Pioneer Day in Palau

Pioneer day, first celebrated in Utah, has become a holiday members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have recognized for many years.

The start of Pioneer Day Celebrations occurred on July 24, 1949, when the Nauvoo Brass Band led a commemoration of the second anniversary of the Latter-day Saints entering the Salt Lake Valley. In the following years Pioneer Day continually expanded into the surrounding areas as the Mormon Corridor spread throughout the Intermountain West. It now extends to all areas of the globe,

Koror Branch, in the Republic of Palau, gathered as a ward to celebrate the  Pioneer Day holiday. The missionaries (Elders) gave a lesson on why pioneers are so important to the church. The Sister missionaries spoke about the pioneers in Palau and how  very fortunate the branch is to still have the Sakuma’s with them in the branch, the first members who pioneered the Church in Palau.

Lunch was an assortment of bento boxes, a single-portion take-out meal common in Asia, that were served to all those that attended. Leftover bento boxes were passed out to members that couldn’t make it to the celebration. Some members brought their favorite cultural dishes to share.

Afterwards, there were games for everyone, children, youth, and adults. Games offered were a Sack Race, No Hands Banana Bread Eating Contest, 3-Legged Man Race, and, for the nursery children, a Milking the Cow experience.

There was a full house of members and investigators, Lots of fun, and lots of food. Laughter and smiles were abundant as the branch played and ate together, remembering and celebrating the pioneers and their toil and efforts into the Salt Lake Valley, creating within their branch stronger bonds of friendship and faith.