Mormon Settlement in Arizona

Mormon Settlement in Arizona' When the pioneers set out to do their work, their daily la- bors became very common-place to them, and they thought lit- tle of the importance of their struggles to those who should fol- low to reap the harvest of their enterprise. Hence, in the great west, in every state and settlement lie buried historic treasures. It is the task of the historian to liberate these and bring them to light. The lives of the Latter-day Saints particularly are prolific in pioneer interest — not only the settlers of Utah, of whom we have been accustomed to hear the most, but also the leaders in the colonization of surrounding states for which the Latter-day Saints have become famous. The "Mormon" colonizers of the great southwest, particularly Arizona, have just received a de- served-tribute in a new volume of some 300 fascinating pages, entitled

940 IMPROVEMENT ERA state, James H. McClintock. In this writing he has risen to com- mendable heights in laying bare the wonderful achievements of the "Wilderness Breakers of Deseret." In his well-written, clear, unbiased and richly illustrated work there is a fascinating ex- position of the struggles, often pathetic, always heroic, made by the Latter-day Saints in redeeming the deserts of southern Utah, Nevada, and especially Arizona. We of older years well remember the partings with our young men who were called to the Arizona mission in the early 70' s — how they were fitted out, how we bade them God's blessings, how the fathers and mothers, themselves barely settled from ultra pioneer hard- ships, looked seriously upon the crude outfits, manned by exr uberant youth — hopeful men and women — who set out un- daunted to subdue the burning mesas and, with kindness and the gospel message, to conquer the wild men of the desert. Many of them lie buried on the Colorado plateau, and some by the drifting and treacherous sands of the silent river. Others found their death in Indian warfare, while in their hearts they filled the religious requirement of their leaders to deal kindly with the red man. Again, others are still struggling with obdurate surroundings, having spent their lives and fortunes in the con- stant conflict. A few of the leaders have received some meed of honor and remembrance in this splendid work. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, with all their sacrifices, will be remembered only as communities, who in early days fought the fight of the desert, and, with brave hearts in personal struggles and disap- pointments, built houses, founded cities and settlements, planted fields, orchards, and fruitful gardens, made the barren ground to rejoice, kissed by the waters of irrigation. They erected schools and houses of worship. By their faith, industry, patience and thrift, they developed enormously the agricultural possibilities of the state and country. The detail of some of the work is set forth in the book, every page of which creates interest and admiration. It should have the effect of awakening a desire in the hearts of the young Latter-day Saints to prove themselves of equal worth in their work, and to arouse in them a determina- tion to meet every condition with equal fortitude. Some of us think our lots are hard ; let us contemplate some of the troubles of these faithful, brave conquerors of the desert, and we will be more content, and less given to complaint and 'restlessness. In the preparation of Mormon Settlement in Arizona, Elder Andrew Jenson, Church Historian, in Salt Lake City, and LeRoi C. Snow of the General Board Y. M. M. I. A., Secretary to the Arizona State Historian, are given credit by the author for faithful devotion in the labor of gathering data. The book is adopted as one of the M. I. A. reading course for 1921-22, and is worthy of extensive reading by all interested in the develop-

EDITORS' TABLE 941 ment of the great south-west, and in the pioneer part taken therein by the Latter-day Saints. — A.