Days of '47: Sunrise Service
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"We should celebrate the great diversity of this city and of this great state and cultivate harmonious relationships and feelings one with another," said Elder Richard G. Hinckley of the the Seventy.
Elder Hinckley was the keynote speaker at the Days of '47 Sunrise Service held the morning of July 25. Around 1,100 people were in attendance at the Tabernacle on Temple Square to honor Utah's pioneers.
Much like the first Sunrise Service in 1849, this year's event included a brass band, a choir, flag ceremony, dignitaries and Church leaders. In 1849, the inhabitants of the "Great Salt Lake City" awoke to cannon fire. The early settlers marched to what would later become Temple Square and surrounded the 'liberty pole' that reached 104 feet in the air. A cloudless sky served as a backdrop to a 65-foot American flag that was sewn by pioneer women.
This year's Sunrise Service continued in similar tradition as the Mormon Battalion posted the colors and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Sterling Singers and Utah Voices choirs performed songs accompanied by a brass band. The free event, presented by the Pioneer Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, also included The Days of '47 Royalty.
Elder Hinckley concluded the service as he delivered the pioneer speech that focused on the respect and cooperation among those who settled the valley. "I would like to expand my remarks to include those of other faiths or have no definitive faith at all who played key and pivotal roles in the establishment of civilization, culture, refinement and sense of community that we all share today," Elder Hinckley said.
He noted that throughout the history of the community, people of various faiths and backgrounds have had amiable relationships but there have been and continue to be experiences and feelings of animosity and distrust
People of all backgrounds and faith came to Utah. Some came to escape religious persecution and some to escape poverty. Elder Hinckley mentioned the Dominquez-Escalante Expedition of 1776. He said the two goals were to explore and map unknown territory and convert the native population to Catholicism. "Half a century later trappers noticed Ute Indians with crucifixes, evidence of continued contact with Catholic missions in New Mexico."
Elder Hinckley remarked on leaders of different faiths that helped establish Utah. Father Edward Kelly and his successor, Father Patrick Walsh, worked to complete the construction for the first Catholic Church, St. Mary Magdalene in 1871. Father Scanlan, a Catholic priest, was invited to Catholic services in the St. George Tabernacle in 1879 and preached to a predominant Mormon congregation of about 3,000 people.
Father Daniel Tuttle oversaw the construction of St. Marks Cathedral that was completed in 1871. By 1895 there were seven Episcopal parishes, two schools and one hospital.
In 1864 the first Jewish services were held. Elder Hinckley said Jewish leaders continue to make significant contributions to Utah society.
"Today churches of every description dot the landscape of Utah," Elder Hinckley said.
He told the history of his wife, Jane's, paternal grandfather, Lester Freed. Freed was the son of a Jewish immigrant from Bohemia. The family opened a store called Freed Furniture and Carpet.
"He lived happily among Mormons, Catholics, Protestants and all others," Elder Hinckley said. Although not a member of the LDS faith, Lester married a "Mormon girl" and encouraged his sons to do the same.
Elder Hinckley's paternal great-grandfather, Ira Hinckley joined the church in 1844 at the age of 16. He heard the Prophet Joseph Smith speak and at the age of 23, Ira set out for Utah with his wife Eliza Jane. She died along the way and Ira finished the journey with his young 5-month-old daughter. Elder Hinckley recalled his grandfather, Bryant Hinckley, was born in a log cabin in 1867. Three months before Bryant's birth, Ira Hinckley received a letter from Brigham Young asking him if he would take charge of a Church ranch. He accepted the position and the ranch eventually became Cove Fort.
Elder Hinckley remarked on the wonderful diversity of the community and concluded a quote from his father, President Gordon B. Hinckley.
"It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before; to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon the work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in this world, but out of whose dreams and early pains, so well nurtured, has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries."
