15 a Voices of the Restoration

Voices of the Restoration

Voices of the Restoration



Early Converts

Doctrine and Covenants 4:4 The field is white and ready to harvest, both then and now.

Abigail Calkins Leonard

Abigail prayed for direction, because she wanted to be forgiven of her sins and be part of the Lord’s church. She was directed away from the sects of the day and towards the true Church. When she finally was able to read The Book of Mormon, she was ready to receive it. She and her husband Lyman were baptized.

Thomas B. Marsh

Thomas was a learned man in the scriptures, but became dissatisfied with the churches of the day, expecting a new church with purity to come forth. When he heard about Joseph Smith and his golden book, he wanted to find out more. He read the first 16 pages of the manuscript when the first came off the printing press. His wife was happy with them too. They were baptized.

Parley and Thankful Pratt

Parley and Thankful left their home to teach the gospel according to their understanding. Parley knew he was supposed to stay in Eastern New York for a while, and Thankful traveled on ahead of him. Parley was drawn to The Book of Mormon and read it through the night, and knew it was truth and a treasure. He was baptized, and when he met up with Thankful, she was baptized too.

Video: Parley and Thankful Pratt: Faith to follow the Spirit

Sidney and Phebe Rigdon

Parley visited his old friend Sidney, who was a minister.

‘Parley eagerly told his friends about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of Jesus Christ’s gospel. Sidney himself had been searching for a restoration of the true Church that he found described in the New Testament, though he was skeptical about the Book of Mormon at first. “But I will read your book,” he told his friend Parley, “and will endeavor to ascertain, whether it be a revelation from God or not.”’

Two weeks later Sidney and Phebe were convinced The Book of Mormon was true. Joining the true Church would mean that Sidney could no longer be a minister for the congregation he led, and he’d lose his standing where he lived.

When Sidney knew it was true, he worried about how he’d care for his wife and six children. He asked Phebe what she thought. Phebe declared, “I have counted the cost, and … it is my desire to do the will of God, come life or come death.”

Video: Sidney and Phebe Rigdon: Changing their lives to accept the gospel

 

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