Retroblog July 23, 1983

Today is Sat., July 23, 1983 Time 2:40 P.M.

Last night I went to the Church Poineer Day celebrations. There was a bonfire marshmallows were toasted (yuk) and much more.

Pioneer Day is a uniquely Mormon cultural event, celebrated on July 24 to commemorate the day when most of the pioneers arrived in Utah. Usually prairie costumes are made and worn; the girls wear long skirts and bonnets and the boys basically get to dress up as cowboys. Replicas of covered wagons or hand carts are dragged around church parking lots or rec rooms, while hymns or children's songs are sung. In Utah, it is a state holiday and there are big parades.

With the global expansion of the LDS Church, you've got to picture how unique it must be to see international members trying to recreate American Western pioneer garb. The definition of "pioneer" is being expanded to include any new member or convert in international areas, as they are pioneering a new religion in their region. Rather than having all the converts move to the intermountain West, like they did in the 1890s, people are encouraged to act as emissaries in their own region. Considering that more Mormons now living outside the U.S. than in, I'd say the pioneering spirit is alive and well.

The move toward global and ethnic diversity is exciting. It is also very reassuring to know that members could go to a meeting almost anywhere in the world and the service structure, leadership guidelines, hymns, scripture, and Spirit should be the same. Member and non-member visitors are always welcome. Now, that's not to say that Mormons don't come with their own human vagaries, cultural conditionings, and some clickyness, or that there aren't more than a few wackadoodles in every congregation. Usually you can be expected to be greeted with a nod and/or handshake. There's no escaping if you are shy and want to slink into the back row. You will be greeted. If you're female and you walk in and you aren't wearing a dress or skirt you might get more than a few odd looks. (Sunday dress rules still apply -- OLD SCHOOL style! Seriously!) For the most part, though, if you are travelling around, you should feel welcome to drop on in.

For more details on Mormon services, go here.