Defender remembered
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Although he was not a member of the Church, Jacob B. Backenstos was an able defender of the saints during the turbulent months after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Backenstos, who was featured in a Church News article Aug. 19, 1989, had long been a friend of the Latter-day Saints.
On at least one occasion he hosted Joseph Smith in Carthage when the Prophet was on his way back to Nauvoo after a visit in nearby Ramus.On this visit, Backenstos and his friends received an extended lesson about the Church. Joseph Smith noted in his journal under the date of April 4, 1843: "Spent five hours preaching to Esquire Backman, Chancery Robinson and [JacobT Backenstos."
Although Backenstos' verbal response to this marathon session was never recorded, Backman did comment: "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." (History of the Church 5:326.) Although Backenstos was not baptized, he supported the Church through the period when the Mormons were expelled from Illinois.
When Joseph and Hyrum were killed at Carthage, Jacob was serving as a newly elected state representative from Hancock County. When efforts were made to revoke the Nauvoo Charter, Backenstos, in the words of Elias Smith "pleaded like an apostle for the rights of his [MormonT constituents." (History of the Church 7:363.)
After the saints were driven from the area, Backenstos joined the U.S. Army.
Despite his many deeds for the Mormons, Backenstos did not join the Church, and after his death no one did his temple work. However, on Nov. 2, 1991, Calvin Smith, author of the Church News article about Backenstos, and his wife, Lucille, did the temple work for Backenstos and his wife, Sarah, and their three children.
Appropriately, the work was done in the Chicago Illinois Temple, less than 250 miles from where Backenstos so ably defended the Mormons.
"I feel a great sense of joy now that their work is done," said Brother Smith. "Jacob Backenstos did a great deal for the Church. Hopefully, the five-hour sermon he heard from the lips of Joseph Smith 147 years ago had had its full effect and `Mr.' Backenstos is now `Brother' Backenstos."
(Another in a series of "Temple Moments." Illustration by Deseret News artist Reed McGregor.)
