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Show Pioneer Trails The Valley 109 Years Ago Anions the West's most historic ;ind interesting sites is Ensign peak which stands as a sentinal above and almost in line with and northerly from Main Street in Salt Lake City. When President Brigham Young emerged from the south side of Emigration Canyon on July 24, 1817, he obtained his first comprehensive com-prehensive view of the valley and on seeing what is now known as Ensign Peak, he said, "I want to go there." It was the very mount he had seen in vision in Nauvoo when the Prophet Joseph, after his death, appeared in vision and explained to him that it would be at the foot of that peak that the City of Zion would be built where the Saints would find peace and protection from their enemies. President Young and party arrived ar-rived at the pioneer camp in Salt Lake Valley shortly after noon on Saturday, July 24th. The President Presi-dent was still quite weak from an attack of mountain fever. Consequently, Conse-quently, during the remainder of that day and the next day he rested. Although two religious meetings were held on Sunday at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m., President Young refrained from speaking in an endeavor to regain his strength. About 10 a.m. the next morning, in company with Heber C. Kimball, Kim-ball, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, Ezra T. Benson, Willard Richards and Albert Carrington, he started on horseback to go to the top of Ensign Peak. After riding their mounts about two-thirds two-thirds of the way up, the horsemen horse-men climbed by foot the remainder of the distance to the top. The President was thoroughly fatigued but happy. After looking in every direction from this vantage point he said: "This is Ensign Peak. Now, Brethren organize your exploring parties, so as to be safe from the Indians; go and explore where you will, and you will come back every time and say THIS IS THE BEST PLACE." From that time on the peak was known as Mount Ensign; a holy location a place for the reception of sacred services. On October 21 1849, Mount Ensign was consecrated con-secrated and set apart for that very purpose. At the conference of October 6, 1849 Elder Addison Pratt, with others, was called to go to the Society Islands to preach the Gospel. President Brigham Young gives the following account of this historic occurrence and those present: pres-ent: "Myself and Elders Isaac Mor-ley Mor-ley P. P. Pratt, L. Snow, E. Snow, C C Rich and F. D. Richards, Levi Hancock, Henry Harriman and J. M. Grant being present President H. C. Kimball, Bishop N. K. Whitney and Elder John Taylor came after the ordinances were attended to. Elders C C Rich and Addison Pratt were blessed by all. President Kimball being mouth." With this sacred background, the Sons of Utah Pioneers must never be used for Commercial or for mercenary purposes. Rather iti must be developed into a beautiful and sacred shrine where visitors may be made acquainted with the purpose for which it was dedicated the place where Brigham Brig-ham Young first said, according to his own journals: "THIS IS THE BEST PLACE." |