Cyrena Dustin Merrill (1817-1907) was a mother, grandmother, and early pioneer of the Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cyrena was born in the state of New York in 1817. She was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints age 19, and was later baptized in March 1837. She was the first and only member of her family to be baptized, a decision that led Cyrena to leave her home in 1838 to emigrate with the Saints against her family's wishes. Cyrena traveled to Utah with other families who had joined the Church and met many prominent Church leaders along the way. She received her patriarchal blessing from Joseph Smith, Sr. During her travels, Cyrena caught a severe cold and experienced many health struggles. In 1839, Cyrena traveled to Nauvoo, Illinois, where she met her husband, Philemon Merrill. They were married on September 20, 1840. Together they had 7 children over the course of their marriage. Both Cyrena and Philemon received their endowments in the Nauvoo temple. Together with their young children, Cyrena and Philemon began the trek west towards Salt Lake City, Utah. Philemon was enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, and so Cyrena found herself alone for some of this time. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1849 and lived there until 1857. Various callings caused the family to move to different areas of Utah, Idaho, and eventually Arizona. As several of her adult children and spouses passed away, Cyrena found herself in charge of many young grandchildren in need of care. Philemon died on September 16, 1904, and Cyrena followed him in passing on February 3, 1907.