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
In regard to polygamy, we did not teach it and had testified before the
authorities that we had no disposition or authority, even if we had
the power, to interfere with social life in the canton, by advising
the practice of our marriage views. It was true that "Mormonism"
was increasing and also the rage of the priests proportionately,
and as something had to be done to satisfy them, the rulers gave an
unrighteous decision, which was endorsed by a narrow-minded British
minister.
In a day or two after the ambassador's letter was received, I was
summoned before the police and received peremptory orders to leave the
canton in three days, or I would be arrested.
At last I was obliged to leave Zurich, and all our friends were full
of grief on account of the determination of the authorities to drive
us from the country. I had been pursuing my studies at all convenient
opportunities and was able now to teach the Saints with more freedom,
and since Elder Mayer's departure, the responsibility of the work in
this part of the mission had devolved upon me. The interest I felt in
the prosperity of the Saints was deep and abiding, and I sought the
help of the Lord to enable me to instruct them in those things which
were most necessary under the circumstances, feeling as we all did,
that I would probably soon leave them. I felt the importance of the
work being sustained in German Switzerland, so I determined to go no
further away than was absolutely necessary.
On January 16, 1855, I left Zurich for Schaffhausen, and arrived there
the next day, having walked part of the way. I had an introduction
from a sister to a family in this place on whom I called and by whom I
was kindly received, but it was necessary for me to obtain permission
to lodge with my friends; I therefore visited the police office and
explained that my passport was in the hands of the ambassador and would
reach me soon, and they concluded, "as an obligation," that I might
stay in town one night without it. On the second day of my arrival I
was summoned before the police and examined, and had to telegraph to
the ambassador, who replied that the passport was on the way, which for
the time prevented me, I suppose, from being locked up.
My passport arriving on the 20th, I went to the police office and
presented it, was closely questioned, and came to the conclusion
that there was not liberty enough to teach the truth in this place.
Schaffhausen is near the line between Switzerland and Germany, which
accounts for the unusual severity of its regulations. I was in hope of
doing some good, as the neighbors continued visiting my lodgings to
see and talk with the "Englishman," and smoke their pipes. In talking
we could hear, but it was with difficulty sometimes, when there were a
number present, to see each other through the smoke.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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