John Taylor Prophet
John Taylor (1808-1887) was the third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1880-1887).
Youth
John Taylor was born in 1808 in the Westmoreland area in North East England. His parents, James and Agnes Taylor were baptized in the Anglican Church shortly after his birth. At the age of 16 years ago, he left the Anglican Church to become a Methodist. The following year he was appointed exhortation, that is to say, a lay preacher in the Church, a rare responsibility for one so young. In 1830, parents of John Taylor and other members of his family emigrated to Toronto (Canada), leaving England to sell the farm and to settle other family matters. When he finished, he left England to New York. After a few months in New York, he joined his parents in Toronto, where he continued to be a member of the Methodist Church and began preaching. At that time, he met Leonora Cannon, also a fervent Methodist who had recently immigrated from England to Canada. They were married Jan. 28, 1833 in Toronto.
Conversion
During his stay in Canada, John Taylor joined a group of friends to study seriously the Bible and deepen their understanding of truth. It was at this time of intense spiritual searching that Parley P. Pratt, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , was sent on a mission to Toronto. He stayed and held meetings with a widow, close to John Taylor, and was introduced to friends of John Taylor who gathered to seek the truth. John Taylor began a careful study of the doctrine of the new church. He devoted himself for three weeks and followed Pratt in his travels. He noted and studied the speeches of Parley P. Pratt and compared them to Scripture. After a while, he was convinced of the veracity of the message of Parley P. Pratt. John and Leonora Taylor was baptized May 9, 1836.
Early ministry
Shortly after entering the church, John Taylor received the invitation to officiate as President of the Church in Canada, though with Office for just over a year. In March 1837 he went to Kirtland (Ohio), where he met Joseph Smith. He quickly formed between the two men a bond of friendship and trust that should never break.
Appeal to the apostolate
In fall 1837, John Taylor was called by Joseph Smith to settle in the Far West (Missouri), to fill a vacancy in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles (he was officially ordered in December 1838). As an apostle , John Taylor was a faithful companion and trusted by Joseph Smith. Franklin D. Richards of the Quorum of Twelve , said, about the friendship between John Taylor and Joseph Smith: "Very few men have reached the personal, warm, entertained and he reached with great success Joseph Smith the Prophet, until his death, and personal history of this disease was crowned by the balls he received in Carthage Jail with the Prophet " Witness the martyrdom of Joseph Smith The martyrdom of Joseph Smith was one of the most stressful of life of John Taylor. He went voluntarily to Carthage Jail where Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were jailed illegally June 25, 1844. Soon it became clear that the rioters of Carthage did not intend to release them and they were in danger. June 27, other members of the Church from Nauvoo to Carthage, took steps to try to get justice done. In the afternoon, there remained only the Apostle John Taylor and Willard Richards in prison with Joseph and Hyrum. Having planned to bring together brothers from Nauvoo to deliver the prophet Joseph, John Taylor said: "Brother Joseph, if you will allow and give your consent, in five hours I'll get out of this prison, although for this it must fall " . Joseph refused to act this way. During the afternoon of 27 June, a great sadness seized the four men. As John Taylor had a beautiful tenor voice, he was asked twice to sing the song "I met on my way" to make them cheer up. After he finished singing for the second time the song, a mob with blackened faces took to the stairs of the prison. Hyrum Smith and Willard Richards immediately leaned against the door with all their forces, to prevent them from opening. The first shots went through the door, Hyrum was hit and killed. The rioters continued firing and soon began to bring their guns through the door ajar. John Taylor began next door, and with a heavy cane, tried to deflect the cannon guns that pointed in the room. In this scene, the prophet Joseph, who had also tried to resist the rioters, "said John Taylor:" Well, Brother Taylor, do your best to distract them " . These were the last words he had heard of Joseph Smith. Aware that their position behind the door could not be maintained, John Taylor rushed to the window. As he was about to jump, a shot fired from inside the prison was struck in the left thigh. For a moment he lay slumped on the windowsill, and he would have fallen, but a shot fired from outside struck his watch in the pocket on his chest and made him fall back into the room. John Taylor tried to crawl under a bed that was in the room. Meanwhile, he was attacked by three other balls. One was lodged just below his left knee and was never removed. Another penetrated the palm of his left hand. A third bullet struck the muscle of his left hip and pulled several inches of flesh. Although seriously wounded and suffering greatly, he survived the attack and was later brought home to Nauvoo by several brothers. Moments after John Taylor was struck, Joseph Smith also tried to jump out the window, but it was immediately met and fell outside. When he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve , John Taylor dedicated his time and talents to the proclamation and defense of the Gospel. He used his talent for writing as editor of the Times and Seasons, the Wasp and Nauvoo Neighbor, all newspapers in Nauvoo. Later, when he presided over the Church in the eastern United States, he was editor and publisher of Mormon, weekly New Yorker, who presented the doctrine of the Church. His books include two commentaries Doctrine, The Government of God and An Examination Into year and Elucidation of the Great Principle of the Mediation and Atonement of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (A study and elucidation of the general principle of mediation and the atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ), published when he was president of the Church. His talents as a writer and editor, earned him the title "Defender of Faith" and "champion of truth" among Latter-day Saints. John Taylor made four full-time missions, two in Great Britain, one in France and Germany and one in New York. In all, he spent over seven years full-time mission. Thirty years before becoming president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , John Taylor was, as an apostle , missionary in France. It is October 7, 1849 John Taylor was called by Brigham Young to preach in France. May 4, 1850: He left New York. May 27, 1850: He arrived in Liverpool. June 18, 1850: He arrived in Boulogne-sur-Mer on the steamer " Emerald. " June 24, 1850: It is received by the mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, L. Fontaine, and obtained permission to preach. June 26, 1850: At dusk, he went with other missionaries in the north of the city on the beach. By standing in a circle they sing a hymn and kneel. John Taylor then made a prayer in which he devotes France to preach the gospel. