"Inspiration Key to Thanksgiving Psalm," Church News, Nov. 22, 1975
When the Utah National Guard was mustered into the regular Army shortly after the United States entered World War I, Elder B. H. Roberts, a member of the First Council of the Seventy, was also serving on reserve duty as chaplain of the 145th Field Artillery (1st Utah Battalion).
Having passed his 60th birthday, Elder Roberts was worried whether or not his physical condition would keep him from serving on active duty.
Seventeen years earlier, the U. S. Congress had denied him his seat as U. S. representative from the State of Utah, which refusal denied him the opportunity to serve his country.
Elder Roberts was a patriotic man and the congressional refusal had been a painful experience. He was now determined to do everything possible to avoid a second denial.
Consequently, he spent many hours conditioning his body in order to pass the physical examination. Happily, he passed, and when his unit was called to active duty in August 1917, he became the first member of the Church to serve in the Chaplain's Corps of the U. S. Armed Forces.
The bitter anti-Mormon feeling of the 19th Century had not completely died out during the early 1900s. Ministers of other denominations had been ardent in their aversion to, and their denunciation of, the Mormons.
The resentment became very apparent in France during the Thanksgiving season of 1918.
The last Thursday of November fell shortly after Nov. 11, 1918, the signing of the Armistice. Everyone was grateful for the ending of hostilities and Thanksgiving Day found the American “doughboys” gathered in one grand Thanksgiving service.
The large attendance included high-ranking military officers and the services were conducted by the chaplains, who were seated on the grandstand.
Elder Roberts was relegated to one of the rear seats. He had not been asked in advance to participate on the program, therefore, it was with great surprise that he heard the chaplain in charge announce: “Elder Roberts, the Mormon chaplain from Utah, will now step up and read the Thanksgiving Psalm.”
Elder Roberts had never heard of the Thanksgiving Psalm but, hiding his personal embarrassment and possible impending embarrassment to the Church, he arose and walked to the podium, not knowing what he should say.
Years later he testified that, during the long walk to the front, he distinctly heard an audible voice announce: “The 100th Psalm.”
It was as clear as though another person had spoken at his side.
Elder Roberts faced the crowd, paused, then opened his Bible and read Psalm 100:
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
After Brother Roberts had closed his Bible and was returning to his seat, he noticed that his fellow chaplains refused to look at him; their eyes were immovably fixed on the floor.
It was then he realized that his part on the program had been a deliberate attempt to embarrass him, the Church and the priesthood. He acknowledged the help which he had received from the Lord in his moment of need and, when he returned to his tent that night, he checked the Book of Psalms, discovering that the 100th Psalm contained the most pertinent and appropriate sentiments on Thanksgiving.
—an experience of Chaplain B. H. Roberts
Mildred Harris Bradley 1921 – 2009
