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Joseph Charles Bentley

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Joseph Charles Bentley

1859-1942

Joseph Charles Bentley, son of Richard Bentley and Elizabeth Price, was born August 31, 1859 in Salt Lake City.  He was the youngest child in a family of six.  His parents were English converts who had emigrated to Utah in 1852.

The fall after Joseph’s birth, his father was called on a mission to England where he labored for four years.  During his absence his wife struggled bravely to support her family, the oldest a girl of twelve.  They lived in a little adobe house on North Temple Street.

Shortly after Richard Bentley’s return from England he was again called by President Brigham Young to take his family and move to St. George, in the extreme southwestern part of the territory of Utah.  This move was a great trial to Elizabeth Bentley, but she was willing to go with her husband wherever the Church might call.  Apostle Orson Pratt had been called home from St. George, so it was arranged that he and Richard Bentley would exchange homes.

Thus it was within the red sandstone hills of St. George, with the Virgin River flowing by, that Joseph grew to manhood.  He began his meager schooling under Richard Horne.  At the age of 15 he accepted a position of office boy for Robert C. Lund, who was the St. George operator of the Desert Telegraph.  Young Joseph learned telegraphy and eventually took over the managership of the office.  Later he was transferred to Silver Reef, a mining camp northeast of St. George, where he worked until he received his call for a mission. 

 At the age of 20, Joseph was called on a mission to England, where he labored as mission secretary in London.  Upon his return home two years later he secured a position with the firm of Wooley, Lund and Judd, who operated a general store, Wells-Fargo Express Agency, and a telegraph office in St. George.

One day Sister Julia Jill Ivins asked Joseph if he would teacher daughter Margaret (or Maggie) telegraphy.  An agreement was made to do this for the sum of $30 dollars a month.  The young man found Maggie an apt student and a charming young lady, and he often walked her home after the lesson.  That fall Maggie took a position as teacher Pine Valley, about 35 miles north of St. George.  She frequently visited the telegraph office after school and was allowed to send messages to the young operator at St. George.  This romance culminated the following summer in their marriage in the St. George Temple, June 30, 1886.

In 1892, Joseph Charles Bentley moved his wife and three small children to Mexico.  The Mexican Mission had been founded by the Church some six years earlier, and the Chihuahua colonies were developing into thriving little communities.  Settling the picturesque little town of Colonia Juarez, he purchased a quarter of a block near the center of town, on which were two small frame houses, some grapes, and a few fruit trees.  In four of five years he constructed a fine, two-story home of red brick.

Joseph went into business with Anson B. Call and Dennison E. Harris.  The firm of Call, Harris and Bentley engaged in cattle raising, farming and merchandising.  He also started a co-op cannery for canning local fruits and vegetables.  He was assisted in this plant by the Harris brothers, Franklin S. and J. Emer.  Another co-op in which he was interested was the Juarez Tanning and Manufacturing Company, which engaged in the making of harnesses, saddles, and other leather goods.

In church affairs he was equally active.  Soon after his arrival in Mexico he had been asked to assist Bishop George W. Sevey with his tithing records and was soon appointed Ward Clerk.  In 1895, when the Juarez Stake was organized with Anthony W. Ivins as President, Joseph C. Bentley became the Stake Clerk.  Then three years later he was made Bishop of the Colonia Juarez Ward, serving in that capacity some 18 years. 

In the fall of 1894, Gladys Woodmansee, a cousin of Maggie Ivins Bentley, came down to the colonies on a visit.  Years before, at the time of her marriage, Maggie had told her husband she believed in the principle of plural marriage and that if ever he decided to take another wife she would like it to be her cousin Gladys.  As Joseph C. Bentley had long admired this young lady and she was agreeable to the union, the time seemed opportune.  Accordingly to ceremony was performed by one of the Apostles who was visiting in the colonies at the time.  As the Manifesto of 1890 applied only to the United States, there were no legal barriers to the marriage.

In 1897 Joseph Charles Bentley became a naturalized Mexican citizen, intending to make the land of his adoption his permanent home.

