Joyful Day

 I mentioned in an earlier post that I'm trying to recognize the joy I have in my life. I didn't have any trouble finding the joy in my life yesterday. Alan and I decided to drive to downtown Salt Lake City to go to the Church History Museum. We had been there years before, but everything has changed. It's even in a new building so nothing was the same. As we neared the end of the first floor, there was a display that showed a video of the time just after Joseph Smith was martyred and the leadership of the church didn't know who should be the one to replace Joseph. Alan and I went to a movie last week about that very topic. It is called "Six Days In August". Anyway, Sidney Rigdon, who was the last standing member of the First Presidency felt like he should be the prophet. He even said he received a vision about it. A meeting was called so he could talk to the saints. However, Brigham Young interrupted the meeting and began to speak. As he was speaking, a likeness of Joseph Smith came over him and some heard the voice of Joseph Smith coming through Brigham's mouth.

During the video mentioned above, there were actors portraying members of the church who were in the congregation who testified of that event. They testified that because of what they saw and heard when Brigham Young was speaking, they knew that he was supposed to be the new prophet. Among those who testified was my Great-Grandfather Robert Taylor Burton. Until I saw this video, I didn't know that he was there in attendance and witnessed it himself. That knowledge brought me a lot of joy.

This is a picture of my great-grandfather at the display. It's not very good quality, but was the best I could do. The actor from the video is in the background and R. T. Burton is pictured in the lower left corner.

After leaving the Church History Museum, we wanted to go see the State Capitol Building. We were unable to find parking within a good walking distance for me so we went to the Pioneer Museum not far from there. We had never been there before. There were so many displays and artifacts from when the saints settled Salt Lake City.

As I was browsing a display of bed spreads, I saw one that had belonged to my Great-Grandmother Sarah Anna Garr Burton, one of the four wives of Robert Taylor Burton. It was made by her mother and given to her as a gift. It is the black and white one on the top left.

Seeing that bedspread brought me a great deal of joy and brought the life of an ancestor I have never met to light. I hope to meet her one day.

Alan and I then left the main floor display and went downstairs. Eureka! I found my great-grandfather Robert Taylor Burton again. He was spotlighted in a display about the Nauvoo Legion. The sign begins with the words "Robert T. Burton was a major figure in the Nauvoo Legion during its reconstitution in Utah, including the Utah War (1857-1858) which was a confrontation between Utah settlers and the forces of the United States government (Johnston's Army)."

There was a picture of him in his uniform and his actual sword and uniform were inside the display case. This uniform is not his, but is in the next picture.

The glare from the glass made it difficult to get a good picture of the uniform.

 

In a different display case, I saw his military issued scriptures.

I didn't see any artifacts from any of my other pioneer ancestors, although there might be some there since all 16 of my great-grandparents were early members of the church.

I love my pioneer heritage. It is because of them joining the church that I was able to be born in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What a great blessing that has been in my life. It has filled my life with joy for the past 71 years.