The Glory of God

"MORMONS" IN LIEGE DURING THE WAR 263

er's home between Liege and Serain. One year passed by in this manner; then we returned to our former meeting room, to the great satisfaction of the members in general; and taking possession of the books and records of the Church, to the great satisfaction of the priesthood. Brother Horbach was appointed secretary and treasurer. He was the only member who knew some English. He undertook the bookkeeping and the office work, while Brother Devignez had charge of the Sunday school lessons for the theological department. The kindergarten department was committed to Sister Belleflamme. In this way, we began our meetings, Sunday school and theological classes once more, and held them every week. We enjoyed the Spirit of the Lord, and the members of both branches can testify that they have always received the blessings of the Lord. They love the gospel, in spite of some weaknesses and some enmities that arose between them, which was inevitable considering the conditions surrounding us all. There was much irritation because of the lack of everything; misery and hunger often changed men into beasts; happily, the Spirit of the Lord always has a good influence upon the members of the Church,and we who have passed through the trouble and are thus able to compare and study the life of every one of the members, can testify that in spite of the sufferings and misery that reigned over the people, the Latter-day Saints have always shown themselves superior in conduct to the remainder of the population. They have kept the faith alive in their souls, while thousands of other persons have given themselves over to superstition and incredulity. During the terrible war, we have seen the power of the Almighty manifested many times. The sick were healed by the laying on of hands, and while epidemics desolated the non-"Mormon" families, our members maintained health. In spite of the vicissitudes and difficulties of these trying times, tithing has been paid regularly by the greatest part of the members. The Spirit of the Lord assisted us in our misfortunes, and when brethren became angry at one another, it was always the power of our religion which reconciled them to each other. We also made some progress in numbers, having baptized fourteen people during the war, but unhappily, we suffered nine deaths during this period of turmoil. The branches are in good condition, but the people long for the return of the missionaries; for here in Belgium, and especially in the Liege country, the missionaries were much beloved by the people, for they were in reality the spoiled children of us all! I think that no one of the missionaries who have returned to Zion can say that Belgium is a country where they are badlv received. I am not able to give an account of the Brussels branch, because the time that I have been connected with it, is so very short,"