M. D. Rosenbaum leaves his native country.--In San
Francisco.--Goes to Carson.--A voice speaks to him.--Goes to
Salt Lake.--At Elder Neibaur's.--Baptized.--Called on mission to
Germany.--In Berlin.--Attends meeting.--Is arrested.--Tried and
sentenced.--Banished.--Returns home.--F. H. Snow appointed to a
mission.--Reflections.--Strangers marvel.--What an affrighted Catholic
said.--The captain of the steamer replies.--An incident.--Tired and
hungry.--Why he goes to bed supperless.--A retort.--What a priest
did.--The Channel Islands.--Released and returns home.--Expression of
gratitude.
The following synopsis is from the pen of Elder Morris D. Rosenbaum,
son-in-law of my brother Lorenzo: I left my native country when about
nineteen years of age, for America--arrived in New York in 1850,
traveled through the Eastern and Southern States to New Orleans, and
from there by steamer _via_ Havana and Panama to San Francisco.
In California, hearing of a "Mormon" settlement in Carson Valley, I was
impressed to visit it, and accordingly went over the mountains to see
and learn of the doctrine of that people. I remember, when first coming
in sight of the settlement, hearing a voice saying, "There is a people
which you never leave." Arriving in Carson Valley, I stopped with Simon
Baker--he argued with me about "Mormonism" from noon until midnight,
seemingly making very little impression on my mind. My desire to be
with this people increased, and as they moved _en masse_ for Salt Lake
Valley, I made up my mind to travel with them, remain there during the
winter, and return to my native country the following spring.
During the winter of 1856-7, I stopped in Salt Lake City, and attended
Brother Isaac Bowman's school in the Seventeenth Ward. Visiting Brother
Alexander Neibaur (of the same nativity as myself), he preached the
Gospel to me--I became interested in its principles--a peaceful spirit
wrought mightily in me--commending the ancient Gospel to my conscience.
I read the Book of Mormon from beginning to end, in connection with the
Bible, prayerfully, and arose from its perusal with a strong conviction
on my mind, _this book was written by inspiration_.
Dreams and visions, in my slumbering hours, began to have great effect
on my mind; but when I listened to my selfish thoughts, I hated
"Mormonism" in my heart, and regretted ever hearing it.
I well remember Brother Neibaur bearing his testimony of the truth of
the Gospel to me. I said to him, "Mr. Neibaur, why cannot I have such
a testimony?" He replied, "Mr. Rosenbaum, I promise you in the name of
Israel's God, you will, if you obey the principles of the Gospel, and
honestly ask your heavenly Father for it." Such a promise I longed for,
and made up my mind to embrace the truth; was baptized on the 27th of
March, 1858, by Brother John Tingey, of the Seventeenth Ward, Salt Lake
City; and a short time after, I received a testimony which I desire
never to forget.
Early in April, 1858, I was called and went to Echo Canyon, in company
with others, to assist in defending the people--traveled south in time
of "the move," and stopped in Provo a short time.
July 2d, 1858, I was ordained a Seventy, and united with the fifth
quorum of Seventies; lived in Salt Lake City until 1861, then, on April
10th, removed to Brigham City, and have lived here from that time.
In the Spring of 1880 I was called and went on a mission to
Germany--arrived at Berlin July 10th. At a conference held there, Elder
Budge presiding, I was called and set apart to preside over the North
German Mission, August 15th, 1880. On the 19th, held an evening meeting
in Berlin--was arrested there for preaching the Gospel, and put in
prison that night--had an examination the next day, which lasted from 7
a. m. until 4 p. m., when the court decreed my banishment from Berlin
and the kingdom of Prussia, with orders to leave the next day at noon,
and never to return, under pain of fine and imprisonment.
August 21st, I left by railroad for the kingdom of Bavaria, traveled
through there and adjoining kingdoms, as Baden, Wurtemburg and Hanover,
for about one year, when I was released and returned home.
Morris D. Rosenbaum.
From the journal of Franklin H. Snow:
I received a letter from President John Taylor informing me that my
name had been presented, and that I had been accepted as a missionary
to Europe.
