W. O. Sutphin's Conversion and Protection
Published October 12, 2026 at 6:36 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
W. O. Sutphin, an opponent of the Church in Carter County, Tennessee, was present when Elders C. F. and W. F. Garner were arrested in 1884. During the arrest, the Elders expressed that they might preach the Gospel to the crowd as it was done to the jailer of old. Sutphin later wrote that these words made an impression on him, eventually leading to his conversion and baptism. He also believed it was God's will for him to be present at the arrest to protect the Elders. He further notes that a constable involved in the arrest met a violent death, which he viewed as a judgment.
In Their Own Words
“I am one of the men that were with the officer in Carter County, Tenn., when Elders Christensen and Garner were arrested, and if you remember, one of you said to the other: 'We might preach the Gospel to these people as they did to the jailor of old.' Little did I think that I would heed your words of any benefit to me, and that you would handle some of the mob in such a way as to help do it. I am thankful to my Heavenly Father that from that very day forth my heart began to change. I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in belief for four years before I or my family had heard a Mormon Elder preach. The little book known as the Voice of Warning did all the preaching to me except what you and Brother Christensen did that lonesome night, going from the head of Shell Creek to Roan Mountain. You and Brother Christensen did most of the talking, and asked so many questions. But it was God's will for me to be there; one reason was that I should protect you. I see now that if I had not been there, you would perhaps be to-day where I was before that notable night. The constable who had you in charge, and who was so bitter against you, has since been killed in a most horrible manner. He was shot down in his own house, and I believe it was a judgment of God upon him for the way he treated you and the cause of truth. I am now a member of the Church, and I am trying to live my religion, and I hope to be faithful to the end.”
— W. O. Sutphin, letter to the editor, Millennial Star
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 3 March 1898 (Vol. 60, No. 9). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1898-03-03_60_9 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Full first-person account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 60, No. 9, March 3, 1898, p. 141 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1898-03-03_60_9
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