Stephenson Family Ties

Grafton, Utah  photo from flickr

Today  in Utah, we celebrate Pioneer Day.  Tomorrow is an official day off from work.  Its a day set aside to remember those folks who trekked across the plains of the mid-west, under cruel conditions, to escape religious persecution...to then  find themselves having to settle in the barren wasteland of the Utah Territory. As I hike, I often puzzle over the strength and fortitude it took to remain here and to try and eek out a life among the Indains, scorpions, droughts, and heat here.  I am constantly asking myself "how did they do it!!??"  Im constantly stating that "I COULD NEVER HAVE DONE IT!"
Bless those dear pioneers.
We are grateful to them for beginning what we now enjoy!

Come, come, ye saints, no toil nor labor fear;

But with joy, wend your way.

Though hard to you this journey may appear,

Grace shall be as your day.

’Tis better far for us to strive

Our useless cares from us to drive;

Do this, and joy your hearts will swell

All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?

’Tis not so, all is right.

Why should we think to earn a great reward,

If we now shun the fight?

Gird up your loins; fresh courage take;

Our God will never us forsake,

And soon we’ll have this tale to tell,

All is well! All is well!

We’ll find the place which God for us prepared,

In His house full of light,

Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;

There the saints will shine bright.

We’ll make the air with music ring,

Shout praises to our God and King;

Above the rest these words we’ll tell,

All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey’s through,

Happy day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

With the just we shall dwell!

But if our lives are spared again

To see the saints their rest obtain,

O how we’ll make this chorus swell,

All is well! All is well!