A Brand Plucked from the Burning

BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING, BY S. F. KIMBALL. Picket Post was an old government fort in Pilal country, Arizona. It was located in the foothills, about fifty miles due east of Mesa. After it had been abandoned by Uncle Sam, it became a prominent mining camp, and the name was changed to Pilal. After freighting over the wilds of Arizona for three years and a half, I opened a livery and feed stable at this place. Soon after, I formed a partnership with a man who had been well recommended to me. We did a good business, and made money. President A. F. MacDonald, and my father-in-law, Francis M. Pomeroy, visited me about this time. Among the things they told me was this: that if I would do right, and pay my tithing, the Lord would bless me; but if not, things would not be well with me. Up to this time I had never given a cent of tithing in my life. I paid but little attention to what they said, and felt pretty well satisfied the way things were going. I did nothing towards living my religion. I was the only man in the place who claimed connection with the "Mormon" Church in any way. My partner kept the books and handled the cash, and I took charge of the other affairs. One morning, he saddled a horse, and said he was going into the hills to collect a bill, and I have never seen him since. I learned afterwards that he had callected all bills, borrowed all the money that he could on our names, and drawn out what cash we had in the bank. He then crossed the line into Old Mexico, which was only seventy-five miles away. After I learned that I was financially ruined, I began to think over what President MacDonald had told me, but it was too late

686 IMPROVEMENT ERA. then to "lock the stable door." I made up my mind to close this stable, and to lease a smaller one in another part of the town. That night I dreamed that I found two eggs, larger than turkeyeggs. I broke one of them, and to my surprise found a large scorpion in it, which filled the whole shell. I felt tempted to open the other, but thinking that I might find something worse, changed my mind. When I awoke, the interpretation was made plain. I had already opened one feed stable, and knew the results. I did not care to open the other. My creditors were pounding me about, but I could do nothing for them. I became discouraged and almost heart-broken. My wife and child had gone to Mesa to visit her parents. The harder I worked to pay my debts, the blacker things looked ahead. I began to have horrible night visions. I dreamed that I was in hurricanes and earthquakes, even hearing the deafening sounds. I saw myself in company with some of my brothers on the brink of precipices, in the act of falling off. These things began to start my religious blood to circulating. It caused me to think seriously of the things my father had taught me, in years gone by. Satan was on the spot to magnify my troubles to the uttermost. When I had reached the zenith of my trouble, as I supposed, I received, from my sister Helen M., a little book that had just been published, entitled H. C. Kimball's Journal; also a blessing given to me when I was but eight days old. I had never seen either of them before. This is the blessing;, as recorded by President Willard Richards: A blessing upon the head of Solomon Farnham, son of Heber C. and Vilate M. Kimball, born at Winter Quarters, February 2nd, 1847, by President B. Young, with H. C. Kimball, N. K. Whitney and A. Cutler, at the house of H. C. Kimball. Solomon Farnham, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood, we lay our hands upon thy head, and bless thee with the blessings of thy fathers and of thy forefathers, and of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and with the blessings of eternal life. Thou shalt not be a whit behind any of thy father's house in blessings, but shall receive them in due time, for thou shalt live to enjoy life, and the angels shall have charge over thee, and thou shalt have dominion over every foul spirit, and over death itself, and possess great treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and we seal you unto your father and mother, and bless you with all the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant, in the name of the Lord J esus Christ. Amen. After reading the blessing over several times, carefully, I

A BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING. 687 commenced to read the book. There was an overruling Power that began to work with me, tut I did not know it. I little understood these things,then. I yet had to pass through severe mental suffering, in order to prepare me for what was coming. Satan had laid his plans to destroy me. If he could accomplish this, he would prove President Young to be a false prophet. By the next day I had read the book through. I went to bed that evening pondering over these things. I could not sleep. I felt evil influences gathering eround me that I could not understand. It was so different from anything that I had ever experienced before. I had been taught to pray by my parents, but had neglected praying. This oppressive spirit began to bear down upon me in great power. I felt that I could not endure it much longer. I soon found myself upon my knees, praying like a chaplain, but could get no relief. I was alone, and the town people had gone to bed. I walked the floor, and made a strong effort to cry, but this was denied me. I got down on my knees again, and told the Lord of all the mean things that I had ever done in my life, and it took a long time. The harder I prayed the worse I felt, and the worse I felt the harder I prayed. I kept this up all night. It seemed like iron under my feet and brass over my head. I felt that I had been abandoned to the powers of darkness which were determined to destroy me. It was almost daylight, and I was about to give up, when relief came. The Lord had heard my prayers. Darkness had fled, and the heavenly influence that took possession of me almost lifted me from my feet. For the first time in my life I received a spiritual communication from the heavens. My father, when I was a child, called me his spiritual-minded boy, and I enjoyed that gift to a great extent in niy ycunger days. Here was so much greater that I could not help but clap my hands for joy, and weep like a child. This is the word that I received: "Return to the Mesa ward. Renew your covenants. Pay your tithing. Go to the temple, and have your wife and child sealed to you. Live the life of a Latter-day Saint, and then I will forgive you of your sins, and will bless you." I felt as if my head were a fountain of tears. I continued to weep and to praise the Lord as long as I remained in that place. The people thought that I had gone crazy. By noon I had sold

