Joseph Millett

Description

Joseph Millett

It was 1871, and times were difficult for those called to settle a tiny little farming community called Spring Valley, Nevada. Joseph Millet built fence, raised hay, traded horses, and did odd jobs to support his large family. One day his children came in and informed him that a neighbor, Newton Hall, was out of bread; that his family had none. Joseph proceeded to divide out a portion of his family’s flour to give to Newton Hall when Hall walked in.

“Brother Hall, are you out of flour?” said Joseph Millett.

“Brother Millett, we have none,” came the reply.

“Well, Brother Hall, there is some in that sack. I have divided and was going to send it to you. Your children told mine that you [were] out.’

At this Newton Hall “began to cry. He said he had tried others, but could not get any.” He described how he had gone off into the cedars to be alone and pray, “And the Lord told him to go to Joseph Millett.”

Moved by this, Joseph Millet said, “‘Well Brother Hall, you needn’t bring this back. If the Lord sent you for it you don’t owe me for it.’”

That night in his diary Joseph Millett wrote the following, “You can’t tell me how good it made me feel to know that the Lord knew there was such a person as Joseph Millett”

I wonder if the next time the Lord needs an angel of mercy in your neighborhood, could he send them to you? There is a last part to this story that is seldom told—a rest of the story if you will. July 26, 1901, Washington, Utah. Joseph Millett had a dream in which he found himself at his own funeral. It disturbed him much that there were very few people present at the services, but then he looked again and saw a multitude of persons. He heard one say,

“He baptized me with six others in Gaberouse Bay on the Island of Cape Breton. Another said, He brought the Gospel to us on the Musquadobed in Nova Scotia. Another said, He baptized me and 7 others in the Merrimac River at Lowell, Mass.” And on it went, people lauding the deeds of Joseph Millett. Newton Hall was there and spoke of that day in 1871. And then one spoke and said, “I know him and shall speak for him.” It was President Brigham Young.

Brother Millett realized that while there were few in mortal attendance at his funeral there was a multitude in attendance beyond the veil praising and remembering the deeds of his life. These people were not mourning, but rejoicing as was Brother Millett.

Joseph Millett passed away October 11, 1911, in Cedar City, Utah, having lived a life of charity.

Source: (Diary of Joseph Millett, holograph, Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City). And https://familysearch.org/photos/stories/6943469