Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-07-23

SENATE RESOLUTION 812--RECOGNIZING THE 179TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF PIONEERS BELONGING TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS TO THE GREAT SALT LAKE VALLEY, HONORING THE ENDURING...

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On 2026-07-23, Senator John R. Curtis (R-UT) delivered a floor speech titled "SENATE RESOLUTION 812--RECOGNIZING THE 179TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF PIONEERS BELONGING TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHR" in the Senate.

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SENATE RESOLUTION 812--RECOGNIZING THE 179TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF PIONEERS BELONGING TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS TO THE GREAT SALT LAKE VALLEY, HONORING THE ENDURING...

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4268-S4269] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS ______ SENATE RESOLUTION 812--RECOGNIZING THE 179TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF PIONEERS BELONGING TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS TO THE GREAT SALT LAKE VALLEY, HONORING THE ENDURING PIONEER SPIRIT THAT SHAPED THE AMERICAN WEST, AND CELEBRATING ITS CONTINUED RELEVANCE TO THE UNFOLDING AMERICAN STORY Mr. CURTIS (for himself, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Crapo) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 812 Whereas the early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (referred [[Page S4269]] to in this preamble as the ``Church'') sought nothing more than the freedom to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience; Whereas, in the years following the establishment of the Church, the early members of the Church endured repeated persecution, including mob violence, the destruction of their homes and crops, the loss of their property, and forced displacement from one settlement after another; Whereas, on June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith, the leader and prophet of the Church, was murdered by an armed mob, leaving the Church and its members facing an uncertain future; Whereas Brigham Young, who succeeded Joseph Smith as leader of the Church, concluded that safety and religious liberty could only be found far beyond the settled United States and organized the Church's members for a journey into the wilderness of the American West; Whereas, beginning in February 1846, thousands of Latter- day Saint pioneers set out across the frozen Iowa plains and ultimately traveled more than 1,300 miles by wagon and, for many, by foot, crossing prairies, deserts, mountains, and rivers to reach their new home; Whereas the Latter-day Saint pioneers endured extreme cold, disease, hunger, and exhaustion during the journey, and many families buried children, parents, and spouses along the trail, their graves marking a path of sacrifice across the American West; Whereas, upon entering the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, Brigham Young declared, ``This is the right place,'' foretelling how the valley would become home to many Latter-day Saint pioneers and their posterity; Whereas, within days of their arrival, the Latter-day Saint pioneers laid out a city, plowed fields, irrigated the desert, and began to build homes, mills, and churches where none had stood before; Whereas, over the following decades, tens of thousands more Latter-day Saint pioneers followed the same trail, and, together with earlier arrivals, established more than 500 communities throughout the American West, transforming the region into a place of prosperity; Whereas the industry of the Latter-day Saint pioneers extended far beyond their own settlements, as they built roads and bridges, operated ferries across major rivers, planted way-station crops, and assisted thousands of other westward-bound emigrants who relied on the resources and goodwill the Latter-day Saint pioneers had established; Whereas, on July 24, 1849, the Latter-day Saint pioneers held their first formal commemoration of the anniversary of their arrival, gathering for a procession and a public celebration of thanksgiving in Salt Lake City; Whereas that observance has continued for 177 years and is now celebrated annually as ``Pioneer Day,'' a Utah State holiday marked by parades, rodeos, reenactments, fireworks, and civic gatherings that welcome participants of every faith and background; Whereas the story of the Latter-day Saint pioneers is, at its core, a distinctly American story of a people who, having been denied protection and refuge, built both for themselves and for the generations who followed; Whereas the pioneer spirit of self-reliance, enterprise, and perseverance that carried the Latter-day Saint pioneers across the plains continues