href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@50072@[email protected]#MCHAPTERI" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">CHAPTER I.

Elders Called Home from the Sandwich Islands—Native Elders Left to Preside—Gibson's Arrival in Salt Lake—Joins the Church—Asks for a Mission to the Sandwich Islands—His Deep-laid Scheme—Leading Astray the Hawaiian Saints—Five Elders Sent to Investigate—Arrival at the Sandwich Islands—Attempt to go Ashore in a Boat—Capsized in the Surf—Elder Lorenzo Snow Lost—After a Long Search, Found Under the Boat—Efforts to Resuscitate Him—Restored to Life One Hour After Being Drowned.

CHAPTER II.

Journey to Lanai—Meet Mr. Gibson—Reverence of Natives for Him—His Speech and Assumption—Elder Joseph F. Smith's Reply—Elder Snow's Prophecy—Mr. Gibson Cut Off the Church—Elder Snow's Prophecy Fulfilled—Advised to Select a New Gathering Place—A Vision—Suitable Place Pointed Out.

A PROPHECY FULFILLED.

Called on a Mission to the Sandwich Islands—Journey by the Southern Route—A Prophecy—Fear After Uttering It—Residence in Honolulu—Political and Religious Conflict—The Kingdom in Jeopardy—Dissatisfaction Among the People—Letter to the King Favorably Considered—A Dream—A Prince sent by the King to Ask Counsel of Latter-day Saint Elders—Advice Accepted, and the Kingdom Saved—The Dream and Prophecy Fulfilled Together.

SPECIAL PROVIDENCES.

Circumstances under which the Early Temples were Built—How the Workmen were Encouraged—Arrival of Brother L—— in Nauvoo—His Willingness to Work without Pay—His Extreme Want—Appeals to God for Help—Money Miraculously Provided—Prayer for Food Answered—Providential Finding of a Pair of Shoes on the Plains—A Crippled Shoulder Restored while Defending the Character of Joseph Smith.

INCIDENTS ON THE PLAINS.

CHAPTER I.

Army Sent to Utah—Missionaries Called Home—Large Number Assembled at Florence—Dangers of Trip—Council to Decide Upon Course of Action—Fortunate Fog—Providential Storm.

CHAPTER II.

Apostates Met—The Chaplain Separates From the Company to Meet some Apostates—An Adventurous Trip—Discharged Government Teamsters Indignant at "Mormons"—Plot to Steal the Chaplain's Horse—Advice to the Apostates to Look to Their Own Safety—Mr. Stout's Compassion for the Hatchet-faced Missourian—How His Confidence was Rewarded—Meet Captain Hatch—News of Buchanan's Amnesty Proclamation—Evade the Army and Reach the Valley in Safety.

HELP FROM THE LORD

By C.

MISSION IN ILLINOIS WHEN A BOY—ATTEMPT OF A DEACON TO PUT ME TO SHAME—OPEN MY BIBLE TO THE PASSAGE REQUIRED—PROVE OUR POSITION CORRECT FROM THE SCRIPTURES—BEFRIENDED BY AN INFIDEL—PREACHER'S ASSAULT ON THE "FROGS"—THE "FROG" REPLIES.

In the year 1845, I was appointed on a mission from Nauvoo, to labor about Cass County, Illinois, in company with Theodore Curtis.

After traveling together we concluded to separate, and I continued alone, preaching wherever an opportunity presented itself.

One evening I was approaching a little town called Virginia, foot-sore and weary, having been frequently denied food.

I retired, as was my wont particularly when so impressed, for prayer, and for God to soften the hearts of those I might meet, to give me shelter, food and rest, and finally to open up my way.

Towards evening I found a number of persons congregated at the country store. I saluted them with "Good-evening," and inquired the opportunity of getting a chance to preach in that place.

I carried the badge of a "Mormon" preacher in my hand, namely, a small round valise, containing a shirt, change of socks, Bible and hymn book. I was soon assured by one or two that there was no earthly show for a "Mormon" preacher to be heard in that place.

I replied, "I would like to preach in that nice, newly-finished meeting-house just opposite." A man spoke up quite authoritatively, and said that no "Mormon" should preach in that house, which had just been dedicated—I think for Presbyterian worship.

They termed this man the deacon. This produced considerable talk, for many of the crowd were of what is termed the liberal or infidel persuasion, so much so that the deacon was overwhelmed by argument, shame and reproach, for refusing a boy like me a chance to preach.

To cover his shame and to nonplus me, he remarked, "I have heard say that your preachers are pretty apt with the scriptures, and can produce almost any doctrine you like from the Bible." I replied that the men were, but that I was but a boy; yet I thought I knew a little of the scriptures.

He remarked "Your people believe in laying hands on the sick; don't you?"

I answered that we did, and because Christ had said in His remarkable commission to His apostles, that this was one of the signs following, quoting Mark xvi, 15-18. I also quoted James v., 14.

"Yes, yes;" says he, "that is all very good, but that says only once, and your Elders sometimes lay hands twice in succession on the same person. Whoever heard of Jesus or the apostles doing anything like that?" He then cited an instance where, as he said, Joseph Smith had done this in administering to a sick woman.

The good-natured excitement was intense. The deacon thought I was overwhelmed, and proposed that if I could prove a similar transaction from the scriptures, I might preach in that house that very night.

Eagerness now seized the men, and the deacon chuckled over his presumed victory, and boasted of his acquaintance with the "Blessed Word."

I unbuckled my valise, drew forth my little Bible, and opened it intuitively to this passage in Mark viii., 22-25: "And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, * * * and put his hands upon him, and asked him if he saw aught. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly."

The reading of this scripture; the sudden finding of it, for I was led to it as clearly as a man leads his horse to the water; its aptness and conclusiveness, accompanied by the jeers of the infidel portion of the crowd, mortified the deacon—he was discomfited.

I remarked that I would, according to the deacon's terms, preach in the church that evening, provided some one would find candles. The candles were instantly offered, and accordingly, I preached with power and the demonstration of the Spirit.

After the close of the services, I found a resting place with one of the most avowed infidels of the neighborhood, who had listened to the talk between the deacon and myself, and who particularly enjoyed the good man's discomfiture. By his persuasion I staid some time in the neighborhood,