Alexander Neibaur Trusted in the God of Abraham

Alexander Neibaur

1808-1876

What would it be like to take part in the fulfillment of a prophecy of God?  A prophecy that was given thousands of years before your birth?  An ancient Prophet Nephi recorded the following vision contained in the Book of Mormon:

“And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites (the Book of Mormon), and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews (the Bible); And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall become a delightsome people.”  (1 Nephi 29:13; 2 Nephi 30:7)

Alexander Neibaur was born into a wealthy Jewish family in what was then France on January 8, 1808.  Living on the border with France and Germany, and being raised in a devout Jewish family, Alexander learned the German and Hebrew languages.  His father wanted him to be a Rabbi, and he sent Alexander to a school where he studied the Talmud and learned the Jewish faith.  Unsatisfied after a few years, he left that school and went to Dental school.  After graduation, he set up a Dental practice in Preston, England. There in England, he converted to Christianity.  Alexander met a remarkable woman named Ellen Breakell, who would become Mrs. Neibaur.   They lived prosperously and happily, all except for those visions and dreams that troubled Alexander.  He’d seen a strange book, a beautiful building that he wanted to enter, and many other things in vision.

Meanwhile, a boat had docked in Preston, England, with four Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints onboard, the first missionaries to land on British soil.  Heber C Kimball, Willard Richards, Orson Hyde and Joseph Fielding began preaching near the Neibaur home on July 30, 1837. 

Ellen was out scrubbing her front steps early one morning when a neighbor hailed her. 

               “Have you seen the new ministers from America?”

               “No,” answered Ellen, not looking up.

               “Well,” said the neighbor sarcastically, “They claim to have seen an angel.”

               “What?” rang out an abrupt voice from the house as Alexander poked his head out a window. 

               The information was repeated for him, and hurriedly dressing, Alexander dashed out the door.  He got the address of where they were preaching and within the hour, he was with the four Elders, deep in conversation.  He peppered them with questions.  The first was, “Do you have a book?”  He wanted that book from his night visions in his hands.  If they had the book, this was all true!   One of the Elders held out a small, tan colored book.  “That’s the book!” he exclaimed.  It was the first edition of the Book of Mormon.

Taking the book home, he read it through in three days.  He couldn’t eat or sleep until he had devoured the whole of it.  Alexander had received the ‘words of the Nephites’ and begun ‘to believe in Christ.’  The Elders were stunned when he returned the book to them a few days later and demanded to be baptized.  They asked him to wait until spring, when they said he’d be ready. 

He spent that wait helping Ellen embrace the restored gospel, reading the Book of Mormon aloud to her daily until she understood it fully.  She had her own confirmation of its truthfulness and both were baptized on 9 April 1838.  He was the first male Jewish convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Their conversion caused a stir among their friends and acquaintances.  Their friends thought they were ruining their lives and tried hard to keep them from joining this strange church.  Alexander would say to them, “My trust is in the God of Abraham.”  

Within a year or two, they wanted to ‘gather in’ with the body of the Saints that were gathering in Nauvoo, Illinois in the United States of America.  Leaving a prosperous dental practice, a comfortable home, and their families took a lot of faith.  Additionally, Ellen was expecting a baby in a few months, and their 3 other children were so small.  The trip would be very dangerous, crossing the sea in a frail ship, they had to trust in the ‘God of Abraham’ a great deal.

They boarded the ship 'Sheffield' on February 7, 1841 with the first group of converts from England, heading ultimately for Nauvoo.  On board were Elders Brigham Young, John Taylor and Willard Richards, who had been serving as missionaries there.  Alexander kept a careful journal of the daily activities on board, noting the storms, difficulties and incidents of the trip.  It was hard for Ellen; expecting a baby, she was so seasick she never went to the top level of the ship.  

