Recently Mariann and I attended the Benjamin Franklin Johnson family reunion of our 4th great grand father's descendants. I dared her to say "hi Cuz!" to everyone she met, but she didn't do it once. Our famous author cousins, Keri and Marcie, have written four volumes of historical fiction about this man's family and I found them very descriptive and interesting. But after Elaine found the rattlesnake story on page 113 of his own autobiography, I started reading My Life's Review with such an interest that I can't put it down.
One entry I found telling of his moral courage when arrested at age twenty in Missouri, basically for being a hated Mormon. He was kept outside in the snow for eight days without a coat, blanket or warmth, food was never offered to him, threats of death in the most inhumane ways given on a constant basis. He said that this was the most terrible ordeal he had ever passed through. But he had been taught to tell the truth and prayed that he could tell the truth without implicating anyone else. On interrogation the Justice realized that he couldn't proceed as he wished and jumped up in anger, declaring that he would have nothing more to do with the matter and to do whatever they pleased with Benjamin. They took him back to the guard and the common talk was that he was to be shot. Often they would said to him, "Now if you would only give names of some others and help to convict them you might go free."
Benjamin said that he asked himself, "Which would require the greatest bravery--to stand up like a man and be shot, or like a dog, live to be despised by all who loved me; to make my parents who now loved me ashamed to own me, and my brothers and darling sisters, to think how they would weep for my shame, also those who had died and begged me to be faithful--could I endure such a living death?" Every feeling within me responded, "No! I am too great a coward ever to meet those I love, who are good and pure, and feel myself a traitor." My whole soul gave the verdict that I would not save my life at such a price.
To me this is courage of high caliber. Blessed, honored pioneers!
