Brigham Young, by Caleb

Joseph Smith was the first prophet and Brigham Young was the second. Brigham Young led the saints across the plains to Salt Lake City which at that time was a valley and a dry place. But it was mostly because of his work that the western states are part of the United States, because he sent out Mormons to build little towns about ten miles apart, like Manti, Draper, Springville, and Gunnison, but all over the western states. There are memorials of him in Washington, DC. He is said to have done more work for America than James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and almost as much as George Washington himself.

Joseph Smith 1, by Grace

On a cold December day, in the year 1805, a baby boy was born to Joseph and Lucy Mac Smith. When he was 6 years old he got an infection in his leg. When the doctor's came to remove it they said they might have to amputate his leg, but he refused to lose his leg. They offered him wine to help with the pain during the surgery, but Joseph Jr knew it was not good for his body so he refused it.
He was determined to do just as Good wanted him to.
To be continued...

Joseph Smith 3, by Grace

On a spring morning in 1820, Joseph Smith went out to the woods near his home. He had for sometime been confused about which church he should join. He walked a way into the woods and knelt down and began to pray. As he was praying some evil power seemed to come and make it so he could not speak. He felt frightened and felt as though someone were watching him. He began to feel hopeless, and in the height of it all he cried out to God to save him. Immediately the darkness went away and the evil spirit and a light came down that was so bright it a almost blinded him. He realized the light rested upon "two personages, who brightness and glory defied all description. Standing in the air one of them spoke to the other and said, 'this is my beloved son, hear him.'" 

It was Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. They came to 

Joseph in answer to his prayer. They told him he must not join any church, and that they did not contain the fullness of the gospel. He said they drew near unto him with their lips, but their hearts were far from him.

Joseph listened with his whole soul.

Later that night, as he was in bed, an angel came and told him a message of a record in the hill near his house. The Angels name was Moroni. Moroni came back four times that night delivering the same message each time.

The next morning Joseph was existed. Moroni told him to tell his father, but Joseph was a afraid that he wouldn't believe. Joseph's father notices he was tired from staying up all night, he told Joseph to go back to bed. As Joseph was climbing a fence on his way back he fell and fainted. Again Moroni appeared to him. Moroni relayed the message then told Joseph to tell his father. Joseph went back after he had come to, and told his father all.

Just as the angel had said he would, his father believed.

Joseph Smith 2, by Grace

When Joseph was 10 his family moved to Palmyra New York. 

They bought a farm and began clearing land. 

They began to notice that there were many religious arguments going on. The Methodist fought for the Catholic to join them, the Catholic argued with the Presbyterian, and so forth. 

Lucy, Joseph's mother, went to all of the churches taking her kids along with her. She had been trying to find the correct church of Christ her whole life.

Joseph Sr. wanted the truth like his wife, but he had felt that none of the churches were right. He disliked the arguing.

This left fourteen year old Joseph Jr. confused. 

People told his family they would not be saved if they did not get baptized into their church. 

Joseph decided to find out for himself which church was right. After he had read James 1:5-6, which says,

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

So he did just that. On a spring morning in 1820 he went off in to the woods to pray and find out for himself.

To be continued next week...

Abraham Lincoln, by Grace

Abraham Lincoln was born  February 12, 1809 to an uneducated family. When he was young he worked for his neighbors. He was a little lazy though. One time his neighbor asked him "what's going to become of you, Abe?" "Me?" Drawled Lincoln. "I'm going to be president of the United States." Of course that was just in jest, but I guess he didn't know how true that statement was. 
He did decide to go into politics though.
Poor Abe lost his mother, then, soon after, the girl he was going to marry passed away. He always knew grief.
As a child he had written in his notebook: "Abraham Lincoln his hand and pen he will be good but who knows when." Lincoln became quite popular and met his rival for candidate who's name was Douglas. And he also met Mary Todd, who had decided she would marry the president of the United States. She knew she needed to choose between  one of the two so she chose Lincoln thinking him the most likey to become president, and led him to the altar. Sadly theirs was not a happy marriage. She was refined and he was a 'common man'. She would get upset with him for being with them, but he loved them. He also loved his sons. He let them make his office into a playground. His love for people went far. He hated slavery and had dedicated his life to stop it. He made a bill to abolish slavery but it did not pass. He and Douglas both ran for president. Lincoln to abolish slavery and Douglas to encourage it in the South. People talked of splitting the South and North so one would be republicans the other, the South, Democrats. Lincoln said no, that the United States must be and stay United! When he became President he knew there would have to be a way to end slavery. He was right and he did become president fulfilling Mary's ambition. He was so kind and tender even towards the South, which he called the southern gentlemen. 
He never found out which side won. A week before the report he was assassinated at a theater in 1865.

