The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-10-10
OBITUARY.


Father Joel NJ. johnson, who died
at Johnson, Southern tab, the oath
of September last, was the son of
Ezekiel and Julia Mills johnson. He
was born at Grafton, Mass, March
., 1902, consequently at the time of
his death he was 80 years and a lit
tie over months old.
He was baptized into the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
IN Amherst, Ohio, June /, 1881,
and was ordained an elder on the
10th of the following September.
His ability and zeal were soon after
recognized, by his appointment to
preside over the Amherst branch of
the church, consisting of about 100
members, He attended the first
October conference of the church.
1t was held in Orange township,
Ohio, in 1881, where he first saw the
prophet Joseph Smith, and at once
conceived for aim a strong personal
ATTACHMENT. Time strengthened
the assurance that he was sent of
God. It was the great business of
his life, for over fifty years, to bear
testimony OF the fact, and of the
divinity Of the latter-day work. In
1882, when on a mission to the state
of New York, he preached the Cos
pei to his relatives an baptized
his father, mother and several others
into the church. By the. eoun g /
of the Prophet Joseph, he moved to
Kirkland, Ohio, in 1888. He was
present when the foundation of the
Kirkland Temple was laid, and as
sisted by his labors in his construc-
ton. He was present when the
council of Twelve Apostles and the
tother various quorums Of the church
were organized. He attended the
dedication of the Lords house on
the 9th of March, 1896, and also the
meetings and councils that immedi-
ately followed. He saw and heard
the power Of God manifested as
mentioned in the history of Joseph
Smith. He was chosen a member of
the quorum Of seventies, and as an
elder Of the seventies performed
several important missions. He took
an active part in the exodus of the
saints from Kirkland in the spring
of 1928. With others he sacrificed
what could be spared from his own
necessities to take along the poor
who could not help themselves.
Being appointed to stop at Spring
field, Ills, and take care of the sick
whom it was necessary to leave, he
soon built up branch Of the church
there of some forty members. In
January, 1899, it was manifested to
him that he should remove to Garth
age, Ills. There he built up a branch
Of Fifty members, called the Crooked
Greek Branch. A stake of
the church was afterwards organ
lied there, over which he presided
for some time. He was eight miles
from Carthage on the memorable
9th of June when Joseph and
Hyrum Smith were slain in the
Carthage Jail. He shared with the
saints their sacrifices and losses in
Illinois. When driven from his
possession in Hancock County, he
removed into Knox County, and left
that place for Salt Lake Valley in
May 1S4S. He arrived in the valley
the 10th of the following October
He was elected a member of the
Provisional State of Deseret fol
1S49 and 1850. In the autumn Of
1850 he was selected, with many
others, to assist Apostle George A
Smith in forming a settlement il
Little Salt Lake Valley. He at once
lent all his energies to the work as
signed to him. Since then his inter
estS have been identified with south
ern Utah, He and his large, indus
| trious family have been an import
ant factor in its development. IL
| the early days of the organization o
| Iron County and the municipal gov
ernment Of the City of ParoWan, h
was at once recognized as a leading
man in developing the country, by
his election to the city council ant
1.-THE county court. He wa
Ealso appointed member O
the high council in the stake
AT the organization OF the Terri
tOrial Legislature at Fillmore, IL
| December, 1865, he was elected
chaplain of the House. He sooI
after performed a three years mis-
Ision to Iowa and Nebraska. He wa!
the author of many hymns and sen
timeatal songs. A few months be
fore his death he published Z small
volume of his hymns. He wa:
richly endowed with the spirit o.
the gospel, and taught its princi
piles in simple and pleasant style
| Hewas also the author Of a pamphlet
entitled a Voice from the Noun
tainS, which is an excellent testi
mony of the truths of the gospel
| His life's experiences taught hin
lgreat faith in God and his provi
Idences. For some years previous tt
his death he held the office of pa
triarch in the church. He was
earnest in his convictions, faithful
in the discharge of the duties O
life, and died with an assurance o
a glorious reSurrection.-CoM.