--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Frank C. Steele collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 33 number: 12 published: 1930-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Frank C. Steele, “Fathers and Sons, as Steadfast as the Surrounding Mountains,” *Improvement Era* 33, no. 12 (October 1930): 798–800." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3312unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3312unse start_page: 798 end_page: 800 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1930-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3312unse publication_year: 1930 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1930, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Fathers and Sons, as Steadfast as the Surrounding Mountains Fathers and Sons, as Steadfast as the Surrounding Mountains r Canada and the By frank c steele Ckurch Centennial THE greatest Fathers and Sons' outing in the history of the world." This was the unqualified declar- ation of Oscar A. Kirkham, ex- ecutive secretary of the Y. M. M. I. A., and internationally known boy leader, in his opening address at the remarkable Church Centen- nial father-son celebration of the Canadian stakes held early in Au- gust, 1930. More than 1,300 at- tended the bonfire ceremonial on the opening night of the camp and this number had grown to 1,500 when a new fellowship between lads and dads was pledged at the campfire the second night. The outing far exceeded all an- ticipations. It was big, distinc- tive, far-reaching. Into the heart of the Canadian Rockies on Pass creek, Waterton National park, gathered this vast assemblage of Latter-day fathers and sons. Every ward in the three Canadian stakes was represented. The site selected was ideal, with majestic moun- tains, clothed with deep verdure, encircling the camp. Pass creek, crystal clear and cold, rushes through the valley and on its banks near the camp were found several springs. These supplied the camp- ers with an abundance of water. A large clearing, sheltered and grassy, with groves of pines and aspens affording shade during the day, provided ideal camping space. In the center of the camp rose the Union Jack and at intervals along the lines of tents fluttered gaily the stake flags and the colors of the various Boy Scout troops repre- sented. p ONTRIBUTING leadership ^ and inspiration to the camp with Oscar A. Kirkham, was W. O. Robinson, field secretary of the Y. M. M. I. A. of Salt Lake City. Much of the success of the tri-stake project was due to their studied guidance and experience. Dr. C. M. Fletcher, Boy Scout leader ol the Lethbridge stake, was elected camp director and the outing was singularly free from accidents, sick- ness or breaches of camp regula- tions. There was no profanity heard and no smoking or drinking noticed in that large group. The days and nights passed delight- fully, happily and all too swiftly. The fine morale in the camp was commended by Wilfred Backman, field secretary of the Boy Scouts of Alberta, who was a guest at camp headquarters for the two full days the fathers and sons were under canvas. A significant international touch was introduced the second night when Oscar Kirkham presented Scout Chief Backman with a little silk flag, the Stars and Stripes, car- ried by that great American Scout, our executive secretary, from the World Scout Jamboree at Birken- head. This prized flag was given as a symbol of the love and goodwill of the Boy Scouts of America for their brother scouts in Alberta. In replying, Mr. Backman accepted the flag on behalf of the Boy Scouts of Alberta and assured the gathering that it would be treas- ured at Scout headquarters in Ed- monton. The campfire programs were The Improvement Era for October, 1930 799 supplied by the different stakes, stake Presidents Wood, Allen and Palmer making happy contribu- tions. These huge bonfires, cli- maxing the day's activities, were held in a natural amphitheatre not unlike an ancient Greek theatre, and the hymns and songs swelling from hundreds of hearts echoed for miles through the canyons and crags of the high Rockies. A tes- timony profound it was that the youth of the Church in Canada will carry on. T NSPIRATION HIKE up beau- tiful Red Rock canyon, was one of the many thrilling experiences of the outing. When the fathers and sons reached a lovely meadow far up the mountain side, President Palmer of the Lethbridge stake gave an interesting talk on the geology of the Rocky Mountain region, the mountains themselves providing the laboratory. Another feature of the celebra- tion, sponsored by the Y. M. M. I. A., preceding the hike to the hills, was the marking of an histor- ical spot at Cardston, first settle- ment of the Latter-day Saints in Canada. This interesting cere- mony, commemorative of the landing of the vanguard of the "Mormon" pioneers to Canada led by the late President Charles Ora Card 43 years ago, was held on the temple square at Cardston in the presence of hundreds from the three stakes. Each ward of the three stakes brought a stone to be used in the building of the memo- rial to the pioneers. Many docu- ments, relics and records were placed in a unique marble box, which was deposited in the foun- dation of the cairn. These historical events in the life of the Church in Canada recall the important contribution the dominion of Canada has made to the rise and growth of the Church in this dispensation. At a critical hour in the early history of the Church, the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that in mis- sionary work abroad lay the means of salvation. * T was toward Great Britain that •*• the eyes of the prophet were turned but it was through Britain's New World colony, Canada — now grown to full nationhood in the great British Commonwealth — that the fruitful contact in the British Isles was established. At the time of the organization President Heber S. Allen Depositing the Relics of the Church in 1830 the domin- ion was divided into Upper and Lower Canada. Lower Canada or Quebec was largely populated by French-Canadians and Upper Canada by English-speaking set- tlers many of whom were of United Empire Loyalist stock, men and women who, through loyalty to the British connection, had mi- grated to Canada at the time of the American Revolutionary war. It was a frontier country where sturdy pioneers were hewing out of the wilderness a home for them- selves and their children. Into this new land came the first message of the Gospel three years after the organization of the Church. In 1833 Orson Pratt, a young man in his early twenties and a recent convert, journeyed in- to Canada as a missionary, for the spirit of missionary work had rested upon him even from the hour he inquired of the Lord as to his duty in the Church in 1830, which supplication brought an answer through the Prophet Jo- seph comprising Section 34 of the Doctrine