Where Are the Men to Lead?

A FAITH-PROMOTING EXPERIENCE 979

Up to this time I did not know what the future might bring forth, as those ministers were still striving to persuade me to join their churches, especially the Methodist minister, who came to me and proposed to make me one of his fellow preachers. Besides this, he said he was willing to pay me two hundred dollars for the last four months during which time we had been engaged in discussion, and he added the promise of a good salary in the near future. I was more than surprised, and after a sharp discussion, I told him that even for a million dollars I could not preach something I did not believe. He then went to my father and induced him to intercede for him. My father, having no knowledge whatever of the truth and thinking it would be educational and profitable temporally as well as spiritually, thought I was foolish in refusing it. When my father found I could not be persuaded, he decided to send me away from home. At this time, I had already been invited by President Tenney to attend the first conference in Mexico, to be held in Cuernavaca, about eighty miles from home. The minister knew about it, and used the argument that going there would cost money

and waste time. My father did not want me to go. When I was wandering upon the street not knowing what to do, I thought of the sacred teachings and example of my darling mother. Allow me to say a few words about my dear mother. Though she was a Catholic, she never bowed before any image, but in time of need and sorrow, she always went into a private place and shed tears in supplication to the living Father in Heaven. How many times in my childhood days I found her in such a state, without her knowledge! My soul was full of joy to hear her prayers and petitions; for, indeed, it was the sweetest thing of my whole life. To* imitate her was natural. In time, the imitation became a practice, and that practice became a habit, and that habit my Rock, and the refreshing Fountain of my poor and thirsty soul. Coming to my subject, what could a helpless boy like me do in such a condition? What, if I had chosen to do as the minister wished me to do? So, full of hope and confidence, more than ever, in the Lord, I went to my heavenly Father in prayer. Among other things, I prayed that the Lord would soften my father's heart and that he would come to me at five o'clock in the morning in answer to my prayer and further testimony of the divinity of the truth. While I was praying, I felt as if my body was dissolved. I felt the power of faith within my soul. With the exception of one other occasion of the same nature, I haven't enjoyed a similar privilege, which I regret very much. When I arose from my knees, an unusual peace filled my