John Taylor,

the Courageous

By Leon R. Hartshorn

Just before the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed at Carthage Jail, Elder John Taylor, their fellow prisoner, sang “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief” to comfort them. Within minutes, Joseph and Hyrum were dead, and Elder Taylor’s life had been miraculously spared when a bullet struck his pocket watch.

This dramatic incident is perhaps the best-known moment in the life of John Taylor, who later became the third President of the Church. But perhaps few people have a clear picture of the man himself—with his own personal brand of boldness and candid faith—or of his enormously successful role as a journalist and missionary for the Church.

Perhaps President Taylor’s character is best described by two affectionate nicknames given him as a young man: “Defender of the Faith” and “Champion of Liberty.”

What goes into the making of a man who will step in front of a large, unfriendly gathering and openly invite them to harm him—and yet who so understood people’s feelings that he could solve an argument without saying a single word?

John Taylor began to develop such characteristics early in youth in his attitudes toward the Lord and his gospel. Born in Milnthorpe, England, on 1 November 1808, John Taylor was a serious seeker of truth from his boyhood. “At that early period of my life,” he later said, “I learned to approach God. Many a time I have gone into the fields and concealing myself behind some bush, would bow before the Lord and call upon him to guide and direct me. And he heard my prayer. At times I would get other boys to accompany me. It would not hurt you … to call upon the Lord in your secret places as I did.” (In Journal of Discourses, 5:314–15.)

At sixteen years of age, John Taylor joined the Methodist church, and at seventeen he was appointed to be a lay preacher. Later, he had “a strong impression on my mind, that I [had] to go to America to preach the gospel.” (As quoted in B. H. Roberts, The Life of John Taylor, Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1963, page 28.) He immigrated to Canada in 1832, at the age of twenty-three. In Toronto, he met and married Leonora Cannon, who had also come from Great Britain. He continued to preach for the Methodist church—but, feeling unsatisfied with that religion, the Taylors and some friends organized a religious study group and prayed for a restoration of New Testament Christianity. Meanwhile, John worked in the trades he had learned in England—cabinetmaking and woodturning.

The Taylors heard the restored gospel as a result of some unusual circumstances. In 1836, Parley P. Pratt was sent to Toronto by revelation to preach the gospel. Concerning Elder Pratt’s mission to Canada, Elder Heber C. Kimball had prophesied, “From the things growing out of this mission, shall the fullness of the gospel spread into England.” (See Roberts, page 35.) Elder Pratt received from a stranger a letter of introduction to a John Taylor in Toronto. But when he called at the Taylors’ home, his reception there was polite but not exactly cordial. Later, after presenting his message to the ministers in the city, Elder Pratt prepared to leave. Valise in hand, he was saying good-bye to John Taylor when a neighbor—a member of the Taylors’ religious study group—came in, offered her home for Elder Pratt to preach in, and proposed to lodge and feed him. As a result, John and Leonora Taylor heard Elder Pratt preach. This was John’s response to his group of friends:

“We are here, ostensibly in search of the truth. Hitherto we have fully investigated other creeds and doctrines and proven them false. Why should we fear to investigate Mormonism? This gentleman, Mr. Pratt, has brought to us many doctrines that correspond with our own views. … We have prayed to God to send us a messenger, if He has a true Church on earth. … I desire to investigate his doctrines and claims to authority, and shall be very glad if some of my friends will unite with me in this investigation. But if no one will unite with me, be assured I shall make the investigation alone. If I find his religion true, I shall accept it, no matter what the consequences may be; but if false, then I shall expose it.” (See Roberts, pages 38–39.)

For three weeks, John Taylor followed Elder Pratt from place to place, copying down sermons as Elder Pratt delivered them—and then privately comparing them with the scriptures. Satisfied that the missionary was teaching the truth, John and Leonora Taylor joined the Church. Twenty-eight-year-old John was ordained an elder and was placed in charge of the Church in Canada when the missionaries returned to their homes.

Brother Taylor converted many friends and neighbors in Toronto. Then a year after their baptism, the Taylors moved to Far West, Missouri. The following year, on 19 December 1838, he was ordained an Apostle—soon after his thirtieth birthday.

