Friday, July 31, 2009

Francis M. Lyman

Francis Marion Lyman and Rhoda Ann Taylor Family, taken between 1882 and 1906, probably in the 1890's.
Standing: Louisa Ann Lyman King, Francis Marion Lyman Jr., Edna Jane Lyman
Seated: Rhoda Ann Taylor Lyman, ?, Francis Marion Lyman, ?, Rhoda Alice Lyman McBride. (Rhoda is Sadie McBride Frey's mother.)
The two ? women were Mary Crismon Lyman and Lois Victoria Lyman. It is unknown which is which.
Francis Marion Lyman
Born: 12 January 1840
Good Hope, Hancock, IL
Died: 16 November 1916
Salt Lake City, S-LK, Utah, United States

Francis Marion Lyman was the son of Amasa Lyman and father of Rhoda, Sadie McBride's mother. He was an apostle and the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was beloved by the people and a favorite speaker. He visited nearly every town that had members of the church in the West during his apostleship. Francis M. Lyman's style was one of reconciliation and the ability to say unpleasant things in an uplifting way. He was known for his sincerity and at times sharpness. But everyone who met him came away a better person, no matter what his personal message was for them. He was hardened by years of hard work starting with crossing the plains at the age of 8 and driving livestock to California at the age of 11, yet he was known for his kindness and sincerity by members of the church. Many children throughout the church were names Francis Marion in honor of this great man. (For more on FML see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_M._Lyman

Seated left Frances Webster, George Q. Cannon, Francis M. Lyman.

Utah State Penitentiary, a Federal prison was located at the present Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City. Our grand father Francis M. Lyman (in the suit) was interned there when the the Edmunds Act (1882), made bigamous cohabitation a misdemeanor and barred persons living in polygamy from jury service, public office, and voting. Over 1,300 Latter-day Saints were jailed as a result of the Edmunds Act. I'm not sure why he is not in the standard stripes.



"We mourn; we sorrow for our loved ones that go — our wives, our husbands, our children, our parents; we sorrow for them; and it is well and proper that we should moum for them and shed tears for the loss, for it is our loss; but it is their gain, for it is in the march of progress, advancement and development. It will be all right when our time comes, when we have finished our work and accomplished what the Lord required of us. If we are prepared, we need not be afraid to go, for it will be one of the most pleasant sensations that ever comes to the soul of man, whenever he departs, if he can go with a clear conscience into the presence of the Lord." - Francis Marion Lyman

1 comment:

  1. My Grandfather also served time at the prison with Apostle Lyman and is included in photographs of this group. When my grandmother asked why Apostle Lyman was not wearing stripes, grandfather told her he was a large man and at the time they had none that would fit him but he was to wear a hat.
    Russ Fuhriman russfuhr@mac.com

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