TREASURES IN HEAVEN

FIFTEENTH BOOK OF THE
FAITH PROMOTING SERIES
DESIGNED FOR THE INSTRUCTION
AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUNG
LATTER-DAY SAINTS

COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY
GEO. C. LAMBERT
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
1914

OFFICIAL SANCTION

April 8, 1914

To the First Presidency, City.

Dear Brethren:

I have had a desire for a long time past to resume the publication of the Faith Promoting Series that I originated and published something like thirty-five years ago, but which has been suspended for almost thirty years.

I received the sanction of the Church authorities when the publication of this series was commenced, and had ample evidence afterwards of the popularity of the volumes issued, and of the general benefit resulting therefrom. I now desire your sanction in what I may do in publishing additional volumes; and hope to subserve the interests of the Church and promote true faith only in what I publish.

If you deem it necessary to appoint a committee to whom I may refer any matter concerning which there may be a question as to propriety, etc., I shall be glad to have you do so.

I am prepared to assume all financial responsibility, and believe, with the experience I have had, I shall be able to do effective work in the selection and preparation of the matter.

I intend to make the volumes about one hundred pages each, and hope to be able to sell them at twenty-five cents per volume.

I have the matter partially prepared for two volumes, the first to relate to Temple work, and to be called "Treasures in Heaven," the second to contain a variety of incidents and experiences, and to be called "Choice Memories."

A waiting your kind consideration and reply, and with kindest regards, I remain

Your Brother,

GEO. C. LAMBERT.

April 30, 1914

Elder George C. Lambert, City.

Dear Brother:

We learn by yours of the 28th inst. that you desire to resume the publication of the "Faith Promoting Series," discontinued some thirty years ago, and we take pleasure in informing you that you have our sanction to do this, and that we have appointed Elders George F. Richards, A. W. Ivins and Joseph F. Smith, Jr. as a committee to read the manuscript.

With kind regards,

Your Brethren,

JOSEPH F. SMITH, ANTHON H. LUND, CHARLES W. PENROSE,

First Presidency.

PREFACE

No lesson taught by the Savior during his ministry in mortality was more frequently and thoroughly impressed than that of unselfish service. Of those who labored solely for the things of this world, or for praise or the honors that men can bestow, He had a habit of saying: "They have their reward." If they obtained that which they strove for they were already repaid: they were entitled to nothing more. Of the rich He said, "Ye have received your consolation." It was not sufficient that man should seek to benefit or bring happiness alone to those they loved. Even that He evidently regarded as a species of selfishness, as implied by the saying: "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?" "For sinners do even the same." His exhortation was: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."

All this was not intended to imply that wealth itself was intrinsically bad, or that poverty had any essential virtue, except as a means to an end. The rule was, as expressed by the great Teacher, that "where the treasure is, there will the heart be also." A sublime test upon this point was that made of the young man who applied to the Savior upon one occasion to know what good thing he could do to gain eternal life. Though he was able to say that he had kept all the commandments from his youth up, it was apparent to the Master that his heart was set upon the wealth he possessed, as evidence of which he turned away sorrowfully when required by the Savior to surrender his possessions, for the benefit of the poor, and follow Him.

The Gospel as revealed anew in our day has shed a flood of light upon the subject of salvation, and the conditions upon which it is predicated. The glorious principle of salvation for the dead, as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith, has awakened a desire in the hearts of thousands of earnest seekers after truth to do a vicarious work for the benefit of their dead relatives and friends, that they may share in all the blessings and privileges of the Gospel. In this work, as well as in the preaching of the Gospel to the living, have avenues been opened up for unselfish work, which, as it involves no earthly reward, is clearly in the line of laying up treasures in heaven, as distinguished from the work of amassing treasures upon earth which absorbs the attention of so many of the earth's inhabitants. That the recital of some typical examples of sacrifices unselfishly made in the interest of others, and th—e joy experienced therein, may tend to promote faith in those who read the same and incite them also to lay up treasures in heaven, this volume is published in continuation of the "Faith Promoting Series," originated and published by the present author about thirty-five years ago.

CONTENTS

A MODERN STOIC

CHAPTER I.

Birth of Niels—Obscure Childhood—Crippled, Helpless Condition—Gospel Preached—Taught Needlework—Training in Bible and Lutheran Creed—A Prophetic Priest—Remarkable Prediction Concerning Niels. Page 7.

CHAPTER II.

Death of his Mother—Life in Aalborg—Conversion to Mormonism—Heavenly Message to Elder Kempe—His Obedience thereto—Baptism of Niels—His Relatives Ashamed of Him—Proposition to Make Him a Lutheran Preacher. Page 12.

CHAPTER III.

Desire to Migrate—Discouraging Prospects—Help From an Unexpected Source—Religious Discrimination—Contends for His Rights—Effects a Compromise—Characteristics of Niels—Spiritual Impressions and Premonitions. Page 17.

CHAPTER IV.

A Vision and its Pre-Mortal Counterpart—Beset by Evil Spirits—Deliverance Therefrom—Preparations to Migrate—Long Voyage—Toilsome Journey—Lost on the Plains—Help from the Lord. Page 21.

CHAPTER V.

Feat as a Pedestrian—Lessons Learned and Ambition Developed While Traveling—Arrival in Salt Lake City—Employment Diligently Sought—Precarious Success—Miraculously Fed. Page 27.

CHAPTER VI

Invests in Real Estate—Acquires a Home—Vicarious Work in Logan Temple—Consequent