For years Bishop Joseph Charles Bentley had watched his interest the development of a certain red-haired lass, who was the daughter of one of his Counselors, Ernest L. Taylor.  As the girl blossomed into young womanhood, Bishop Bentley, being a firm believer in the doctrine of plural marriage, sought her hand.  At first she was rather unappreciative of his attentions, but after a rather persistent courtship he was successful.  On September 23, 1901, Mary Maud Taylor, then but a girl of 16, became the third wife of Joseph C. Bentley.

Of course separate homes were maintained for each of the three wives.  The family relationships of the Bentley’s were very harmonious.  However, Bishop Bentley’s church duties took him away from home so much that the burden of raising and training the children fell largely upon the wives.  On several occasions on or the other had the heart-rending experience of witnessing her child’s last breath and laying it out for burial while her husband was in Salt Lake City for conference or off on some missionary journey. 

There were pleasant times, too.  Each summer for many years Joseph Bentley made it a practice to take his families into the mountains for an outing, usually at North Creek above Chuhuichupa.  In the midst of tall pines and with an abundance of fish and game, a good time was enjoyed by all.

Gladys had poor heath and died in March 1906.  Her five children came to live with Maggie, and it was a very busy home for the next few years.

In 1910 Joseph C. Bentley organized a Board of Trade for the purpose of securing a better market for colony products.  The colonies were producing fruit of unusual quality as well as canned goods and leather products.  It was thought that by combing the produce of the various members it would be possible to ship in carload lots to more distant markets.  An invitation was received from President Diaz to bring an exhibit to Mexico City.  After arriving there Bishop Bentley was cordially received by the fair officials, allotted space for his exhibit, supplied with flags and bunting for decoration, and given the services of several men to unload and handle the produce.  He then proceeded to erect a pyramid of colony cheeses as high as the ceiling, a huge stack of canned goods, and extensive displays of apples, peaches, flour, candy, saddles, and harnesses.

At the close of the exposition, a banquet was served to President Diaz and his cabinet, using colony produce.  Afterward each minister was given a few samples to take home.  The remaining produce was sold at a good price.  This exposition opened up a thriving market for colony produce in Mexico City.

Before his return home, Bishop Bentley was granted a personal interview with President Porfirio Diaz, who state that he greatly admired the Mormon people because they set an example of a higher standard of living and morality which would benefit his people.

The decade of 1911-1920 was a troubled one in Mexican history.  The 30-year dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz, which had given Mexico peach and financial stability and encouraged foreign colonization and investment of foreign capital, was rough to an end by a popular revolt led by the crusading Francisco I. Madero, who in turn was succeeded by half a dozen other presidents in kaleidoscopic succession.  The most colorful figure during this period was Francisco “Pancho” Villa, rebel, patriot, and bandit, but a man of his word and one who had great regard for the Mormon people.

Reported assurances were given to the Mormon colonists that their lives and property would be respected, and, owning to their neutral position, their firearms would be left in their possession. This promise was kept by both sides for about six months, but the Revolutionists, being short of arms and suffering one defeat after another, finally demanded the arms of the colonists.

On Saturday, July 26, 1912, the men of Colonia Juarez brought their guns and ammunition to the bandstand, where they were listed and counted by Bishop Bentley before turning them over to the rebel commander.  Being left with no means of defending their families, the brethren placed their wives and children on the train and sent them out to El Paso, Texas. Numbered among the exiles were Maggie and Maud Bentley and their families.

Believing that his life was in danger from the rebel leader, Cavada, who had been making threats, President Junius Romney of the Juarez Stake fled into the mountains, leaving word for the rest of the brethren to join him there. It was sometime before theywere able to do this, however, as the rebels forbade anyone to leave town.  Finally scouts came in with the news that a federal army was approaching, whereupon the rebels left.  Although there was now apparently no further reason for leaving, Bishop Bentley said that in obedience to the Stake President he was going inot the mountains to join him and advised other the other brethren to do likewise. 

On the following day a vote was taken and it was decided that the men of the colonies would proceed overland to the United States and join their families in El Paso.  Before leaving, reliable Mexicans were placed in charge of their homes and property.  The refugees were all mounted and had a couple of provision wagons and a considerable number of pack animals.  Four days’ travel brought them to the border, and two more were required to reach El Paso.

