Lesson 36: “The Desert Shall Rejoice, and Blossom as the Rose”

Purpose

To help class members understand how they have been blessed by the sacrifices of the early Saints in the Salt Lake Valley and to encourage them to follow the example of these faithful members.

Preparation

• Prayerfully study Our Heritage, pages 81–96.
  • "The First Year in the Valley" and "Explorations" (pages 82–84).
  • "Callings to Colonize" (pages 86–89).
  • "Missionaries Answer the Call" (pages 84–86).
  • "Missionary Work" (pages 93–96).
• Review the material for this lesson in the Class Member Study Guide.
• To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
  • "Ministry of Brigham Young: The Master Builder."
  • Additional historical material for this lesson.

Discussion and Application

1. "Right here will stand the temple of our God."

• On 28 July 1847, four days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, President Brigham Young stood on the spot where the Salt Lake Temple now stands. He struck his cane on the ground and said, "Right here will stand the temple of our God" (in Wilford Woodruff, Deseret Evening News, 25 July 1888, 2). Thus the sacrifice and blessings of building another temple began.
• Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve said, "The pioneers were hungry and weary; they needed food and rest; a hostile desert looked them in the face; yet in the midst of such physical requirements they turned first to the building of temples and to the spiritual food and strength that the temples provide" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1943, 38).
• Within one week after President Young marked the spot for the temple, the Saints began surveying the new city, with the temple at the center of the survey. The layout of the city focused the people on the temple.
  • Why should the temple be central in our lives today? (See the following quotation.) How can we make the temple a more important part of our lives? President Howard W. Hunter taught: "We … emphasize the personal blessings of temple worship and the sanctity and safety that are provided within those hallowed walls. It is the house of the Lord, a place of revelation and of peace. As we attend the temple, we learn more richly and deeply the purpose of life and the significance of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us make the temple, with temple worship and temple covenants and temple marriage, our ultimate earthly goal and the supreme mortal experience. …
    "May you let the meaning and beauty and peace of the temple come into your everyday life more directly" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 118; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 87–88).
• That excavation for the large foundation was done by hand, requiring thousands of hours of labor. The cornerstones were laid on 6 April 1853. After a few years of work on the foundation, the Saints stopped work because of a problem with the United States government. The president of the United States had heard false stories that the Saints were rebelling against the government, so he sent an army to the Salt Lake Valley. In response, President Young had the Saints cover the foundation with dirt to make it look like an ordinary field.
• When the Saints later unearthed the sandstone foundation, they noticed cracks in the rocks. They removed the sandstone and replaced it with solid granite blocks. President Young insisted that only the best materials and craftsmanship be used in the construction of the temple. He said: "I want to see the temple built in a manner that it will endure through the Millennium. This is not the only temple we shall build; there will be hundreds of them built and dedicated to the Lord. … And when the Millennium is over, … I want that temple still to stand as a proud monument of the faith, perseverance and industry of the Saints of God in the mountains, in the nineteenth century" (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 395).
• It took years for the Saints to quarry, transport, and shape the granite blocks for the construction of the temple. During this time, they struggled just to survive, as they lost crops to the elements, served missions in faraway lands, and accepted calls to leave their homes and establish communities in remote areas. In spite of these many challenges, the Saints persevered, and with the Lord's help they prevailed. The Salt Lake Temple was dedicated in 1893, 40 years after the cornerstones had been laid.
  • What can we learn from the perseverance of the Saints as they built the Salt Lake Temple? 
  • How can the Saints' example of perseverance help us? 
  • When Jeffrey R. Holland was president of Brigham Young University, he compared the building of our lives to the building of the Salt Lake Temple:
    "The prestigious Scientific American referred to [the Salt Lake Temple] as a 'monument to Mormon perseverance.' And so it was. Blood, toil, tears, and sweat. The best things are always worth finishing. 'Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?' (1 Corinthians 3:16.) Most assuredly we are. As long and laborious as the effort may seem, we must keep shaping and setting the stones that will make our accomplishments 'a grand and imposing spectacle.' We must take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow, dream dreams and see visions, work toward their realization, wait patiently when we have no other choice, lean on our sword and rest a while, but get up and fight again. … We are laying the foundation of a great work—our own inestimable future" (However Long and Hard the Road [1985], 127).

