JAMES FAMILY FOLKLORE

James Family Folklore

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Strength of Samson

BY ELDER TED E. BREWERTON
FROM APRIL CONFERENCE 1986
     Here is a true story that relates a simple experience of a nineteen-year-old who became a remarkable one. He was magnified and had great powers acted through him. There was a young nineteen-year-old admirer of Joseph Smith, Philemon Merrill, who had come with other loyal followers to rescue their prophet from the hands of Sheriffs Reynolds and Wilson. While returning to Nauvoo, the company rested "in a grove of timber." One of the lawyers for the sheriff and the kidnappers boasted of his wrestling powers. He offered a wager that he could throw any man in Illinois. Stephen Markham, a bodyguard of Joseph's and a huge man, also an experienced wrestler, took up the challenge. The boaster threw Stephen, and a taunting shout went up from the Prophet's enemies.
     As the taunts continued, Joseph Smith turned to young Philemon Merrill and said: "`Get up and throw that man.'"
     The boy was about to refuse, to excuse himself by saying he was not a wrestler, but the look in the Prophet's eyes silenced the tongue. "He arose to his feet filled with the strength of a Samson." Philemon "lifted his arms" and told the lawyer to take his choice of sides.
     "The man took the left side with his right hand under," which gave him a decided advantage. Philemon Merrill's friends protested, but young Philemon felt such confidence in the words of the Prophet that it made little difference to him what advantage his antagonist took. As they began to grapple, Joseph instructed him, "`Philemon, when I count three, throw him!'
     "On the instant after the word of three from Joseph's lips," Philemon Merrill, "with the strength of a giant, threw the lawyer over his left shoulder, and he fell striking his head upon the earth."
     Little wonder it is reported that "awe fell upon the opponents of the Prophet when they saw this, and there were no more challenges to wrestle during the journey" (George Q. Cannon, Life of Joseph Smith the Prophet, Classics in Mormon Literature, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1986, pp. 450-51).

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INDEX OF STORIES

Strength of Samson
General Conference talk that relates a story of Philemon C. Merrill.

John Bloomfield Finds a Baby
While keeping guard at night over his pioneer company, John Bloomfield finds an infant in the wilderness lying near its dead mother.

His name, not his town
Why John Bloomfield never lived in the town named after him.

A Heavy Fog
Cyrena Dustin writes about a miracle she experienced as a young woman.

Dinner Guest
A dinner guest sees Cyrena Dustin for the first time and declares he will marry her some day.

Hero on the River
A daring river rescue catches the eye of Lydia Ann Lake.

Lost Scissors
Expensive shears end up in the bottom of the river.

Killed by Innovation
Lumbermen in Mexico gather to watch Joseph Henry James and his boys send down the first log on a new chute.

Joe's Jokes
Joseph Henry James brings a sense of humor to the Mormon Colonies in Mexico.

Apache Raid
The Apaches attack in the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Expensive Lobster
A birthday party for George Heber James (Jr.) has a surprise ending.

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