Content preview - You need a premium account to view this content.

Traveling the Honeymoon Trail: An Act of Faith and Love

by H. Dean Garrett

History is the product of human events, events represented by struggles, pain, sorrow, and sacrifices, as well as happiness and joy. The uniqueness of the history of the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arizona, however, lies in the courage and the faith that it took to keep all of God's commandments, including eternal marriage. The Arizona Saints desired to do whatever was needed, risking life if necessary, in order to be married in the Lord's temple.

The settling of Arizona put the Saints in an area of isolation. Most of the settlers were young and energetic. Yet they and their children were isolated from the opportunity of eternal marriage. In 1877, the ordinances of the temple were brought closer to Arizona with the dedication of the St. George Temple.

The first trip to the temple took place in the fall of 1881. A diary account states:

That fall these mules were on their way to Utah, drawing one of five wagons making the trip over Lee's Ferry. This was the first wedding party from Arizona to go north to a Utah Temple, but so many future ones were taken across this ferry that the road was dubbed by Will C. Barnes, "The Honeymoon Trail."

Adolf Larsen (who married May Hunt) was captain of the first group, which also included Emma Larsen and Jessie N. Smith. During most of their twenty-day trip to St. George, they enjoyed fair weather. Adolf and May were married on 26 October 1881, and they were back in Snowflake by 5 December 1881.

This trip was the first of many. The motivation of each participant was the same: to keep the commandment of God. An examination of the struggles and difficulties faced by those who traveled the Honeymoon Trail gives insight into the faith and dedication of the Mormon settlers in Arizona.

Historical Background

The colonization of Arizona was among the last planned and carried out by Brigham Young. Jacob Hamblin had been sent to northern Arizona by Brigham Young to work with the Indians, giving him the opportunity to travel through the Arizona strip on the Little Colorado River Plateau several times. His reports to Brigham Young were quite favorable. He thought that the Mormon community should be developed around the San Francisco Mountain area.

In spite of Bishop Roundy's report, Horton D. Haight, with another substantial company, was sent to Arizona in April 1873. They crossed the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry and proceeded along the Little Colorado Plateau. They were extremely surprised at the barrenness of the land and the lack of water. His report to Brigham Young was also negative. At one point of the trip he said,