2. The Saints were obedient as they settled and colonized the Salt Lake Valley and the surrounding areas.

• The Saints faced great challenges as they began the task of settling the Salt Lake Valley and the surrounding areas. 
  • "The First Year in the Valley" and "Explorations" from Our Heritage, pages 82–84.
    • What characteristics helped the Saints overcome the great difficulties they faced during their first years in the Salt Lake Valley? 
    • What situations in our lives today might require these same characteristics?
    • How were the Saints blessed during their times of adversity? 
    • How has the Lord blessed you in times of adversity?
  • Read "Callings to Colonize" from Our Heritage, pages 86–89.
  • What impresses you about the stories of Charles Lowell Walker and Charles C. Rich?
  • These two brethren and their families are great examples of obedience. One of the great teachings of Church history is that we will be blessed as we obey the Lord and follow His prophets. The Doctrine and Covenants also contains many teachings about the blessings of obedience. 
    • Read the following scriptures. Ponder what each passage teaches about obedience, as shown below.
      • a. D&C 58:2–4. (If we keep the commandments and are "faithful in tribulation," we will be "crowned with much glory.")
      • b. D&C 64:33–34. (Those who are willing and obedient will be blessed in the land of Zion in the last days.)
      • c. D&C 82:10. (The Lord is bound when we do what He says. He will bless us when we obey His commandments.)
      • d. D&C 93:1. (Those who repent, come unto the Savior, and keep His commandments will see His face.)
      • e. D&C 130:19–21. (A person who gains more knowledge and intelligence through diligence and obedience in this life will have an advantage in the world to come. We obtain blessings by obeying God's laws.)
        • What experiences could you appropriately share that have taught you the importance of obedience? 
        • Although we are not called to colonize new areas, in what ways are we asked to obey the prophet today?
        • What feelings do you have when you are obedient to God's will?

3. Missionaries made sacrifices to teach the gospel throughout the world.

• While the Saints settled in the Salt Lake Valley, President Brigham Young called many missionaries to serve throughout the world. 
  • "Missionaries Answer the Call" from Our Heritage, pages 84–86.
    • In what areas of the world did the Saints preach the gospel while President Brigham Young led the Church?
    • What sacrifices did these early Saints make to share the gospel with people around the world?
    • How did the faith and prayers of Elder Lorenzo Snow help open the hearts of the people in Italy to the gospel message?
    • What can we learn from the examples of 
      • Elder Edward Stevenson? 
      • Elizabeth and Charles Wood? 
      • Elder Joseph F. Smith?
• President Brigham Young led the Church for 33 years. After President Young died in 1877, John Taylor led the Church for three years as President of the Quorum of the Twelve and was then sustained as President of the Church on 10 October 1880 (Our Heritage, page 93).
• Under President Taylor's leadership, the Saints continued to preach the gospel throughout the world.
  • "Missionary Work" from Our Heritage, pages 93–96.
    • In what areas of the world did the Saints preach the gospel while President John Taylor led the Church?
    • How was Milton Trejo guided throughout his life to be able to participate in building the kingdom of God? 
    • How can we better prepare ourselves to build the kingdom of God?
    • What can we learn from the stories of 
      • Elder Thomas Biesinger?
      • Elders Kimo Pelio and Samuela Manoa?
      • Elder and Sister Dean?
      • Jonathan and Kitty Napela?

Conclusion

In the Salt Lake Valley, the Saints built a strong foundation for the Lord's temple and for their lives. We can all follow the early Saints' example of faith, perseverance, obedience, and desire to share the gospel.

Lesson 35: “A Mission of Saving”

Preparation

To teach about the rescue of the Martin and Willie handcart companies, to show that the gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of rescue, and to encourage class members to help rescue those in need.

