[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5269-S5270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 590--RECOGNIZING THE 171ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL 
   OF PIONEERS BELONGING TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY 
SAINTS TO THE GREAT SALT LAKE VALLEY IN UTAH, AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF 
     THE CHURCH AND ITS MEMBERS TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD

  Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Lee, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Risch, Mr. Flake, Mr. 
Heller, and Mr. Udall) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 590

       Whereas in the years following the establishment of The 
     Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (referred to in 
     this preamble as the ``LDS Church'') in 1830, the early 
     members of the LDS Church (referred to in this preamble as 
     ``Latter-day Saint pioneers'') experienced religious 
     persecution manifested through physical assault, destruction 
     of their houses and businesses, theft of their property, 
     exile from their homes, threats of violence and war, 
     imprisonment, rape, and murder;
       Whereas the petitions of the LDS Church to the United 
     States Government for assistance and redress were frequently 
     unanswered and produced no relief;
       Whereas the leader and prophet of the LDS Church, Joseph 
     Smith, and his brother, Hyrum, were shot and killed by an 
     armed mob;
       Whereas in a letter addressed to the President of the 
     United States, James K. Polk, the new leader of the LDS 
     Church, Brigham Young, wrote, ``. . . [W]hile we appreciate 
     the Constitution of the United States as the most precious 
     among the nations, we feel that we had rather retreat to the 
     deserts, islands or mountain caves than consent to be ruled 
     by governors and judges . . . who delight in injustice and 
     oppression'';
       Whereas in pursuit of liberty and religious freedom, the 
     Latter-day Saint pioneers journeyed westward in the winter of 
     1846, and ultimately travelled more than 1,300 miles of 
     wilderness across vast prairies, barren deserts, jagged 
     mountains, and turbulent rivers;
       Whereas the Latter-day Saint pioneers endured extreme 
     weather conditions, illness, hunger, and exhaustion, 
     resulting in the pioneers losing young children, spouses, 
     parents, and friends to exposure, disease, and starvation;
       Whereas upon entering the Great Salt Lake Valley in Utah on 
     July 24, 1847, Brigham Young announced, ``This is the right 
     place,'' foretelling how the valley would become home to many 
     Latter-day Saints and their posterity;
       Whereas the Latter-day Saint pioneers worked together to 
     plant crops, irrigate fields, and build homes and businesses, 
     transforming the desert into a thriving community where they 
     could live in safety and practice their religion without 
     prejudice and abuse;
       Whereas on July 24, 1849, the Latter-day Saints first 
     commemorated their arrival to their new home with a 
     procession to Temple Square in Salt Lake City for a special 
     devotional, followed by a feast of thanksgiving;
       Whereas ``Pioneer Day'' is a Utah State holiday celebrated 
     on July 24th to remember and honor the early settlers with 
     parades, flag ceremonies, re-enactments, devotionals, 
     sporting events, feasts, dances, concerts, festivals, rodeos, 
     and fireworks;

[[Page S5270]]

       Whereas the Latter-day Saint pioneers helped shape the 
     settlement of the West by constructing bridges, building 
     ferries, clearing trails, establishing communities, planting 
     crops, expanding trade posts, erecting trail markers, and 
     charting maps, all of which assisted thousands of settlers 
     westward;
       Whereas the Latter-day Saint pioneers exemplified what can 
     be achieved when industrious and resilient people work 
     diligently and join together as communities to build a 
     stronger and brighter future; and
       Whereas the bravery, determination, and ingenuity that the 
     Latter-day Saint pioneers demonstrated inspires citizens of 
     the United States and people across the world to triumph over 
     adversity, to continuously strive toward progress and 
     innovation, and to press forward with unconquerable faith and 
     undaunted hope: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes ``Pioneer Day'', on the 171st anniversary of 
     the arrival of the early members of The Church of Jesus 
     Christ of Latter-day Saints (referred to in this resolving 
     clause as ``Latter-day Saint pioneers'') to the Great Salt 
     Lake Valley in Utah;
       (2) acknowledges the many sacrifices of the Latter-day 
     Saint pioneers in their pursuit of liberty and religious 
     freedom; and
       (3) commends the Latter-day Saint pioneers and their 
     descendants for their significant contributions in 
     facilitating the settlement of the West, and providing an 
     example of courage, industry, and faith that inspires people 
     throughout the world.

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