C.S. Lewis says that we most give way to temper when some enjoyment that we planned on or time we expected to have to ourselves is invaded by a needy friend or an importunate child. We fail to realize, he says, that all our time and property is really God’s to dispose of. We should be pathetically grateful if God spares us an hour now and again to amuse ourselves.
The Ensign came today with an article on Edward Hunter, a wealthy Quaker who joined the Church and became the Presiding Bishop. The article relates that in Nauvoo “He cheerfully donated $7000 in cash and nearly $5000 in goods to the Prophet Joseph for the building of Zion. He continued to donate generously, so much so, that the Prophet Joseph Smith told him he had done enough and to reserve the rest for his own use.” I imagine the good Bishop looked on his remaining farms with a kind of delight he hadn’t known before.
Well, there are times when people need to preserve assets so they can give them away later. That’s the story of Brother Decker from the early days.
I know a lot about Hunter since he was a major part of my master’s thesis. He was very wealthy–likely the wealthiest convert of that generation. He sold his Pennsylvania land for about $26,000, which was a lot of money back then. At the time of his conversion, all of Hunter’s children had died in infancy, so he said that he and his wife saw no point in accumulating wealth since they had no progeny (they had more children later). So they diecided to give it all to the Prophet. I think his words were, “I had determined to give him all until he said ‘keep it.’” Hunter did well in Nauvoo: he said he lost $30,000 when the saints were driven out. Furthermore, there is much to suggest that Hunter’s money played a major part in financing Nauvoo.
Also, Hunter wasn’t a Quaker–his grandfather was, but his (Hunter’s) father dropped out.
I know a lot about Hunter since he was a major part of my master’s thesis. He was very wealthy–likely the wealthiest convert of that generation. He sold his Pennsylvania land for about $26,000, which was a lot of money back then. At the time of his conversion, all of Hunter’s children had died in infancy, so he said that he and his wife saw no point in accumulating wealth since they had no progeny (they had more children later). So they diecided to give it all to the Prophet. I think his words were, “I had determined to give him all until he said ‘keep it.’” Hunter did well in Nauvoo: he said he lost $30,000 when the saints were driven out. Furthermore, there is much to suggest that Hunter’s money played a major part in financing Nauvoo.
Also, Hunter wasn’t a Quaker–his grandfather was, but his (Hunter’s) father dropped out.
Thank you, Mr. Fleming. I love the details of the lives of the Saints.
Mr. Ethesis,
Could you tell us a little more about Brother Decker?