Description

Brigham Young Appeared Before Him

Francis Clement Nickle or Clem as he was called, grew up deeply religious. At the age of eighteen he became the superintendent of the Sunday School and the leader of the weekly youth prayer meeting in his protestant Church. Under his leadership both prospered. Then one night after prayer meeting the youth were gathered outside the Church. Some of them began to sing a party song, “Skip to my Lou.” The minister overheard and was deeply offended. Clem was called in and “raked over the coals.” He was dismissed as superintendent of the Sunday School and the youth prayer meetings were discontinued. And it was not over yet. One day a group of boys were gathered listening to Clem play the harmonica. Suddenly, one of them jumped up and started dancing a jig. Someone saw this and Clem was called before the elders of the Church and excommunicated because he had “played for a dance.”

Then one day, many years later, two “Mormon Elders came into the community where they lived. The family history says, “Clem had been brought up where the Mormons were considered more as a band of outlaws than as a church. The missionaries seemed so clean and fine, so in earnest, that he took them in and listened to their message, believing, no doubt, that he might enlighten them and rescue them from a belief in pernicious doctrines.”

Later that night when he returned home, his wife Nellie asked, “how as their preaching?” to which Clem responded. “I’ve never heard so much truth in all my life, but it sounded hard to take at the last, for they said they knew Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.” 

Clem continued to study and listen. The message rang true, but he wasn’t sure. One day he said, “Nellie, I’m going to see mother. I know that she will be happy to know the truth is really on the earth.” To this Nellie heartily agreed.”

Clem made the journey and told his mother who was also devout and a seeker. “Mother”, Clem said, “I’ve come to tell you something glorious and beautiful. I have found the true church of Jesus Christ; One that bears His name and teaches His doctrines. It even has the same organization that He had in His church.” “Where is it, son, tell me quick”. But as the conversation went on and she heard the despised word, “Mormon” she broke down and cried bitterly. “Don’t ever let the Mormons into your home again, Clem,” she said.”

Though her words shook Clem, he and Nellie continued to investigate the Church for many years. Finally in November 1914, they were baptized. Clem was filled with joy and power, but there was a lingering pain in his heart. How could it be that his mother, a woman so noble and righteous could “see no good in the Church.” It bothered him and “he longed for a testimony strong enough that he would have power to put the message over to her and convince her of its truthfulness.” One night he knelt before his bed and prayed “for a testimony so firm and true that he could stand before any force and declare its truthfulness with convincing power. Suddenly, the room became light and Brigham Young appeared before him, telling him that he had in very deed accepted the true gospel of Jesus Christ and promising him that if he would be faithful he would soon receive the Priesthood and that not only would his mother accept the truth, but that he would be instrumental in bringing all his father’s household into the church.”

Hearing that Clem went forward with renewed effort to teach his mother but she would not accept it. Then one day, his mother became ill and lapsed into a coma. All knew she was on her deathbed, when “suddenly, she regained full consciousness and she raised up in bed and called all her nine living children to her bedside, saying she had something she wished to tell them. 

Then she said in effect, “Clem I’m going and I want you to make me one promise before I go.” … With some trepidation, “he answered. “Mother, I will promise you anything that is within the bounds of reason.”…  “Clem,” she said, “promise me that you will go to the temple and do the work for your father and me, and that you will teach the gospel as you understand it to all your brothers and sisters.” Through his tears of mingled grief and joy he answered fervently, “With all the power God will give me, Mother, dear, I will.” They all loved her very dearly, for she was an ideal mother; but they could not help thinking that maybe she was not quite rational as she spoke those words, so her daughter Emma said, “Mother, you don’t mean that you want us to be Mormons, do you?” “Yes, I mean that. Now I know that Clem has accepted the truth. I have seen into the eternities. I cannot talk more now, for I must go. But, and she pointed to him, Clem here can talk and he can teach you the way.” With these words she lay back on her pillow and passed away to her rest, having not only fulfilled the promise that Clem had been given in vision, that she would accept the truth, but she also was permitted to bear testimony of it to her children.”

Clem did the Temple work for his mother and father as requested. And—his prayer was answered he became so powerful a teacher and missionary that he brought many to the Gospel, among whom were “all his brothers and sisters.”

Source: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/1192026