It is with pleasure that I acknowledge here my grateful appreciation of the encouragement and assistance given me by my friends. The General Board of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations and the Guide Committee read the original manuscript. Elders Rulon S. Wells and Joseph W. McMurrin, the Journal Committee appointed by the First Presidency, also read and criticized the original manuscript. Finally, Elders Charles W. Penrose, George F. Richards, and Joseph F. Smith, Jr., read, by appointment of the First Presidency, the complete manuscript as it was prepared to appear in book form. I wish to thank all these brethren and sisters for their generous assistance and invaluable suggestions. But while these committees have read the manuscript and have passed favorable judgment upon it, it must be remembered that the author alone is responsible for all errors here to be found. Finally, I wish publicly to acknowledge my gratitude to my brother. Dr. John A. Widtsoe, and to my mother, Mrs. Anna K. Widtsoe, for much valuable help; and to my wife for her untiring devotion and zeal in reading and correcting and perfecting. Were it not for the encouragement of these many friends, I should not dare venture to put forth the following chapters in book form. O. J. P. W. Salt Lake, Utah. Jan. 21, 1912. CONTENTS. Foreword Introduction I. A Religious Revival II. A Vision of the Father and the Son III. Seven Marks of the Great Apostasy IV. The Restoration Predicted V. An Angel Flying VI. Hidden Gospel Records VII. The Lesser Priesthood VIII. The Higher Priesthood IX. The Church of Jesus Christ X. The Gospel Ordinances XI. The Plan of Government XII. The Spiritual Gifts XIII. Sacred Writings of Old XIV. A Sacred Book of Today XV. The Keys of Gathering XVI. The Fathers and the Children XVII. The Gospel Brotherhood XVIII. A New and Everlasting Covenant XIX. The Vision of Glories XX. In the Mouths of Witnesses XXI. Further Witnesses to the Restoration XXII. The Test of Section Sixty-seven XXIII. The Testimony of the Martyrdom INTRODUCTION.