Description

I Have Seen My Savior

Alexander Neibaur was born a Jew, joined the Church in England and emigrated to Nauvoo in 1841. He became a close friend to the Prophet Joseph Smith and grieved when he was martyred.
Not long after the martyrdom, Alexander met William Law on the streets of Nauvoo. Law had been a counsellor to the Prophet, but had apostatized and was largely responsible for the events that brought about the Prophet’s death. And even after Joseph’s death, William Law continued his attacks upon the saints. According to family history,

When William Law held out his hand to shake hands with Alexander, Brother Neibaur, friend and defendant of the Prophet Joseph Smith and faithful convert, bravely withheld  his own hand and said firmly. “William Law, I never give my hand to a traitor.” The enemies of Joseph may have been many and strong, but just as strong and true to the Prophet Joseph Smith were the likes of Alexander Neibaur and many like him. (Bruce Newbold History)

Some time after that Alexander moved his family to Farmington Iowa where he was practicing dentistry. One day while working on a patient, Alexander rested for a moment and the patient “began to say ugly and unkind things about the Prophet Joseph Smith. Dr. Neibaur rebuked the man sternly and defended the character of the Prophet. The man grabbed his pistol and threatened to shoot Neibaur if he did not hold his peace. The man raised the pistol, snapped off every barrel in the face of Neibaur, but for some strange reason, not one bullet fired. The brother of the client came in from a nearby room, picked up the pistol and emptied each barrel outside the door in the air. (Susa Young Gates History of Alexander Neibaur)

Then in 1848 at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, Alexander went to Brigham Young about outfitting to go West. They had sufficient food and others supplies to go west by not a wagon or team. Brother Brigham evidently counselled Alexander to stay back and come when he had a complete outfit, Alexander is reported to have said,

Brother Brigham, I never turn back after I put my hand to the plow. Besides, my wife is sick and if I don’t get her out of this place, she will die.” President Young answered, “Brother Neibaur, I wish I could see every Latter-day saint show the same determined spirit.”

President Young helped him get outfitted and they made the journey across the plains, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, September 22, 1848.

Alexander Neibaur, like so many others, endured and sacrificed much for the Lord’s sake. It is said that just before his death a son asked him,

“Father you have been telling us of your long and hard experience and we have listened with intense affection and interest. But let me ask you , is it worth it all? Is the gospel worth all this sacrifice?” Alexander fervently replied: “Yes! Yes! And more! I have seen my Savior. I have seen the prints in his hands! I know that Jesus is the son of God, and I know that this work is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I would suffer it all and more, far more than I have ever suffered for that knowledge even to the laying down of my body on the plains for the wolves to devour.”

Alexander passed away in Salt Lake City on December 15, 1883. He was 75 years old. He is buried by his sweetheart Ellen in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Source:

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJ4-V3S

Copyright Glenn Rawson 2022

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