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A Banner is Unfurled #4
Abide With Me
Kirtland, 1838. Among the Saints who remain, Julia Johnson and her children endure the bitter winter in poverty, struggling amidst illness and persecution to prepare to join the leaders of the Church in Far West. Meanwhile, Almon rises as an influential leader among the Canadian Saints and seeks land for them to settle in Missouri. Spring marks the joyful reunion of Delcena and her husband, Lyman, who has been in hiding. But separation looms large as the couple departs for Far West and Ezekiel realizes with dread that most of his family will soon follow.
Indeed, as summer approaches and the Kirtland Poor Camp begins its historic exodus, Ezekiel is left behind with only Almera to comfort him - but she wants nothing more than to join her family in their journey out of Ohio, away from her harsh-tempered, controlling husband. Typhoid fever strikes the traveling camp, and those already gathered in Missouri are shaken as mobs become more aggressive and overzealous Danites step in to force order. By the time Almon's company of Canadian saints arrives in Far West, the city is nearly under siege, and the lives of many innocent Saints are threatened — including that of the Prophet himself.
Indeed, as summer approaches and the Kirtland Poor Camp begins its historic exodus, Ezekiel is left behind with only Almera to comfort him - but she wants nothing more than to join her family in their journey out of Ohio, away from her harsh-tempered, controlling husband. Typhoid fever strikes the traveling camp, and those already gathered in Missouri are shaken as mobs become more aggressive and overzealous Danites step in to force order. By the time Almon's company of Canadian saints arrives in Far West, the city is nearly under siege, and the lives of many innocent Saints are threatened — including that of the Prophet himself.
276 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
4 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 16, 2021
As with the other three books that I have previously read, I enjoyed the historical fiction aspects of this book. I also like the characters and feel their pain as they are driven from pillar to post.
December 31, 2024
I enjoy reading about my ancestors and their experience with the restoration and the early persecutions against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They truly have been an example to me, and I am blessed to learn to know them in this way.
January 5, 2020
These books serve as a true reminder of just how spoiled that I am to live in the time and place that I do.
(I found it very well written and grew to love the characters.)
(I found it very well written and grew to love the characters.)
May 24, 2020
I have a better understanding and appreciation now for all the early Saints went through in Kirtland and Far West. And I thought I knew before! What a hard time to join the Church. I am so blessed!
May 4, 2021
I am enjoying the characters and story of this series. I find some historical inaccuracies but over all it is good.
May 8, 2021
Fantastic read! Hope there are more books that follow this family!
May 13, 2022
Good story. Well written.
September 27, 2025
A very good read - is there one more in the series?
December 9, 2014
This in series was a little slower than the rest but still cool!
As you know I don't get many things 5 stars, but this one is very special and close to my heart. It is about my people and not just my religious group MY ANCESTORS. I am the great-great-great-great granddaughter of Ezekiel and Julianne Johnson. The story is of course fictionalized but based on facts. I am in awe. My mom and I are in a race to read them. I do not give it 5 stars because of the family connection, but the story is actually riveting and inspiring! There are many times I heard myself say, "Go Johnson's" or "I am proud to be a Johnson" in fact in my small town I have discovered a descent of this line through Joel Hills Johnson, I come from his Brother George Washington Johnson (who is mentioned often in the book but out of 16 kids he is one of the younger ones), George Washington Johnson, had Milas Edgar, who had Josiah Buriah,who had my grandmother who had my dad, who had me! I love these people and I am grateful for my distant distant cousins Marcie Gallacher and Kerri Robinson who took the time to write these books!. At the end of their books they have notes of where they got their facts(journals,letters etc). SO COOL!!!
As you know I don't get many things 5 stars, but this one is very special and close to my heart. It is about my people and not just my religious group MY ANCESTORS. I am the great-great-great-great granddaughter of Ezekiel and Julianne Johnson. The story is of course fictionalized but based on facts. I am in awe. My mom and I are in a race to read them. I do not give it 5 stars because of the family connection, but the story is actually riveting and inspiring! There are many times I heard myself say, "Go Johnson's" or "I am proud to be a Johnson" in fact in my small town I have discovered a descent of this line through Joel Hills Johnson, I come from his Brother George Washington Johnson (who is mentioned often in the book but out of 16 kids he is one of the younger ones), George Washington Johnson, had Milas Edgar, who had Josiah Buriah,who had my grandmother who had my dad, who had me! I love these people and I am grateful for my distant distant cousins Marcie Gallacher and Kerri Robinson who took the time to write these books!. At the end of their books they have notes of where they got their facts(journals,letters etc). SO COOL!!!
