Treasure in Heaven: The John Tanner Story

[Music] [Music] [Music] my husband John Tanner was a kind and generous man he was also a self-made wealthy man but all his money could not save him seven revered physicians examined his diseased leg and each brought unwelcome news John as kenka will soon overtake you the leg cannot be saved the leg must be amputated or you will die I am grateful for your efforts on my behalf dr. Blake but the leg and I came into this world together and together we shall departed John to be opt in but the leg and I will now be leaving [Music] John also left that office with two intentions to set his business affairs in order and with what time he had left to do all the good he could [Music] the opportunity came through a notice [Music] being a Baptist lay minister and wanting to protect his brethren John prepared to expose those Mormon elders as the imposters they surely were I know that God is once again sent heavenly messengers to the earth and that he is called a prophet Joseph Smith to reveal the word I've had enough of this gold and Bible drivel care to join Katherine me for coffee most kind of you Barton but I'd like to hear them out a book of Mormon prophets said and now my beloved brethren I would that ye should come unto Christ who is the Holy One of Israel but as elder Simeon and Jared Carter taught that night a powerful feeling came into his heart unlike anything he had ever experienced part of me would you have a copy of that book that I might review yes of course would you care to meet with us afterwards over the next several days he pored over it comparing it side-by-side with the Bible yes for John and me everything those Mormon elders taught resonated with an undeniable spirit then will you accept the Savior's invitation to be baptized I know baptism is essential but I cannot it is my my leg my lameness but I cannot endure baptism and I'm about to depart this life John Tanner do you believe that Jesus Christ healed a crippled man at the water of Bethesda well yes with all the certainty of my soul and did not his disciples Peter and John heal a man lame from birth at the gates of the temple if that priesthood power was part of the primitive Church would it not follow that it would be found and the restored Church yes do you have faith sufficient to be healed I do yes I do [Music] in John Tanner and the name of Jesus Christ and by the authority of his priesthood I command you to rise up and walk [Music] [Music] you need not fear the Lord can do all things [Music] [Applause] [Music] John insisted on baptism that very night and though he had not put weight on his leg for six months he walked the quarter-mile to Lake George he then walked home continually giving thanks to God [Music] from the moment of his conversion John gave his all he supplied and equipped two of our sons Nathan and John Joshua plus another 50 men to go to Zions camp and a few months later paid to furnish seven families headed to Kirtland and Missouri John Elizabeth this is not a commandment but it is a word of wisdom but John Tanner story is not only about what he gave but also about what he gave up the day the word of wisdom was made known to him he quit the use of alcohol tobacco coffee and tea and never used them again Barton it is so good to have you in our home that was nice and John to have me old for coffee now all you need is a friend who's sworn off cream and sugar as we prepare to join the Saints John sold our hotel several homes to large farms orchards a dairy a sawmill an island and more than 2,200 acres of timberland in early December of the following year the church was in serious financial trouble mortgage payments on the temple land were past due resources were exhausted foreclosure was imminent we have two perhaps three weeks at best then they will reclaim it tear down the walls and saw them under I'm not sure what else we can do thank you brother victim but I believe there is something we can do that a miracle might be performed that thy holy purposes may come to pass we petitioned for thy mercy and help in sending us one with the means to pay the mortgage and save the temple Are you ill [Music] I dreamed were needed in Kirtland when shall we leave immediately yeah for our journey to Kirtland we'll need 55 hold on a minute John did you say Kirtland as an Ohio as we prepare to leave most of the town believe John had gone mad Curt lose hundreds of miles John it's the middle of December appreciate your concern Barton but no man having put his hand to the plow looking back is fit for the kingdom of God despite every effort by friends to dissuade him on Christmas Day 1834 we loaded up our family and a few others all our earthly possessions and departed 25 days and 500 miles later our tired and winter wearied family finally arrived in Kirtland knowing we needed to be there but not really knowing why but the rigors of our journeys seemed to melt away as we were finally able to meet the prophet and I am John Tanner brother Tanner I know of your good heart I believe a better name for you as father Tanner had we arrived in Kirtland just one day later the temple land would have been foreclosed on but John paid off the 2000 dollars owed taking a note from Joseph in exchange he then gladly loaned the temple committee thirteen thousand dollars and signed another note for thirty thousand all this while making liberal donations to the temple fund John would never say it but I will because of John Tanner the temple was saved [Music] when the temple was completed we were blessed to participate in its dedication miracles occurred not just inside that hallowed building but outside as well during a later session our son Myron beckoned me to come and see angels standing on the temple roof it was a heavenly manifestation never to be forgotten but John's giving didn't stop there he invested hard cash in an attempt to shore up the troubled church-sponsored Bank despite his sacrifice the Kirtland safety society closed its doors in November 1837 and with it went the last of John's fortune unfazed he was determined to follow the prophet and we embarked on the 1,000 mile journey to Missouri with nine of our children I paid my obligations and was then left with one old broken-down horse an old wagon and $7.50 please sir a bit of body milk for my family and some bread if you can spare any we're very hungry good day son and what is your name oldest you're dismissed Tanner no sir I beg can I do a bad thing no you said your name just perfectly in only three years we had gone from vast wealth to begging for our bread then our precious daughter file Amelia succumbed to sickness and hardship and died on the trail moving with the Saints again we settled in Montrose just across the river from Nauvoo and worked hard to rebuild and to pay off other church debt still owed from the Kirtland period my brothers and sisters the following brethren have been called to serve missions parley P Pratt Brigham Young John Tanner Wilford Woodruff men at the April conference of 1844 he was called on a mission to the eastern states with his typical unwavering faith he immediately prepared to leave Lyman white brother Joseph's father I leave today from my mission but before I go there is a matter I would like to settle this you know it is the loan on the Kirtland temple land the Lord raised you up father Tanner that you could build his kingdom through your sacrifices at this crucial time I'm eternally grateful that you were worthy and responded to his call I am in your debt what shall I do with this note brother Joseph the only debt is one of gratitude and that is mine god Bless You Father Tana your children shall never again beg for bread [Music] it is estimated that in all John gave over $50,000 to the church he had found the pearl of great price and did not bother about the cost John Tanner not only understood the law of consecration he lived it father tanner [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] you

Channel: Called to Share

Views: 7,937

Keywords: the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, General Conference, Latter-day Saints, Mormons, Mormon, lds, Latter-day Saint, christianity, God, john tanner, who is john tanner, john tanner lds, john tanner sacrifice

Id: 1q2P938ViXU

Length: 20min 32sec (1232 seconds)

Published: Wed Oct 16 2019