Two days later, the Saints in Morgan celebrated. On 6 January 1896, Charles Turner recorded: "Monday. This morning did up chores and see after things a little. Got ready and went to the big Celebration over Utah becoming a State. We had music, singing, reciting, speeches, firing of guns, etc. etc. Quite a jolly time. Brother Willard G. Smith acting as Marshall of the Day. It was quite a big turn out and agood time. Came home and took supper after doing chores, then went down to Simmons Hall and see the people dance.. . .What a crowd both there and at the court house. Weather bright and clear, but quite cold."61 Obviously, Samuel Francis was excited about the outcome of his years of effort. He wrote: "Saturday, January 4, 1896: Attended general monthly priesthood meeting at 11:00 o'clock. President Cleveland proclaimed Utah a SovereignStateoftheAmericanUnionthismomingatl0;00o'clockAM. . . . Monday, January 6,1896; State Inauguration Day. All State officers entered upon the duties of their respective offices today. We had a grand meeting at the Stake House. Ball at the Hall and Court House in the evening... ,"62 In the Sail Lake Tribune, 23 January 1977, there wasa picture of the official invitation to Utah's First Inaugural Ball, held under the auspices of the National Guard of Utah in the Salt Lake Theatre the evening of 6 January 1896. Listed as a member of the reception committee was Samuel Francis of Morgan County 63Samuel, however, chose to celebrate in Morgan rather than in Salt Lake City, Had Samuel and Esther Francis gone to the Inaugural Ball, they would have been treated to an elaborate affair. The historic Salt Lake Theatre was profusely decorated with flags, with an electric flag suspended at the front of the archway of the stage. It was a blaze of beauty. In the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the largest flag in the United States at the time had been suspended from the ceiling. George Romney and his workers had made the flag, which contained 1,296 yards of bunting; each stripe was two yards wide. The flag was 132 feet long and 78 feet wide. The new Utah star was beautifully and ingeniously illuminated by cutting out the star shape from a yard of black felt, covering the opening with plate glass and placing back of it a reflector which contained five 32-candlepower electric lights. From the great flag were countless red, white, and blue streamers running in all directions and joining the colors which decorated the gallery. An immense eagle rested atop the great organ. Under it was the name UTAH electrically illuminated, The flag, when completed, required eight men to cany it. Ropes were sewed into the edges and it was elevated to within nine feet of the ceiling. The effect was wonderful! The band played "The Star Spangled Banner" as the new, forty-fifth star took its place. Twelve hundred other flags were used in the decoration of the tabernacle, and every child in the chorus carried a flag.64 All the restrictions placed upon the people by a territorial government were now void, and the people united to build a new state. They had a