Pilgrims Patriots Pioneers & Parents

Our ancestors have helped to shape us into the people we are today.

Today is Pioneer Day - the day the pioneers entered into Salt Lake Valley. We don't have a direct ancestor who made their way west with the 'Mormon Pioneers.' But we do have cousins on our Craft and Bush lines that did.

Not all pioneers pushed handcarts. Our pioneer parents were willing to take a BIG step into a new life when they were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In many ways, it may have been harder than pushing a handcart or driving a team of oxen. Being difficult did not stop them. Step by step they are making their way to the 'promised land.' Just as we can too!

We can also celebrate our Mayflower pilgrim ancestors, who were looking for religious freedom and the Revolutionary War patriots who made that dream a reality - establishing a country that would allow all to worship as they pleased.

In the spring of 1997, we celebrated 150 years since the pioneers arrived - together as a family. We also celebrated Papa and Munner's baptisms and confirmations. This pdf includes all the documents they prepared for their own 'Faith in Every Footstep' gathering at the College Park Chapel...the very place they were baptized.

Interesting to note, it was only two days later, Brigham Young put his cane into the dry, desert ground and said this would be the center spot...the center for their new city...the Salt Lake Temple...the very temple our parents would be sealed together forever.

Fox Family Pioneer Day March 5, 1997.pdf

Download PDF • 37.57MB

There are no photos of our celebration in 1997. And there are no photos of their baptism. But we do have this one...which is the closest to the day they were baptized than any other photo. This was Easter Sunday, March 29, 1964 - standing in front of their little home in Wheaton Maryland. They celebrated Easter in a new way and with their new congregation at 500 Randolph Road Silver Spring Maryland, which years later became our almost backyard chapel. This would have been just weeks after started their own pioneer journey.

Faith truly was in their every footstep. They blazed the trail for us to follow. We are forever grateful for our pioneer parents.