By Melanie Jensen Johnson
This story has been a favorite of my kids for years. One of my good friends told me that this little story spoke volumes about the character of our Ellen. I must agree. I retell it here gladly.
Ellen and Alexander Neibaur both came from wealthy families, so their needs were always met. When the gospel came to their little town of Preston England, they came to know of it's truthfulness and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1838. They were some of the first to immigrate to America, to join the Saints gathering to Zion. They settled in Nauvoo, home of the Prophet Joseph Smith. They became good friends with Joseph and Emma Smith. Alexander, fluent in 7 languages, taught Joseph German and Hebrew.
When the Saints were driven from their homes in Nauvoo by angry mobs in 1846, Ellen had a ten-day old baby and six other children. Ellen was in no condition to travel and soon became sick. When they reached safety in Winter Quarters, a sister cared for Ellen, putting her to bed and caring for her baby until she was better. They joined the Brigham Young Company crossing the plains. Ellen drove a pair of lead cows most of the way, standing next to them to guide them along. Some of the time, she held that tiny baby in her other arm, as the baby was sick a lot of the time. Camping each night, Ellen milked the cows and prepared their meals.
After reaching Salt Lake City, they struggled to survive living in a tent for the first year. Often they went to bed hungry. But they settled in and Alexander established himself as a Dentist and the family had food once again. As he began to bring in some money, he bought Ellen a new pair of shoes. Hers had worn completely out walking the long way to Utah. Ellen was so happy to have new shoes that she began knitting herself a pair of stockings to wear with them. Using light blue and white stripes, she soon finished her stockings and wore them happily.
Not long after, men came knocking on her door asking for donations. A new company of pioneers were coming into town and they were gathering supplies for the refugees. Alexander told the men that they had nothing to give. "Yes, we must give something," she said. Ellen took off her lovely new stockings and shoes and gave them to the men. She wrapped her own feet in rags once more. It was hard for her to give up her shoes, but she remembered how kindly they had been received when they arrived in the valley. And all the kindness the saints had shown her all along the journey west.
When the next company arrived, the people of Salt Lake came out to meet them. Ellen was overjoyed to see one of her old friends from England among the Saints. Looking down, Ellen noticed that her good friend was wearing the very shoes and stockings she had donated a few weeks before. Her sacrifice had become a great blessing to not just any newcomer, but to a dear friend.
Disclaimer: Author did her best to tell this accurately using the resources available at the time of writing, and is solely responsible for content.
Source:
Carpenter, Ellen Wilde. 'The Story of Ellen Breakell Neibaur.' Neibaur Family Web Page. Bev Matheson. 17 July 2011 http://www.neibaur.org/journals/ellen.htm
Showing posts with label Alexander Neibaur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alexander Neibaur. Show all posts
July 18, 2011
Nathan Neibaur, Strong Soul
We don't know much about Alexander Neibaur's father, but what we do know shows a strong character and unweilding will. His greatest hour was when he stood up to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
Nathan Neibaur was a prosperous Jew. He spoke several languages and was trained as a physician and surgeon. Nathan Neibaur and his wife Rebecca were living within the walls of the fortress Ehrenbreitstein when their son Alexander was born in 1808. This fort was built on the Rhine river, and at various times throughout early history, was claimed as part of France and Prussia. Today it's part of the city of Koblentz, Germany.
Nathan served in the French army as physician and surgeon (some say for a time as Napoleon's personal physician), but his greatest service was to Napoleon Bonaparte as a linguist and interpreter. Years later, when Napoleon's tattered regime began to falter, the great Emperor came back to the fortress at Ehrenbreitstein and approached his old friend, Nathan Neibaur. He offered him large sums of money and other perks to come out of retirement and work for him again. This time as a spy.
Nathan would not entertain the offer. He was opposed to Napoleon's principles and his integrity wouldn't let him serve a leader with which he didn't agree. Napoleon could conquer most of Europe, but not the determined mind of Nathan Neibaur.