Four years later, Elder Taylor was appointed editor of the Times and Seasons, the Church newspaper in Nauvoo, Illinois. In the years that followed, he edited and authored many newspapers, booklets, and tracts. President Brigham Young said of Elder Taylor: “He has one of the strongest intellects of any man that can be found; he is a powerful man, he is a mighty man, and we may say that he is a powerful editor, but I will use a term to suit myself, and say that he is one of the strongest editors that ever wrote.” (In Journal of Discourses, 4:34.) In 1882, while serving as President of the Church, he wrote a book entitled The Mediation and Atonement of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in which he discussed scriptures and bore strong witness of the role of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer.

During his life, Elder Taylor also gained considerable fame as an extremely powerful orator who impressed listeners with logic rather than sheer emotion. In fulfillment of prophecy, he assisted his fellow Apostles in carrying the gospel to his homeland. In the British Isles, he opened up the work in Liverpool, the Isle of Man, and Ireland. Later, he presided over missionary work in France and Germany. While there, he oversaw the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon in French and German; he also began publication of two international Church magazines; I‘Etoile (“The Star”) in French, and Zion’s Panier (“Zion’s Banner”) in German.

Elder Taylor also played a major role in helping the Saints settle Nauvoo and, later, the West. Following the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, John Taylor assisted Elder Parley P. Pratt in leading a group of 1,500 Saints to the Salt Lake Valley in the fall of 1847. There, he served as a judge, legislator, and superintendent of schools for many years. At the death of President Brigham Young in 1877, sixty-nine-year-old John Taylor assumed the leadership of the Church until his death in 1887.

But the man himself—what was he like? The following incident will provide some insights. As a young Apostle, Elder Taylor went to speak to a number of Saints near Columbus, Ohio. Shortly before the hour arrived, some of the Saints reported to him that most of the townspeople were planning to gather at the open-air site. They expected that Elder Taylor would be tarred feathered—and advised him not to go. After a moment’s reflection, he replied that he would go, and that if his friends chose not to go with him, he would go alone.

When he arrived, he began by informing those gathered that he had recently come from Canada—a land under monarchal rule: “Gentlemen, I now stand among men whose fathers fought for and obtained one of the greatest blessings ever conferred upon the human family—the right to think, to speak, to write; the right to say who shall govern them, and the right to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. … I see around me the sons of those noble sires, who, rather than bow to the behests of a tyrant, pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honors to burst those fetters. …

“But, by the by, I have been informed that you purpose to tar and feather me, for my religious opinions. Is this the boon you have inherited from your fathers? Is this the blessing they purchased with their dearest hearts’ blood—this your liberty? If so, you now have a victim, and we will have an offering to the goddess of liberty.”

At that point, he tore open his vest and said: “Gentlemen, come on with your tar and feathers, your victim is ready; and ye shades of the venerable patriots, gaze upon the deeds of your degenerate sons! Come on, gentlemen! Come on, I say, I am ready!”

No one moved or spoke. Elder Taylor stood there, drawn to his full majestic six-foot height—calm, yet defiant. No one came.

After a pause he continued to preach for three hours! At the conclusion, leaders of the community approached him, expressing displeasure at any hostile intentions of their fellow citizens. (See Roberts, pages 53–55.)

His courageous faith is also shown when he was called to serve one of his missions in England. After a difficult journey from Far West, Missouri, Elder Taylor arrived in New York with only one cent in his pocket. But he was not one to plead poverty, and in answer to questions if he had any money, he said he did. The next day, Elder Parley P. Pratt approached him:

“Brother Taylor, I hear you have plenty of money.”

“Yes, Brother Pratt, that’s true.”

“Well,” said Elder Pratt, “I am about to publish my Voice of Warning and Millennial Poems; I am very much in need of money, and if you could furnish me two or three hundred dollars I should be very much obliged.”

“Well, Brother Parley, you are welcome to anything I have, if it will be of service to you.” At that he put his hand in his pocket and gave Elder Pratt the penny.

They both laughed heartily, and then Elder Pratt said, “But I thought you gave it out that you had plenty of money.”

“Yes, and so I have,” replied Elder Taylor. “I am well clothed, you furnish me plenty to eat and drink and good lodging; with all these things and a penny over, as I owe nothing, is not that plenty?”

That evening, at a meeting of some of the Brethren who were preparing to go to England, Elder Pratt proposed that they assist Elder Taylor with means to pay his passage. Elder Taylor objected, saying that if they had anything, they should give it to Elder Pratt instead, because he had a family to support and needed money for publishing. Wilford Woodruff, a great man of faith himself, expressed regret at Elder Taylor’s position.

