Heber C. Kimball's Conversion and History

Heber C. Kimball was born in 1801, baptized in 1832, and ordained an apostle in 1835. He was a simple and unassuming man, but had a great gift - Brigham Young said once, "I am not a visionary man, neither am I given much to prophesying. When I want any of that done I call on brother Heber -- he is my Prophet, he loves to prophesy, and I love to hear him." (JD 1:132-3). This address by Elder Kimball was given on April 12, 1868, just a few months before his death, at a conference in Bountiful:


"I will now refer you to a little of my history. I was born in Vermont, and brought up very poor, and when nine years old I laid in my bed and in a vision saw those things that I have since passed through. Soon after I was baptized, brother Orson Pratt came to my house. I was standing in the door yard when he came in, and at the time I felt much of the holy Spirit upon me. I was then a potter at my wheel. While brother Pratt was talking with me a voice spake to him and said "Orson, my son, that man will one day become one of my apostles." I did not know this till afterwards. A voice also spoke to me and told me my lineage, and I told my wife Vilate that she was of the same lineage, and she believed it. I told her also that we would never be separated.

"I could tell you a thousand things that happened in that early day. I have been, as I have already told you, to where Adam offered sacrifices and blessed his sons, and I felt as though there were hundreds of angels there, and there were angels there like unto the three Nephites. I have also been over the hill Cumorah, and I understand all about it.

"I remember the time when I was baptized into the church, and how after I was baptized, Alpheus Gifford said he felt impressed to ordain me an elder. I was on my knees and jumped up and told him to hold on that I was not a learned man, and I thought that my ordination would injure the work. But presently the Holy Ghost came upon me till I thought that I should be burnt up. I could speak in tongues and prophecy, and I understood the scriptures.

"And now let me tell you that I was never made to die, that is spiritually; but that I am an inhabitant of this earth and will never destroy my right to it. It is my Father's and I know it, and His angels administer to men. This you can read in the Book of Mormon.

"Cleave now to the truth, and remember that a limb separated from a tree is not much, and so we are not much when separated from the truth. Therefore honor God and honor those you know; for if you do not honor those you know you will not honor God. If my children will not subject themselves to me they will not subject themselves to God; and so with our wives, they cannot honor God unless they honor us."


(_Journal of Discourses_, 12:191)
Compiled and written by David Kenison

Heber C. Kimball's Vision of the Restoration

It was the eventful night of September 22, 1827. Says Heber C. Kimball:


"I had retired to bed, when John P. Greene, who was living within a hundred steps of my house, came and waked me up, calling upon me to come out and behold the scenery in the heavens. I woke up and called my wife and Sister Fanny Young (sister to Brigham Young), who was living with us, and we went out-of-doors.

"It was one of the most beautiful starlight nights, so clear that we could see to pick up a pin. We looked to the eastern horizon, and beheld a white smoke arise toward the heavens; as it ascended it formed itself into a belt, and made a noise like the sound of a mighty wind, and continued southwest, forming a regular bow dipping in the western horizon. After the bow had formed it began to widen out and grow clean and transparent, of a bluish cast; it grew wide enough to contain twelve men abreast.

"In this bow an army moved, commencing from the east and marching to the west; they continued marching until they reached the western horizon. They moved in platoons, and walked so close that the rear ranks trod in the steps of their file leaders, until the whole bow was literally crowded with soldiers. We could distinctly see the muskets, bayonets and knapsacks of the men, who wore caps and feathers like those used by the American soldiers in the last war with Britain; and also saw their officers with their swords and equipage, and the clashing and jingling of their implements of war, and could discover the forms and features of the men. The most profound order existed throughout the entire army; when the foremost man stepped, every man stepped at the same time; I could hear the steps. When the front rank reached the western horizon a battle ensued, as we could distinctly hear the report of arms and the rush.

"No man could judge of my feelings when I beheld that army of men, as plainly as ever I saw armies of men in the flesh; it seemed as though every hair of my head was alive. This scenery we gazed upon for hours, until it began to disappear.

"After I became acquainted with Mormonism, I learned that this took place the same evening that Joseph Smith received the records of the Book of Mormon from the angel Moroni, who had held those records in his possession. John Young, Sen., and John P. Greene's wife, Rhoda [Brigham Young's sister], were also witnesses.

"My wife being frightened at what she saw, said, 'Father Young, what does all this mean?'
"'Why, it's one of the signs of the coming of the Son of Man,' he replied, in a lively, pleased manner.
"The next night similar scenery was beheld in the west by the neighbors, representing armies of men who were engaged in battle."

A wonderful foreshadowing, truly, of the warfare to be waged between the powers of good and evil, from the time Truth sprang from the earth and Righteousness looked down from heaven upon the boy Joseph, predestined to bring to light the buried records of the past.

