George Washington's Vision

Typically I stick to issues of the Constitution and its relation to today's politics. Today I had the opportunity to spend some time in spiritual reflection and as I did so I had several things come to my mind which at the time were disturbing to me. Those who know me, know of my love for this Nation. I love America and its Constitution, and it sickens me when I see it being torn apart by partisan politics. Those individuals who are elected and given a public trust to guide this Nation out of a sense of service to the Country and its people.

As I mentioned, as I was meditating upon the beauty of this land and upon the freedoms which I enjoy my mind reflected upon several scriptures which describe the destiny, and importance of our Constitutional form of government. As I did this my mind caught hold of a memory, a story which I had once heard about George Washington which occurred to him while spending the winter of 1777 in Valley Forge with his troops. What I would like to do is present the relation of his experience as it was published in the National Tribute in 1880.

"The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on the fourth of July, 1859, in Independence Square. He was then ninety-nine years old, and becoming very feeble. But though so old, his dimming eyes rekindled as he gazed upon Independence Hall, which he had come to visit once more."

"Lets go into the hall," he said,., "I want to tell you of an incident of Washington's life, one which no one alive knows of except myself; and if you live, you will before long see it verified. Mark the prediction, you will see it verified." "From the opening of the Revolution we experienced all phases of fortune, now good and now ill, one time victorious and another conquered. The darkest period we had, I think, was when Washington after several reverses, retreated to valley Forge, where he resolved to pass the winter of 1777. Ah! I have often seen the tears coursing down our dear commander's care-worn cheeks, as he would be conversing with a confidential officer about the condition of his poor soldiers. You have doubtless heard the story of Washington's going to the thicket to pray. Well, it was not only true, but he used often to pray in secret for aid and comfort. And God brought us safely through the darkest days of tribulation." "ONE DAY, I remember it well, the chilly winds whistled through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless and the sun shone brightly. He remained in his quarters nearly all the afternoon, alone. When he came out I noticed that his face was a shade paler than usual, and there seem ed to be something on his mind of more than ordinary importance. Returning just after dark, he dispatched an orderly to the quarters of an office, who was presently in attendance. After a preliminary conversation of about half an hour, Washington, gazing upon his companion with that strange look of dignity which he alone could command, said to the latter...

"I do not know whether it is going to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something in the apartment seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful being. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of the visit. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I repeat the question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight raising of the eyes." "By this time I felt strange sensations spreading over me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible. I assayed once more to speak, but my tongue had become useless, as if paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly at my unknown visitor." " Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed to fill with sensation, and grew luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor also becoming more airy and yet more distinct to my eyes than before. I began to feel as one dying, or rather to experience the sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompanied death. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move. All were alike impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly, at my companion."

"Presently I heard a voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn,' while at the same time my visitor extended an arm eastward. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a strange scene. Before me lay, spread out in one vast plain, all the countries of the world, Europe, Asia , Africa, and America. I saw rolling and tossing between Europe and America the billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia and America lay the Pacific. 'Son of the Republic,' said the same mysterious voice as before, 'look and learn.' "At that moment I beheld a dark, shadowy being, like an angel, standing, or rather floating in mid-air, between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his left he cast some over Europe. Immediately a cloud arose from these countries, and joined in mid ocean. For awhile it seemed stationary, and then it moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashed of lightening gleamed through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people. " This may be interpreted to have been the Revolutionary War then in progress. "A second time the angel dipped from the ocean and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean, in whose billows it sank from view."

"A third time I heard the mysterious visitor saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.'" I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and cities springing up one after another until the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them. Again, I heard the mysterious voice say, 'Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn." "And this time the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward. From Africa I saw an ill-omened specter approach our land. It flitted slowly and heavily over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking, I saw a bright angel on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word 'Union.' He was bearing the American flag. He placed the flag between the divided nation and said, 'remember, ye are brethren.'"
"Instantly, the inhabitants, casting down their weapons, became friends once more and untied around the National Standard."

"Again, I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the republic, look and learn.' At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia, and Africa." "Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene. From each of these continents arose thick black clouds that were soon joined into one. And through this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men. These men, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of the cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns and cities which I had seen springing up." "As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I again heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' When this voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long and fearful blast."

"Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shown the word 'Union' and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of white spirits. these immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle." "Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious."
"Then once more, I beheld the villages, towns, and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice: 'While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last.' And taking from his brow the crown on which blazoned the word 'Union he placed it upon the standard while the people kneeling down said, 'amen.'" "The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappeared, and I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, 'Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted. Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful for her is the third. But the whole world united shall not prevail against her. let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and Union.' With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the birth, the progress, and the destiny of the United States." "Such, my friends," the venerable narrator concluded, "were the words I heard from Washington's own lips, and America will do well to profit by them."

Many people don't believe in God, or don't believe that God had a hand in establishing this Nation and its Constitution. I have had many heated
discussions with people with regards to these subjects. I believe
that God our Heavenly Father wanted America to be free, and that He, the
Father of all, directed those men, our Founding Fathers to establish not
only this Country as a free Nation, but to ensure those freedoms through
our Constitution. For those of you who would deny the veracity of this
occurrence, in 1854 a man by the name of Orson Hyde, an Elder and Apostle
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave a talk entitled "The
Guardian Angel of America", in the which he mentioned that the angel that he
identified as the Guardian Angel of America was with General Washington in
Camp. Now if God wanted America to be established as a free Nation, and
during the time at Valley Forge General Washington was depressed and
disheartened, not only with the fact that severe losses had driven him to
establish the camp at Valley Forge, but because of all the political intrigue at the Continental Congress with those who wanted him disposed of his position as Commander of the Continental Army and those of his generals who would rather see him dead than lead them in battle, wouldn't that God of love send a messenger to this humble man to give him strength and motivation to continue forward? I would dare
say yes. By the way remember the incident of George Washington's vision was first related in 1880, and Elder Hyde gave his talk in 1854, he would not have known through conventional knowledge that George Washington had seen an angel while wintering with his troops in Valley Forge.

So may we all remember that this land is a
land of promise and of freedom,
and may each one of us be found fighting for
liberty that it may not be said
of us that we were not worthy of the
greatest of all the gifts of God on this
earth, which is our freedom and our
citizenship in this great Country, The
United States of America.