The Lamanites have been saved for work to be done in these last days, and they will receive their promised blessings. They have endured much, but the Great Spirit has remembered them. Our wonderful Native American Celebration at our 28th Book of Mormon Evidence Conference was a beautiful experience. For those who attended and felt the spirit of the Lord will forever be blessed.
This past celebration for Firm Foundation was the first of a long line of celebrations to come for our Lamanite brothers and sisters whom we love. The hoop dance by Canyon was done after years of not performing and it was so wonderful and really touched the audience. Thanks to our Native American brothers and sisters pictured for making our celebration so successful. For those of you who didn’t attend, you will be able to see the video in a few weeks on our streaming site here: https://www.bookofmormonevidence.org/streaming/
The Descendants of Lehi
“I think it’s important to realize that the title page of the Book of Mormon says, “written to the Lamanites.” That’s one of the very first things it says. I think Latter-day Saints today think well, the Book of Mormon is written for us. Well it was, written for the entire world, but of course Mormon, Moroni in their understanding of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, they fully realized that this book, this record, would eventually come forth to their descendants to the descendants of Lehi, and his family. And, this is clear to Joseph Smith. There’s no question in my mind that Joseph Smith knows from the very beginning this record needs to be received and given to and accepted by Lamanite descendants. And in 1830, to Joseph Smith and the Church members, a Lamanite meant to them, a North American Indian. There’s just no question.” Alexander L. Baugh BYU Church History Department; transcribed from the documentary “History of the Saints” Mission to the Lamanites Part 1.
Saints and Indians in Frontier America
“At length, on the 2nd day of July, 1843, President Joseph Smith and several of the Twelve met those chiefs in the court-room, with about twenty of the elders. The following is a synopsis of the conversation which took place as given by the interpreter:
The Indian orator arose and asked the Prophet if the men who were present were all his friends. Answer—”Yes.”
He then said—”We as a people have long been distressed and oppressed. We have been driven from our lands many times. We have been wasted away by wars, until there are but few of us left. The white man has hated us and shed our blood, until it has appeared as though there would soon be no Indians left. We have talked with the Great Spirit, and the Great Spirit has talked with us. We have asked the Great Spirit to save us and let us live; and the Great Spirit has told us that he had raised up a great Prophet, chief, and friend, who would do us great good and tell us what to do; and the Great Spirit has told us that you are the man (pointing to the Prophet Joseph). We have now come a great way to see you, and hear your words, and to have you to tell us what to do. Our horses have become poor traveling, and we are hungry. We will now wait and hear your word.”
The Spirit of God rested upon the Lamanites, especially the orator. Joseph was much affected and shed tears. He arose and said unto them: “I have heard your words. They are true. The Great Spirit has told you the truth. I am your friend and brother, and I wish to do you good. Your fathers were once a great people. They worshiped the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit did them good. He was their friend; but they left the Great Spirit, and would not hear his words or keep them. The Great Spirit left them, and they began to kill one another, and they have been poor and afflicted until now.
The Great Spirit has given me a book, and told me that you will soon be blessed again. The Great Spirit will soon begin to talk with you and your children. This is the book which your fathers made. I wrote upon it (showing them the Book of Mormon). This tells what you will have to do. I now want you to begin to pray to the Great Spirit. want you to make peace with one another, and do not kill any more Indians: it is not good. Do not kill white men; it is not good; but ask the Great Spirit for what you want, and it will not be long before the Great Spirit will bless you, and you will cultivate the earth and build good houses like white men. We will give you something to eat and to take home with you.”
When the Prophet’s words were interpreted to the chiefs, they all said it was good. The chief asked, “How many moons would it be before the Great Spirit would bless them?” He [Joseph] told them, Not a great many.
At the close of the interview, Joseph had an ox killed for them, and they were furnished with some more horses, and they went home satisfied and contented.” BYU Studies Quarterly, Volume 5 Chapter 25 page 481
Below is a wonderful article that Valerie shared with me. It shows the beauty and spirit of so many of our Lamanites in the world today. We love and respect Betty and Mike LaFontaine and thank them for being the Hosts of this past Native Celebration. They did a wonderful thing for their people and for we Gentiles, who felt such a fantastic spirit. Thanks to Mike and Betty.
Beautiful Music of the Native American by Valerie Steimle
September 16, 2021|Valerie Steimle
“One of the most enjoyable sounds in Native American music is of the flute. Flutes are known to be the 3rd oldest instrument and date back as far as 6,000 years ago. They were made of bone and their inspiring songs still exist today.