On the very day of their arrival, the Stake Presidency, High Council, and Bishoprics met with Anthony W. Ivins to discuss their action in leaving their homes in Mexico and what future course they should take.  There was heated discussion among the brethren as to the wisdom and necessity of the Exodus.  President Romney stoutly defended his action and stated that he would never return to Mexico unless called to do so by the General Authorities.  Bishop Joseph Charles Bentley said that in his opinion there had been no need either for their families or the men to leave and that as far as he and his families were concerned they had left solely in obedience to the counsel of the Stake President.

After a series of meetings, it was decided that all Stake and Ward authorities who did not desire to return to the Mexican colonies would be honorably released, and more than 500 free railroad passes were given to refugees who desired transportation to other parts of the United States.  Within about two weeks after the Exodus, some 60 men, including Bishop Joseph C. Bentley, Ernest and Alonzo Taylor, John W. Wilson, Daniel Skousen, and John Hatch, were ready to return to their homes in Colonia Juarez.  Upon reaching there, Bishop Bentley found everything just as he had left it, his faithful hired man, Cornelio Reyes, having remained true to his trust.  As conditions remained quiet for several weeks, a number of families returned to Colonia Juarez. Among them were those of Maggie and Maud Bentley.

The colonists were not molested for more than a year.  Then in April 1914 came the startling news that American troops had stormed and captured Veracruz.  Feelings ran high on both sides of the border and it appeared that war between the United States and Mexico was imminent. 

Some irresponsible parties sent an exaggerated report to President Joseph F. Smith in Salt Lake City, telling him that all the Mormon colonists in Mexico were in grave danger.  Acting on this advice, President Smith promptly called the settlers out; however, by September the war scare had subsided, and the Bentley families returned to their homes, where they remained during the balance of the Revolutionary period.

As Bishop Bentley was the only presiding officer of the Juarez Stake to return to the colonies, he was directed by the General Authorities at Salt Lake City to take over and close the tithing records of the various Wards which had been disorganized and to exercise general supervision over all the Saints who had returned to Mexico.  In 1915 he went to Salt Lake City to attend April Conference.  On April 10, after sessions had concluded, he called at the office of the First Presidency.  President Josph F. Smith and his two Counselors, Anthon H. Lund and Charles W. Penrose, placed their hands on his head while President Lund pronounced a blessing.  Then President Smith proposed that they set Bishop Joseph Charles Bentley apart as President of the Juarez Stake.  President Penrose acted as mouth.

Upon returning to Mexico, Bishop Bentley had the unusual distinction of serving both as Bishop and as Sake President for a little over a year until Apostle Ivins came down in May 1916 and released him from the Bishopric, at the same time setting apart John T. Whetten and Arwell L. Pierce as Counselors to assist him in the Stake Presidency.

Taking the lead in community as well as church affairs, President Bentley made two trips to Mexico City to obtain government confirmation of the land titles of the colonist.  He also continued to operate a general store in Colonia Juarez, for a time in partnership with John W. and Guy C. Wilson and, after the Exodus, alone.  However, the store was looted so many times by rebel bands that the venture was finally abandoned.

One day during the Revolution, Bishop Joseph Charles Bentley and several others paid a visit to General Villa, who was camped at Casas Grandes.  They requested a written order which would protect their work horses from seizure by rebel foragers.  Villa obligingly wrote out the order and gave copies to Bishop Bentley and Bishop Anson B. Call of Colonia Dublan.  Villa then remarked that his men were badly in need of bedding and he would like to buy some.  Bishop Bentley replied that his store in Colonia Juarez was only a grocery, but that he would see what he could do.  After returning to Colonia Juarez, Bishop Joesph C. Bentley gathered up a collection of surplus bedding from the townspeople and presented it to Villa as a gift.

During General Pershing’s campaign in Mexico (March 1916 – February 1917) he made his headquarters in Colonia Dublan and was very friendly toward the Mormon colonists.  After receiving orders to abandon the search for Villa, Pershing tried to persuade President Bentley to leave Mexico with the army and even offered the use of his own private car.  However, President Bentley felt that the colonists were in no danger and there was no reason to leave the country.

