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.

Ellen Breakell Neibaur's Precious Shoes

Ellen Breakell Neibaur

1811-1870

By Stephanie Johnson

Ellen watched her husband pore over the book. Ever since they had heard from a neighbor that there were some new missionaries from America in town, all he had done was read the Book of Mormon.  It was published by the newly formed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Over the next few weeks, Alexander patiently read to Ellen from the Book of Mormon for hours every night. By the time they came to the end, Ellen had come to admire the book and enjoy listening to it, but she wasn’t impressed.  One night, though, she had a dream which convinced her of the truth of the restored gospel. She was baptized soon after.

Ellen Breakell was born February 28, 1811, in Preston, England to Richard and Alice Breakell. She married Alexander Neibaur on September 16, 1833. By the time they heard of the missionaries in 1837, they had two children, Joseph and Margaret. They were very comfortable with Alexander working in town as a dentist.

On February 5, 1841, with four kids in tow and another baby on the way, they left Ellen’s childhood town and started out for the gathering place of the saints. They were greeted in Nauvoo by Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, the missionaries who had baptized them in England. Over the next few years, they welcomed two more children into their family, Alexander received the priesthood and was ordained a seventy.  And the couple received their endowments and were sealed together for time and all eternity in the Nauvoo Temple.

The happiness and prosperity of Nauvoo was not to last. In the end, the persecution and hard times caught up with them. It was doubly hard with the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, as their families had all become good friends. Although most of the saints left Nauvoo in February 1846, the Neibaurs stayed in Nauvoo through the summer.  Ellen was expecting another baby and this time was in no condition to travel.  After delivering a healthy baby girl, Leah, on August 29, 1946, they prepared to leave. Ten days later the family, comprised of six children and a newborn, walked away from their home in Nauvoo. 

Ellen soon became sick as they arrived in Winter Quarters.  A kind church member cared for Ellen, putting her to bed and caring for her baby until Ellen was well enough to care for her family.  This care lasted for several weeks.  Ellen was so grateful for the help she received. 

They camped in Winter Quarters until they could gather supplies to travel westward, which took over a year.  When they were ready, they joined the Brigham Young company and began their trek on June 4, 1848 across the plains.  Crossing the plains, Ellen now found herself with more to do than ever before. Ellen carried the new and oftentimes sick baby in one arm and drove the lead cows with the other.  She milked the cows and took care of the chores when the company camped at night.  Walking several thousand miles ruined Ellen’s shoes.  By the end of the journey, Ellen had discarded her shoes and was wrapping her sore feet in rags. 

It was a great sight for them when they finally reached the valley on September 20, 1848. They set up house in a tent and Alexander began to practice dentistry again, becoming the first dentist in Utah.  Many of his patients paid in goods at first, but eventually Alexander began to bring in money.  When he had saved up a little money, Alexander gave Ellen a beautiful new pair of shoes.  For the next few days, Ellen could be found madly knitting a beautiful pair of socks to go with the wonderful pair of shoes. Finally she could remove the rags from her feet.

One morning, soon after she finished making her socks, a collector came by the Neibaurs’ house to find Ellen in her new socks and shoes.  A new company of pioneers were coming into town and the collectors were gathering supplies for the refugees.  Alexander told the men they had nothing to spare, but Ellen interrupted and asked them to wait a moment.  She took off her new socks and shoes and handed them to the collector.  She wrapped her own feet in rags once more.  It had been hard for her to give up her shoes, but she remembered the kindness offered to her and her family once they reached the Salt Lake Valley and in Winter Quarters, and all along the way. 

When the next company of Mormon immigrants arrived, the people of Salt Lake came out to greet them.  Ellen was overjoyed to see one of her old friends from England among the Saints.  Looking down, Ellen noticed that her good friend was wearing the very shoes and stockings she had donated a few weeks before. Her sacrifice had become a great blessing to not just any newcomer, but to a dear friend. 

Works Cited:

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

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

Story written in good faith using the available resources.

The comprehensive biography by Ellen W. Carpenter is excellent! 

Nathan Neibaur's Strength of Character

Joseph Nathan Neibaur

~1780-after 1859

We don't know much about Alexander Neibaur's father, but what we do know shows a strong character and unweilding will.  His greatest hour is when he stood up to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. 

Nathan Neibaur was a prosperous Jew.  He spoke several languages and was trained as a physician and surgeon.  Nathan Neibaur and his wife Rebecca were living within the walls of the fortress Ehrenbreitstein when their son Alexander was born in 1808.  This fort was built on the Rhine river, and at various times throughout early history, was claimed as part of France and Prussia.  Today it's part of the city of Koblentz, Germany. 

Nathan served in the French army as physician and surgeon (some say for a time as Napoleon's personal physician), but his greatest service was to Napoleon Bonaparte as a linguist and interpreter.  Years later, when Napoleon's tattered regime began to falter, the great Emperor came back to the fortress at Ehrenbreitstein and approached his old friend, Nathan Neibaur.  He offered him large sums of money and other perks to come out of retirement and work for him again.  This time as a spy. 

Nathan would not entertain the offer.  He had become opposed to Napoleon's principles and plans.  He wouldn't serve a leader with whom he didn't agree.  Napoleon could conquer most of Europe, but not the determined mind of Nathan Neibaur.

Nathan Neibaur, our Jewish Grandfather, passed on this determination and integrity to his son Alexander.  After careful study, Alexander embraced Christianity, then Mormonism as he determined they were right, without regard to pressure from others.  Hopefully we can also claim these strong character traits as Nathan Neibaurs' posterity.

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

Works Cited

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

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>.

 

Alexander Neibaur's Family Group Record