Description

Alexander Neibaur

Alexander Neibaur was born in 1808 in France to Nathan and Rebecca Perez Neibaur. His parents were educated, cultured Jews and though his father wanted Alexander to become a rabbi, he attended the University of Berlin instead and became a surgeon and a dentist.

After graduation, he traveled and in time, settled in Preston, England where he got married. In the course of his travels, Alexander became converted to Christ.

One day, in the summer of 1837, a neighbor mentioned to his wife, Ellen about some American preachers that were in town. Upstairs, Alexander overheard the remark and stuck his head out and immediately inquired where. When informed where they were, he got dressed and went looking for them.

Not many hours later, he was in close conversation with Elders Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Orson Hyde and Joseph Fielding. One of the first questions Alexander asked these missionaries was,

“You have a book?”

And nothing could satisfy that eager inspired question till he had a copy of the Book of Mormon in his own hands. For he had seen it, so he declared in his night visions and recognized the book on sight. Alexander Neibaur read the book in three days and asked for baptism. He was advised that he should prepare himself further before being baptized. Accordingly and obediently, he was baptized the following spring.

On the 7th of February 1841, the Neibaur’s – Alexander and Ellen sailed from Liverpool in the ship Sheffield. Upon their arrival in Nauvoo, Alexander met Heber Kimball and the other missionaries that had taught him and he was ordained to the priesthood and to the office of a seventy. He was honored with the friendship of the Prophet Joseph. He had the extreme pleasure of becoming instructor (can you imagine?) to the Prophet Joseph in the German and Hebrew languages and treasured all his life the blessedness of that memory and association.

It was under those circumstances that Alexander Neibaur recorded the following in his journal on May 24,1844. Now, mind you, this is a Jew-converted. His English was a little rough in the journal and so I’ve modernized it a little bit to make it a little easier to read. But the journal reads as follows:

24th – called  at Brother Joseph Smith’s and met Mr. Bonnie. Brother Joseph told us of the first call he had at a revival meeting. His mother and brother and sister got religion. He wanted to get religion too, wanted to feel and shout like the rest but could feel nothing. He opened his Bible. The first passage that struck him was, “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not.

Now, let me step back. My friends, do you realize what this account is and how precious this is? Continuing…

“Joseph went into the woods to pray, knelt himself down. His tongue was closed cleaved to the roof of his mouth, could utter not a word. He felt easier after a while. He saw a fire towards heaven. It came nearer and nearer. He saw a personage

in the fire who had light complexion, blue eyes, a piece of white cloth drawn over his shoulders, his right arm bare. After a while, another person came to the side of the first. Mr. Smith then asked, “Must I join the Methodist church?”

“No, they are not my people” was the response. They have all gone astray. There is none that doeth good, no not one, but this is my Beloved Son, hearken ye to Him.

The fire drew nearer and rested upon the trees. It enveloped him and comforted him. He endeavored to rise but felt uncommonly feeble. He got into the house. He told the Methodist priest who said this was not an age for God to reveal himself in vision. Revelation had ceased with the new testament.” 

My dear friends, I am so grateful to Alexander Neibaur and others who recorded the first vision. Whatever else you may want to say, think, feel or believe, the first vision is the hinge pin of this work of the restoration. It is the case on which we stand or fall.

If Joseph was telling the truth and he told that story frequently after 1832, if Joseph was telling the truth, then we have the greatest message since the resurrection of Christ. But if he was not telling the truth, then everything we stand for is a damnable lie and the accusations of our enemies are true and so there you have it.

Did the first vision really happen or did it not?

I am grateful for those like Alexander Neibaur who were there, heard Joseph, tell the story firsthand and added details we don’t get anywhere else. In my heart, I know, Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son and that makes all the difference. Now, I know where to find the Lord Jesús Christ and who’s telling the truth.

 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Neibaur#:~:text=Alexander%20Neibaur%20(January%208%2C%201808,of%20dental%20schools%20in%20America.

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJC-PZR