Thaddeus of Edessa festival, and heard the preachings of John the Baptist (St. John the Forerunner). After being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, he remained in Palestine. He later met and became a follower of Jesus. He was chosen to be one of the seventy disciples, whom Jesus sent in pairs to preach in the cities and places. After Pentecost and the ascension of Jesus, Thaddeus started preaching the gospel in Mesopotamia, Syria and Persia. Thaddaeus ordained priests in Edessa, converted many to Christianity and built up the church there. He also went to Beirut to preach and founded
John Tanner (Mormon) John Tanner (Mormon) John Tanner (1778–1850) was a leading figure in early Mormonism and the chief financial backer of the Kirtland Temple. Tanner was a native of Rhode Island. He moved to New York when fairly young. Of his 21 children from three successive wives (his first two wives died before he married his next wife), 14 lived to adulthood. Tanner was a Baptist until he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1832. He was baptized by Jared Carter. Ten of his 14 children who lived to adulthood affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