Many years ago when our Most Quoted son was in elementary school I accompanied him and his class on a field trip to the Utah State Capital. The Capital building is beautiful and one of the most prominent buildings in Salt Lake City. It is a exciting place to visit.
The purpose for the 4th grade field trip was to see the painting of Arnold Friberg’s “Prayer at Valley Forge.” It was on display at the capital and many of the school children from around the city would make the trip to see it.
It is a beloved painting featuring our first United States president, George Washington kneeling next to his horse in prayer. “It was the winter of 1777-78 at the most hopeless and discouraging time in the history of the Revolutionary War. The struggling Americans had been defeated in battle after battle and were losing all hope. Neglected by congress the soldiers were starving, and freezing, and dying without pay, and without shoes and clothing. It is said that you could track where the men walked by the blood on the snow,” said Arnold Friberg about the painting.
George Washington was their general and could have had nice accommodations, but chose to stay with his men and share in the hardships they were going through. He was such a wonderful leader, whose heart was gold and his soul was courageous. His character was what all true leaders should be, full of valor, and patriotism and a love of freedom and right. Because of his deep belief in God he knew he could pray and receive help.
Arnold Friberg said himself, “Where else could he turn, but to God?”
We went into the Gold Room at the Utah State Capital where the painting was displayed. I felt reverence and awe. What a beautiful rendition of that time in our history. I truly felt his urgency and need. I can’t imagine the weight on his shoulders. Everyone, I mean everyone was counting on him. He was counting on God.
As we came out of the Gold Room, me and Flexy were with his teacher Mr. Rhees. I saw a group of people standing around a man. I said to Mr. Rhees, “I think that’s Arnold Friberg.” We went to where he was talking to this group and listened. It was Mr. Friberg. He was giving personal information about his experience painting the beautiful, Prayer at Valley Forge. I am so grateful we came to listen. He said that at the period of time when he painted Prayer at Valley Forge it was common and usual to paint hands clasped in prayer with the palms together hands flat, but he felt that didn’t portray the urgency, and great need for Devine help. So he painted George Washington’s hands with the fingers interlocked and the knuckles almost white in a pleading gesture. Wow! I love that so much.
I felt that when I looked at the painting and I feel that in prayer about our country even now. As a citizen of our great nation I am so grateful to God for blessing the whole world with such a country as the United States of America. Is it perfect? No, but it is an example that when you put God first, like the founding fathers did, and have a desire to serve that God, and fight for the right to do so, He will bless your efforts and make more of them.
This nation gives us the right to chose: Who we worship, where we live, what we do. It gives us opportunities and possibilities, and that makes this nation the greatest. The United States of America is a blessing to me, and to all the world. I am so grateful for George Washington and others who fought and sacrificed for the rights we now enjoy. I am so grateful to our Father in Heaven for blessing me to live in such a wonderful country, with so many freedoms. I pray with interlocked fingers and white knuckles that it may continue to be “Home of the Free, because of the Brave.”
Arnold Friberg gave us a gem. Prayer at Valley Forge is a masterpiece. It was so fun to visit the Utah State Capital and see this beautiful painting, and to hear Arnold Friberg share an insight I will cherish forever.
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It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, and to be grateful for his benefits, and to humbly implore his protection in favor.
-George Washington, Thanksgiving Proclamation.