The Work and the Glory

by Gerald N. Lund

  He stopped, very thoughtful now. “The Valley represents much more than that, though. Like Israel of old, we have come through the wilderness and entered a land of promise. Not a promise of milk and honey—though I suspect those shall come too—but a promise of renewal, of growth, of vision—of Zion. Think of this. Our children will raise up children who have never known any life but life in this valley. Think of that”—his voice dropped suddenly—“and rejoice.”

  “Well,” he said, smiling, feeling a little chagrined at the passion he had shown. “We have come many, many miles from those first days in Palmyra. We have come by many paths and at different speeds. Some—like Papa, Olivia, and Mary Melissa—were buried along the way. But the rest of us came on. Think for a moment how remarkable that is. One of those many paths went by way of a ten-thousand-mile sea voyage. Another took a shortcut that proved to be the longest and most tragic possible way. Some went by way of the Santa Fe Trail, some by way of Pueblo and Sutter’s Fort and Independence Rock.”

  He straightened, knowing it was time to finish. “But now those paths have converged again. From here and there, from near and far, they have come together right here, on this very night and at this very campfire.”

  He looked at his mother and now his eyes were filled with the deepest of joy. “Mama, the dream you had so long ago has at last become a reality. All is well. Our family has come home.”

  About the Author

  Gerald N. Lund received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in sociology from Brigham Young University. He also did extensive graduate work in New Testament studies at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California, and studied Hebrew at the University of Judaism in Hollywood, California.

  During his thirty-five years in the Church Educational System, the author served as a seminary teacher, an institute teacher and director, a curriculum writer, director of college curriculum, and zone administrator. His Church callings have included those of bishop, stake missionary, and teacher. In April 2002, he was sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy.

  Gerald Lund has written nineteen books, including such novels as Fire of the Covenant, The Alliance, The Freedom Factor, Leverage Point, One in Thine Hand,and The Kingdom and the Crowntrilogy. He has also written several books on gospel studies, including The Coming of the Lord and Jesus Christ, Key to the Plan of Salvation.He has twice won the Independent Booksellers “Book of the Year” Award and has received many other honors for his works.

  He and his wife, Lynn, are the parents of seven children.