| Show FATHER JOEL JOELE H JOHNSON A ACCOUNT OF HIS caler CAMER father joel H johndon John gon pon who died at johnson southern utah september jtb was ho the son of ezekiel JEze kiel klel and julia julla hills johnson he was born bom at grafton mass march 1802 1803 consequently at the time of 0 his death ho he was wa eighty years and six eix months old ho has baptized into tho the church of jesus christ of latter iatter day saints in amherst Am herst herat ohio june 1831 i and was ordained an elder on the loth loh of the fol sol following lawing september his abl ability ty and zeal were soon after i wards warda recognized by hla bla appointment to preside over the amherst branch bratich of the church consisting of about one hundred mem members bera he attended the bonfe conference rence of the church it was held beld in orange township ohio in 1831 1631 there he be first saw the prophet joseph smith and at once conceived for him amstrong personal attachment time strengthened the assurance that he wail was sent of god it was the great business of his hla life for over fifty nitty sears years to bear testimony ol 01 that fact and of the divinity of tho the latter iatter day work word in 1832 when whon on a mission to the state of now YO rk he preached ed the gospel to his relatives and baptized baptised ged sed his father fathers mother and several others othora into the church by the counsel coandel of the prophet joseph he removed to uirt Kirt kertland lands ohio in la 1833 he W wab was present when the foundation of the kirtland temple was laid and assisted by his labors in its construction t he wah was when the council of tha tho twelve apostles and the other various quorums of the church were organized he attended tho the dedication of the lords house on tho of march 1830 1836 and also the mee meetings tinga and councils that immediately followed he saw baw ealand and heard the power of god manifested manifest td ag as mentioned in the history of joseph smith ho was wms chosen a member of the quorum of seventies and in his call ing t as an elder at 0 thel tho beyen Bayen performed several important missions ha he took an active part in the exodus of tho the sainta saints from kirtland in the spring of 1838 1938 with others he sacrificed what could bo be spared from his own necessities 0 tale aloag the poor who 1 1 could collid not help themselves being appointed to stop at springfield illinois and take care of the sick whom it was necessary to leave he soon built up a branch of the church there of about forty members in january 1839 it was manifested to him that ho he should remove to Cart carthage hage hago illinois Illi nod noi there he built up a branch of fifty members called the crooked creek branch branich A stake of tho the church was afterwards organized there over which he be presided for some time he re wits eight miles from carthage Cart hago on the memorable of june 1844 1841 when joaeph joseph and hyrum smith were martyred marty red by a mob in carthage jail he shared with the saints in their sacrifices and losses in ilij 1111 illinois nota nola when driven from his possessions in hancock Hancoc te county illinois lie moved into knox county and aud lett left that place foz for fo salt lake valley in may 1848 1813 he ho arrived juthe inthe valley on the of the rol Tol lowing october he was elected a member of the L legislature of the provisional state of deseret for 1849 1840 and 1850 in the autumn of 1850 hoaas he was selected with many others to assist apostle george georgo A smith in forming a settlement in little salt lake vailey valley he at once bent all his energies to the work assigned him since then his interests have been identified with southern utah ha he and his largo large industrious family have been an important factor in its development in the early days of the organic tion of iron county and the municipal gove ament of carowan parowan Pa rowan ho he was at onea onca recognized as a lea lin jin ling g man mau in developing the tha country by hia election to the olty city council and county court ho he wag waa also a appointed P a member of tho the high council of the stake state at the organization of the territorial cegla legislature at fillmore in december 1855 1955 he was elected chaplain of the house bouso he soon afterwards filled a three years mi mission selon to iowa and nebraska I 1 he hels is theauthor the author of many hymns and sentimental bongs songs A few months before his dealu ho he bullish ed a small volume of his hymns they are richly endowed with the spirit of the gospel and teach its principles in a simple simpie and pleasant ant style he is also the author of a pamphlet entitled A bolea from the mountains which is an excellent testimony of tho the truths of the gospel ills his lifes lifers experiences taught him great faith in god gad and and his pro v eidenas for bome borne years previous to his death he held tha office of a patriarch in the church ho was earnest in his convict conviction Ione lone faithful in the discharge of the tha duties of life and died w ath th an a assurance of a glorious resurrection |
