Joseph S. Murdock

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Joseph Stacy Murdock
Mormon pioneer, Bishop
, Colonizer
Spouses
  • Eunice Sweet,
  • Eliza Clark,
  • Adeline Warner,
  • Jane Sharp,
  • Elizabeth Hunter,
  • Pernetta
Parent(s)Joseph Murdock,
Sally Stacy
Websitehttp://www.jsmurdock.org

Joseph Stacy Murdock (June 26, 1822 – February 14, 1899) was an American colonizer, leader, and

Latter-day Saint hymn
writer. He wrote the words to "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice."

Early years

Murdock was born in

baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They had a desire to live with others of their faith and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1841.[1]

Murdock and his wife migrated with the Mormon population to the

Mormon pioneer company.[2]

Murdock was asked by

plural marriage and was sent to jail for doing so in 1889.[3] Murdock was pardoned in 1894 by U.S. President Grover Cleveland.[4]
He had 32 children from six wives: Eunice Sweet, Eliza Clark, Adeline Warner, Jane Sharp, Elizabeth Hunter, and Pernetta.

Colonizer

After arriving in Utah, Brigham Young assigned Murdock the task of helping establish settlements in several areas of present-day

Moapa Valley).[5]

Poet

Murdock wrote the poem "Come Listen To A Prophet's Voice", which was put to music by Joseph J. Daynes. The hymn was based on Murdock's friendship with Joseph Smith, for whom he had acted as a bodyguard.

Heber City

In 1860, Murdock was set apart as a bishop by Brigham Young and sent to preside over the Latter-day Saints in Heber City, Utah, and vicinity.[6] In 1865, he was also elected to represent Wasatch County in the Utah territorial legislature.

On August 20, 1867, Murdock negotiated a peace treaty with Chief

Utah Black Hawk War
.

Murdock's home in Heber City is registered with the National Register of Historic Places[7]

Later life

After working to establish cities throughout the west, Murdock settled in Heber City and worked as a farmer. He continued to serve in leadership positions in his church throughout his life. He died of pneumonia at the age of 76.[8]

References

  1. ^ Joseph Stacy Murdock's Journal (unpublished but included in its entirety in Advancing the Mormon frontier: the life and times of Joseph Stacy Murdock -- pioneer, colonizer, peacemaker )[unreliable source?]
  2. ^ Church Archives Database on wagon and handcart pioneers
  3. ^ Andrew Jenson, Church Chronology: A Record of Important Events Pertaining to the History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p. 174.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2014-11-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. OCLC 22712972
  6. Deseret News Press
    , 1941) p. 328.
  7. ^ National Register of Historic Places.
  8. ^ The Wasatch Wave, February 17, 1899.
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