In March, 1919, President Joseph Charles Bentley, in company with Burt Whetten and Albert Tietjen, set out to visit some of the missionaries who were laboring in the villages to the south.  They were traveling in a light buggy drawn by a team of mules.  Between El Valle and Namiquipa they encountered some of Villa’s men and were taken into custody.  They were transferred from place to place and held prisoner for three days before they finally gained an audience with Villa.  In talking with the general, they learned that he had once lived with a Mormon family in Sonora and knew considerable about the Mormon people.

Villa said, “Many times I might have entirely cleaned up on all of you Mormons and destroyed the colonies, but I have never had any desire at all to do you any harm.  I would like to help ou, and I will help ou all that I can, but during times of trouble there is no guarantee of safety.  You gentlemen better return to your homes and stay there until we bet these things settled.  That will be the time for you to do the thing that you are doing now.

Villa then gave the brethren a written pass in case they were stopped again by any of his men.  However, their troubles were not yet over.  As they approached the nearly deserted town of Namiquipa, they were seized by a group of Rurales, who mistook them for American spies.  Here they were held prisoner for nine days before they succeeded in convincing their captors of trhe peacefulness of their mission.  Finally they were released and allowed to return home, taking with them two missionaries who had been laboring in Namiquipa.

As Stake President, Joseph C. Bentley was also Chairman of the Stake Board of Education, which supervised the Juarez Stake Academy.  On his trips to Salt Lake City to April Conference he would hire teachers for the coming school year.  After being released from the Stake Presidency, he continued to serve as bookkeeper for the school, paying the teachers’ salaries and managing the bookstore for several years.

Joseph Charles Bentley served as Stake President of the Juarez Stake until September 8, 1929, when he was succeeded by Ralph B. Keeler.  However, as the incoming Stake Presidency were all new at their jobs and unfamiliar with the keeping of Stake records, Bishop Bentley was once more sustained as Stake Clerk, which position he held until 1930 when he was made a Patriarch.

During his residence of nearly a half century in Mexico, Joseph Charles Bentley suffered many bereavements, losing nine children and two wives.  Gladys Woodmansee Bentley died February 21, 1906 and thus escaped the trials of the Revolutionary period.  Margaret Ivins Bentley passed away January 11, 1928.

Though small of stature, Joseph Charles Bentley had a distinguished appearance and a charming personality.  He was dark complexioned and habitually wore a small goatee, which he kept well-trimmed.  His resemblance to President Madero sometimes caused him to be mistaken for the Mexican President. On one occasion, as Brother Bentley got off a train, he was greeted by the martial strains of a brass band, and he had considerable difficulty convincing the assemblage that he was not the President of the Republic.

On Saturday, March 7, 1942, Joseph Charles Bentley seemed about as well as usual.  He asked his wife, Maud, to make him some oatmeal cookies, and he nibbled on them with pleasure throughout the day.  In the afternoon he had his hair cut and beard trimmed.  He retired about 10:00 p.m., after listening to the news broadcast on the radio.  About 11:40 p.m., Maud Bentley awakened to find him in a violent attack of nausea and unconscious.  He died within in a few minutes and was buried in the Colonia Juarez cemetery among the loved ones who had preceded him.

Funeral services were held for him Sunday afternoon, March 9, 1942.  There wasn’t time to notify his absent family members.  Prominent leaders in the colonies, including Orson P. Brown, Wilford M. Farnsworth, Bishop Anson B. Call, Moroni L. Abegg, President Claudius Bowman and Bishop Ernest I. Hatch all paid tribute to his integrity and faithfulness and his unfailing and great leadership to the people in the colonies.

Many letters and expressions of love, sympathy and admiration for him were received by his wife Maud from such Church leaders as Elder Marion G. Romney, President Franklin S. Harris, President Ralph B. and Gertude Keeler, Aunt Mamie Chamberlain, Taylor and Louise Abegg, as well as other family members and friends.  Truly he was a great and faithful leader gone to a great reward.

During his 50-year stay in Mexico he had many opportunities to move across the border to the United States but felt he had been advised to go to Mexico by Church Authorities in the first place, so felt that was where his duty lay.  So he remained true and faithful to his responsibilities.