today in the character of the American West, which remains a place where individuals and communities join together to solve hard problems and build for the future; and Whereas the legacy of the Latter-day Saint pioneers stands as a lasting reminder that the American story is written not only by the founding generation, but by every generation that chooses to press forward with unconquerable faith and undaunted hope: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) recognizes the 179th anniversary of the arrival of Latter-day Saint pioneers to the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, and the annual observance of ``Pioneer Day'' that commemorates it; (2) honors the extraordinary sacrifice of the Latter-day Saint pioneers, including those who gave their lives along the trail, in pursuit of religious liberty and a place to call home; (3) commends the Latter-day Saint pioneers and their descendants for their foundational role in settling and developing the American West, and for a legacy of industry, cooperation, and faith that continues to benefit the United States; and (4) encourages all the people of the United States to reflect on the enduring virtues of the Latter-day Saint pioneers and to carry forward, in their own generation, that same spirit of resilience in the continuation of the American story. Mr. CURTIS. Mr. President, tomorrow, Utahns will celebrate Pioneer Day, which commemorates the arrival of the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. For many outside Utah, Pioneer Day may seem a little unique and a strange local observance, but the values it commemorates are profoundly American and can resonate with all of us. We recognize not only a historic journey but the enduring pioneer spirit that helped shape the American West and continues to shape our country today. The early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sought to actualize our first freedom and something every American should cherish: religious liberty. Instead, they were driven from their homes, stripped of their property, and forced to flee into an uncertain wilderness. Thousands traveled more than 1,300 miles across plains, deserts, and mountains. I recently walked 250 miles in remembrance of that journey, and it is true that it challenged me, but I had every modern advantage, including seven pairs of shoes, a support team, and an RV to sleep in. Their sacrifice was of an entirely different magnitude: parents buried children, children buried parents, spouses buried their soulmates. Yet they sang a song that will be sung in many church buildings across Utah on Sunday: ``Come, Come, Ye Saints.'' In that song, they sing ``All is well,'' for they had a vision of a land, as the song goes, ``far away in the West, where none shall come to hurt or make afraid; there the Saints will be blessed.'' When they finally reached that place, the Salt Lake Valley, they didn't dwell on all they had lost; they focused on what they could build. Within days, they were planting crops, digging irrigation canals, laying out streets, and creating communities where none had existed before. Over the decades that followed, they established hundreds of settlements across the Mountain West, built roads and bridges, and helped countless other immigrants travel west. That is the pioneer spirit. That is the American spirit. It is resilience in the face of hardship. It is self-reliance married with cooperation. It is choosing to build instead of surrender. As our Nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, I believe those values are as relevant today as they were nearly 180 years ago. Every generation faces its own frontier. Ours may not be crossing the plains, but we are still called to solve difficult problems, to contribute meaningfully to our communities, and to leave a better nation for those who inherit it. Americans still want to build something meaningful. They still want to provide for their families. They still want their children to inherit greater opportunities than they themselves received. Those aspirations haven't changed. What has changed is that sometimes we forget the virtues and the sacrifices that are required to achieve them. May we all this Pioneer Day recommit ourselves to remembering that heritage and channeling that spirit in our own hearts because the American story has never belonged to just one generation. It is written by each generation willing to work, sacrifice, and build for the next. That is why the resolution I am introducing with my colleagues today is about more than honoring the past. It is about carrying forward the virtues that made those pioneers successful: faith, sacrifice, community, industry, and perseverance. May we honor their legacy by living those same values and by continuing to move our Nation forward one faithful step at a time. ____________________

