Elias Bowen Born: 1809; Shaftsbury, Bngtn., Vermont Married: Cynthia Harrington Died: Near St. Joseph, Missouri

In the winter of 1832, in Newberry, Ohio, it was a very cold night and the following event took place in the Elias Bowen home.

Elias was reading aloud to his family, his wife, Cynthia was sitting close by quietly knitting and their five children are sitting on the floor listening to their father, all of them are facing the fireplace to keep warm, this being the only source of heat. Elias paused a moment and remarks by Cynthia, "I cannot help thinking of how thankful we should be on a night like this, here in our home, comfortable, safe, and warm." She answers, "Our minds surely run in the same channel, I have been thinking the same thing."

Just then a knock is heard at the door. Elias remarks as he goes to open the door, "My goodness, who could be coming here on a night like this?" He opens the door to a man who is a stranger, poorly dressed and using a piece of quilt tied around him instead of an overcoat. He introduces himself as Brigham Young, a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or commonly known as the Mormon Church, and asked for food and shelter. Elias replies, "Well my friend, I haven't heard of that religion but come out of the cold."

Brigham Young thanked him for his hospitality and kindness and says, "I'm sure the Lord will bless you." Elias says, "Think nothing of it, my friend, as I saw you standing at the door, the words of the Master came to me, 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me.'"

As the wife brings in a tray of food and Brigham Young is warm enough to talk, he begins to tell them about our Gospel. The children gather around him as he is speaking. He tells them of the visitation of the angel Moroni, the visitation of the Father and the Son in the Sacred Grove. As he proceeds with the story, Elias asks him, "Does this said restored Gospel contain all the gifts, blessings and healings as were practiced by Jesus?" Brigham Young answers, "Yes, all of them, the healing of the sick, making the lame to walk again and the blind to see." As he said these words Elias and Cynthia look anxiously at each other. Cynthia drops her head as if in prayer. Elias says, "Although this story sounds unbelievable, but somehow I have a feeling it is true and is what we have been looking for."

Brigham Young pushes back his chair as he finishes his meal, remarking on what a fine family you people have, and says to the youngest boy, named Norman, "Come here son, I want to have a little talk with you," and Rhoda, a sister says, "My little brother was born blind, I'll lead him over to you."

Brigham Young then discusses the teaching of Jesus and explains the power of the Priesthood through administration and faith and asked Norman if he believes these things, and the boy answers, "Yes." Brigham Young asked Elias and Cynthia if they want him to administer to Norman and they say yes instantly, and when this wonderful man which we know as the second president of the Church and a true prophet of God laid his hands upon this young boy and administered to him and asked in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that his eyesight be restored and when he finished the wonderful blessing this child's sight was restored immediately. I guess none of us can express the feelings of this overjoyed family and the way they thanked their Heavenly Father and his humble servant Brigham Young.

When it is time for Brigham Young to depart, Elias goes to his clothes closet and takes out his overcoat and puts it on Brigham Young, thanking him again and telling him it would be an honor if he would accept the coat. Which Brigham Young graciously accepts and bids them goodbye for the time being.

Thus by Brigham Young's visit and the wonderful manifestation this family received at this time, they all joined the church and from that day to this the power of healing through administration and faith has been manifest to a marked degree in the Bowen family.

We now find the Elias Bowen family rejoicing in their new found religion, obedient to the advice and counsel of their friend and leader. They sold all their worldly goods and comfortable home and left their loved ones and friends and started on the long journey to join the main body of saints in Missouri and from there to the valley of the mountains.

Their happiness was not to last long, as they were soon to realize the words of the Master, when he said, "I will try you as gold, seven times in the funace to prove you." When they started West, they were still in midstate of Missouri. One morning Elias tells Cynthia to call all the family together, he takes them in his arms and tells them that in the night he has been visited by a Heavenly Messenger, "He informed me that my mission here is completed as I am needed on the other side. I will be permitted to remain with you only three more days." He then turns to his grief stricken wife who is now crying and says, "Cynthia you must be brave and carry on, before I leave all of you I want you to hear my testimony. "This is the true Church of God and Joseph Smith was a true prophet of the living God. You all must go on and join the saints in the valley of the mountains and remain true to this Gospel and never turn back, for it is truly the work of God."

How inadequate are my words to express the agony of this noble woman. She passed patiently through her Gethsemane. At the end of three days Elias Bowen dies and his mortal remains were laid to rest in an unmarked grave by the roadside about nine miles from St. Joseph, Missouri. His wife and family turned their faces toward the west with unfaltering faith and trust.

Written by Katherine Benon for Camp Timp View of Daughters of Utah Pioneers of North Utah County, Orem, Utah.