SALT LAKE CITY — The grand marshal of this year's Days of '47 Parade is a new role for President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"I'm honored because of what that tribute means, what the parade means, what the Days of '47 mean," President Holland told KSL-TV before the parade.
President Holland said he can't help but think of what the Utah pioneers accomplished, dreaming of the future, never seeing what our state has become.
"It's hard for me not to be emotional about their view every morning of their life and my view, every morning of mine," he said.
For President Holland, the parade celebrates Utahns coming together as a community with a faith-filled heritage.
"This is one of those places where it's perfectly appropriate, perfectly acceptable, and probably encouraged to have church and state kind of married," he said.
If only just for a day, church and state both look back to cherish Utah's pioneering strength and spirit that President Holland feels continues on, and one he hopes Utahns never lose.
"We do have to make sure that we pass it on, I think we have to make sure that it doesn't diminish or slip away in the years ahead," President Holland said.
He said he loves the excitement Utah still has with Pioneer Day, including how much work people still put into the parade, to make a beautiful celebration.
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Brian Carlson
