John Tanner and his family

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52 John Tanner and His Family All this time he wept and praised God for his mercy in bringing the gospel and its attending blessings. The next day my mother and myself were baptized. This being the first case of healing that we had ever seen, it caused a wonder and surprise, and the news went far and wide. fater, Nathan then adds, "The fore-going circumstances occurred on or about the 10th day of September, 1831, a little more than a year and five months after the organization of the church." Here Nathan's memory is not exact. The baptism took place September 17, 1832, as will be shown later in the chapter. Fortunately there is a short account of the foregoing events as told by Elizabeth Beswick, John's third wife, whom he married in 1825. Her story runs from the time of her marriage until the Tanner reunion at Payson, Utah, 1884. Her account of the conversion and healing follows: I was raised near Bolton, N. Y. on the banks of Lake George. In November 1825, at the age of twenty, I was married to John Tanner whose wife had died leaving him with a large family of children. [Elizabeth was nearly twenty-two at the time of her marriage.] He had a comfortable home and was considered a wealthy man in that part of the country. In the winter of 1832-33 [Correct date Septem­ ber 1832], Elders Simeon and Jared Carter came to our house to preach the gospel. Shortly after other elders came, but Mr. Tanner did not think much about their doctrines until the death of one of our neighbor's children when one of them preached the funeral sermon. Some of our neighbors joined the church and we attended some of the meetings. He was a man given to hold his opinions strenuously and not easily led by new doctrines. Our sectarian neigh­ bors made considerable stir and attracted Mr. Tanner's attention through their controversies. He told them at the time that if the principles were of God they would stand, if not they would fall to the ground. In the meantime he had been afflicted for several months with a sore leg. He had to ride when he went out and carry his leg on a pillow, not being able to put his foot on the ground and many thought he would lose it. Bros Jared and Simeon Carter visited him one day and after talking with him awhile administered to him and commanded him to arise and walk, which he immediately done throwing away his crutches and never using them any more. The following day, September 17, 1833 [Should be 1832] we were both baptized in Lake and George