Description
“I Give You A Mission” The Conversion of Artemus Millett
Artemus Millett first heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1831 when Phinehas Young, a Methodist, bore a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon in his hearing. Later Joseph and Phinehas Young returned to the area, now as Latter-day Saint missionaries and preached the Restoration. Artemus, was very ill at the time of their visit and had been so for a long time. He was given a blessing by the elders in which he said, “I received a witness of the Latter-day work in a manifestation of the healing power.” Yet, Artemus was not converted nor baptized.
Then, according to Millett family history,
Brigham Young was given a special mission [by the Prophet Joseph Smith] to go to Canada and baptize Brother Artemus Millet, . . . which call resulted from a consultation held at Kirtland respecting the building of the Temple there, and as to who they could get that was capable of taking charge of the work. When Elder Lorenzo Young exclaimed to the Prophet “I know the very man who is capable of doing this work; “‘Who is he?” asked the Prophet. Lorenzo replied [“It] is Artemus Millet.” The Prophet turned to Brigham and said “I give you a mission to go to Canada and baptize Brother Artemus Millet, and bring him here. Tell him to bring a thousand dollars with him.” Artemus was much surprised when Brigham announced his mission to him and [he] asked “What kind of a church is that?” Then Brigham explained the principles of the Gospel to him and he accepted and was baptized.
Artemus did close out his affairs in Canada and emigrated to Kirtland, with the $1000. During the course of construction on the Temple, Artemus became ill with the dread, and often deadly, disease of cholera. He called for the elders to come and bless him, but the blessing had no effect. Artemus later recorded,
I suffered such excruciating pain that my groaning was heard at Joseph Smith’s [house], a distance of 250 yards. I was afterwards told that when in agony I called out “Let Joseph Smith Jun. come and lay his hands on me and I shall be healed and I know it,” not knowing what I said. [Joseph] pressed his way through the crowd, for the house was filled with people, and came forward and, laying his hands upon my head, asked God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ to heal me. The vomiting and purging ceased and I began to amend from that very moment.
Source: Journal of Artemus Millet Written by Himself, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJR-R6J
Copyright Glenn Rawson 2022
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