Thomas Grover

My wife and I were excited to learn that her fourth great grandfather is actually mentioned in the scriptures.  In the Doctrine and Covenants we read this: “And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a high council, for the cornerstone of Zion—Namely, Samuel Bent, Henry G. Sherwood, George W. Harris, Charles C. Rich, Thomas Grover, Newel Knight, David Dort, Dunbar Wilson” (D&C 124:131-132).  Thomas Grover is a direct ancestor of my wife and we were excited to learn more about his life and faithfulness.  One meeting of this high council mentioned took place on December 13, 1838 in Far West, at the time when the Prophet Joseph was in Liberty Jail.  A record of the meeting shows his brief testimony of the Prophet Joseph where they were discussing how some considered Joseph a fallen prophet.  Brigham Young presided and the record gives this brief mention of my wife’s ancestor: “Thomas Grover said that he was firm in the faith and he believed the time would come when Joseph would stand before Kings, and speak marvelous words.”  We were thrilled to see that at a time of such intense persecution—they must have shortly thereafter fled from Missouri to Illinois—Thomas Grover was firm in the faith and sustained the prophet when others were abandoning him. 

               Thomas Grover’s prediction about the Prophet Joseph is an interesting one.  He had faith that Joseph would come out of jail and yet continue his ministry, and he was right.  Shortly after getting settled in Illinois, Joseph went to Washington, D.C. and had a personal meeting with Martin Van Buren, the president of the United States.  Surely that is in a general sense an example of standing before kings as Thomas Grover predicted.  Also, in the same revelation that Thomas Grover is mentioned, Joseph was commanded to “make a solemn proclamation of my gospel…  This proclamation shall be made to all the kings of the world, to the four corners thereof” (D&C 124:2-3).  Joseph did not complete this in his lifetime, but the Twelve did in 1845, and Joseph’s witness went before the kings of the earth.  Joseph also went before spiritual kings, or at least he taught his people out to become “priests and kings” before God (D&C 76:56).  And certainly he did “speak marvelous words,” especially in his final years in Nauvoo as he revealed the endowment and taught powerful doctrines to the Saints.  Thomas Grover continue to show his devotion to the prophet in those Nauvoo years as he served as one of Joseph’s bodyguards.  He literally fulfilled the injunction of the Lord to Oliver Cowdery: “Therefore be diligent; stand by my servant Joseph, faithfully, in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be for the word’s sake” (D&C 6:18).  Words of the high council upon which he sat to the Saints in Nauvoo can still motivate us today: “Now therefore let this epistle be read in all the branches of the church, as testimony, that as representatives thereof, we have taken righteousness for the girdle of our loins, and faithfulness for the girdle of our reins, and that for Zion’s sake we will not rest; and for Jerusalem’s sake we will not hold our peace, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.”  We can today in our way show our steadfastness to the Lord as we stand by Joseph and live our lives such that we take salvation like a lamp to all the world.