The Lions of the Lord: A Tale of the Old WestWilson, Harry Leon
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The Lions of the Lord: A Tale of the Old West
Wilson, Harry Leon
Historical fiction; Latter Day Saint pioneers -- Fiction; Western stories
Again there was the rite of baptism to be administered,—not an onerous
office in the matter of the living, but apt to become so in the case of
the dead; for the whole world had been in darkness and sin since the
apostolic gifts were lost, ages ago, and the number of dead whose souls
now waited for baptism was incalculable; and not until the living had
been baptised for them could they enter the celestial Kingdom. In
consequence, all earnest souls were baptised tirelessly for their loved
ones who had gone behind the veil before Peter, James, and John
ordained Joseph Smith.
But the unselfish did not confine their efforts to friends and
relatives. In the village of Amalon that winter and spring, Amarintha,
third wife of Sarshell Sweezy, bethought her to be baptised for Queen
Anne; whereupon Ezra Colver at once underwent the same rite for this
lamented queen’s husband, Prince George of Denmark; thereby securing
the prompt admission of the royal couple to the full joys of the
Kingdom.
Attention being thus turned to royalty, the first Napoleon and his
first consort were baptised into heaven by thoughtful proxies; then
Queen Elizabeth and Henry the Eighth. Eric Glines, being a
liberal-minded man, was baptised for George Washington, thus adding the
first President of the Gentile nation to the galaxy of Mormon Saints
reigning in heaven. Gilbroid Sumner thereupon won the fervent
commendation of his Elder by submitting twice to burial in the waters
of baptism for the two thieves on the cross.
From time to time the little settlement was visited by officials of the
Church who journeyed south from Salt Lake City; perhaps one of the
powerful Twelve Apostles, those who bind on earth that which is bound
in heaven; or High Priests, Counsellors, or even Brigham himself with
his favourite wife and a retinue of followers in stately procession.
Late in the spring, also, came the Patriarch in the Church, Uncle John
Young, eldest brother of Brigham. It was the office of this good man to
dispense blessings to the faithful; blessings written and preserved
reverently in the family archives as charms to ward off misfortune.
Through all the valleys Uncle John was accustomed to go on his mission
of light. When he reached a settlement announcement was made of his
headquarters, and the unblessed were invited to wait upon him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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