“The pure joy of eyewitness history,” one author observed, “lies in the vicarious thrill of experiencing the event.” The Eyewitness History of the Church Volume Three—which draws together for the first time hundreds of first-person accounts of those Saints who made the trek west under the leadership of Brigham Young—adds a new dimension to our understanding of the early days of the Restoration. Each chapter in this innovative book consists of eyewitness narratives of central events. You will experience a whole new world of LDS Church history through snapshots of specific moments captured by those who were there.

Reviews-

review: The editors of Journey to Zion's Hill 1845-1869 have chronicled the LDS pioneers' trek westward from Nauvoo, Illinois, to what would eventually become the state of Utah. This is the third release in The Eyewitness History of the Church series by Cedar Fort. As faithful members of the Salt Lake City based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the editors believe that "learning more about the pioneers' sacrifices will help us appreciate the living legacy of faith they left us, understand better their devotion to God, and appreciate more fully their desires to follow the living prophet. Knowing this will bless our lives."(vii) They state Journey to Zion's Hill 1845-1869 comprises "pioneer stories of faith beginning in Nauvoo after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith and ending with the pioneer's arrival in the Salt Lake Valley. This compilation will not only inspire you but will also imbue you with the desire to do good."(x) Some of the quotations used thr!
oughout Journey to Zion's Hill 1845-1869 are well known from the History of the Church (LDS) and other previously published material. The chronological narratives successfully portray the stalwart attitude of many of the early members of the Church, and their enduring faith in the face of trials and sacrifices most of us today know nothing about. I enjoyed reading the excerpts of several pioneer histories I had not come across before, such as Paulina Eliza Phelps, M. Isabella Horne, Valborg Rasmussen Wheelwright, and Alma Ash. Who cannot feel the terror of Harriet Decker Hanks as she vividly relives having to learn by experience about the danger of flash floods in the Wasatch Mountains surrounding Salt Lake City?

"We had camped in Emigration canyon for noon lunch. I started with my little boy for a walk. I had not got far from the wagon when I heard a very unusual sound, and looking back across the canyon, the mountain seemed to be coming down into the road, and the roar was deafening. In less time than it takes to describe it, the water was upon me. I started for my wagon, but the water came to my waist. I had my babe in my arms. I found my strength leaving me. I could not stand. I was near a stump. I placed my baby on the stump and held him and myself from being swept away in the current, until an old gentleman seeing my danger came to me." (150-151)

Another old personal favorite is from the popular pioneer journal of Wandle Mace. Reminiscing over Mormon security forces in turbulent Nauvoo, Illinois, before they had left that city for good, Wandle wrote:

"Our families were exposed to the rascals who on finding them unprotected by husbands and fathers would insult and abuse them, in consequence of such things the old police formed themselves into "Whittling" companies, and guarded the city from the rascals in this wise. When a stranger came into the city they would learn if they were there upon legitimate business, if so they did not interfere with them, but if they had no legitimate business, they were then under the surveillance of the Whittlers who would follow wherever they went, whittling and whistling, they did not molest them in any way, not even by talking to them but simply follow them, whittling and whistling as they went." (10)

And of course there are plenty of examples to demonstrate the pioneers' faith in God and the restored Gospel, which kept their feet going just another step, and then another

"Our faces were gray from the dust, which sometimes prevented us from seeing the vanguard; our noses with the skin hanging in patches, especially on those who had as much nose as I have; and almost every lower lip covered with a piece of cloth or paper because of its chapped condition, which made it difficult to speak and particularly to smile or laugh." (C.C.A. Christensen, 251)

I recommend this book to people interested in early Utah pioneer history; specifically those members of the LDS Church who enjoy faith-promoting literature along the lines of: The History of the Church - Joseph Smith They Knew the Prophet: Personal Accounts from over 100 People Who Knew Joseph Smith - Andrus The Price We Paid: The Complete Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Pioneers - Andrew D. Olsen

-Kristopher Wray
AML Reviewer