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Show THROUGH GREAT TRIBULATION. 351 yielding pliancy of love, it strangely happened that certain lines in the " secret ritual " were forgotten, and the faithful ward teacher, then on duty, had an important account to give the bishop at their next meeting. And the bishop frowned, then smiled, then frowned again, while the faithful teacher waited for his commendation, anol really could not tell whether his spiritual superior was pleased or angry. It was a mild September Sabbath afternoon, and Bishop Warren was thundering against covenant- breakers. He grew furious about " the wolves that would creep into the fold and ravage among the ewe lambs ;" he quoted the " blood- atonement " sermons of Jedediah M. Grant and Brigham Young, and called for a " show of hands " as to whether the brethren and sisters sustained these doctrines. All hands were held up, and again he threatened the law- breakers. " There are wolves among the flock, but there are dogs set to guard it, and the dogs have very sharp teeth.* Now, brethren and sisters, keep your own counsels. You all know what was done at San Pete, when Ed-ward Beauvais defiled a daughter of Zion. And I want you to under-stand that the boys of Logan are as true as the boys of San Pete. Now, keep still and mind your own business. Judgment will be laid to the line in Zion, and righteousness to the plummet in Lo-gan. Ask no questions, and no lies will be told you. If you want in-formation, don't gabble with your neighbors; come to your bishop. He'll tell you what is good for you. And if you hear any thing strange, don't go talking to your women about it ; there are those set in authority by the Lord God Almighty to inquire into such things. But you mind your own business. All who say it is all right, hold up your right hands. [ All hands up.] May the Lord bless you all, for Jesus' sake. Amen !" The afternoon meeting ended; the Saints slowly wended their way homeward, smiling and chatting. In the front yards and neat gar-dens gathered the family groups for a peaceful evening; the red sun sank behind the Promontory Range, and the calm of a Puritan Sabbath settled down upon Cache Valley. How happy these people must be ! at least so many a Gentile visitor has said. How calm, how peaceful, how free from envy, care and strife ! But the dark night drew on. About 10 P. M. three figures ap-peared in the shadow between the ward meeting- house and the line of box- elders beside it. There was yet no moon ; still they kept in the shadow. A fourth softly approached. * See " blood- atonement " sermon by Orson Hyde, in the " Journal of Discourses." |