Preparation 

• Prayerfully study the following scriptures and other materials:
  • Doctrine and Covenants 4:3–7; 18:10–16; 52:40;81:5–6; 138:58.
  • 3 Nephi 18:31–32; Moroni 7:45–48
  • Our Heritage, pages 77–80.
• Review the material for this lesson in the Class Member Study Guide.
• To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
  • "Five Things You Might Not Know about the Handcart Rescue": This gallery highlights some key facts about the rescue of the Willie and Martin handcart companies.
  • Willie and Martin Remembered: This online exhibit gives artistic depictions of the two handcart companies' experiences.
  • "How the Rescue of Handcart Pioneers Helped Revive the Relief Society": This article discusses the connection between the handcart rescue and Relief Society history.
  • "Time Line: Rescues of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies and the Hodgetts and Hunt Wagon Companies": This timeline helps lay out the order of events for the companies and rescuers.
  • "Relief Society and Revolution": This short story highlights the work of Relief Society sisters who made great sacrifices to care for others during the Mexican Revolution.

Discussion and Application

1. President Brigham Young guided the rescue of the Martin and Willie handcart companies.

Read the first paragraph under "Handcart Pioneers" on page 77 of Our Heritage. Then read the following account as told by President Gordon B. Hinckley:

"I take you back to the general conference of October 1856. On Saturday of that conference, Franklin D. Richards and a handful of associates arrived in the valley. They had traveled from Winter Quarters with strong teams and light wagons and had been able to make good time. Brother Richards immediately sought out President Young. He reported that there were hundreds of men, women, and children scattered over the long trail. … They were in desperate trouble. Winter had come early. Snow-laden winds were howling across the highlands. … Our people were hungry; their carts and their wagons were breaking down; their oxen dying. The people themselves were dying. All of them would perish unless they were rescued.

"I think President Young did not sleep that night. I think visions of those destitute, freezing, dying people paraded through his mind. The next morning he came to the old Tabernacle which stood on this square. He said to the people:

"'I will now give this people the subject and the text for the Elders who may speak. … It is this. … Many of our brethren and sisters are on the plains with handcarts, and probably many are now seven hundred miles from this place, and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them. The text will be, "to get them here. …

"'That is my religion; that is the dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess. It is to save the people. …

"'I shall call upon the Bishops this day. I shall not wait until tomorrow, nor until the next day, for 60 good mule teams and 12 or 15 wagons. I do not want to send oxen. I want good horses and mules. They are in this Territory, and we must have them. Also 12 tons of flour and 40 good teamsters, besides those that drive the teams. …

"'I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the Celestial Kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains' (in LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W. Hafen, Handcarts to Zion [1960], 120–21).

"That afternoon, food, bedding, and clothing in great quantities were assembled by the women. The next morning, horses were shod and wagons were repaired and loaded. The following morning, … 16 mule teams pulled out and headed eastward. By the end of October there were 250 teams on the road to give relief" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 117–18; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 85–86).

The Martin and Willie handcart companies had done all they could to reach the Salt Lake Valley, but they could go no farther. They needed to be rescued. Without the rescue parties, they all would have died.

• What experiences have you had in which you have been rescued? How did you feel when you were in need of help? How did you feel when someone came to your aid?
• How might the Saints in the handcart companies have felt when the rescue parties found them?

President Hinckley shared this account of the rescue:

"It was in … desperate and terrible circumstances—hungry, exhausted, their clothes thin and ragged—that [the handcart companies] were found by the rescue party. As the rescuers appeared on the western horizon breaking a trail through the snow, they seemed as angels of mercy. And indeed they were. The beleaguered emigrants shouted for joy, some of them. Others, too weak to shout, simply wept and wept and wept.

"There was now food to eat and some warmer clothing. But the suffering was not over, nor would it ever end in mortality. Limbs had been frozen, and the gangrenous flesh sloughed off from the bones.

"The carts were abandoned, and the survivors were crowded into the wagons of the rescuers. The long rough journey of three hundred, four hundred, even five hundred miles between them and this valley was especially slow and tedious because of the storms. On November 30, 104 wagons, loaded with suffering human cargo, came into the Salt Lake Valley. Word of their expected arrival had preceded them. It was Sunday, and again the Saints were gathered in the Tabernacle. Brigham Young stood before the congregation and said:

"'As soon as this meeting is dismissed I want the brethren and sisters to repair to their homes. …

"'The afternoon meeting will be omitted, for I wish the sisters to … prepare to give those who have just arrived a mouthful of something to eat, and to wash them and nurse them. …

"'Some you will find with their feet frozen to their ankles; some are frozen to their knees and some have their hands frosted … ; we want you to receive them as your own children, and to have the same feeling for them' (quoted in Hafen, Handcarts to Zion, p. 139)" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 76–77; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 54).