It took 71 days and 4 different boats to get the Neibaur family to Nauvoo.  Now they were in the body of the Saints of God, part of God’s kingdom at last.  Indeed, Alexander Neibaur’s family was the first of the Jews of which Nephi prophesied, to gather to Zion.  There he became acquainted with Joseph Smith, whom he taught the Hebrew and German languages.  When the young prophet Joseph shared his first vision with Alexander, he recorded the account in his journal.  Alexander's account is one of only a handful of contemporary accounts of the first vision.  In joy, Alexander penned a verse that later became a hymn of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Come, thou glorious day of promise;

Come and spread thy cheerful ray

When the scattered sheep of Israel

Shall no longer go astray;

When Hosannas with united voice they’ll cry.

Lord, how long wilt thou be angry? 

Shall they wrath forever burn”

Rise, redeem thine ancient people;

Their transgressions from them turn;

King of Israel, Come and set thy people free.

Oh, that soon thou wouldst to Jacob

Thy enlivening Spirit send!

Of their unbelief and misery,

Make, O Lord, a speedy end.

Lord, Messiah!  Prince of Peace o’er Israel Reign.  (Hymns p. 50)

Alexander and Ellen stayed with the body of the saints for the rest of their lives.  After a few years in Nauvoo, where Alexander opened up a dental office in Brigham Young’s front parlor, When Joseph Smith's teeth were knocked out in his encounters with mobs, Alexander tended Joseph's teeth.  Finally, the Saints were expelled from their beautiful homes in Nauvoo.  The extreme tribulations they suffered in Iowa, Winter Quarters, then along the pioneer trail didn’t deter the Neibaur family.  They went with the Saints to Utah with the Pioneers of 1848, arriving in Salt Lake in September 24^th, 1848 with Brigham Young’s company.  Dr. Neibaur was the first dentist in Utah, where the family lived in a tent for several months over the winter, a sharp contrast from the comfortable home they enjoyed in England.    

Alexander and Ellen Neibaur made many sacrifices to embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ as restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Indeed Alexander Neibaur led the way for many others of the house of Israel to follow, and fulfill Nephi’s prophecy.

As a final testimony to his posterity, Alexander wrote, “I do not pen these lines, but for the gratification of my posterity.  Bearing to them, and unto all who may read these few lines, my testimony, that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the Lord.  The things spoken of in the Bible, Book of Mormon, sealed with the blood of the martyrs at Carthage jail, Illinois are true.  My prayer is that my posterity might walk in the way of righteousness.  Amen.”  (Written at Salt Lake City on March 1876)

Alexander Neibaur was guided by God to find the truth he sought.  He was open to the inspiration he received and acted upon it.  Embracing the truth separated him from his previous family, friends and business associates, but opened up new friendships and family relationships that now extend into eternity.  More importantly, it changed his family's lives forever.  As a descendant of Alexander and Ellen Neibaur, we are the grateful recipients of this heritage.

Disclaimer:  This was written in good faith using available resources at the time of writing.  Author is solely responsible for content.

Works Cited

Backman, Milton V. Jr. Eyewitness Accounts of the Restoration. Orem, Utah: Grandin Book Co., 1983.

Bassett, Theda. Grandpa Neibaur was a Pioneer. Salt Lake City: Artistic Printing, 1988.

Bohi, Mrs. Mazie. "Pioneer Dentists and Druggists." Carter, Kate B. Treasures of Pioneer History, Volume 4. Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1956. 76-78.

Carpenter, Ellen Wilde. The Story of Ellen Breakel Neibaur. 17 July 2011 <http://www.neibaur.org/journals/ellen.htm>.

Carter, Kate. "The Jews in Early Utah, Alexander Neibaur, The Mormon." Carter, Kate. Treasures of Pioneer History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1952. 333-340.

Hayward, C. Lynn. Notes from the Life of Alexander Neibaur. 30 Jan 2009 <http://www.neibaur.org/journals/alexnotes.htm>.

Neibaur, Alexander. Diary of Alexander Neibaur. 17 July 2011 <http://www.neibaur.org/journals/alex.html>.

Odgen, D. Kelly. "Two from Judah Minister to Joseph." Porter, Larry C. Regional Studies in LDS History: Illinois. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 1995. 232-237.

Woods, Fred E. "A Mormon and Still a Jew: The Life of Alexander Neibaur." Mormon Historical Studies Volume 7 No. 1-2 Spring/Fall 2006: 24.