Isaura Bentley Abegg, daughter

Stalwarts South of the Border,

by Nelle Spilsbury Hatch,  page 31

James Elbert Whetten

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James Elbert “Bert” Whetten

1881-1969

 

James Elbert Whetten was born July 18, 1881 in Snowflake, Arizona.  He was the second son of John Thomas and Belzora Savage Whetten.  His father kept a stable where the mail and passenger coach from Holbrook to Fort Apache changed horses. 

Bert was five years old when the renegade Indian, Geronimo, was captured and carried to Fort Apache.  He and his brother John climbed up where they could look into the big Government wagon and saw him chained to the bottom of it.  They really looked him over.

James Elbert was seven years old when his father sold out in Snowflake, preparatory to the move to Mexico.  They made the trip in company with John Kartchner and were two months enroute.  They settled in Cave Valley where a Ward had already been organized.  There Bert was baptized when he was eight years old by his father.  Life was hard for the first few years, with little to eat but corn dodger, molasses, and greens, which they were glad to get.  His father was a good provider but had to work hard and be on the lookout for every opportunity to improve their situation.

He was 11 years old when the Apache Kid, reputed to be Geronimo’s son, killed the Thompson family at Williams’ Ranch, only two miles from Cave Valley.  This put fear into the hearts of all, especially young boys who had to ride the range to keep cattle rounded up.  His father had taken a herd of 500 cows to run on shares with a man in Colonia Diaz.  Bert had gone along to help move the herd onto what is now the Villa Ranch on the Gavilan.  “And that was some job,” he said.  But taking care of this growing herd, and keeping them from straying on an open range, was a bigger task.  Bert and his brother John kept at this job early and late.  They milked cows and took care of the milk.  They were not afraid of Mexicans, nor of Americans, many of whom were in the hills prospecting, but Indians were something else. 

Bob Lewis, claiming to be a prospector, came into their camp one day and they welcomed him as added protection against the Indians.  Little did they know that his friendly approach and his apparent interest in two lonely boys was the greatest menace of all.  Their suspicions were not aroused when several of his companions showed up in camp, all claiming to be prospectors, not were they curious about their frequent absence, while Bob remained always close to the boys.  He made himself very useful and entertaining around camp, and helped them hunt stray cattle.  He even suggested that he would hunt the strays by himself.  One evening their cows didn’t come, neither did Bob.  A hurried search showed their range had been wiped clean of cattle, except for a few strays that had escaped the rustlers.  A thorough search, with help from neighboring cattlemen, revealed that they had all been victims of the famous Black Jack Outlaws, a gang of notorious desperadoes.  They followed the trail and found that the cattle had been moved out of the country, by-passing ranches and the unguarded border, into Deming, New Mexico.  There they found that Bob Lewis had made shipment of cattle to the East just two days before.  They could do nothing about it, although the U.S. Government finally caught and hanged them all.  But it didn’t bring back the cattle nor a penny for their sale. 

Shortly after the turn of the century, Bert received a call to the Mexican Mission.  This was surprising as well as frightening to him.  He could handle the wildest broncos and meanest cows, and haul heavy loads with double teams over treacherous mountain roads, but what preparation was that for a mission. His education, too, had been limited.  But his church work was less.  He not only felt unprepared but unworthy to accept the call.  But, schooled to be obedient, he said he would do the best he could.

He was set apart by Elder George Teasdale in June 1905 and entered the Mexican Mission shortly before President Talma Pomeroy was released.  With this, he began work that was to be a vital part of his life for more than 50 years.  He did his tracting on foot and carried his bedding and books on his back.  Whereas before, he had been used to riding and using a pack mule.  This was the first hard lesson that turned a cowboy into a preacher.  He struggled to learn the Gospel both in Spanish and English.  He became Rey L. Pratt’s first companion and made phenomenal growth in the work.  He finished his 26 months in the mission field as an accomplished missionary, well informed in the Gospel, and so much in love with the Book of Mormon and the truths contained in it that it never ceased to be his favorite source of study. 

