Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-01-17
ELDER THOMAS DAY.


Editor Deserct Nol0s'
CIRcLEvILLE, Pluto county, Utah,
Ian, 1898. 1t 10 with sense oil loss
and Ioneliuess that we hereby inform
lie readers Of your periodical VI the
death OF Elder Thomas Day, whose
wide circle of friends are doubtless
numbered amoug your most faithful
readers, He has been 70 faithful anu
Jealous In laboring for the Church anu
epread Of the Gospel that we cannot
feel 10 u usurpatiOn TO beg for little
space in which to record brief skotch
OF his career. ,
Thomas Day WAS born near Wolver-
hampton, Staffor iahire, England, sep.
End isli and his demise occurred Jan.
9th 1898. When quite young, ms
father took him out for a walk one
sabbath day, on the green hillside near
their home and In the olu chutcn
yard. Pointing 10 the chutun, 'ne
iather remarked, my son, i snuI
never enter that building before i nh
carried thith.r; do not neiieve IN ,ne
creed taught there, nor, lnueeu, IN unn'
OF any other church. oen' We INV"
aver tbnt the true Gorpel OF Jesus
viii he giyon to the world in the
future" ,,
The young man became somewhat
given 10 convivlal companionship and
Contracted the usual habits. though to
noexcess. But low wages In the fac
tory I'm witch he worked, the strike OF
hisfellow laborers In which he became
unyllubgly Involved, the caro- OF u
widowed mother and three sistere, the
anxiety OF government officials TO
enlist him In the army, (for he was
unusually tall and straight,) the hnal
bankruptcy o. his employers and mt
length n serious illness, all emoothed
down the rough diamond to gentle and
aober thought His wild companions,
In n fit Of extraordinary iollity, took
down fence aud laid II IN the way OF
tho stage. The daring jewellers were
spprehbndej, tried and sent 10 prison.
Thomas Day had escaped the fun and
It's consequences through n spell OF ILL.,
ness, but sense OF the evil that "might
have BEEN" became n medicine, he
forso0k tobacco, whisky and his chums,
and turned away from every maynard
habit OF which he had been guilty.
He began to search among thu various
scots for the truth-dear, bright, beau
i.iul Truth, whom many have loved
aud sought,
and iavlshod iifo's best oil,
Amid the dust OF books TO Ind her,
Content at last, for guerdon Of their toll,
With the cast mantle Sue had left behind
her.
Our subject at FIRST believed that he
had found her among the American
Mothoiists AMI became ut frat exhort-
or, then local preacher In that church.
He met, loved and married n young
widow Of quiet, loving, lovable ways,
named Ann Andrus Danks. Having
heard the new doctrine restored
through Joseph Smith, which had, ut Its
frat sound, penetrated their hearts, the
husband desired 10 embrace the new
faith, but the gentle, shrinking wife
became alarmed at the persecution and
prescription that she saw would follow.
Her peruuasions disarmed him and he
falteTed. But one evening the Spirits
voice became too strong for resistance;
lie quietly slipped through the back
dGOt lest "wee wifie"should take notice,
aud les. hor gentle persuasions and sEd
telfs should again unman him, he was
baptized Sept. 4, 1872 without her
knowledge. After long conversations
and prnyeriul iorethought sho followed
his example ten days later. The happy
zeal that kinJlod Ia their hearts
brought forth fruits OF salvation 10
others OF their friends.
Now followed the fruits Of obedience
TO Christ: persecution borne with meek
meas; healing by administration from
sickness that almost threatened death,
and that peace that ilows from God to
the forgiven soul that honestly and
zoalously strives and hopes to remain
faithful. He was soon ordained 20 tho
priesthood md then followed u call TO
preach the Gospel. Few have responded
la "A aipnllur coll uulll al
During this mission he labored In
bennington, Oxfordshire, Northamp.
tonshire and Leicestcrshire. He raised
up numerous branches and was fire..
quently very successful In making con-
yeTts. Sometimes challenged to dis.
cushions, he came of with flying cIlors
aud with added followers; sometimes
summed ms Mormon anu sutferingall
the evils OF persecution; now be.
irlended by some kind soul tor he
travelled without purse or scrip and
again turned away in stormy night,
hungry, cold and weary. Distress
reached him In the death Of his wife
aud only child. But he labored on and
brought many to the fold and performed
miracles of healing IN His name.
When released, he had spent seven
years rs a missionary--from the year
1872 until December, 1870. o. these,
Tour years were spent In aud around
Rugby, where he was presiding
Elder, and he left there branch Of
sevenly-eix members.
On boarding the Josiah Bradlee on
Feb. LIST, 1850, no was ordained by
Ofson Pratt to preside over tho Saints
That were TO emigrate on that vessel.
The landing was made In safety at
New Orleans, April IS, 1861. When
he came TO the states, he made his
home in Iowa. Having married
again, he settled In Sprlngvllle branch
where he was ordained counselor to
the president. He also filed there the
otiice OF home missionary In five
branches. He enjoyed the smiles OF
fortune and wal becoming comfortably
situated when Ezra +. Benson called
Nun TO remove, with q number OF
ether Saints, to Utah. He responded
promptly and on September 0, 1852,
waved hts hat aud shouted, "nurrah
lor Salt Lakew us he entered the
valley. His wife queried, "where is
me clty2" He replied, "don't you see
mat little white house on tho hili?O
ne was present on the 18th OF Feb,
1908 at the ceremony OF breaking the
ground for the laying OF the founda-
Won OF tho Temple, and afterwards
worked great deal on the preparation
anu i0undntion Of that glorious edifice.