Elder David A. Bednar, an Apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was honored as the grand marshal for this year’s Days of ’47 Parade in Salt Lake City. The parade, a cherished tradition in Utah, celebrates the pioneers who settled the state and their enduring legacy.
The parade, held every July 24, commemorates the arrival of the first pioneer wagon train to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.
The theme of this year’s parade was “Stout Pioneer Hearts — Lift Others.” Elder Bednar and his wife, Susan, led the procession, which featured colorful floats, marching bands and community groups, all paying tribute to Utah’s rich history.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
In a recent general conference address, Elder Bednar spoke of Utah’s settlers as “devoted disciples of Jesus Christ who blazed trails, built homes, planted crops in the barren desert, and settled communities.”
In that same sermon, the Apostle expressed gratitude for the important contributions of modern-day Latter-day Saint pioneers around the world.
“I am grateful for millions of Church members who today are coming unto the Savior and pressing forward on the covenant path in the last wagons of our contemporary wagon trains,” Elder Bednar said. “Your strong faith in Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and your unpretentious, consecrated lives inspire me to be a better man and disciple. … I love you. I admire you. I thank you. And I commend you.”
The grand marshal of last year’s parade was Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In 2022, the parade was led by former Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham.
