SNOWFLAKE, Ariz. — More than 25,000 people gathered here July 21 for a Pioneer Day celebration during which President James E. Faust dedicated a monument to the founders of this historic northeastern Arizona town.

The bronze monument includes Apostle Erastus Snow, with companions Ira Hinckley (President Gordon B. Hinckley's grandfather) and Jesse N. Smith (later called as the first stake president of northeastern Arizona).

President Gordon B. Hinckley had been scheduled to dedicate the monument during the annual celebration, but a summer cold prevented his traveling.

"I told President Hinckley they would probably throw tomatoes at me when they found that I was replacing him," President Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, told the audience which filled the block-long lawn of the Main Street meetinghouse as well as bleachers and chairs on the highway.

Instead, President Faust was greeted by thousands, who rose in silent respect and later applauded his presence.

During his visit, President Faust spoke of the heroic men and women who pioneered new homes in the wilderness and are depicted in the monument. In 1878, while traveling to new Arizona settlements to establish the Church, Erastus Snow, Ira Hinckley and Jesse N. Smith met William Jordan Flake who was returning to Utah to procure cattle as payment for the Stinson ranch on the Silver Creek he had bargained to purchase. That meeting is the focus of the monument.

During that meeting, Brother Flake asked Elder Snow for a name for the post office in the town where they would both settle. Elder Snow suggested Snow-Flake, which was later shortened to Snowflake. Also in the monument are Brother Flake's wife Lucy and baby daughter, representing the importance of women's roles in early Church colonization.

Lynn Johnson, co-chair of the monument committee and a descendant of Brother Flake, recounted during the pioneer celebration the history and magnitude of the monument, sculpted by artist Justin Fairbanks. "Contributions came from three different countries and virtually every state in the union, which reflects the love that people all over the world have for this tiny town," she said.

As grand marshal of a two-mile long, 98-entry parade, President Faust was followed by "2000 stripling warriors," actually 1,400 young men dressed in white shirts and ties. "That gathering of devoted, young men (from surrounding communities as well as stakes farther away) marching behind President Faust was overwhelming and captured the tremendous spirit that prevailed through the day," Snowflake Arizona Stake President Stephen Reidhead said.

While the parade continued, President Faust was whisked away to Temple Hill, the site of the recently announced temple for Snowflake. Standing atop the hill and acknowledging that President Hinckley himself had selected the site, he said, "I feel already that I'm standing on sacred ground."

Then it was back to the center of town for the dedication where President Faust spoke of the pioneers who settled in the area. "Where we came from is not as important as what we are," he said, "but what we are often reflects where we came from." He also referred to people as the greatest crop this area has produced.

President Faust said that the next challenge is to prepare for the Snowflake temple. "If anything is amiss in your life — your relationships, your devotion, your faith, your families — now is the time to put these things in order."

Inviting all to participate on the occasion of the temple dedication, he turned to non-LDS Arizona Congressman, Rep. J. D. Hayworth, sitting on the stand and said, "And it is not too late even for you, Congressman."

Preceding the dedicatory prayer, President Faust said, "May peace and happiness and joy and prosperity be yours."

Addressing the significance of Ira Hinckley's connection to the founding of Snowflake, President Faust said that he was stake president in the central part of Utah. But the reason he accompanied Elder Snow seems to be unknown. When he discussed this event with President Hinckley, that leader opined: "It might have been because he had a fast team of mules and a new rig."

Michael Hinckley, grandson of President Hinckley, also spoke to the crowd. Referring to President Faust, he said, "He's truly one of the great men of the Church." He spoke of the faith of his great-great-grandfather, Ira Hinckley, and of Jesse N. Smith, the great-great-grandfather of his wife, Heather Broadbent Hinckley. Both men are portrayed in the monument.

While viewing a newly completed documentary feature of the first Snowflake pioneers, a story of the faith and obedience through great adversity and sacrifice of those who heeded a prophet's call to colonize a barren wilderness, President Faust leaned over and whispered to President Reidhead:

"Sacrifice is part of the gospel," he said. "I just wonder if we're asking enough of our people."

The feature is a combined effort of the Snowflake Arizona Stake with Brigham Young University's Media Arts Department.

Speaking to those at the viewing of the film, President Faust said, "As we look into your faces and the faces of the children and young people, we see a people of believing blood. The messages of devotion and sacrifice are as valid today as when Snowflake was settled."

One of the oldest residents in town, Lorum Stratton, 90, reminisced over the great families and role models that made Snowflake what it is today. "We called everyone 'aunt' and 'uncle' whether they were related or not," he said.

A 150-member choir from the Snowflake/Taylor area sang for the dedication, beginning with "They The Builders of the Nation" and concluding with "Come, Come, Ye Saints."

A bust of Ira Hinckley, also sculpted by Brother Fairbanks, was presented to President Faust to give to President Hinckley.