"Blessed, Honored Pioneer!"

Today is what we Mormons call Pioneer Day. On this day in 1847, the first wagon train of Saints entered the Salt Lake Valley.


They traveled through five states; that's 1297 miles from Nauvoo, IL.¹ And that's not including the travels of others Saints who crossed the Atlantic or came from New York and other eastern states. 

Trek by Covered Wagons

The trek by wagon was hard. At first everyone went by wagon. The only thing was, it was expensive. In 1856 it cost $93 per person to go by wagon.²

The Brooklyn Saints

Some Saints didn't have enough money to take the trail overland but they did have enough for a very long sea voyage. The Brooklyn went from New York, all the way around the horn of South America, and finally landed in California where most of those seafaring Saints stayed for a time.

The Handcart Pioneers

Handcarts were used by Saints who didn't have enough money for wagons and this way the Church could get more people to Utah. Handcarts were cheaper but harder.

These determined Saints came across the plains pulling and pushing handcarts; a wooden box on two wheels. (This is the part where I would have a picture but it didn't work out. Don't you love technology?)

Because of the size of the "vehicle", you couldn't exactly pack up your house and take it with you. Even with a wagon, you had a certain weight each person could take along.

So on this day, July 24th, we Mormons celebrate our ancestors and early Brothers and Sisters who pushed and pulled, walked and struggled, all the way to Zion. Thank you.

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1. lds.org.

2. https://history.lds.org/bc/content/images/historic-sites/handcart-trek/handcart-infographics-wagons-vs-handcarts-luke-perkins.jpg

If you're interested in learning more about the Mormon pioneers you can go to this website: https://history.lds.org/article/remembering-handcart-pioneers-in-the-sweetwater-valley?lang=eng. This page specifically focuses on the handcart pioneers.

If you want you can even read Gerald N. Lund's book about two of the handcart companies. His book is titled Fire of the Covenant. (It's really good.)