It is rare that I think of this fact. I guess not being of pioneer stock myself, it never occurs to me the heritage that has been passed down through Jay and his families. For this fact, I will take just a short time to reflect on Pioneer Days as they effect the Harris/Rosenberg lines in your family tree.
The Church was first introduced to the Peterson Family in Scandinavia. It wasn't until later the name was changed to Rosenberg. The Harris lines was introduced to the Church in Wales. Both families felt the urge and necessity to join the migration of new Converts to the 'New World'.
From the Peterson/Rosenberg line you have the benefit of faithful converts who are numbered among those who were martyred for their new faith. A great Aunt, only in her late teens was thrown from an open carriage before the family left their homeland, when a group of roudy young boys, startled the horsed by throwing stones and yelling: "there goes a Mormon". As she fell, her long skirts were caught in the spokes of the carriage wheel. She was dragged to her death before the startled horses could be brought under control.
On the Evans/Harris lines you have a Great Great Grand Mother who was one of the few survivors of a Steamship explosion on the Mississippi River. She lost her husband and children that day. Only she and one of her step-daughters lived.
When looking at the Ford line, you have another Great Great Grand Mother who was visited at her sick bed by two Mormon Missionaries and raised to enjoy full health after being stricken with a malady that had her bedridden for some months. The family heard the message of those Missionaries and joined the Church. She and her husband were in the first 500 to receive their Temple Ordinances in the original Nauvoo Temple prior to leaving with the expelled Saints for the West.
Family members were in a number of the Companies that made the trek West. Others were in Handcart Companies that found their way into the Salt Lake Valley later. One of these was your Great Grand Father Joseph Rosenberg. He was born in Denmark just prior to his parents sailing for the New World. They were late in arriving, so were part of a Handcart Company. While traveling the baby (Joseph), who had been wrapped tightly and laid carefully in the Handcart, was jostled loose and fell out. The baby was not missed until his Mother went to get him to nurse him. The trail was sandy, so they had not heard anything, and had no idea how long it had been since the baby had fallen. No one saw anything, or heard any thing. The weary father left his wife and friends to retrace the days trek. He found the baby in the shade of a sage bush, still wrapped tightly and enjoying a sound sleep in the soft sandy bed he had fallen into. Joseph grew to manhood, helped in the Iron Mission in Cedar City, Utah and had a large family.
There are a number of other famous families in your pioneer heritage. Many brought into either the Harris, Rosenberg, Evans and Ford lines through Plural Marriages that were predominant in the early years of the Church. One reason Thomas Gower Rosenberg use to say: "don't say anything about folks you meet in Cedar, they are probably related to you. I don't know that that is necessarily true today, but back 50 years ago it certainly was.
It is because of all these connections I was able to register the girls as
Daughters of the Utah Pioneers while I was serving my second Mission in Salt Lake City 2003-2006. Those in the Church today who are fortunate to have family pioneers are becoming more rare. As the Church grows and spreads throughout the World, those first faithful folks who heard the word and made their way to the United States have left a postarity that still grows, but is thinning out as the Membership becomes greater with Abrahamic Adoptions. I do not leave this information to cause any swelling of pride over any other members of the Church, but to awaken in the Family the great appreciation needed to acknowledge all these fine family members contributed to the work Joseph Smith, Jr. started when he was called and ordained to Restore the Lords work.
As for myself, I feel as if I had stumbled into a great family who have, over the years, continued to follow the teachings and glean benefits from a life style that awards those who follow the teachings laid out by the Lord Himself. How was I so placed that such a great blessing could be enjoyed by someone like me? Only the Lord knows truely, but I remain very greatful for that 'stumble'. The struggles along the way, the learning and gleaning of greater understanding of what is available through faithful service and observance of the various commandments has been a great journey for me. One I hope to be able to continue beyond the vail. We have so little time here to learn all that may be necessary for complete enjoyment in the Eternities. The quest for a 'Forever Family' is not just a Mortal endeavor. How long we were working for it beyond our Mortal existence may never be know here, but it is certain, this journey on earth is not the only concideration for Eternal Blessings. Each step, each choice, every action has and does lead to the ultimate desire. We can't lean on each other for success. We must join as a Family and labor to keep the connecting links secure and in place. As each new member is added, the chain grows and needs tending throughout this life. No one is secure in the thought they will enjoy Eternal Blessings unless they are on the path that leads to that success. One false step, one loose link, and the Family may not be as complete as we would wish. I pray that I am not a loose link. My desire is to see the journey completed with the minimum amount of stumbles along the way. I desire to end up knowing that:
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention or arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thorougly used up, totally worn out, and saying . . . . WOW, What a Ride!!!"
I already realize the 'body' is far from 'well preserved' the 'slide' I am not sure I can manage, but the 'worn out' I am pretty satisfied I can meet. I definately can say: "What a Ride". Each of you have added much to the joy of the journey. Enjoy YOUR Pioneer Day. It is definately part of your heritage, and something that you should view as an honor to be part of. Not boastfully proud of, but humbled and appreciative of. You come from some pretty great stock. It has been my pleasure to join with them in helping you enjoy that heritage. Let your 'light shine'. I love you!
Written this 13th day of July, 2010
by: Eileen Smith Rosenberg
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