Alexander Neibaur

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Alexander Neibaur (8 January 1808 – 1883) was the first Jewish person to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was also among the first dentists to practice in Utah.

Neibaur was born in Ehrenbriestein, Alsace-Lorraine, France. Neibaur's father, Nathan Neibaur, served as a surgeon of the French Army.

Neibaur was educated to be a rabbi but decided to become a surgeon and dentist instead. He received a degree from the University of Berlin. About 1828, Neibaur converted to Christianity. He move to Preston, England, arriving there by 1837. In June 1837 Neibaur married Ellen Breakel. He joined the LDS Church in 1838.

Neibaur arrived in Nauvoo, Illinois in 1844, where he helped Joseph Smith, Jr. in his study of German.[1] He developed a close friendship with Smith and also helped Smith continue his study of Hebrew.

In 1846, after Smith's death, Neibaur and his wife remianed in Nauvoo later than most of the Mormons because Ellen was pregnant. Neibaur was among the defenders of the city during the Battle of Nauvoo.

Neibaur then went to Winter Quarters, Nebraska and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1848. In Utah Territory he worked as a dentist. He was also the primary person who introduced Mormonism to Morris D. Rosenbaum, a Jew who later became his son-in-law.[2] Neibaur's daughter Rebecca married LDS Church leader Charles W. Nibley. Thus, Neibaur is a great-grandfather of Hugh Nibley.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Smith, Joseph (B. H. Roberts, ed.) History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 426.
  2. ^ Smith, E. R. S., The Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow, (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Comapny) p. 184 [1975 reprint by Zion's Book Store in Provo, Utah p. 360)

[edit] References

  • Cornwall, J. Spencer. Stories of Our Mormon Hymns, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1975) pp. 246–247
  • Ogden, D. Kelly, "Two From Judah Minister to Joseph" in Porter, Larry C., ed., Regional Studies in LDS History: Illinois (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 1995) pp. 232–237