Beginning Feb. 2, the L. Tom Perry Special Collections in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University will host an exhibition of the writings and publications of Capt. Dan Jones.
The exhibition can be seen on the first floor of the library at Special Collections (Room 1130) throughout the month of February. On Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m., Ronald D. Dennis will give a presentation about the life and missions of Jones, his great-great-grandfather, in Room 1131 (the Special Collections classroom). Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.
Capt. Dan Jones is often mentioned in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in connection with the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. But he is also known for the prophecies made by Joseph Smith regarding his future: that Jones’ life would be preserved and he would yet serve a mission to his home country, Wales.
The first prophecy was fulfilled when his life was spared on three separate occasions within 36 hours after it was made. And as for the prophecy about a mission to Wales, Jones actually served two missions — one from 1845 to 1849 and a second mission from 1852 to 1856.
Very little has been published about his missions because many of the records containing information about the growth of the Church in Wales during these years were recorded in Welsh.
In addition to his sermons , Jones also published a hymnal, a periodical, a 288-page scriptural commentary and numerous pamphlets in Welsh in an effort to proclaim the message of the Church of Jesus Christ to his countrymen.
For more information on this exhibit and the L. Tom Perry Special Collections in the Lee Library, visit www.lib.byu.edu.
Writer: Brandon Garrett