John Tanner and his family

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The Tanners Embrace Mormonism 51 some of the facts. But as a member of the family his most relevant and one is could story only wish his older brothers, had and John left their account. Here is Nathan's Joshua, Sidney have missed story: My father, through hardship that broke out in sores on and exposure, had contracted a disease leg, similar to fever sores. This had his troubled him for years, and finally became so bad that he was de­ prived of the use of it, and for months had not put it to the floor. He had a couple of doctors examine it, but they decided that the leg could not be saved, and must be amputated or it would prove his death. To this he could not consent, but said he and the leg would go together. At this he set out making arrangements to settle up his business affairs. He heard that a strange people called Mormons, who were going about turning the world upside down, going to preach about seven miles from where we lived. Fear­ that they might get away with some of the Baptist brethren, of whom he had the watch care, he had his horse and cart made ready; and he had to have his foot bolstered as high as his seat to keep the swelling from going into the foot. When he heard the Mormons, he found they had the truth, and he told his Baptist friends they had better not fight against it, lest happily find themselves fighting against God. were ing He bought a Book of Mormon and took it home with him. He heard Elders Simeon and Jared Carter preach. Elder Carter told him if he read the Book and believed it, he should see an alteration in his leg. He read the book over and over again and compared it with the Bible. When he had decided that it was the work of the Lord, he set his foot on the floor and ordered his horse and cart, and went to notify the people of a meeting at his house the next day. He was out five hours. Then the Elders came, and when they learned that father had made up his mind that the Book was what it represented to be, Elder Jared Carter asked him if he had seen any change in his leg. Father then remembered that when he decided that it was the work of the Lord, he put his foot down for the first time in months. Elder Carter then asked father if he would be afraid put his foot down if he [Carter] commanded him in the name of the Lord to rise and walk. Father did not reply, and the Elder said, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to arise and walk," to at the father time clasping his hand on father's shoulder. At this his feet. Said the Elder, "You need not be afraid to put down your foot. Remember, you do it in the name of the Lord." Father laid aside his crutch and walked back and forth from the front porch through a long hall and into a long kitchen. same arose to