“Pioneers and Patriots” was the theme of the Pioneer Day celebration and ice cream social for the West Stake on July 24 held at the stake center. The primary children sang about handcarts and pioneers and the audience joined in singing “Come, Come Ye Saints, America the Beautiful and The Star-Spangled Banner.
Laren Abbott told stories about his family who crossed the plains in the George A. Smith Company walking for four months and settling in Ogden. In 1879 Myron, their son, came to Bunkerville to settle. Wiliam E. Abbott, his son, and his wife Mary Jane Leavitt, came to Mesquite to build a home, the “Abbott hotel” which welcomed church visitors and friends. They served the community and church raising a family of 13 children. He was bishop form 1901-1927. He also surveyed the road from Mesquite to Las Vegas and the road that is now Mesquite Blvd.
Erastus Snow came to a conference and prophesied that someday there would be a road 100 feet wide and 1 ½ miles long going west through the valley. The next morning following the conference, William Abbott and James Hughes started hacking out a road going west. It took the men and boys of the town a grueling 3 years to build it because the dense impassible underbrush was so “thick a bird couldn’t fly through the thicket.” He did not want the words of an apostle to not be fulfilled. There were 13 original families who came to Mesquite.
William E. and Mary Jane have their statues are in front of city hall and they represent the countless men and women who worked to establish this area and build this community. “Charity never failed - was more than their motto, it was what they lived by. Mesquite thrived because good women performed good works. This is an expression of their faith written with indelible ink.” When you read these words on the plaque on the statue’s base put yourself in place of their names and use their example to continue to build our community. They came! They conquered the river! They created a home for all of us!
Bro. Abbott said, “I invite all of you to come to family search center when it reopens on August 12 and search for your family stories, that you might share those events with your children and grandchildren.”
Pres. Jared Hollingshead spoke about patriots and told of Pres. Ezra Taft Benson’s passion for the constitution and the founding of America so the gospel might be restored. He quoted D& C 101:80 These were wise men, not ordinary men but” men raised up for this very purpose and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.” They were held in reserve for this time when they were needed. Pres. Hollingshead related the story of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution waiting on Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Temple for 2 days and 2 nights until their temple work was completed.
He said, “Pres. Kevin Peason, area president, has asked that we read the constitution and study it as families. Study it as you would the scriptures. “
Pres. Hollingshead said, “My great grandmother was in the Willy handcart company and left our family a legacy of faith. Each of you has a legacy of family in the stories of your ancestors. Take that legacy and the torch of faith and run with it!”
By Cheryl Jensen
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