688 IMPROVEMENT ERA. and given away almost everything I had. By three o'clock I said good by to Pinal, and have never seen it since. That afternoon, in compary with some of our Mesa boys, we drove out on the desert, about twenty miles, and camped for the night. The Spirit of the Lord had remained with me until this time. I could begin to feel it withdrawing from me. After supper I took my bed and went off about cne hundred yards by myself. I felt as if I wanted to be alone. I made my bed, and after I had prayed, went to rest thoroughly worn out. I slept pretty well until towards morning, when the Evil One made another assault upon me, only in a different way. As I lay on my back, I was unable to move a muscle, for at least an hour. I could not utter a word, not even whisper. Then the fallen spirits showed themselves to me, one at a time. All I could see of them was their heads and bodies down to their waists. They would pass in front of me, and then remain about a quarter of a minute and gnash their teeth, and make faces, and then pass on. Then another one would take his place. I never saw the same face twice, and they appeared to be all males. It would be impossible to describe the horrible countenances of these imps of hell. I knew that they could not kill me, from what the Lord had told me. Neither was I frightened of them, but it was a fearful position to be in. They kept this up until daylight, and then left me. I got up and dressed myself, and prayed, but felt downcast all tint day. We reached Mesa about noon. After dinner I sought President Mac- Donald, and related my experience to him. He advised me to say nothing about it to any one, but do as I was told. He said he would be a father to me, and assist me in any way that he could. I asked him what I should do first. He said, ' 'Go to Brother C. I. Robs on and ask him to rebaptize you." I told him that I was not on speaking terms with him. He said, "That makes no difference; go and ask his forgiveness." I went down to Brother Robson's house. He was making cane molasses. I asked him if he would forgive me. He was so astonished that he came near falling over backwards. The tears began to stream down his cheeks, and he said, "Certainly I will, and I want you to forgive me," which, of course, I did. I then asked him if he would rebaptize me, and he

A BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING. 689 said he would. He put his coat on, and we went up to the Mesa canal, and there he performed the ceremony. I had a few horses and a couple of wagons left. The next day I met a brother who wanted to trade me a home for them. We closed the bargain. This gave me a cozy little home with about four acres of land already cultivated. I attended all the meetings, and was probably the most humble man in the place. I said nothing about my experience to any one, excepting my wife. Many of the Saints, as well as the sinners, could not understand the sudden change that had come over me. Some treated me well, while others looked upon me with suspicion. I attended to my family prayers twice a day and commenced studying the scriptures. I was trying to make up for lost time. I felt that I had come in at the eleventh hour. That winter, Apostle Erastus Snow came down from Utah to organize us into a stake of Zion. There were probably five or six hundred saints in that part of Arizona, at the time. He had a hard time in selecting suitable timber for this organization. It t^ok him about three days to complete his work. I was acquainted with some of the men whom he had chosen to fill these offices. Some of the timber he used was somewhat warped and had some knots in it, but he did the best he could. Brother Snow had been a close friend to my father and mother, and visited them often when they were alive. Many times he had trotted me on his knee when I was small. During the conference, I kept listening, expecting to hear my name called, but was considerably disappointed. After conference had adjourned, for the first time I began to feel my littleness. I wondered if it could be possible that I was a less worthy man than any of those he had chosen. Brother Snow could read my inmost thoughts. He understood me better than I understood myself. Before starting home, he took me by the hand, in a kind and fatherly manner, and said: ''Brother Solomon, if you will continue to do right, I promise you, in the name of the Lord, that it will not be long before you will hold more offices than you will be able to take care of." He then prayed God to bless me. This did me great good. I took hold of my religious duties with a vim, and never left a stone unturned. The worst thing I had to contend with was the self-righteous element. One

690 IMPROVEMENT ERA. prominent man, who was the best friend I had when I was doing wrong, was my worst enemy when I commenced to do right. His class could not bear to see me living my religion. They were continually throwing blocks in my way. One day, at a general conference, one of them, in speaking of those who had been seeking after the things of the world, said it reminded him of Sol. Kimball. After meeting I called his attention to it. I told him that I had been confessing my sins for the last three years. I thought that he ought to confess his own sins. He offered to apologize to me at the afternoon meeting, but I would not submit to it. Some times I would feel quite discouraged. The way some of the brethren treated me, I began to feel like it was no use for me to try to do right Some of them preached doctrine which, if true, would bar me out of the kingdom of heaven. And if I should happen to get there, I should be covered with scars. I imagined that they were talking to me all the time. I heard so many of these things that I began to feel that I was throwing my time away in trying to work out my salvation. I became despondent, and thoroughly discouraged. I was between two very hot fires. I did not know what to do. I resorted to fastmg and praying. I wanted to find out, if possible, whether my labors during the last three years had been acceptable to the Lord. One morning, before breakfast, I went off into the desert, and prayed with great earnestness before the Lord in relation to this matter. After I had been on my knees for twenty-five or thirty minutes, I started back home thinking over these things. I had not gone far when the Spirit of the Lord, in a very satisfactory and comprehensive manner, informed me that my labors had been acceptable to him, and that my sins had been forgiven. It made such a deep and lasting impression upon my mind that I have never felt discouraged in relation to such matters since. About this time there was a small company getting ready to go to the St. George Temple. I had a team and wagon. I sold my only cow to get an outfit to go along with them. The distance to St. George was five hundred miles, and two hundred of it over a very rough country. We made the trip in three weeks. After having my wife and children sealed to me, I felt that I had carried out the instructions of the Lord to the letter. My heart was

A BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING. 691 light, and my sins were forgiven. I hitched up my team, and, with my wife and children, drove home all alone. We did not see a living soul for the first two hundred miles, except the men who ran Pearce's Ferry. I drove the five hundred miles in thirteen and a half days, and was the happiest man in Mesa, when I arrived there. I continued to live there until June, 1886. When I left, Brother Snow's prediction upon my head had been literally fulfilled. I did hold more Church offices than I could well take care of, among them being ward clerk, secretary of Sunday school, and one of the seven presidents of a seventies' quorum. Salt Lake City, Utah. A