ALPHEUS GIFFORD His Son HENRY DILL GIFFORD His Son GEORGE WASHINGTON GIFFORD
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ALPHEUS GIFFORD His Son HENRY DILL GIFFORD His Son GEORGE WASHINGTON GIFFORD MEN & WOMEN OF COURAGE Henry Dill Gifford was born 28th of April, 1827, Reading, Wayne County, New York, the son of Alpheus Gifford and Anna Nash. Alpheus was introduced to the Book of Mormon, which had born to Noah Gifford and Mary Boweman first been bought by Phineas Young, from Joseph Gifford 28th of August, 1793. Anna Nash was Smith's brother Samuel, and Phineas gave it to born to Azor Nash and Lucy Shaw Nash 17th of Brigham Young and through Brigham it eventually February,1800. Alpheus and Anna were married got to Heber C. Kimball.) 27th of April, 1817. Henery Dill was the 5th child in the family and the 4th son. During his early History of the Church, Vol.4, Pg.109, Footnotes childhood, he with his family, traveled a great deal. His father Alpheus, was a "free lance" [Alpheus Gifford was born in Adams township, minister and went wherever he felt he was Berkshire county, Massachusetts, August 28, needed. Alpheus was a deeply religious man and 1793. At the age of eighteen, having scarcely taught his children the will of the Lord as he sufficient learning to enable him to read the Bible, interpreted the Bible. he commenced preaching the Gospel, not for hire, but for the salvation of souls. In 1817, he When Henry Dill was a young boy of 5, in 1830, married Anna Nash, who bore him seven sons his father met some men who had claimed they and three daughters. In the spring of 1831, had the everlasting Gospel. Alpheus read the hearing of the doctrines taught by Joseph Smith book of Mormon and the spirit of the Lord be made diligent inquiry and found they were revealed to him the truthfulness of the Gospel scriptural and was baptized and ordained a therein contained. He was baptized, ordained a priest; he brought home five books of Mormon Priest, and returned home, with 5 books of which he distributed among his friends; he was Mormon, to Taigo County, Pennsylvania, where then living in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Soon his family and fiends lived and distributed the after he went to Kirtland, Ohio, to see the Books of Mormon amongst them. Soon after, Prophet Joseph Smith and the brethren, when he Alpheus, along with his brother Levi and several was ordained an elder; he was accompanied by friends, went to Kirtland, Ohio, where the his brother Levi, Elial Strong, Eleazer Miller, Church was now located and there, Levi and Enos Curtis, and Abraham Brown, who were friends were baptized and Alpheus was ordained baptized. On returning to Pennsylvania he an Elder. They returned home, rejoicing in their preached and baptized many, among whom was new found religion. There, and in the regions Heber C. Kimball. The gifts of the Gospel were round about, they baptized many. The gifts of the enjoyed by many, signs followed those who Gospel were made manifested amongst the Saints believed; devils were cast out; the sick were in that place, signs followed those who believed, healed; many prophesied; some spake with new the sick were healed, devils were cast out, some tongues; while others interpreted the same. Mr. prophesied, some spoke with new tongues and Calvin Gilmour, with whom Brother Gifford had some interpreted. In fact, the gifts were enjoyed previously been associated in preaching, heard to a great extent. (Two years later, in April, him speak in tongues and interpret. Gilmour 1832, Alpheus, accompanied by 4 other declared he understood the languages and that Missionaries, were in the Mendon, New York they were interpreted correctly, and that he knew area and there, Alpheus baptized Heber C. Gifford had no classical learning; but that he Kimball, and one of his companions, Eleazure would rather be damned than believe in Miller, baptized Brigham Young. Heber and Mormonism. Brigham, having two years earlier, been without reservation. 1. The2. The 3.Mormons That Mormons if they must mustdidn't leave scatter comply the county like with other forthwith. either people of the and above say nothing resolutions, about the their cold religion. hand of death would be laid upon all, County, Missouri sometime in June, 1831. His wife Anna Nash, had been given earlier a promise of seeing her children all safely in Zion. 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