| Show BIRTHDAY REUNION MESA Marlo opa county ariz july 29 2918 14 f yesterday a part of the farally family c patriarch benjamin F johnson 1100 th number of ef and thirteen friends we the family met in the grove ot of DOBI 9 M lie le barou baron in nodia ward to cals brate the seventy sixth birthday of t th patriarch the place was well ch chleo l beneath the dense foliage of the rich viohla laden fig whose second cro crop f the summer to ie now maturing 1 the trees are een been figi fig just bud budding digg some halt half grown and others abono abo rich purple hue proclaim their lundo ripeness A long table beneath afi spreading branches hold held a choice i past including apples and grapes a at the appointed time was surround pul by a host ready to do full I 1 ustice to viands A pleasing flight eight it was to c our patriarch looking hale and full T lifer life despite his 76 years yean surround by so go many of his bin children kra grao children and rest real grandchildren although many were unavoidably ab ia I 1 sent and by a few of hi his many amany friend fr lend hatt had it not been a family reunion grove would have been too maffi ma shelter belter his bia many friends lenda fr and there f fore a general invitation could not be ivri extended the table being cleared the family choir gave a greeting song gong followed by a short abort address from the Patri patriarch aro touching upon his bia childhood a aoel youth passed amid the sorrows cared and fires of persecution in ohio we mi and illinois A recitation id M costume by edgar le baron aged 6 45 A years was wae voted cute and was loved by a song by mrs mra janetta johns son the old man dreams 22 63 rendered and most 4 ate to the ocoa occasion sion responding to a call shirt addresses were made byl james H martineau bishop samuel Ba mireL openshaw Opens baw and J M crosby all bear ing testimony founded upon bainy ma iny years P personal knowledge of the a of brother johnson anil and hla N unswerving devotion to the caU 84 k of god during his hie sixty th three m i 3 years 1 membership in the ch 11 mrs mn chas chan hayden a visit visitor or bet invited to speak said she bad not no dy but sanctioned what had beena said alu and wished her bar friend might ahre web such birthdays four times a year delightfully rendered by the family famay choir at intervals inter vala added much to the general pleasure and not a feel I 1 log except that prompted by love or friendship hip was manifest at the con ehudin the patriarch bestowed a fatherly blessing upon all and we separated with a feeling that such ro re anions should hould be more frequent I 1 bink taink it well to give here a few incidents in the history of brother johnason Joha joh naon aon he received the gospel in tho the year 1881 and la is therefore one of toe 00 oldest members of the ch church ur ab and one alie of the few remaining who were intimate with the prophet joseph SWIM father smith toe the first fint twelve and the first elders of the church when the kirtland Hirt land temple was floie hedl the prophet invited U those who had labored upon if construction to come forward jend ad be blessed brother benjamin waw then blessed under the hands bands of the prophet being the youngest and jat one of all who were thus favored after years of persecution and sory colw when the saints had to leave jartis kirtland nd brother johnson with his other and sisters started for in zions camp and after a osne weary march came to spring iwo field til LIL many of the camp including indis his mother and family stopped berbon account of sickness but he went on an to adamandi ahman in at once identified with the times there he be was taken agnor and for sight eight days and nights kept onder guard in the open air in freezing weather with no belter no bed but some hazel and ad no bedding or overcoat jeered at and insulted by hii brutal guard his bis his threatened continually and with no one to share hie big borrows his bis integrity was put to aw ee verest toot test he was offered relee and aid honor if he would betray his brethren death if he would not the wretch who shortly before had bad at the 11 noti will mill massacre killed so an old foldier of eighty y years ears with a corn cutter cattoir threatened wit with h horrid oaths to CBS at him up piecemeal as he had the old blood still stained the piece of with which he be bad backed bim to pieces as he be lay upon the ground pleading for mercy prom from all this he was delivered by the power of bod in a marvelous manner through the prayers pray era of those the purpose at the suggestion of sister zina ma H Y smith then a young girl praying without ceasing night or day until goo the general in command allowed him to escape but this incident is worthy wormy a more complete record which it is la Is to be hoped patriarch johnson give to us at some future time wai he bore bis bin share of the sorrows of the saleta in their expulsion from mie spurt miri and illinois Illia and has been indefatigable in helping to settle utah and Ar arizona Ikena but we cannot touch farther now BOW upon all this today at 76 his faith trob Js in as firm arm as when confronting confront og death deam at the hands of a bloodthirsty mob loob unsolicited by anc have briefly reverted to a low few incidents in his life ats bel believing leIng it eminently proper that the trying brioc incidents through which many of the sainto gainte have pawed passed should be recorded and published publia bed that their children may emulate the faith and endurance of their parents very many of whom have now pawed passed beyond the rage of hireling priests and mobs J H MARTINEAU |
