Latter-day Saints and friends across the nation gathered in parks, campgrounds and cultural halls to commemorate the July 24, 1847, arrival of the Mormon Pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. Most festivities this year were held on Saturday, July 23.
In some places, folks not only remembered the pioneers but also re-enacted major events in their trek to the Salt Lake Valley. Key players in such re-enactments often were children, such as the 80 fledgling pioneers from the Menlo Park (Calif.) 1st and 3rd wards.They embarked westward July 23 in companies, from their beloved Nauvoo (the meetinghouse), scarcely looking back at the parking lot or the palm trees they left behind. Youngsters from Valiant A and B, and Blazer A and B classes led the small bands on their trek toward the Mississippi River, which flowed freely from a hose over the east parking lot grounds.
En route they paused at Winter Quarters and sang Primary songs, accompanied by a guitar, a banjo, and even a washboard. "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree," "Give, Said the Little Stream," and "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" evoked a joyful response. Everyone quieted to sing "I Am a Child of God" before continuing the march through some makeshift Rocky Mountains and back to the meetinghouse parking lot.
There, a huge orange "This Is the Place" sign welcomed the new settlers. President Brigham Young, played by Ron Mason of the Menlo Park 1st Ward, divided the settlers into two camps, then picked up a microphone and announced that singing and dancing would commence.
"We want our children in Primary to have a sense of their heritage, to understand what the pioneers experienced and feel a sense of excitement," explained Judith Stewart, the trek's organizer and Menlo Park 3rd Ward Primary president.
"We especially want the children to identify with the pioneers - what they wore, the fact that they walked through sagebrush, on a trek that was never easy. Hopefully, dressing up and walking like this will give them a sense of their history."
Her son, Jonathan, 11, identified with his heritage when he explained, "It was very hard for the pioneers to cross the country, sometimes without food. I'm surprised they made it, but I'm glad they did."
Other children enthusiastically endorsed the and refreshments that followed. Lindsay Hughes, 4, speculated being a pioneer must have been "fun, because they got to sing and walk."
Several missionaries took advantage of the trek to teach some investigators about the pioneers and their sacrifices. Elder Darren Woolsey, from Cedar City, Utah, said investigators had asked about the celebration and what it represented. In the Winston Ward, Roseburg Oregon Stake, adults as well as children enjoyed dressing in 19th-century attire to celebrate Mormon Pioneer Day. Dressed as pioneers,they posed for pictures at a rustic fort and covered wagon at River Forks Park in Roseburg.
Other Pioneer Day events sponsored by the ward included a river float, gold-panning, crafts, a nail-driving contest, and bean bag toss. Ward members competed in races, a tug-of-war, and tried to keep dry in a game of "dodge balloon," which substituted water-filled balloons for a ball. A barbecue and potluck picnic were also included.
In the Hingham Massachusetts Stake, about 300 attended a stake Pioneer Day celebration sponsored by the Primary. A banner strung from tree branches let people know "This is the place" for activities held at the West Bridgewater Ward meetinghouse, which included a puppet show, a program of pioneer story telling, and field games.
Members from the stake's eight wards divided into teams for a "tug-of-ward" and then joined in for several sets of square dancing. Kim Hand, who helped organize the events, said games and dances were planned to help children and adults think about the pioneers.
"A lot of people don't remember the historical significance of Pioneer Day," said Sister Hand, who joined the Church about eight years ago. "This year, we tried to make our stake activity pioneer-theme oriented. We had games with titles such as `Miracle of the Sea Gulls' to help remind members of some early Church history. We had some pioneer memorabilia on display. The square dancing was something the pioneers might have done."
"I joined the Church in California, where members celebrated Pioneer Day a lot. I wanted to be a part of helping members here remember the pioneers."
Among those Californians who really know how to celebrate Pioneer Day are members from the Fair Oaks, El Dorado and Carmichael stakes who gathered July 22-23 at Mormon Center, a 40-acre camp complex about 22 miles east of Sacramento.
Patriotism and pioneering blended at the raising of the American flag and pledge of allegiance early July 23. Two hundred red, white and blue balloons were released.
The American Legion Concert Band, Post 61, played under a canopy of oak trees in a two-hour concert.
The three-stake Primary parade featured covered wagons, pioneers and Indians. Quilt displays and a photography contest exhibited unique skills of members in the three stakes. Games and crafts booths dotted the picnic area.
Sports events, games for various age groups and entertainment by a Dixieland band, and a concert by a 1950s-style group kept members entertained.
In Mapleton, Utah, Pioneer Day coincided with the town's 100th anniversary. The central Utah area was settled in 1885 and called Union Bench. A branch of the Church and several homesteaders were the main features of the community.
In the summer of 1888, an LDS ward was organized. At the same time, citizens conducted a business meeting and concluded the community needed a name. L.J. Whitney proposed the name "Mapleton" because of the numerous maple trees in the area.
This year's Pioneer Day festivities began Saturday evening, July 23, with "old-time" entertainment at the Mapleton Utah Stake Center. Activities on Monday, July 25, included a flag ceremony, community breakfast, road races, parade, children's games, mountain men contest for the town's bishoprics, tribute to parade grand marshals and lifetime residents Welby S. and Mabel D. Warren, bake sale, arts and crafts show, pioneer craft display, talent show, Western "shoot out" and dance.
The activities attracted thousands of people, including former residents from as far back as 50 years.
The town, which has about 3,400 residents, paid tribute to Mary Whiting, who, at age 100, is its oldest citizen. Although she has spent most of her life in Mapleton, she is not a native. She was born March 25, 1888, in Nahunta, N.C. She married Oscar Whiting in 1918 in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Mapleton, raised seven children and have 30 grandchildren and 70 great-grandchildren. Her husband passed away in 1982.
Sister Whiting has played a key role in helping the Church blossom in Mapleton and has been a positive influence on many of the area's youths. She spent 18 years in the Primary, serving as Guide Patrol leader for 11 years.
