[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 106 (Thursday, July 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        FAITH IN EVERY FOOTSTEP

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN E. ENSIGN

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 1997

  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. Speaker, ``Faith in Every Footstep'' is the motto of 
the Mormon pioneer sesquicentennial year, which culminates today with a 
celebration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of members of the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Salt Lake Valley on 
July 24, 1847. I rise to recognize this historical milestone in the 
settlement of the West and important date in Nevada's early history.
  Like many other western States, Nevada's initial settlements were 
established by Mormon pioneers--Genoa in northern Nevada in 1851, and 
Las Vegas in southern Nevada in 1855. In fact, Nevada was part of the 
Utah Territory before becoming the Nevada Territory. The Mormon 
pioneers of northern Nevada were led by Orson Hyde, while the pioneer 
group called to settle Las Vegas were led by William Bringhurst. On a 
warm day in mid-June of 1855, these courageous pioneers began to build 
a diamond in the desert. The old Las Vegas Mormon Fort is the oldest 
standing building in the State of Nevada.
  Today, amid the bustle of the fastest growing city in the Nation, 
beautiful chapels and a temple grace the Las Vegas Valley while serving 
as a place of worship for over 100,000 Latter-Day Saints. Las Vegas has 
become a place where Latter-Day Saints have settled to raise their 
families and serve their community.
  On behalf of all the citizens of my congressional district and 
throughout Nevada, I salute those early Mormon pioneers who blazed the 
trails of the rugged West and built a lasting heritage for themselves 
and the State of Nevada.
  On Pioneer Day, we should remember and honor all those brave men, 
women, and children who answered the call to settle new lands, and 
through faith, courage, and sacrifice built hundreds of settlements 
throughout the Western United States and made the desert bloom.

                          ____________________