tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723124266752750306.post9003031879280597774..comments2023-07-26T03:02:44.055-07:00Comments on ANWA Founder & Friends: The Pioneer in YouMarsha Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15389060049107102815noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723124266752750306.post-41086610476659817562008-07-26T10:56:00.000-07:002008-07-26T10:56:00.000-07:00Stephanie,It's always humbling to be reminded of t...Stephanie,<BR/><BR/>It's always humbling to be reminded of the sacrifice of those who brought the world the gosple. I feel connected to them even though they are not my literal ancestors. I hope one day I could thank them for their courage, faith and goodness.<BR/><BR/>CarolineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723124266752750306.post-21174085632653520952008-07-25T22:51:00.000-07:002008-07-25T22:51:00.000-07:00My mother's father's line came from pioneer stock,...My mother's father's line came from pioneer stock, but by my grandfather's generation, he had gone inactive. My mother's mother was not LDS when she married my grandfather, but she decided to take the children (my mother and aunt) to the LDS Church, and when my mother was 8 years old, both she and my grandmother were baptized into the Church. So although I do have pioneer heritage (which I love and honor), I frequently think that, had it not been for my non-member grandmother investigating her inactive husband's faith, I probably would not be a member of the Church today! I owe her a debt of gratitude as great as any that I owe to the Pioneers.<BR/><BR/>My father never joined the Church. Both his parents were immigrants from Italy, and I do consider them Pioneers, in the sense that it surely took great courage for both of them to leave their homeland and come to a strange, new country to start a new life, even if it wasn't in the Salt Lake Valley. (My mother once heard my dad's father say, he would rather be in a prison in the United States than a free man in Italy.)<BR/><BR/>I sometimes wonder, if my father's parents hadn't come to the United States, whether I would have been born here or in Italy? Even though my dad never joined the Church, I think the Lord had a hand in bringing him and my mom together, so that I could both be a member of the Church and help do the temple work for my Italian ancestors, who might not have had anyone to do their work, if my parents hadn't married. <BR/><BR/>(I think I might have beat Anna on wordiness this time!)Joyce DiPastenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16638031103659265422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723124266752750306.post-16370290396250604262008-07-25T22:20:00.000-07:002008-07-25T22:20:00.000-07:00Thank you for your wonderful words, Stephanie! The...Thank you for your wonderful words, Stephanie! The coloring book is cute, and the music beautiful. <BR/><BR/>While my ancestors on all sides predominantly came to this continent between the 1620's and the 1700's, only my mother's line found the gospel in the early days of the church. Levi Ward Hancock is my 3rd great grandfather. Both my natural father and the father to whom I am sealed (and even my father-in-law for that matter) are converts to the church. While I had ancestors cross by wagon and in the Willie company and Mormon Battalion, my husband's family came around South America on the ship Brooklyn...that carried so many members to what is now San Fransico.<BR/><BR/>I have fun thinking about how many of our (any of you who read this)ancestors must have known each other...Kari Pikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13855609339118198399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723124266752750306.post-9864669165834754242008-07-25T06:06:00.000-07:002008-07-25T06:06:00.000-07:00Someone recently said that those of us who are the...Someone recently said that those of us who are the first to join are the pioneers in their families. I often think of myself as a great link between generations, reaching back to baptise my ancestors while reaching forward to have an LDS second generation. That said, I do not have that feeling President Ulfdorf (sp?) mentioned about pioneers also being our forebearers. I just think of them as an awesome group of people who did a tremendous thing. What a great legacy for you Stephanie.Terri Wagnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06905158157291602809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723124266752750306.post-27814993049016508772008-07-24T22:59:00.000-07:002008-07-24T22:59:00.000-07:00I just had to add still more. I loved the colorin...I just had to add still more. I loved the coloring book. It's the kind I wish I had written. Simple and ever so touching.<BR/><BR/>And thanks for the clip of the T.Choir singing 'Come, Come Ye Saints'. I remember in 1943 I when blubbered as a missionary quartet sang it in Sacrament Meeting in Indianapolis, It absolutely thrilled me. This time I only smiled until the fourth verse. Most of the time we sang the first couple of lines softly, then swelled for the ending. Now the choir crescendoed with joy and thanksgiving as they sang, "And should we die before our journey's through, happy day, all is well." It touched me deeply, and I sat staring at my computer screen, hand over mouth, with shoulders shaking and happy tears wetting my cheeks as they continued to the finish. Thank you for including this. It's so true!Anna Arnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09882034663742937010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723124266752750306.post-29020777977545108132008-07-24T22:32:00.000-07:002008-07-24T22:32:00.000-07:00Somebody has to be the first in a family to join t...Somebody has to be the first in a family to join the Church, and I so admire those who are and do. I'm grateful that I'm from pioneer stock because I'm not sure I'd have been wise enough to listen to the truth. I had to have it drilled into me from childhood. Even so, it was still my choice to believe. <BR/><BR/>I honor and revere my forebears. All four of my grandparents crossed the plains. One grandma was born in Winter Quarters in February 1847 and was carried to the Valley, arriving in Sept. My other grandma was eight when she left Denmark and walked almost all the way from the Mississippi on. She did ride the one day she was sick, and told me it was so miserable she begged to walk the next.<BR/><BR/>Only six of my great grandparents were Utah Pioneers. The other two died in Sweden. My grandpa was born there in 1825, believe it or not. He was the originator of the Liljenquist name.<BR/><BR/>My mother's ancestors were earlier pioneers. None were on the Mayflower, but most of them were in America a hundred years or longer before the Revolutionary War. When I recite, "I Am An American" by Elias Lieberman, I almost always tear up with gratitude.<BR/><BR/>Today's LDS Nuggets quote is particularly appropriate for all of us. Angel Abrea said, "The great challenge...is not to determine how to escape the afflictions and problems, but rather to carefully prepare ourselves to meet them." And may I add, "And write about them."<BR/><BR/>Sorry to be so wordy, but your entry brought back too many wonderful memories. Thanks.Anna Arnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09882034663742937010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723124266752750306.post-66898542239041620242008-07-24T14:20:00.000-07:002008-07-24T14:20:00.000-07:00Stephanie: I loved what you wrote today. I'm not...Stephanie: I loved what you wrote today. I'm not from Pioneer Stock either but I am a pioneer in my own family. We all are in a way. Thanks for your writings and I loved listening to the Mormon Tab at work in honor of Pioneer Day.<BR/><BR/>Valerie Steimle of LoxleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3723124266752750306.post-12801433777157246972008-07-24T12:26:00.000-07:002008-07-24T12:26:00.000-07:00Stephanie, I always love your words. You say thi...Stephanie, I always love your words. You say things so well, I can't help but feel the spirit of being a pioneer. Both my parents are converts so I am not 'pioneer stock' but I do feel that I am still a pioneer. I feel that my parents are pioneers as well for standing up and living in such a way and making such choices that have placed me on the path I am today. Here Here to all pioneers!Shawnette Nielsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12700354524688738724noreply@blogger.com