however, this vision was kept secret and only told me afterwards by my mother. The true church of Christ was not then on the earth (February, 1829), nor had such an occurrence been heard of by us at the time. Although the Father and the Son had appeared to Joseph Smith some years previously, we had not heard of the vision. The vision of my grand-father seemed so strange that my parents hardly knew whether to attribute it to imagination or a reality, as they could not question his sincerity, he having always been strictly reliable. I have never doubted, however, his having had the vision.

He walked half a mile to bid my parents good by, although in poor health. On parting, my grand-father wept like a child, and said, "This is the last time I shall over visit you while I live."

My father continued his researches of the scriptures, and found that everything he read confirmed his views. He never allowed a traveling minister to leave the neighborhood without an argument if he could avoid it, and his arguments were in no instance refuted.

In the Spring of 1832, Elders Samuel H. Smith and Orson Hyde, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, came to our neighborhood and held a few meetings. Elder Smith read the 29th chapter of Isaiah at the first meeting and delineated the circumstances of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, of which he said he was a witness. He knew his brother Joseph had the plates, for the prophet had shown them to him, and he had handled them and seen the engravings thereon. His speech was more like a narrative than a sermon. Elder Hyde made a few closing remarks and appointed another meeting. At the close of the first meeting my father, as his custom was, sprung his usual question about the spiritual gifts and was quite surprised to hear Elder Smith say, "That is our doctrine, and we have those gifts in our Church."

This meeting was held in the house of Mr. Joseph Hartshorn, one of our neighbors. At the close of the meeting I picked up the Book of Mormon, which they had left lying on the table, and began to read the preface in relation to Martin Harris losing 116 pages of the original manuscript. When I had read as far as a quotation from a revelation, now found in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, my brother, William, took the book out of my hands and closed it, remarking that good people said it carried with it a spirit of witchcraft, which caused those who read it to be bewitched and join the "Mormon" church. I was then over fifteen years of age and my brother, who was next older than myself, was in his eighteenth year. He was wild and sometimes profane, especially when angry, and I was quite taken by surprise to hear him quote what "good people said," as previously I had never heard him speak of them, except in derision. The last words I read where so riveted upon my mind that I sometimes feared there was some truth in the remark about the book being bewitching. The words were, "I will show unto them" (the wicked who had designed to change the manuscript in case Joseph re-translated it) "that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil."

Before leaving the place the Elders baptized three persons. My father soon became a bitter enemy. I believed every word of the first discourse referred to previously, but dared not make my belief known because of my youth and the bitterness of my father. He admitted that the "Mormon" doctrines were true, but claimed that the members of that church had adopted them to cover up a fraud. All classes of people joined in the cry, "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing," etc, telling ridiculous stories about "Old Joe Smith walking on the water," pretended miracles, angels being caught, etc. The stories were about the same as those which the Elders now have to refute.

CHAPTER II.

MY COVENANT WITH THE LORD—MY SISTER DESIRES BAPTISM—MY BROTHERS' THREAT—VISIT OF HYRUM SMITH—MY SISTER BAPTIZED—I BREAK MY COVENANT—MY FATHER'S DREAM—MY BAPTISM—EXHORTATION TO THE YOUNG—SPIRITUAL GIFTS RECEIVED—MEETING DISTURBED BY MOBS—AFTER TALKING TO THEM THEY BECOME QUIET AND LEAVE THE PLACE—SOME OF THE MOB JOIN THE CHURCH—THE LEADER OF THE MOB DIES SUDDENLY—MOBBINGS CEASE.

There was no human being to whom I dared make known the fact that I believed in the teachings of the despised "Mormons." I had, however, for some time been in the habit of engaging in secret prayer, and now, in this hour of trial, I went to my place of secret resort and poured out my soul to the Lord and made covenant with Him that in case my only sister would believe and be baptized I would go with her. I soon learned that she, like myself, had believed the work from the beginning and was resolved to be baptized at the first opportunity. She was then in service at one of our neighbors. When she came home on a visit father asked her if what he had heard, that she intended to join the "Mormons," was true. She answered that she believed they were right and felt it her duty to join them. He remonstrated until he saw that her mind was bent on being baptized at the first opportunity. He then said, "If you do join them, you must never darken my door afterwards." Still her resolution was unchanged. My older brothers told her they would shoot any "Mormon" Elder who dared to baptize her. Thus matters continued for several months, during which time I continued praying, not only for my sister, but for my parents and brothers, although my mother said but little either way.

About December, 1832, Elder Hyrum Smith, brother to the prophet, came to our neighborhood. My father told him that his daughter, who was present, was bent on being baptized into his church, stating at the same time, that the Elder who baptized her would do so at his peril. The Elder quite mildly remarked in substance as follows: "Mr. Tyler, we shall not baptize your daughter against your wishes. If our doctrine be true, which we testify it is, if you prevent your daughter from embracing it, the sin will be on your head, not on ours or your daughter's."

This remark pricked him to the heart. He began to think that possibly the "Mormons" were right and he was wrong. He therefore decided to counsel his daughter in the matter and then permit her to exercise her free agency. He would thus relieve himself of any responsibility.

His remarks to my sister were to the effect that if this new religion was true, it was the best religion in the world, but, if false, it was the worst. "These men," said he, "know whether it is true or false, but I do not." He wished her to reflect upon all these things before making a move in the matter. She replied that she had weighed them long ago and believed it to be her duty to be baptized. He took her on an ox-sled to Lake Erie, a distance of two miles, where, after a hole was cut through three feet of solid ice, she was baptized and confirmed into the Church by Elder Hyrum Smith.

But where was the writer who had covenanted with the Lord to go with his sister in case she was baptized?

He remained at home, a broken-hearted, bashful boy, without stamina enough to come out and confront a wicked world. Soon after, my grand-father appeared to my father in a dream, and told him that this was the people he prophesied of while living, and my parents were baptized. Then my persecuting brothers followed. When the last named went into the water I stood on the shore, feeling as though my ease was almost hopeless. I had twice failed to keep my covenants with the Lord and now the third promise was about to be broken. At this juncture my father, who knew nothing of my covenants, observing that I looked downcast, stepped to my side and asked what was the matter. I was speechless and could not utter a word. I had been studying how I could ever have a heart to call upon the Lord again. How could He trust me further? On my father asking if it was not hard for my sister, parents and brothers to leave me, I broke completely down and wept aloud. My