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honoring the heritage, values and memory of our pioneer ancestors. the national society of the sons of utah pioneers was organized for the purpose of keeping alive the history and memory of mormon pioneers and others who came to the salt lake valley to help settle the west and find security from those who would destroy them and their beliefs. in 1900, senator reed smoot made the first attempts to initiate the concept of the sons of utah pioneers. parley p. jenson tried again in 1910. neither attempt was successful, but these efforts kept the idea alive. in 1928, “the sons,” was organized in provo, utah. finally, the sons of utah pioneers was officially organized on march 29, 1933, as a state and local organization in a small office, lawrence t. epperson of salt lake city, became the first president. in 1935, under the direction of nephi l. morris, the idea of retracing the original pioneer trek from nauvoo, illinois, to salt lake city, utah, during the 1947 centennial observance was