This Day in ‘47

Many here in Michigan are not yet aware of some history of the West that I learned in 7th grade and Sunday School.  It fascinates me as I refresh my memory this time every year – Utah’s "Days of '47".

Four years ago, Ben Tullis wrote for the Deseret News (July 23, 2014, seen now on deseretnews.com):
“What life was like for the Mormon pioneers after entering the Salt Lake Valley”

On June 28, 1847, Brigham Young met with Jim Bridger, famed frontiersman and owner of Fort Bridger. The two men discussed the merits of settling the Salt Lake Valley. Bridger expressed his opinion that growing grain would be difficult in the area, making it unsuitable to sustain a large population.
President Young responded, according to LDS Church News: “Wait a little and we will show you.”

... President Young ... looked down at the Salt Lake Valley from Emigration Canyon on [Saturday] July 24. ... he said, “It is enough. This is the right place. Drive on.”

[On Thursday, July 22, 1847] “Orson Pratt, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Erastus Snow, a future apostle, had proceeded down Emigration Canyon and ascended a hill near the entrance of the valley. Pratt recorded: “(We) beheld … such an extensive scenery open before us (that) we could not refrain from a shout of joy which almost involuntarily escaped from our lips the moment this glad and lovely scenery was within our view.”

According to lds.org/ensign/1997/07/…:
Elder Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow, as the first of the pioneers to enter the Salt Lake Valley, had previously explored the east side on Wednesday, July 21, “riding together on one horse … to the south … near the banks of today’s Mill Creek.  …  Elder Pratt continued north to what is now downtown Salt Lake City.”

planting seeds and growing food – essential pioneer activities

as demonstrated at Cove Fort, Utah (24 June 2010)