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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
that I was doing the will of God, and saw marked results attending my
efforts.
The way providentially opened for me to go to the eastern part of
Maine. Brother William Jordan was going on business to Orrington,
accompanied by his sister, and I was urged to go with them. As I had
promised the Lord to walk in the path He opened before me, I dared
not refuse. At Orrington I met Elder James White. He was acquainted
with my friends, and was himself engaged in the work of salvation.
The Spirit of God attended the message I bore; hearts were made
glad in the truth, and the desponding ones were cheered and encour-
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aged to renew their faith. At Garland a large number collected from
different quarters to hear my message. But my heart was very heavy; I
had just received a letter from my mother begging me to return home,
for false reports were circulating concerning me. This was an un-
expected blow. My name had always been free from the shadow of
reproach, and my reputation was very dear to me. I also felt grieved
that my mother should suffer on my account; her heart was bound up
in her children, and she was very sensitive in regard to them. If there
had been an opportunity, I should have set out for home immediately;
but this was impossible.
My sorrow was so great that I felt too depressed to speak that night.
My friends urged me to trust in the Lord; and at length the brethren
engaged in prayer for me. The blessing of the Lord soon rested upon
me, and I bore my testimony that evening with great freedom. There
seemed to be an angel standing by my side to strengthen me. Shouts of
glory and victory went up from that house, and the presence of Jesus
was felt among us.
In my labors I was called to oppose the course of some who by their
fanaticism were bringing reproach upon the cause of God. These fa-
natical ones seemed to think that religion consisted in great excitement
and noise. They would talk in a manner that would irritate unbelievers,
and cause them to hate them and the doctrines they taught; then they
would rejoice that they suffered persecution. Unbelievers could see
no consistency in their course. The brethren in some places were
prevented from assembling for meetings. The innocent suffered with
the guilty. I carried a sad and heavy heart much of the time. It seemed
cruel that the cause of Christ should be injured by the course of these
injudicious men. They were not only ruining their own souls, but