The qualities of the original members of the Mormon Battalion are those "that we want to teach our children and cultivate in our own lives," said Elder Michael Jensen, a regional representative, during the annual commemoration of the arrival of the Mormon Battalion to the San Diego, Calif., area 148 years ago.
The arrival of the Mormon Battalion Jan. 29, 1847, is commemorated each year here by Church and community leaders and members. Elder Jensen was the main speaker during Mormon Battalion Day festivities Jan. 28 at the town square of Old Town San Diego, where the settlement of San Diego was originally established. Included in the town square is a reconstruction of the original courthouse built by the members of the Mormon Battalion shortly after they arrived in the area.During the program, as has been done in past years, Lt. Col. Keith Sears, former commander of the modern-day Mormon Battalion in San Diego County, read a proclamation from San Diego Mayor Susan Golding declaring Jan. 29 as Mormon Battalion Day.
The commemorative program began with the marching and performing of the local Marine Corps Band. Members of the modern-day battalion in uniform marched behind the band, followed by women in pioneer dress and members of the Second United States Mormon Battalion - Army of the West, an organization created recently in Utah.
During his remarks, Elder Jensen outlined some of the attributes of the original battalion members and cited examples of how they demonstrated these characteristics. He spoke of the following:
- Sacrifice: "The Mormon Battalion sacrificed for those around them," Elder Jensen noted. "The trek was not made without great personal sacrifice." He noted that the battalion was largely made up of the fathers of families. Leaving meant their families were less protected.
- Loyalty: "Battalion members demonstrated loyalty to their country and to each other," he said. The Mormons had recently been driven from their homes in Navuoo, and the government had given them little help. Now they were asked by their leaders to serve the government that they had reason to believe had "wronged" them, Elder Jensen explained. He added that this was a manifestation of unselfishness and a demonstration of their loyalty to their Church and country.
- Joy in little things: Elder Jensen described a festive ball held before the Mormon Battalion departed from the main body of Saints. He quoted from a member's journal: "A more merry dance I've never seen."
- Integrity: As the Mormon Battalion approached the settlement of Tucson, Ariz., the people were frightened and fled. Though many military groups would have plundered and pilfered through the community, the leaders ordered the members of the battalion to respect all properties, and they did. "There was never a complaint about the Mormon Battalion," Elder Jensen said.
- Tenacity: Elder Jensen read a statement made by the battalion's commanding officer, Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke, who was not a member of the Church. He praised the members of the battalion, enumerating their hardships and citing their courage as they met these adversities.
"It is easy to forget our heritage," Elder Jensen said. "This is part of our heritage, whether or not we are descendants of battalion members."
Elder Jensen said the important question today is, "What are our accomplishments going to be? Could we do with a little more sacrifice? Could we be more loyal to our Church and country? Could we find more joy in the little things? Could we increase our integrity? Could we show more tenacity, even in the midst of adversity?
"If we do this here in San Diego, the bloom will never be off the rose."
Conducting the commemorative ceremonies was Lt. Col. Virgil Crum, commanding officer of the San Diego company of the Mormon Battalion. Other speakers during the program included Lt. Averill Pugmire, who gave a brief history of the battalion, and Pearl Walker, head of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers in San Diego County, who presented brief histories of four women who reached San Diego with the battalion.
Singing the national anthem with the Marine Corps Band accompanying was Patrick Biggs, a noted San Diego tenor.