PIONEERING YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW
Official Newsletter of the
National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers
February 2010, Volume 6, Number 2
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
My Friends,
Last month we had 46 SUP Chapter Presidents and Officers at our Chapter Presidents Council Meeting. Thank you for attending!
Next up is a Sweetheart Dinner on Feb. 13th at 6:30pm at the SUP National Headquarters. Please pass the word around to your Chapter members and invite them to bring another couple with them. It will be a good food, great entertainment, pictures and fun evening.
If you have not filled out the New Chapter and Under-strength Chapter form looking for new members, please do so. Our Chapters are in need of strengthening.
I will be in Las Vegas on Feb 19th and Mesa on March 11th to help rebuild these Chapters. If anyone has the name of a potential member in this area (family and friends) please let us know before then.
We will be ordering the making of a Memorialization board on Feb. 28th and will then mount it in the Main Hall at the National Headquarters building as soon as it is ready. We will then start gathering names for a new board and will have a goal to get the 500 names we need by the end of the year. Watch for the forms that will help you get your Pioneer ancestors’ names on that board.
This month be looking for our 2010 Bookmarks.
Our American Sampler National Trek is a go! We still have plenty of room for more to join us and enjoy this amazing tour. Please let your members know.
Keep up the good work and have fun in the Sons of Utah Pioneers!
Dil Strasser
2010 SUP National President
thesassers@hotmail.com
NATIONAL NEWS
Send national news to: rogerflick@comcast.net
CHAPTER PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL MEETING
A successful Chapter President’s Council Meeting was held Saturday, January 9th at the SUP National Headquarters Building wherein 46 chapter presidents were in attendance. President Dil Strasser conducted the meeting. Information was passed out and discussed regarding goals and objectives.
Above: Chapter Presidents attending Council Meeting
Below: President Dil Strasser giving instructions to Chapter Presidents at National Chapter President’s Council Meeting.
LARON TAYLOR ON RADIO PROGRAM
In December 2009, LaRon Taylor, National Director of Pioneer Heritage, was on radio station KSARR, 1400. He explained the Pioneer stories submission program as found on the SUP website (www.sonsofutahpioneers.org ). LaRon did a great job fielding questions about the Sons of Utah Pioneers which were asked by the talk show host.
SWEETWATER RESCUE MISSION MAP DONATED TO SUP
Kent Parsons, Monroe, Utah, a member of the Sevier Valley chapter, spent over 4 years studying the history of his Pioneer grandmother. She was a member of the Hunt Wagon Company who was saved by the Sweetwater Rescue Mission. Kent transferred his research onto a 12' x 4' map with time line capsules detailing the events of their miracle mission to save the stranded saints at Martin's Cove. Julie Rogers, noted Utah artist, added the beautiful illustrations. Kent presented one copy of the map to the Church Archives and another to the Sons of Utah Pioneers to be placed at National Headquarters. Past National President, Booth Maycock, built the frame around the map and saw to it being placed on the south east wall of the Brigham Young Room at National Headquarters.
Above: Past National President, Booth Maycock with Sweetwater Rescue Map
SUP SWEETHEART DINNER SOCIAL
SUP members are invited to attend a Valentines Sweetheart Dinner/Social held Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 6:30pm at the SUP Headquarters building. There will be a charge of $15 per person for the dinner. The program will feature great singing by Tom Pike, pioneer musical presentations by Clive Romney and interesting stories as told by Mike Bennett. Picture taking couples will also be available. Please RSVP to SUP Headquarters ASAP (801) 484-4441 by Feb 11.
UTAH PIONEER HERITAGE ARTS (UPHA)
SUP is a co-sponsor of the Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts programs. Please visit the website, www.upharts.org for upcoming events. Clive Romney is the Executive Director of UPHA and is doing a marvelous work to promote the mission of UPHA. The Mission of Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts is to:
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Preserve pioneer skills*, art forms**, art pieces***, and pioneer stories.
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Create and foster new artworks inspired by Utah pioneers and their stories.
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Educate students and the public at large about pioneer history and stories, pioneer skills and pioneer life, pioneer art forms and their contemporary derivatives.
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Entertain by creating and promoting performances and exhibitions embodying pioneer heritage arts.
* Pioneer skills are those that daily provided sustenance, shelter, protection, clothing, and transportation (i.e.: farming, cooking, building, sewing, tinsmithing, etc.)
** Pioneer art forms, sometimes an extension of or embellishment to daily skills, provided beauty, entertainment, and social interaction (i.e.: needlework, dancing, woodcarving, storytelling, etc.).
*** Art pieces are the products of pioneers' practice of their art forms.
MEMORIALIZATIONS DUE
The latest Memorialization board will be placed in the foyer of the SUP Headquarters building soon. Those who have submitted the names and biographies of their pioneer ancestors within the past few years will now see their ancestor’s names on the latest Memorialization board. Those who wish to have their pioneer ancestors names placed on this latest board should submit the names (with a short biography) by March 1st, 2010. It takes several years to acquire enough names of pioneers to be placed on a new board or ‘Honor Roll’. The names of those pioneers who have been honored in the past are available on the SUP website (www.sonsofutahpioneers.org ). Check this list before you submit any names of your pioneer ancestors. Procedures for submitting information is also found on the SUP Web site.
