The Testimonies of
JOHN CARSON
And His Wives
Elvira Egbert & Emma Partridge
TESTIMONIES
John Carson and his wives, Elvira Egbert and Emma Partridge, were actively
affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during
their lives -- a period of over one hundred and three years, stretching
from 1832 when young John was baptized at the age of 12 in Missouri
to the death of his second wife, Emma, in 1935. During those years they
saw the Church move from Ohio to Missouri, to Illinois, and then from
Iowa to Utah. They struggled with anti-Mormon mobs, with Indians, and
Johnston's Army; and perhaps more difficult than anything else, they
raised a family of twenty children.
These children have multiplied now into a numerous posterity, and true
to the promises made to John and his wives in their patriarchal blessings,
their posterity hold them in "honorable remembrance".
Except for the example of their lives, John, Elvira and Emma do not seem
to have left any personal instructions to their posterity by which they
wished to be remembered. They undoubtedly told their children and grandchildren
stories of their life together, and bore their testimonies to them, but
the generation that remembers these is nearly gone and little has been
written down of what they heard.
There is one source however, that records their testimonies as they were
given in meetings during their lifetime. That source is the minute books
which were kept for the various auxiliary organizations of the Church
in Fairfield: The Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations
and the Relief Society.
The testimonies recorded in these books give the best insight into the
religious thought and beliefs of John and his wives that is now available
to the family. Taken together these minutes make a record which exactly
fills that same need which Nephi felt "it persuadeth them to do good;
it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus,
and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which
is life eternal."
As no prescribed lesson manuals were provided by the Church, the activities
varied according to the talents and resources available to the young ladies
(some of whom were not so young). It was typical to spend the meeting
time reading and discussing articles from the "Exponent" the "Juvenile
Instructor" or talks given by the General Authorities as printed in the
"Deseret News". Sometimes a special song was presented by one or two of
the ladies or a recitation given. If nothing else, the ladies did their
sewing.
Very often the "Brethren" as the Ward and Stake leadership were called,
sat in on the meeting.
An important part of the meeting was the bearing of testimonies, and
notes were taken and recorded on each testimony born. The number of testimonies
given was counted and reported in the quarterly attendance statistics.
The secretaries of the Improvement Associations did not transcribe the
testimonies word for word, but instead tried to capture the main ideas
as they were recorded. The minutes were later copied into the permanent
record book without a great deal of editorial work. Many of the sentences
recorded begin as if the speaker is talking to an audience, that is to
a "them" and then suddenly switch to a group that includes the secretary,
that is an "us".
In John's testimonies, the secretaries consistently wrote "art" for "ought".
This probably is how John pronounced the word and is a reflection of his
frontier childhood in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
In a few places, words and phrases have been inserted to clarify the
meanings, these editorial additions are all marked by parenthesis. The
punctuation and some of the spelling has been modernized to make the text
more readable.
Sister Elvira Carson sometimes attended these meetings and she gave her
testimony at least ten times between 1880 and 1885. She generally began
by standing and saying "she felt glad she could bare her testimony and
felt pleased to see the young ladies have a desire to learn and to be
instructed." She was always "thankful to meet with her sisters. She felt
well here in our midst tonight, said she did not have the chance that
the young sisters have today to attend to these meetings. Said we had
a great many privileges that she ever had when she was young like us."
"Said we should understand every principle of the gospel and exhorted
us to be faithful...[so] that we could stand the trials that we were called
to pass through."
"Spoke of the rise of the Church and the driving of the Saints."
At one meeting Sister A. Young read the revelations on Celestial Marriage
to the young ladies. Then "Sister Elvira Carson spoke to the sisters and
bore her testimony to what had been read and told the young sisters that
when they got married to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise and by
those who have a right to seal, for if they did not when we were dead
no one could do it for them when they had the chance to do it for themselves,
and gave them [other] good advice. "Spoke some of what was said at Conference
and of raising their children up in the way of the Lord and teach[ing]
them to pray while they were young."
