To children, a parade begins long before the beat of a marching band or the siren of a fire engine.

Particularly if the parade is just for them.Before the start of the annual Days of '47 Youth Parade July 19, the air almost "buzzed" with excitement as "bees" from "Noah's ark" and other clusters of young people gathered around floats and handcarts. Clowns - one with a pet "fish" on a leash - mesmerized toddlers and brought giggles from youngsters. One little boy dressed as a bear ran around "growling" at people. Here and there, parents with children in pioneer costumes scurried to find their stake's float.

Finally, when it seemed the children could wait no longer, the narrator counted down from 10 and the parade began.

Walking to the theme of "Faith in Every Footstep," some 5,000 children and youth with 60 entries from throughout Utah - and one from Washington - commemorated the sesquicentennial of the Mormon Pioneers' entrance into the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847. On this warm summer morning, the young people, with parents and local Church leaders, walked the five-block route in downtown Salt Lake City to the cheers and applause of those spread along sidewalks and lawns. Norma Jones, chairman of the Days of '47 Youth Parade committee, told the Church News the focus of this year's parade was the pioneer era. "So we had lots of pioneers. We had an open section where people just wanted to walk in the parade and they came dressed as pioneers."

Most entries had obvious pioneer themes, but many entries portrayed pioneer characteristics, such as faith and fortitude. Some, such as the Riverton Utah North Stake that entered more than 600 children under the theme, "Follow the Prophets," portrayed many gospel eras.

Children from the stake, separated into groups according to wards, marched behind banners with the names of various prophets, including Noah, Moses, Daniel, the Stripling Warriors (representing Nephite prophets), Captain Moroni, Brigham Young, David O. McKay and Gordon B. Hinckley. The era of each prophet was depicted, such as "Israelites" marching behind Moses and "pioneers" behind Brigham Young. Behind the banner for President Hinckley, children carried the flags of many nations representing the international growth of the Church.

Sister Jones said that to prepare for the parade, Primary leaders throughout the stake used Primary lessons to teach children about the particular prophet assigned to their ward.

The Salt Lake Cottonwood Heights Stake also depicted listening to the prophets, but used a float on which sat a portrayal of a rainbow. Following the arches of the rainbow were paper cut-outs of feet on which the names of stake children were printed. Under the theme "Pioneers, Then and Now, Choose To Follow The Prophet," the children walked wearing signs portraying ways to follow the prophet, such as "Be nice" and "Being the bishop."

Wearing the latter was Bishop Kelvyn Cullimore of the Cottonwood Heights 5th Ward, who said, regarding the parade, "This is one of those things the children will always remember, and it's great to do, being the sesquicentennial."

A touching tribute to the members of the Church in Russia was done by the Midvale Utah East Stake. With the theme, "Our Modern-Day Russian Pioneers," these Utah children marched with a float depicting a Russian city. Some of the young people wore signs of the official sesquicentennial logo with the words "Faith in Every Footstep" written in Russian. Other children wore white, depicting baptism, and a tag bearing the name of a Russian member of the Church.

In speaking of the success of the parade, Sister Jones commended the local leaders for their support and work. "They came through with smiles and suggestions and ideas and certainly a lot of faith. The children can really look up to the leaders and follow in their footsteps."