Pioneer Day

"Though we have rightly applauded our ancestors for their spiritual achievement... those of us who prevail today will have done no small thing. The special spirits who have been reserved to live in this time of challenges and who overcome will one day be praised for their stamina by those who pulled handcarts."

~ Neal A. Maxwell (Notwithstanding My Weakness, p. 18)


"The courage of the pioneers was really just getting up everyday and doing what needed to be done that day. For most of the pioneers, most of the time, the trek westward consisted of getting up, building fires, cooking breakfast, feeding and watering the animals, breaking camp, walking 6 miles, stopping for lunch and resting the animals, feeding and watering them again, making any needed repairs, stopping at rivers to gather water, wash clothes, maybe walk another 5 miles and then setting up camp, building fires, cooking dinner, eating, praying, singing, maybe some dancing, and getting to bed to do it all over again tomorrow. They made little progress each day, but each step, each mile brought them closer to an amazing and timeless legacy. We may not see the far reaching effects of our day-to-day diligence, but it is being built nonetheless."

~ Virginia H. Pearce (1997 General Young Women Mtg.)