Gems of Reminiscence: Seventeenth Book of the Faith Promoting Series, Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints
Religion
Gems of Reminiscence: Seventeenth Book of the Faith Promoting Series, Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Missions
CHAUNCEY W. WEST SENT ON A MISSION TO ASIA--DREAMS OF THE WRECK OF A
VESSEL UPON WHICH HE HAD ENGAGED PASSAGE--LEFT THE SHIP, AND AFTERWARDS
LEARNED FROM THE CREW OF THE VESSEL BEING WRECKED JUST AS HE HAD
DREAMED THAT IT WOULD BE--WHILE AWAITING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SHIP
TO CALIFORNIA WAS PROMPTED TO VACATE A HOUSE WHERE HE AND COMPANION
ELDER WERE STAYING--HOUSE IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS CRUSHED BY LARGE STONE
ROLLING DOWN FROM SIDE OF MOUNTAIN.
Numerous instances have occurred in the experience of the Saints in
this age, and especially of the missionaries, of their lives being
preserved through their heeding the warnings of the Spirit. Bishop
Chauncey W. West, of Ogden, who was sent on a mission to Asia in 1852
relates some instances of this kind in a sketch of his life published
in Tullidge's Histories. The field of labor to which he was assigned
was Siam, but after laboring for some time in India and trying in vain
to secure passage to Siam, he and Elder Dewey took passage as sailors
to China. After a very trying voyage of four months they landed at
Wampoo in China, near the city of Canton. Finding it still impractical
to make their way to Siam, they determined if possible to get back
to San Francisco. Among others to whom they applied for passage was
Captain Deble, of the American Vessel "Hiega." They agreed upon the
terms of their passage, and took their luggage on board on the 11th of
May, 1854. Some difficulty was experienced in getting out to sea, after
which fair winds soon wafted them to Hong Kong, where they arrived
on the evening of the 14th. There they remained until the 23rd. Just
before the time fixed for their departure Elder West had a dream in
which he saw the vessel upon which they had engaged passage wrecked
upon a reef, with hundreds of Chinamen clinging to her hull, while many
more were in the water. The dream was repeated several times during the
night, and made such an impression upon his mind that he determined
to leave the ship. The Elders accordingly effected a settlement for
their passage that far, and were rowed to the shore in a small boat.
After spending some time at Canton and Hong Kong, being entertained at
the latter place at the home of a Mr. Young, with whom they had become
acquainted, Elder Dewey was taken very sick with chills and fever.
Elder West waited upon him with great solicitude and he soon began to
recover. One day Elder West felt impressed to remove his friend from
the house to a vessel called the "Cressy," upon which he was trying to
arrange for their passage to California. He was in such haste to act
upon his impression that their trunks were left in the house to be sent
for later.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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