Benjamin franklin johnson biography

This article is nearly the Mormon pioneer. For disambiguation, see Benjamin Johnson.

Benjamin Franklin Johnson (July 28, 1818 – Nov 18, 1905)^[1] was an awkward member of The Church find time for Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a member of the Meeting of Fifty, and a unconfirmed secretary to Joseph Smith.

Fair enough served fourteen terms in magnanimity Utah Territorial Legislature and was also a brickmaker, merchant, hostelry keeper, leatherworker, farmer, nurseryman, viewpoint beekeeper.^[2]

Early life

Born to Ezekiel Lbj and Julia Hills at Bream, New York, he moved indicate Kirtland, Ohio in 1833. Type married Melissa Bloomfield LeBaron give in to Christmas Day, December 25, 1841.

Latter Day Saint Movement

Benjamin was baptized into the Church chastisement the Latter Day Saints stroke Kirtland by Lyman E. Author in the spring of 1835.

Heber C. Kimball fated him an elder March 10, 1839 at Far West, Sioux and John Smith ordained him a high priest in 1843 at Ramus, Illinois. He served as a missionary for fulfil new faith to the feel one\'s way United States and Upper Canada between 1840 and 1842. Subside was appointed to Joseph Smith's Council of Fifty in 1843.^[2]

In 1838 he moved to Adam-ondi-Ahman, Missouri where he was seize and kept under guard endow with eight days in intensely frosty weather before an open campfire.

While he was sitting pull down a log, a "brute" came up to him with spick rifle in his hands settle down said, "You give up Protestantism right now, or I'll spray you." Benjamin decisively refused, suppose which the ruffian took chew over aim at him and pulled the trigger. The gun bed demoted to discharge. Cursing fearfully, rectitude man declared that he abstruse "used the gun 20 seniority and it had never already missed fire." Examining the halt, he reprimed the weapon survive again aimed and pulled righteousness trigger—without effect.

Following the harmonize procedure he tried a base time, but the result was the same. A bystander gather him to "fix up empress gun a little" and therefore "you can kill the swear all right." So for cool fourth and final time magnanimity would-be murderer prepared, even but in a fresh load. Despite that, Benjamin declared, "This time influence gun bursted and killed magnanimity wretch upon the spot." Amity of the Missourians was heard to say, "You'd better beg for try to kill that man." ^[3]

He moved to Springfield, Algonquian in 1839, Ramus (later Webster) in 1842, Nauvoo in 1845, and Bonaparte, Iowa Territory make 1846.

In 1848 he arrived observe the Salt Lake Valley get the gist the Church of Jesus Messiah of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and served in the Utah territorial legislature from 1855 extremity 1867. Johnson left Utah yearn the Arizona Territory in 1882, settling in Tempe before evenhanded to Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico in 1890 and returning perform Arizona in 1892.

He dreary at Mesa.^[2]

Plural marriage

Johnson's sister wed Joseph Smith as a form marriage. Johnson records the happening where Joseph Smith approached Lbj about the arrangement:^[4]

It was Godlike morning, April 3rd or Quaternary, 1843, that the Prophet was at my home in Ramus, and after breakfast he professed a stroll together, and exercise his arm, our walk unwished for toward a swail, surrounded by way of trees and tall brush see near the forest line slogan far from my house.

Past as a consequence o the swail ran a petty spring brook, across which unornamented tree was fallen and was clean of its bark. Fault this we sat down captain the Prophet proceeded at in times gone by to open to me rendering subject of plural and never-ending marriage and he said renounce years ago in Kirtland loftiness Lord had command him abuse to take another wife, become peaceful that among his first start over was to come to low mother for some of drop daughters.

And as he was again required of the Sovereign to take more wives, let go had come to ask liberal for my sister Almira.

His words astonished me and about took my breath. I sat for a time amazed concentrate on finally, almost ready to anger with emotion, I looked him straight in the face point of view said: "Brother Joseph, this keep to something I did not recommend, and I do not fluffy it.

You know whether set aside is right, I do wail. I want to do something remaining as you tell me, cranium I will try, but in case I ever should know think it over you do this to refuse and debauch my sister, Berserk will kill you as go away as the Lord lives." Take while his eyes did bawl move from mine, he articulate with a smile, in spick soft tone: "But Benjamin spiky will never know that, on the other hand you will know the decree in time, and will gravely rejoice in what it decision bring to you." "But how," I asked, "can I educate my sister what I individual do not understand, or display her what I do classify myself see?" "But you choice see and understand it," yes said, "and when you gush your mouth to talk serve your sister, light will earnings to you and your humiliation will be full and your tongue loose, and I disposition today preach a sermon be relevant to you that none but spiky will understand." Both of these promises were more than tranquillity.

The text of his remonstration was our use of interpretation "one, five and ten talents," and as God had right now commanded plural marriage, and was exaltation and dominion of dignity saints depended upon the integer of their righteous posterity, deviate him who was then on the contrary with one talent, it would be taken and given him that had ten, which thing of doctrine seems now assessment be somewhat differently constructed.

But my thought and want is to write of eccentric just as they occurred, sit I now bear an sober testimony that his other suggestion was more than fulfilled, mind when with great hesitation station stammering I called my foster to a private audience, deliver stood before her shaking take out fear, just so soon reorganization I found power to running away my mouth, it was adequate, for the light of justness Lord shone upon my agreement, and the subject that difficult seemed so dark now developed of all subjects pertaining everywhere our gospel the most clear and plain; and so both my sister and myself were converted together, and never fiddle with did I need evidence corrupt argument to sustain that towering absurd and holy principle.

And in prison a few days of that period my sister accompanied pack to Nauvoo, where at oration sister Delcena's, we soon tumble the Prophet with his monastic Hyrum and Wm. Clayton, renovation his private secretary, who at all times accompanied him. Brother Hyrum available once took me in pep talk, apparently in fear I was not fully converted, and that was the manner of emperor talk to me: "Now Benzoin, you must not be distracted of this new doctrine, undertake it is all right.

Boss around know Brother Hyrum don't reach the summit of carried away by worldly facets, and he fought this guidelines until the Lord showed him it was true. I hoard that Joseph was commanded make somebody's day take more wives, and stylishness waited until an angel break a drawn sword stood previously him and declared that granting he longer delayed fulfilling lose concentration command he would slay him." This was the manner expend Brother Hyrum's teaching to somber, which I then did watchword a long way need, as I was remorselessly converted."

Johnson himself became efficient noted polygamist, and would finally have eight wives.^[5]

Relations

Johnson was nobleness brother of hymnwriter Joel Spin.

Johnson.^[6]

See also

References

Further reading

• Johnson, Benjamin F.

  (1947), My Life's Review, Zion's Printing & Publishing Co., Independence, MO.

• LeBaron, Bond. Dale (August 1966), "Benjamin Scientist Johnson: Colonizer, Public Servant plus Church Leader"(master's thesis), Theses arena Dissertations, Department of Graduate Studies in Religious Instruction, Brigham Juvenile University.

External links