Monument Dedication

John Linford Monument

A PRAYER OFFERED BY JOSEPH NOEL LINFORD
DEDICATING A MONUMENT HONORING JOHN LINFORD
AND EIGHT OTHERS WHO DIED AND WERE BURIED AT THE
SIXTH CROSSING OF THE SWEETWATER IN THE STATE OF WYOMING

 

Our Father in Heaven,

We, a group of the descendants of John Linford, have gathered here to dedicate a monument honoring him and eight others who died and were buried at the sixth crossing of the Sweetwater River on October 21, 1856, as they and their loved ones traveled with other Mormon pioneers across the plains with the James G. Willie Handcart Company.

We are mindful of the sacrifices they made and are grateful for their love of the gospel, for their faith and devotion which never wavered. Although they were fatigued and weakened by hunger and suffered intensely from the freezing weather, their desire to push on never dimmed. Their watchcry was “on to Zion.” May we, their descendants, strive to emulate their example and bring honor to their names.

We are grateful to those who made this dedicatory service possible, and to those who were instrumental in obtaining this stone, having it engraved, and placing it here.

By authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, I dedicate this monument in honor of John Linford and eight others who died and were buried here. We ask Thee, Father in Heaven, to bless and sanctify this spot to save it from the elements and from any form of vandalism. We pray that those who visit here will come to understand and appreciate the sacrifices that they made in their quest to come to Zion, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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