Letters from Missionaries

;

LETTERS FROM MISSIONARIES.

While at Yuba, Arizona, laboring in my missionary call in the interest of the Y. M. M. I. A., I met a young man from southern Utah who had been baptized recently. While with him, one Sunday morning, I referred to the word of wisdom, with special reference to the use of tobacco. It seemed to greatly affect him, for he was given to the filthy habit. He said it was the first time in his life that he had felt conscience-smitten through using tobacco. We went to Sabbath school together, and he afterwards testified to me that because of the offense which he knew it was, he prayed in his heart that the Lord would take away that appetite from him and give him a testimony. At the close of the school, he went to the residence where he was staying, and went out of sight to roll his cigarette. He did so, and tried to smoke it, but could not, for he turned deathly sick, and vomited violently. He resolved at once to get rid of the tobacco; and going into the house, threw the roll and the tobacco into the fire, saying, "Thank God for the testimony. I feel that I am going to conquer, by the help of the Lord, and that I will be able to overcome this habit," One more incident; At one of the many public meetings held in Yuba, was a stranger who had traveled eight miles to attend. We had a good meeting, and at its close this stranger shook me by the hand and thanked me repeatedly for the instructions and teachings, giving me also a dollar bill to help me on my homeward journey. This, with other money given to me, was in direct fulfillment of words uttered by Apostle Woodruff when he set me apart in October, 1899, for this mission. I greatly rejoice in the Gospel I testify that God lives, and that the Gospel is from heaven. I

pray for the advancement of the M. I. A. work. D. J. Rogers.

On December 16, 1899, we were sent to southern Oregon, from Salem, to open up missionary work, we being the first elders in this part. We arrived in Ashland on the 22nd, as strangers in a strange land,but ever.trusting in God who is a friend to the faithful.

LETTERS FROM MISSIONARIES. 615

After being here a few days, we were introduced to a Mrs. Rhodes, and in the course of the conversation, she related a dream that she had some six years ago, which we here repeat substantially in her own words: "I dreamed I was on the banks of a river, but it seemed dark and dreary and muddy. The stream was swift and looked dangerous. Finally I saw a boat coming across the river with two men in it. They landed near me, and told me that I must cross the river with them in the boat, if ever I expected to be happy, and ,

to find the light. After their assuring me that I would be safe, I

ventured to get into the boat, and the men commenced to pull for the other shore. After sailing some distance, the water changed from muddy to a clear stream. Then a light, or bright cloud, gathered around, and I could distinctly see the other side of the river. Upon the banks thereof was a beautiful city. I asked the men the name of the place, and they informed me it was the 'City of the Saints/ they pulled the boat to shore and landed safely. I

then went into the city where everything seemed to be in peace, and where happiness seemed to reign. Every person I met seemed indeed a brother or a sister, and I felt perfectly happy." Upon awakening, the next morning, she told her husband and family that if she ever saw thosemen she would know them, and the minute she saw us she knew us as the men in her dream, who took her across the river from the darkness into the light. She also confesses that we have brought the light of the Gospel, and she knows she will have to receive it before she will enjoy the perfect happiness of her dream. This seems marvelous unto us; and it adds strength to our testimony, to reflect that the dream occurred six years ago, when we had no idea of being in the mission field; but the Lord knew, therefore he called us. We say to the young men of Israel: be ready when the call comes, for it comes from the Lord. Let us declare like Nephi of old: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." j

(I Nephi 3: 7.) W. P. Clayton, J. H. Stoney.