Conversion of Nancy Tracy

Conversion of Nancy Tracy

Tracy, Nancy (1816-1902)

Jones, Christopher

Internal conversion

Baptism

Confirmation

LDS (Mormon)

1834-05-10

Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, NY

Shortly after marrying Moses Tracy in 1832, Mormon preachers arrived in their place of residence and began holding meetings. Nancy Tracy was soon convinced of the truthfulness of their message, but was not baptized until her husband met with the missionaries and became converted himself. Together, they were baptized and confirmed on May 10, 1834 by Thomas Dulcher.

"At last Parley P. Pratt came into the neighborhood, another apostle. So there was a great turnout to hear him. My husband went and his eyes began to be opened. He began reading the Bible. He took his time to investigate. By this time other elders came. There were quite a number who believed and were baptized. As yet we had not joined them, although I had longed to do so. On the 25th of November, 1833, there came a son to our house to take up his abode and for six weeks I hovered between life and death. By this time there had been a branch organized, and James Blaksley was set apart to preside. He would come and talk of the gifts and blessings of the Gospel, the healing of the sick by the power of faith. But I felt unworthy to claim the blessing because I had not done my duty, but I determined that if the Lord would spare my life, when I was able I would be baptized. So In the spring of 1834, the 10th of May, my husband and myself were baptized with Elder Thomas Dulcher officiating. We were confirmed at the water's edge."

From Nancy Tracy's autobiography, written in 1885.

Nancy Tracy, “A Short Sketch of the Life and Travels of Nancy N. Tracy” (1885), 1, typescript of original, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. Transcript available online at <http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/NTracy.html>

Rachel Cope, “‘I Wanted with All My Heart to be Good’: Nancy Tracy’s Conversion Process,” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Mormon History Association, Springfield, IL, 2009.