Pioneer Day in Utah

Today's a unique holiday just for Utahans;

we celebrate July 24, 1847 Pioneer Day

when the first wagon train of Mormons persecuted,

driven from their Nauvoo, Illinois homes,
arrived in the barren Salt Lake Basin.

They were finally safe from their enemies

who had martyred their prophet Joseph Smith,

burned their homes and persecuted them

for their religious faith and unique beliefs.

Safety and distance now separated them.

Spread across the wide prairies, living

in makeshift homes, dugouts and wagons,

they were free from fear for awhile.

Here outside the United States territory,

they would make their homes, build temples.

The first wagon train was lead by the new

prophet Brigham Young who pronounced

This the right place, drive on, when seeing

the Salt Lake valley from his wagon.

Soon crops were planted for sustenance,

a fort built for protection from Indians.

Other Latter-day Saints in Nebraska,

Iowa and Illinois were requested to come

build Zion-a place of peace and rest

that would eventually become Utah state.

I am here because of those pioneers,

my pioneers on both sides of my family

who believed, sacrificed and made a home

here in the Rocky Mountains and sagebrushed

red rock hills of my beloved homeland UTAH.