Pioneer Day
Wed, Jul 24
|All Day
Designated by church founder Joseph Smith, Pioneer Day, celebrated on July 24, is a day of thanksgiving for deliverance from persecution. This is an annual day of rest from work for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Time & Location
Jul 24, 2024, 12:00 AM
All Day
About the event
The celebration of Pioneer Day in Utah can be traced back to June 24, 1847. On that day, pioneers arrived in Salt Lake City after a long and challenging journey from Nauvoo, Illinois. After suffering a brutal winter in Wyoming, they made their way to Great Salt Lake Valley.
In 1849, Brigham Young declared July 24 an annual day of rest from work for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It wasn’t until 1856 that church leadership moved the holiday to a Sunday so that nonmembers could celebrate pioneer heritage.
Despite Latter-day Saint employees being an essential part of many companies' workforces, little dedicated attention is given to them as a demographic group. One way to create a greater sense of belonging for Latter-day Saint employees is by acknowledging and sharing educational resources about Pioneer Day, a Latter-day Saint Holiday. Acknowledging and celebrating Pioneer Day is important because it shows respect for diverse people and helps create a culture of inclusion where people can be their full selves at work. Click HERE to view the resources developed by The Diversity Movement.