As soon as I read the letter, I thanked the Lord that my prayers had
been answered, for I had much desired to visit my mother's native
country, and declare the glad tidings of salvation. I knew that the
principles which I had been taught by my father and mother were
principles that would benefit all who put them in practice.
I wrote to President Taylor that I accepted the mission and should
endeavor to magnify my calling. On the 12th of October, 1880, I left my
home in company of fifty Elders, thirty of whom were missionaries to
Europe, the others to different portions of the United States.
None but those that have left their comfortable homes and large
circles of relatives and friends, can imagine my feelings when the
train started out from Ogden City to carry me thousands of miles from
my home. I was not acquainted with any of the Elders on the train
when we started, but all having been baptized into one spirit, we had
associated together but a short time before we were all acquainted.
Strangers on the train, who were not of us, made frequent remarks and
marveled and queried how it was that we put so much confidence in each
other.
We arrived safely in New York, and on the 19th left on the steamship
Wyoming; were thirteen days on the ocean, with very rough weather
for nine days. There was a Catholic on board who was so dreadfully
frightened that he was frantic and blamed the d--d "Mormons" for the
rough weather. He said if he had known that so many "Mormons" were on
the steamer he would have stayed in New York. The captain told him that
if it had not been for the "Mormons," in all probability, they might
all have been in the bottom of the ocean.
When we arrived in Liverpool, I believe I was as much delighted to see
land as was Columbus when he discovered America, for I had been seasick
for several days, and even the sight of land seemed medicinal. I was
appointed to labor in the London Conference, under the direction of
President Roskelley, in connection with Brother W. W. Willey, and with
him commenced in my field of labor on the 6th of November, and walked
about fourteen miles to the first family in our district.
No one, without similar experience, can imagine how I felt when I found
myself seated by the side of a fireplace with a large number of small
children thinly clad. When I sat down to supper, I saw there were from
eight to ten hungry children to be fed from the scanty meal which was
scarcely enough for five hungry persons. I ate very sparingly, and
went to bed feeling rather discouraged, and thinking I could do no
good among such poor people. Young and inexperienced as I was, I did
not realize that God had not chosen the rich of this world to be heirs
of His kingdom, but that He had chosen the poor and the meek of the
earth. I traveled three weeks feeling that I was doing no good, and
that I could be more happy at home in the society of my friends, and in
the enjoyment of the comforts of life. Elder Willey did all he could
to encourage and help me out of my dangerous condition. I did not and
could not, at that time, realize what a strong hold the adversary had
on me to prevent the fulfilment of my mission. I was really impressed
with the idea that it was impossible for me to endure the hardships
and privations that most missionaries had to put up with; but I wished
to honor my father and mother, although without a testimony from my
heavenly Father, I felt that I could not travel among the people.
With these impressions, I wandered into the lone woods and offered up
a short prayer to God, and in the sincerity of my heart asked Him to
give me a contented mind that I might fill my mission acceptably before
my Father in heaven. From that very moment the powers of darkness gave
way and a different influence surrounded me, and I saw clearly that
I was engaged in a great and glorious work; that the Gospel must be
preached to all that had ears to hear, the poor as well as the rich.
From the time I offered up that prayer until the close of my mission I
always felt well, and never wished to return home till I was honorably
released.
I traveled with Elder Willey about three weeks, and then traveled
alone. I had to walk about one hundred and fifty miles to visit ten
families of Saints, and they all were so poor that they could keep me
but one night out of three weeks. I walked from ten to twenty-five and
thirty miles per day. I recollect walking over twenty miles one day,
arriving at a Saint's house just at dark, tired and hungry; I had but a
scanty breakfast in the morning, and no dinner, for the sensible reason
that I had no money to pay for it. By supper time I felt as though I
could make a hearty meal on dry crusts. The good sister got supper for
me, and as I sat down to eat, a little girl about ten years of age
brought from the cupboard two hard biscuits, and said they had been
there a week--that they had kept them for Mr. Snow to eat. As hungry as
I was, that took away my appetite, and I retired to bed supperless.
