Worth seeing

17 Miracles

With ancestors Sarah Emily Wall (16 year old from the Willie Handcart Company with her 18 year old brother, Joseph Laban - traveling together without parents or other siblings) and Paul Gourley (father who traveled with his family in the Martin Handcart Company), this movie has real significance to me.  I want to see it in a theater!

Remembering a pioneer

With my dad in ICU for serious infection and complications of pancreatitis, we are remembering pioneers today. On my dad's side of the family we have several pioneer ancestors. I came upon a site written about William Fowler, author of We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet. Click here to read more about this man.

When we went to the Manti pageant this year as a family, we were able to see his grave marker, along with that of his wife. He has a large monument erected later by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. I read here about the unveiling and that family members were not present. It's too bad most of the family probably did not know about it. Thanks to the internet, it's easier now to find people. We enjoyed checking out the cemetery and remembering our ancestors this year.

We are praying that my dad can completely recover from this illness. We know it is critical at this point and in the Lord's hands.

Below is the marker placed by the DUP in the Manti Cemetery. He died at the very young age of 35! The small marker on the left is his wife, Ellen Bradshaw Fower (Bench) who is my direct ancestor by blood; William Fowler by sealing (her first husband). She died young as well. Those were hard times and no ICUs. Still, there is a limit to what man can do.

Another must-see!

I was always moved by the story of Jane Manning, a black Mormon pioneer of great faith and courage.  She is one of my favorite people from history.  It is playing at The Grand Theatre in SLC June 9-19 and in Provo July 22-31.  Cool!  See more here.

Tickets for the Grand are $10, $18, and $24 - who's coming with me?

O Pioneer!

I learned when doing some family history that I have lots of "Mormon Pioneer" ancestors, as well as some other adventurous souls who joined the westward migration later on for various reasons. It was interesting to me to learn about this. Since I wasn't actually encouraged to be active in the church when I was growing up and these stories had never been told to me, it was all new and amazing. I wish I had more than just what I can find in genealogical research. How great it would be to have the stories passed down. It was on my dad's side and he just wasn't into it. We didn't spend much time with my paternal grandparents so I didn't get the stories from them, even though they were responsible for my being baptized a member of the church. When I started spending Saturdays at their house to help with housework, it was only after my grandmother had had a stroke and we didn't talk much. I was also quite shy around them - the result of spending so little time there. Now, I really regret not having known about these ancestors and asking questions!

The pioneers include one from the Martin Handcart company and one from the Willie Handcart company (both of which were the ill-fated, late-traveling groups in 1856). There were others in regular wagon companies who fared better, though one became ill enough he never completely recovered and died of tuberculosis at about 35 years of age.

The first is Sarah Emily Wall who traveled in the Willie company. She was 16 and her brother, Joseph Laban. about 18 when they came from England alone. They have a fascinating story which includes triumph over travails and tragedy along the way. Such stamina and bravery is hard to imagine. Perhaps their youth was on their side, but they had to go it alone regardless and rely on each other. Sarah Emily (called Emily) married one of her rescuers about three years after their arrival in the Great Salt Lake valley. He proposed right away but while waiting for permission from her parents (the letter had to travel to and from England by letter/ship), William Michael Cowley was called to serve a mission in California for three years. She waited and married him on his return.
Sarah's brother Joseph settled in the town they came to call Wallsville, later renamed Venice, Utah.
Paul Gourley and his family also suffered much in the Martin company. They lost family members, burying a baby in Nebraska. Another child's toes had to be amputated after freezing in the "gunnysack makeshift shoes." I have his story too, part of the tragic emigration. I understand there is a statue of tribute to these pioneers that represents his family, located in the Sons of the Utah Pioneer building in SLC. Some day I have got to get there to see it!

William Fowler, who wrote We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet, also emigrated with his young family from England. Becoming ill from sleeping under the wagon at night with exposure to the elements while he was ill apparently exacerbated a tuberculosis infection. They were called to settle in San Pete county and he became so ill he could not teach so his wife, Ellen, took over the duties, caring for him, their home, children and teaching school for the community. They were destitute when he died way too soon at 35. Ellen had left a well-to-do family in England but she dared not suggest to them how needy she was since they had opposed her joining the church.
These are a couple of the stories that were recorded. I wish I knew more of them all. (And I wish I had more time to further explore the ones I know). They truly are worthy of the recognition they get on this day in Utah.

Becky Thomas wrote a very nice story about her family pioneers. Anyone who branches out to brave the new world they are led to is a pioneer. It's nice the here in Utah we get to have a "Pioneer Day" and acknowledge sacrifices made by people who came to know God in their affliction. Click here or on the post title to read it.

An article about "This is the Place" actual location can be found here. There is a marker for the actual place which is a little bit away from the famous monument honoring the occasion.

There is a "Brigham's Family Ball" at This is the Place Historic Park on Saturday. It sounds really fun in the style of early pioneer recreation with dancing (including instruction) and entertainment for the whole family. Tickets are only available online. I assume they want a count for food. It's held on the plaza so should be pretty nice!

Manti Mormon Miracle Pageant

Only once in my life, during the 70s, did I take advantage of the fantastic experience in Manti they call the Mormon Miracle Pageant. Finally this weekend I did it again. It was great! It runs 5 days per week Tues-Sat for two weeks in June and has been ongoing since the 60s. They put up 13750 chairs for it and it pretty much fills up plus people on the outskirts who prefer their own camp chairs.
Any night of the pageant you can also buy dinner at the Stake Center - barbecued turkey (Manti grows lots of Norbest turkeys), mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, salad, roll, and cake - $7 for adults; $4 for kids. This was my kind of camping - I didn't need to cook anything.
Breakfast was served at the park. For $4 a plate you got Fried ham, eggs, hotcakes, juice and milk. What a deal! The sign says $3 because someone took down the 4 that was covering the 3 - apparently the price went up at some poing but they kept the old sign.
I have lots more pictures - not of the pageant (too dark and too far away) but we got behind the set on the Temple hill. Very cool! It's amazing to see the little town come to life. The town also allows tent camping in the city park - it was a sea of tents. There were some loud all-night teenage gatherings - just talking really; nothing crazy but still loud. Even though it was apparent there were hundreds of people sleeping all around them in tents, they seemed oblivious. But, they were having a great time. Next time ear plugs.