NATIONAL TREK: AMERICAN SAMPLER
The American Sampler National Trek is a go! Enough people have signed up to make the trip back east to visit the National Historic sites in Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and many areas, including LDS historic sites. This will be May 13-21, 2010. Those still wishing to go who haven’t signed up, please contact Dee Risenmay, Director of National Treks ((208) 356-5805). Room is still available.
PRESENTATION OF FAMILY HISTORY TO SUP LIBRARY
William W. Tanner (Bill) of the Salt Lake Chapter presented a copy of his family history to the Sons of Utah Pioneers, entitled JOSEPH SMITH TANNER, His Family and Descendents. (See www.josephsmithtanner.org ) Also a presentation was made of a T.C. Christensen film titled, A TREASURE IN HEAVEN, THE STORY OF JOHN TANNER. TC is also a great grandson of Joseph Smith Tanner and a great, great grandson of John Tanner.
Right: William W. Tanner Presenting Family History to SUP l. to r.: Author, William W. Tanner (Bill) {great grandson of Joseph Smith Tanner the first child born to John Tanner after he joined the church}, Lorimer Tanner Christenson (a descendant of John Tanner's son John Joshua), John Tanner (a descendant of John Tanner's son Nathan), Dil Strasser (SUP President) and Ron Van Leuven. (SUP Executive Manager).
THE MORMON HANDCART PAGEANT
There will be a theatrical re-enactment of the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies of 1856 and their rescuers, both past and present which will be held June 23, 24, 25, and 26, 2010. The pre-pageant activities begin at 6:30 pm each night (pioneer dinner and activities) and the actual pageant begins at dusk, 9:15PM. These re-enactments will be at the Juab County Fairgrounds, 350 West Center Street, Nephi, Utah. More information is available at: www.handcartpageant.com or call (435) 623-0196. This would be a great activity for your chapter to attend.
MORMON TIMES ARTICLE ON SUP PIONEER MAGAZINE
An article on the MORMON TIMES website (www.mormontimes.com) by Sharon Haddock acknowledges PIONEER magazine’s efforts to be both readable and elegant. For the full text of the article on the MORMON TIMES website, see: http://www.mormontimes.com/arts_entertainment/news/?linkTrack=mtEmail&id=12046
BRIGHAM YOUNG CHAPTER: EARLY PRINT OF JOSEPH SMITH AVAILABLE
Provenance: As members of the Brigham Young Chapter were going through the various items in the renovation of the Pioneer Village in Provo, Utah, they found hanging on the wall in one of the cabins a stunningly detailed portrait (print of a painting) of Joseph Smith (right).
No other information was available on the painting; however, at the bottom of the frame was the following: JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET, Reproduced by the Chicago Portrait Co. by permission of Charles W. Carter.
A collector bought the black and white print from the Brigham Young Chapter. The collector gave the Brigham Young Chapter permission to sell copies to SUP members and interested parties. Two sizes are now available, 81/2” x 11” and 11” x 16”. All funds from sales will go toward the restoration of the Pioneer Village in Provo. For cost of the pictures, contact Dave Olpin, dlolpin@hotmail.com (801)377-4520 or Chapter President, Steve Nelson (801) 375-9299.
TRAIL MARKER NEWSLETTER
For those new to the Trail Marker newsletter, it can be found on the SUP website at: www.sonsofutahpioneers.org . Please review it each month to get ideas for chapter activities. Also, please send Louis Pickett information on your chapter meetings each month. His email is: louwill@utahbroadband.com
CHAPTER NEWS
By Louis Pickett: louwill@utahbroadband.com
CENTERVILLE (Centerville, Utah) At the January meeting chapter members became better informed about what life was like for members of the Mormon Battalion. Gordon Johnson (right) was the speaker and was well versed on the history of the battalion and the trials and various experiences they had along their long march. His presentation was even more interesting because he wore the dress of the time. He quoted from diaries of members of the battalion and made it a very informative evening.
COTTON MISSION (St. George, Utah) The main speaker for the chapter’s January 19th meeting was Linda Lowe. (right) She is a well known local historian and teacher and told several stories of “Indian Encounters” from early pioneer history in Dixie. Her report helped all in attendance to better understand the relationship that developed between early pioneers in Dixie and the local Indians. Also on the program was Abe Young, who gave “A Moment in History” report on an encounter that David Cannon, an early settler, had with local Indians. Lynn Niederhauser made a memorial presentation honoring Cliff Spendlove, a long time SUP member. (Mr. Spendlove passed away last year.) Those in attendance also enjoyed three beautiful numbers sung by Jadon Webster.
OGDEN PIONEER (Ogden, Utah) At the December dinner meeting Robert DeBoer introduced Elder Marlin Jensen (right) as the guest speaker. Elder Jensen was called as a Seventy in April 1989 and as the Church Historian in 2005. He spoke about his call from President Gordon B. Hinckley. He then gave some history of the position of Church Historian and reported that Oliver Cowdery was the first church historian, followed by John Whitmer. He expressed gratitude for the interest that exists in church history. He talked about the new Church History Library. He also mentioned the historian, Dave McCullough, and histories he has written from records kept by others. He said this is a golden era of church history. He counseled us all to “Not study church history too little”.
