Chapter 10—Labors in New Hampshire
About this time I was shown that it was my duty to visit our people
in New Hampshire. My constant and faithful companion at this time
was Louisa Foss, a sister of Samuel Foss, the husband of my sister
Mary. I can never forget her kind and sisterly attention to me in my
journeyings. We were also accompanied by Elder Files and his wife,
who were old and valued friends of my family, and by Brother Ralph
Haskins and Elder James White.
We were cordially received by our friends in New Hampshire, but
there were wrongs existing in that field which burdened me much. We
had to meet a spirit of self-righteousness that was very depressing.
Encouragement for Elder Morse
While visiting at the house of Elder Washington Morse, I was very
ill. Prayer was offered in my behalf, and the Spirit of God rested upon
me. I was taken off in vision, and some things were shown me con-
cerning the case of Elder Morse in connection with the disappointment
of 1844.
Elder Morse had been firm and consistent in the belief that the Lord
would come at that time; but when the period passed without bringing
the event expected, he was perplexed and unable to explain the delay.
Although bitterly disappointed, he did not renounce his faith, as some
did, calling it a fanatical delusion; but he was bewildered, and could
not understand the position of God’s people on prophetic time. He
had been so earnest in declaring that the coming of the Lord was near,
that when the time passed, he was despondent, and did nothing to
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encourage the disappointed people, who were like sheep without a
shepherd, left to be devoured of wolves.
The case of Jonah was presented before me. Elder Morse was
in a condition similar to that of the disappointed prophet. He had
proclaimed that the Lord would come in 1844. The time had passed.
The check of fear that had partially held the people was removed, and
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