Labors in the Vineyard: Twelfth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-Day Saints.Various
Religion
Labors in the Vineyard: Twelfth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-Day Saints.
Various
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Missions
Jacob Gates, the president of the meeting, arose and, looking around
at the Elders, beckoned to me in a quick way, and said, "Come here and
talk." I think every one, now living, who was present at that meeting,
if asked the question, would say I was literally clothed upon with the
Holy Ghost. I prophesied freely and without fear, and have lived to see
those prophecies fulfilled to the very letter.
At one time it was manifested to me to go to a town thirty-six miles
distant, and open up the gospel. I sent word to a branch president that
I would stop at his house on a certain day when on my way to that town.
I notified several Elders to meet me at his house. We met and held a
council. I had nothing but opposition, the president saying, "Bro.
Spencer, if you go to that place, I clear myself of the consequences;
your blood be upon your own head."
I replied, "If my blood be shed, it will be upon the heads of those
who shed it, and those who ought to have, but have not got, faith to
sustain me." I then asked if any one of the Elders would volunteer to
go with me. After considerable hesitating, the youngest Elder in the
conference promised to meet me there.
That day I walked twenty-five miles and stopped at a roadside inn at
dark, with but one shilling in my pocket. I asked for some supper. The
lady of the house said she could give me some "Welsh rabbit." Being
fond of rabbit I thought I would now have a treat; but, instead of
what I expected, she brought in some toasted cheese and bread. I was
so disappointed at this that I crept into bed without supper. She,
however, took my last shilling.
The next morning I walked to the next town, twelve miles distant, and,
on nearing it, saw a lone building on the common. I hunted up the owner
and got permission to speak in it. I then went from house to house,
notifying the people of the meeting. About this time the young Elder
came, according to promise. As we went through the streets a crowd
of rude boys and girls followed us, jeering and throwing dry manure,
pieces of coal, etc., at us.
About noon we came to four cross roads in the town, one of which led to
the Elder's home. Stopping here, he said, "Brother Spencer, I cannot
stand this," and tried to persuade me to give up the labor; but failing
to move me he walked away. About dusk I found myself near a cottage on
the outskirts of the town. I went in and notified a woman (the only
occupant) that in a few minutes I would lecture--and also invited her
to attend. I started towards the place of meeting but had got only a
few steps when I felt a hand on my shoulder; turning my head, I saw the
woman I had just left; she asked me if I had eaten supper, and when I
told her I had not eaten or drank that day, she invited me back and
placed before me, I think, every good thing she had in the house. I
then started to fill my appointment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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