Three of the most pivotal battles of the American Revolution By Lucy

The Revolutionary war changed the world. How did it change the world? Who did it effect? Why was each victory so important?

Three of the most pivotal battles of this great war are these: Battles of Lexington & Concord, the taking over of Fort Ticonderoga, and the Battle of Yorktown. These battles were very pivotal points because a change that took place.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were fought on April 19, 1775. The battle in Lexington was the first military engagement of the Revolutionary war. About 700 British soldiers were given orders to capture and destroy American military supplies that were reported to be in Concord. Some smart American patriots had been warned of their supplies not being safe and had moved them to different locations weeks before the 19^th of April which was when the British planned to attack and collect them. Word of this attack had been rapidly sent from Boston to the militia by several riders, such as Paul Revere and Samuel Prescott with information about these British plans.

The first shots were fired in Lexington at the break of dawn. Eight Patriots were killed, while the British Regulars only had one casualty. The Patriots were outnumbered, and the Regulars pushed their way to Concord where they split into groups to find the military supplies. One group went to the Concord Bridge where a little battle of its own struck with casualties on both sides. These 100 Regulars addressed 400 Patriots and soon retreated into Concord with the other Regular troops. Some say that the first shot that was heard in this war was in Concord at the North Bridge. (Though there were eight Patriots killed in Lexington earlier that morning, it is said that the event in Lexington was more of a massacre.)

Here is a poem written by Ralf Waldo Emerson. It was sung at the Completion of the Concord Monument on April 19, 1836:    By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood,

And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

We set to-day a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare,

To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

The shaft we raise to them and thee.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first in the war. Surprisingly enough, people were ready for it. They were expecting the war to begin. The American Patriots were able to prepare themselves for this event because they knew it was coming. This battle started something that would soon change not only the world but each of the lives of the people involved. The freedom that was soon demonstrated in the United States of America led many other countries to do the same. For example,  soon after our revolution, the French had one that started in 1789.

Fort Ticonderoga

When the Patriots took over the Fort Ticonderoga there was not one shot fired.

 Fort Ticonderoga was the first French fort to be built in North America. The French built it during 1755 and 1759 to be safe from the British army while the French protected the fur trading routes. During the Seven-year war (also known as the French and Indian War), the British attacked the Fort and tried to take it, but the French easily defeated them. In the following year, the British again attempted to conquer. They laid siege for three months. The French finally retreated up north but before leaving, they burnt and blew up magazines, powder and warehouses.

By the time of the American Revolution, the British still had hold of Fort Ticonderoga. On May 10^th, 1775, the Green Mountain Boys, under the direction of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold brought this fort under American power for the first time.  There were no guns fired the night of the siege. This event has been called the Battle of Ticonderoga but is most often called a Siege because no blood was spilt.

“Allen is said to have told the British commander and his small amount of guards around Ticonderoga to come out ‘By the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.’ “ (Fort Ticonderoga

Revolutionary War and the Battles of Ticonderoga, by Pamela Kline). The British Commander quickly surrendered.

The British thought that things could only go uphill from now on, but they were not able to hold Ticonderoga for long. Even though the Colonist were not able to successfully obtain this Fort for long, the way that had taken it so courageously discouraged the British and gave hope to the Americans.

                                                                                                                                           (Fort Ticonderoga)

               

The Americans had hope after they took over Fort Ticonderoga. The had discouraged the British and that was exactly what needed to be done. After the Battle of Saratoga and the British defeated, the Americans had even more hope for freedom. When the Americans were fighting for Saratoga they gained the trust of the French. The French then joined the Patriots as they continued to fight for American freedom.

Battle of Yorktown

The Battle of Yorktown (also known as the Siege of Yorktown) was the last, big battle of the American Revolution. General George Washington was leading the Continental Army while Lord Cornwallis led the Red Coats. The Americans had great strategy. General Washington had his spies let out the word that they would be attacking in New York City. All the Red Coats believed that they would. Even some the of American soldiers were confused and were making bets on where they would be marching to in the next few days.

