Thursday, February 16, 2012

~Good Resources to Learn about the Handcart Pioneers~

The Church has a wonderful site that lists all the known primary sources for each emigrant company and includes transcripts for documents in the public domain. It is on the following internet site:

This is a map to get to the site listed above:
lds.org.>About the Church>Church History>Church History and Archives>Resources Available>Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel

Many books are available for purchase, about early church history and the migration to Utah, including the following:
1. The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Pioneers, Andrew D. Olson, 2006, Deseret Book Co. It includes the details of the events that transpired in separate sections for the two companies. Also includes significant journal entries, and follow-up research about the lives of many of those who survived. One of the most informative and authoritative books to date.

2. The Sweetwater Rescue: The Martin and Willie Handcart Story, Heidi S. Swinton and Lee Groberg, 2006, Covenant Communications, American Fork, UT. Story of the handcart companies, and also includes a host of new artwork relating to the handcart experience; also has a companion DVD.

3. The Mormon Trail, Yesterday and Today, William Hill. 1996, Utah State University Press, Logan, UT. It includes an historical introduction, a chronology, excerpts from trail diaries, along with maps, over 200 then-and-now photos, and descriptions of major museums and displays along the trail.

4. Handcarts to Zion, The Story of a Unique Western Migration, 1856-1860. LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W. Hafen. 1992. Bison Books. It draws on diaries and reports of the participants, rosters of the ten companies, and a collection of the songs sung on the trail and at “The Gathering.”

5. Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail, Slaughter and Landon. 1997, Shadow Mountain, Salt lake City, UT. Also has an accompanying Video/DVD. It gives an overview of Church history.

6. Their Faces Toward Zion: Voices and Images of the Trek West, Richard Holzaphel. 1996, Bookcraft, Salt Lake city, UT. Overview of Church History and a number of pictures related to various events.
7. 111 Days to Zion, The Day-By-Day Trek of the Mormon Pioneers, Hal Knight and Dr. Stanley B. Kimball, 1997, Big Moon Traders. Salt Lake City, UT. The story of the Vanguard Company, the first group with Brigham Young to travel west to locate and settle the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.

8. Tell My Story Too. Jolene Allphin, Tell My Story Publishing, 1776 Ridge Rd. Layton, UT 84040. Contains a collection of stories of the members of the Willie and Martin Companies, the Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Companies, and the Rescuers.

9. Fire of the Covenant. Gerald Lund, 1999, Bookcraft Publishing Co. (Now owned by Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, UT. A novel of historical fiction about the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies.

Numerous articles about handcart pioneers, and early pioneer migration may be found by searching Church Magazines, by using the church internet sites, or by consulting with local ward or branch librarians.

Videos/DVDs
Legacy. Video shown at Joseph Smith Memorial Building for several years. Church Distribution Center.

Faith in Every Footstep. Church Distribution Center. Also a 16 min. portion of the Teachings from the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History (53933) video that was available for the Sunday School course in 2005.
17 Miracles.

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