by David E Bay, High Councilor

This week we celebrate Pioneer Day. Our family’s closest relative who crossed the plains was Coleen’s grandfather, Austin Greeley Green*.

Brigham Young arrived here in the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24 in 1847. Those with Brigham Young were what they referred to as the Vanguard company. Austin was part of the next group to come. He was in the Daniel Spencer Junior and Ira Eldridge company. They left Nebraska on June 17, 1847. There were two other companies that left on the same day. And then six more left within a week. However, of those nine different organizations, it was Austin’s company that arrived next in the Salt Lake Valley.

As a 13-year-old boy, Austin was given the responsibility to take care of “The Old Sow”. This was not a pig that they were prodding across the plains, but it was a cannon made of iron. I found a picture of “The Old Sow” here (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57385155/austin-greeley-green/photo). Just consider that a13-year-old had to get this big cast-iron cannon from Nebraska to Salt Lake City.

During the sesquicentennial celebration of the arrival of the pioneers in 1997, we were taught that we all need to move forward with “Faith in Every Footstep”. President Nelson has made it very clear that we are living in one of the most exciting times in all of history. “My dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead. In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns ‘with power and great glory,’ He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful. Nonetheless, we are presently living in what surely is a most complicated time in the history of the world. The complexities and challenges leave many people feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.”

Austin had to manage the big heavy cannon. When they were attacked by Indians rather than use the cannon to fight, their approach was to protect the cannon from being taken by burying it in the mud on the bank of the river.

Our challenges are very different, we live in a day when long-held traditions and even definitions of family have been changed by the world at large. Gender is no longer seen as a simple God-given characteristic. Confusion seems to be everywhere. Additionally, we anticipate upcoming natural and even man-made disasters.

With this kind of an environment, we have a big hurdle. The first commandment is to love God and be true to His commandments. And the second commandment is to love our neighbor. Today many individuals do not follow or even believe in God’s commandments. How can we keep both of these commandments without condoning our neighbor’s missteps; but by truly loving them and inviting them to come to our Savior Jesus Christ? How can we be prudent in our family’s preparations for emergencies? Can we be properly prepared without being financially unwise?

As President Nelson told us early in his administration, “If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation. Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” We need to be able to prepare for the emergencies and calamities that will be coming without living outside of our means. We need to show love for all of those around us and be clear about God’s commandments in a way that doesn’t offend or push away.

Sometimes we wonder if we could cross the plains as many of the pioneers and some of our ancestors did. Probably more important is the question of whether we can live up to the challenges that are unique to us in our day.

I hope I can be prepared with each of you not only spiritually but also physically for those challenges that are to come.

*Although 20 of my ancestors crossed the plains as Mormon Pioneers, they did so 5 – 17 years after Austin Greeley Green. And they are my 2nd and 3rd great-grandparents, not grandparents, as is Austin to my wife, Coleen.