Chapter 13—Marriage and United Labors
August 30, 1846, I was united in marriage to Elder James White.
Elder White had enjoyed a deep experience in the advent movement,
and his labors in proclaiming the truth had been blessed of God. Our
hearts were united in the great work, and together we traveled and
labored for the salvation of souls.
In Confirmation of Faith
In November, 1846, I attended, with my husband, a meeting at
Topsham, Maine, at which Elder Joseph Bates was present. He did
not then fully believe that my visions were of God. That meeting was
a season of much interest. The Spirit of God rested upon me; I was
wrapped in a vision of God’s glory, and for the first time had a view
of other planets. After I came out of vision, I related what I had seen.
Elder Bates then asked if I had studied astronomy. I told him I had no
recollection of ever looking into an astronomy. Then he said, “This is
of the Lord.” His countenance shone with the light of heaven, and he
exhorted the church with power.
Regarding his attitude toward the visions, Elder Bates made the
following statement:
“Although I could see nothing in them that militated against the
Word, yet I felt alarmed and tried exceedingly, and for a long time
unwilling to believe that it was anything more than what was produced
by a protracted debilitated state of her body.
“I therefore sought opportunities in the presence of others, when
her mind seemed freed from excitement (out of meeting), to question
and cross-question her, and her friends which accompanied her, espe-
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cially her elder sister, to get if possible at the truth. During the number
of visits she has made to New Bedford and Fairhaven since, while at
our meetings, I have seen her in vision a number of times, and also in
Topsham, Maine; and those who were present during some of those
exciting scenes know well with what interest and intensity I listened to
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