256.2: Crossing the Plains (D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 34)

“Faith in Every Footstep”

The story of the pioneers crossing the plains has a special role in Mormon life and culture. This episode discusses this history, focusing on Winter Quarters and Brigham Young’s role. The class explores the questions of what we can learn from the pioneers, and how we can honor their authentic experiences as well as our own. Specific points of discussion include:

• The situation in Nauvoo that led to the Exodus of February 1846.
• Winter Quarters, Mormonism’s “second sacred grove,” or American’s “other Valley Forge.” Not originally part of Brigham Young’s plan, but due to bad weather.
• October 1846, Winter Quarters begins and was built up quickly. Within two months, 5000 Latter-day Saints were there for the winter.
• The Mormon Battalion (government requested 500 men to March to California in the Mexican War) made it necessary for the Saints to continue at Winter Quarters.
• Winter Quarters divided into 22 wards, called bishops, and placed two to three hundred people in each ward.
• Temple ordinances at Winter Quarters. Willard Richards’s octagon house used as a center place.
• The deaths at Winter Quarters due to disease, which numbered over a thousand.
• “This is the Place,” and the early activities in Salt Lake City. Dedicating the Temple site, and Ensign Peak as a place for temple ordinances.
• Brigham Young’s return to Winter Quarters.
• Reorganization of the First Presidency at Kanesville, Iowa, in December 1947.

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Class Member Reading: D&Covenants 136; 1 Nephi 2:19–20; 1 Nephi 17:13–14; Ether 1:39–42

Additional Teacher Reading: 1 Nephi 2:20; D&C 45:66; 103:11; Exodus 20:7

 

Cami and Alyssa join Devery for the discussion.

 

You can access the Assigned Reading here.

 

Resources

• A Post on Lessons 34 and 35 on ByCommonConsent
• Carol Lynn Pearson’s “Pioneers” poem
• Richard E. Bennett, Mormons at the Missouri
• Bennett, We’ll Find the Place
•  Will Bagley, ed., The Pioneer Camp of the Saints: The Mormon Trail Journals of Thomas Bullock, 1846-47
• John Turner, Brigham Young, Pioneer Prophet
• Leonard Arrington, Brigham Young, American Moses
• Levina Anderson’s Dialogue article on Mary Fielding Smith

Many thanks to Devin Roth for the beautiful bumper music. Check out his arrangement of hymns and other work at DevinRothMusic!

Thanks to Nathan Jones for editing the discussion and James Estrada of Oak Street Audio for finishing up the episode around his Comic-Con schedule, and especially to Devery Anderson for taking charge of this episode.