Ammon M. Tenney facts for kids

Ammon Meshach Tenney (born November 16, 1844, died October 28, 1925) was an important American missionary. He helped settle new areas in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. Ammon taught people about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He shared his beliefs with the Zuni and Isleta Pueblo peoples. Hundreds of people joined the church because of his work. Later, he became the first leader of the Mexican Mission in 1901.

Biography

Early Life and Learning Spanish

Ammon Tenney was born in 1844 in Lee County, Iowa. When he was four years old, his family moved to Utah. Later, they moved to San Bernardino County, California. This is where Ammon first learned to speak Spanish.

In 1858, the Tenney family moved back to Utah. They settled in a town called Grafton, Utah in 1859. Around this time, Ammon started working with Jacob Hamblin. They worked together as missionaries. They shared their message with the Hopi, Kaibab, and other Native American groups.

Missionary Work in Mexico

In 1876, Ammon Tenney was chosen to be one of the first seven missionaries sent to Mexico. This was a very important assignment.

In 1879, Ammon Tenney helped start a new settlement. He bought land rights for St. Johns, Arizona. This became a new town for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

From 1887 to 1889, Ammon Tenney served another mission in Mexico. This time, he led the missionary efforts in Northern Mexico. He started with a group of four other missionaries.

Spreading the Message

Ammon and his group first went near Mesa, Arizona. There, they met Encarnacion Valenzuela. He was a Papago man who had been a church member for years. Ammon performed a special baptism for him. This was to show Valenzuela's new commitment to being a missionary.

Valenzuela and another Papago church member named Cheroquis joined Ammon. Cheroquis had been sealed to his wife in the St. George Utah Temple. They traveled south to teach the Pima in Arizona. They also taught the Yaquis in Mexico. To perform baptisms, they sometimes dug holes. These holes would fill with water from wells.

Leading the Mexican Mission

In 1901, the Mexican Mission was reopened. Ammon Tenney became its first president. He helped many people learn about the church. One person he baptized was Fidencia Garcia de Rojas. She was 18 years old at the time. She lived to see the 100th church stake organized in Mexico in 1989.

In 1901, Ammon also baptized Margarito Bautista. After his baptism, Bautista helped Ammon share the church's message in Mexico. Margarito Bautista later became a well-known preacher and missionary himself.