I never shall forget the first time I distributed tracts to strangers.
I called at a house of a well-to-do lady, and told her I would like
to converse with her on the Gospel. She seemed very much interested
as well as astonished, when I spoke of the necessity of Apostles and
Prophets, and of signs following the believer, whenever the Church
of Christ was on the earth. I conversed with her nearly or quite one
hour, and she said that all I had told her was true. I then bore my
testimony that the true Church of Christ was on the earth--that it was
organized by the Prophet Joseph Smith. At that she threw the tract I
had presented her in my face and shut the door, saying, "All you have
told me is false if Joe Smith had anything to do with it." I then went
on my way feeling more determined than ever to preach the Gospel.
The first out-door meeting I held was in a small village in
Bedfordshire. I called on a family and wished to know if they would
accept of a tract. I told them who I was, and that I had come six
thousand miles to tell them that God had again spoken from the heavens,
and that all mankind were commanded to repent and obey the Gospel. The
lady of the house (if I may call her a lady) said she had heard of "old
Joe Smith"--that he had dug a book out of a rock, and she did not wish
to know any more about him. "Have you?" said I; "I have not heard of
any such man, and I would like to learn from you to what man you refer
who dug a book out of a rock." She said, "Old Joe Smith." She appeared
quite angry at me for not knowing what she meant. Then I said, "I
presume you mean the Prophet Joseph Smith, who had records delivered to
him by an angel?" She retorted, "There is no such thing as angels in
our day, and the Bible don't speak of any other book." I then asked her
if she would let me see her Bible. She tapped one of her little girls
on the head and told her to get me a Bible. I then read to her the
twenty-ninth chapter of Isaiah. By this time there were thirty people
gathered around, and I availed myself of the opportunity to preach to
them. After the meeting I delivered tracts to nearly every family in
the village. After I left, I heard that the minister sent women around
to gather up the tracts I had circulated, and bring them to him, and
he called a meeting and told a mass of falsehoods about the Saints. I
comforted myself with "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and
speak all manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake."
For three months during the very coldest weather I had not one cent in
my pocket; for what little I had when I arrived in England, I spent
for food for the destitute Saints, and I can testify that during those
three months I received greater manifestations of the power of God
than ever before or since. During the seven months in which I labored
in the district of Hertford and Bedfordshire, I traveled on foot two
thousand one hundred miles. My next field of labor was Kent, the garden
spot of England. I labored there eleven months with much satisfaction.
The Saints in Kent were not so scattered, and I was enabled to hold
meetings more frequently, and the people were less opposed to the
Gospel than in Bedfordshire.
President West gave me a mission to the Channel Islands, and I remained
on the Isle of Jersey about three months. The Saints were few, and so
very poor they could only give me one meal per day, and I managed to
make the other two cost me but sixpence. When I learned the degraded
condition of the people on the island, I was not surprised that out
of sixty thousand so few had embraced the pure Gospel of Jesus. Many,
very many of the inhabitants reveled in debauchery. There was scarcely
a street but what was polluted with one or more houses of ill-fame;
hundreds of young women walked the streets from sundown till past
midnight. It was there I learned to appreciate the noble and sacred
virtue of the youth of Zion.
While on the islands, I was released from my mission to return home. I
went directly to London, where I took train for Liverpool, and there,
on the 21st of October, 1882, took steamer to New York, and arrived at
my home on the 10th of November.
During the two years I was abroad, I traveled on foot over six thousand
miles; by rail, six thousand, and on the water, eight thousand.
The time spent in preaching the Gospel, with all its hardships and
privations, was the happiest of my life. I bore my testimony to
thousands, and I know that the Lord blessed my labors.
I thank God, my heavenly Father, that I was permitted to fill my
mission, and to return home to meet those who are dear to me by the
ties of nature. I can still bear a faithful testimony that the fulness
of the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to earth,
with all its powers, gifts and ordinances, through the Prophet Joseph
Smith.
Franklin Horton Snow.