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Show "Pioneers" y V s . : , - fire would burn in their souls as they set sail for America and for their Zion. Little did they realize what the future really held for them. The first Pilgrims fled the old world for a new world so they would worship God according to the dictates of their conscience but had little tolerance for other views. The message of a restoration did not sit well with many who protested the old world religion, for a new world and a new view of God's word. The ultimate act of barbarism toward the Mormon people was the issuance of the "Extermination Order" signed by the Governor of Illinois. Plea after plea to government officials had fallen on deaf ears. Promises of protection left the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith Jr. and his brother Ilyrum Smith dead. The mantle of leadership eventually fell on Brigham Young. It would be his task to lead the Mormon people westward, outside the boundaries of the United States into Mexican territory. Brigham Young was a man with vision. Following the Mexican War, Brigham Young asked the United States Congress to give the Mormon people one sixth of the land mass of the United States for a new territory. Congress was not about to grant Brigham Young his request for there were two twin evils. Slavery was one and polygamy was the second. Brigham Young, the modern Moses, wasted no time colonizing the area Congress did grant him. Early explorers had declared the area as basically uninhabitable by Europeans. One even offered a huge sum for the first bushel of corn that could be grown in the Great Basin. Relatively small bands (tribes) of Indians (Native Americans) inhabited various parts of the region. Earlier Native American populations had ceased to exist. The visionary Brigham Young had dreams that far exceeded any optimist. He was determined to make the desert blossom as a rose. Today the Salt Lake Temple and Salt Lake Tabernacle are just two tributes to his vision. Few people realize that in our community lives the man who knows more about the Salt Lake Tabernacle than any living human being. He might even know more than the people who built the original structure. He knows every square inch of this historic structure erected by early pioneers. Mormon leaders realized that this magnificent structure was in need of repair and retrofit to meet modern codes. John Emery, from here in Pleasant Grove, was selected to oversee this historic effort. President Gordon B. Hinckley told the men in charge of work on the Tabernacle that they would be spending a lot of money to make it look like they didn't do anything. When I visited with John about the Tabernacle he said something very interesting. He told me that there was something very special about the Mormon Tabernacle. This comes from a man who recently oversaw the redoing of the historic capitol building in Idaho. This comes from a man who has helped build the finest of modern buildings. This July a small group of people from Pleasant Grove will have the rare opportunity to hear John speak about this very special pioneer structure. Those who hear John's message will come away with a greater appreciation for those first Mormon pioneers that showed those explorers they could not only raise a bushel of corn but structures that would still amaze modern builders. years ago the first company of Mormon pioneers entered what we now call the Salt Lake Valley. After a long arduous journey, the end was in sight. These saints had seen the best and worst of the land from Nauvoo, Illinois to their destination in the Great Basin. They had crossed miles and miles of sage brush, prairie and mountain ranges. They had traveled in the freezing snow and scorching sun. They had known human hardships and suffering of every kind. Hunger and death were their constant companions. Many pioneers were immigrants from foreign lands who sought a better life in America. The message they heard on foreign soil struck a responsive cord deep in their hearts and from that day, the by Mark Bezzant Thousands of people in our community have had what many would consider a life changing experience by walking a portion of the trail Mormon pioneers blazed over 150 years ago. Just 10 days from today, some 163 |