Journey's End

I know everyone knows of the 'This Is The Place' monument at the mouth of Emigration Canyon (or  Immigration - whomever you are arguing with), but this is a statue right next to it - behind it is the canyon the pioneers came into the Salt Lake Valley through, it is called "Journey's End".  Later, others would enter through Parleys Canyon, and Echo Canyon.  Each year around the 24th of July, the date the Saints entered the valley, I ride my bike up this canyon.  I stop at all of the historical markers, I look at the oldest trees and wonder if they were there when Alexander or Archibald, or Alexander Bryce passed through. It is a seriously spiritual place to be.  This statue was truly inspired.  The look of absolute relief is evident.  Perhaps these were the only family members that made it on the long journey, leaving some buried along the way.  I have pioneer direct lines that were buried along the way, and I pray that those sacred places are watched over by angels.  The oldest Hill ancestor is buried in the Salt Lake Cemetery - not the first to arrive - that would have been his son.  He was part of the main wagon trains to arrive into the valley.  Then he went back to get the remainder of the Presidency of the Church and bring them into the SL Valley.  I was born in Utah - and hope to die here - and be buried here.  It is the roots of my family, it is where a place for the church to exist in peace was carved out and prepared.  After my ride up the canyon - and it was a truly beautiful and emotional one - I went to the cemetery and decorated all of the Hill headstones with red, white and blue banners.  I do this each year.  Most of the headstones will not be there much longer because of deterioration.  I wanted to post this now because next week I'll go the Cache Valley where the remainder of my direct line lives.  I hope that my children will never let the pioneer stories of my family be forgotten.  Pass them on - honor them.

"And should we die - before our journeys end, Happy Day - All Is Well"