• What impresses you about the efforts to rescue the handcart pioneers?

2. The Savior rescues us through His atoning sacrifice.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of rescue. In a conference address, after sharing the story of the rescue of the handcart companies, President Gordon B. Hinckley testified of the rescuing mission of the Savior:

"It is because of the sacrificial redemption wrought by the Savior of the world that the great plan of the eternal gospel is made available to us, under which those who die in the Lord shall not taste of death but shall have the opportunity of going on to a celestial and eternal glory.

"In our own helplessness, He becomes our rescuer, saving us from damnation and bringing us to eternal life.

"In times of despair, in seasons of loneliness and fear, He is there on the horizon to bring succor and comfort and assurance and faith. He is our King, our Savior, our Deliverer, our Lord and our God" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 78; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 54).

• In what ways do we need to be rescued by the Savior? Why is the Savior able to rescue us? (See Alma 7:11–13; D&C 18:11–12.) What must we do to fully receive His offer of rescue?

3. As Latter-day Saints, we are to rescue those in need.

Display the picture of the three young men rescuing handcart pioneers. Then read the following story shared by President Thomas S. Monson:

"Let us for a moment join Captain Edward Martin and the handcart company he led. While we will not feel the pangs of hunger which they felt or experience the bitter cold that penetrated their weary bodies, we will emerge from our visit with a better appreciation of hardship borne, courage demonstrated, and faith fulfilled. We will witness with tear-filled eyes a dramatic answer to the question 'Am I my brother's keeper?'

"'The handcarts moved on November 3 and reached the [Sweetwater] river, filled with floating ice. To cross would require more courage and fortitude, it seemed, than human nature could muster. Women shrank back and men wept. Some pushed through, but others were unequal to the ordeal.

"'Three eighteen-year-old boys belonging to the relief party came to the rescue; and to the astonishment of all who saw, carried nearly every member of that ill-fated handcart company across the snow-bound stream. The strain was so terrible, and the exposure so great, that in later years all the boys died from the effects of it. When President Brigham Young heard of this heroic act, he wept like a child, and later declared publicly, "That act alone will ensure C. Allen Huntington, George W. Grant, and David P. Kimball an everlasting salvation in the Celestial Kingdom of God, worlds without end"' (LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W. Hafen, Handcarts to Zion[Glendale, California: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1960], pp. 132–33).

"Our service to others may not be so dramatic, but we can bolster human spirits, clothe cold bodies, feed hungry people, comfort grieving hearts, and lift to new heights precious souls" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1990, 61–62; or Ensign, May 1990, 46–47).

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we have a rescue mission. "Our mission in life, as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ," said President Gordon B. Hinckley, "must be a mission of saving" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 78; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 59). 

As President Monson said, our service may not be as dramatic as the sacrifice made by the three young men in the story. However, we can help rescue family members, friends, and others through our simple daily efforts to love, serve, and teach them.

• What are some specific things we can do to rescue those in need?
  Referring to the suffering of the Martin and Willie handcart companies, President Hinckley said:
  
  "I am grateful that those days of pioneering are behind us. I am thankful that we do not have brethren and sisters stranded in the snow, freezing and dying, while trying to get to this, their Zion in the mountains. But there are people, not a few, whose circumstances are desperate and who cry out for help and relief.
  
  "There are so many who are hungry and destitute across this world who need help. … Ours is a great and solemn duty to reach out and help them, to lift them, to feed them if they are hungry, to nurture their spirits if they thirst for truth and righteousness.
  
  "There are so many young people who wander aimlessly and walk the tragic trail of drugs, gangs, immorality, and the whole brood of ills that accompany these things. There are widows who long for friendly voices and that spirit of anxious concern which speaks of love. There are those who were once warm in the faith, but whose faith has grown cold. Many of them wish to come back but do not know quite how to do it. They need friendly hands reaching out to them. With a little effort, many of them can be brought back to feast again at the table of the Lord.
  
  "My brethren and sisters, I would hope, I would pray that each of us … would resolve to seek those who need help, who are in desperate and difficult circumstances, and lift them in the spirit of love into the embrace of the Church, where strong hands and loving hearts will warm them, comfort them, sustain them, and put them on the way of happy and productive lives" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 118; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 86).

