Artifacts preserved: Platter, plane, book
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Three descendants of John Taylor donated to the Church artifacts representative of his legacy. President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve received the gifts on behalf of the Church in his office on March 17. He has since turned the artifacts over to the Church Historical Department.
Joseph John Taylor, who is President Taylor's fourth great-grandson, and his son, John H. Taylor, and grandson, Adam J. Taylor, who are the early Church president's fifth and sixth great-grandsons, made the presentations. Also present was Darrin Loertscher, who arranged for the presentation to take place.
The artifacts are a cut glass platter with an etched image of President John Taylor; a carpenter's plane, the wooden base of which is made of oak; and a first-edition copy of The Life of John Taylor, published in 1892.
President Packer said Brother Joseph J. Taylor told him the family felt that the Church would be able to preserve the artifacts so they could be enjoyed by future generations.
"These are physical reminders of the past," President Packer said in an interview with the Church News. "Some people might see such items as trivial objects, but they are treasures for the Church History Department and museum. Items of this kind make us feel a little closer to those leaders in the past."
He said that John Taylor's descendants offered to bring the artifacts to the Church. "They've been in the family for generations and now will be part of a permanent collection," President Packer said.
He expressed appreciation on behalf of the Church for the family's donations and shared his great admiration for John Taylor, who served as president of the Church from Oct. 10, 1880, until his death on July 25, 1887. He was called as an apostle by President Brigham Young in 1838.
President Packer and Joseph J. Taylor exchanged stories about President Taylor. The visitors posed with President Packer in front of a painting of President Taylor that hangs in President Packer's office. — Gerry Avant
