Mormon Pioneer Heritage

I love my Pleasant Grove, Utah roots; quaint, small town atmosphere back in the day. Leave It To Beaver / Ozzie & Harriett lifestyles, high school proms in the gymnasium, penny candy counter at Smith’s market, swimming in the public pool and outdoor sleepovers all summer long with girl friends, knowing almost everyone in the town, Strawberry Day’s with a rodeo (yup, you heard me right a rodeo!! haha) parents who loved me, dance recitals, Saturday matinee movies at the Grove Theater, Pep Club escapades, picking cherries to earn spending money, daddy-daughter dates, Purple Turtle tater tots with pink sauce, hikes up G mountain, Story Pharmacy soda fountain, skate boarding down the drag strip, summer parades twirling a baton, stake dances, never locking your door at night, Primary & later Mutual activities, the 10 p.m. fire siren signaling kids should be safe at home and towns people who looked out for one another! … Was there a seedy side to it all? Perhaps but I never experienced it …

My grandfather (several great’s back), a Mormon pioneer who crossed the planes experiencing great hardship and sacrifice was one of Brigham Young’s scouts who was sent by horse back to locate the great Salt Lake Valley Brigham had seen in a vision. Grandpa was one of the founders of this lovely town of Pleasant Grove which was nestled at the bottom of Mount Timpanogos. Our Latter-day Saint roots, as a family, provided purpose and security and my faith has sustained me since the day I was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 47 years ago. How blessed I was to have the family that I did (both sides; the Beck’s and the Mills) with loving parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins galore! How delightful it is to return to Pleasant Grove to visit and to reflect on the many incredible memories I have of having grown up in such a warm and welcoming environment. As Utah celebrates Pioneer Day on July 24^th as a ‘reverse pioneer’ myself, having traveled with my own precious family back East to live and rear our family I will cheer for all who helped to make my home town great throughout the years. In addition, I will be cheering for all who have had the courage to move on, like ourselves, as we touch countless lives for good where ever we may be in the world calling it HOME!