(Orson F. Whitney, _The Life of Heber C. Kimball_, pp. 15-17; see also Tullidge, _Women of Mormondom_, pp. 107-109)

Compiled and written by David Kenison

Brigham Young's Vision of the Salt Lake Temple

On April 6, 1853, the cornerstone for the Salt Lake Temple was laid. As part of the general conference on that day, Brigham Young shared these remarks:

"Some will inquire, "Do you suppose we shall finish this Temple, brother Brigham?" I have had such questions put to me already. My answer is, I do not know, and I do not care any more about it than I should if my body was dead and in the grave, and my spirit in Paradise. I never have cared but for one thing, and that is, simply to know that I am now right before my Father in Heaven. If I am this moment, this day, doing the things God requires of my hands, and precisely where my Father in Heaven wants me to be, I care no more about tomorrow than though it never would come. I do not know where I shall be tomorrow, nor when this Temple will be done -- I know no more about it than you do. If God reveals anything for you, I will tell you of it as freely as to say, go to City Creek, and drink until you are satisfied.

"This I do know -- there should be a Temple built here. I do know it is the duty of this people to commence to build a Temple. Now, some will want to know what kind of a building it will be. Wait patiently, brethren, until it is done, and put forth your hands willingly to finish it. I know what it will be. I am not a visionary man, neither am I given much to prophesying. When I want any of that done I call on brother Heber C. Kimball -- he is my Prophet, he loves to prophesy, and I love to hear him. I scarcely ever say much about revelations, or visions, but suffice it to say, five years ago last July I was here, and saw in the Spirit the Temple not ten feet from where we have laid the Chief Corner Stone. I have not inquired what kind of a Temple we should build. Why? Because it was represented before me. I have never looked upon that ground, but the vision of it was there. I see it as plainly as if it was in reality before me. Wait until it is done. I will say, however, that it will have six towers, to begin with, instead of one. Now do not any of you apostatize because it will have six towers, and Joseph only built one. It is easier for us to build sixteen, than it was for him to build one. The time will come when there will be one in the centre of Temples we shall build, and, on the top, groves and fish ponds. But we shall not see them here, at present.

(Journal of Discourses, 1:132-133)

Compiled and written by David Kenison

Anthon H. Lund Protected as a Missionary

Anthon Lund was born in Denmark in 1844. He joined the Church in 1856 and emigrated in 1862. He married and had nine children; and returned to his native Denmark to serve as mission president. In 1889 he was ordained an apostle, then returned to Europe from 1893 to 1896 to preside over the European mission. He died in 1921. This story was shared during a sermon at his funeral:

"Brother Lund had on one occasion obtained permission to hold a meeting in a town where it had hitherto been impossible to make an opening. The meeting was appointed for the next Sunday; and in company with a couple of Elders, Brother Lund went there. On entering the town they were warned not to go to the meeting, as the mob would disturb the meeting, and they had given the blacksmith, the bully of several parishes, all the liquor he would drink in order to get him to pound the "Mormon" Elders. They thanked their informant, but said they must honor their appointment.

They found the house full of people and great numbers outside that could not get in. The meeting was opened, and in stalked the blacksmith. Brother Lund said when he saw him, he thought he was a very Polyphemus [the great Cyclops in Greek legend]. He had only one eye, a sinister look, and fists like sledge hammers. They prayed earnestly that God would overrule the plans of the wicked.

The advent of the blacksmith was the signal for disturbing the meeting and some commenced calling the Elders liars, etc. The blacksmith arose to his feet when he heard the interruptions, and slowly eyeing the audience he said: "I want you all to understand that these are men of God, and they speak his word pure and simple. If any one again interrupts them he shall feel the weight of this," showing his large fist.

The crowd did not know what this meant; he had drunk their liquor and promised to thrash the Elders; he must be joking. A loudmouthed fellow commenced again calling the Elders opprobrious names, when the blacksmith elbowed his way through the dense crowd, and taking hold of the disturber he threw him out of the door.

This settled it. For two hours the Elders preached to the congregation and the one-eyed giant stood guard as a policeman; but as soon as the meeting was dismissed, he seemed to realize that he was on the wrong side, and he commenced to be ugly and wanted to quarrel with the brethren, but they got away as quickly as possible. Brother Lund was the last to leave, and he heard those behind say to those in front of him, "Give him a diff!" But Brother Lund nodded politely to the crowd as he passed through and got away unhurt.

Some of those present have since come to Utah and have informed Brother Lund that even the man who opened his house for the meeting was in the conspiracy against the Elders. The Elders felt that their prayers were heard in an almost miraculous manner."

(J. M. Sjodahl, "Memorial Address at Funeral Services of Anthon H. Lund," pp. 12-13)

Compiled and written by David Kenison

Israel Barlow: The Holy Ghost Kept Him Safe

Israel Barlow was born in 1806 in Massachusetts. He was baptized in 1832, and was part of Zion's Camp. He was ordained a seventy in 1835 by Sidney Rigdon, and was later listed as being the president of the 6th Quorum of Seventies. He is also noted as the first Church member to consider settling the Saints in Nauvoo, when he chanced upon the land in 1838 as he was fleeing Missouri from the extermination order of Governor Boggs.

Israel also became a trusted bodyguard of the Prophet Joseph Smith. His grandson described an event that took place shortly before the martyrdom, when persecution of the Saints around Nauvoo was severe. On one occasion, Joseph requested Israel to go on horseback and deliver a message to a brother who lived in one of the more hostile areas, and to observe conditions during his journey.
The Prophet gave very specific instructions to Brother Barlow: which day to leave, what time, what route to follow, etc. He was further told to accept the hospitality when he arrived at the destination, but not to spend the night in spite of their urgings - to leave in the evening, and then to "listen to the direction of the Spirit." Otherwise, his life would be in jeopardy.

Brother Barlow arrived safely and delivered the message. His grandson recorded what transpired as he started on his return:

"He left promptly at sundown and rode along the country road until it became dark. Just before he came to the river bridge, a voice said to grandfather, "Ride faster." He sped up his horse and the voice repeated again, with more emphasis, "Ride faster." Again he increased the speed of the animal when the voice said to him: "Ride for your life." He then sped for all the animal's strength. As the horse's feet clattered across the bridge he could hear the mob, which had gathered in the brush to intercept him, cursing at the top of their voices.

"He had crossed the bridge but a short distance when the voice said to him: "Turn to the right," and he turned his horse off the road into the brush toward the river. There he stood in silence as the mob, who had mounted their horses, came racing over the bridge at break-neck speed, and down the road they went, supposedly after him. After they had gone by he wound his way from the river's edge to the bed of the stream, and on through the willows. In the darkness he made his way along the river in the opposite direction from which the mob had expected him to go. Finally when he thought it was safe, several miles away, he emerged from the river and made his way over the country back into Nauvoo, just as the day was breaking.

Returning to Nauvoo, Israel found Joseph Smith pacing the street in front of his home. He started to share his adventure with the Prophet, but Joseph stopped him and said he already knew everything that had transpired:
The Prophet told him that he had been up all night, waiting for his return, and stated "I saw it all, you have no need to tell me." Thereupon the Prophet laid his hand upon grandfather's shoulder and gave him a blessing and said: "Thee and thine shall never want."

(See _Our Pioneer Heritage_, 19:324; _Faith Like the Ancients_ 1:196-7)   

Compiled and written by David Kenison

The Home Teacher to Joseph Smith

At age seventeen, William F. Cahoon was appointed a ward teacher. His duty like all ward teachers was to visit the members of the Church, ask them certain designated questions and report back to the officers of his quorum. The following was related by William F. upon the occasion of bearing his testimony. He is speaking of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

"Before I close my testimony concerning this good man (Joseph Smith), I wish to mention one circumstance which I shall never forget. I was called and ordained to act as a ward teacher to visit the families of the Saints. I got along very well until I was obliged to pay a visit to the Prophet. Being young, only 17 years of age, I felt my weakness in the capacity of a teacher. I almost felt like shrinking from my duty.

"Finally, I went to the door and knocked and in a minute the Prophet came to the door. I stood there trembling and said to him; "Brother Joseph, I have come to visit you in the capacity of a ward teacher, if it is convenient for you". He said, "Brother William, come right in. I am glad to see you. Sit down in that chair there and I will go and call my family in." They soon came in and took seats. The Prophet said, "Brother William, I submit myself and family into your hands," and took his seat. "Now, Brother William", said he, "Ask all the questions you feel like."

By this time my fears and trembling had ceased and I said, "Brother Joseph, are you trying to live your religion?" He answered, "Yes." I then said, "Do you pray in your family?" He answered "Yes." "Do you teach your family the principles of the gospel?" He replied, "Yes, I am trying to do it." "Do you ask a blessing on your food?" He said he did. "Are you trying to live in peace and harmony with all your family?" He said that he was.

I turned to Sister Emma, his wife, and said, "Sister Emma, are you trying to live your religion? Do you teach your children to obey their parents? Do you try to teach them to pray?" To all these questions she answered, "Yes, I am trying to do so."

I then turned to Joseph and said, "I am now through with my questions as a teacher and now if you have any instructions to give, I shall be happy to receive them." He said, "God bless you Brother William, and if you are humble and faithful you shall have power to settle all difficulties that may come before you in the capacity of a teacher." I then left my parting blessing upon him and his family, as a teacher, and departed.

(Juvenile Instructor, Aug 15, 1892, 28:492-3; and in "Reynolds Cahoon and His Stalwart Sons" (1960), p. 79)