In September, the American troops began marching to Virginia. The Americans went by land and the French went through the water and they met at Chesapeake Bay. They surprised the British and Hessian armies who were camped in Yorktown.

The night that the Americans got there was not a night for sleeping. They dug trenches all night long. In the morning the British army awoke to a surrounded camp. There was a little fighting involved but soon enough General Cornwallis surrendered. The war was over! 

This battle was surely a pivotal point in the American Revolution. They won the War and finally had the freedom that they had fought for, for so many years.

All of three of these battles were pivotal points for the Americans. The Battles of Lexington and Concord were important and life changing because the war was started! After so much anticipation it had finally begun.

Taking over Fort Ticonderoga was a special time for the Americans. Although they ended up losing the Fort, they still had made a strong point to the British.

And lastly, the Battle of Yorktown was a remarkable battle and one that will always be a part of American history. The tricky strategies that were used were important. The great General Washington who was being led by God was a grand general to have. One who fights for God and follows His command with exactness will never fail an army.

The American Patriots fought for freedom. They had God on their side and they won the great war. Not only did they win the war but their devotion and work for the freedom of this Country has blessed the lives of millions of people all over the world, but especially, the Americans.

Discovery of Nitrogen, by Caleb

Today in the Mystery of the Periodic Table, I read about how they separated  oxygen from the other gas, but what was the other gas? A mouse could not breathe in it. It tasted weird, and so they decided it was part of the recipe for the air we breathe, and that phlogiston was just a theory and that when a candle went out under a jar it was cause there was no oxygen, there was only nitrogen left which was the weird gas, and cause there was just nitrogen left that proved there was no phlogiston.

Benjamin Franklin, by Grace

Benjamin Franklin was born in the winter of 1706 in Boston Massachusetts. He came into a family of 16! (Probably where he learned how to get along with people)
Ben was his father's favorite. At five, he could read the Bible. And we'll started thinking seriously when he was 7. One time asked his father, (Josiah) " why waste all this time giving your daily blessing? Why not give one blessing once and for all? I think this would save your time and the Lord's time."
Josiah thought he would make a good clergy man. So he sent him to Boston Latin School for a classical education. But he soon realized that was not for his son. So he transferred him to another school, but it was too expensive when there were 17 mouths to feed. So Ben was offered to be a candle maker but he couldn't stand the smell of tallow. So he found himself age 12, an apprentice his brother's printing shop. He stopped going to church and would stay home and read a good book. He said that a good book more educational then a bad sermon. But he still had a deep reverence for God.
When Ben was 17 he found he couldn't get along with his brother, so snuck away on a boat. He landed in Philadelphia. He was very ragged and had only one dutch dollar. He worked as a printer. Soon he had his own printing shop. He was a very smart man, and besides inventing the lighting rod and finding out what electricity is he was a great founding father. He got France to join us in a critical part of the war, he had the wisest of mind for starting our country. He deserves the love and thanks of man and women.

The Discovery of Oxygen, by Caleb

On August 1st 1774 Priestly put calx of Mercury underneath a glass and it began to give off a gas. The gas was oxygen. Well, this gas was very flammable and he wondered if it was poison so he took a jar and filled it with air then he took another jar with this gas and put a mouse in each one. The mouse with the weird gas lived for 30 minutes but the one with normal air lived half that long. The air we breathe is only 20% oxygen.

Mr Priestly was saying that the reason that when you put a candle in a jar and it goes out is because it puts off phlogiston, but really it just uses up the oxygen.

Later, Lavoisier did an experiment that proved it was burning up all the oxygen, and not really just filling the jar with phlogiston.

Priestly discovered the mysterious unknown gas, but Lavoisier is the one who proved it to be the oxygen we breathe. He also proved the Priestly was backward in his science.

Dr. Joseph Warren, by Lucy

Joseph Warren, by Copely

Dr. Joseph Warren (June 11, 1741 – June 17, 1775) was an American Physician and a valiant patriot. They all loved him. Dr Warren was made a general on June 14, 1775 and was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775).

Dr Warren was a part of two battles. The Battle of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was a great leader and supported his troops.

