Description

Gustavus Perry

The story is told, by the descendants of Gustavus and Eunice Perry, of a dark stormy night, probably early in the year 1830, in the region of Lewis, Essex County, New York. The work was done for the day on the farm, and the family was gathered in their kitchen. Their front door opened and a stranger entered the room. He was an old man with a long, flowing, white beard. 

The family noted that even though it was a stormy night, there were no signs of rain on him. 

The old man blessed them in the name of the Lord and asked for food and lodging for the night, both of which were generously given. Somewhere in those first moments, he took a pack from his shoulder, opened it, and pulled out a puppy which he gave to the children to play with. 

Later that evening, he took from his pocket a book from which he began to read, “Telling them that…. [the book] was soon to come forth and telling them to get one at their first opportunity.”

The next morning, he mysteriously disappeared. None of the neighbors saw him go, even though it was open daylight. Not long after, two elders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came into the area, preaching about The Book of Mormon. 

“The family obtained one and in reading the book, they recognized passages of scripture the stranger had read to them on the night of his visit. In the year 1832, the family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

From that point forward, where the church went, the family of Gustavus and Eunice Perry was there. Eventually, they settled in what would be known as Perry, Utah. Their second great grandson was L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 

Source:

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LH23-P4R