Guests took turns shaking jars to make homemade butter during Pioneer Day. Sister missionaries and volunteers guided participants through the traditional process, with optional flavors including cinnamon, honey and garlic.

 

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered in Gridley on Saturday, July 25, to celebrate Pioneer Day, an annual observance honoring the faith's pioneer heritage.

According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pioneer Day commemorates the arrival of the first group of Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, nearly 180 years ago.

The day is a statewide holiday in Utah, celebrated as Days of '47, and recognizes those who contributed to the development of the state.

Melody Thompson, dressed in traditional pioneer clothing, makes a tin-can lantern using a hammer, nail and flower template. The craft reflected activities common during the pioneer era and was one of several featured during Gridley's Pioneer Day celebration.

Members of the church celebrate the day differently in communities across the nation, with some holding parades similar to those in Utah and other areas with large Latter-day Saint populations.

Gridley-area church members gathered at the church on French Avenue for a buffet-style breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. The free meal was followed by activities paying tribute to the pioneer heritage of the faith.

Children made tin-can lanterns, played relay games with water balloons and made homemade butter.

Guests also learned about genealogy resources from FamilySearch representatives. Volunteers answered questions about finding ancestors using the Family Tree app and displayed scrapbooks featuring photos from church events spanning several decades.

Families filled their plates during the free buffet-style breakfast that kicked off Pioneer Day on Saturday, July 25, in Gridley. The meal brought the local Latter-day Saint community together before a full day of activities.

Church leaders also attended, enjoying the relaxed day with family and friends.

"This is an opportunity to remember our ancestors and the challenges they went through," said Justin Tolman, stake president for the Gridley area.

The day honors and seeks to preserve memories of what the pioneers endured as they crossed harsh wilderness, faced food shortages and overcame many other trials before settling the Salt Lake Valley.

"We try to remember the past so that it helps us for the future," Tolman said.

"How to Make Butter" was one of several hands-on activities offered during the Gridley Pioneer Day celebration, giving participants a taste of pioneer life.