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, we thy servants, we bow before you today, on this beach in the dark of night, away from the eyes of the world's children, and implore as our Father to spread your kindness on us. You've sent some of us here, by the mouth of thy servants, while we were in the Valley, deep in the West for us to leave our homes and come here to preach the gospel. We have always obeyed your word and we are here according to your command. Thou hast led us here safely, through mountains, deserts, plains, oceans and seas. Thou hast preserved plagues, epidemics, shipwrecks and wars. Our life was precious in your eyes and here we are monuments of thy mercy. Others are here with us, our brother Howells, who has been here before, and brothers of London, who left their friends to work in your vineyard. And, Holy Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ to give us the wisdom to present to the people your eternal principles of truth, to open the doors of salvation to this powerful nation, and we ask you , O Lord, help us in our endeavors and help us fulfill this calling we have received so that your glory be recognized, and we brought many to the knowledge of the truth. That thousands of souls in this country can rejoice in the fullness of the blessings of the gospel of peace. And we pray, O Father, that you instill in the hearts of the leaders of this country a sense of support to our work, so they do not obstruct our work, but we can present your speech in front of people all conditions and all ranks, honest hearts that come together to participate in these blessings thou hast revealed. And we ask you to take us the wisdom, intelligence and power of your Spirit, so that we can magnify our holy and great appeal. Give us your wisdom, that we know when to speak and when to keep silent, what principle of truth and show what else to keep us, so that neither by word nor deed, we are not a stumbling block for hearts honest that you seek. Forgive our sins, Holy Father, if we have sinned against you in words or actions. We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus, whom you have sacrificed to redeem us from our sins so that you do not remember ever against us. May we be granted the authority, wisdom and the Spirit of the Almighty, and lead us in dignity as a man of God, while we stay in this country. May we remain pure in body and spirit before you. We also ask you to bless our wives, our children and our families we left behind us. Ies-comforting in their loneliness. May your angels, O Lord, protect them by thy Holy Spirit. May you meet all their needs, so they do not miss the good things that will make them happy and comfortable. Ies protect the power of the destructive and evil men. We ask thee, O Father, bless Thy servant Brigham Young and his advisers. Ies clothe the power of your Spirit so that the revelations of the heavens were pouring in on them. Bless all your people in the Valley with the advice and authorities of your church. Bless your fathers who travel the world preaching your word. That all thy people may rejoice in thy salvation. That Zion is established in court, and that all nations come together under its aegis. And now, O Lord, we entrust ourselves to you, with our wives, our children and all we have and everything we are, we who are your children. We ask you your peace and blessings be with us, be upon us, now and forever, in Jesus name. 1 July 1850: It is the first public meeting in Boulogne-sur-Mer, 21 rue Montigny. About thirty people attending. July 19, 1850: He leaves for Paris and settled at 7 rue de Tournon (Sixth District) which will begin translating the Book of Mormon. He began to study French and to teach the Gospel. November 14, 1850: After being absent, he returned to Paris accompanied by Philippe de la Mare , converted to the island of Jersey. 1 December 1850: He baptized in the River Seine to the island of Saint-Ouen , Jean-Baptiste Wilhelm and his wife, Louis Bertrand (1808-1875, editor of the newspaper and communist Icarian ) and Mr and Mrs Squires and their nine year old son. December 8, 1850: He organized a branch in Paris with eight members. 1851: He spends most of the year 1851 in Germany where he organized the Church. December 20, 1851: He presides over Paris, the first district conference. During his stay in Paris, he is visited by the philosopher Louis Krolikowski , a disciple of the philosopher Charles Fourier and publisher of newspaper that defends the ideas of socialist tienne Cabet. The company that owns Krolikowski sent Cabet in Nauvoo with the Icarian French in order to create a community based on the principles of Fourier. At the request of Krolikowski, John Taylor explains the basic principles of the Gospel. At the end of this explanation takes place between them the following conversation: Krolikowski: Mr. Taylor, do you offer no other plan to improve the condition of humanity that baptism for the remission of sins? Taylor: That's what I propose. Krolikowski: Well I wish you much success, but I'm afraid you were going to fail. Taylor: Mr. Krolikowski, you sent Mr. Cabet Nauvoo some time ago. He was regarded as your leader, the man most talented as you. He went to Nauvoo soon after we have surrendered. You could buy houses and land for a pittance. Wealthy farms were abandoned and thousands of us there had left their homes and furniture, and almost anything that can promote the happiness of man that was there. It would have been