Even though John loved teaching about Christ in the Methodist Church, he knew that there was something more he was to preach about. He and the people of his study group examined the Bible carefully. They wanted to find a religion that had apostles, prophets and the gift of the Holy Ghost – exactly the same organization Jesus had set up when He was on the earth. The study group fasted and prayed that God would help them, believing that the true church should have all the blessings Christ gave the early Saints.
The Methodist weren’t happy with this study group. The ministers told the study group that they could still be Methodists, but they couldn’t preach any more. The group continued to meet and fast and pray.
Elder Parley P. Pratt was called on a mission to Canada. Before he left, Heber C. Kimball blessed Elder Pratt that on his mission, “Many [would be] be brought to the knowledge of the truth . . . and from the things growing out of this mission, shall the fullness of the gospel spread into England.”
Joseph Smith
Prophet, Seer and Revelator
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Leonora Cannon
Leonora Cannon, a pretty English lady, belonged to the same church study group John did. Leonora had grown up in a privileged family and was chosen to be a companion to the wife of Lord Aylmer, Governor General of Canada. As companion to the governor’s wife, she had attended many social events of the upper class society of Canada. She was refined, very religious and well educated. She and John became friends and enjoyed talking about the Bible. John fell in love with her and asked her to marry him, but Leonora said no. She knew John would always work for a religious cause and wondered if she really wanted that kind of life. Besides, he was twelve years younger than she was.
John was disappointed; age and rank in society didn’t matter to him. He still saw Leonora at study group; she was beautiful. However, a short time later, Leonora had a dream where she saw herself with John. She knew the message came from God. Their courtship blossomed. John was in love and so was she. They were married January 28, 1833.
John was disappointed; age and rank in society didn’t matter to him. He still saw Leonora at study group; she was beautiful. However, a short time later, Leonora had a dream where she saw herself with John. She knew the message came from God. Their courtship blossomed. John was in love and so was she. They were married January 28, 1833.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Coming to America
Finally at the age of twenty-four, John was ready to leave for Canada. He heaved his trunk up on the ship’s deck and stood the near the railing. The crowd on the dock hunched their shoulders against the wind. Dark clouds blanketed the sky. As his vessel sailed out to sea, a great storm arose. Several boats were dashed to pieces in fierce winds, and the crew of John’s ship prepared for their craft to go down any minute. But John wasn’t worried. He knew Heavenly Father wanted him to preach the gospel in America. He had faith he would arrive safely.
John climbed onto the deck at midnight. Lightning crackled, shattering the sky with brightness. Rain and cold pelted him. The wind ripped at his clothes. Everyone else was afraid. But John said, “I felt as calm as though I was sitting in the parlor at home. I believed I should reach America and perform my work.”
Weeks later, John landed safely in New York harbor and then made his way to Toronto, Canada, where his parents lived. There he joined the Methodist Church and began to preach about Christ.
John climbed onto the deck at midnight. Lightning crackled, shattering the sky with brightness. Rain and cold pelted him. The wind ripped at his clothes. Everyone else was afraid. But John said, “I felt as calm as though I was sitting in the parlor at home. I believed I should reach America and perform my work.”
Weeks later, John landed safely in New York harbor and then made his way to Toronto, Canada, where his parents lived. There he joined the Methodist Church and began to preach about Christ.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
John Taylor comes to America
Preaching in America
I . . . believe in a religion . . . that I can live for or die for. . . . I would rather have God for my friend than all other influences and powers.
John finished his apprenticeship and came back to Hale to begin a furniture-making business. But in 1830 John’s parents decided to join many British citizens who were leaving England to start a new life in Canada. John’s father asked him to stay behind to settle the family business, which took him almost two years. John was disappointed because he was anxious to go to America, but he wanted to help his father so he stayed behind.
Finally at the age of twenty-four, John was ready to leave for Canada.
I . . . believe in a religion . . . that I can live for or die for. . . . I would rather have God for my friend than all other influences and powers.
John finished his apprenticeship and came back to Hale to begin a furniture-making business. But in 1830 John’s parents decided to join many British citizens who were leaving England to start a new life in Canada. John’s father asked him to stay behind to settle the family business, which took him almost two years. John was disappointed because he was anxious to go to America, but he wanted to help his father so he stayed behind.
Finally at the age of twenty-four, John was ready to leave for Canada.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
John Taylor's First Missionary Efforts
John’s zeal for missionary work extended beyond the youthful prayer group and long before he joined the Church. He became friends with an older gentleman who had a critical wife. The man attended church and prayed to be able to endure. When the man’s wife died, he married a kind woman who was easy to live with. Soon the man forgot the Lord and spent his time in the pubs, drinking heavily. John called him to repentance. The man felt ashamed and began to attend church again. He didn’t drink any more.
Because of John’s understanding of the Bible and his ability to preach, he was called as a local minister in a town several miles from Penrith. This was a great honor and responsibility for he was only seventeen and still working as an apprentice to a furniture maker. One Sunday while he and a fellow church member walked toward the town where he was to preach, John stopped on the road and told his companion, “I have a strong impression that I have to go to America to preach the gospel!” From that time on, John looked forward to life in the Americas.
Because of John’s understanding of the Bible and his ability to preach, he was called as a local minister in a town several miles from Penrith. This was a great honor and responsibility for he was only seventeen and still working as an apprentice to a furniture maker. One Sunday while he and a fellow church member walked toward the town where he was to preach, John stopped on the road and told his companion, “I have a strong impression that I have to go to America to preach the gospel!” From that time on, John looked forward to life in the Americas.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
John Taylor, the Writer
John developed a poetical gift early in his life. He wrote about “water nymphs playing with the clouds on mountain tops, frolicking with the snow and rain in rugged gorges, coquetting (flirting) with the sun and dancing to the sheen of the moon.”
Studying the Bible with great earnestness and searching for religious truth became a quest of John’s youth. At the age of sixteen, he left the Church of England to join the Methodists because he liked the commitment they showed to their faith and their emphasis on prayer. He prayed constantly in his heart.
Beautiful music played frequently in John’s head. “Often when alone, and sometimes in company, I heard sweet, soft, melodious music as if performed by angelic or supernatural beings.” He felt like he was never alone. God was leading him, teaching him as he studied about Christ. At times he saw “dreams and visions.”
John talked a group of friends into joining him in the fields each day for prayer. They came a few times but eventually quit. John was disappointed, but he soon turned his enthusiasm for religion to preaching to his friends about living a good Christian life.
Studying the Bible with great earnestness and searching for religious truth became a quest of John’s youth. At the age of sixteen, he left the Church of England to join the Methodists because he liked the commitment they showed to their faith and their emphasis on prayer. He prayed constantly in his heart.
Beautiful music played frequently in John’s head. “Often when alone, and sometimes in company, I heard sweet, soft, melodious music as if performed by angelic or supernatural beings.” He felt like he was never alone. God was leading him, teaching him as he studied about Christ. At times he saw “dreams and visions.”
John talked a group of friends into joining him in the fields each day for prayer. They came a few times but eventually quit. John was disappointed, but he soon turned his enthusiasm for religion to preaching to his friends about living a good Christian life.
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