Chapter 24—Labors in the Middle West—1856-58
In the fall of 1856, while visiting a company of Sabbath-keeping
Adventists at Round Grove, Ill., I was shown that the company of
brethren at Waukon, Iowa, needed help; that Satan’s snare must be
broken, and these precious souls rescued. My mind could not be at
ease until we had decided to visit them.
A Victory at Waukon, Iowa
When we reached Waukon, late in December, 1856, we found
nearly all the Sabbath keepers sorry we had come. Much prejudice
existed against us, for much had been said that tended to injure our
influence.
At the evening meeting I was taken off in vision, and the power of
God fell upon the company. I related what the Lord had given me for
the people. It was this: “Return unto Me, and I will return unto thee,
and heal all thy backslidings. Tear down the rubbish from the door of
thy heart, and open the door, and I will come in and sup with thee.” I
saw that if they would clear the way, and confess their wrongs, Jesus
would walk through the midst of us in power.
After I had borne my testimony, one sister began to confess in a
clear, decided manner; and as she made confession, the floodgates of
heaven seemed suddenly opened, and I was prostrated by the power of
God. It seemed an awful yet glorious place. The meeting continued
till past midnight, and a great work was accomplished.
The next day the meeting began where it had ended the night
before. Those who had been blessed at the previous meeting retained
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the blessing. They had not slept much, for the Spirit of God rested upon
them through the night. Some confessed their feeling of disunion with
us and their backslidden condition. The meeting continued, without
intermission, from ten o’clock in the forenoon till five in the evening.
That evening the burden left us. It was rolled upon the brethren and
sisters of Waukon, and they labored for each other with zeal and with
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