Our first egg!

What a fun thing! I went to the coop around 11:40 this morning to see if there was anything the chickens were up to and to my surprise there it was, right outside the nesting box inside the coop in the corner. The egg is a light brownish pink color suggesting it came from one of our Buff Orpingtons. The kids are very excited as am I. Can't wait to get more!

Isaac Laney

Oh how I love to hear the stories, however troubling some are. Isaac Laney is my great, great, great grandfather, on my Grandma Weight's (Esther Laney Weight) side. Isaac Laney was born 19 Dec 1815 and lived during the Haun's Mill Massacre. A very terrible event in history that when read in it's entirety can cause ill feelings, it's horrid what those men did to the Mormon's. The following are excerpts from various sources:

Biography of Isaac Leany, 1815-1873
Grandfather while a young man was actively interested in religion, and it was at one of the open air meetings near his home in Kentucky that he first heard a Mormon elder explain the gospel of Jesus Christ. Isaac knew at once that he had found what he had been looking for. Desiring to be near the Saints he went to Illinois, and it was while here he met a young lady whom he married. Leaving Illinois, Isaac went to Missouri where he shared with the rest of the Saints the terrible persecutions of the mob. The 29th of October, 1838 found him with a small number of Saints working at a place called Haun's Mill in Missouri. It was on this day that the mob came upon them demanding that they sign a treaty of peace and deliver their weapons of war. They were allowed no word in the matter and had to comply. Grandfather had no faith in the mob's promise of peace.
October 29th passed peacefully at the mill, but that night grandfather had a dream which was not in the least reassuring. In the dream he seemed to be passing along a trail where there were a great many snakes. They crawled along the ground, hurled themselves through the air and hung twisting and hissing from the limbs of trees. Dodge and hurry as he might his body was soon pierced and bleeding from the attacks of the angry snakes. Finally escaping the serpents he met a man with whom he was acquainted. "Brother Leany," he said, "you are terribly bitten so with snakes and lived." "Well, then, I'll be the first for I'm not going to die," was grandfather's answer. In a patriarchal blessing given to grandfather he was told that he was a direct descendant of "Joseph, the Dreamer," son of Jacob and that he had inherited the gift of dreams. That dream was a warning and we shall see its fulfillment.

On October 30th, [1838] the mob heavily armed, dashed down on the little party at the mill, and began firing. Grandfather gained possession of three guns, gave two of them to the other men, and placing himself between the mob and the cabin's housing the women and children began firing. Lead was flying around like hailstorm. You may judge how thick was the hail of lead, for while he was preparing to fire, eleven bullets hit the stock of his gun, cutting it off in his hands. One hit and knocked the trigger guard off but the works were still intact, for he loaded and fired it once more and saw one of the mob drop as a result. This of course was a matter of a few seconds. Grandfather could see he was doing little good, and they were cutting him to pieces, so he returned to the cabin, and told the women and children to run for the woods. As he turned a bullet struck him in the right armpit and came out the left. This was not the first wound he had received, for two bullets had gone through his breast and came out his back, and two had passed through his hips. After they shouted [a] warning to the women and children, Isaac fled for his life, taking a trail leading up a small hill.

As he was running up the hill with much effort, his body bent, a large ball struck him in the back near the kidneys, passing lengthwise through his body. He said only the power of God stopped it from going on into brain. According to his own words. "This one came nearer to knocking me off my feet than any, the rest just plunked through me as if I were a squash." Knowing he must hurry to help or give up his life, grandfather first sat down to take of his boots, for they were so heavy that it was hard to lift one foot after the other in his weakening condition. He was obliged to split his boots with his knife before he could remove them. As he struggled on he soon met the man he had seen in his dream.

He said, "Brother Leany its no use to encourage you, for no man was ever shot as you are and lived." Then followed the identical conversation of the dream, excepting the substitution of shot instead of snake bite. A little farther on was the home of some friends who took him, and so great was their fear that the mob would follow and kill him, they took up a board and laid him under the floor. His condition was such that he could not stand this long, and on begging, they took him out washed and dressed his wounds and put him to bed. His clothes were literally cut to pieces, and his body almost as bad, for it had been struck by seven bullets, leaving 13 scars, six passing through and through, the 7th struck him in the back leaving but one scar. For some time he lay near death being fed with a spoon, and so weak he could not so much as open or close his eyes. With so many wounds practically all his blood was lost. The elders were called in and he was anointed and promised in the name of Jesus Christ that he would recover. From that time on he recovered rapidly and was soon chopping logs in Illinois for the homes of the Saints.



Here is an account of what happened to Isaac after the fact he had been shot several times by the mob, this is told by James McBride:

Isaac Laney a young man that was baptized into the church at the same time that I was, was in the black-smith shop, when the mob began to fire on them. His gun stock was shot to pieces in his hands. He then escaped from the shop, ran to the mill, and climbed down one of the mill timbers into the creek. That being the quickest way for him to escape danger. From there he went into the house, where sister Catherine, Mrs. Haun, Mrs. Merril and some other women were. They administered to Isaac, and put him under the floor. He had received eleven bullet marks in his body. I was well acquainted with Isaac Laney, and helped to take care of him until he recovered. He told me that when trying to escape from the mob, the blood gushing from his mouth would almost strangle him. While he was under the floor he said he suffered a great deal for want of water. The women not daring to venture out to get water until they felt sure the mob was entirely gone. Isaac recovered, and lived thirty-five years from the day of the Haun's Mill Massacre.

