''For the monument in New Mexico, see Mormon Battalion Monument (Sandoval County, New Mexico).'' The Mormon Battalion Monument is a historic bronze statue in

Presidio Park Presidio Park is a city historic park in San Diego, California. It is the site where the San Diego Presidio and the San Diego Mission, the first European settlements in what is now the Western United States, were founded in 1769. In 1773 the m ...

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...

. It represents the archetypal member of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

(LDS Church) who served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

Mormon Battalion The Mormon Battalion was the only religious unit in United States military history in federal service, recruited solely from one religious body and having a religious title as the unit designation. The volunteers served from July 1846 to July ...

during the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

of 1846–1848.

History

The statue was commissioned by the

Sons of Utah Pioneers The National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers (SUP) is an organization dedicated to preserving the legacy and studying the history of the Mormon Pioneers of Utah and the West. The organization is open to "All good men of every age and circumstan ...

as a gift to the City of San Diego. Its construction cost $18,000. It was designed by Utah sculptor Edward J. Fraughton and cast in Italy. The dedication, held on November 22, 1969, was attended by 200 Mormon and Sons of Utah Pioneers members.

Hugh B. Brown Hugh Brown Brown (October 24, 1883 – December 2, 1975) was an American attorney, educator, author and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and First Presidency. ...

, the grandson of a Mormon Battalion veteran and a Mormon leader in his own right, gave a speech in which he reminded the audience that

Brigham Young Brigham Young (; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second President of the Church (LDS Church), president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), from 1847 until his ...

, the LDS Church's second president, had praised the battalion. Words of congratulation from President

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...

, California Governor

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

and Utah Governor

Cal Rampton Calvin Lewellyn "Cal" Rampton (November 6, 1913September 16, 2007) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 11th governor of the state of Utah from 1965 to 1977. Early life and education He was born to Llewellyn Smith Rampt ...

were read out loud. The ceremony ended with a concert by the

United States Marine Band The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the United States Marine Corps. Established by act of Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the ...

Description

According to the

Smithsonian American Art Museum The Smithsonian American Art Museum (commonly known as SAAM, and formerly the National Museum of American Art) is a museum in Washington, D.C., part of the Smithsonian Institution. Together with its branch museum, the Renwick Gallery, SAAM holds o ...

online catalog, "A male infantryman seen standing, dressed in western style hat and moccasin shoes. He is carrying the

Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 421 and during an interlude date ...

in his proper left hand; and holds a rifle over his proper right shoulder. He has a canteen slung across his chest, and wears a backpack with a bedroll. A Bible is stuffed in the pocket of the backpack. He strides forward with his proper left leg." For Fraughton, "He is a man of power and strength, maturity and youth. He is not involved in himself but looking into the future."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mormon Battalion Monument Bronze sculptures in California Mexican–American War Mormon Battalion Mormon art 1969 establishments in California Statues in San Diego

History

Description

See also

References