John D. T. McAllister facts for kids
John Daniel Thompson McAllister (born February 19, 1827 – died January 21, 1910) was an important leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church) during the 1800s. He helped many people move to Utah and served in important church roles.
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Early Life and Church Membership
John D. T. McAllister was born in Lewes, Delaware. When he was about 17 years old, he moved to Philadelphia in 1844.
He joined the LDS Church in 1847. In 1848, he married Ellen Handley. They moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked as a blacksmith. Later, he worked as a store clerk in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1851, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah Territory.
Missions and Pioneer Journeys
In Salt Lake City, John helped build the Old Tabernacle, a large meeting hall. He also played in Ballo's brass band. In 1853, he became a missionary for the LDS Church. He traveled to England and Ireland to share his beliefs.
While in Ireland, he wrote a song called "The Handcart Song." This song encouraged other church members to move to Utah. In 1856, he returned to the United States. He helped organize the handcart companies in Iowa City, Iowa. These companies used handcarts to pull their belongings across the country to Utah.
After returning to Utah, McAllister became a major in the Nauvoo Legion, a local militia. He also joined the Deseret Dramatic Association, a theater group. From 1860 to 1862, he served another mission in the United States and Europe. He visited Philadelphia, where he had been baptized. He helped many Latter-day Saints there decide to move west. He also baptized his brother's family. In 1862, he led a pioneer company to Utah.
Leadership in Utah
After settling in Utah, McAllister held several important positions. He served as the marshal for Salt Lake City. Later, he became the marshal for the entire Utah Territory. He also managed Brigham Young's woolen mills, which made cloth.
In 1877, McAllister was chosen to be the president of the LDS Church's Stake in St. George, Utah. A stake is like a group of local congregations. He also served as a Brigadier General for the Utah militia in Washington County, Utah.
Temple Service
McAllister played a key role in the St. George Utah Temple. When the temple first opened, he was a counselor to Wilford Woodruff, who was the temple president. During this time, he performed special church ceremonies for important historical figures, like the founding fathers of the United States. He also worked closely with Wilford Woodruff to start performing these ceremonies for people who had passed away.
McAllister later became a temple president himself. He served as president of the St. George Temple from 1884 to 1893. After that, he became president of the Manti Utah Temple from 1893 to 1906.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1889, McAllister faced legal challenges related to his family life. He surrendered to U.S. Marshals. His lawyer, James H. Moyle, defended him. A grand jury trial was held in September 1889, and McAllister was found not guilty.
John D. T. McAllister was married eight times. His granddaughter, Maurine Whipple, wrote a novel called The Giant Joshua. She based some parts of a character in her book on her grandfather, McAllister.
