Friday, July 4, 2008

Ensign Peak







On Tuesday night, we hiked with the youth of our ward to Ensign Peak. Ken carried Holden on his shoulders half way up until Wilson pooped out, and then I carried Holden on my shoulders and Wilson on Ken's shoulders. The journey up the mountain was well worth it. The view was spectacular! Looking south we could see the whole valley, and looking northwest we could see The Great Salt Lake and Davis County. Not only was the view amazing the spirit was sweet. Ensign Peak has such an important part in the History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We sang the hymn "High on the Mountain Top" since Ensign Peak was the inspiration for the hymn. The following information about the history of Ensign Peak is taken from http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowboys/ensignpeak.html .


On 26 July 1847 Brigham Young and several others climbed to the top which he named "Ensign Peak," as he reported the event in his journal. They used the view from the summit to visually explore the entire valley.
The significance of the name, according to the pioneers, comes from the biblical prophecy: "He will lift up an ensign unto the nations. . . . He lifteth up an ensign on the mountains." (Isa 5:26; 18:3). The pioneers did not erect the U.S. flag on the Peak on 26 July as widely reported, but they did plan to fly the "Standard of the Nations," an invitation for all nations to immigrate to Utah.
The locating of the east side of the temple just south of this Peak comes from the statement of George A. Smith who explained that while still in Nauvoo, Illinois, Brigham Young "had a vision of Joseph Smith who showed him the mountain we now call Ensign Peak. . . . and there was an ensign [flag] fell upon that peak, and Joseph said 'build under the point where the colors fall and you will prosper and have peace'." Hence, Temple Square and Salt Lake City were laid out due south of the peak.
From this peak at least one departing Mormon missionary received the temple ceremony. Addison Pratt, about to depart to Hawaii in 1849, was taken to the summit of Ensign Peak and there received the endowment from Brigham Young and several leading elders. Brigham Young said he specially consecrated the Peak for this purpose.



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