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Show STB:VENSON, EDWARD, one ot 'lihe fl.rat S.Ten Presidents ot SeTent1es, was a aon ot J'oseph steTenson and Elizabeth Stevene, and was born May l, 1820, a, Gibraltar, Spain. IJ1182., ha ca.me to AJnariea in company with his tathar•s family, consisting ot tour eons and two daughters, Edward being the fourth son. When he was but aleTen years ot age his father died, and he went to live with a Dr. Richardson. In 1833, being then thirteen years old, he heard Jlders 1ared Oarter and 1oseph Woods preach the gospel and belieTed their testimonies. He was baptized by 1aphet Josdick Deo. 20, 1833. His mother and others ot the family also joined the Ohurch. !his was in IUchisan. They atterwarde joined the body ot the Ohurch an4 endured the hardships and persecution incident to lite among the Saints in those trying times. A.t Par West, llo., aiward. became quite intimately acquainted with the Prophet 3'oseph smith, whom he tirst met in Michigan, and though so young, took an active part in the detense or that town. Atter passing through the persecution.a ot Missouri, he became a resident ot RaU'voo, here he was ordained a SeTenty May l, 1845, under the hands ot 1oseph Young and other s. subsequently he became a president ot th.e 30th quorum ot Seventies, and was tor many years its senior president. :Bro. steYenson came to Utah in 1847; in crossing the plains and mountains he as a captain ot ten in Charles o. Rich's company. Subsequently, he crossed the plains eighteen times, and the Atlantic ocean nine times as a miss ionary tor the Ohuroh. In 18157-58 he tilled a missi.on to the United States, returning as leader or a large company ot Saints. In 1869 he was called on another mission to the S'\ates from which he returned in 18?0. In reporting his mission to Pres. Brigham Young, he spoke ot Martin Harris, one ot the Three Witnesses to the Book ot Mormon, who was still living in Kirtland, Ohio, and who had expresae4 a desire to come to Utah. consequently Eld.er steTen.son was called on a •peoial mission to bring Martin Harris to the headquarters ot the Ohuroh. He reaponded willingly, ud returned to Salt Lake City, aocmpanied by J(art1n Hanis, Aua. 30, 1870. J'rOm l86l5 to 1877, when not away on distant missions, l£1.der steTenson traTeled as a special home missionary emoag the Saints in the mow,.tains, during whioh time he Ti.sited nearly all the settlements ot the Saints in Utah. In 1878 he was sent on a miaaion to the United States and canada; in 18'17-78 he tilled a mission to the Southern. States, and in. 1883-8.ft another m.1as1on to the t1n1ted states ud Oanada. In J'ebrua.ry, 1888, b.e •• set apart tor another mia•ion to the United States anct Europe. In the course ot his experienoe, llder ateTenaon made himself familiar w1 th many scenes of early Church history, and in hie. public discourses and leo'\ures illl.parte4 muoh information in relation thereto. Aooompanied by Jlders Andrew 1enaoa and 1oseph s. Black, he Tisited nearly all the "Waste places ot Zion" in l.888, obtaining Taluable historical information. Among those with whom he discussed eTenta ot Tital i mportance were th• witnesses to the Book ot Mormon, and his record ot what those witnesses testified to him waa given wide publicity, so t hat all might know thereof and verity the accuracy ot his declarations. He says ot OliTer Cowdery: "I have otten heard him bear a taithtul testimony to the restoration ot the gospel by the visitation of an angel, in whose presence he stood in company with the Prophet 1oaeph Smith and David Whitmer. He testi:t'ied that he beheld the plates, the leaves being turned OTer by the angel, whose voice he heard, and that t hey were commanded as witnesses to bear a taithtul testimony to the world of the Tision that t hey were favored to behold, and that the translation trom the plantes ot the Book ot Mormon was accepted of the Lord, and that i t would go torth to the world, and that no power on the sarth should stop its progress.ff Elder Stevenson said ot David |
