Dream About Benjamin Franklin Johnson

Dream About Benjamin Franklin Johnson


CALIFORNIA MISSION
Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints
423 W Tenth St
P 0 Box 127
Los Angeles, CA
June 28, 1910

C S Sellers
Mesa, AZ

Dear Brother:

At last an opportunity has been afforded me of giving a brief account of the dream I had when I was a chi so far as it concerned the late B F Johnson.

It was related by Brother Cowley in the Sunday School conference at Mesa City, June 14, 1903 twenty-eight years after it occurred, and I bore testimony to it, although I saw Patriarch Johnson for the first time at the December Conference, June 14, 1902. At that time I was sitting upon the rostrum with Apostle Hyrum M Smith, J Golden Kimball, President Haikes, and other brethren, when the door at our back opened and Brother Johnson came in.

I recognized him at once as the man I had seen in a dream when I was a lad, eight and a half years of age. I arose and offered him my chair and, trembling with suppressed emotion, called him by name.

He was much surprised and replied, "That's my name, but I do not remember of ever having met you before," and asked me how I knew him. I told him he never had met me but after meeting I would tell him how I knew him.

When the services were over and he had learned my name he said, "Now for that explanation."

I said, "First, I should like to ask you two or three questions."

"Very Well," said he.

Then I asked, "Did you ever know the Prophet Joseph?"

He drew himself up proudly and replied, "I should think I did. I was his confidential secretary and advisor for a time in the early days of Commerce, or Nauvoo, and he married my oldest sister for one of his plural wives."

I said, "Were you ever a military man?"

He said, "Yes, in a way. Joseph chose me to succeed Hyrum as his side-de-camp in the Nauvoo Legion, but owing to conditions immediately following I did not fill this position, however, later I became an officer in the first Colonial regiment of the state of Deseret."

Then I asked him if he ever used tobacco.

He was somewhat abashed and said, "What made you ask me that?"

I said, "Because I wanted to know but I did not want to be offensive in asking."

"Well," said he, "at the time of which you are speaking, (I am ashamed to admit it) I used to sometimes smoke a cigar."

Then I told him of my dream wherein I saw the Prophet Joseph Smith talking with three other men. One of these men seemed on more intimate footing with the Prophet than either of the others.

Tall, straight, and lithe in figure, with black hair cut rather long; piercing dark eyes, aquiline nose, and a hearth infectious laugh. Fe carried a cane and smoked a long black cigar. Next to the Prophet, his likeness was fixed upon my childish mind.

Years after in telling my dream to Judge James Lewis, who was well acquainted with the Prophet, he said, "You have given a most accurate description of him, and that dark, military looking man you speak of, was a man named Johnson who was closely associated with the Prophet."

That was the reason I knew the name of Brother Johnson when I first saw him in meeting at Mesa City so long afterwards. As to what the Prophet said to me, etc. has no place in this story.

I treasure very highly my acquaintance with Brother Johnson and a wondrous Patriarchal blessing he gave me, at which time he said, "We belong to the same family and will always be kinsmen."

Like you, I have felt that he did not receive the recognition his ability, wisdom, life and labors entitled him to, and am glad you have taken hold of his life's work to preserve his name and virtues to his children and his children's children and to all who know and love him, and may be led to pay him homage through your instrumentality.

With very best wishes and kindest regards, I am,

Sincerely yours,
Joseph F Robinson

JER-FM
(December 16, 1955)

This Letter copied from original letter.

Last Testimony of Benjamin Franklin Johnson

Last Testimony of Benjamin Franklin Johnson


Mesa Arizona
October 8,1960


To Whom It May Concern:

This is to certify that I, Samuel Joseph Johnson, was at the bedside of my Grandfather, Benjamin F. Johnson, when he died and heard him give his last testimony. When he called his children around his bedside, with a twinkle in his eyes, he mentioned the Prophet's name.

He said, "Children, listen to my last testimony. Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, faithful and true to the end of his days. I know, I traveled with him, slept with him, lived with him. I was his bodyguard, Private Secretary & business manager for years. I have always loved and revered him and all his successors, as I know them all to be Prophets, Seers and Revelators. I was one of the first persons he mentioned plural marriages to and he asked for my sister, Almera. The manifesto has been given by a Prophet, Seer and Revelator. It is just as binding on us as the first, for all the Keys of the Priesthood are held by the President of this Church. May God bless you and help you to follow the leaders of the Church".



Signed
Samuel Joseph Johnson