Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell - Softcover

John W. Rockwell; Jerry Borrowman

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1621087360 ISBN 13: 9781621087366

Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc., 2014

Synopsis

When Orrin Porter Rockwell died of a heart attack in 1878, his name was as well known as Brigham Young's. Cowboys sang songs about him, and newspapers had frequently printed scandalous accounts about the malicious Mormon destroying angel. But to many, Rockwell was a guardian angel, and it could be easily said he saved far more lives than he took. It seems history tells two contrasting narratives about one of the West s most controversial men. Yes, at times Porter Rockwell could act violently, yet he was overly generous to those in need. At least two dozen people died at his hand, yet in every instance, he was exonerated. As the ninth person baptized into the restored Church, Porter was central to the early growth of the Church, even though he was never called to positions of leadership. He was called a saint and a sinner, a lawman and a criminal, a hero and a villain. Indians feared him, saying he was impossible to kill, but some people traveled hundreds of miles to try. Although his death by natural causes likely disappointed the many outlaws seeking his life, it also fulfilled a prophecy given by Joseph Smith that no bullet or blade would ever harm Porter Rockwell.

A friend of Joseph Smith's since childhood and later his bodyguard, Porter saved the life of the Prophet more than once. Porter also served as a bodyguard to Brigham Young and helped guide the first pioneers across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. He became a legend as a frontiersman, a marksman, and a man of iron nerve. And though many outsiders characterized Porter Rockwell as a notorious, vengeful murderer, those who knew him saw him as a protector, a miraculous healer, and a loyal friend.

About this title

About the Author

John W. Rockwell has spent his life teaching students history, especially U.S. history and the history of the Wild West. He received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the National Honors Society in 2008. John has also worked on the Lehi City Historical Preservation Commission and has been involved in historical restoration and preservation projects throughout Lehi, Utah. Jerry Borrowman is an award winning author of World War II coauthored biographies, including Three Against Hitler with Rudi Wobbe and A distant Prayer with Joseph Banks. He's also a best-selling fiction writer, having written the popular four-book series stating with the world war I novel Til the Boy's Come Home, and the Depression-era novel One Last Chance.

Edition details

• Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc.
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1621087360
• ISBN 13: 9781621087366
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208