Robert Boyle, by Caleb

Today, in Mystery of the Periodic Table, I read about Robert Boyle who was the 14^th child. His father was an earl and was very rich. He was about 15 when he started his experiments and Galileo died just that year.

Although there were a lot of kids in his family, he inherited a lot of money but he did not waste it. He used it for experiments and for his lab.

John Paul Jones, by Grace

John Paul Jones was born 1747 In Scotland.

He got very little schooling. As soon as he learned to read he had learned to row a boat. At twelve he was very good with boats. 

Once his father and a shipowner by the name of James Younger, saw him trying to lead passengers through the stormy waves to the shore. Mr. Younger thought they'd never make it. But his father told him not to fear for it was his son that was the boat man. 

After he had made it safely to shore Mr. Younger offered him a berth in his new boat so he could become an apprentice. They accepted his offer.

He was able to visit his brother who had been adopted by the Jones family. They offered to adopt him to but he said." Thank you sir, but I am afraid I am too fond of my ship."

He was very rapid in his progress: at 17 he was second mate at 18 first mate at 19 he was part owner of a slave ship. After two years he had had enough, he knew slavery was wrong and did not want anything to do with it. He was almost mutinied when a fever broke out,so  he decided he needed to punish the man who started it. The man died and he was accused of murder. He felt bad and never treated one of his fellow men like that again.

When he heard about the freedom America was trying to get he joined the Continental Navy. He was never defeated in his fighting. One of the best quotes from him is, " I have not yet begun to fight!" He said this when asked to surrender, for his ship was sinking. He was a great man of courage!

Moral People Need Fewer Laws, by Lucy

John Adams: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral . . . people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."


Benjamin Franklin: "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt . . .  they have more need of master."
             
Moral people need fewer laws because they are made of divine attributes which keep hem godlike. God loves law. He doesn't need any laws set for Him. People who are careless need law. They do not try to understand life.

Obey and Be Blessed; Disobey and Be Punished, by Grace

Calvin Coolidge, United States president, wrote: 

"We do not need more law, we need more religion...there is no way...we can substitute the authority of law for the virtue of men...peace, justice, humanity, charity---these can not be legislated into being." 

(Promises of the Constitution)

If we want to be a free people we must govern ourselves and obey God's laws, if we do not we will have to be governed by the country's laws.

The Israelites were led out of Egypt into the wilderness by Moses, God gave Moses ten commandments for the people to keep, only ten.

But when Moses came to give these commandments to them they were worshiping a golden calf, he realized they were not ready for these higher laws, but that they must start with many small ones.

Obey and be blessed, disobey and be punished.

Benjamin Franklin said: "Only virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corupt...they have need of more masters."

He hits the point exactly, if you are virtuous then, and only then, can you have freedom.

I will end with what William Penn said, "Men will either be governed by God or ruled by tyrants."

Isaac Newton, Detective, by Caleb

Today I read about Isaac Newton. He became the detective of the mint where they printed money and he was trying to find the criminals but he could not. Finally one day he told his friend to disguise himself and then he pretended he was one of them and they told his friend where their hiding place was, so then Isaac called the police and they caught the robbers.

Checks and Balances, by Lucy

This week I learned about checks and balances. Who knew that our government survives on these? Well, I didn't! Checks and balances keep us all working together. Our government was designed to have representatives, chosen by the people to govern all of us. We, the people, have agreed with the Constitution and live by it. Checks and balances are to help us all live fairly and to help us work stuff out. Sometimes, when some power is given to somebody, they use the power given to them and then take more. Checks and balances help the duties of the representatives stay focused, governed and purposeful. Thanks to these checks and balances, our government is still a republic.

Thomas Paine, by Grace

"...Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered..." 

Thomas Paine was born in England. He was married twice but both marriages did not turn out. His first wife died. The second he had issues with.

One day, by happenstance, he met Benjamin Franklin in London. Franklin helped him emigrate to the colonies. He was very good writer; he joined the Americans in their cry for freedom, and he encouraged them with good writings like Common Sense. His pamphlet Common Sense was first published January 10 of 1776. by April there were 120,000 copies made. He argued for two points; independence form England, and the creation of a democratic republic. This pamphlet bound the fighters for freedom more tightly. It was a great defense for the Americans independence form England.

Here are some famous words from Common Sense;

"These are times that try men's souls. The summer solider and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; But he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph!'