LDS general authority speaks of motivation, protection of pioneers

Utah's Mormon pioneer settlers were motivated by a cause and protected by the armor of faith, an LDS Church general authority said at the Days of '47 Sunrise Service in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the traditional opening event of the July 24 celebration in downtown Salt Lake City.

Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the featured speaker at the Friday event, which was highlighted by the posting of the colors and Pledge of Allegiance conducted by the Mormon Battalion heritage organization and the introduction of the Days of '47 royalty.

Elder Jensen took the theme of his talk from the Old Testament account of David, who slew the Philistine giant Goliath. Two phrases from that account in 1 Samuel were the basis of his remarks: "Is there not a cause?" and "I have not proved (the armor)."

"I pray that the Holy Ghost will teach us about worthy causes then and now and about the protective armor that pioneers wore and that we wear today," he said.

From place to place in New York, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and finally to the Salt Lake Valley, the Mormons were driven by two forces, Elder Jensen said.

"One was the force of evil causes and wicked people who literally drove them from their homes; the other was the great cause of Zion, a cause that was founded upon two influences, namely, the testimony of these converts and their love for the temple and its blessings."

Building a temple in Nauvoo, Ill., became their all-consuming and unifying effort and culminating spiritual experience, he said. "With the blessings of the temple, they worked their way westward with vision and hope that there they would again build a temple — one they would not have to abandon."

The church leader said another unifying influence of the pioneer movement was the sense of "a Zion community, a spiritual kingdom, a holy nation of covenant makers and covenant keepers" set up to prepare for the second coming of Christ.

"David was an instrument in the hands of the Lord in Israel's cause; armed with testimony and faith, he conquered Goliath," Elder Jensen said. "Today, we are modern Israel, pioneers in the hands of the Lord, conquering our Goliaths as we establish the cause of Zion today with our faith and testimony."

A 130-voice choir, including members from 10 LDS stakes in Davis County, sang under the direction of Michael Huff, accompanied by a Days of '47 brass ensemble.

Among the selections performed was the finale from "Promised Valley," the musical commissioned by the state of Utah in 1947 to celebrate the centennial of the coming of the pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley. Crawford Gates, who composed the music for the play, was present and received an award for his contribution to Utah's pioneer heritage, presented by Ralph J. Thomson, president of the Salt Lake Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, the sponsoring organization of the sunrise service.

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