Conflicts and Victory
143
In this state of things we started to fill an appointment at Monterey.
On the journey I tried to explain to myself why it was that our brethren
did not understand in regard to our work. I had felt quite sure that
when we should meet them, they would know what spirit we were of,
and that the Spirit of God in them would answer to the same in us, His
humble servants, and there would be union of feeling and sentiment.
Instead of this, we were distrusted and suspiciously watched, which
was a cause of the greatest perplexity I ever experienced.
Laying Hold on God
As I was thus thinking, a portion of the vision given me at
Rochester, N. Y., December 25, 1865, came like a flash of lightning to
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my mind, and I immediately related it to my husband:
I was shown a cluster of trees, standing near together, forming a
circle. Running up over these trees was a vine which covered them at
the top, and rested upon them, forming an arbor. Soon I saw the trees
swaying to and fro, as though moved by a powerful wind. One branch
after another of the vine was shaken from its support, until the vine
was shaken loose from the trees, except a few tendrils which were left
clinging to the lower branches. A person then came up and severed
the remaining clinging tendrils of the vine, and it lay prostrated upon
the earth.
Many passed and looked pityingly upon it, and I waited anxiously
for a friendly hand to raise it; but no help was offered. I inquired
why no hand raised the vine. Presently I saw an angel come to the
apparently deserted vine. He spread out his arms and placed them
beneath the vine, and raised it so that it stood upright, saying: “Stand
toward heaven, and let thy tendrils entwine about God. Thou art shaken
from human support. Thou canst stand, in the strength of God, and
flourish without it. Lean upon God alone, and thou shalt never lean in
vain, or be shaken therefrom.”
As I saw the neglected vine cared for, I felt inexpressible relief,
amounting to joy, I turned to the angel and inquired what these things
meant. Said he: “Thou art this vine. All this thou wilt experience, and
then, when these things occur, thou shalt fully understand the figure of
the vine. God will be to thee a present help in time of trouble.”
From this time I was settled as to my duty, and never more free in
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