Sunrise service stresses pioneer traits needed today

Thursday's 7 a.m. event included a pioneer-themed message, plenty of music

and a posting of the colors by the Mormon Battalion.

Elder Earl C. Tingey, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints' Presidency of the Seventy, offered the annual Sunrise Service address.

The church leader said the characteristics that defined the Mormon Pioneers in

1847 can help people today "pioneer into the future."

Listing those traits, Elder Tingey said the pioneers believed in their duty

to gather and establish Zion. They were obedient to their prophets. They were

willing to sacrifice for their beliefs, despite physical hardships and the death

of loved ones. They worked hard to rear "a righteous posterity," and they had

faith and vision.

No longer are church members worldwide called to gather in the Salt Lake

Valley. Instead, he said, they come together in some 2,700 stakes across the

globe.

"But the same work of pioneering continues as we move the church forward

under the leadership of inspired prophets and apostles (who) shared the message

of the Restoration and the witness that Jesus is the Christ, and he has

established his church in these latter days," he said.

Elder Tingey added that the trust his own pioneer ancestors placed in their

pioneer prophet, Brigham Young, has inspired him to do the same.