The city pool is right across from the temple so if you made a little vacation out of it, you can cool off there - besides, they probably have showers which the city park did not. I headed to the city cemetery, also across from the temple, and found some pioneer ancestors. There's also a DUP museum. I saw the farm implements outside (and the outhouse and log cabin) but the actual house with relics didn't open until 2 and I wanted to hit some more cemeteries. We did hit pay dirt!

This is the Place Heritage Park

Jennifer, Adam, Noah, Emma and I went to This is the Place Heritage Park. We had fun but should have allowed even more time to see everything since the kids really got into the hands-on exhibits. Emma wanted to wear a pioneer dress so even on a hot summer day, she's wearing a long skirt/long sleeves. She felt like she had just dropped into Little House on the Prairie. I have a cute slide show on my other blog (the one about the kids at debbie.miller.blogspot.com) - don't miss it. If you don't have an invitation maybe I got your email wrong or something. Let me know if you need another one. I'm not sure the private setting is necessary but it may make my kids happier than having it open to people we don't know. You just have to give yourself a password to use when you want to open it.

I decided to post the slide show here because it's too cute for anyone to miss! I'm trying to put most of the photos of the grandkids on my other site but it sure makes this blog boring!

Here's a link to another fun pioneer museum. The site advertises a special Celebrate Your Museum day coming up in September. It would be a fun time to go. http://www.dupinternational.org/

Amazing Concert!

Steve and I (and his mom) were fortunate to get tickets to see one of the two performances of the Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert which featured the Mormon Tabernacle Choir ("America's Choir"). It was also the culminating concert of The Osmond's Fiftieth Anniversary World Tour. Marie pointed out that it was not HER 50th, however. The original four started at Disneyland, then were made famous on the Andy Williams Show. They hold the record for the longest performing group that has not changed any of its members - helps that the're family, but even families have disputes and breakups or even loss by death. They still do a wonderful job and the MoTab really rocked! I didn't follow the Osmond's closely in the 70s and 80s when they were quite big (140 albums) but I appreciate them and really enjoy them now, in their "old" age. They also paid a special tribute to their parents. For more photos and Deseret News photo credits, click on the post title.
Six of the Osmond Brothers. I also enjoyed seeing Merrill (the one with the white hair and beard) perform in Hale's The Civil War. One of the brothers has MS (Alan? Second from right) and uses a cane. He sometimes is on keyboard, especially for the high-stepping numbers. I especially enjoyed their rendition of Through the Years.The Tabernacle Choir and Tabernacle Orchestra were outstanding.
The finale was incredible - hearing impaired brothers Virl and Tom (on either end in front) joined them for I Believe and He Ain't Heavy. they signed and swayed with the rest of this amazing family.The Conference Center seats 21,000 and they were at capacity both nights with many disappointed folks who couldn't get tickets. It is the last concert the Osmonds plan to do as a family so it is the end of an era for some of them.

Although the concert will mean an end of some things, and even though the family is getting older, "we are at a beautiful time in our lives," said Marie.

"This is really the culmination of everything we've done," said Donny. "It will be the end for some. Could there be a better place for that to happen?"

Pioneer Day

Pioneer Day is a Utah holiday commemorating the day in 1847 (July 24) when the first group of Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake valley in covered wagons and on horseback and Brigham Young (President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) declared that this was the right place for them to settle, build their homes and their temple and be safe from the religious persecution they had suffered in the east.
The Days of 47 Parade is one of the largest parades in the nation.

My mom moved to Salt Lake City with her sister, brother, and parents in June of1947. They had lived in Twin Falls, Idaho, then Elko, Nevada before my grandfather was transfered here to take a management and driver training position with the trucking company, P.I.E. (Pacific Intermountain Express). They heard about the new Sears store opening on 8th south and so they walked over there and watched the parade on July 24th. (They lived between 8th and 9th south on 4th East - I think it was 833 South in fact, if my memory serves me). My mom said, "we were astonished at how long and lavish the parade was. I was 12 years old and Betty [sister] was 15 at the time we moved." Pete would have been about five I think. Grandma's brother, Delbert had come to help them with the move and stayed a while. Since it was the Centennial year, it was the biggest and best celebration to date.

Note: I had some of my facts wrong - not sure where I got them - maybe said in jest when I was talking with my grandfather late in his life. Seems like it was my grandma who told me about the move. Anyway, good example of why we should get these things in writing. The memories of how the stories were told may not be accurate or convey the facts. Humor and time also affects it so..... write your personal history or be at the mercy of urban legend!
Eric Dowdle depiction of the parade. The blog title will take you to the official site for the festivities and more of this art.

I have Mormon pioneer ancestors I honor on this occasion.

• Sarah Emily Wall (Willie Handcart Company), and her husband William Cowley, a member of the rescue party.
  
• Ellen Bradshaw and her husband, William Fowler who wrote We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet.
  
• Paul Gourley (Martin Handcart Company) whose family inspired the sculpture in the library of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers building (he added some Scottish to my otherwise predominantly British and Danish roots). It depicts the time when they continued on their journey west after burying their small daughter along the trail. Sculpted by Patch and Jean Peterson.
• Many more I am just beginning to become acquainted with.