Native flutes are called bansuri, are usually about 23 inches long, and made of wood or bamboo. The music is made by blowing air through the top while placing fingers over the holes to create certain notes. What’s different about the Native flute unlike the regular band playing the flute is the wooden piece that is tied to the top above most of the holes covering the top hole called a block nest. This gives the flute a certain airy sound.
It is told that these flutes were a means of transmitting signals to other tribes at night but in modern times they are used for celebrations, spiritual purposes, community gatherings such as pow wows as well as simple entertainment.
As described in many online sources, (https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/arts/performing/music-history/native-american-music) Native American musical expressions are often termed as “songscapes” which fall under three classes of songs: traditional songs which are handed down from generation to generation, ceremonial and medicine songs received in dreams, and modern songs which shows the influence of the European culture. So, it is the same with the sounds of the flute. There are traditional, ceremonial, and modern songs played by many flutists.
In our Heartland Research Group, we are lucky to have one who plays beautiful music on her flute. Betty “Red Ant” LaFontaine has played her flute for our group at the Nauvoo Mounds site, during our seminars for our Heartland Research Group meetings, and other times which help those within listening distance to feel at peace.
This is her story of the Native American flute:
“About 5 years ago (2016) I attended a Native American festival in Georgia and picked up a flute. I had always loved the flute because of the sweet spirit it brings but never thought I was capable to play it. This is because I had not thought myself very musical as I have tried learning to play the piano and that did not go well as a youth.
For years the flute was always a calming thing for me. My thoughts were that only men played the Native flute so I thought it wasn’t for me. But for some reason that day at the festival I followed the calming Spirit of the flute where a lady was playing and selling her flutes! I stood and just took it all in.
She saw how I was really into it, and said, ‘You know you should learn, I’ll teach ya!!’ She said to pull up a chair, and she handed me a flute. She went through each step from how to hold it, how to blow and use my fingers to cover the holes. As I sat, Mike my husband watched my whole self, I guess you might say, change! He said let’s buy it! Well, we did.
This flute sat nicely on a shelf for a while, until September of last year. You see I caught COVID 19 and was hospitalized for nearly 5 weeks, almost losing my battle with it. Alone and with visiting angels and Heavenly Father at my side, I made it! As part of building my lungs up, I had to do breathing exercises.
Breathing was pretty hard at that time and my lungs nearly gave out. Mike, my husband said, ‘I will send your flutes up and they will help with the breathing!’ I had picked up the flute a couple months before at home and started to play it as best as I could. Mike was inspired that day!
The therapy I got both Spiritually and health-wise was the magic I needed. I would play as best as I could until I could breathe better.
At night the nurses would request I play, due to a 90-year-old dementia woman who was across the room from me. It calmed her. I would hear her call out to her mommy! I would tear up and pick up my flute struggling through my breath, but after a while, notes started floating out of my flute which became beautiful music!
The lady who sold us the flute said “play from your heart” as she placed her hand on her heart. I am truly thankful for this experience for now I play from the heart and what comes out, comes from my heart!”
We always loved when Betty played where ever we were during our visits to the Heartland. My appreciation for the Native flute has increased 100 fold since listening to Betty play which provided relaxing tunes for us to enjoy. The Native American flute will go on for generations to come and we can all benefit from its beautiful music.” Valerie Steimle
A Branch of the House of Israel
“I would say to the Lamanites, if I could speak to them understandingly, that you are also a branch of the house of Israel, and chiefly of the house of Joseph, and your forefathers have fallen through the same examples of unbelief and sins, as have the Jews, and you, as their posterity, have wandered in sin and darkness for many generations; and you, like the Jews, have been driven and trampled under the foot of the Gentiles, and put to death through your wars with each other, and with the white man, until you are almost destroyed. But there is still a redemption and salvation for a remnant of you in the latter days. It is time for you to cease shedding each other’s blood or making war upon your fellow-man. Cease to destroy one another, learn to cultivate the earth, and raise your food therefrom; call upon the Great Spirit to protect you and deliver you from bondage and darkness, and the Great Spirit will hear you and deliver you, and a remnant of you will again become a delightsome people as your forefathers were when they kept the commandments of God.” Wilford Woodruff History of His Life and Labors AS RECORDED IN HIS DAILY JOURNALS PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION BY MATTHIAS F. COWLEY Salt Lake City, Utah 1909
