A bronze sculpture depicting Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints handcart pioneers. The sculpture is atop a stone façade base. The base is estimated to be 25" H, 66" W, 42" D. The affixed sculpture is estimated to be 30" H, 42" W, 26" D. There is attribution for the sculptor. The sculptor, Stanley Watts, was identified through a telephone conversation with the sculptor.
19 Old Highway 91, Parowan, Utah (Parowan Heritage Park). The Placard reads as follows:
Tribute to Bodil Bortensen
Welcome home our dear and beloved Bodil, not to the valley wherein lie the bodies of welcome home our dear and beloved bodil not to the big valley where anxiously awaited your arrival but to this small peaceful valley which is now your spiritual place of rest here on earth. The same valley wherein lie the bodies of parents and many family members. Bodil Malene Mortensen was born in denmark on august 5. 1846 to Niels Otto Mortensen and Maren Kirstine Hansen Mortensen. Not to parents of royalty, great privilege or wealth just people of ordinary danish status whose intention it was to migrate to America and join other members of a newly found religion.
Bodils pilgrimage to the new world was not without the usual problems encountered in oceanic and land travel. But the story of Bodil and her family is only one such story that could be told as there were hundreds of others that suffered through the same trials and tribulations as did they. Many completed their journey but several like Bodil perished during their trek westward. A tribute to these people seems like a small acknowledgment for what they gave to us all. Their honor and influence did not stop at their graveside for this we give eternal thanks and gratitude.
This memorial presented by members of Bodil's family
