Doctrine and Covenants 136:7, 9

President Thomas S. Monson:

“A dictionary defines a pioneer as ‘one who goes before to prepare or open up the way for others to follow’ [Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. (1989), “pioneer”]. Can we somehow muster the courage and steadfastness of purpose that characterized the pioneers of a former generation? Can you and I, in actual fact, be pioneers?

“I know we can be. Oh, how the world needs pioneers today!” (“The World Needs Pioneers Today,” Ensign, July 2013, 5).

Elder Parley P. Pratt:

“All things being harmonized and put in order, the camps moved on. Arriving at a place on a branch of Grand River we encamped for a while, having travelled much in the midst of great and continued rains, mud and mire. Here we enclosed and planted a public farm of many hundred acres and commenced settlement, for the good of some who were to tarry and of those who should follow us from Nauvoo. We called the place ‘Garden Grove’”(Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, ed. Parley P. Pratt Jr. [1938], 342).

Doctrine and Covenants 136:8

In May 1846, Jesse C. Little, a representative of the Church, met with officials of the United States government in Washington, D.C. The Church asked if Latter-day Saints could provide some kind of work or service to the government in exchange for financial assistance for the Saints’ migration to the West. The United States Congress had recently declared war against Mexico, and President James Polk discussed with Jesse C. Little the idea that Latter-day Saint men could enlist in the United States Army and use their wages to help the Saints in their trek. While the Saints were crossing Iowa, the United States Army recruiters asked Church members to serve in the Mexican-American War. At first the Saints refused, but President Brigham Young encouraged men to participate as a way to raise money to gather the poor from Nauvoo and help the Saints move west. Because of President Young’s counsel, more than 500 men enlisted in the United States Army. This group was called the Mormon Battalion. A number of women and children accompanied the battalion as they marched over 2,000 miles to southern California, where they served as occupation troops.

On July 4, 1846, Daniel B. Rawson recorded: “I felt indignant toward the Government that had suffered me to be raided and driven from my home. I made the uncouth remark that ‘I would see them all damned and in Hell.’ I would not enlist. On the way to the Bluffs we met President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and W. Richards returning, calling for recruits. They said the salvation of Israel depended upon the raising of the army. When I heard this my mind changed. I felt that it was my duty to go” (in Norma Baldwin Ricketts, The Mormon Battalion[1996], 13).

Doctrine and Covenants 136:23–24

Mary Ann Weston Maughan:

“We were called to bury two of our company who died this morning of cholera, a man named Brown and a child. There are more sick in camp. Have been in sight of the Platte River all day. Traveled 15 miles, camped on Salt Creek. Soon some of our company came up with another child dead. They buried it at twilight on the bank of the creek. There are more sick. It makes us feel sad thus to bury our friends by the way. Weather very hot” (Mary Ann Weston Maughan journal, 3 vols., June 21, 1850, 2:1, Family History Library, Salt Lake City; spelling, capitalization, and punctuation modernized).

Clarissa Young Spencer (Brigham Young’s daughter):

“One of Father’s most outstanding qualities as a leader was the manner in which he looked after the temporal and social welfare of his people along with guiding them in their spiritual needs. On the great trek across the plains when everyone but the most feeble walked the greater part of the way, the Saints would be gathered around the campfire for evening entertainment, if the weather was at all favorable. There songs would be sung, music played by the fiddlers, and the men and women would forget the weariness of walking fifteen miles or so over a trackless desert while they joined in dancing the quadrille. It was his way of keeping up ‘morale’ before such a word was ever coined” (with Mabel Harmer, One Who Was Valiant [1940], 162).

Doctrine and Covenants 136:24

President Joseph F. Smith:

“If [the Word of Wisdom] had been given as a commandment it would have brought every man, addicted to the use of these noxious things, under condemnation; so the Lord was merciful and gave them a chance to overcome, before He brought them under the law” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1913, 14).

Doctrine and Covenants 136:33

While President Brigham Young was at Winter Quarters, Joseph Smith appeared to him in a dream and said:

“Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and be sure to keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach you what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits; it will whisper peace and joy to their souls; it will take malice, hatred, strife and all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness and build up the kingdom of God. Tell the brethren if they will follow the spirit of the Lord they will go right. Be sure to tell the people to keep the Spirit of the Lord; and if they will, they will find themselves just as they were organized by our Father in Heaven before they came into the world. …

“Tell the people to be sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and follow it, and it will lead them just right” (in Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1846–1847,comp. Elden J. Watson [1971], 529–30).

President George A. Smith:

“[He saw] a vision of Joseph Smith, who shewed him the mountain that we now call Ensign Peak, immediately north of Salt Lake City, and there was an ensign fell upon that peak, and Joseph said ‘Build under the point where the colors fall and you will prosper and have peace’” (“Historical Discourse,” Deseret News, Jun. 30, 1869, 248).

Doctrine and Covenants 136:41–42

President Wilford Woodruff:

“When we came … into full view of the valley, I turned the side of my carriage around, open to the west, and President Young arose from his bed and took a survey of the country. While gazing upon the scene before us, he was enwrapped in vision for several minutes. He had seen the valley before in vision, and upon this occasion he saw the future glory of Zion and of Israel. … When the vision had passed, he said, ‘It is enough. This is the right place. Drive on’” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff [2004], 146).