"Said that with the aid of the Spirit of God we could do everything that
we was called on to do. Said the time would come that they would be restrained
to keep the commandments of the Lord."
"Said her advice to the young sisters was to be diligent and the Lord
will help us; said we should pray for each other; said not to let any
little thing keep us away from out meetings."
"She always had testimony enough to keep her in this Church and hoped
she would always be true and not [be] led astray."
"She prayed God to bless us all."
At a meeting in 1885 Sister Emma Carson, John's second wife, "spoke a
few words of love for her testimony to the truth of the work and said
she was willing to do the best she could and encourage the sisters to
be united. Said it was about time to close and encouraged the sisters
to attend to their meetings."
When John Carson was present he was invariably called on to speak, and
bear his testimony and the minutes record his remarks and testimony nine
times during this time period. The usual tenor of his comments was to
encourage the young sisters "to make up our minds to become useful wives
and mothers in Israel...[and]...to be faithful that they might be prepared
for the trials that we might be called [on] to pass through."
On three occasions the secretary of the YLMIA recorded his remarks in
detail. The first of these was on November fourth, 1880.
"Brother John Carson then spoke. Said he had come to assist the young
and encourage them in their meetings as it had been requested of him.
Said that we all had a mission to perform here on this earth. That we
could go back to our Father in Heaven, and if we would do His will and
live up to the blessings that He had promised us that we could gain Eternal
Life, and what was more than that."
"Showed how it would be with us if we treated the laws of God careless."
"Said how we was blessed when we would call on the Lord when we was in
trouble and have our prayer answered. We had art [ought] to be prayerful
for the evil one was always ready to lead us astray; therefore we had
art [ought] to be careful."
"Said we all felt better when we could do the will of the Lord and attend
our meetings. Said that some run well for a season and then tire, and
what was their condition [then?]."
"Showed how we had art [ought] to raise our children up in the way of
the Lord and teach them to pray and what a comfort they would be to their
parents when they became old. We all had power to impress these principles
into their minds when they were young."
"Said the council that was given to us from those that were placed over
us [and] not associate with those that were not of us; that if we had
a testimony of ourselves what was the use of grasping after something
else? It hurt him to see people that called themselves Latter-day Saints
associate with those that would speak evil of those that were placed
over us when he knew they were men of God."
"Said he knew Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and he could prove it
to all the earth, and gave us many good instructions."
"Asked God to bless us."
At this same meeting, Sister Agnes Young read the ANGLE OF THE PRAIRIE,
OR A DREAM OF THE FUTURE by Parley P. Pratt.
On April 21st, 1881 John Carson spoke again, "Said he always took it
a pleasure to talk if he could have the Spirit of God."
"Spoke about [General] Conference. Said he went to receive instructions
for he felt like he needed it. Related what had been said at Conference
about the Relief Society [and] what President Taylor said for he spoke
so favorable [of the Relief Societies] and about mothers raising their
children and teaching them correct principles."
"Said there was a power at work to try to destroy the power of God and
we art [ought] to be faithful. That this Kingdom was set up ever more
to be thrown down [and] that if we was faithful we could call down the
blessings of the Lord to aid and assist us."
"Said we all had a responsibility resting upon us if we claimed to be
Latter-day Saints."
"Said we all had a work to perform [and] that when we was called to give
an account of ourselves that we could have a [good] record here on this
earth. That if we wanted to gain eternal life how necessary it was for
us to work while on this earth [and] that we could [then] gain the blessings
that were promised to us."
"Spoke of the opposition that the kingdom of God [has] had at all times
when it was on the earth."
"[Encouraged] us to come to meeting[s] and have a good spirit, and put
down that wickedness [which] was evil and live up to correct principles."
"Spoke of the sealing powers and the blessings we could gain by living
up to the principles of God no matter who opposed it: [and] that it [that
is anything of God] would never go down if God had set it up and that
young people had art [ought] to try and keep the commandments of God if
we wanted to gain the blessings for we could gain them no other way."
