On 4 April 1875, John received a patriarchal blessing under the hands of L. H. Hatch, Patriarch at American Fork, Utah County, Utah. Among other things, John was told that his family would see him as a man of God - that his name shall be handed down in honorable remembrance and perpetuated through the lineage of his posterity. 

He was admonished to help rear temples and officiate therein and that he would become a Saviour upon Mount Zion. "Throughout all generations of time you are called upon to labor for the dead throughout all generations of time" for he was one of "the family upon whom great things shall be required." In addition, he was sealed up to "stand at the head of his father's house." He was promised that his enemies should have no power over him because of the integrity of his heart. "You shall be blest. No tongue can describe the magnitude thereof for behold your reward lieth behind the vail." Nevertheless, he was blessed with the good things of the earth until his heart was satisfied.

On August 29, 1875 John and Jemima were rebaptized, followed on September 7^th by both Keziah, Keziah's sister Ann Paxman, and John's second wife, Elizabeth. Edward's widow, Elizabeth Cullom, was rebaptized 16 August 1878. (American Fork 1^st Ward records FHL 025,557) In 1856, President Brigham Young had declared "The Saints are dead, and do not drink at the living fountain. The fire of the Almighty is not in them." His remedy then for the decline in faithfulness was re-baptism. Members who wished to remain in the Church were expected to renew their covenants in earnest - and to show that earnestness by being re-baptized. Adherence to the law of tithing, the Word of Wisdom, and other gospel principles was prerequisite to re-baptism. (Truth Will Prevail, p. 214, 215)

Perhaps in this same spirit, John received a second patriarchal blessing under the hands of another patriarch, William McBride on June 21, 1877 in American Fork. There are a number of parallels to the first blessing and some expansion on subjects earlier touched upon. 

In this second patriarchal blessing, he was reminded that he would be called to pass through many scenes which would cause him to reflect and to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus. In addition to preaching the Gospel he was admonished to "gather in" his kin folks and friends that had been "numbered with the house of Israel" and bring them to their inheritance in Zion. He was reminded again of his duty in helping to build temples, and assist in the redemption of his father's house -- "administer unto them ordinances and . . . produce their salvation." 

In a rather extensive temporal vein, it is interesting to note that he was to feed "his thousands" in the times of famine. "Help them to build temples and lead them in all manner of husbandry that they may be able to sustain themselves. Teach them to sow Bread, build and to plenish . . . them to bring in thereon of peace on the earth so they" could "sit under their own vine and fig tree and none dare molest them or make them afraid." 

The power over the elements was again reiterated and expanded upon as was the necessity to travel much and gather in the sons and daughters of Jacob. In the powerful parting promise, he was told that if his faith did not fail, these "words shall not." 

These blessings, spoken by two different ordained patriarchs, shed light on the nobility of a valiant, honest and humble man who sought only to serve his God and walk in His ordinances and covenants. While John Durrant left to his family the most elementary of this world's goods, the honor of his good name and his standing before his Maker are without refute.

 The legacy of John Durrant is humbling when viewed in the context of his living. His determination was to serve the Lord and lead his children to do likewise and of such single-mindedness he built a successful life. Although he had been "severely tried," God heard his prayers and acknowledged him.
 
 

Although polygamous family life may seem strange to those who neither understand nor appreciate the doctrine of plural marriage, still it was a very workable way of living for early Latter-day Saints. It was instituted again in the earth by the Lord as part of the promised "restoration of all things" and the faithful

"My remembrance of Auntie (father's first wife, Jemima Berry Henson Durrant) is a very sweet one. She was kind and thoughtful of us and we were taught to be mindful of her. It was a pleasure to be so, because she returned every kind act so graciously. For instance, she always stayed up late at night reading or doing beautiful handwork, so in the morning before I was allowed to practice my music on the organ, I would rap gently at her door to see if the music would annoy her. Generally she would tell me that she loved to hear me practice. She was a splendid musician and always encouraged me to play.

"Our house was a large double one. I remember each spring and fall, we would ask Auntie which side she preferred, and changed accordingly. She was subject to sick headaches and would pull the shade at the window when she was resting. We were taught to walk quietly by her window. These things were not a trial to us. And now in looking back to those years, I would not ask for it to be different. Our lives are richer for having her live with us and the lessons we learned are priceless to us now. 

"My own mother, Elizabeth Jane Ginger Durrant, was the second wife of John Durrant. . . . Of her association with the first wife my mother wrote, `Sister Jemima and myself lived together nearly all our married lives, under the same roof, with separate apartments. We have endured many trials, but through it all we were blessed. We never allowed our tongues to wound each other. We nursed and administered to each other and through all our weaknesses our great desires were to live according to the principle we had been privileged to enjoy. Aunt Jemima passed away, August 2 after a faithful life's service in the Church of God. My life has been enriched through her fellowship and I hope to prove worthy to meet her.'

My mother's life was one of sacrifice, but not only did she lay up treasures in heaven, but found happiness in the work of every day. Both of these mothers were busy women, in the homes and serving their Church. Both were ready to make happy the members of the family. 

`Dear Auntie (Aunt Jemima) enjoyed the blessing of raising our fourth son, Joseph Smith Durrant, until her death. On Friday, December 12, 1886, while washing and dressing the baby, a spirit rested on me and made it clear to me, Aunt Jemima was to take him as her own, and as if he had been born to her." He [Joseph] was nineteen years old when Auntie passed away.

"There was a third mother in our family (Kezia Keys Durrant), but because she lived farther away, I did not know her so well, but I remember whenever I went to her home she always gave me something especially nice. Her children and mother's boys and girls are all one big family of brothers and sisters. (Our Pioneer Heritage, volume 9, p. 288, 289)

This note was written by Kezia's son, John Henry on 8 March 1952: "I feel like adding a little more to my mother's brief sketch of life in which may be of interest to some of . . . [her] kindred. She was very proud in her makeup, so was her sister, Ann Rushen Paxman whom all of us looked up to because she with her helpmate reared a wonderful, loving family. So [we cousins] grew up under the same covenant we were born under. . . . Mother often read to us as children and faithfully we attended to our church meetings when we were at home. Mother was thrifty and careful with what we had. At Christmas we were always surprised and my parents always had an apple or orange for us, which was considered a special treat in those days. 

. . . . "[My mother had]. . . always . . . a prayer in her heart for her family. I remember the day brother George died, how bad she must have felt. I have heard her say when others spoke of rearing a family, they could not realize the full extent of motherhood until they had the same experience. I do not recall any time since her family has been married, when in trouble, mainly sickness, if she was not sick herself, but what she was there, interested doing all she could to relieve the afflicted.