In a few days we will celebrate pioneer day. It is a day set aside to honor our ancestors who sacrificed all that they had, many even their very lives, for the gospel. They came by boat from England and Europe, by wagon and handcart from the east. The journey was long and difficult. With iPods, DVD players and plush SUVs, a family road trip these days can hardly compare. I am amazed as I think about those pioneer children. They walked most of the way. The worst thing we faced on our road trips was being forced to listen to educational audio tapes while riding in the car. I think those pioneer children would have gladly put up with that just for the opportunity to ride and rest their feet. One thing they did to pass the time was to sing. And the hymn that they sang the most was “Come, Come Ye Saints.”

It was at a time when many of the saints were discouraged that Brother William Clayton penned “Come, Come Ye Saints.” He was also separated from his wife who had to stay behind in Nauvoo due to illness and pregnancy. He got word that his son had been born and wrote the words to this beloved hymn as an expression of his gratitude. The rule in the pioneer camps was that if anyone started to sing it the rest were to join in.

President Heber J. Grant’s father-in-law, Oscar Winters told a story of what the hymn meant to the pioneer saints. One night one of the company wasn’t at camp with the others. Just as they were preparing to go and look for him, he came walking up with his wagon. He had been sick and weak and had to stop to lie down a couple of times which resulted in the delay. After dinner, the brother sat down against a rock and started to sing the hymn. For some reason that night, no one joined in. His voice was weak but beautiful. By the time he had finished there wasn’t a dry eye there. The next morning when he didn’t rise to hitch his oxen the others found that he had died during the night. The stone he’d sat against the night before became his headstone. The words of that hymn weren’t just a nice thought to them. They actually lived them.

There are countless other stories like this one and likely several in your own families. I encourage you to take some time this July 24th and think about those courageous pioneers. Maybe even look up some family history and find out about your own pioneer ancestry. Lastly, look at your life and think of ways you can honor that pioneer spirit today. When trials come, and they will, remember the pioneers and the words to their favorite hymn.

“Come, come ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear, but with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear, grace shall be as your day.
‘Tis better far for us to strive, our useless cares from us to drive,
Do this and joy your hearts will swell—All is well! All is well!”

– William Clayton “Come, Come, Ye Saints” Hymns #30

Arnold Friberg, best known for his painting of George Washington entitled Prayer at Valley Forge, passed away July 1st at the age of 96. You may not know him, but you undoubtedly know his work. He was born on December 21, 1913 in Winnetka, Illinois to a Swedish father and a Norwegian mother. He took to art at a very young age. When he was 3 his family moved to Arizona where they joined the Church.

To members of the church he is best known as the painter of The Book of Mormon paintings. Adele Cannon Howells, the Primary General President in 1950, commissioned Friberg to paint 12 pictures depicting scenes from The Book of Mormon. She paid him $1000 a piece. Sadly, she never saw the finished paintings, as she passed away before they were completed. But on the night she died she sold some property to raise the money to pay for the paintings. These paintings went on to be included in millions of copies of The Book of Mormon. They are part of the gospel art kit which we can use in our lessons at church.

Epic filmmaker Cecil B. Demille commissioned Friberg to paint scenes of his classic, The Ten Commandments, that served as models for the movie. Friberg even contributed to the costume design of the film, earning him an Oscar nomination. It was Friberg that chose the colors and design of Charlton Heston’s Moses robe. He chose red with black and white stripes to contrast with the Egyptians lighter clothes. It turned out to be inspired as later research determined that the colors of the tribe of Levi, of which Moses was a part, were red, white and black.

As for the famous George Washington painting, Friberg studied the President’s actual uniform in the Smithsonian. He also went to Valley Forge in the dead of winter. On the banks of the Schuylkill River, he took off his gloves and sketched until his hands were too frozen to continue. The original painting has been appraised at $12 million and is a favorite of recent US Presidents. He has also painted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles as well as a series of works of Canadian Mounties.

What amazes me most about this man is that he never stopped working. An article from The Salt Lake Tribune states that at age 92 he was still painting 7 hours a day from breakfast to dinner with no breaks. At the time of his death there were plans for a Friberg museum in Utah to house all his major works, including the Washington painting. There was also a commemorative statue that was to be unveiled at Utah Valley University, but his unexpected passing has postponed the tribute for the time being.

Perhaps the lesson Friberg’s life exemplifies is one of talent: We are all given talents to share and to help those around us. Arnold Friberg used his talent in ways to inspire the world. He “let his light so shine” and left a positive impact upon the world.

This coming Independence Day, there are a few things in particular I’d like to remember (though there are many others to celebrate):

1) Our soldiers and servicemen and women who help our country. For those of you outside the United States, we all have these wonderful people to be grateful for.

2) A country, that though imperfect, can be a beautiful place of freedom–a land of liberty. As admonished by Nephi, as long as we uphold what is righteous, we will prosper in the land.

3) Our forefathers, who fought for what they believed to establish such a country of freedom. Might I add that religious freedom was a part of what they fought for. In a time now when people belittle the very God who blessed us with that freedom, may we remember this particular point. Without that religious freedom, the gospel of Jesus Christ could not have been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith.

As the 4th of July–Independence Day–is on Sunday, maybe this is something to give a few minutes of thought, and a prayer of gratitude to our Father in Heaven. Have a happy Independence Day!