September 12, 2010
I never really appreciated what happened to the Saints as they were being driven from Ohio and Missouri. I guess I concentrated on the exodus from Nauvoo. It was very heart rendering to hear their tale from the pages of the journals of the Johnson family. The mother, Julia, was an inspiration. Her children died as did her grandson. She had to leave her home. Her beloved husband, the father of her 16 children, left her to pursue his alcoholism and hatred for the church. When all else failed her she would tell people to rejoice because after all they had the Gospel. At this point in the story I wonder if any of them will survive besides B.F. Johnson whom I know must have lived because of his extensive projeny living in Mesa. This is the4th volume and I expect more to come because the story is not over
April 14, 2010
This series gets better and better, and at the same time sadder and sadder. I'm fairly familiar with the LDS church history, but this series makes it that much more real, particularly with B.F. Johnson being a blood relative of mine. I don't remember much from the few Work and the Glory books that I read, but the fact that this story is based on a real family, remaining very true to the journals and records of the time make it all the more enjoyable.
August 4, 2010
This book was still following the Johnson family and had some amazing tales to tell about them during early LDS church history. I was especially entranced by Benjamin's storyline. It was a rather depressing read, however, because it chronicled the time when the Saints were being attacked by the Missori mobs. Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was an uplifting read. If you haven't picked up this series yet and are a fan of the LDS history genre, give it a try.
June 6, 2011
This is Volume 4 of the series and affected me the most of any of them. The way the family is separated and each separate group is going through their own difficulties and wondering what is happening to the rest of the family is harrowing, especially because they are family. Also, I spoke to someone last month who had read the books as well and really liked them, even though it wasn't a family history for him. I kinda thought it was only us Johnson relatives that were reading these books.
February 14, 2013
This fourth in the series deals mainly with the removal of the Latter-Day Saints from Kirtland to Missouri and the troubles in Missouri when the "old settlers" (who had been there a few years, at most) tried to drive the Mormons out. Some sad tales to tell--interesting and again, well-researched. One thing I like about this series is that it describes women's lives along with the history, which was usually recorded by and features the men. Looking forward to the final book in the series.
April 23, 2010
I don't read a lot of Mormon fiction, but my grandma got me started on this series years ago and I have enjoyed it. The biggest problem I had was that I read book 3 so long ago, that I couldn't really remember the details of each of the characters. If you are a fan of the Work and the Glory, than I highly recommend this series.
May 29, 2010
This is the 4th in a series about LDS church history, with the main characters who are the ancestors of the writers. It wasn't my favorite in the series. This one focuses on the problems the Saints in Missouri had with the old settlers.
What was fun for me was to have 2 of my ancestors in the book: Joseph Holbrook and Anson Call.
What was fun for me was to have 2 of my ancestors in the book: Joseph Holbrook and Anson Call.
October 27, 2010
This one is better than the last three (which I read last year and never bothered to list...boy they must have made a big impression), but mostly I read these because they feature my ancestors. I am not a history lover so this is an easy way for me to learn something about my relatives without actually having to study too much. The family featured (the Johnsons) are incredible people.
June 23, 2015
Very engaging story. The fact that is true is upsetting at times. I cannot believe how the Saints were treated in Missouri. Mobs have no compassion or logical thinking. It was so upsetting to watch such uneducated men make decisions about others lives. I can hardly express the frustration I felt reading about what was going on during that time. Good writing...
February 17, 2011
My mother-in-law and her sister wrote this series of books. It's neat to know that the main characters in this book are actually related to my husband. I still can't believe all that these early pioneers had to endure.
February 11, 2011
I am liking the history -- especially the notes in the back that tell you what the source is and where the account has been fictionalized. I like how primary document text has been seamlessly inserted into the narrative.
September 20, 2013
I really should like this more than the three stars I'm giving it. Maybe it's the three years I took to read it--never really became absorbed by it. But this is the story of my family! I feel some degree of guilt due to their reliance on faith and my seeming utter lack of it. Alas...
July 3, 2012
LOVED this series and loved this book. I was a little disappointed in the abrupt ending, so maybe there is another book coming out soon? Who knows. I was completely engulfed by the story and couldn't wait to read what was going to happen next.
May 25, 2013
The authors did a very credible job of dramatizing several interweaving historical events. I wish I had the other volumes, as I anticipate that the several-volume story would be a synergistic reading.
January 27, 2016
The book was not very interesting at first but at the end it gets a lot better. In my opinion it is the best out of the first four. I haven't read the fifth one yet. The first ones I didn't like because they don't have very many interesting parts in then but the last one keeps your interest.
February 16, 2010
Similar to Work and the Glory, This series puts you there as part of the Johnson Family. Taken from journals and history this is a wonderful series. I can't wait until #5 comes out.
April 27, 2011
Another great book in this series. It's so neat to read about my ancestors. A bit depressing with the Far West trouble and all but I still enjoyed it.
July 10, 2010
I love these books! Joel Hills Johnson was my great (not sure how many greats) grandfather.. so I feel like I am reading about my ancestors.
Want to read
May 18, 2017What? there is a new one in the series? I must get it! I just can't recall where I left off it has been so long
July 27, 2011
It is so awesome to read about the faith and perseverance of your own ancestors. I have heard stories about BFJ all my life, but these books turn him and his family into real people.
September 29, 2010
More please?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews