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Pres. Clinton sends greetings:

Warm greetings to all those participating in the wagon train trek commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Mormon pioneer exodus from Omaha, Nebraska, to Salt Lake City, Utah. I am honored to salute you on this stirring re-enactment of the Mormons' arduous journey in search of religious freedom.

Seventy thousand strong, the pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints blazed a trail for thirteen hundred miles to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, seeking religious liberty and refuge from intolerance. Today, we marvel at what they accomplished. With faith, courage, and determination, they built a life for their families and made the desert bloom.The story of the Mormon pioneers is in many ways the story of America. It is the story of everyone who has ever traveled to our shores seeking freedom to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience. And it is the story of a people who know that, with hard work and faith in God, they can accomplish anything.

As we celebrate the legacy of those first Mormon pioneers, let us recommit ourselves to America's great tradition of religious liberty, a tradition that gives us common ground for tolerance and understanding. Let us remember that, while we are many people, we are one nation, bound together by shared values and rooted in the essential dignity and meaning of every American's life and liberty.

Best wishes to all for a wonderful anniversary celebration.

Signed

Bill Clinton

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