BOUNTIFUL, Utah — Since its dedication in 1863, the stately white Bountiful Tabernacle has stood as a monument to the pioneer spirit of those who founded the area, and as a center of community life in South Davis County.
The tabernacle, with its tall spires cast against the deep summer hues of green and blue, was a focal point along the 1.5 mile route of the Handcart Days Parade that wound along Bountiful's Main Street July 21.
Often overshadowed by the Pioneer Day festivities in neighboring Salt Lake City, the popularity of the Bountiful Handcart Days has steadily grown as the population of this once-rural farm community has grown.
The parade is one of the several largest parades in Utah and touts three days of activities organized by the 15 stakes in South Davis County, all for the purpose of remembering the faith and fortitude of those who arrived in 1847 and tamed an expansive area that spreads out north of Salt Lake City.
Bountiful is considered the second community to be settled by Latter-day Saints in Utah. It was Perrigrine Sessions, a hardy member of the vanguard pioneer group, who set out three days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley to explore land northward.
He was looking for grassy areas where cattle could safely graze out of distance of gardens in the Salt Lake Valley. He and his family lived out of a wagon that first winter to become the first settlers.
Other settlers soon followed. Despite the many struggles of establishing a community in a harsh environment, the tabernacle was begun 1857. Timber for its structure was hauled from mountains surrounding the area.
In the years before its completion, some immigrants to the area lived in the basement of the tabernacle until they could buy land and build shelter.
After six years of construction the tabernacle was dedicated during two days of celebration on March 14-15, 1863. Over the years, the tabernacle has been battered by stiff east winds — several times toppling the spires. In the early 1980s significant engineering and electrical work shored up the building. But it is still largely the handiwork of the founding pioneers.
A number of the more than 100 entrants in the parade were sponsored by wards and stakes in the South Davis area. Several entrants emphasized the sesquicentennial year of the handcart by dressing youth and adults in pioneer-style apparel and pulling handcarts. Others stressed LDS themes such as temples and family history work.
The number of parade-goers, though difficult to determine, is estimated to be 50,000-70,000 spectators who braved the 100-degree summer heat that day, with some finding relief in the shade of a tree or the shadow of a building.
Following the parade that night, and for two days after, activities sponsored at the city park helped residents relive the pioneer experience.
Pulling handcarts, sawing logs and playing children's games proved popular among those interested in celebrating the 24th of July.
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