Ammon M. Tenney
Encyclopedia
Ammon Meshach Tenney was an American
Mormon
missionary
and colonizer in Arizona
, New Mexico
and Mexico
, who taught the message of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to such peoples as the Zunis and the Isleta Pueblos, baptizing hundreds. He also was the first president
of the Mexican Mission
when it was reorganized in 1901.
. He came to Utah in 1848 and later moved with his parents to San Bernardino County, California
. It was in San Bernardino that Tenney first learned Spanish. In 1858 the Tenneys moved to Utah, settling in Grafton, Utah
in 1859. Starting about this time Tenney worked closely with Jacob Hamblin
in missionary work among the Hopi
, Kaibab and other Native American groups.
In 1876 Tenney was among the first seven LDS missionaries called to go to Mexico.
In 1879 Tenney bought the land rights for St. Johns, Arizona
from the Barth brothers and began the Mormon settlement of that city.
In 1887-1889 Tenney again served in the Mexican Mission, this time heading missionary efforts in Northern Mexico. Tenney started with a group of four other elders. However the first on this mission went to the vicinity of Mesa, Arizona
and rebaptized
Encarnacion Valenzuela, a Papago who had been a member of the LDS Church for some years. This rebaptism was to symbolize Valenzuela's new commitment as a missionary and not due to any lack of current standing in the Church on his part. Valenzuela and Cheroquis, another Papago Latter-day Saint, who had been sealed to his wife in the St. George Temple by Wilford Woodruff
joined Tenney and his associates. Then went south preaching to the Pima
in Arizona and the Yaquis in Mexico. To do baptisms Tenney, Valenzuela and their associates dug holes that filled with well water to perform baptisms.
Among those Tenney baptized when he presided over the newly reopened Mexican mission starting in 1901 was Fidencia Garcia de Rojas, then age 18, who was still alive to see the organization of the hundredth LDS stake in Mexico in 1989.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
and colonizer in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, who taught the message of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to such peoples as the Zunis and the Isleta Pueblos, baptizing hundreds. He also was the first president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Mexican Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
when it was reorganized in 1901.
Biography
Tenney was born in 1844 in Lee County, IowaLee County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 35,862 in the county, with a population density of . There were 16,205 housing units, of which 14,610 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. He came to Utah in 1848 and later moved with his parents to San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
. It was in San Bernardino that Tenney first learned Spanish. In 1858 the Tenneys moved to Utah, settling in Grafton, Utah
Grafton, Utah
Grafton is a ghost town, just south of Zion National Park in Washington County, Utah, United States. Said to be the most photographed ghost town in the West, it has been featured as a location in several films, including 1929's In Old Arizona—the first talkie filmed outdoors—and the...
in 1859. Starting about this time Tenney worked closely with Jacob Hamblin
Jacob Hamblin
Jacob Vernon Hamblin was a Western pioneer, Mormon missionary, and diplomat to various Native American Tribes of the Southwest and Great Basin. During his life, he helped settle large areas of southern Utah and northern Arizona where he was seen as an honest broker between Mormon settlers and the...
in missionary work among the Hopi
Hopi
The Hopi are a federally recognized tribe of indigenous Native American people, who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. The Hopi area according to the 2000 census has a population of 6,946 people. Their Hopi language is one of the 30 of the Uto-Aztecan language...
, Kaibab and other Native American groups.
In 1876 Tenney was among the first seven LDS missionaries called to go to Mexico.
In 1879 Tenney bought the land rights for St. Johns, Arizona
St. Johns, Arizona
St. Johns is the county seat of Apache County, Arizona, United States. It is located along U.S. Route 180, mostly west of where that highway intersects with U.S. Route 191. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 3,538....
from the Barth brothers and began the Mormon settlement of that city.
In 1887-1889 Tenney again served in the Mexican Mission, this time heading missionary efforts in Northern Mexico. Tenney started with a group of four other elders. However the first on this mission went to the vicinity of Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
and rebaptized
Rebaptism (Mormonism)
Rebaptism is a practice in some denominations of the Latter Day Saint or Mormonism movement.The Latter Day Saints were headquartered in Nauvoo, Illinois. Many who were already baptized members of the church, were rebaptised either to show a renewal of their commitment to the movement or as part of...
Encarnacion Valenzuela, a Papago who had been a member of the LDS Church for some years. This rebaptism was to symbolize Valenzuela's new commitment as a missionary and not due to any lack of current standing in the Church on his part. Valenzuela and Cheroquis, another Papago Latter-day Saint, who had been sealed to his wife in the St. George Temple by Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff, Sr. was the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1889 until his death...
joined Tenney and his associates. Then went south preaching to the Pima
Pima
The Pima are a group of American Indians living in an area consisting of what is now central and southern Arizona. The long name, "Akimel O'odham", means "river people". They are closely related to the Tohono O'odham and the Hia C-ed O'odham...
in Arizona and the Yaquis in Mexico. To do baptisms Tenney, Valenzuela and their associates dug holes that filled with well water to perform baptisms.
Among those Tenney baptized when he presided over the newly reopened Mexican mission starting in 1901 was Fidencia Garcia de Rojas, then age 18, who was still alive to see the organization of the hundredth LDS stake in Mexico in 1989.
Sources
- Wilford Woodruff. "Nephites found in New Mexico". in A Book of Mormon Treasury: Selections from the Inprovement Era. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1959) p. 233.
- website on Mormon pioneers in Arizona
- a history of Apache County, Arizona
- James H. McClintock. Mormon Settlement in Arizona. Phoenix: The Manufacturing Stationers, 1919.