“Oh there will be no difficulty about that,” replied Elder Taylor. “Go and take passage for me on your vessel, and I will furnish you the means.”

Then—from various persons who were moved upon by the Spirit of the Lord—Elder Taylor received voluntary donations that were sufficient for him to pay not only his own passage, but also that of another elder. (See Roberts, pages 72–74.)

Sterling courage and boldness—in pen, word, and deed!

John Taylor had great understanding and love of people. Once, while he was serving as President of the Quorum of the Twelve, two old and faithful brethren approached him about a bitter quarrel between them. They had resolved to abide by whatever decision President Taylor might render. So they called on him and asked if he would listen to their story.

He said, “Brethren, before I hear your case, I would like very much to sing one of the songs of Zion for you.” A very talented and moving singer, President Taylor then sang a hymn to the men. When he finished, he said that whenever he heard one of the hymns of Zion, he wanted to listen to one more. So the two brethren consented to hearing a second hymn. After the second one, President Taylor quipped that he had heard there was luck in odd numbers, so with their consent he sang still another hymn. Afterwards, he said with a smile, “Now brethren, I do not want to wear you out, but if you will forgive me, and listen to one more hymn, I promise to stop singing, and will hear your case.” By the time he had finished his fourth hymn, the two brethren were in tears; they stood, shook hands, and asked President Taylor to excuse them for taking his time. They left without even telling him what they had quarreled about. His singing had reconciled their feelings toward one another. (See Improvement Era, September 1940, page 522.)

On another occasion, a difficulty developed among members of a branch. “When we had assembled,” President Taylor later recorded, “I opened the meeting with prayer, and then called upon a number of those present to pray; they did so, and the Spirit of God rested upon us. I could perceive that a good feeling existed in the hearts of those who had come to present their grievances, and I told them to bring forward their case. But they said they had not anything to bring forward. The feelings and spirit they had been in possession of had left them, the Spirit of God had obliterated these feelings out of their hearts, and they knew it was right for them to forgive one another.” (In Journal of Discourses, 21:366–67.)

Such was John Taylor!

Ironically, although he was proclaimed the champion of liberty, as a prophet he spent much of his time in exile because of the U.S. government’s intense persecution of the Saints. As a result, under his direction, large colonies of Saints emigrated to Mexico and Canada.

During a difficult time, Elder Taylor said, “So far as I am concerned, I say, let everything come as God has ordained it. I do not desire trials; I do not desire affliction. … But if the earthquake bellows, the lightnings flash, the thunders roll, and the powers of darkness are let loose, and the spirit of evil is permitted to rage, and an evil influence is brought to bear on the Saints, and my life, with theirs, is put to the test; let it come, for we are the Saints of the most High God. … I feel to acquiesce and put my shoulder to the work, whatever it is. If it is for peace, let it be peace; if it is for war, let it be to the hilt.” (In Journal of Discourses, 5:114–115, 122.)

Fortunately, there was a peaceful conclusion to the conflict. But without John Taylor’s courageous spirit during those difficult times, many of the Saints may have lost faith. He was an obvious example of the truth that courage is contagious. And so it can be, even in our own lives and in the lives of others whom we influence.

John Taylor Highlights, 1808–1887
Year	Age	Event
1808	—	1 November: Born in Milnthorpe, England.
1822	14	Works as a cooper (maker of barrels) and as a woodturner.
1824	16	Joins Methodist church.
1832	24	Immigrates to Canada.
1836	27	Is baptized, is ordained an elder, and directs the Church in Canada.
1838	30	19 December: Is ordained an Apostle.
1839–41	31–33	Serves first mission to Britain.
1842–46	34–37	Serves as editor of Times and Seasons.
1844	35	Is severely wounded in Carthage Jail at the martyrdom of Joseph Smith.
1846–47	37–38	Serves second mission to Britain.
1847	38	Leads a group of Saints to Salt Lake Valley.
1849–52	41–44	Presides over missionary work in France and Germany.
1855–57	47–49	Presides over Eastern States Mission.
1857–76	49–68	Serves in Utah Territorial Legislature.
1877	68	29 August: Becomes leader of the Church as President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles.
1878	69	11 August: Organizes the Primary Association.
1880	71	10 October: Sustained as President of the Church.
1885	76	February: Withdraws into exile due to persecution by the U.S. government.
1887	78	25 July: Dies in Kaysville, Utah.

Illustrated by Paul Mann