Artemus Millet

It's interesting what others already know in your family. I have known that I am a relative (a cousin) of Kent Millet in the Battlecreek 6th ward in the Pleasant Grove East Stake for a very long time now, ever since I was younger, but never really knew the connection. Granted I'm still learning about these relationships but do know this, that Artemus Millet is a distant relative of mine (hence the relationship with Kent Millet from my ward.)

From what I know of Artemus Millet, there was quite a story behind his initial conversion. Before going into it though, I must make a small point. I have always wanted my family line to be somewhat connected with the pioneers of old church history. I felt a deep desire to have that connection with many that have passed on before us that have brought forth this great gospel. Having gone on many church history site tours and knowing a little bit about early settlers, I didn't have a direct relationship with them, I felt I couldn't connect with them because my family line wasn't there, with them.

Well now is my time to really feel what one particular individual's experience has done for me, and for many people. This individual is Artemus Millet, and here is his conversion story:

Artemus Millet was a wealthy builder in Canada at the time he and his wife learned of the restored gospel in late 1832. A family history tells the story:

Brigham Young was given a special mission [by the Prophet Joseph Smith] to go to Canada and baptize Brother Artemus Millet,…which call resulted from a consultation held at Kirtland respecting the building of the Temple there, and as to who they could get that was capable of taking charge of the work. When Elder Lorenzo Young exclaimed to the Prophet “I know the very man who is capable of doing this work,” “Who is he?” asked the Prophet. Lorenzo replied [“It] is Artemus Millet.” The Prophet turned to Brigham and said, “I give you a mission to go to Canada and baptize Brother Artemus Millet, and bring him here. Tell him to bring a thousand dollars with him.” Artemus was much surprised when Brigham announced his mission to him and [he] asked “What kind of a church is that?” Then Brigham explained the principles of the Gospel to him and he accepted and was baptized.

Artemus, obedient to the Prophet’s call, left his family and went immediately to Kirtland, where he selected stone for the temple foundation. He later returned toCanada, disposed of his property on credit (which became difficult to collect), and took his family to Kirtland to supervise the masonry work on the temple. He deposited money in the Kirtland Safety Society Bank and loaned money to the Church that he never collected. Despite his financial sacrifices, however, Artemus Millet maintained his testimony. He later immigrated with his family to Utah, where his large posterity now enjoy the blessings of the gospel.
Karl Ricks Anderson, Joseph Smith's Kirtland, p.15-16



This was fantastic information! And by no means is it something of a small experience. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to have stumbled across this great piece of information, as now it has bridged the gap between my relationship with this distant cousin of mine, in my own ward!

While doing some basic searching online for more information about Artemus Millet I found his conversion story being used in context for a positive influence to those attending BYU. Below you will see a brief story told of Artemus Millet from M Russell Ballard when at a fireside given at BYU in November 1994:

Consider also the example of Artemus Millet. In 1832 the Church faced a real dilemma. A stonemason was needed to direct the stonework on the Kirtland Temple. No one was qualified. Lorenzo Young suggested that they recruit Artemus Millet, who was a capable stonemason living in Canada. But there was one problem--Artemus was not a member of the Church. Joseph Smith paused and considered the suggestion. He then turned to Brigham Young and said, "I give you a mission to go to Canada and baptize Brother Artemus Millet and bring him here." If that wasn't enough, he then said, "And tell him to bring a thousand dollars with him" (Millet Family History, "A Brief History of Artemus Millet," manuscript, LDS Archives, pp. 70 71). You prospective and returned missionaries, how would you like to receive such a mission assignment? With the help of the Lord, Brigham Young went to Canada and taught and baptized Brother Millet. When he was asked to leave Canada to supervise the work on the Kirtland Temple, Brother Millet responded that he had a business in Canada and if he left, not only would the business fail, but people who owed him money would never pay their debts to him. Being touched by the Spirit, Brother Millet left his business and moved to Kirtland, Ohio.
The stately Kirtland Temple is in a large part a monument to Artemus Millet. He lost his business. He lost his money. He lost his prestigious standing in Canada. Later his wife died. But look what he gained. He gained the gospel. He fulfilled an important earthly mission. He gained an eternal family, and today there are thousands of his descendants in the Church who call him blessed. I know some of his descendants who are leaders in this Church and who acknowledge that much of what they count dear in their lives is because of their faithful forefathers in following the prophet of God.


I only know that Artemus Millet comes from my mother's line, don't know exactly but I will find out. I hope to meet with my grandparents soon so I may get a more complete and accurate information from them.

Family History, and What it Means to Me

Well I can easily say that family history has been something that I have lacked information on. I have often thought, 'well my family history has been done by my relatives so I don't necessarily need to do it. Well, I have just been body-checked into the glass and have had a rude awakening. In the past I have kept journal, on both computer and paper, but it wasn't a heartfelt experience. What did I lack, why were my experiences so boring and not interesting? I remember many general authorities talking about keeping journals, simply because it is the way of family history. My wife has a blog about our family and does very well with keeping great information in it. She has been my inspiration to keep a family history blog about my family lines, 'The Weight Lines'.

Just recently I attended a temple and family history class during Sunday School in our ward and was very impressed with the Brother Ramsted's story of how he came about loving family history, and I hope to have this same love for it. I want to know my ancestors and put information and faces to names in my past.

I hope to keep updating this blog so I can keep a personal record of my family history experiences. I hope to accomplish putting invaluable information together and then making a book from it. I hope and pray that the Spirit of Elijah will be with me as I endeavor into this adventurous path to comply with a very important commandment from the Lord.