Luke S. Johnson
1807–1861 (54 years)
Hometown: Pomfret, Vermont
Biography
Luke S. Johnson was one of the original Twelve Apostles who left the church during the 1837 Kirtland crisis but later returned. His brother Lyman was also an original apostle who left.
Johnson was excommunicated in 1838 after leaving during the banking crisis. He practiced medicine and lived in various locations before returning to the church in 1846, being rebaptized and eventually moving to Utah.
Unlike his brother Lyman who never returned, Luke rejoined the Saints and died in fellowship with the church in 1861. His story illustrates that some early apostles who left eventually came back.
Served Under
Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:
Wives (3)
Luke S. Johnson was a polygamist with 3 wives. Note these are simultaneous marriages — married to multiple living spouses at the same time. 1 of these wives were a teenager (18 or less) at the time of marriage.
3 wives · Lifespan: 1807–1861
16 children from 2 wives · Lifespan: 1807–1861
3 wives · Ages at marriage
| # | Name | Born | Died | Married | Her Age | His Age | Age Diff | Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 1, 1816 | Jan 1, 1846 | Nov 29, 1831 | 15 | 24 | 9 | 8 | |
| 2 | May 29, 1813 | Jan 2, 1896 | Nov 1, 1833 | 20 | 25 | 5 | 6 | |
| 3 | Feb 23, 1824 | Mar 9, 1900 | Mar 3, 1847 | 23 | 39 | 16 | 8 |
Children (22)
With
Susan Arminda Poteet
(8 children)
- Mary Elsa Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1834)
- Emily Susan Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1835)
- James Olmstead Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1837)
- Eliza Virginia Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1839)
- Fanny Catherine Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1840)
- Vashtia Emily Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1842)
- Solomon Luke Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1844)
- Susan Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1845)
With Susan Harminda Poteet (6 children)
- Elisa Mary Johnson
- Fanny Johnson
- Eliza Johnson
- Vashtia Johnson
- James Johnson
- Solomon Johnson
With
America Morgan Clark
(8 children)
- Susan Marinda Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1848)
- Orson Albert Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1850)
- Mark Anthony Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1851)
- Charlotte Elizabeth Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1853)
- John Joseph Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1854)
- Lovinia Ann Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1856)
- Phebe Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1858)
- Luke Johnson (b. Jan 1, 1861)