Read the following scriptures, looking for counsel on what we can do to rescue those in need. Use the questions to encourage discussion and application.

1. D&C 4:3–7; Moroni 7:45–48. How can the qualities listed in these verses help us rescue those in need?
2. D&C 18:10–16. What opportunities do we have to teach the gospel and lead others to repentance?
3. D&C 52:40. What can we do to help "the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted"? Why are we not the Savior's disciples if we do not help those in need?
4. D&C 81:5–6. What does it mean to "lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees"? How might this commandment apply to spiritual needs as well as physical needs?
5. D&C 138:58. How do we rescue people through temple work?
6. 3 Nephi 18:31–32. What can we do to "continue to minister" to those who have fallen away?

• Reflect on the rescue of the Martin and Willie handcart companies. As we strive to rescue others, what can we learn from the examples of President Brigham Young and the Saints who rescued the stranded handcart companies?

Lesson 34: Faith in Every Footstep

Purpose

To help class members understand how the pioneers’ journey to the Salt Lake Valley parallels our journey back to our Heavenly Father and to help class members appreciate the sacrifices made by the pioneers.

Preparation

• Prayerfully study the following scriptures and other materials:
  • Doctrine and Covenants 136.
• Review the material for this lesson in the Class Member Study Guide.
• To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
  • "This Shall Be Our Covenant."
  • "Ministry of Brigham Young: A Visionary Leader."
  • Additional historical material for this lesson.
• Prayerfully study the following sections in Our Heritage:
  • "Winter Quarters" (pages 71–72).
  • "The Brooklyn Saints" (pages 74–75).
  • "The Gathering Continues" (pages 75–76).
  • "This Is the Right Place" (pages 76–77).

Discussion and Application

1. The Lord instructed the Saints regarding their physical preparations for their journey. Our Heritage, pages 71–72.

• The Saints in Winter Quarters suffered much from sickness and other hardships, yet they continued working and making preparations for their journey. 
  • In what ways were they and others blessed for their continued determination?
    • Answers could include that their preparations made their journey easier and helped those who would come after them.
  • How have you been blessed by persevering in a time of hardship?
  • How can persevering in a time of difficulty help those who come after us?

At Winter Quarters in January 1847, President Brigham Young received a revelation concerning the Saints' westward journey. This revelation is recorded in D&C 136.

• What instructions did the Lord give the Saints regarding preparations for their journey?
• Read the following verses and identify the instructions in each passage.

a. D&C 136:2. (Make a "covenant and promise to keep all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.")

• Why was this instruction so important for the Saints?
• How can we apply this instruction to our journey?

b. D&C 136:3. (Organize companies under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve, with a president and two counselors and with captains of hundreds, fifties, and tens.)

• How is this organization similar to the way wards and stakes are organized?

c. D&C 136:5. ("Let each company provide themselves with all … they can.")

• Why is it important that we strive to be self-reliant?

d. D&C 136:6. ("Prepare for those who are to tarry [remain behind].")

• What preparations did the Saints make for those who would remain behind? (See D&C 136:7, 9.) 
• How can this instruction apply to us?

e. D&C 136:8. (Care for "the poor, the widows, [and] the fatherless.") 

• How can we fulfill these responsibilities today?

f. D&C 136:10. ("Let every man use all his influence and property to remove this people to … a stake of Zion.")

• How can this instruction apply to us?

2. The Lord instructed the Saints regarding their conduct. D&C 136:17–33. 

In addition to giving instructions on physical preparations, the Lord gave the Saints directions regarding spiritual matters and their conduct toward each other.

• What instructions did the Lord give the Saints about how they should conduct themselves?
  • Read the following verses and identify the instructions in each passage.

a. D&C 136:19. ("If any man shall seek to build up himself, and seeketh not my counsel, he shall have no power.")

• Why would humility be important to the Saints on their journey?
• How do people sometimes seek to build themselves up?
• How can we more fully seek the Lord's glory rather than our own?

b. D&C 136:21. ("Keep yourselves from evil to take the name of the Lord in vain." See also Exodus 20:7.) 

