Description

Lay Down That Axe

Lindsay Anderson Brady was born June 11, 1811, in Lincoln County Kentucky. He came of a large family whom some believe were among those that followed Daniel Boone into the woods of Kentucky.

In 1835, two missionaries came into the area preaching the restored Gospel. They were Wilford Woodruff and Warren Parrish of Kirtland. Lindsay’s wife and members of her family had listened to the missionaries and believed in the message. They insisted that Lindsay attend one of the meetings and listen, but

“Lindsey became very angry, threw his axe over his shoulder and hurried into the nearby woods to cut and split rails. After working a short time, he became uneasy when he heard a voice speak to him, saying, ‘Lay down that axe and attend that meeting.’ He looked, but there wasn’t a soul around. He dared not disobey. He lay down his axe and hurried to the meeting.”

Lindsay listened to the missionaries preach and knew that it was true. He was baptized October 1, 1835. The family records state,

“As a result of Lindsey joining the Church, his family disowned him, and would have nothing more to do with him. His sister, Charlotte, and her family became interested in the Church, but her parents persuaded her not to join.”

From that point on Lindsay and his family followed in faith the Great Caravan of the Saints all the way to the Rocky Mountains. He died June 26, 1885, in Fairview, San Pete County, Utah.

What if that day, with axe in hand, Lindsay had brushed off that voice as just his imagination? How many generations would have been effected? The Lord will do just what it takes to respect our agency and influence us to do good.

https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/167090810?p=52617110&returnLabel=Lindsey%20Anderson%20Brady%20(KWJ8-XPL)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2FKWJ8-XPL

https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/chd/individual/lindsay-anderson-brady-1811