Lettice Johnson

The restored gospel of Jesus Christ was first preached in England by missionaries in 1837. We do not know just when the Rushton family first heard the glad tidings of Mormonism. Perhaps reflections about the three children who had died in infancy and now the death of their daughter Pamela prepared them to listen when the gospel was first preached in Leek in May 1840. The promise of eternal family life undoubtedly was a powerful message. We can imagine the many discussions the Rushton family had after they first heard the gospel.

This was a close-knit family. As Richard and Lettice reflected on the death of four children, the marriage of two and the anticipation of marriage of the other children in the near future, they reacted favorably to the missionary messages. The fact that the entire family, including sons-in-law and daughters-in-law were baptized is remarkable and is further evidence of the love and solidarity that existed in this family. Edith Rushton Christensen describes the conversion as follows: “This was a united, happy family and much of their leisure time was spent singing together. One day this father said to his youngest son, Edwin, ‘A new religious sect is holding a meeting tonight. I wish you would go and hear what they have to say.’ Edwin answered, ‘Why don’t you go yourself?’ He replied, ‘Because, son, they are a very unpopular people and it might hurt my business.’ ‘Then why not send one of the older boys, ’ Edwin continued. His father came back with the answer, ‘I want you to go because I can depend on your judgment.’ Later during a report of this meeting, Edwin stated, ‘These men have the truth. ‘”

Approximately six months after Pamela’s death, the family was baptized.

A determined and reasonably exhaustive effort has been made to find records that would prove the dates when the Rushton family were baptized. The following dates represent my best effort along with source information.

…

Lettice Johnson Rushton baptized July 1840. Proof–l. There is a temple sheet prepared for endowments and sealings which shows she was baptized in July 1840. This work was done at the instance of Edwin Rushton but many dates on the sheet are in error, as proven by his own diary entries. We have proof Lettice was not baptized July 19, 1840 when her husband Richard Rushton Sr. was baptized. It is possible she was baptized in July 1840 but it is also possible that someone in the past has assumed she was baptized the same day as her husband and has perpetuated an error.¹

Mortals Awake, With Angels Join

It was hymn #77 in the first hymnal of the Church in 1840.

Words by Samuel Medley, 1782

Music by George Handel, arr. 1812

1. Mortals awake! with angels join,

And chant the solemn lay;

Love, joy, and gratitude combine,

To hail the auspicious day,

To hail the auspicius day.

2. In heaven the rapt’rous song began,

And sweet seraphic fire,

Through all the shining legions ran,

And swept the sounding lyre,

And swept the sounding lyre.

3. The theme, the song, the joy was new,

To each angelic tongue;

Swift through the realms of light it flew,

And loud the echo rung,

And loud the echo rung.

4. Down through the portals of the sky

The pealing anthems ran,

And angels flew, with eager joy,

To bear the news to man,

To bear the news to man.

5. Hark! the cherubic armies shout,

And glory leads the song,

Peace and salvation swell the note

Of all the heavenly throng,

Of all the heavenly throng.

6. With joy the chorus we’ll repeat,

“Glory to God on high;

Good will and peace are now complete,

Jesus was born to die,”

Jesus was born to die.

7. Hail, Prince of Life, for ever hail!

Redeemer, brother, friend!

Though earth, and time, and life should fail,

Thy praise shall never end,

Thy praise shall never end.

Sources

1 Family Documents of Richard Rushton Sr. https://www.familysearch.org/en/memories/memory/6551461

2 Baptism: 11 Nov 1933 but confirmed 1 Jul 1840