In the August 1990 issue of the Ensign, Kim R. Burningham interpreted the "treasures" of D&C 111 to be converts, including some of her ancestors:
Section 111, verse 9, [D&C
111:9] of the Doctrine and Covenants said that the Prophet should “inquire
diligently concerning the more ancient inhabitants” of Salem. The coastal town
of Salem was founded in 1626, only six years after the pilgrims landed at
Plymouth. In 1663 Anthony Ashby was recorded as being in Salem. Anthony was the
great-great-great-great-grandfather of Nathaniel Ashby. Since Anthony, six
generations of Ashbys had lived in Salem. They had been shipwrights and
shoemakers.
The little brown book (Robert
Ashby, Ashby Ancestry, 1941), explained that “in 1841, Elder
Erastus Snow and others brought to this family the true gospel message which
they gladly accepted.” My ancestors were among the converts of Salem!
As I read about Nathaniel and his
family, I discovered that Elder Snow and his wife occupied one of Nathaniel’s
homes in Salem for two years, rent-free. Perhaps for the missionary, that had
been a treasure better than gold. In the fall of 1843, the Ashby family moved
to Nauvoo, where they shared a large duplex home with Elder Snow’s family. The
Ashbys donated their wealth to help build the temple.
Members of the Ashby family were
in Nauvoo on the day the Prophet Joseph was martyred. They lived only a short
distance from the Prophet’s home, and one of Nathaniel’s sons wrote that he was
in his father’s garden one morning in June of 1844 when the Prophet rode by on
his way to Carthage. “Never shall I forget the look of deep sorrow that covered
his noble countenance. That was the last time I saw him alive,” wrote the son.
Members of the Ashby family were
in the congregation during the transfiguration of Brigham Young. Nathaniel’s
son Benjamin wrote that “the last time I saw the features of Joseph Smith was
when the form, voice, and countenance of Brigham Young was transfigured before
the congregation so that he appeared like Joseph Smith in every particular.”
The Ashby family was also among
those who left their homes in Nauvoo and started west. Within days, Nathaniel
died in Iowa. But Susan Ashby pressed on with her eleven children, crossed the
plains, and arrived in Salt Lake City. One of the Ashby daughters was my
great-grandmother.
I put the little brown book down
and returned to the scripture I had earlier thought insignificant. “I have much
treasure in this city for you,” the Lord had said—“many people … whom I will
gather out in due time for the benefit of Zion.” (D&C 111:2.)
The Prophet and other Brethren
had gone to Salem in search of gold and silver. But the treasure they found was
converts. And through that “treasure,” my own life and the lives of my
brothers, sisters, cousins, and countless other descendants of Nathaniel Ashby
have been profoundly blessed. (Kim R. Burningham, "The
'Insignificant' Scripture," Ensign [August 1990])
Here are some relevant excerpts from Ashby
Ancestry, ed. Robert L. Ashby (Salt Lake City: Stringham Ashby Stevens,
1941):
In 1841, Elder Erastus Snow and
others brought to this family the true gospel message which they gladly
accepted and the parents and two elder children were baptized the same year. (“Nathaniel
and Susan Hammon Ashby: Sketch of Their Lives,” in Ashby Ancestry, ed.
Robert L. Ashby [Salt Lake City: Stringham Ashby Stevens, 1941], 6)
Early
Religion
“In the year 1839 or 1840, there
came to Salem, Erastus Snow, preaching the gospel in its purity as revealed to
Joseph Smith. My father was not a member of any denomination, but attended the
Universalist Church, of which my mother was a member. I have often heard her
say they preached the love of God for His children in contrast to the doctrine
of the orthodox churches that held to the everlasting punishment of all who did
not embrace their peculiar dogmas.
Latter-day
Saint Gospel
“Father returned home one Sunday
noon saying he had been to hear a new religion preached by a Mormon in the
Masonic Hall. He seemed much interested in what he had heard preached. He took
down the Bible and began to read some of its passages to mother, who was
confined to her bed by the birth of my sister, Mary Jane. I attended the
meeting in the afternoon with my father, and continued to do so with the agreement
that I was not to miss my Sunday School. It was against mother’s principles to
allow her children to go from one meeting to another; but inasmuch as father
went, she could not reasonably object.
Conversion
“My mind soon became enlightened
upon the plan of salvation. I firmly believed in the divinity and sacred
character of the Book of Mormon, which I read, a copy of which had been loaned
to father by Brother Snow.
Testimony
“One Sunday in Sunday school
there were some questions in the book from which we studied, concerning the
ancient prophets. There were scriptural texts and answers and some questions
that were to be answered by the pupil. One of these which happened to come to
me was: 'Are there any prophets in these days?’ To the teacher’s surprise, I
answered, 'Yes, sir.’ 'False prophets, I suppose you mean?’ he asked.
“'No, sir. True ones,’ was my answer.
“'Who, pray?’ was his query.
“'Joseph Smith,’ was my answer.
“He made some reply and passed on to the next.
“I heard no more of it until about two weeks after, when mother called me to
her and asked me what I had been saying to my teacher about Joseph Smith. I
told her what had occurred. I learned that this testimony had been talked of
from the minister down through all that congregation. I was about twelve years
old and this was the first time I had the privilege of bearing testimony of the
work of God in the latter days.
Join
the Church
“Mother, as soon as she could go
out, attended the meetings in the Masonic Hall and became converted to the
truths of the Gospel.
"One Sunday morning father
gave me some money and told me to go pay the sexton and give up his pew.
Shortly after, he and mother were baptised into the Church; and though they had
been excellent characters all their days, they were now called crazy and
derided by relatives and friends.
"We all continued to attend
meetings of the Saints, and a large branch was organised.
Baptism
and Healing
"In December, 1841, I was
taken sick. Mother sent for Brother Snow. He came and laid hands upon me. As
there was to be baptism the next day, I embraced the opportunity to be
baptised. That night there was a great storm. The streets were ankle-deep with
snow and water. I had been sick all night. I had to lean on the arm of Brother
Nickerson while going to the pond; but I was baptised and was healed of my sickness.
It cleared up and froze and in the evening I went two miles to a prayer
meeting, where I was confirmed by Brother Snow. And while their hands were on
my head, Brother Nickerson said, ‘Brother Benjamin, upon you we confer the gift
of healing and of being healed.’ My experience through life will testify as to
the fulfillment of this blessing given by a servant of God at my confirmation. (“Autobiography
of Benjamin Ashby,” in Ashby Ancestry, ed. Robert L. Ashby [Salt Lake
City: Stringham Ashby Stevens, 1941], 10-11)
It was not just converts who were understood to be among the
“treasures” promised in D&C 111:
THE
POT OF GOLD STORY
Several years ago, at an Ashby-Stringham
reunion in Salt Lake, Dr. Clarence Snow told what he called the “Pot of Gold
Story.” The reference is made to Section 111 of the Doctrine 6? Covenants, a
revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Salem on August 6, 1836. The
Kirtland Temple had just been completed at a cost of between sixty and seventy
thousand dollars. There was still an indebtedness of over thirteen thousand on
it March 27, 1836, when it was dedicated. The people had just been driven from
Jackson County, Missouri. The Church was on the threshold of the greatest
apostasy in its history.
In this revelation the Lord told
Joseph, “I have much treasure in this city for you and for the benefit of Zion”
* * * “Concern not yourselves about your debts, for I will give you power to
pay them.” * * * “For there are more treasures than one for you in this city.”
This was but a few years before
Grandfather Nathaniel and Grandmother Susan Hammond Ashby joined the Church,
and Dr. Clarence Snow told us that it was their wealth, along with that of
others, that this section referred to. The fact that they did help out the
Church financially is well established. —R. L. A. (Robert L. Ashby, “The Pot of
Gold Story,” in Ashby Ancestry, ed. Robert L. Ashby [Salt Lake City:
Stringham Ashby Stevens, 1941], 34)
Further Reading:
