Type of flag Utah settlers flew has been lost to history
Much speculation surrounds its origin, design and meaning
A flag was waved from the peak on that historic day, but what flag has been a source of debate for almost 150 years because no one is really sure what flags flew when early Utahns wanted to show their pride.
There is evidence that a blue and white "Kingdom of God" flag with stars and stripes was created by early pioneers and flown at such events as the first Pioneer Day celebration in 1849, the laying of the temple cornerstones in 1853 and Brigham Young's funeral in 1877.
What the flag looked like, who made it, what purpose it served and what became of it are all open for speculation. Early Mormons, as regular Americans, loved bunting and banners. Nauvoo bands, the Nauvoo Legion, the Mormon Battalion and even the sailing pioneers aboard the Brooklyn had special flags.
Old Testament revelations, the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith all spoke of banners and ensigns signifying the establishment and maintenance of the Kingdom of God. These scriptures and teachings led some early members to believe that a literal flag should be created.
One man, John Wardle of Bountiful, believes he knows what the blue and white flag looked like, has copyrighted his design and has them available for purchase.
"Several different flags were flown during the period," he said. "There is no actual flag to see, so we have to go with historical descriptions."
An early territorial trader and memoirist, Don Maguire, claimed it was the blue and white flag he saw displayed in 1877 that was posted on Ensign Peak 30 years earlier. The flag described, however, had a blue field with white stars.
Wardle's design reverses that because other Mormon flags that have been described, such as the one Sam Brannan flew on the Brooklyn as he headed the group of Saints to California in 1846, had a white field.
There is no indication of whether the flag had 13 stripes to mimic the Union standard, or 12 to represent the tribes of Israel, as chosen by Wardle. Most historians agree the flag probably had 12 stars representing the tribes circling one large star representing Christ. Wardle said another flag has been described with three large stars representing the godhead in the center.
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