Treasures in Heaven: Fifteenth Book of the Faith Promoting Series, Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints

In Short

This volume serves as a historical record and devotional work within the "Faith Promoting Series," compiled to inspire young readers through true-life accounts of sacrifice and religious service. The narratives center on the lives of Latter-day Saint pioneers and converts, focusing specifically on their commitment to "Temple work"—the performance of sacred rites on behalf of deceased relatives. By chronicling the struggles, poverty, and physical ailments of his subjects, the author illustrates how these individuals find meaning, community, and a sense of eternal connection through their unremunerated service.

The Story

The book begins by establishing the necessity of faith in the face of immense adversity. The central narrative follows Niels P. L. Eskildz, a young Danish convert who endures a life of physical suffering. Born into a proud family but left crippled by an accident at fourteen, Niels finds himself an outcast in his native land. His conversion to "Mormonism" further alienates him from his peers, yet he discovers a sense of divine purpose through a powerful vision. In this experience, he glimpses a pre-mortal existence and realizes that his current physical pain is a chosen condition, linked to a specific, high reward in the afterlife. With this newfound conviction, he overcomes his bitterness and migrates to the American West, enduring the hardships of a difficult journey across the plains to reach Salt Lake City.

Once in Utah, Niels lives a life of extreme modesty and physical challenge, yet he finds his true calling in the temples. Despite his infirmity, he devotes his remaining years to vicarious service, performing ordinances for over two thousand individuals. His story is one of transformation: the "tag end" of his family line becomes a "Savior upon Mount Zion," moving from the role of a despised cripple to a person of serene, purposeful existence.

The scope of the book then broadens to include other figures, such as Mary Alice Cannon Lambert. Her life is marked by the trauma of religious migration, the early loss of parents, and the crushing physical injury of being run over by a heavy wagon. Like Niels, she transitions from these trials into a life of service, eventually serving as a long-term president of a Relief Society and a dedicated Temple worker. The narrative weaves in several other "short stories" of individuals—night watchmen, janitors, and the blind—who labor in the temples during their limited hours of rest.

The arc of the book concludes with a focus on the necessity of this work. It argues that wealth is often a barrier to spiritual development, while poverty and struggle can refine the character. The stories serve to demonstrate that the most significant contributions to the faith often come from the "humble, obscure" members rather than the wealthy or socially prominent. By the end, the reader is presented with a gallery of lives where personal suffering is not merely endured, but repurposed into a sacrificial labor that connects the living to the dead, providing a sense of utility and heavenly belonging that transcends mortal circumstances.

How It Unfolds

The mandate for faith The author secures ecclesiastical approval to resume a series intended for the instruction of the youth. He outlines a plan to publish brief volumes that highlight sincere acts of religious devotion and service.

The Danish convert’s trial Niels, a young man crippled by accident, encounters religious controversy in his homeland. His eventual conversion is spurred by the very priest who attempts to catechize him against the new faith.

The vision of purpose A profound, spiritual revelation clarifies Niels’s physical suffering as a deliberate, pre-mortal choice. This conviction provides the foundation for his endurance during a grueling migration to the American West.

The life of service The narrative shifts to the legacy of Mary Alice Lambert, detailing her resilience through the deaths of her parents and a near-fatal accident. Her life serves as a model of long-term administrative and spiritual dedication within the Church.

The worker’s resolve Short vignettes introduce various laborers, such as night-shift car barn workers and the blind, who dedicate their limited free time to temple service. These accounts emphasize that true charity is found in voluntary, uncompensated labor.

The People

Niels P. L. Eskildz is the primary subject, defined by his transformation from a proud, miserable, and crippled youth into a man of quiet, spiritual authority. His physical helplessness is his defining constraint, yet it grants him the perspective to observe human nature and the temperament to embrace a life of service.

Mary Alice Cannon Lambert serves as a pillar of the book, representing the "mother" figure of the movement. She is characterized by her indomitable will and her capacity to maintain a household—and later a church organization—despite chronic pain from a broken back. Her life demonstrates the strength of female leadership and the quiet endurance of a pioneer.

The "Temple workers"—figures like August Roth, John C. Hoggan, and Annie Davis Watson—act as a collective force. They are defined by their self-denial; they sacrifice rest, money, and social status to perform labor for the dead. These individuals want nothing for themselves; they seek only the satisfaction of fulfilling a perceived duty to their ancestors. By the end, they are presented not as tragic figures, but as models of contentment who have found a higher form of wealth.

In Its Own Voice

The author describes the profound, almost tactile, nature of the religious experiences reported by the subjects of these biographies:

"He beheld as with his natural sight, but he realized afterwards that it was with the eye of the spirit that he saw what he did."

(Niels describes the vision that altered his perspective on his own physical suffering.)

The author characterizes the nature of the labor performed by the Temple workers, distinguishing it from traditional forms of public charity:

"The work done in the temple in behalf of the dead differs in this respect from other forms of charity--there is no danger of it making the one who performs it vainglorious."

(The author argues that because the work is done for the deceased, it shields the practitioner from the temptation of seeking public applause.)

What It's Really About

At its core, the book examines the relationship between suffering and spiritual agency. It posits that human suffering, whether physical disability or the trauma of persecution, is not a sign of abandonment by the divine but a "crucible" that refines the soul. The central argument is that the most noble purpose an individual can find is the service of others—specifically the deceased ancestors who cannot perform their own rites. It questions the value of worldly success, suggesting that such things are "deceitful," and proposes that the "poor in spirit" are the most capable of genuine charity. Ultimately, it is a meditation on the idea that connection to one's past and service to one's future are the primary components of a meaningful life.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of the Latter-day Saint faith, or those drawn to biographies of ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives of conviction, will find this a steady, thoughtful read. The book feels like a long, patient conversation with an elder, full of the earnestness of the early 20th century. It is a text that values personal testimony over academic distance, offering an intimate look at the immigrant experience and the psychological impact of pioneer life.

However, a modern reader should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes of the author. The prose is densely layered with the moralizing tone typical of early 1900s devotional literature, which can feel repetitive to those accustomed to modern, fast-paced storytelling. Furthermore, the book includes accounts of extreme physical trauma and harsh living conditions described with a matter-of-fact stoicism that may be jarring. The dialect of the era and the specific, insular focus on temple ordinances require a willingness to engage with a world-view that is deeply rooted in 19th-century theology. Those who appreciate the quiet dignity of the "unheralded life" will find the book’s focus on the silent, persistent work of the common person to be a lasting, contemplative takeaway.