John Tanner (Mormon) facts for kids

John Tanner (born August 15, 1778 – died April 13, 1850) was an important person in the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a major helper in paying for the Kirtland Temple.

John Tanner was born in Rhode Island. He moved to New York when he was fairly young. He had 21 children with three wives, but 14 of his children lived to be adults. John Tanner was a Baptist until he joined the Church of Christ in 1832. He was baptized by Jared Carter. Ten of his 14 adult children joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). They later moved to Utah Territory.

Helping Build the Kirtland Temple

In late 1834, John Tanner sold his property near Lake George, New York. This property included a hotel. He then moved to Kirtland, Ohio. In early 1835, he lent money and took on loans to help build the Kirtland Temple. This helped keep the construction going. When Joseph Smith tried to pay him back, John Tanner refused. He said they owed him nothing.

Moving West

John Tanner moved with the main group of the Church to Missouri. There, he was attacked because of problems between the Church members and others. This caused the Saints to leave the state. He then moved to Montrose, Iowa, where he lived for six years. After that, he lived for a time in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Later, John Tanner traveled west with the pioneers. He led the large family of his son-in-law, Amasa Lyman, to the west. This was because Amasa Lyman was in an earlier group of pioneers. Two of John Tanner's sons were part of the Mormon Battalion. John Tanner settled in Cottonwood, Utah Territory. He passed away there in 1850.

His Lasting Legacy

A short film about John Tanner's life was made by T. C. Christensen. It is called Treasure in Heaven: The John Tanner Story.

Notable Family Members

• Sidney Tanner was involved in the Battle of Crooked River. He later lived in Montrose. His wife and three of his five youngest children died when they were traveling west with the Church members. He later served on the city council and a Church council in San Bernardino, California. In 1857, he moved to Utah and settled in Beaver. He had 22 children.
• John Joshua Tanner and Nathan Tanner were part of Zion's Camp.
• Louisa Maria Tanner married Amasa M. Lyman.
• Albert Tanner and Myron Tanner were in the Mormon Battalion.

Other Descendants

Some of John Tanner's grandchildren were Joseph M. Tanner and Francis M. Lyman. Francis M. Lyman was the son of John Tanner's daughter, Louisa Maria. His granddaughter, Emily S. Tanner Richards, helped start the Utah Woman's Suffrage Association. This group worked for women's right to vote.

Other important descendants of John Tanner include Hugh B. Brown and N. Eldon Tanner. They were members of the First Presidency of the LDS Church. John S. Tanner is another descendant. He is a poet, a scholar, and a leader at Brigham Young University. Martin Tanner, who hosts a radio show called Religion Today, is also a descendant.