Ensign Peak

George A. Smith, an early Apostle and member of the first Mormon pioneer company, explained that Brigham Young had seen Ensign Peak and the Salt Lake Valley in vision long before he entered it:

After the death of Joseph Smith, when it seemed as if every trouble and calamity had come upon the Saints, Brigham Young, who was President of the Twelve, then the presiding Quorum of the Church, sought the Lord to know what they should do, and where they should lead the people for safety, and while they were fasting and praying daily on this subject, President Young had a vision of Joseph Smith, who showed him the mountain that we now call Ensign Peak, immediately north of Salt Lake City, and there was an ensign fell upon that peak, and heard Joseph say, “Build under the point where the colors [the flag or ensign] fall and you will prosper and have peace.”

The Pioneers had no pilot or guide, none among them had ever been in the country or knew anything about it. However, they travelled under the direction of President Young until they reached this valley.

When they entered it President Young pointed to that peak, and said he, “I want to go there.”
From the summit of Ensign Peak, the Brethren could see the entire valley. The soil looked good to them, and the water from what would be called City Creek was clear and refreshing. They encouraged some exploration as well as the immediate planting of crops. To the north and west lay the waters of the Great Salt Lake. Of the valleys before them, President Young said, “This is the place whereon we will plant the soles of our feet, and where the Lord will place his name amongst his people.”

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Brigham Young University Religious Education presents

Hallowed Ground Sacred Journeys

Featuring BYU Religious Educators teaching about sites significant in

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

For more information, or to visit our interactive web site with dozens of additional sites to explore,

please visit VirtualTours.BYU.edu

______________________________________________

Hallowed Ground Sacred Journeys

is a co-production of

BYU Religious Education and Starrs Universal

This blog is a public service of The Watchmen Institute

and is distributed by B.U.M.P. LTD.

All Rights Reserved

___________________________________________________________________

About Hallowed Ground Sacred Journeys

Salt Lake City Temple

In Hallowed Ground Sacred Journeys, Brigham Young University professors tell the story of the sites that are of importance to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Joseph Smith, Senior Log Home, Palmyra NY

Some sites are well known, such as the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York, or the majestic Salt Lake City Temple.

Others may be lesser known, such as the baptismal site of Brigham Young, or the site of the first underground parking garage in America, which was built by Mormons.

Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial, Sharon, VT

Each week on this blog, a new site will be featured, complete with a documentary video and stories and pictures based on the scholarly work of Brigham Young University Religious Education professors.

Salt Lake Temple spire during construction

As we move through time and space across hallowed ground, we see the sacred journeys of those gone before. They have led the way and walked the path that we are now called to tread.

Kirtland, Ohio Temple

As we consider the responsibilities we have to bear in our time, we don't have to look far to see the shining example of these pioneers. May we all remember the rich heritage that is ours today, and following that example, may we strive to leave our own legacy of faith and perseverance for those who follow.

We invite you to come explore with us and go back in time to visit these magnificent sites as we present Hallowed Ground Sacred Journeys.

Winter Quarters, Nebraska 

Stained Glass Window, Salt Lake DUP Museum

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Subscribe to our Free Newsletter 

___________________________________________________________________

Brigham Young University Religious Education presents

Hallowed Ground Sacred Journeys

Featuring BYU Religious Educators teaching about sites significant in

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

For more information, or to visit our interactive web site with dozens of additional sites to explore,

please visit VirtualTours.BYU.edu

______________________________________________

Hallowed Ground Sacred Journeys

is a co-production of

BYU Religious Education and Starrs Universal

This blog is a public service of The Watchmen Institute

and is distributed by B.U.M.P. LTD.

All Rights Reserved

___________________________________________________________________

Salt Lake City: Ensign to the Nations

Hallowed Ground, Sacred Journeys transports readers back to nineteenth-century Salt Lake City by painting a picture of the city during the pioneer era from 1847 to 1869, contrasting those bygone scenes with those of today.

Historic homes, statues, buildings, street names, and plaques bring to mind the names and adventures of early pioneers divinely led to this valley. Each site tells a unique story of the courage and sacrifice that stands as a silent tribute and testimony to the visionary efforts made by these pioneer forebears, who struggled to make “the desert blossom as the rose” (Isaiah 35:1).

These sites also serve as reminders of why Salt Lake City is unique among the cities of the world and what gives her such an exceptional and distinct personality. Whether or not readers are residents of the city, visitors for a day, or just interested in their heritage as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, historic Salt Lake City occupies a distinctive status in the legacy of settling the western United States.

At the centennial celebration in 1947 of the Mormon pioneers’ entrance into the Salt Lake Valley, poetess Vilate C. Raile penned the following tribute about the heritage the Mormon migrants bequeathed to their posterity and to all who walk the streets of Salt Lake City:

"They cut desire into short lengths And fed it to the hungry fires of courage. Long after when the fires had died, Molten gold gleamed in the ashes. They gathered it in bruised palms, And handed it to their children and their children’s children forever." (Improvement Era, September 1969, 33)

Inspired by such a rich heritage, the sites and symbols scattered around the heart of this growing metropolis are a living legacy to the faith, devotion, and ingenuity of Salt Lake’s early settlers. They also serve as reminders of the pioneer ingenuity and the accomplishments of a dedicated community. Much of Utah’s pioneer distinctiveness survives in the finished granite and sandstone handiwork of these frontier craftsmen.

Downtown Salt Lake City ranks among the world’s most beautiful cities to visit and explore. But once these visitors step off Temple Square, what should they see? Where should they go? Hallowed Ground, Sacred Journeys identifies many key sites that remain relatively unknown to those who live in, work in, or visit Salt Lake City.

Visitors are struck by the beauty of the downtown area with its wide streets, yet nothing quite captures the magnificent sacrifice by those early pioneers as does the majestic Salt Lake Temple, which took forty years in the making. It sits on Temple Square, ten acres of beautifully manicured grounds, and is the best recognized symbol of Salt Lake City. This is also the heart of the worldwide Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints (LDS).

Millions of visitors from every continent pass through these gates each year, ranking Temple Square in the upper echelon of international tourist attractions. Visits to Temple Square have recently risen from 2.2 million in 1985 to almost 5 million in 2004. Hallowed Ground, Sacred Journeys covers many magnificent sites nestled in downtown Salt Lake City and couples recent images with historical photographs of pioneer times.

Downtown Salt Lake City property map showing blocks surrounding 

Temple Square selected by early pioneer leaders 

Brigham Young University

___________________________________________________________________

Subscribe to our Free Newsletter 

___________________________________________________________________

Brigham Young University Religious Education presents

Hallowed Ground Sacred Journeys

Featuring BYU Religious Educators teaching about sites significant in

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

For more information, or to visit our interactive web site with dozens of additional sites to explore,

please visit VirtualTours.BYU.edu

______________________________________________

Hallowed Ground Sacred Journeys

is a co-production of

BYU Religious Education and Starrs Universal

This blog is a public service of The Watchmen Institute

and is distributed by B.U.M.P. LTD.

All Rights Reserved

___________________________________________________________________