John S. Fullmer's Prophetic Death
Published October 15, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Contributed by
Young Woman's Journal Research
John S. Fullmer, a former close associate of Joseph Smith, sent for his family on the day of his death. Although he appeared to be in his usual condition of health, he had a testimony that he would not see the rising of another sun. He counseled his family, bore testimony, and arranged his affairs. Later, while being moved for comfort by his son-in-law, he remarked that he felt better and immediately passed away without a struggle.
While the original account was published in 1894, John S. Fullmer actually passed away on October 8, 1883, in Springville, Utah Territory.
In Their Own Words
“The circumstances connected with his death, were related to me by his son-in-law, A. B. Warren, and are very unusual. At the time he sent for me he also sent for all his family. He had three wives and many children and grand-children. They came at his call as promptly as circumstances would permit; and when they arrived at his bedside they learned that he had called them together that he might give them his parting blessing; for he had a testimony that he would not see the rising of another sun. ... He said to his son-in-law, “Noan, come and turn me on to my side and crook up my legs, I am tired lying out straight.” ... The dying man’s last words were, “There, that feels better,” and almost before anyone could realize what was taking place the prediction was fulfilled, without a struggle or a groan, and John S. Fullmer was no more. — The Young Woman's Journal 5:8”
Sources & References
The Young Woman's Journal, vol. 5 no. 8 (May 1894). L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University digital collections. https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/YWJ/id/27574 (account extracted verbatim from the collection's page-level OCR; research confidence: high) Additional sources (periodical research): The Joseph Smith Papers, "Fullmer, John Solomon," biography, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/john-solomon-fullmer; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church History Biographical Database, "John Solomon Fullmer," https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/chd/individual/john-solomon-fullmer-1807
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