Person:David Johnson (17)

The sixth child and third son of Ezekiel and Julia Hills Johnson.

In the course of the early brick making efforts [for the Kirtland LDS Temple] David was given the important responsibility of procuring wood for burning the brick.

Being energetic and enthusiastic in the religious aspects of the undertaking, he worked long and hard, but finally fell ill with what was apparently tuberculosis, since lung hemorrhages developed. During this illness his intimate friend, Don Carlos Smith, the brother of the Prophet, sat at his bedside. Death came to him October 30, 1833.

During his last hours he bore a testimony of the divinity of the Church through the gift of tongues. His words were interpreted by Don Carlos.

He was regarded as being one of the first modern martyrs to the service of the Church....

In his obituary in the Evening and Morning Star the following was printed:

"ON the first day of November last, the members of the church in this place were called upon to pay the last tribute of respect due from them, to the remains of brother DAVID JOHNSON, who departed this life on the morning of the 31st of Oct. after an illness of five weeks and five days; aged 23 years… Brother J. had been a member in this church more than two years, during which time he manifested that strict propriety in his daily walk and conversation that truly was becoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus..."

Buried in the little orchard on the hill behind Johnson home in Kirtland.

Joel and David first became familiar with the new "Mormonite" religion in Amherst, Ohio. They became friends with Almon Babbitt during this time.

David was good friends with the Prophet Joseph Smith's brother Don Carlos. This friendship is historically based; however the time they first met is not recorded.

Although the date of David's baptism is not recorded, his brother Benjamin, states that both of his brothers, Joel and David were baptized in Amherst, Ohio. Jared Carter, a Mormon missionary, tells of David's disappointment in his baptism because Edson Fuller, the brother who baptized David, "was under the influence of an evil spirit" and, in a short time, "was cut off from the Church of Christ" (Carter, p. 11).

In May 1832, David was rebaptized as recorded in Jared Carter's journal. Carter gives the following insight: "He felt dissatisfied with his former baptism... and it also was the case that David Johnson had lived unworthy of the communion of the Sacrament." Jared's response was, "Now this to us was a case we had not before experienced, but we, after praying to our heavenly father [sic], concluded to leave it to him. He then said he would be rebaptized." (Carter, p. 11)

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Find A Grave Website (www.findagrave.com).
2. ↑ Rolla V. Johnson, The Life of Ezekiel Johnson
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