Fragments of Experience: Sixth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day SaintsVarious
Religion
Fragments of Experience: Sixth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints
Various
Latter Day Saints -- History; Young, Lorenzo Dow, 1807-1895
A number of people were waiting to go on board the same steam vessel I
intended to take. The steamer at the time was taking in freight at the
opposite side of the dock, and would call for us, so we were informed,
in a short time.
While standing looking at the vessel, a voice, loud and distinct, said:
"Do not go on board." I was startled, and looked around, but there was
no one near. Although I turned hastily, I did not really expect to see
any one who might have spoken. It was, I felt, a revelation; I was
impressed with the divine force, and I lifted my satchel preparatory
to leaving, but suddenly I thought of my want of means, and began to
wonder whether I had not been deceived by my imagination. I put down
my satchel again, just as the ship was nearing that part of the dock
where the passengers were waiting. My condition tempted me. I was in
doubt for a moment. I began to reason; but faith triumphed. I felt sure
that it was a warning, and, lifting my baggage, left the dock for the
Lime Street Station, as the people who had been waiting passed into the
steamer.
Once decided, there was no further trouble, and I began to consider how
I could reach Portsmouth. When I entered the station, I had concluded
to take the first third-class train to Birmingham. At that time, I had
no acquaintances there, and wished to hurry on, trusting that the way
would be opened up as my necessities required; such having been the
case many times before. The Lord had prepared the way in times past,
and I had faith that He would help me then sufficiently.
I was one of those young and very inexperienced Elders, sent into the
missionary field literally without purse or scrip. Elder George B.
Wallace, at that time one of the presidency of the Church in Europe,
sent me with several others into Cumberland County, in the North of
England, where there were no Saints until we were instrumental in the
hands of the Lord in bringing some to a knowledge of the truth.
It was a hard country, and we had a rough experience. In less than
three months, three Elders out of five returned home; but Elder Thomas
Wallace, now of Weber County, and I remained until the Lord called us
somewhere else.
I have been in many new fields of labor since, without money and
without friends until the Lord raised them up, but never among a people
so ignorant, and unimpressionable as the people we could obtain access
to in the North of England. In comparison, my prospects, as I walked
into the Lime Street Station, were not at all discouraging, but as I
entered, there stood Brother Angus, who was waiting for a train to take
him to Shrewsbury.
He was surprised to see me, and I was a little abashed, as I felt
somewhat delicate about giving him an explanation. Although satisfied
myself, I had some misgivings about satisfying him. I told him,
however, what had happened, and, to my relief, he said, putting his
hand on my shoulder, "You have done just right, and you will see the
hand of God in this."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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