioneers who crossed the plains. They are my spiritual ancestry, as they are for each and every member of the Church, regardless of nationality, language, or culture. They established not only a safe place in the West but also a spiritual foundation for the building of the kingdom of God in all the nations of the world."

Of course, for those who reject all or most of Mormonism and despise its leaders -- e.g., for Harmony, who is more or less a Bickertonite -- it's understandable that there will likely be no particular attachment to those who settled Utah.

[_harmony]

Of course, for those who reject all or most of Mormonism and despise its leaders -- e.g., for Harmony, who is more or less a Bickertonite -- it's understandable that there will likely be no particular attachment to those who settled Utah.

I give no allegiance to those who are responsible for the shame of polygamy in this church, just as I give no allegiance to those who are responsible for the shame of slavery in this country. My ancestors supported neither. My children cannot say the same.

And yet strangely enough, my tithes and offerings, my faith and sustaining vote allow me entrance into all the temples you can also attend. So until that changes, my membership in the LDS church makes me as Mormon as you.

Happy Pioneer Day.