American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-04-20
THE PIONEERS.


tHtlT CnliuTen III 10 conference we
wonder If many of them stop to tell
their children the beautiful story Of
the evolution that the full history pic
lures, since the day that the first
weary company came down the east
ern mountains and halted here.
That was Salt Lakes first moving
picture; there has been none like 1t
since. Contemplating 1t the temple,
the hotels, theatres, churches, hospi-
tails, great business houses and state
ly homes; the temples to Religion, to
Learning, to Industry, to Justice and
Mercy all vanish away the roar of
business becomes still; the silence
which the desert broods comes back;
there is nothing as now seen save the
surrounding mountains the lake
shimmering in the distance, the sun
shining down from above, and the
desolation that wrapped all this re-
gion round like a burial robe. Even
the branches on the few stunted trees
hung dropping like funeral plumes
while the sough Of the breeze coming
down from the hills or up from the
lake was as mournful as Is the requiem
chanted on the shores of the Styx.
| The way a state is carved out OF a
wilderness and rounded into form is
always an interesting theme. The
way the first stakes of civilization were
driven in Utah was dramatic enough
to be set to words for the state. In
their penury and distress, the ~.
act of the Utah pioneers was TO siff'
upon the earth; not in prayer for help
not in lamentation and despair but
in a glad Praise Service and In thanks
through the waste and over the trans
fixed billions of the everlasting hills
to a place of rest.
Then their work began. They were
not dreaming of fortunes.
The struggle before them was tC
live and that struggle continued al.
most without abatement to the end
Often only the barest necessities were
vouchsafed; few comforts, no luxuries
In that rough friction their youth wa'
worn away; the men surrendered theii
ambitions, the women folded font
( dreams and a thousand innocent long
: ing in their hearts and drew the 81
lence OF self-sacrifice and sef-abne
cation over them forever
. But then a miracle comenced. TIL
desert began to transfer the wrinkle
e and the sadness from its sombre fac
e % theirs. while In turn 1t began &
p absorb the splendor OF their youth
I and 20 cause it to be reflected in flow
r ers and fruits and golden grain an
i"oq in which the birds made thei
r nests and filed all the soft air wit
e their songs.
g Later still. as though touched wit
e pity, the irresponsive mountains bega
@ o swing back their adamantine door
). revealing the treasures within, wher
/, hey had remained secreted, waitin
t until the line should be ripe for III
> coming of progress and enlightment
u The over-wearied eyes OF those pic
' fFFiS nave UlOHllN All tlOStut INV
If hands. gnarled by labor, are nearl
I, al folded, bu' the miracle is still b.
a '"g rerformed. More and more field
p are annually rescued from the desert
q, -"~n ar" more flowers are blooming
r'o.a D. more birds are singing; Wit
" - Gnd rider feds grow golden grai
y f1'e~ re harvest sun. recalling u
N ID legend that arts. angels, in u
Ip ''0n1 ":o "a me rere from Summerlaf
h - Hivine psncts dipped in Il
1r ''~e e-e light 6 brewed. paint'
a. Nese mountains. with their dawI
r-7 s"9=e's that turn them 10 gol
and left II all as a frame for ci
I'd esT-ifr, which man was 10 bull
'n nay believe that the building
co ~ oi-y has been begun and is pr
To ~-fssing 'oward perfection.
pa The is The story taat should be To
the children when they are broug
n into conference, and then they shou
81 re 'old to iis.en and note IL they ca
b. not still hear the echoes OF that fiji
he Praise Service, with which the fai
ial ers dedicated this soil to the enligl
in eminent which comes through deyoti
ng TO duty. through the omnipotence
its patient labor, and through faith
Cod.