Letters from my Great-Great Grandfather

Today I felt like posting two letters from my great-great grandfather, Warren Marshall Johnson, that mean almost as much to me as the scriptures. Whenever I feel like I have had a bad day or things aren't going as I had planned, I read these letters to give me perspective. I don't know why I feel impressed to share them, but for whoever may be blessed by them, here they are.

Lee’s Ferry, Arizona July 29, 1891

President Wilford Woodruff

Dear Brother,

It has occurred to me that you ought to know how affairs are going at this place, which is my excuse for intruding on your time, which I know is fully occupied with other affairs.

Last spring I divided my family, according to your counsel, a portion of them moving to Kanab for the purpose of schooling my children. In May 1891 a family residing in Tuba City came here from Richfield, Utah, where they had spent the winter visiting friends. At Panguitch they buried a child, and without disinfecting the wagon or themselves, not even stopping to wash the dead child’s clothes, they came to our house, and remained overnight, mingling with my little children, and the consequence was in 4 days my oldest boy of my first wife was taken violently ill with fever and a sore throat.

We knew nothing of the nature of the disease, but had faith in God, as we were here on a very hard mission, and had tried as hard as we knew how to obey the word of wisdom, and attend to the other duties of our religion such as paying tithing, family prayers, etc., etc., that our children would be spared. But alas, in 4 ½ days he choked to death in my arms. Two more were taken down with the disease and we fasted and prayed as much as we thought it wisdom as we had many duties to perform here. We fasted some 21 hours and I once fasted 40 hours, but all to no avail for both my little girls died also. About a week after their death my fifteen-year-old daughter Melinda was stricken down and we did all we could for her but she followed the others, and three of my dear girls and one boy has been taken from us, and the end is not yet. My oldest girl 19 years old is now prostrate with the disease, and we are fasting and praying in her behalf today. We have become better acquainted with the nature of the disease, than at first, and we are strongly in the hopes that she will recover, as two already have that came down with it. I would ask for your faith and prayers in our behalf, however. What have I done that the Lord has left us, and what can we do to gain His favor again?

Yours in the gospel

Warren M. Johnson

(Letter from Warren M. Johnson to Wilford Woodruff in Warren M. Johnson letter folder, LDS Church Historian’s Library. Jonathan died May 19; Laura Alice, June 11; Millie, June 15; and Melinda July 5, 1891, all of diphtheria.)

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Lee’s Ferry, Arizona August 16, 1891

Warren Foote, Dear Brother:

Your kind and welcome letter was received a very long time ago. I was surprised at receiving it, for I had no idea that any of my friends would take the trouble to write me during my affliction. Rest assured that I shall ever feel grateful to you for the words of comfort your letter conveyed to me. It seemed almost as though God had forsaken us, and that he had turned a deaf ear to our fasting and prayers and anointing and administering the ordinances of the gospel to the sick, for it was all of no avail, and four of my dear children are now lying in their graves. It is a fearful blow for us, for you know that ever since I heard the gospel, I have tried as much as the average of our brethren to live up to the principles thereof. I have tried to pay my tithing, obey the Word of Wisdom, attend to family devotions, and teach my children correct principles, and God promised if we would do so the destroyer should pass over us. There are unseen influences around us here, that are trying to cause me to lose faith in God, and to make me feel that there is no use for me to continue to pray, for He will not hear my prayers – that there is no use for me longer to obey the Word of Wisdom, or anoint with oil and lay on hands to rebuke disease, for the promise that when we do so they will recover does not apply to us. When I look around and see others that do not pay their tithing in full, use tea and coffee, tobacco, strong drink, etc., do not attend meetings only once in a while, do not have family prayers, etc., and they are blessed with their families in health, and plenty of this world’s goods to allow them to live at ease, it is hard indeed for me to see the hand of God in the death of my children, and especially, after obeying the call of the Priesthood in coming out here, and for sixteen years having one of the hardest missions that was ever the lot of a member of this Church to perform. You can imagine how I feel, as you know how I have tried to live, and the implicit faith I had in the gospel, and the promises of God to those who tried to be faithful. However, I feel this way only at times, for there are other spirits or influences around us that say to me, that God is the Father of the spirits of my children, and that He loves them as well as I do, and that He knows infinitely better than I do what is best for them and us. God said that He would have a tried people in the last days, and those who desire to do right will have to pass through greater trials than those who are not trying to reach the highest glory. Bro. Foote, I feel well, when I look at it in the above light and especially when I think of the influences we felt when my children were breathing their last, we could not feel bad, there was such a heavenly influence in the room. And also the looks of the children after death – almost a smile on their lips. I never saw anyone look as beautiful as they did after death. Joseph Stewart was here when Minda died, and several times he remarked, “She is as pretty as a doll.” I know they are happy now and I hope I shall not give way to the spirits of evil, but that I may live so that bye and bye I can go and dwell with them. I can assure you, however, that it is the hardest trial of my life, but I set out for salvation, and am determined through the help of my Heavenly Father to hold fast to the iron rod, no matter what trials may come upon me. I have not yet slackened in the performance of my duties, and hope and trust that I shall have the faith and prayers of my brethren that I may live so as to receive the blessings you, having authority, have placed upon my head. I often think how much better off I am today than when I lived on the Muddy, with no one but myself to look after, and I feel to thank God for all this. May God bless you Brother Foote in all your labors.

Yours in the gospel.

Warren M. Johnson
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When I think of the comparison between my hard days and his hard days, I am ashamed to think that I EVER complain. I will probably never face adversity like he did, so if I fail to hold to the rod, I will have no excuse at all.