Pioneer and Biblical Parallels

When the Saints began their Westward Movement in 1846 they had nothing—Nauvoo had been abandoned and overrun by mobs, the Prophet Joseph had been killed in June 1844, and the line of church succession caused confusion (just three of a long list of things). As the new Prophet, Brigham Young gathered the saints together and headed West. B.H. Roberts said of the Mormon Trail that it was a “gathering of common people” and that the “poor emptied out of Europe.” Several parallels of this pioneer story can be drawn to the Exodus Story of Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Both groups remained righteous and followed the prophet as a community. The Lord blessed them as long as they did not murmur.

**Exodus 13: “…And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place….By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt from the house of bondage….But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea….”

It is the strength of the Lord that delivered the people. He remained with them in the wilderness—we know from this that God will not leave his people in their trials, because he guides them through it!

**Exodus 14: “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day….The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace….”

This section reminds me specifically of Zion’s Camp when Joseph commanded the men in the party to stand still on the banks and see the salvation of God. A storm proceeded to surge the river and wipe out the enemy line. Even the wording in these two situations is similar!

**Exodus 15: “Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou has redeemed; thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation….Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thy hands have established….”

God is just and merciful and generous. Moses led the children of Israel out of captivity into their “holy habitation.” Saints in the 1800’s were led out of the terrible mob torment westward to a place they could worship in peace in the West—nestled in the mountains.

I find it interesting to note the geographical context of the two stories at hand. Both Moses and Brigham Young led their people through a wilderness with unique topography that can be found nowhere else in the world—fresh and saltwater, river, mountains, desert. The exact details are amazing to think about! Both prophets of God literally led their people through similar terrain. (I wonder if Moses, like Brigham Young, became frustrated at his group’s pace?) Egypt could be perceived as Nauvoo, Winter Quarters, or a number of back-East places and the peace in the mountains was seen by Brigham Young in vision as the Salt Lake or Utah Valley.
Wherever these places, the Lord established them both. He will always prepare a way for the righteous. “We are here! Thank the Almighty God of Israel!”