• Why is it important that we treat the Lord's name with reverence?

c. D&C 136:23–24. ("Cease to contend one with another; cease to speak evil one of another. … Let your words tend to edifying one another.")

• How do contentions and evil speaking hinder us as a people?
• How can we overcome contentions with each other?
• What can we do to edify each other?

d. D&C 136:25–26. (Return borrowed or lost items.)
e. D&C 136:27. ("Be diligent in preserving what thou hast.")

• What do you think it means to be a "wise steward"? 
• How can our stewardship over physical possessions affect our spiritual well-being?

In D&C 136:28, the Lord gives instruction on appropriate recreation. 

• Speaking on this subject, Elder David O. McKay taught: "On the plains, after a day's march, the wagons were drawn up in a circle, a man with the violin would take his place by the campfire and there on the prairie the sturdy Pioneers would join hands in a dance, opening it by prayer, and participate in amusement that fostered the spirit of the gospel. … President Brigham Young … once said, in substance: 'The atmosphere of the dance should be such that if any elder be called from the party to go to administer to a sick person, he could leave with the same spirit that he would go from his elders' quorum meeting'" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1920, 117).
• How can we apply this counsel?
• What did the Lord instruct the Saints to do to learn wisdom? (See D&C 136:32–33.) 
  • In what ways have you found these instructions to be true in your life?

3. Under the direction of President Brigham Young, the Saints journeyed to the Salt Lake Valley. Refer to map 3 on page 31 in the Class Member Study Guide. 

Two years before the Prophet Joseph Smith died, he prophesied that "the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky Mountains," and that some of them would "live to go and assist in making settlements and build cities and see the Saints become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255). In fulfillment of this prophecy, some 70,000 Church members from all over the world made the trek to Utah between 1847 and 1869.

Exodus to the West. On 4 February 1846 the first wagons crossed the Mississippi River to begin the historic trek west.
There are many stories of faith and courage as the Saints journeyed to Utah.

• Review the following sections from Our Heritage: 
  • "The Brooklyn Saints" (pages 74–75),
  • "The Gathering Continues" (pages 75–76), and
  • "This Is the Right Place" (pages 76–77).
• How do you feel when you consider the legacy of faith and sacrifice that the pioneers and other Saints have given us?
• Who are the pioneers of the Church in your area?
• How can we pass on this same kind of legacy to those who will follow us?
• What lessons can we learn from the pioneer trek to help us on our journey back to God's presence?
  • Elder M. Russell Ballard taught "Life isn't always easy. At some point in our journey we may feel much as the pioneers did as they crossed Iowa—up to our knees in mud, forced to bury some of our dreams along the way. We all face rocky ridges, with the wind in our face and winter coming on too soon. Sometimes it seems as though there is no end to the dust that stings our eyes and clouds our vision. Sharp edges of despair and discouragement jut out of the terrain to slow our passage. … Occasionally we reach the top of one summit in life, as the pioneers did, only to see more mountain peaks ahead, higher and more challenging than the one we have just traversed. Tapping unseen reservoirs of faith and endurance, we, as did our forebears, inch ever forward toward that day when our voices can join with those of all pioneers who have endured in faith, singing, 'All is well! All is well!'" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 82; or Ensign, May 1997, 61).

Conclusion
In many ways our journey toward eternal life is similar to the journey of the pioneers across America. The pioneers crossed the plains at profound personal sacrifice and often under severe hardship. Demonstrating great faith, courage, and endurance, they set an example for us to follow.

This is our day in the history of the kingdom of God on the earth. The pioneers laid the foundation, but it is now up to us to complete the work. As President James E. Faust testified, "Faith in every future footstep will fulfill prophetic vision concerning the glorious destiny of this Church" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1997, 58; or Ensign, Nov. 1997, 42).

Elder M. Russell Ballard said: "We are the inheritors of a tremendous heritage. Now it is our privilege and responsibility to be part of the Restoration's continuing drama, and there are great and heroic stories of faith to be written in our day. It will require every bit of our strength, wisdom, and energy to overcome the obstacles that will confront us. But even that will not be enough. We will learn, as did our pioneer ancestors, that it is only in faith—real faith, whole-souled, tested and tried—that we will find safety and confidence as we walk our own perilous pathways through life" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 83; or Ensign, May 1997, 61).