The American Dream
To me, the American dream is to always continue to improve yourself and others around you. The founders of this country came to the Americas to find religious freedom and to start a new and prosperous life. I believe that we should do as our ancestors did and live a prosperous life, always improving ourselves and trying to be better. My favorite definition of the American dream is found on dictionary.com. It says, "The traditional social ideals of the United States, such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity". I also believe that the American dream was to have equal rights to all, something that we have always struggled with over the many years of this country. I hope that one day we will all have equal rights.
My Current Knowledge
Two years ago I went on a summer trip for my church. One of the requirements was to find and research an ancestor who had crossed the plains to come to Utah. I found out that my great, great, great grandmother had crossed the plains. Her name was Else Marie Jensen Peterson. She was born on February 11, 1833 in Albaek, Hjorring, Denmark. She was a highly respected and rich woman and was baptized into the LDS Church on November 27, 1857. After her husband, Lars Peter Peterson was also baptized they took a ship from Hamburg, Germany to America with their children. When they arrived in America, they travelled to Florence, Missouri and left there to cross the plains with Christian A. Madsen’s Ox Train Company on July 7, 1862. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 23, 1862 and settled in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
I would love to learn more about my ancestor’s lives and personal stories and struggles that they went through. It would be very interesting if I found an ancestor that is similar to me and goes through some of the same things that she does. I think I will learn a lot about my current family by leaning about my ancestors. The more I learn about them, the more I will learn why I am the way I am.
I would love to learn more about my ancestor’s lives and personal stories and struggles that they went through. It would be very interesting if I found an ancestor that is similar to me and goes through some of the same things that she does. I think I will learn a lot about my current family by leaning about my ancestors. The more I learn about them, the more I will learn why I am the way I am.
"Snapshot" of my Family Tree
While researching my family tree and discovering my ancestors I learned that they all had one thing in common. I discovered that I come from a long line of people who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Many of then crossed the plains to come to Zion and were seeking religious freedom. I think it is very cool knowing that I can continue this long line of members of the church because I am also a member. Many of the men in my family had high callings in the church which I think was very cool. This similarity that I have with them helps me to relate to them and their lives in the church.