Nathan Neibaur, our Jewish Grandfather, passed on this determination and integrity to his son Alexander. Alexander embraced what he determined was right without regard to pressure from others. Hopefully we can also claim these traits as Nathan Neibaurs' posterity.
Disclaimer: This was written using resources available at the time of writing, in good faith. Author is solely responsible for content.
Works Cited:
Nathan Neibaur was a prosperous Jew. He spoke several languages and was trained as a physician and surgeon. Nathan Neibaur and his wife Rebecca were living within the walls of the fortress Ehrenbreitstein when their son Alexander was born in 1808. This fort was built on the Rhine river, and at various times throughout early history, was claimed as part of France and Prussia. Today it's part of the city of Koblentz, Germany.
Nathan served in the French army as physician and surgeon (some say for a time as Napoleon's personal physician), but his greatest service was to Napoleon Bonaparte as a linguist and interpreter. Years later, when Napoleon's tattered regime began to falter, the great Emperor came back to the fortress at Ehrenbreitstein and approached his old friend, Nathan Neibaur. He offered him large sums of money and other perks to come out of retirement and work for him again. This time as a spy.
Nathan would not entertain the offer. He was opposed to Napoleon's principles and his integrity wouldn't let him serve a leader with which he didn't agree. Napoleon could conquer most of Europe, but not the determined mind of Nathan Neibaur.
Nathan Neibaur, our Jewish Grandfather, passed on this determination and integrity to his son Alexander. Alexander embraced what he determined was right without regard to pressure from others. Hopefully we can also claim these traits as Nathan Neibaurs' posterity.
Disclaimer: This was written using resources available at the time of writing, in good faith. Author is solely responsible for content.
Works Cited:
Bassett, Theda. Grandpa Neibaur was a Pioneer.
Salt Lake City: Artistic Printing, 1988.
Carter, Kate.
"The Jews in Early Utah, Alexander Neibaur, The Mormon." Carter,
Kate. Treasures of Pioneer History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Daughters of
Utah Pioneers, 1952. 333-340.
Hayward, C. Lynn. Notes
from the Life of Alexander Neibaur. 30 Jan 2009
.
Alexander Neibaur's Quest for the Truth
By Melanie Jensen Johnson
This is one of my favorite conversion stories. Not only was his conversion one of the earliest in this dispensation, but he became integrally part of the building up of the kingdom. And he fulfilled ancient prophecies in his conversion. It's a great story; a good one to cut my teeth on. (Get it?)
Alexander Neibaur was raised in the Jewish faith in a devout family in France, during the Napoleonic era. Alexander's physician-father sent him to school to become a Rabbi. Here he was schooled in the Jewish faith and the Talmud. But Alexander wasn't satisfied with what he was learning, so he dropped out. He studied to be a Dentist at the University of Berlin. After graduating, he traveled around Europe, looking for a place to set up a practice. Instead he found Christianity! Converting to Christianity meant departing the Jewish faith.
He chose Preston England to set up a Dental practice, a move that would prove to be important to his future. He met his future wife, Ellen Breakel, in Preston. They married in 1834. He had been having dreams and visions, where he saw a strange book, a beautiful building he wanted to enter but couldn't and an angel.
In July 1837 the first Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to Preston, preaching near a large gathering hall called the 'Cock Pit.' The fame of these Mormons spread quickly, prompting discussions among neighbors as they performed their daily chores. A neighbor of Ellen's asked if she had heard about the 'new ministers from America who claimed to have seen angels' while they were cleaning their front steps. Alexander, hearing from the house, asked more of this neighbor woman. She gave him the address of the Elders, and Alexander ran to find them. Finding Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Orson Hyde and Joseph Fielding, he asked if they had a book. He was referring to the strange book he had seen in vision. If this was the right church, it would match what he had seen in his dreams. They indeed had a Book of Mormon.