"What a responsibility was resting on parents to raise their children
up in the way of the Lord."
"[Asked] for us to do right and help one another and not try and pull
each other down."
"His desire was that we should all live faithful to the end."
The last extensive record of his remarks occurs as part of the minutes
of the 264th meeting of the Young Ladies M.I.A. on August 2, 1882.
"Brother Carson then gave us some good council and exhorted the sisters
to tend to their duties and they would be blessed."
"Brother Carson said he didn't come to tell us anything new, but he wanted
to discharge his duty and he would receive a blessing and how thankful
we should be for the blessing of the Gospel."
"Said the Lord loves us and He chastens us. Spoke of the trouble we'd
had [and how it had] made us more [humble] and showed how the Lord overruled
everything for the good of his people."
"Said if we become careless the Lord would bring something on us to make
us do what is right."
"Said we should be energetic and meet together and be useful members
of the Church of God."
"Said that those who wished to see the downfall of Israel would [never]
see it and encouraged the sisters to come to meetings and though few in
number, the Lord would bless us in discharging our duty."
The meetings were closed by singing another hymn, followed by a closing
prayer. The most popular hymns seem to have been "Now We Sing An Evening
Hymn", "O My Father", and "We Are Not Ashamed to Own Our Lord".
We're not ashamed to own our Lord
And worship Him on earth;
We love to learn his holy word
And know what souls are worth.
When Jesus comes in burning flame,
Then to reward the just,
The world will know the only name
In which the Saints can trust.
When He comes down from heav'n to earth
With all his holy band,
Before creation's second birth,
We hope with him to stand.
PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS
Patriarchal Blessing given to John Carson
Patriarchal blessing given [in] Cedar Valley, August 26, 1857 by John
Young, upon the head of John Carson son of George and Ann, born November
13th 1819, [in] Mifland County, Pennsylvania.
Brother John, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I lay my hands upon
your head to bless you and to seal upon your head the blessings of the
Gospel and the Holy Priesthood which you are inntitled to.
You are a lawful heir, being a literal descendant of Joseph through the
loins of Ephraim and have a right to the blessings of the fathers.
You shall have wives and children; power to govern yourself; [you] will
become a mighty man in Israel; your name shall be had in honorable remembrance,
you shall do a good work upon the earth, [and] be an honor to your father's
house in avenging the blood of the Prophets and Martyrs.
If you desire it, you can live to go to Jackson County to help build
up the Temple.
Your mind shall expand to comprehend all that law which is immortality
and eternal lives.
I seal the blessing of natural life upon you, power to stand in defense
of the cause of Zion, to wield the sword of steel - and you never shall
fall by the hand of an enemy.
In the own due time of the Lord, you will be called to preach to those
who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death; and you shall have that
power which your enemies cannot gainsay nor resist, and all is yours upon
conditions of obedience.
The spirit of the prophet John shall rest upon you as it did upon him
on the Isle of Patmos, and though you may be in the mist of death not
a hair of your head shall fall but you shall remember what has been said
and claim the promises which have been made.
Your heart is honest and you have a fixed resolution in your soul to
help to build up the Kingdom.
The Lord has His hand over you for good, and you shall accomplish a great
and glorious work, assisting in saving the forefathers who have died in
the dark ages of the word - all which blessing I seal upon you be virtue
of the sealing power of the Priesthood which He has bestowed to seal on
earth and bind for heaven, and in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit even so, Amen.
Patriarchal Blessing Given to John Carson
Patriarchal blessing given under the hands of George Halliday, Patriarch
in the Utah Stake of Zion, upon the head of John Carson, son of George
Carson and Ann Hough, born 13th day of November 1819, given 28th day of
May 1894, Fairfield, Utah.
Dear Brother Carson, I place my hands upon your head and give unto you
a Patriarchal Blessing. I do so with feelings of pleasure for my heart
is full of blessings for you.
