John Tanner and his family

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80 John Tanner and His F amity in the morning, and the Spirit through the night. and visions of God attended me 24 When the Twelve and the Seven Presidents were through with their sealing prayer, I called upon President Sidney Rigdon to seal them with uplifted hands; and when he had done this, and cried hosannah, that all the congregation should join him, and shout hosannah to God and the Lamb, and glory to God in the highest. It was done so, and Elder Roger Orton saw a mighty angel riding upon a horse of a flaming sword in his hand, followed by five others, en­ circle the house, and protect the Saints, even the Lord's anointed, from the power of Satan and a host of evil spirits, which were striv­ 25 ing to disturb the Saints. fire, with President Frederick G. Williams arose and testified that while Presi­ dent Rigdon was making his first prayer, an angel entered the window and took his seat between Father Smith and himself, and remained there during the prayer. President David Whitmer also saw angels in the house." Brigham Young gave short exhortation in tongues, and David W. Patten interpreted, and gave a short exhortation in tongues him­ self. 27 a I met the quorums in the evening and instructed them respecting the ordinance of washing of feet, which they were to attend to on Wednesday following; and gave them instructions in relation to the of prophecy, and not to fear to prophesy good concerning the Saints, for if you prophesy the falling of these hills and the rising of the valleys, the downfall of the enemies of Zion and the rising of the kingdom of God, it shall come to pass. Do not quench the spirit Spirit, for the prophecy. first one that opens his mouth shall receive the spirit 28 of In the absence of more complete evidence it is probably unwise the effect these Pentecostal speculate happenings had on John Tanner and his family. But the writer thinks John Tanner was too modesty and possibly too practical to take up the challenge to open his mouth and prophesy. He was willing to let the prophet prophesy, Brigham Young speak in tongues, and Sidney Rigdon bless the con­ gregation. John Tanner simply wanted to be the best farmer in the church; he found his joy in being able to give, and needed no spiritual gifts to bind him to the church and keep him .going full steam ahead. to on But like many others of the early converts to the church, John Tanner found great strength and comfort in his love of the prophet.