Pioneer Day usually means parades, barbecues, fireworks and sermons about pioneer grit and faithfulness. Yet, as we celebrate the arrival of those first pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley, let us not forget who we are actually celebrating — undocumented immigrants.
It is hard to measure the amount of undocumented immigrants in the United States, but the Pew Research Center estimates that in 2017 there were about 10.5 million and declining, with about 110,000 in Utah.
Immigrants come for a variety of reasons, such as seeking better employment, escaping violence in their home countries or joining with their family members who have already immigrated.
Already we can see parallels between immigrants today and our pioneer progenitors. Missouri Gov. xxxxx Boggs’ now infamous extermination order decreed that “the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace.”
The early Mormons also faced violence and persecution in their home base of Nauvoo, Ill. Their beloved prophet and leader Joseph Smith had been murdered in 1844 as he sat in jail in nearby Carthage. Armed mobs roamed the county and attacked outlying Mormon settlements.
The Mormons finally agreed to leave peacefully come spring, but the persecution became so intense that Brigham Young declared an immediate exodus of all who were able in February 1846.
Brigham Young’s migrant caravan arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. At the time, the area was part of Mexico, although they officially ceded it to the United States the following year in the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. More importantly, the Shoshone, the Utes and the Gosiutes all held sovereign rights over the surrounding areas. Without authorization from the Mexicans, Shoshones, Utes, or Gosiutes, Young famously declared, “this is the right place” and commanded the Saints to make it their home.
Like many of today’s undocumented immigrants, the Mormon pioneers immigrated out of an urgent need to escape violence. They came unannounced into a territory in which they had no sovereign rights or titles. Indeed, they had no authorization to make it their home, other than the heavenly decrees issued through Young.
Like many of today’s undocumented immigrants, the pioneers suffered a long journey to reach their promised land. Many suffered emotional traumas and spiritual hardships. Some died.
Like many of today’s undocumented immigrants, the pioneers were hard workers who were eager to prove themselves. Soon after the United States gained control of the area, the Mormons submitted a petition for statehood using their self-reliance and grit as exhibits of their usefulness to the Union.
Like many of today’s undocumented immigrants, the pioneers loved their families and fought hard to keep them together.
Like many of today’s undocumented immigrants, the pioneers were not welcomed with open arms, even years after their arrival. After accusations of all kinds, such as murder, immorality and sedition, President James Buchanan removed Young from his governorship and sent a standing army to enforce the laws in the Utah territory. Meanwhile, conflicts between the pioneers and the Native tribes are well-documented and led to many casualties and lasting effects, especially for the Natives.
As we celebrate our pioneer heritage this week, we are celebrating undocumented immigrants. The pioneers escaped violence and persecution and suffered hardships along the way so that their families could have a better life. Undocumented immigrants today are doing the same thing. They are pioneers, too.
Austin Simcox lives in Provo and teaches high school history at the Walden School of Liberal Arts.