and Covenants in which the Lord exhorts Orson to "Lift up your voice and spare not, for the Lord God hath spoken; there- fore prophesy, and it shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost." T N the fall of that year Canada -*- received a visit from none other than the young prophet himself who with Sidney Rigdon sounded 800 The Improvement Era for October, 1930 the Gospel message in Upper Can- ada. Meetings were held at Brant- ford, Mount Pleasant, Colborn, ,Waterford, and other places where some success was obtained. At Mount Pleasant in particular the new Gospel, the new revelation, moved many honest hearts and on Sunday, October 27, Orson bap- tized twelve and others were "deeply impressed, and desired another meeting." At this meet- ing, held on the Monday in the evening, the baptized believers were confirmed members of the Church and given the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. The sacra- ment was administered and the Spirit of the Lord made manifest in great power. Tenderly, and prayerfully, the prophet writes in his journal: "O God, establish thy word among this people. * * * May God carry on his work in this place till all shall know him." Be- fore turning their steps again to- ward Kirtland, headquarters of the Church at that time, F. A. Nicker- son was ordained an elder and at this service one of the sisters re- cently baptized and confirmed en- joyed the gift of tongues "which made the saints rejoice exceed- ingly." "TTHE work commenced by these early messengers of "Mormon- ism" to Canada was richly added upon in 1836 by Elder Parley P. Pratt who traveled to the city of Toronto preaching with marked success. The field was "ripe with the harvest" and among the con- verts made by this zealous mission- ary was John Taylor, a Methodist preacher, and truly a man of des- tiny for he later became a mem- ber of the council of the twelve apostles and after the migration of the Church to Utah succeeded Brigham Young to the exalted of- fice of president of the Church. Years passed and the Church, following the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and the Patriarch Hyrum Smith, was driven into the wilderness, the destination of the harassed Church being the Rocky Mountain region as had been fore- told by the prophet. It may be interjected here that at the assassi- nation of Joseph Smith at Carth- age, 111., the Canadian apostle, John Taylor, was associated with his leader, being wounded four times by the bullets fired from the muskets of the ruffians. The woimH did not prove ' fatal and John Taylor, destined as he was to play a further and foremost role in the rise of the Church in the valleys of the mountains, moved with the Saints to the west there to assist in their establishment and subsequent expansion. Mention has already been made that Elder John Taylor succeeded President Brigham Young as pres- ident of the Church, and it is an interesting coincidence that seven years after the Canadian apostle succeeded to the high office of pres- idency in Utah, 1887, a party of "Mormon" pioneers headed by the late Charles Ora Card of Cache Valley established a settlement for the Saints in the southwest corner of Alberta, Canada. That settle ment was Cardston on Lee's creek, now shadowed by the white, noble walls of the Alberta Temple, symbol of the strength and per- manency of the Church in the Dominion of Canada. PRESIDENT CARD and his companions were sent north to select a gathering place for the Saints in Canada. That was in the fall of 1886. They traveled through Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, but when their eyes surveyed the country between the Montana line and the little, straggling settlement of Coalbanks (now Lethbridge) they soon came to a decision. This was the place for the new colonies, the expansive, grass-clad prairies, the richness of the soil, the abundance of water, and the hospitable welcome serving to support that decision of their beloved leader. Then, it is pos- sible that the nearby Rockies, thrusting their snow-tipped peaks into the clouds, recalled their mountain home seven hundred miles to the south and the promises made by the prophets of God that Zion should be established in the mountains and "exalted above the hills." After President Card and his as- sociates had made their report to the First Presidency m Salt Lake City, he and other representatives of the Church returned to Canada and selected the present site of Cardston as the first center for set- tlement. In June, 1887, Presi- dent Card and his family and a party of forty others landed at Cardston and June 5 of that year the first religious service was held in a tent. When the Alberta Stake of Zion was organized Charles Ora Card became its president and as such he was the wise and forceful leader in the building of towns and villages, schools and churches, mills and business enterprises in this new gathering place for the Saints. The building of a canal by the Al- berta Railway and Irrigation Company through the "Mormon country" served as an impetus to immigration from Utah and Idaho, the Latter-day Saints from those states being offered land in exchange for labor in the building of this reclamation project. In 1901 the late "Uncle" Jesse Knight of Provo and his two sons purchased in Southern Alberta one and a half townships of land on which they ranged six thousand steers and in the fall of the same year fifty-four thousand head of sheep were brought in from Mon- tana by them, they being the first to undertake sheep raising on a large scale in Alberta, now the leading sheep producing province of the dominion. Jesse Knight later acquired 325,000 acres of virgin prairie land from the Al- berta Railway and Irrigation Com- pany and founded the town of Raymond, named for his son, who still resides there. In 1902 the Knight Sugar Company was formed and a sugar factory was built at Raymond, the new sugar industry resulting in scores of addi- tional L. D. S. families from Utah and Idaho migrating northward to the new settlements. (^HARLES A. M A G R A T H, ^ chairman of the International Joint Commission and former member of parliament, says of the "Mormon" colonists and Jesse Knight in particular in his book, "Canada's Growth:" 'They have done good work in Southern Al- berta. One of the finest charac- ters I have ever met was Jesse Knight, a very prominent mining operator in Utah, a modest gen- tleman, strong in his faith, who paid his tithes, no inconsiderable amount, to his Church. He came to Southern Alberta with his two sons and accomplished what few men would attempt. He estab- lished a beet sugar factory at a cost of half a million dollars on the open prairie without any sup- porting settlement." The stakes in Canada have shown steady growth as also has the missionary work in the do- minion. The Saints are at peace with their neighbors and face the future with faith and confidence.