A lighthouse monument in Spanish Fork, Utah, and a memorial in the Westmann Islands, Iceland, stand as two separate tributes to the same group of Icelandic pioneers who migrated to the United States in 1855. Though separated by 4,000 miles, the monuments both honor the bravery of settlers who traveled from the North Atlantic to Utah after converting to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Spanish Fork Lighthouse Tribute
The Spanish Fork monument, a miniature lighthouse replica topped with a Viking ship, was originally erected in 1938. The structure was unveiled during "Iceland Day" celebrations to honor the first sixteen permanent Icelandic settlers in the United States. According to Intermountain Histories, the monument serves as a celebration of Icelandic culture, customs, and the seafaring ancestry of the settlers, represented by the Viking ship.
A Legacy of Faith
The settlement of Icelandic immigrants was marked by significant cultural and religious shifts. The first sixteen pioneers arrived in the United States in 1855 after converting to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This migration was driven by the religious conviction of the settlers, who left their homeland after hearing the call to build Zion, according to a monument in the Westmann Islands, Iceland.
Renewed Commemoration
The historical ties between the two regions were strengthened by a renewed project in 2005. During this makeover, local Utah representatives worked to make the Spanish Fork monument more similar to the monument erected in the Westmann Islands in 2000. This renewal project included the addition of a granite monument that lists the names of more than 400 Icelanders who settled in Utah between 1855 and the beginning of World War I.
Symbolic Connections
The 2005 renewal project also introduced specific symbolic elements to the Spanish Fork site. These features include a rock brought directly from the shores of Vestmannaeyjar, the very location where the first pioneers were baptized. The monument also features bronze plaques that retell the history of Icelanders living in Utah. The dedication of this renewed project was performed by Gordon B. Hinckley, who was then the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Diplomatic and Religious Impact
The presence of the Icelandic monument has played a role in diplomatic and religious relations. According to Intermountain Histories, the monument has helped foster improving relationships between the Church and the Icelandic government. This positive relationship eventually enabled the Church to renew its missionary efforts in Iceland after having no permanent presence in the country for over 50 years. In 1975, Bryon T. Geslison and his family became the first missionaries called to serve in Iceland since 1914.
Government Recognition
The official recognition of the Church's work by the Icelandic government followed decades of missionary effort. Because of the work initiated by the Geslison family, the Icelandic government officially recognized the missionary work of the Church in 1983. Since that time, relations between the Icelandic government and the Church have remained positive and friendly.
Annual Traditions
The first Iceland Day celebrations in Utah occurred in 1897 to commemorate the settlement of Iceland in 870 CE. Since that time, Iceland Day has been celebrated annually on the same day as the holiday in the Westmann Islands, Iceland, the home region of the original pioneers.
