Were the Mormon Pioneers the Odysseus of 1847? The Mormon Pioneers and Odysseus both faced enemies of unimaginable force. Separated by over 3,000 years each of these travelers reached their final destination. The Mormon Pioneers at Winter Quarters and Odysseus encounter with the Cyclops are significantly disparate, yet surprisingly similar in many aspects of their amazing journeys.
             Odysseus' crew consisted of his very best men. He brought twelve of his most outstanding sailors. These twelve men were the strongest of the strong, wisest of the wise, bravest of the brave, and the most loyal crewmembers that he had had the forethought to put on his ship during this perilous journey. Odysseus had handpicked these warriors because he had heard of the malevolent beasts that were rumored to roam wild on several uncharted islands, and knew that only his best fighters would stand any chance against these fearsome beings (Homer 818).
             The Mormon Pioneers brought over three thousand people, from every corner of the globe, during their first trek from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake, Utah. These people had had absolutely no training for this strenuous journey. These volunteers varied from farmers, and ranchers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and masons, lawyers, doctors, and teachers, housewives, children, and elderly couples. The leaders of the Mormon Pioneers had had no opinion in who would not be included in the first trek from Nauvoo to Salt Lake. Anyone who wanted to come on the journey, and was capable of coming on the journey was welcomed into the company. Brigham Young did, however, have a say in who had to come. He asked for all of the necessary workers; carpenters, blacksmiths, doctors, masons, cartographers, and housewives. Yes, believe it or not, housewives were needed to keep the moral of the men up; they planned parties, cooked, and mended clothing and shoes. The pioneers knew that they would face all sorts of disea...