Happy Pioneer Day
July 24th, 2023 by G.
In a manner of speaking, there are some who wander out into the sun because they reject the shade of the trees the pioneers planted. Surely they wither.
It would not be bad description of our little sociality here–writers, commenters, and readers–to say that we mainly consist of those who still say in our hearts, “Blessed, Honored Pioneers.”
Happy Pioneer Day. Go and do thou likewise.
PS- from a younger daughter
John Mansfield
July 24, 2023
Last year I saw that the 24th would fall on a Sunday and I asked a bishop’s counselor if I could sing a hymn that day in the sacrament meeting. A friend played organ (not piano) and I sang solo. Part of the point in my mind of me singing this is that I am not a “singer;” I am just a latter-day saint who sings. Half of us are no more qualified to speak in church than we are to sing, but that doesn’t exempt us from all being asked to speak.
The song I sang I first heard a couple friends, Dave Pettit and Steve Ostler, singing together outside in the evening a couple years after the 1985 hymnal came out. Their song was included in the 1948/1950 hynmnal but already it was past its time except as a memorial of what had been. This song is a worthy act of remembrance of something that should be remembered.
Hymn 15: Come, Go with Me, Beyond the Sea by Cyrus H. Wheelock and arranged by Thomas C. Griggs.
I know it is the promised land
My home, my home is there
https://archive.org/details/hymns-1950/page/15/mode/2up
E.C.
July 24, 2023
I will be continuing our hallowed family tradition of working through holidays, trying to keep up with the garden. *shrugs*
Eh, well – I work hard so I can play hard, and one of these days I’ll be able to take a holiday off.
Ugly Mahana
July 24, 2023
All my children are still home. Oldest is in high school. Youngest is three. Of late, we have tried to have a family singing time before going to church.
The younger children have really enjoyed learning the pioneer songs in the Children’s songbook. Yesterday, as we were singing, it struck me how much the hopes and dreams of those pioneers are filled in the reality of my children. And then, how grateful I feel for those who gathered in their day so that we can benefit from making the same covenants today.
Blessed, honored pioneers indeed!
G.
July 24, 2023
Toiling away in the garden is most fitting for Pioneer Day
E.C.
July 24, 2023
Especially considering the veritable plague of grasshoppers this year! For now, our chickens take the place of seagulls. 😀