Alexander couldn't eat or sleep for the three days it took him to read the Book of Mormon. Finishing, he asked the Elders if he could be baptized; they counseled him to wait until he learned more to prepare for this important ordinance. He used this time to help Ellen. She wasn't so sure. Alexander wanted Ellen to read the Book of Mormon so she could know of the truthfulness of the restored gospel, as he did. She wasn't unsupportive of Alexander, just personally disinterested. She said it was a 'pretty story' but wouldn't go any further. Alexander persisted, reading aloud from the pages of the Book of Mormon to her in the evenings well into the night. Finally, she awoke in the middle of the night after dreaming of seeing Willard Richards' face among clouds. She took that to mean that she should pay heed to what he had taught her. She listened to Alexander read the Book of Mormon with an open heart. On April 9, 1838, both Alexander and Ellen Neibaur were baptized by Isaac Russell in the River Ribble nearby. The family finally had the whole truth!
The water would have been extremely cold in April's England, but their friendships and associations would turn out to be colder. Alexander and Ellen's friends and associated did not approve of their decision to join the Mormons. Alexander's dental practice suffered, and their friendships became strained. The Neibaurs immigrated to America to join the body of the saints, where they became close friends with Joseph Smith and his family, as well as Brigham Young and his family. There, they entered the Holy Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, recognizing it as the beautiful building he saw in his dreams and wanted to enter.
Alexander Neibaur was the first Jewish male convert to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. His conversion was the first of many to fulfill the prophecy of Nephi, found in 2 Nephi 29: 13 and 2 Nephi 30:7.
And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites (the Book of Mormon) and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews (The Bible); And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall become a delightsome people.
His joy at finding the true church was evident in the hymn he wrote, "Come, Thou Glorious Day of Promise." The first line must express well his feelings of joy-- 'Come, thou glorious day of promise; come and spread thy cheerful ray, when the scattered sheep of Israel shall no longer go astray, when hosannas with united voice they'll cry.'
Alexander Neibaur was guided by God to find the truth he sought. He was open to the inspiration he received and acted upon it. Embracing the truth separated him from his previous family, friends and business associates, but opened up new friendships and family relationships that now extend into eternity. More importantly, it changed his families' lives forever. As a descendant of Alexander and Ellen Neibaur, we are the grateful recipients of this gospel through their sacrifices.
Disclaimer: This was written in good faith using the resources available at the time of writing. Author is solely responsible for content.
Sources:
This is one of my favorite conversion stories. Not only was his conversion one of the earliest in this dispensation, but he became integrally part of the building up of the kingdom. And he fulfilled ancient prophecies in his conversion. It's a great story; a good one to cut my teeth on. (Get it?)
Alexander Neibaur was raised in the Jewish faith in a devout family in France, during the Napoleonic era. Alexander's physician-father sent him to school to become a Rabbi. Here he was schooled in the Jewish faith and the Talmud. But Alexander wasn't satisfied with what he was learning, so he dropped out. He studied to be a Dentist at the University of Berlin. After graduating, he traveled around Europe, looking for a place to set up a practice. Instead he found Christianity! Converting to Christianity meant departing the Jewish faith.
He chose Preston England to set up a Dental practice, a move that would prove to be important to his future. He met his future wife, Ellen Breakel, in Preston. They married in 1834. He had been having dreams and visions, where he saw a strange book, a beautiful building he wanted to enter but couldn't and an angel.
In July 1837 the first Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to Preston, preaching near a large gathering hall called the 'Cock Pit.' The fame of these Mormons spread quickly, prompting discussions among neighbors as they performed their daily chores. A neighbor of Ellen's asked if she had heard about the 'new ministers from America who claimed to have seen angels' while they were cleaning their front steps. Alexander, hearing from the house, asked more of this neighbor woman. She gave him the address of the Elders, and Alexander ran to find them. Finding Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Orson Hyde and Joseph Fielding, he asked if they had a book. He was referring to the strange book he had seen in vision. If this was the right church, it would match what he had seen in his dreams. They indeed had a Book of Mormon.
