It is Pioneer Day in Utah, a time we celebrate the Mormons arriving here on July 24, 1847. This is my way of honoring those folks who endured that trek.

We have different ways of celebrating holidays, which is great, as we are  our own person. However, many people forget the real meaning of Christmas or even the fourth of July. Same thing for July 24th, but my way is to celebrate the pioneers who helped pave the path to the Utah desert and make it blossom as a rose. After doing a little research with the documents left with the Jones family history boxes, I pay respect to the Angell who visited Salt Lake to build the beautiful Salt Lake Temple. That Angell then decided to stay and try to finish it, but vanished before it was done. No, I am not loony tunes. It is the gospel truth. The attached sketch is a drawing of the majestic and picturesque Salt Lake Temple. Although the artist is unknown to me, I believe the drawing was done in the 1950's.

Truman Angell was born in Rhode Island on June 5, 1810. He was the son of James and Phebe Morton Angell. In his youth, he learned the art of being a carpenter and took a likin to be creative in that endeavor. He labored in that capacity until 1832 when his parents moved to New York, where he met and married Polly Johnson. Soon after, they were visited by LDS missionaries and quickly joined and were fervent members. Like many early Mormons, they followed the direction of founder Joseph Smith, and moved to Kirtland, which was the gathering place for early Mormons. Because of his skill, he was instrumental in doing the carpenter work at the Kirtland Temple. When the anti-Mormons attack the LDS members, he settled in Nauvoo, and once again instrumental in working there on that Temple. After Joseph Smith was murdered, the Angell followed the new leadership of Brigham Young and arrived in the valley of salt on this day 168 years ago. Initially, he was involved in the designing and building of homes and public buildings in Salt Lake; among them were the Beehive and Lion Houses, the Council House and the Old Tabernacle. As he was the best around, Brigham Young called on him to design and build the Salt Lake Temple, and the Angell got started in 1852. That was his full time work, which lasted thirty-five years, ending only when he died in 1887, before the Temple was completed. Before his death at age 77, he told many that his destiny on earth was the building of that structure and did things in the design that people back then couldn't understand, which included leaving a space for future electrical wires and elevators. He couldn't explain why he felt the inspiration for his designs, but Church authorities knew this Angell was under angelic influence and left him alone. Most Mormons have never heard of this guy, so I felt it is time to tell his story on this Pioneer Day, so get to know an Angell today.