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Show UTAH HISTORY TOLD IN POEM j (Written by George A. English, of Riverside, California, and one of the early residents of Beaver County.) Desolate, drear, forsaken, forlorn;. iJust as it was when the world was born, And since the day when the world ! was young That desert lay in the burning sun. Scant sage, dry, half dead and 'brown As the Wasatch snow-capped peaks looked down. This weary waste and lifeless plain Had ages long in solitude lain; Scorched and dry in the sun's hot rays, Brooding in silence in wavering haze That rose from sea of salt andl brine. Thus had it laid from dawn of time. This was the picture that met the j gaze I Of the pioneers of those memorable i days. Their prophet leader from bed of pain ; jWas lifted, and looked out over the I plain. ' i Desolate, dreary beyond compare, (But the gem ot life lay hidden there. His vision the stillness all did, efface, jHe uttered the sentence, "This is the place." As those prophetic words he spoke he weary oxen pressed in the yoke. jThef laden train moved on again j 'Led by those toil-worn, tired men. Iscarce any clothing; still less .food; They faced that waste of solitude What in the minds of those trail worn men; .What did they think would be the I end? i Did they picture, gardens and pros- I perous homes, (Or gleaming skulls and bleaching bones? j A wonderous temple, now viewed j with awe, That was the vision their leader saw. ;For God looked down on that waste plain, i With love he saw that trail worn train. He had sustained them day by -day; They knew He. would still show the j way. He kept them as only He could do, l And brought them safe their journey through. They would have fallen in despair Only they knew that God was there. I They'd won a lap of the mighty race, iAnd come to this, the chosen place. j With a faith not met in any age, I They start the task to clear the ' sage; . Prepare the soil; to sow the grain, 'That fruit of the ground might life sustain. IThey sowed in faith; they sowed in I fear. Starvation sure was very near. The season seemed so far advanced i Hope of harvest scarce had chanced. They ploughed and sowed but reap- ed no grain, Their labor then was all in vain. Cold and hunger was their fate Through winter forty-seven and i eight. As all things end the winter passed (Thrice welcome breeze replaced the r blast. They gathered herbs and segos too To keep their life that summer I through. iThey ploughed and sowed their . scanty seed, : And hoped for harvest against their need. - With slaking water on the ground No better soil could scarce be found. (The soil was rich beyond compare Just waiting for the water there. iWhat joy to heart of pioneer When green the fields did first ap-S ap-S pear. They praised their God and thanked ! Him too 'As only faithful saints would do. iHe'd saved them from the winter I snow ITo see the season's first seeds grow. They prayed no more they'd have to roam; iJust live in peace in desert home. I Men and women worked in haste , To carve out homes in that drear place. For a city they break the ground, j Whose fame shall spread the whole j world round: Save only God gave strength and health Could they build up that commonwealth. common-wealth. A place so beautiful and fair That few can equal anywhere. What iron hearts and faith sublime 'To plan a city in that clime! !They laid the footings on such plan j Its fame is known in every land. Drigham, prophet, priest and seer. Said. "We'll build our temple here." With plow and. pick they broke the i sod To build a temple to their God. They laid the walls so deep and true That it will last the ages through. 1 Each heavv stone brought day by I day iWith o., from twenty miles away. For forty years the walls were made Stone upon stone until cap was laid. Stone iiipon stone above the street To a height of two hundred twenty feet. From foot walls so strong and true To tip of horn Moroni blew, Men from every tongue and clime With love their labors did combine. There were no hirelings brought iu there; But all was done with loving care, j Each stone that in that wall appears, A monument to pioneers. Can you imagine such a task. And with what joy 'twas capped at last? We'll give God praise for strength and mind ! To do the task within the time. May we be sure and always bless The toil-worn hands that're now at rest. May we their sacred memory keep; They sowed in want that we might reap. To the faith they loved let us be true, Doing the things that they would do. Thein life a lesson for us stands, And now they rest their weary hands. May they find peace they sought in vain When God shall taken them back again. Remember them both night and day Where e'er true saints may kneel to pray. What greater statue could we build Than , keep ithe faith their lives to guild. Hail, our prophet! Mighty man! Who brought to earth the gospel plan. Many will love, but more will hate, But none deny his works were great. His work is done, he's in the grave, To seal the truth his life he gave. His truths were hard to understand, "Peace on earth, good will to man." That was taught by Joseph Smith. I know it's true; it is no myth; And we may all ithis truth sustain To bless him in the Savior's name. |