Referenced legislation: SRES812, SRES812

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SENATE RESOLUTION 812--RECOGNIZING THE 179TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF PIONEERS BELONGING TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS TO THE GREAT SALT LAKE VALLEY, HONORING THE ENDURING... Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4268-S4269] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS ______ SENATE RESOLUTION 812--RECOGNIZING THE 179TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF PIONEERS BELONGING TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS TO THE GREAT SALT LAKE VALLEY, HONORING THE ENDURING PIONEER SPIRIT THAT SHAPED THE AMERICAN WEST, AND CELEBRATING ITS CONTINUED RELEVANCE TO THE UNFOLDING AMERICAN STORY Mr. CURTIS (for himself, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Crapo) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 812 Whereas the early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (referred [[Page S4269]] to in this preamble as the ``Church'') sought nothing more than the freedom to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience; Whereas, in the years following the establishment of the Church, the early members of the Church endured repeated persecution, including mob violence, the destruction of their homes and crops, the loss of their property, and forced displacement from one settlement after another; Whereas, on June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith, the leader and prophet of the Church, was murdered by an armed mob, leaving the Church and its members facing an uncertain future; Whereas Brigham Young, who succeeded Joseph Smith as leader of the Church, concluded that safety and religious liberty could only be found far beyond the settled United States and organized the Church's members for a journey into the wilderness of the American West; Whereas, beginning in February 1846, thousands of Latter- day Saint pioneers set out across the frozen Iowa plains and ultimately traveled more than 1,300 miles by wagon and, for many, by foot, crossing prairies, deserts, mountains, and rivers to reach their new home; Whereas the Latter-day Saint pioneers endured extreme cold, disease, hunger, and exhaustion during the journey, and many families buried children, parents, and spouses along the trail, their graves marking a path of sacrifice across the American West; Whereas, upon entering the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, Brigham Young declared, ``This is the right place,'' foretelling how the valley would become home to many Latter-day Saint pioneers and their posterity; Whereas, within days of their arrival, the Latter-day Saint pioneers laid out a city, plowed fields, irrigated the desert, and began to build homes, mills, and churches where none had stood before; Whereas, over the following decades, tens of thousands more Latter-day Saint pioneers followed the same trail, and, together with earlier arrivals, established more than 500 communities throughout the American West, transforming the region into a place of prosperity; Whereas the industry of the Latter-day Saint pioneers extended far beyond their own settlements, as they built roads and bridges, operated ferries across major rivers, planted way-station crops, and assisted thousands of other westward-bound emigrants who relied on the resources and goodwill the Latter-day Saint pioneers had established; Whereas, on July 24, 1849, the Latter-day Saint pioneers held their first formal commemoration of the anniversary of their arrival, gathering for a procession and a public celebration of thanksgiving in Salt Lake City; Whereas that observance has continued for 177 years and is now celebrated annually as ``Pioneer Day,'' a Utah State holiday marked by parades, rodeos, reenactments, fireworks, and civic gatherings that welcome participants of every faith and background; Whereas the story of the Latter-day Saint pioneers is, at its core, a distinctly American story of a people who, having been denied protection and refuge, built both for themselves and for the generations who followed; Whereas the pioneer spirit of self-reliance, enterprise, and perseverance that carried the Latter-day Saint pioneers across the plains continues today in the character of the American West, which remains a place where individuals and communities join together to solve hard problems and build for the future; and Whereas the legacy of the Latter-day Saint pioneers stands as a lasting reminder that the American story is written not only by the founding generation, but by every generation that chooses to press forward with unconquerable faith and undaunted hope: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) recognizes the 179th anniversary of the arrival of Latter-day Saint pioneers to the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, and the annual observance of ``Pioneer Day'' that commemorates it; (2) honors the extraordinary sacrifice of the Latter-day Saint pioneers, including those who gave their lives along the trail, in pursuit of religious liberty and a place to call home; (3) commends the Latter-day Saint pioneers and their descendants for their foundational role in settling and developing the American West, and for a legacy of industry, cooperation, and faith that continues to benefit the United States; and (4) encourages all the people of the United States to reflect on the enduring virtues of the Latter-day Saint pioneers and to carry forward, in their own generation, that same spirit of resilience in the continuation of the American story. Mr. CURTIS. Mr. President, tomorrow, Utahns will celebrate Pioneer Day, which commemorates the arrival of the first company of Latter-day Saint pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. For many outside Utah, Pioneer Day may seem a little unique and a strange local observance, but the values it commemorates are profoundly American and can resonate with all of us. We recognize not only a historic journey but the enduring pioneer spirit that helped shape the American West and continues to shape our country today. The early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sought to actualize our first freedom and something every American should cherish: religious liberty. Instead, they were driven from their homes, stripped of their property, and forced to flee into an uncertain wilderness. Thousands traveled more than 1,300 miles across plains, deserts, and mountains. I recently walked 250 miles in remembrance of that journey, and it is true that it challenged me, but I had every modern advantage, including seven pairs of shoes, a support team, and an RV to sleep in. Their sacrifice was of an entirely different magnitude: parents buried children, children buried parents, spouses buried their soulmates. Yet they sang a song that will be sung in many church buildings across Utah on Sunday: ``Come, Come, Ye Saints.'' In that song, they sing ``All is well,'' for they had a vision of a land, as the song goes, ``far away in the West, where none shall come to hurt or make afraid; there the Saints will be blessed.'' When they finally reached that place, the Salt Lake Valley, they didn't dwell on all they had lost; they focused on what they could build. Within days, they were planting crops, digging irrigation canals, laying out streets, and creating communities where none had existed before. Over the decades that followed, they established hundreds of settlements across the Mountain West, built roads and bridges, and helped countless other immigrants travel west. That is the pioneer spirit. That is the American spirit. It is resilience in the face of hardship. It is self-reliance married with cooperation. It is choosing to build instead of surrender. As our Nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, I believe those values are as relevant today as they were nearly 180 years ago. Every generation faces its own frontier. Ours may not be crossing the plains, but we are still called to solve difficult problems, to contribute meaningfully to our communities, and to leave a better nation for those who inherit it. Americans still want to build something meaningful. They still want to provide for their families. They still want their children to inherit greater opportunities than they themselves received. Those aspirations haven't changed. What has changed is that sometimes we forget the virtues and the sacrifices that are required to achieve them. May we all this Pioneer Day recommit ourselves to remembering that heritage and channeling that spirit in our own hearts because the American story has never belonged to just one generation. It is written by each generation willing to work, sacrifice, and build for the next. That is why the resolution I am introducing with my colleagues today is about more than honoring the past. It is about carrying forward the virtues that made those pioneers successful: faith, sacrifice, community, industry, and perseverance. May we honor their legacy by living those same values and by continuing to move our Nation forward one faithful step at a time. ____________________ Referenced legislation: SRES812, SRES812