Thy past history is frought with many changes and God has had his eyes
upon you.
Thou art a noble spirit and in thy father's house thou shall be a king
and a prince, for thou hast already proven that thou art a saviour.
Thou hast come upon the earth through honorable parents. Thou hast risen
to distinctions and the greatest blessings have been sealed upon thy head.
Thou art of seed of Israel and the lineage of Ephraim and the blessings
of thy father shall rest upon you as a multitude of nations was promised
to him so thy posterity shall never end, and shall live until the Savior
comes and thy children shall be honored because of thee as well as for
their good works.
Thou hast been liberal to others and God will be liberal to thee.
Thy posterity shall never want bread, if [they] will keep the commandments
of God.
If they will keep the commandments of God thou shalt see thy children
grow up around thee and thou shalt always have a good word for thy brother's
and sisters.
Peace and joy [shall] fill thy heart. Angels shall surround you, the
Holy Ghost shall enlighten your mind. Thou shalt see Zion in her glory,
and in her temples thou shalt mingle with men of God.
Thou shalt lie down in peace as an ear of corn full ripe and come forth
in the morning of the resurrection in power and with eternal life for
I seal these blessings upon you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Amen.
Patriarchal Blessing given to Alvira Carson
Patriarchal blessing given [in] Cedar Valley, August 26, 1857, by John
Young, upon the head of Alvira [Elvira] Carson, born September 10, 1821,
Sulivan Co. Indiana, daughter of John and Susannah Egbert.
Sister Alvira, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I lay my hands upon
your head and bless you with a father's blessing and seal upon you the
blessing of the everlasting gospel and I seal and ratify those blessings
which have been sealed upon you.
You are entitled to the blessings of the new and [everlasting] gospel
covenant.
You shall be blest with posterity upon the earth, [and] be a mother in
Israel of sons and daughters. You shall control your household, [and]
be a blessing to your fathers house and to your progenitors.
I seal upon you the blessings of health and life. In all times of sickness
the Lord Almighty shall deliver you. You shall live on the earth to do
good; to work righteousness; [and] to lay a good foundation for the time
to come.
[You shall] comprehend the principles of the Kingdom [and] have dreams
that shall comfort your heart. Your name shall be held in honorable
remembrance in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [You
shall have strength] to overcome your weaknesses [and] be famous for
piety.
I seal you up to the day of redemption.
If you will be faithful no good thing shall be withheld from you; but
you shall have part in the first resurrection, and over such the second
death shall have no power.
You shall be associated with your friends, children and kindred [and]
with all those that are near and dear to you.
Every blessing you desire I seal upon [you] and I do it by virtue of
the holy order of the kingdom and in the name of the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, even so. Amen.
Patriarchal Blessing given to Emma Carson
Patriarchal Blessing given under the hands of George Halliday, Patriarch
in the Utah Stake of Zion, upon the head of Emma Carson, daughter of Charles
Partridge and Mary Smith, born 7th day September, 1855; given 28th day
of May 1894, Fairfield, Utah.
Dear Sister Carson, I place my hands upon your head and give unto you
a Patriarchal Blessing.
You have had many blessings given unto you before, but there are many
more for you. In all your past history in sickness and in trials God has
blessed you. Your friends shall increase and your enemies decrease.
You have been blessed with an honorable companion and though your children
have brought you sorrow they will yet bring you joy.
Thou hast come through honest parents and because of thy honest desires
thou shalt triumph.
Call upon the Lord in secret and thou shalt be favored and no good thing
shall be withheld from thee.
Cleave unto thy husband and honor him and he will honor thee. Thou hast
been into the House of God and received the great blessings of the gospel.
The jealous may revile thy name but shall not harm you for the Holy Ghost
shall rest upon you and comfort you.
With thy companion thou shalt sit down at the marriage supper of the
Lamb. In the morning of the resurrection thou shalt come forth to be
honored in they father's house and have eternal life, for all these
blessings I seal upon you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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