Pioneer Days

This past Friday, July 24th, was Pioneer Day. Every July 24th, we celebrate the arrival of the Mormon pioneers back in 1847.

The following hymns remind me of the pioneers and what they did for me.

Carry On

1. Firm as the mountains around us,Stalwart and brave we standOn the rock our fathers plantedFor us in this goodly land—The rock of honor and virtue,Of faith in the living God.They raised his banner triumphant—Over the desert sod.
[Chorus]And we hear the desert singing:Carry on, carry on, carry on!Hills and vales and mountains ringing:Carry on, carry on, carry on!Holding aloft our colors,We march in the glorious dawn.O youth of the noble birthright,Carry on, carry on, carry on!
2. We’ll build on the rock they plantedA palace to the King.Into its shining corridors,Our songs of praise we’ll bring,For the heritage they left us,Not of gold or of worldly wealth,But a blessing everlastingOf love and joy and health.
Text: Ruth May Fox, 1853–1958. © 1948 IRI
Music: Alfred M. Durham, 1872–1957. © 1948 IRI

Come, Come Ye Saints

1. 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 striveOur useless cares from us to drive;Do this, and joy your hearts will swell—All is well! All is well!
2. Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?’Tis not so; all is right.Why should we think to earn a great rewardIf 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!
3. We’ll find the place which God for us prepared,Far away in the West,Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;There the Saints will be blessed.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!
4. 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 againTo see the Saints their rest obtain,Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell—All is well! All is well!
Text: William Clayton, 1814–1879
Music: English folk song