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Show THE FAIR APOSTATE. 321 dred years ago, and has sent us a messenger. As he spoke to the saints of the former days so has he spoken to the Latter- day Saints, and all who will may know for themselves that this message is from God. In America a prophet has been called ; the word of God has whispered out of the dust, as foretold by Isaiah, and once more communication is restored between God and man." The speaker then recited the story of Joseph Smith, his conversion and calling, his mission and martyrdom, as foretold by all the prophets; and supported his doctrine by an array of Scripture texts that aston-ished and fairly overwhelmed his simple hearers. Their experience had left them unprepared for any thing of this sort. All their lives they had heard the letter of the Scriptures distorted in the petty war-fare between the sects ; great principles they did not comprehend, and, to come to the point, there was no reason why prophets and apostles should not walk the earth now as well as in former times. The mis-sionary's argument on this point was to them unanswerable : if there was wickedness and unbelief in ancient times, so there was now ; if men needed a living witness then, much more did they now, when so many claimed to be messengers from God, and all differed as to His nature and government. No text in the Bible said that prophets should cease, while scores of texts implied that He would not leave the earth without an infallible guide. Elwood Briarly was powerfully impressed. He was in the Slough of Despond, and the missionary brought hope ; he was disgusted with all about him, and here was a chance for a new life. Next day he was surprised by a visit from the Mormon preacher. The latter was totally unlike the parish priest. He did not stand oif and preach down at the poor outcast ; he took a farming tool and worked beside him ; aye, did task for task with him, and talked only in the intervals of work. He, too, had known poverty and disgrace ; he, too, had been an unfor-tunate and an outcast ; he had not walked in silver slippers, and how mightily did he affect these simple people. From house to house he went, resolving doubts, urging proof texts, preaching and debating; and sitting by their humble firesides of an evening, he sang with unction : " The Spirit of God like a fire is burning, The latter- day glory begins to come forth ; The visions and blessings of old are returning ; The angels are coming to visit the earth. We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven, Hosanna, hosanna, to God and the Lamb ! Let glory to them in the highest be given, Henceforth and forever, amen and amen ! " 21 |