PORTER ROCKWELL (Draper, Utah) The January dinner meeting speaker for the chapter was Jill Mulvay Derr. She is a senior research historian in the church History Department and gave a most interesting presentation on the subject of Sister Eliza R. Snow. She recounted the intriguing background of Sister Snow and read several of her masterpiece writings. A bonus of Sister Derr’s presentation was when she led those present in singing the inspiring words of a few poems Sister Snow had set to popular
tunes of the day. Ten of Sister Snow’s hymn texts remain in our current LDS hymnal. Sister Derr noted that Sister Snow was “one of the most celebrated Latter-day Saint women of the nineteenth century.” She leaves a marvelous legacy of faith and commitment in the 
history of the church. At the meeting National President, Dil Strasser administered the oath of office to the chapter officers (left).
Shown left to right: James Backman, President; Doug Palmer, past president; Brinton Webb and Del Roy Taylor Board members Tim Nicolaysen, Sec./Treasurer. Not present was board member Jim Philips.
SALT LAKE CITY (Salt Lake City, Utah) Chapter members and guests attending the January dinner meeting were well rewarded as they enjoyed the program which gave special recognition and honor to chapter member, Eldred G. Smith, (right) Emeritus Patriarch to the church. On January 9th Brother Smith celebrated his 103rd birthday. His son and daughter in law, Gary and Elizabeth Smith, spoke and reviewed the life of Hyrum Smith and displayed several artifacts. Gary is Eldred’s oldest son and the third great grandson of Hyrum Smith. Some artifacts in the possession of the Smith family were shown at the meeting including Alvin’s tool box which held the golden plates for a period of time, Hyrum’s Nauvoo Legion dress sword and scabbard, and the clothes and watch Hyrum was wearing when he and Joseph were killed in the Carthage Jail.
TAYLORSVILLE BENNION (Taylorsville, Utah) Chapter president, Ken Blair, (below right) spoke to the subject: “Pioneers and the Railroad 1860-1869”, at the January dinner meeting. He related history of the movement of pioneers from the East to Utah. The last of the handcart companies arrived in Utah in 1860 and a new program was then launched. This program involved wagon companies that would leave Utah with supplies to be dropped off at strategic locations along the route and go on to Winter Quarters, or other “Jumping Off” locations and pick up companies of pioneers and return to Utah. These trips were completed 
within the same year and were called the “Out and Back” companies. The advantage of this program was that it alleviated the pioneers of the task and expense of obtaining their own wagons, supplies, etc. The program was launched in 1861 and ended with the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. That event brought to an end the official “Pioneer Era” in Utah. Ken was present at the re-enactment of the driving of the golden spike in 1969 and showed slides of the event. He closed his presentation by playing his guitar and singing “Westward to Promontory”. The chorus seemed to sum up the evening. It goes: “Westward to Promontory, building the iron rail. First page in a brand new story, the ending of the old dust trail.” The chapter has in the past placed seven monuments and has now selected a location for the eighth. It will be installed this year and will recognize and honor the location where many early saints were baptized in the canal. It will be located at 1488 West 4800 South.
TEMPLE FORK (Logan, Utah) Members of the Temple Fork chapter enjoyed “A Night of Christmas Music” as their program in December. The music was performed by Conrad Dunn (below left) with his violin and was accompanied by Nancy Griffin (below right) at the piano. Conrad is employed by the Utah Festival Opera Company and is director of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Cache Valley. Nancy is associate director of the Utah Festival Opera Company and is responsible for the Children’s Opera Program.
At the same meeting the Area Vice President, J. LaMar Andersen, officiated at the swearing in of the 2010 officers for the chapter. (below)
Pictured above, from left to right: Clark Puffer, Past President; Richard Brown, Historian; James Thomas, President; J. La Mar Andersen, AVP; George Montrose, Treasurer; DeLoy Johnson, Secretary; Don Huber, President Elect.
TEMPLE QUARRY (Southeast Salt Lake Valley) The Temple Quarry and the Jordan River Temple chapters were pleased to hear from Donald L. Harwell (right) at their January 7th meeting. Mr. Harwell is the president of the Genesis Group of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was joined by his wife, Jerri, who participated with her husband in reporting what the Genesis Group is and some of their activities. He told of the creation of the group and that it is not a branch, but rather like a fireside group. It was created to provide social and religious activities for members of the church who are of the black race. Activity in the group dwindled following the June 1978 revelation on the priesthood. In June 1996 a group of six men met and started a regeneration of the group. It is now a very active organization. There is now a general authority of the church assigned as advisor to them. They meet the first Sunday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the L.D.S. chapel at 6710 South 1300 East. A large percentage of the participants are not black. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
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National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers
Please send or email your pictures and stories to:
National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers
3301 East 2920 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109
Phone: 801-484-4441
Fax: 801-484-2067
Email: sup@networld.com