Dedication of John Taylor Statue at Bluff Fort

John Taylor descendants were on hand to to commemorate this tribute to President John Taylor who issued the call to the Hole-in-the-Rock Pioneers in 1878-79.  It was through their generous contribution that the statue was commissioned. Elder Tom Perry dedicated the statue and Governor Hubert also participated.

Spirits were high the day of the John Taylor Statue dedication with Apostle Tom Perry present, as well as Governor Gary R. Herbert,  Perry stated, "We are here to place a stone to remember how the Lord helped a small company of saints survive a most difficult assignment from a prophet to settle in a very remote place as a part of a plan to expand new communities in the western part of North America."

Elder Perry told how after the death of Brigham Young, John Taylor as the senior apostle took his position as the head of the Church and continued to expand the perimeters of the Church with more than 100 new settlements. He emphasized three things to be learned from President Taylor: his courage, his ability to communicate, and his faith.

Dedication and Desire

     Bluff, October 24, 2009   by Janet Wilcox

Standing on the shoulders of those who came before

A new San Juan Hill has been summitted.

 With Herculean effort

    families  have united to share

       legacies and lore,

          truths and treasures

             heritage and heroics.

Like parachutes of dandelion fluff

  scattered by the winds of change,

    Bluff’s legacy spread afar for 120 years,

         nurtured in descendant’s hearts,

           Until a dream began to grow.

Outdistancing the clouds of doubt

    And storms of failure

       Leaders called forth with hope and vision

            And new pioneers rallied to recreate the past.

  

    A modern gathering of clans and cabins converged,

       reminding us how undaunted courage

          and stick-it-atu-ity can accomplish the impossible.

  

New generations

   Recognizing the value of history

     Have reclaimed the mission of San Juan,

      Rebuild the fort

          and shown us with loving reminders

                   its new purpose under heaven.

   May we ever remember

        the trail, tears, and travails

             leading to this sacred ground in Bluff.

This poem was written to celebrate  the days’ events as well as the efforts of the past decade.  It can be found via this link, along with other Hole in the Rock poetry: 

Governor Hubert with Beverly Sorenson and Elder Tom Perry

Perkins descendants: Gayle Shumway, Richard and Evelyn Perkins, Cameron Shumway

It was a perfect beautiful Bluff fall day for the dedication

L-R: Bernice Perkins, Madge Shumway, Linda and Jim Shumway
and Bill Redd, former SJC Commissioner

Local musicians under the direction of Maryann Lyman
 provided music for the occasion.