On June 29, 1908, he married Lillie O’Donnal and later was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.  With her, a long, happy life was begun.  A local mission, to which he was called by President Anthony Ivins shortly after his return, was interrupted by the Exodus.  After this event, he was homeless and struggled to maintain his family in a New Mexico logging camp.  Then he was called to serve under President Rey L. Pratt, who operated the Mexican Mission in the United States, as the Spanish American Mission.  It was a sacrifice, both to himself and his father, to leave their contract at the time.  They expected it to be of but six month’s duration.  He accepted, and stayed in the field for two years.

Back in Colonia Juarez by 1914, he was called to serve in the Chihuahua Mission when it was organized under the direction of President Joseph C. Bentley.  In 1917, in company with President Bentley, he visited the district of El Valle, Temosachic, Namiquipa, Matachic and other places to find Saints who had remained unvisited during the Revolution.  This turned out to be the most fateful experience of all.  With their wagon loaded with provisions for missionaries in the districts, they had hardly passed El Valle when they were captured by Pancho Villa’s troops, taken to Cruces, Chihuahua, and confined.

Villa was still smug over outsmarting the American soldiers in their attempt to capture him. He was still antagonistic toward Americans and had proved a thorn in the side of the Mexican Government, then in its first struggles to establish a stable government.  What he would do with these missionaries was a question.  The missionaries partially solved this problem by making friends with the guards and Felipe Angeles, Villa’s military strategist.  He was a ready conversationalist, and as soon as he learned of their peaceful mission, confided to them that he was working with the American Government to use his influence with Villa to effect peace with his own government in Mexico.  He admitted he was in a precarious situation.  Should his identity and mission be discovered by the Carranza forces, he would never get out of the country alive.  Then he sympathetically listened to the missionaries while they explained their way of life, the plan of salvation and the principles of the Gospel.  The farther they went in their explanations, the more excited he became.  Finally he shouted through the door, “Pancho, come here!”  When he stood beside him, he exclaimed. “I want you to hear what these men say.  They are doing with words what we are trying to do with guns.” Villa nodded and sat down to listen, continuing to nod in between the questions he asked.  His final question started them both.  “Why have you never told me this before?  I have lived around Mormons all my life, and with a Mormon family for awhile in Sonora.  But never before have I heard your doctrine explained, or learned the real meaning of your way of life.  It might have made a difference in my life.”

At that, Angeles became more excited and solemnly exclaimed, “If I ever get out of this mess alive, I’m going to join the Mormons.”  Villa, looking a little anxious, asked,” I might do the same thing.  But do you have any place for a man like me?” “Yes,” answered Bert.  “There is a chance for anyone doing wrong if he quits and tries to do better.  I don’t know anything about you, but I do know that all the Lord wants is a repentant heart.” At which Villa replied, “No doubt you have heard much about me, most of which is untrue.  I’ve been bad enough, all right, but not as bad as I’ve been represented to be.  Every killing, hold up, or bank robbery has been blamed on Pancho Villa, and of most of them I knew absolutely nothing.  But if I ever get to where I can make proper arrangements, I may do just as Angeles has said he’d do.”

Soon after their release, they heard of Felipe Angeles’ capture and subsequent execution.  President Bentley and Bert decided if they could get property data, they would have his work done in the temple, for they were both convinced he was converted.  Because of the lack of essentials for such work, it was postponed.  One day after President Bentley returned from a General Conference in Salt Lake City he announced he had done Angeles’ work in the Salt Lake Temple.  The First Presidency had told him to go ahead even if they lacked the essential data.  President Bentley died shortly after that and Bert let the matter drop.  But as time passed and he was able to spend time in the temple, he became curious to see what had been recorded of the work done for Felipe Angeles.  To his surprise he could find no record or anyone who knew of it.  Not even after writing Ernest Young, was Bishop of Colonia Juarez when the affair with Villa had taken place, could he obtain confirmation.  Together with Antoine R. Ivins and the Temple Recorder, they searched for the record without success. But the unanimous decision of the searchers was that it should be done and Bishop Young commissioned to authorize Bert to do it.

