A Letter From La Sonya Luther

Brothers and Sisters,

I wanted to take this special opportunity to share with you what I believed was truly a blessing received from our participation in the Florence Day Heritage parade meeting especially Delores Godkin (Dee), and truly learning more about the importance of the work to be done here in Winter Quarters in Omaha, NE. The Middle even before the Trek to Salt Lake City, UT. Prelude to the Treaty.

Florence Day Heritage Parade – All photos (you will find the Treaty signed inside.)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qZJSDDBFRc5DJCJe8

The hope of next year as spoken by Delores Godkin (Dee) of the Florence Historical Foundation

https://www.historicflorence.org/home.php

https://www.historicflorence.org/history.php

is for “The Saints, the Mormon Trail Center” to be Honored as the Grand Marshall in the Florence Day Heritage or Historical Parade 2025. In addition the Florence Historical Foundation is working and seeking funding opportunities towards the establishment of a monument park and Florence Historical Museum to honor this history seeking to purchase a newly available property and land around it and across the street from the Florence Mill now owned and operated by Linda Meigs a beautiful woman that restored it.

The true Pioneer Heritage Experiences of the BIPOC in the Midwest Region to brothers and sisters in spiritual bondage and Latter-day Saints who lack awareness and knowledge of the role of Black American Pioneers in the Trek to Salt Lake City, UT.

The time has come to honor

“Black individuals—both enslaved and free—who contributed to the settlement of Utah Territory and other locations in the west.” Erick Wadsworth

Who paved the way and walked ahead as they were sent by Brigham Young and contributed and was absolutely significant before the wagon trek even began.

As well as the Omaha Native American Tribe, who provided the space and place, and they were also potentially the blessing that saved the Saints from massacre from other Native American tribes had the Omaha Tribe not been inspired by God years prior to their arrival in a dream to receive them.

I can testify that I know the Lord is working the peripherals in so many ways for the history of Winter Quarters and Florence Historical Foundation to be told recognizing both Native Americans and the Black Pioneers.

May we all be blessed in our purpose and the scope of what the Lord and our brothers and sisters or descendants from beyond the veil or calling us and inspiring us to do. Making right the wrongs and freeing a people in this very location of Winter Quarters and other locations from bondage and pointing the way towards the temple where families can be united together forever building a Zion people a United People.

The hopes and dreams of Green Flake and Jane Manning James was all about family, and Our Heavenly Father is about Family. This is His Work and Glory, and we are instruments in His hands.

In the words of Linda Fors (Mormon Trail Center) to me.

Thank you for a wonderful day yesterday! Can you imagine how Sister Jane and Brother Green were feeling about it? “

Yes, I can truly imagine as I observed the numerous hand waves of BIPOC and shouts of that’s my people!!

It was with this focus that motivated and strengthened Black Pioneers of Winter Quarters and the Mississippi Saints giving them courage to press forward in faith in spite of their trials and afflictions.

It kept them grounded in their love of God and their neighbor as God commanded. The first two great commandments. It was this charge given that kept them moving forward.

I pray that we can and will continue to press forward in the strength and courage of our inspirations given to us as we are being individually called to serve in telling the stories of the Black American and Native American Pioneers as well as mending the cracks and fissures of gross harms, that of sins of the past.

Asking questions of what lack I yet? Taking inventory of ourselves.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/…/what-lack-i-yet…

Now is the time for us to work towards breaking the chains of stagnation and bondage. We have to strengthen our backbones, our feet and hands once again as Green Flake and Jane Manning James as well as so many others names which may not be known or spoken and strive to learn meet anger with sympathy, contempt with compassion, cruelty with kindness.

Jacob 4:7-8

7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

8 Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord.

There is a great and marvelous work to be done in the Winter Quarters area through the stories and history of the Black Pioneers strengthing, bringing a hope and courage to the BIPOC people here, there and elsewhere as well as the Latter-day Saints alike.

In the Strength of the Lord”

Mosiah 7: 33

But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

A turning for North Omaha, NE, Florence Mills Historical “Winter Quarters” is coming. The communities are in need of this hope and rejoicing to be restored. It does begin with our inspirations interconnected with each and everyone of us fulfilling our purposes setting an example as Christ did from the cross. HEALING, HUMAN, DIVINE.

As stated so eloquently by Delores Godkin,

“To that end along with a copy of the Treaty I am sending the “story” from the Omaha Nation side. It is proof the good Lord make “colors” for a reason and we CAN love one another. In the Omaha Language it is Ake’he’day (phonetically spelled) it means “Take care of each other” “

It is time to hear Black and Native American voices from the dust while hearing and sharing our stories even of today. It is to learn of Green Flake & Jane Manning James, and Big Elk of their integrity, give them their dignity, and respect.

As is stated in D&C 93:24

24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;

May we find peace in this blessing that Delores Godkin (Historical Keeper) has shared with me to bring to pass the hope of better days and the miracles that God has promised to all His children. While always remembering it is in the valleys we grow.

Peacemakers Needed By President Russell M. Nelson President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/…/2023/04/47nelson…

We all have our agency to choose contention or reconciliation.

But most importantly,

We can choose to be a peacemaker, now and always as the Black Pioneers of the past chose to “Walk Ahead and Pave the Way for the eternal blessings of today!!!

As we strive to keep the two great commandments that we have been given this charge to Love God first and to love our neighbors. May we be blessed in our individual calls, inspirations, and purposes,

We are the peacemakers!!

and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sincerely,

La Sonya