Precious Memories: Sixteenth Book of the Faith Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints — John Shaqi
Precious Memories: Sixteenth Book of the Faith Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints
Religion
Precious Memories: Sixteenth Book of the Faith Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints
Briggs, Thomas, 1832-1917; Farrell, George L.; Latter Day Saints -- Missionary experiences
As soon as winter started Elder Farrell was appointed to preside over
the Y. M. M. I. A. of the whole stake, and went around and organized
the associations or set in order those that had been organized. On one
occasion he went to Franklin, and held a very interesting meeting.
After the meeting closed a lady accosted him and shook hands very
heartily. Brother Farrell said, "You seem to know me, but I do not
recognize you. What is your name, please?" She replied, "My name is
Nellie Challis, and I want you to go home and stay all night with us."
He expressed great surprise at the improvement in her appearance,
rallied her about her double chin and accepted her invitation with
thanks.
When they reached the Challis home and were quietly seated around the
fire, Nellie said confidentially, "Brother Farrell, I am going to be
married." In surprise her visitor inquired to whom. "To the presiding
teacher of this ward, Brother Lowe."
"The Lord bless you, Sister Nellie; you are going to get as good a man
as there is in this town," said Elder Farrell, shaking her hand in
congratulation.
Brother Challis continued to call at the tannery to purchase supplies
of leather, and he and Elder Farrell frequently met, and never without
his daughter being inquired about. First it was learned that she was
married and very happy. Then about a year later news came that a child
had been born.
Soon afterwards Elder Farrell received a letter from Franklin with a
black border around it. On opening it he saw at once it was from Father
Challis. It contained sad news: Nellie had never fully rallied after
her babe was born. Anxious neighbors and friends surrounded her, and
all that they and medical skill could do to save her life was done,
but all in vain. As the end approached she sat up in bed, and bore a
fervent testimony to the houseful of friends who surrounded her. She
told them not to mourn for her, but to thank the Lord for his merciful
kindness to her in prolonging her life, enabling her to understand and
accept the Gospel, to come to Zion, obtain a good husband and become
a mother in Israel--all as predicted by Elder Farrell in England when
there seemed so little hope of her living. She requested that word be
sent to Elder Farrell that she had lived to see his words fulfilled,
and that now she was ready to die, as she felt that it was the Lord's
will.
After talking thus for two hours, she bade all present an affectionate
good by, lay back in bed and was dead in two minutes.
Since that time several of the women who had heard Nellie tell of the
marvelous blessings that had come to her in response to the prayers
and promises of Elder Farrell, have themselves when ill journeyed
to Smithfield to get him to administer to them, and their faith has
generally been rewarded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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