But where would he start?  He had a picture of the man which contained his place and date of birth, but where to go to get what else was needed?  Then, as if out of the blue, it came.  Bert’s son Rey, on business in Chihuahua City was during with a friendly lawyer.  In the course of the conversation Felipe Angeles’ name was mentioned.     The lawyer at once said he had a book that told much about it and that he could take it if it would help.  The book, when procured, contained the record of his trial, Angeles’ speech of introduction wherein he told who he was, when and where he was born, and the names of his parents and much of his early life, all the information necessary to do his temple work.  Bert copied all of this onto a genealogical family sheet and sent it to Ernest Young.  He took it at once to the First Presidency, who after considering it, sent word to have the work done.   Bert was authorized to do it, which he prepared to do at once.  But in his search for data on Felipe Angeles, the question of doing the work for Pancho Villa had never entered his mind.

One night he had a dream, so real that when it was over he found himself sitting up in bed.  In his dream, Pancho Villa stood at the foot of his bed, dressed in the same suit he had on while they were his prisoners.  Villa asked if he knew him.  Did he remember the last time he had seen him?  When Bert answered “yes” to both questions, he continued.  “Do you remember the things I said at that time?” “Yes,” said Bert.  “I remember distinctly.”  “That’s why I’ve come to see you about now. You taught me something I’ve always remembered.  Do you remember what I told you?”  “Yes,” said Bert.  “You said that if the Mormon doctrine had been explained to you in your early youth, that your life might have been entirely different.”  He then said, “I still feel that way, and I’ve come to see if you can help me.”  “If there is anything in the world I can do for you, I’ll be glad to do it,” answered Bert.  Pancho Villa then told Bert of his trouble, of his inability to go farther without help, and that Bert was the only one that could help him.  “Why don’t you go to President Bentley, who is over there and tell him the same story?”  “He’s here, all right,” answered Villa, “and I’ve seen him.  But he can do nothing for me, and I’ve come to ask will you do it?”  Bert repeated his willingness to do anything he could for him.  “Can I count on that?” he asked.  “Yes,” answered Bert, “you can count on that.”  With that he woke up.

Sitting straight up in bed, he awakened his wife who asked in concern, “What’s the matter?”  “I’ve been talking to Pancho Villa,” Bert answered.  “Oh, you’ve just dreamed it,” she laughed, soothingly.  “No, he was standing there at the foot of the bed.  Didn’t you see him?”  “Of course I didn’t,” she laughed again.  “You’ve just eaten too much supper.”

The dream had so shaken Bert he didn’t sleep much the rest of the night.  Nor could he get it off his mind the rest of the day.  He kept asking himself why he had not been on the search for Pancho Villa’s genealogy while he was hunting so diligently for that of Angeles.  Though Villa had not been as vehement in his avowal to join the Church as Angeles, both he and President Bentley felt sure that if conditions were right that he would eventually join.  He now decided to do what he should have done earlier.  Miraculously, again, he found a friend with a book containing all they needed.  In this book he not only found all the information necessary, but also learned that Pancho Villa was christened Doroteo Arango.  He copied it onto a sheet, took it to Villa’s widow in Chihuahua City to verify its accuracy, and then explained what he hoped to do with it.  To his surprise she not only agreed, but asked what he could do for her.  “I’ll send you the missionaries,” he answered, “and you can do for yourself.”  This she promised to do.

Bert made a duplicate copy of his sheet and sent it to Earnest Young, who took it to the First Presidency, who in turn said Villa’s work should be done also.  Joseph Fielding smith commissioned Bert to do it.  In the spring of 1966, with joy in his heart, Bert compiled, thankful to be a Savior on Mount Zion for a man who, bloody through his reputation was, had never harmed a Mormon.  Temple officials rejoiced too, when the letter came sanctioning that his work be done.  They opened wide the temple doors for those doing it, glad that work was being done for more Lamanites. 

This inspiring missionary experience came in Bert’s 85th year.  And in what better way could his long service to the Lamanite people end?  Bert continued doing his own roping, branding, and caring for cattle until his 85th year.  He still makes almost daily trips to his ranch, a few miles distant from Colonia Juarez, where he now resides with his wife Lillie.

Compiled from his journal and tape recording by Erma Cluff Whetten in 1967

Stalwarts South of the Border, Nelle Spilsbury Hatch, page 739