As legend has it, these trees were named by a group of 19th-century Mormon travelers, who saw their shape and were reminded of the Biblical story of Joshua reaching his hands up … The Joshua tree, its scientific name, Yucca brevifola, occurs in the Mojave Desert and other deserts in the west of North American. The name Joshua Tree was reportedly given by a band of Mormons who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century, the tree's unique shape reminding them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky. The tree's unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer. The name Joshua tree was given by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. The Joshua tree, gaining it’s name as legend has it was from Mormon pioneers settling the surrounding area saying that, “the tree’s unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer”. Its somewhat unusual common name of Joshua tree was given by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. The name Joshua Tree was given to the trees by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. In Joshua 10 we find out how Joshua reached beyond mediocrity. The name Joshua tree was given by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. And here is our version of the Biblical Joshua reaching his hands up for a prayer – a scruffy climber, hands still taped after a long day of jamming, hair all tousled, clothes ripped and covered in chalk, face – happy and tanned. Then, who is this man Joshua? It is named for the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) forests native to the park. According to the National Park Service, Mormon pioneers in the mid-19th century named the tree after a biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer. The tree’s unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer. Ranchers and miners who were contemporary with the [LDS] immigrants also took advantage of the Joshua tree, using the trunks and branches as fencing and for fuel for ore-processing steam engines. This is part '6/6' of the Life Commentary series on Joshua 10:1-43 entitled 'Reaching Beyond Mediocrity' which describes the day "the sun stopped in the middle of the sky." The tree’s upraised branches reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up … Named by Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-1800s, the tree's unusual shape reminded them of the Bible story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer. The tree's unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up … The tree’s unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer. It is also called Izote de desierto. Why is it called Joshua Tree? According to Wikipedia, the name Joshua tree was given by a group of Mormon settlers crossing the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. The tree’s unique shape reminded them of the Biblical story in which the prophet Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer. These Bible study questions on this page will help you think through the passage and apply some of its principles to your lives. Joshua was son of Nun, and he lived as a Soldier most of his … The slow-growing Joshua tree, which graces much of the park's desert ecosystem, is probably the most famous resident of the park.