The pioneer journey began

The pioneer journey began
Far in Western Europe
One place being Sweden
Where persecutions enveloped

In the middle of the night
So as not to alarm
They organized and baptized
While leaning on God's arm

With faith to rely on
They followed their church leaders
And planned to move to Zion
Selling all... they were eager

Preparing to immigrate
Funds from the church some sought
For the five month trip to make
Word of deaths... came a lot

Shipwrecks, seasickness,
Measles, cholera, and frostbite,
Starvation and dysentery...
Yet each knew their choice was right

373 Danes
128 Swedes
61 Norwegians
Crossed the rough Northern seas

It would be quite a squeeze
In England, there were more
10 nationalities
Two months later reached New York

Challenging their fears
An army lined the streets
Drumming for volunteers
Their hearts jumped with the beats

Passing the immigration process
Trains and boats were then boarded
Crossing the war-torn Missouri...they progressed
To Winter Quarters... these converts were sorted

With the rest of the journey by wagon
Many prepared themselves for walking
Sun... rain...prairies... mountains... waved on
There was no time for balking

From this moment ...
The past was left behind
Neither well-known, nor prominent
Faith was their wealth to find

With courage they made their way
Following the Mormon Trail
Imagine the joy of that day
When they'd reached Zion to dwell

These... our ancestors
Added well their footsteps
We treasure their records
And the hope that they kept


The Journey Before the Covered Wagons
A Western European Pioneer Story
Desert Saints Magazine, July 2010, 6
Leslie Albrecht Huber

picture: Public domain image of Kerrigan and Lois Wilson on set of the Covered Wagon from the western heroine archives. Silent film pictures are in the domain in the US and needed for article support and career commentary. Published before 1923