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Jacob Hamblin: A Narrative of His Personal Experience, the Faith-Promoting Series Book 5 [Illustrated]
This is the fifth book in the Faith-Promoting series, and quite possibly the most popular of all 17 books in the series. The full original title is Jacob Hamblin: A Narrative of His Personal Experience as a Frontiersman, Missionary to the Indians, and Explorer: Disclosing Interpositions of Providence, Severe Privations, Perilous Situations and Remarkable Escapes.
This first-person narrative told is by Jacob Hamblin and tells of his turning to God after a miraculous healing, conversion to the Church, joining the Saints in Nauvoo, the succession crisis after the death of Joseph Smith, the journey across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley, his missions to the Native Americans, and the settlement of Southern Utah. It is one of the key source documents for many of these important events in Church history, and has become one of the most popular classics in the LDS cannon.
Led by a keen awareness to spiritual promptings and a strong love for Native Americans, Jacob Hamblin served as a mission president, Church arbitrator, and a scout exploring through Utah, Nevada, and Arizona territories. This action-packed account of a frontier hero is an excellent addition to any library.
This first-person narrative told is by Jacob Hamblin and tells of his turning to God after a miraculous healing, conversion to the Church, joining the Saints in Nauvoo, the succession crisis after the death of Joseph Smith, the journey across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley, his missions to the Native Americans, and the settlement of Southern Utah. It is one of the key source documents for many of these important events in Church history, and has become one of the most popular classics in the LDS cannon.
Led by a keen awareness to spiritual promptings and a strong love for Native Americans, Jacob Hamblin served as a mission president, Church arbitrator, and a scout exploring through Utah, Nevada, and Arizona territories. This action-packed account of a frontier hero is an excellent addition to any library.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 22, 2024
A very small volume packed with a lot of story. Since I live now in St George Utah and have visited the Hamblin homestead site, I wanted to know more about this man and his work. I found this volume in the library of friends (thanks, Skidmore's!!). It is an old book, published in 1881. In that Hamblin died in 1886, I believe this is the narrative outcome of an interview between James A. Little and Jacob Hamblin. Although memories for details like dates can sometimes be skewed with age, I found this account remarkably fresh in how incidents were described. The underlying emotions were vividly apparent, as only can be from a 19th century soft-spoken man.
It largely sticks to his view of his work and calling as a peacemaker among the Native Americans and as a missionary, so there is scant information about his family life and even the historical happenings of the area outside his personal involvement in them.
I like the illumination it provides on Brigham Young's priorities and disposition, as well as many of the people he served with - and particularly with the Native frame of mind at that time (which, incidentally, varied according to tribal affiliations). His interaction with John Wesley Powell was interesting as well. I read Powell's book on his exploration of the Colorado River, and although he mentioned Hamblin, it is not as detailed an account of him, nor does it give as much credit as is due. Hamblin in no way boasts of his time spent with various individuals, but the account itself tells the story.
I like the subtitle provided:
A Narrative of His Personal Experience, As a Frontiersman, Missionary to the Indians and Explorer, Disclosing Interpositions of Providence, Severe Privations, Perilous Situations and Remarkable Escapes.
Indeed! Some of it was hair-raising. The protection and direction of God is apparent.
This was a man who was placed with his exact talents and sensibilities into the exact right time and place in history. Things would have turned out much differently in the "Mormon" settlements of southern Utah without him.
It largely sticks to his view of his work and calling as a peacemaker among the Native Americans and as a missionary, so there is scant information about his family life and even the historical happenings of the area outside his personal involvement in them.
I like the illumination it provides on Brigham Young's priorities and disposition, as well as many of the people he served with - and particularly with the Native frame of mind at that time (which, incidentally, varied according to tribal affiliations). His interaction with John Wesley Powell was interesting as well. I read Powell's book on his exploration of the Colorado River, and although he mentioned Hamblin, it is not as detailed an account of him, nor does it give as much credit as is due. Hamblin in no way boasts of his time spent with various individuals, but the account itself tells the story.
I like the subtitle provided:
A Narrative of His Personal Experience, As a Frontiersman, Missionary to the Indians and Explorer, Disclosing Interpositions of Providence, Severe Privations, Perilous Situations and Remarkable Escapes.
Indeed! Some of it was hair-raising. The protection and direction of God is apparent.
This was a man who was placed with his exact talents and sensibilities into the exact right time and place in history. Things would have turned out much differently in the "Mormon" settlements of southern Utah without him.
November 9, 2025
a man who believed that we are all children of God.
A very inspiring story of a man who gave everything to help the Indian people. He treated them with kindness, respect, and they in return trusted him.
A very inspiring story of a man who gave everything to help the Indian people. He treated them with kindness, respect, and they in return trusted him.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews