Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow: One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsSnow, Eliza R. (Eliza Roxey)
Religion
Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow: One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Snow, Eliza R. (Eliza Roxey)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Snow family; Snow, Lorenzo, 1814-1901
There is an English gentleman, a retired English colonel, residing
here, whose name has an almost magical effect upon the Protestants. He
has materially assisted the schools and other benevolent institutions.
Your recommend as Governor of Utah procured me a ready and cheerful
introduction which resulted in several interesting interviews. On
one of those occasions he said, as he retired, "You shall receive no
opposition on my part; and if you preach the Gospel as faithfully to
all in these valleys as to me, you need fear no reproach in the day of
judgment."
The Protestant chapels here are called temples. The first that was
ever erected was that of St. Lorenzo. It has long since crumbled into
ruins; but a Catholic chapel has been erected, which now bears the
name. One day we were invited to the residence of the officiating
priest. We received every attention from our host, and were furnished
a dinner which exceeded anything we had enjoyed in Italy. When viewing
his chapel, we took the opportunity of presenting the truth of the
Gospel. He listened with great attention and proposed many interesting
questions in relation to modern revelation. Although we had intended
to return to our residence, he insisted so urgently that we consented
to stay over night. He presented me an Italian grammar, in which he
inscribed his name. In the morning, after an early breakfast, he
accompanied us some miles on our way.
It is customary among Protestants to hold small meetings for religious
worship in private houses. These are called "re-unions." We attend
them, and sometimes are permitted to speak upon our principles. This
has produced some little stir among the officials; and a short time
since we received an invitation to attend a public meeting and answer
some questions relative to our mission. We did so, and found some
of the most talented ministers present, with an evident desire to
crush our efforts. But after we had preached and discussed for three
hours, one man, at least, retired with the conviction that we were the
servants of the Lord. On the 27th of October, this person presented
himself as a candidate for baptism.
The introduction of the principles of truth in all countries has more
or less been attended with anxiety and difficulty; of these we had
our share. It was with no small degree of satisfaction I went down to
the river side to attend to this ordinance. Peculiar, indeed, were my
feelings when I thought on the past, the present, and endeavored to
penetrate the dark labyrinth of unborn time. I rejoiced that the Lord
had thus far blessed our efforts and enabled us to open the door of the
Kingdom in dark and benighted Italy. My brethren stood on the river
bank--the only human witnesses of this interesting scene. Having long
desired this eventful time, sweet to us all were the soft sounds of the
Italian as I administered and opened a door which no man can shut.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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