A Last Witness

THE BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT. 543 the committee name on athletics could be amended to read: ''Com- mittee on Athletics, Field-sports, Out-door Activities and Employ- ments." If so amended the same change would be necessary in like committees in the stake boards and in the ward associations. In this connection, also, your committee call attention to the great need in our associations for a wide awake, energetic and efficient "Field Man" who can devote his whole time to this work, and be constantly moving among the associations, giving instruc- tions and coming in personal contact with our officers and mem- bers, and more especially with the junior members. All the more will an efficient field man be needed if our recommendations re- specting enlarged out- door activities and employments for our junior members be adopted. All of which is respectfully submitted, B. H. Roberts, Geo. H. Brimhall, Benjamin Goduard, Committee. The General Board, at a meeting held on Wednesday evening, March 22, 1911, unanimously adopted the report. Climb. (For the Improvement Era.) The days are but rounds in the Ladder of Life, Up which we must ever be climbing, If we would attain a place at the top, The goal for which all should be striving. We only may mount one round at a time, So let us put into our doing The courage and cheer of unf alt' ring zeal, For others who climb to be viewing. Yes; days are but rounds in the Ladder of Life, With plenty of room at the top; Then plant your feet firm, and, ne'er looking back, Climb, climb, climb, nor ever once stop. Grace Ingles Frost. Waterloo, Utah.

A Last Witness. A Tribute to Patriarch Benjamin F. Johnson. BY CHARLES S. SELLERS. I ask for space in the Era for a short tribute to my friend, Patriarch Benjamin F. Johnson. The subject matter is based upon both verbal and written testimony to his friends, in addition to my knowledge gained of him, during a close acquaintance of ten years. He was a very modest man, and during the active part of his life found little time to more than do his work— with none to observe whether his name was being placed in history. In the latter part of his life, however, he seemed to have some regrets about this, as we all naturally desire to be remembered. I sur- mise this because he once expressed himself to Elder 0. B. Hunt- ington, in a letter dated January 16, 1901, that numerous events of Church and Utah history, in which he had taken an active part, had been written, yet not a place had been found for his name. He had stood in positions in which he was an important figure in the work and life of the Prophet Joseph Smith in his day, yet, as stated, little mention, if any, is made of him in history. During my acquaintance with him, a fund of information came to me which it would be wrong to let altogether remain unuttered, hence the excuse for this brief tribute. Benjamin F. Johnson, son of Ezekiel Johnson and Julia Hills, was born at Pompret,Chatauqua Co., New York, on July 28, 1818, and died at Mesa, Arizona, on the 18th of November, 1905. In his youth he kept the commandments, including the one with a promise; "Honor thy father and thy mother." By this course he gained the well-earned right to his long life upon the earth. He

A LAST WITNESS. 545 met the Prophet Joseph at the age of fifteen. Like the prophet, his cup of trouble was nearly always full, and he bore manfully and bravely his share of the troubles of life. He was a trusted friend of the Prophet Joseph. For nearly two weeks at one time he watched by his bed, ministering to him while sick, day by day. A remarkable and quite general healing occurred at Com- merce, afterwards Nauvoo, in July, 1839. Of this and his nursing the prophet, Brother Johnson has given an account in a long manuscript to Elder George S. Gibbs, written in 1903, and which has not yet appeared in print. It will be remembered that Joseph arose from his bed, rebuked the sickness, and went about healing the people until all were made sound and well. The Saints gener- ally are well informed as to this event, but of the part which Brother Johnson took none are apprised, a fact undoubtedly aris- ing through Brother Johnson's modesty, and perhaps lack of friends, among those who write history. A more loyal man to duty than Elder Johnson was never known. Whenever duty called he never hesitated. He gave his time, all his life, and worked unceasingly for the good of his fellows. He was among the greatest men that our Church has known. Elder Johnson relates that when the Prophet Joseph's work on earth was nearly done, the prophet spoke one day to him,stating that while his own work was nearly over, and he would soon lay down his life for the cause, yet for that same cause Brother Johnson's life must go on, and he should remain to be very old before he should die, a prediction which came verily true. Brother Johnson protested on the occasion, to the prophet, that the work of the Lord on the earth could not get along if he should go, but Joseph said: "The work shall still go on, and become great and mighty, while I must die a martyr to the cause of truth." At the death of the Prophet Joseph, Elder Johnson was not only sorely tried, but was overcome with grief, yet he resigned himself to the will of the Lord, as he recognized in that, as in all other things, the Father always knows what is best. At the time President Young stood before the people after the death of the prophet, advocating the cause of the leadership of the Twelve Apostles, it is well known that many saw a light appear about him and that they recognized in him the leader of

the Church, and heard in his voice the voice of Joseph. This not only comforted Brother Johnson who was present, but all the peo- ple, and Elder Johnson always bore testimony to it; and from that hour there was no doubt in the minds of any that Brigham Young was the chosen leader. This miracle, to the weak and troubled Saints, was as comforting as it was wonderful. Joseph had thrown the care of this great work upon the Twelve, which they bore un- til a leader was chosen from among them. Inspired of God and strengthened in their faith, they sustained Brigham Young as the Prophet of the Lord, and so the Church was saved. By the will of the Father, Brigham Young guided the people through all the troubles they were destined to encounter, and so God saved the Church and the Saints who share with Christ their leader, brother and friend, all the troubles that are heaped upon them. In all these glorious truths Brother Johnson was a life-long believer, and bore a constant testimony to them. It was in the year 1895, that I first met Elder Johnson. At that time only a very few were alive of Joseph's special circle of about ' 'fifty friends," of which he was one. Of this select circle of the prophet's most trusted friends, Brother Johnson was about the youngest member. At the time of his death, he had been the last of this council — the last witness for more than two years. He was the last to live of that blessed band who were zealous wit- nesses to the end that the work which the prophet ushered in was true. At the age of 87, upon his birthday, Elder Johnson's neigh- bors planned to meet him once again and to spend a pleasant hour with him. On this occasion, as he stood with trembling in their midst, as it were on the brink of the grave, he bore testimony that the doctrines which the Prophet Joseph revealed were divine, and that he was ever a seeker after the truth, and that the Church which the prophet established is God's divine organization. He declared soberly that Joseph Smith was a noble man, brave, un- daunted and energetic in the performance of the work of God. He enjoined his friends and children to be true to the work which the prophet established, and promised them that if they should fulfil their duties well they would be blessed with a similar testimony. He then blessed his friends and relatives and bade adieu to all. The patriarch died four months later, and it is my firm belief

A LAST WITNESS. 547 that he left this earthly home for the paradise of Jesus ; that he has found a place of great reward, in which it is my desire to meet him, and where all the Saints will meet him who have tried to do right and who labor for the truth. Mesa, Aeizona. sr^'-> '^3f 5 £.. ^L^ %w mil f Hfci^Js^'-' 7 ^m A. I f Fa^ 1 i 1 ' ' ' HUB T V ^UkO/iLJ^I '% T i ELDERS OF THE MARYLAND CONFERENCE. Top row, reading from left to right: Ben T. Ritchie, Idaho Falls, Idaho; J. H. Whitesides, Layton, Ambrose Call, Bountiful, Utah. Middle row: Samuel Packer, Preston, Idaho; James Lerwill, Payson, Utah; May ben Fox, Canada; Albert L. Egbert, Fairview, Idaho; Jesse M. Stephens, Riverdale, Utah. Bottom row: Earl E.Walker, Rigby Idaho; Caleb J. Squires, Salt Lake City, F. H. Gunn, (Conference President) Adamsville, James G. Yardley, Beaver, Alvin Wood, Clearfield, Utah.