As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord: Celebrating Pioneers

For those who may not be familiar with the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the 24th of July is a BIG thing. Marcia's brother Max thought it was all about him as the 24th is his birthday. It was just last year, as they were living in Provo, UT, that he realized that this particular day really didn't have anything to do with his birthday. He is in therapy but we believe he will recover.

It was back in the 1840s when the Latter-Day Saints began their migration to the Rocky Mountains. The Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, had been murdered while being "protected" in a jail located about 20 miles south of the city of Nauvoo called Carthage. The date was June 27th, 1844. At the time of this event Joseph was the mayor of Nauvoo and was an active presidential candidate for the upcoming national elections. At the time of their martyrdom the city of Nauvoo was the largest city in Illinois and it was a place of respite for the Saints as they had been chased out of Ohio in the the mid 1830s and then Missouri towards the late 1830s.

American Expansion 1818-1853 ( http://kcjohnson.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/american-expansion-1818-1853-map-mediumthumb.jpg)

During the year following their death the Saints began preparations to move, as a people, to the safety of the Rocky Mountains which were beyond the territorial boundaries of the United States at that time.

To make a long story short- through much trial and tribulations, the Saints journeyed west to settle next to the Great Salt Lake. It was in 1847 when the first pioneers looked at the territory which would become their home. Pioneer Day is the celebration of that event. Here in Utah they call it "Days of 47."

Marcia and I didn't have training today so we were able to go with Bri's husband, William, and his mother and sister. Marcia and I love a great parade. This was a great parade!!