Friday, July 22, 2011

Remember Their Greatness

 July 22nd.....The beginning of a long weekend in Utah as we all reflect on the Pioneer Latter Day saints that arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. What does that have to do with this cute little guy pictured above?  Exactly 3 months ago today, he entered this earth life with all of the blessings that go along with modern medicine, as well as all of the blessings that go along with modern day society in general.
Now look at this obituary below (which I still cannot believe I found in Google image):
Here's her humbling birth story that took place with the traveling pioneers of the Willie and Martin handcart company: "Snow deep and very cold.....so cold that we could not move.......Thermometer 11 degrees below zero.....so cold the people could not travel.

Life saving supplies were distributed to the stranded saints, but in spite of all the rescuers could do, many were laid to rest by the wayside.

As the rescued Saints were traversing through a portion of the trail through Echo Canyon, several wagons pulled off to assist in the arrival of a baby girl. (A man) noticed the young mother did not have enough clothing to keep her newborn infant warm. In spite of the freezing temperatures, he took off his own homespun shirt and gave it to the mother to wrap the baby. The child was given the name Echo-Echo Squires- as a remembrance of the place and circumstances of her birth"

What a tremendous blessing it is for us to humble ourselves and reflect on the sacrifices made by those that came before us to allow us the freedom to worship the way we choose without persecution or dictatorship. Through this Pioneer Day Weekend, I am humbled as I reflect upon those who sacrificed so much to give us so very much.

(Story of Echo Squire borrowed from LDS April 2011 General Conference talk from Bishop H. David Burton; The Sanctifying Work of Welfare) 

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