The story of the Mormon pioneers—the ones who braved the trail west and labored to settle the Great Basin—is well known. Heeding the call to “come to Zion” and enduring great hardships, they offered enormous sacrifices for their faith. But the Latter-day Saints of the nineteenth century are not the only pioneers in Church history. The pioneers in this book are modern-day members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are the first in their families or even in their homelands to have joined the Church. They are the Latter-day Saints who brave current opposition, prejudice, and persecution for their newfound faith. They are those who heed the call to “build Zion,” paying their tithes and offerings out of their poverty, ministering to the needs of their brothers and sisters, and working to establish the kingdom of God in their own lands. From Mexico to India, from Mongolia to Indonesia, from Africa to Russia, members of the Church the world over are quietly doing their part. Pioneer Spirit: Modern-day Stories of Courage and Conviction celebrates the devotion of these little-known, contemporary Latter-day Saints, some of whom have laid the most costly sacrifices on the altar of their faith. Their stories are truly heroic and an inspiration to the faithful in every land. Heidi S. Swinton is a popular speaker and writer. She is the author of In the Company of Prophets and has co-authored, compiled, and contributed to many books on Church subjects. She is a graduate of the University of Utah and attended North­western Graduate School of Jour­nalism. Sister Swinton has served as a Gospel Doctrine teacher, Young Women president, and Primary president and in various other callings, including Church writing committees. She and her husband, Jeff, are the parents of four sons.