Over the weekend, our team was out at the St. George Art Festival, something we’ve been a part of for several years. We brought yard games for families, helped get things set up, and spent time connecting with people in the community.
While we were there, we heard a ceremony starting nearby. We walked over, not knowing exactly what it was, just in time to listen to the ceremony as a new statue, signifying the completion of the City Plaza, was being unveiled.
The statue honors David and Wilhelmina Cannon, early pioneers who were sent to settle the St. George area. Life here wasn’t easy. It was hot, dry, unfamiliar, and often discouraging. At one point, overwhelmed by it all, Wilhelmina told her husband that if he could show her just one beautiful thing, she could keep going.
He later brought her a sego lily.
That simple moment, finding something good and beautiful in a difficult place, is what the statue represents.
The artist, Jerry Anderson, a St. George local, captured that moment in a powerful way. At 91 years old, he is still creating meaningful art for the community. He stepped forward with energy and excitement to unveil the statue, with his two sons there beside him. It was a reminder in itself that purpose and contribution do not have an expiration date.
As part of the ceremony, several speakers shared thoughts that added even more meaning to the story.
Mayor Jimmy Hughes spoke about how being called to do something and being compelled to do something can feel very similar. The responsibilities we take on in life are not always easy. Often, the things that matter most ask more of us than we expect.
Representative Celeste Maloy spoke about the 250th year of our nation and the many blessings that have come with it. But she also acknowledged that those blessings are not always immediately visible. Sometimes they take time, perspective, and effort to recognize.
She connected that idea to a principle the early pioneers lived by:
“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
That message felt like the center of the entire ceremony.
Those early settlers came into a place that was difficult and unfamiliar. They did not ignore the hardship, but they made a conscious decision about what they would look for within it. They chose to seek out what was good, what was meaningful, and what was worth building.
Standing there, listening to that message, it felt especially relevant today.
There is a lot in the world right now that can feel heavy, uncertain, or discouraging. It is easy to focus on what is not working or what feels out of our control.
But the example of David and Wilhelmina Cannon, and the reminder shared by Representative Maloy, is that we still have a choice.
We can choose what we look for.
We can choose what we focus on.
We can choose what we bring into the world around us.
There is a quote that says:
When the past no longer illuminates the future, the world becomes dark.
Moments like this do the opposite.
They remind us that even in difficult circumstances, there are still things worth noticing. Still things worth building. Still things worth holding onto.
Sometimes, it is not about changing the situation.
Sometimes, it is about finding just one beautiful thing and choosing to keep going.
Those values are still as important today as they were then.
And in our own way, that is something we try to carry forward, showing up in the community, supporting others through difficult moments, and helping people find a path forward when things are not easy.