Meliton Gonzalez Trejo was born in Castile, Spain, March 10, 1844. He was reared by his parents under very favorable circumstances and attained a high degree of scholarship. His father held the office of Captain in the Army and Meliton received the necessary training to place him as first lieutenant in the army stationed in the Philippine Islands.
His father had been determined to educate Meliton to be a Catholic Priest, but the more he studied and learned about it, the less he liked it, and he eventually decided that he could not accept the doctrine, even though it was his parents religion. Not being satisfied, he continued to think and study along religious lines. In his continual search for truth, he came across a little squad of men gathered around a campfire one evening. An old soldier was talking to them. He told of a people in the Rocky Mountains who where led by a prophet and were known as Mormons. At that time he made up his mind that those people would be his people. On retiring, he prayed that the Lord would make known his will concerning him. That night he had a dream which satisfied him completely, which he considered very sacred, and revealed to no one but Brigham Young.

On that decision, he began to seek a furlough. After eight months of trying with no success, he decided to desert his county and people and came to the Rocky Mountains and the people of God.
Money and means being no particular object, he sewed up $2000.00 in bills in his money belt and purchased his passage to America. He landed in Salt Lake City dressed in his Spanish garb in 1874. He stood on the street corner for three days before anyone spoke to him in a language he could understand. A Brother Blanchard, who at that time was a Spanish teacher at the Brigham Young Academy, walked up to him and spoke to him in Spanish. Meliton made his desires to meet the Prophet Brigham Young known to Brother Blanchard.

Meliton was led by Brother Blanchard to Brigham Young's office, at that time was located at the Lion House in Salt Lake City. There he related to Brigham Young his desire to carry out the instructions he had received from divine call.They were to translate the Book of Mormon into the Spanish language, taking the gospel to his people. After being baptized into the church, receiving counsel from President Brigham Young and permission to translate the Book of Mormon, he went away. Two years later he returned and presented the translation, making the church and the people of God a gift, using his own money while doing so. When the translation was finished he had .50 left of his $2000.00.

On the 29th of May, 1884 in the Logan Temple, he married Emily Jones. Ten children were born to them. His favorite song was "Oh ye mountains high".

Although he was reared in plenty he did not maintain those conditions. He was poor in worldly possessions, but blessed with the riches of the gospel. He was chosen to act as interpreter to Apostle Pratt when he traveled through old Mexico. When the first branch of the church was organized there, he was set apart as a missionary to the Mexican people. Later he was sent to Old Mexico on a life mission, where he moved with his family. He remained there some 11 years until the rebellion broke out and he and his family were driven out with other Mormon Mexico Refugees. He spent 35 years in missionary work. He and his wife did temple work for all of his family for which he was able to obtain records. He died in his 74th year, with a sincere testimony of the gospel in his heart. This is as father used to tell the story in his own words. Sarah Trejo Telford.