SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Working with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ABC 4 News has some extremely rare July 24th pictures to share.
I asked Steven L. Olsen, the LDS Church Senior Curator, what he sees when he looks at these pictures.
Olsen said, “I see a window into the soul of a people."
Olsen says July 24th is kind of like Independence Day, Thanksgiving and a birthday celebration all rolled into one.
As a matter of fact, he adds, “I don't know of another regional celebration in America that is so widespread, so deep seeded, so traditional."
And tradition is a word we heard often on Temple Square.
Kristin Riches of Holladay told us, "I had ancestors that came over in the Martin Handcart Company, so I think of my heritage."
It’s a heritage which includes more than its share of hardship.
Shelise Andersen of Smithfield said, "We were walking through the South Visitors Center earlier and talking about the pioneers and just how much respect we have for the sacrifices they did."
Scott Larson of Tucson, Arizona knows a thing or two about sacrificing, he too has handcarts in his family blood.
He told us, "I think most of the pioneers didn't have a lot of wealth, but they had a lot of vision."
Steve Olsen says Pioneer Day has changed over the years, from a celebration of a religion to a celebration of a community.
Others might also call it a celebration of something else - family.
In many ways, July 24th, has become picture perfect.
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