Chapter 2—The Two Ways
At the Conference at Battle Creek, May 27, 1856, I was shown in
vision some things that concern the church generally. The glory and
majesty of God were made to pass before me. Said the angel, “He is
terrible in his majesty, yet ye realize it not; terrible in his anger, yet
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ye offend him daily. Strive to enter in at the straight gate, for wide is
the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many
there be which go in thereat; because straight is the gate and narrow
is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” These
roads I saw were distinct, separate, in opposite directions. One leads
to eternal life; the other to death, eternal death. I saw the distinction in
these roads, also the distinction between the companies traveling these
roads. The roads are opposite; one is broad and smooth, the other is
narrow and rugged. So the parties that travel these roads are opposite
in character, in life, in dress, and conversation.
Those traveling in the narrow way are talking of the joy and happi-
ness they will have at the end of the journey. Their countenances are
often sad, yet often beam with holy, sacred joy. They do not dress like
the company in the broad road, nor talk like them, nor act like them.
A Pattern has been given them. A Man of sorrow and acquainted with
grief opened that road for them, and traveled that road himself. His
followers see his footsteps, and are comforted and cheered. He went
through safely, so can they if they follow his footsteps. In the broad
road all are occupied with their persons, their dress, and the pleasures
in the way. Hilarity and glee they freely indulge in, and think not of
their journey’s end, of the certain destruction at the end of the path.
Every day they approach nearer their destruction, yet they madly rush
on faster and faster. Oh, how dreadfully this looked to me!
I saw many traveling in this broad road who had written upon
them, “Dead to the world, The end of all things is at hand, Be ye also
ready.” They looked just like all the vain ones around them, except
a shade of sadness which I noticed upon their countenances. Their
conversation was just like the gay, thoughtless ones around them; but
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