The Story of John Tanner

John Tanner

The Man Who Saved the Kirtland Temple

About John Tanner

John Tanner was Born in Rhode Island in 1778.  He grew up to become a very wealthy entrepreneur, his riches equal to millions in the present day.  He was also a lay Baptist minister, and very educated about the Bible.  

His Conversion

John had a leg condition, in which he was afflicted with many open sores.  At the time, the diagnosis was considered a terminal illness, and there was no cure. The diseased leg tissue would soon afflict his whole body, leading to death.  With knowledge of his diagnosis, John set out to "do all the good he could." 

He had been hearing rumors about Mormons in the city, and decided he would go to one of their meetings to protect his Baptists brethren from the deceivers the Mormon missionaries surely were.  Despite his beginning, ominous thought about the Mormons, the Mormon elders, Simeon and Jared Carter, caught his attention. He ended bringing home a Book of Mormon from the meeting that night, declaring to his brethren, "you'd better not fight against the truth."

He then poured over the Book of Mormon, comparing its doctrine with the Bible.  The Spirit bore witness to John that it was a true record. 

His Healing and Baptism

Within a few days, the elders returned to John's home.  John wanted to be baptized, but he could not walk, and neither had he been able to put his necrotic foot on the floor for over six months.  John Tanner did not believe he could endure the pain of baptism, and was further saddened that he would soon die.  

Elder Jared Carter asked John Tanner, "Do you believe that Jesus Christ healed a crippled man at the waters of Bethesda?"

John answered, "yes, with all the certainty of my soul."  

Elder Carter continued, "and do you believe his apostles, Peter and John, healed a man, lame from birth, outside the walls of the temple?  If that priesthood power was part of the primitive church, would it not follow that it would be found in the restored church?  Do you have faith sufficient to be healed?"

John Tanner answered, "I do. Yes I do."

Elder Carter then commanded John Tanner, "in the name of Jesus Christ, to rise up, and walk."

In John Tanner's own words, he stated, "I arose, threw down my crutches, and walked the floor back and forth--back and forth, praising God, and I felt light as a feather."

Later that evening, despite not having put weight on his leg for six months, he walked the quarter mile to Lake George to be baptized by Simeon Carter.  

His Generosity and Saving the Kirtland Temple

He immediately became a giving church member, and gave everything he had.  Being extremely wealthy, had the ability to help many people.  Here are some of his sacrifices: He supplied his sons, and fifty men to go to Zion's camp, and paid to furnish 7 families headed to Kirtland.

In December, 1834, the church was in serious financial trouble.  The Kirtland temple, still being built, was about to be destroyed because of the mortgage payment on the lands were past due.  The Church had no way to pay for the Temple. In council, Joseph Smith and the disciples prayed that a way would be provided to keep the land. 

That night, John "received an impression by dream or vision of the night, that he … must go immediately to the Church”  He sold his property, consisting of 2 large farms, a hotel, several homes, orchards, a dairy, a sawmill, an island, and over 200 acres of timberland. He and his family left on Christmas day, in the middle of winter, and travelled the 500 hundred miles to Kirtland.  They arrived 25 days later, in January of 1835.  Had they arrived just a one day later, they Kirtland land would have been reclaimed.   John paid of the $2,000 dollars owed for the temple, as a loan for the Church, taking a note from Joseph.  He then donated $43,000 to the temple.

His family participated in the dedication, and testified of angles standing on the temple roof.

Through his giving and investing in the Church bank, his fortune dwindled down to a mere $7.50 in cash.  Still, he and his family followed the prophet and moved to Missouri with the Saints.

They suffered and experienced the persecutions with the Saints. John’s son Myron remembers going with his father to grind wheat for a hungry family.  On their way, John saw some of the state's militia in the distance, and he told his son to hide in the bushes.  A conflict began. One of the men his John in the head with his rifle, ripping open a gash to the bone.  This gave him "such a horrifying appearance" that he was let go.  One of this sons on guard duty that night said, “when I let my father through … I did not know him only by his voice as he was so covered with blood.”

His Mission

"At the April Conference, 1844, Father Tanner was called to take a mission to the Eastern States.  Before starting, he went to Nauvoo to see the Prophet, Joseph Smith, whom he met in the street. He held the Prophet's note for $2,000 loaned in 1835 [roughly 9 years previously], to redeem the Kirtland Temple farm, and in the course of the conversation he handed the Prophet his note.  The Prophet, not understanding what he meant by it, asked what he would have him do with it, and the Father Tanner replied: 'Brother Joseph, you are welcome to it,' The Prophet then laid his right hand heavily upon Father Tanner's shoulder and said: 'God bless you, Father Tanner, your children shall never beg for bread.'" This prophecy was fulfilled, and continue to be so.

The money donated to the church is estimated as present-day worth to be at least $500,000 to a couple million dollars.