250 years since 1776 Why Celebrate?

250 years ago, our forefathers proclaimed that they were a free people and not subject to governments of Kings and dictatorial leaders and that they had a say in how they were to be governed.
Then it took 8 years of war to make it a reality.
It took the colonists, indigenous inhabitants, and slaves fighting, with the help of the foreign power of France, to do it.
It seems strange to celebrate a revolution but that revolution was unlike any revolution before or since and led to the constitutional form of government that is enjoyed today in the United States of America.
Many had come to North America seeking freedom from the oppressive governments they left. Some came as free, some as indentured slaves, some as slaves. Indigenous peoples joined in the fight too.
They overcame the mightiest military power in the world.
Among the colonists, there were patriots and loyalists.
And though there were injustices perpetrated by both sides, still there wasn’t the wholesale slaughter of civilians who chose an opposing side like in other revelutions the world has seen.
God preserved and helped leaders and compatants and civilians of the American revolution.
A case in point is the life of George Washington.
As a young officer with the British forces during the French and Indian War, his life was protected.
In one battle, 2 horses were shot from under him and his coat had 4 bullet holes in it but he was untouched.
Chief Red Hawk reported that he shot 11 different times at Washington without hitting him, that his gun had never before missed it’s mark. He then ceased firing at Washington, being convinced that the Great Spirit protected Washington.
An Indian chief in 1770 said, “our rifles were leveled, rifles which knew not how to miss. It was all in vain” “a power mightier far than we shielded him.”
He said to Washington, “Seeing you were under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit, we immediately ceased to fire at you.”
“The Great Spirit protects that man, George Washington, and guides his destiny.” “I come to pay homeage to the man who is the particular favorite of heaven and can never die in battle.”
(from the Buttel Proof George Washington by David Burton 1990)
Later, the Reverant Samuel Davies said, “Providence has hither to preserved (Him)…for some important service to his country.”
During the war for independence in 1777, at the battle of Princeton, Washington rode his horse 30 yards away form the British firing at him and not being hit yelled to his men, “come parade with me my fine fellows, we will have them soon.
During Valley Forge, the patriot forces were saved through prayer and the assistance of the French.
Washington himself often referred to being preserved by divine providence.
US President Calvin Cooledge said this of Wahington:
“Washington was the directing spirit, without which there would have been no independence, no Union, no constitution, and no Republic…we cannot yet estimate him, we can only indicate a reverence for him and thank the divine providence which kept him to serve and inspire his fellowmen.”
June 8, 1783 in a circular letter to the States, Washington wrote:
“I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would…most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves, with that Charity, humility, and specific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion and without our humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation”
Many of the descendence of my Pilgrim ancestors, other European ancestors, and indigenous ancestors fought in that war for freedom. They were raised up to this very purpose, to secure our present enjoyed liberties. (D,& C. 101:80)
Western pioneer and colonizer Brigham Young said this:
“We believe that the Lord has been preparing that when he should bring forth his work, that, when the set time should fully come, there might be a place upon his footstool where sufficient liberty of conscience should exist, that his Saints might dwell in peace under a broad panoply of constitutional law and equal rights. (panopy means something that is a protective covering.)
In the view we consider that the men in the revolution were inspired by the Almighty, to throw off the shackles of the mother government, with her established religion.
For this cause were Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, and a host of others inspired to deeds of resistence to the acts of the King of Great Britain…in thus establishing a new government upon a principle of greater freedom, a basis of self government allowing the free exercise of religious worship.
It was the voice of the Lord inspiring all those worthy men who bore influence in those trying times, not only to go forth in battle but to exercise wisdom in council, fortitude, courage, and endurance in the tented field, as well as subsequently to form and adopt those wise and efficient measures which secured to themselves and suceeding generations, the blessings of a free and independent government.”
The freedoms many earlier had longed for and come to this land for, were finally secured.
Why should this matter so much to you and I?
Well many of those men were our ancestors and related to our ancestors.
Some of the prominent of the revolution are related to me and most likely to you too.
General George Washington is a 5th cousin 8 times removed
John Adams is a 3rd cousin 8 times removed
Samuel Adams is a 4th cousin 7 times removed
Benjamon franklin is a 2nd cousin 8 times removed
Thomas Jefferson is a 4th cousin 7 times removed
Major General Nathanael Greene is a 3rd cousin 7 times removed
John Hancock is a 7th cousin 7 times removed
Richard Henry Lee is a 5th cousin 6 times removed
You should look up how many of them and others are related to you.
So in this year of the celebration of 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was written, instead of just thinking of the fife player, the drummer and the flag bearer, why don’t you consider how close you are to those who made this republic possible.
Let us remember and honor those who offered their lives, liberty, fortunes, and honor so that we can enjoy the government they fought for and many died for.
by Jay Beacham
April 2026

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