Alexander couldn't eat or sleep for the three days it took him to read the Book of Mormon. Finishing, he asked the Elders if he could be baptized; they counseled him to wait until he learned more to prepare for this important ordinance. He used this time to help Ellen. She wasn't so sure. Alexander wanted Ellen to read the Book of Mormon so she could know of the truthfulness of the restored gospel, as he did. She wasn't unsupportive of Alexander, just personally disinterested. She said it was a 'pretty story' but wouldn't go any further. Alexander persisted, reading aloud from the pages of the Book of Mormon to her in the evenings well into the night. Finally, she awoke in the middle of the night after dreaming of seeing Willard Richards' face among clouds. She took that to mean that she should pay heed to what he had taught her. She listened to Alexander read the Book of Mormon with an open heart. On April 9, 1838, both Alexander and Ellen Neibaur were baptized by Isaac Russell in the River Ribble nearby. The family finally had the whole truth!
The water would have been extremely cold in April's England, but their friendships and associations would turn out to be colder. Alexander and Ellen's friends and associated did not approve of their decision to join the Mormons. Alexander's dental practice suffered, and their friendships became strained. The Neibaurs immigrated to America to join the body of the saints, where they became close friends with Joseph Smith and his family, as well as Brigham Young and his family. There, they entered the Holy Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, recognizing it as the beautiful building he saw in his dreams and wanted to enter.
Alexander Neibaur was the first Jewish male convert to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. His conversion was the first of many to fulfill the prophecy of Nephi, found in 2 Nephi 29: 13 and 2 Nephi 30:7.
And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites (the Book of Mormon) and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews (The Bible); And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall become a delightsome people.
His joy at finding the true church was evident in the hymn he wrote, "Come, Thou Glorious Day of Promise." The first line must express well his feelings of joy-- 'Come, thou glorious day of promise; come and spread thy cheerful ray, when the scattered sheep of Israel shall no longer go astray, when hosannas with united voice they'll cry.'
Alexander Neibaur was guided by God to find the truth he sought. He was open to the inspiration he received and acted upon it. Embracing the truth separated him from his previous family, friends and business associates, but opened up new friendships and family relationships that now extend into eternity. More importantly, it changed his families' lives forever. As a descendant of Alexander and Ellen Neibaur, we are the grateful recipients of this gospel through their sacrifices.
Disclaimer: This was written in good faith using the resources available at the time of writing. Author is solely responsible for content.
Sources:
Backman, Milton V. Jr. Eyewitness Accounts of the
Restoration. Orem, Utah: Grandin Book Co., 1983.
Bassett, Theda. Grandpa
Neibaur was a Pioneer. Salt Lake City: Artistic Printing, 1988.
Bohi, Mrs. Mazie.
"Pioneer Dentists and Druggists."
Carpenter, Ellen Wilde.
The Story of Ellen Breakel Neibaur. 17 July 2011
.
Carter, Kate B. Treasures of
Pioneer History, Volume 4. Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers,
1956. 76-78.
Carter, Kate. "The
Jews in Early Utah, Alexander Neibaur, The Mormon." Carter, Kate. Treasures
of Pioneer History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1952.
333-340.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hymns. Deseret Book Company. 1948. 240.
Hayward, C. Lynn. Notes from the Life of Alexander Neibaur. 30 Jan 2009.
Hayward, C. Lynn. Notes from the Life of Alexander Neibaur. 30 Jan 2009
Neibaur, Alexander. Diary
of Alexander Neibaur. 17 July 2011
.
Odgen, D. Kelly.
"Two from Judah Minister to Joseph." Porter, Larry C. Regional
Studies in LDS History: Illinois. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University
Religious Studies Center, 1995. 232-237.
Woods, Fred E. "A
Mormon and Still a Jew: The Life of Alexander Neibaur." Mormon
Historical Studies Volume 7 No. 1-2 Spring/Fall 2006: 24.
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