Abraham Lincoln's "Proclamation of Thanksgiving"

Let's go back to 1863 and use this proclamation from President Abraham Lincoln to reflect on our own blessings...

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed,

Done at the city of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

By the President:
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State

Revelation on the Priesthood & Black LDS History

Elijah Able, ordained an elder in 1832

A few months ago I spent some time reading about the history of many African-Americans in the early Church after it was restored in 1830. It was inspired by a short interview I heard on public radio or television regarding an upcoming film produced by black members of the Church entitled, "Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons". At this web site promoting the film you can view a trailer and make donations to furthering the promotion of the film and production of the DVD. It was already shown in Utah and many other states and is supposed to be shown here in Utah again soon. Details on how the film has been received so far have been discussed here. In late January, The Deseret News also had an article on the release of the movie.

This June (2008) marks the 30-year anniversary of the revelation on the Priesthood given to President Spencer W. Kimball. A celebration is being held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle to celebrate the event. Tickets are available at the Church's events website. Details from that page are:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will present the Church Commemoration of the Revelation on the Priesthood on Sunday, June 8, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. Elder Sheldon F. Child of the Seventy will be the speaker for this event, with several Church members also giving inspirational messages. A multicultural choir will be performing under the direction of Mack Wilberg on Sunday, June 8, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.

Jane Manning James (center), early pioneer who traveled west to Utah with the early saints

The experiences of these early saints are really wonderful. They were faithful despite prejudice and ignorance. Other than the web sites linked above, you may want to visit http://www.blacklds.org . This site has great information and testimonies.

They also had more information on Elijah Abel and Jane Manning James. Read the life history of Sister James there! It is awesome. I thought it was cool that the western timeline entry at www.blackpast.org had a little bit more on Elijah in the entry for 1847:

1847—Three African Americans, Green Flake, Oscar Crosby, and Hark Lay, accompany Brigham Young who leads the first Mormon pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley. The slaves of Southern Mormons, these men are sent ahead to help prepare for Mormon settlers to follow. Today, their names are inscribed on the Brigham Young monument in downtown Salt Lake City.

In closing, I recommend that you read the front of the grave marker below from the Wikipedia entry for Jane Manning James in Salt Lake City.

Click to view larger image and to read what it says!

Sister James says it best!

On the corner... site of Rigby's Edge-End Farm

In the spring of 2003 I purchased what was left of an old dairy farm at the corner of Haight Creek Drive and Main Street in Kaysville, UT. The dairy was shut down in the early 70's and apparently was in operation for about 30-40 years. It was called the Rigby Edge-End Farm because it was on the edge or end of Farmington, but was zoned in later by Kaysville. What remained on the almost half-acre property when I bought it was the old concrete silo, the remains of the milk barn (the concrete floor, rock wall, stalls, and piles of wood), and the actual little house connected to the milking area that sat on the corner. This is where the milk was pumped, stored, and sold.

I purchased the land from Helen Rigby through her son, Clyde Rigby. Clyde and his wife are the salt of the earth- true neighbors and friends. Clyde knows the history of the area very well and can tell you great stories about his childhood, family, farm, railroad, and general history of the area. It was cool to uncover all of the many treasures found in earth and below that tell of the farm and its past. Some of the old signs, receipts, and farm implements/parts I have saved. I'd like to get old photographs and compile a short photo-history of the farm's history.

Future Posts: Demolition, building, and initial improvements