Temple moments: Real People
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Donald R. Brown, a worker at the Snowflake Arizona Temple, knew of his LDS forebears from his grandfather, Joseph Stacy Brown. One, Nathaniel Brown Jr., died in a shooting accident near Nauvoo, Ill. Another, George Washington Brown, was among the first pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley.
But through a historian contact in Leicester, Mass., Brother Brown of the Heber 2nd Ward, Taylor Arizona Stake, learned for the first time that his earlier forebears had fought gallantly in the Revolutionary War. His sixth great-grandfather, John Brown, was a captain. Two of Capt. Brown's sons died in the battle of White Plains. Another son, John Brown Jr., had a leg blown nearly off in the battle of Bunker Hill.
"Through the French and Indian Wars, the American Revolution and the War of 1812, my Brown ancestors fought and died for liberty and the day of the restoration of the gospel," he said.
After discovering family history information that dated back to the 17th century, he began doing temple work for them. While in the temple, he had a spiritual experience in which he felt he knew them as individuals.
"Genealogy is not just a collection of names and dates, but stories of real people," he said. "I have had my eyes opened a little bit."
From his work for them in the temple, he felt impressed that the stories of their lives needed to be remembered by their descendants. So Brother Brown began writing.
"I would awaken in the middle of the night on many occasions and go to my den where thoughts and words poured from my fingertips upon the keyboard.
"I now have a greater love for them and will be eternally grateful for the lives they lived and the paths they chose, which led us to the restored gospel. Truly, the heart of this son has been turned to his fathers.
"Now, with their temple work done, they will be remembered by their posterity." — John L. Hart
