Book of Mormon Testimony

 

Parley P. Pratt

I will tell [you] my brethren, when I was a lad just out of my teens—about 1830—I read a book that was but little known in the world, although now, probably, it is in half [a] dozen [of the] principal languages of the earth, and it was entitled the Book of Mormon, and had many predictions in it that are plain and easy to be understood, and the spirit and power of God bore witness to my heart of their truth. … Well now, these prophecies interested me I assure you. They made an impression upon my mind [that] never has been effaced. … I knew in me [in a way] that [would have] been no stronger if I had seen Jesus Christ in his glorified body and heard [the] same words from his own lips” (Oct. 31, 1852).

Dec. Ensign, 57.

Guardian Angels

Here is a great quote by Brigham Young at Mary Fielding Smith's funeral. What a treasure.

Brigham Young

The Lord watches over you. You need not suppose for a moment [that] the Lord’s eye [is] not upon you. The angels [are] round about you and they will take care of you, and you may be peaceful and contented. … Every good man and woman … [is] in the hands of [the] Lord. They are before him, his eye upon them, his angels round about them that they might endure afflictions, suffer pain [and] buffeting by Satan, pass through scenes of afflictions enough to wring their natural hearts out of them, comparatively. Yet God [will] take care of them” (Sept. 23, 1852, Mary Fielding Smith’s funeral).

December Ensign, 57.

Brigham Young's Beard Napkin

Brigham Young was a backwoods boy from upstate New York. He tried to keep himself neat and tidy at meals so he wore a beard napkin to keep from spilling his dinner.

Our granddaughter when to a birthday party at the Lion House, Brigham Young's former home and they were given a beard napkin for a gift.

John Taylor, Missionary

John Taylor had preached in some of the largest churches in Europe. During his mission to England and later to France, he spoke from any pulpit were the minister was agreeable. His courage was undaunted as he preached the gospel and converted many.

He had the privilege of dedicating the first working temple in northern Utah. He felt humbled and blessed to have that opportunity. Still thinking of missionary work, he said in his dedicatory prayer, "We dedicate [this house] that Thy servants may go forth to the nations of the earth endowed with power from on high . . . according to Thy word . . . that thy servants . . . may be saviors upon Mount Zion."

This servant of the Lord wore himself out in his service to his God.

An Angel Flying Through the Midst of Heaven

When John Taylor was a young boy, he saw an angel flying through the midst of heaven, taking a message to all the earth. Of course this was when he was a child before he joined the Church, so he didn't understand who the angel was or what the message was. But he never forgot the dream, and years later after he became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he knew the message was everlasting gospel found in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The Angel Moroni brought the message of The Book of Mormon back to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Image of the angel found on the original Nauvoo Temple.

Stealing Watermelons

One of the reasons Aurelia Spencer Rogers wanted to start the first Primary was because many of the young boys in Farmington, Utah were caught stealing watermelons from farmers' fields. The girls were hitching rides on the back of wagons.

Sister Rogers was concerned that the young people were not as righteous as they should be. She and Bishop John W. Hess contacted Eliza R. Snow who discussed the matter with President John Taylor. From these humble beginnings today's LDS Primary organization was born.

Pioneer Swim Suits

Swim suits in Brigham Young's day consisted of overalls for the boys and linsey woolsey dresses for the girls. The dresses were made out of heavy cotton and wool with pantaloons under the dresses.

Brigham used to take his kids out to the Great Salt Lake swimming. There is a big black rock out there and the boys used to change on one side and the girls on the other.

Try swimming in salt water in the heavy bathing suits they wore--quite an experience.