“John Johnson Is to Be a Member of the United Order”
Doctrine and Covenants 96:6–9
6 And again, verily I say unto you, it is wisdom and expedient in me, that my servant John Johnson whose offering I have accepted, and whose prayers I have heard, unto whom I give a promise of eternal life inasmuch as he keepeth my commandments from henceforth—
7 For he is a descendant of Joseph and a partaker of the blessings of the promise made unto his fathers—
8 Verily I say unto you, it is expedient in me that he should become a member of the order, that he may assist in bringing forth my word unto the children of men.
9 Therefore ye shall ordain him unto this blessing, and he shall seek diligently to take away incumbrances that are upon the house named among you, that he may dwell therein. Even so. Amen.
Elder Hyrum M. Smith and Janne M. Sjödahl wrote:
“The Lord instruct[ed] the brethren to receive John Johnson as a member of the united order, as He had instructed them to receive Frederick G. Williams [see D&C 92:1], and others [see D&C 82:11]. His special duty would be to find means whereby to lift the indebtedness on a certain property, perhaps the French farm [see D&C 96:1]. . . .
“John Johnson was one of the highly favored men in the early days of this dispensation, who did not remain faithful to the end, though at one time he was valiant in the cause.
“He had seen his wife miraculously healed by the Prophet Joseph. He opened his home at Hiram to Joseph and his family, while the Prophet was engaged in his great biblical work. He defended Joseph against a murderous mob, risking his own life. In fact, his collar bone was broken in the conflict, but he was instantly healed under the hands of David Whitmer. He became a member of the first high council, and he saw two of his sons, Luke S. and Lyman E., rise to the exalted position of members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. And yet, when the spirit of apostasy possessed so many Church members in Kirtland, in 1837 and 1838, he, as well as his sons, were affected by it. He died in Kirtland, July 30th, 1843, at the age of 64 years.”
(The Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, rev. ed. [1951], 607.)
