Passing of the Gift of Tongues

PASSING OF THH GIFT OF TONGUES. BY DR. JAMES X. ALLEN.

I was somewhat startled a few days ago, while in conversation with a young brother who had just returned from a mission to Scandinavia, by hearing him remark that he had never in his life heard anyone speak in tongues. This same young brother was reared in Utah. His father and mother, as also he himself, are good Latter-day Saints. He has filled an honorable mission, and is today strong in the faith, and yet, he has never heard and ex-

perienced one of the most common gifts of the gospel, as enjoyed years ago. The remark was somewhat of a shock to me; because in the early days of the Church — — where I was reared there were so many of the Saints who enjoyed the gifts, and theie were none among my acquaintances who had not heard the sweet sound of the gift of tongues. Many times there would be both speaking and singing in tongues, in the same sacrament meeting. The interpretation of tongues was equally as common as the tongues themselves. In fact, we were wont to regard the speaking in tongues, the interpretation of tongues, the relating of dreams and prophesying, as an essential part of the latter-day gospel. These gifts were a great comfort to the new converts. They strengthened our faith, and served as abiding testimonies to many of us. Sometimes we were taken aback a little by them, as I have on several occasions known parties to confess faults in their tongue that they were ashamed to confess openly in their natural tongue. One remarkable case of the kind occurred with myself. At the time, I was about twelve years of age, and living seven miles from the meeting house, to which I walked every Sunday. My

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custom was to be at the meeting at 10 o'clock in the morning. Some brother would ask me home to dinner. The afternoon meetings were sacrament and testimony meetings. I would, after this meeting, go with some brother to tea — the evening meal being called by that name; and after night meeting I would walk home. On this special occasion, I refrained from partaking of the sacrament, as also from bearing my testimony, as was my habit. During the meeting, I sat in misery. I felt that I had sinned, but thought as no one present was cognizant of my fault, I considered it useless to enlighten my fall from grace. them as to However, while sitting quietly at the back end of the hall, my body began to swell, so that I feared for the buttons on my clothes. Great drops of sweat stood on my face, and I was thoroughly miserable. The next thing that happened was that I was standing on the floor and talking away, as fast as my tongue could wag. There was no volition in my rising. It seemed as though someone lifted me off mv seat, and stood me on my feet. I tried .

not to talk, but I could not, until the power upon me let me stop. I did not know what I was saying, as the language was strange to me. When through with the tongue; I sat down exhausted. But now came another trouble. was the custom, when anyone It spake in tongues, that some brother or sister would arise and give the interpretation, but in this case no interpretation was given. After the close of the meeting, a brother asked me to go home to tea with him. On the way to his house, he asked me: Did I know the reason why my tongue was not interpreted? No! He said that I had been dancing. Yes! I had been dancing in a public house? Yes! In fact, I had made a full and contrite confession, and begged the forgiveness of the Saints, promising never to do the like again. He told me that three of the brethren sitting together each had the interpretation, and each had the same interpretation; and the question was, who stould arise and give it? No one of them was willing to give it in the meeting. They argued that I was so truly repentant and humble that they thought my punishment was enough. They argued that one of them should take me home to tea and talk to me. At that time I had a companion some years older than myself

PASSING OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES. Ill

who was a great clog dancer. I became infatuated with the dancing. But my dancing would be done on the sidewalk, while Harry would occasionally step into a public house (saloon) and dance for money. I was too pious to dance for money, but not too pious to take a full share of what Harry earned. On the occasion of my fall from grace, Harry had remained in the public house so long that I got tired of waiting for him, and stepped in to see if he was not coming. When I got in, Harry was just coming off the floor, and one of the beer drinkers remarked: "Here's a little

devil that can dance; get on the floor and give us a step." I declared that I could not dance, when the man said: "You lying little rascal! I've seen you dance many a time."

was about to turn round and leave the house, when Harry I

looked at me as much as to say, "Now, Jim, thou gets half." The reproof in his eyes was too much for me, and I danced. But, oh! how wretched I was all that week! I never danced in such a place again. This was a testimony that has never left me, of the power and discernment of the Spirit of (Jod. Many times when assailed by doubts —who has not been so assailed? — the recollection of that circumstance has come to my aid, and I thank God for a never- dying testimony. The first person that I ever heard speak in tongues was Lorenzo D. Barnes, in the year 1842. He died the same year, in — England one of the first, if not the first, American elders to die in a foreign country. I fear that I have made this narrative too long. But I could relate other interesting incidents with regard to the blessed gifts of the gospel. But I fear to be troublesome. There is a question that comes into my mind: If men now think they can get along without the gifts of the gospel, may not the time come when they may believe they can get along without its ordinances? Ogden, Utah.