Pioneer Day is for all Utahns

From the earliest days of the state, this date has been set aside to remember and celebrate the pioneers, the first of the Mormon settlers who entered Salt Lake Valley in 1847. If the day fell on a Sunday, as it does this year, the formal celebrations always have been on the following Monday.

But why do we celebrate Pioneer Day? Is it only to commemorate the settling of the valley?

That was indeed a monumental task, given the harsh climate and the lack of natural resources. It is worthy of celebration, but it is a by-product of the thing that really is worthy of note — the faith, devotion and vision of people who risked their lives for a better world.

Those are traits that transcend any particular denomination or belief structure, and that is why this date should be a time of celebration for Utahns of all faiths.

Faith, devotion and vision have been catalysts for countless advances by mankind. Faith is not, as Mark Twain said, believing in something "you know ain't so." It is believing in something you know even though you can't see it — like the beautiful metropolitan area that now exists in a spot that was desolate when the pioneers first came.

These virtues led the first group of Pilgrims from England to the shores of this continent, just as they led the children of Israel out of captivity in Egypt. They have inspired fabulous works of art through the centuries, established civilizations and pointed mankind toward the cultivation of the most noble traits within.

The pioneers were not perfect. But their persistence and dedication were immutable. They had watched their homes burned by enemies with no chance for redress by the law. They were forced to ford rivers of ice and hostile deserts, all the while talking about taking fresh courage. They were not, in any sense, pessimists or defeatists, and they did not persist out of stubbornness or pride. They truly believed in their cause.

Their multifaceted legacy — which includes vibrant and peaceful communities — is visible every day to people in Utah.

These are traits that can inspire people regardless of whether they share the religious beliefs of those who came here 158 years ago.

In 1897, The Salt Lake Herald reported on Pioneer Day festivities by saying: "The whole heart of Utah was thrown into the event and the utmost enthusiasm and patriotism marked every feature of the celebration . . ." That would be a nice way to approach things in 2005 as well.