by Jeanne Peugh, Director
America and Blessings of 1831
In 1831, Joseph Smith Jr. was receiving revelation for the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ.
As we are studying and pondering the Doctrine and Covenants this year, we recognize what a blessing these early Saints were to sacrifice so much for this work to come forth. The Lord gave each of them specific instructions of what they were to do and how to do it. They were humble and teachable, and the Lord knew who he could count on. The Doctrine and Covenants teach us that the Lord needs us to hasten His work on both sides of the veil as we have been instructed by prophets in the past and prophets now. I find that it is also interesting that the Lord wanted us to realize the blessing of being in this great country in that same year.
Also, in 1831, Samuel Francis Smith, a Baptist minister, wrote the lyrics of “America.”
My country, ’tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From ev’ry mountainside
Let freedom ring!
My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills,
Like that above.
Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom’s song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.
Our fathers’ God, to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!
The song was first performed on July 4, 1831, at a children’s Independence Day celebration at Park Street Church in Boston. The first publication of “America” was in 1832. We need to be instruments in the Lord’s hand, as were those early Saints. Isn’t it interesting that both of their names are “Smith?”
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