impossible to go somewhere more favorable circumstances. Besides all the advantages of having everything available at hand, Mr. Cabet had a company of settlers handpicked. He and his group went to Nauvoo. What was the outcome? I read all your reports, those published in your newspaper here in Paris, continued to receive a cry for help. We still want him and more money! We need money to help us carry out our projects! As your colony in Nauvoo with all the advantages of our fields and our homes abandoned - they only needed to enter - it drags out a miserable existence, the Latter-day Saints, although stripped of everything they had and banished from civilized society in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains to seek such protection among savages that Christian civilization we refused, then our people have built houses, fenced land, cultivated gardens, built schools and organized a government and thrives in all the blessings of civilized life. Not only that, but sent thousands and thousands of dollars in Europe to help the poor afflicted to go to America where they could find asylum. The company I represent, Mr. Krolikowski, comes with the fear of God, the worship of the great Elohim, we offer the simple plan ordained by God, namely: repentance, baptism for the remission of sins and the imposition of hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our people have sought nor influence the world, nor the power of government, but he got both. While you, with your philosophy, independent of God, you tried to build a communist system and a government that you must open the millennium reign. In your opinion, what is better, our religion or your philosophy? In France, he became acquainted with the process of manufacturing sugar. Under his leadership, the necessary machines are purchased and sent to Utah. December 21, 1851: Following his mission to Europe, he left Paris for Utah. As an apostle and later as president of the Church, President Taylor urged continually Latter-day Saints to love and to strengthen their family. He recommended to the members of the church to reserve one evening a week to study the Gospel and have fun with your family. He promised them peace and love, purity and joy that would make ideal family life if faithfully applied the principle of a family home evening . In 1878, John Taylor officially organized the Primer , for more effective teaching of children in the church. In 1880 he became president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the most important works of his presidency was to bring order in the priesthood quorums and urge them to do their homework. He instructed the bishops to hold weekly meetings of the priesthood in their parish, and he advised the presidents of the pile to hold monthly meetings of the priesthood of the pile. It establishes conferences pile quarterly throughout the Church. Although the convictions of John Taylor were strong, he always respected and defended individual liberty. During his years in Nauvoo, when he was an apostle, he was called "the champion of freedom" and he continued to earn that title when he was president of the Church. At a time when the Latter-day Saints were an overwhelming majority in Utah, President Taylor did not cease to preach freedom of religion and freedom of conscience for all. He said: "We sometimes have very impetuous feelings toward people who do not think like us. They have the right to think as they see fit, and so are we. So if a man has different beliefs than me, that does not concern me. And if I do not have the same beliefs as him, this does not concern him. You protect a man with beliefs different from yours? Yes, until the end. He should perform the same justice to me, and then I would expect that my rights are protected " . To John Taylor, freedom was also important within the Church. During counseling, he always encouraged members to speak freely. While fully understanding the importance of unity, he believed that freedom was the means to achieve true unity. The Latter-day Saints practiced plural marriage since the days of Joseph Smith in Nauvoo. In the years 1860 and 1870, the U.S. government passed laws prohibiting plural marriage and refused statehood and other rights in Utah Territory and its citizens. Convinced that these laws were a violation of religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution, the Church used its influence to bring the case before the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1879, just two years after President Taylor took over leadership of the Church, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the federal law against polygamy in 1862. In 1882 and again in 1887, the U.S. Congress passed additional legislation that allowed the federal government to dissolve the church as a legal entity and confiscate all his property exceeding a value of 50,000 dollars (this which included four temples under construction, the Tabernacle, churches and many other goods). The law was intended to deprive members of the Church of their civil rights, including the right to vote. These measures gave legal means allowing the persecution of Latter-day Saints who practiced plural marriage. The Church made several court appeals, but without success. During the growing argument about polygamy, John Taylor learned that government officers were preparing to arrest him. he hid in various places in Utah, in the hope that the persecution of the church would fall. Although absent from public life, he continued to lead the Church by means of letters and oral instructions given to relatives in whom he trusted. Confinement, separation from family and friends and the tension caused by his responsibilities, however, began to weigh on him heavily. In early 1887, his health began to deteriorate. For several months he resisted the disease and told his relatives that he would recover soon, but in July it was evident that his condition was serious. On the evening of July 25, 1887, President Taylor died peacefully at Thomas Rouech in Kaysville (Utah). Author
Mission
Missionary in France
Designer's Family Night
Organization of the Church
Defender of Freedom
Test Period
Bibliography
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References
Preceded by John Taylor Followed by Brigham Young 
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1880-1887 Wilford Woodruff
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