Chapter IV

Ashamed of my appearance--Introduced to my numerous relatives--Allowed to sleep with the boys--Homesick--Set to work and made contented--Baptized and set apart for a mission--Return to Iowa--Meet my relatives--My Grandfather's confession and testimony--His exhortation and request--Return home with my brother Isaac, thus fulfilling my Father's prediction--The lessons I learned by my experience.

SAVED BY PROVIDENCE.

Appointed to take charge of a company of emigrants--Leave London for America--Surrounded by a thick fog--The Captain unable to take observations--The fog lifts--Saved from being dashed upon the rocks--Thank God for our deliverance.

WARNINGS OF THE SPIRIT.

Impressed by the Spirit not to go on a steamer, after arranging for my passage--Rush ashore before the boat starts--Boat snagged and sunk in the Mississippi--Warned by the Spirit not to meet an appointment--Urged by my friends, I start--Aversion to going so strong, I gallop back--Friends unable to account for my fears--Robbery at the house where I was to have gone--Saved from suspicion by obeying the voice of the Spirit.

ROBERT HAMILTON.

Challenged to debate by Dr. Waltholl--His discomfiture and defeat--Dr. Scott attempts to retrieve the Campbellite cause, and offers another challenge--Resorts to the whiskey bottle--Elder Hamilton scores him for it.

HOW SUCCESS IS GAINED.

Elders to go out two and two--Young missionaries inclined to shirk--Elder Moses Thatcher--His diffidence--The way he was broken in--His success--Elder McAllister--His backwardness in speaking--Forced into it--His testimony--Elder Coray's experience--Promises of the Lord proved true.

HELP IN TIME OF NEED.

CHAPTER I.

Start upon a mission, penniless--Aid from the Captain and passengers on the steamboat--Arrive at New Orleans--Fail in trying to find free passage to England--Discouragement--Prayer--Rebuke and answer--Apply for passage on the _Berlin_--Kind reception from Captain Baker--Bargain for passage--One-half to be paid in discussing religion with an Episcopalian Minister.

CHAPTER II.

The voyage--Discussion--Minister's discomfiture--Arrive in Liverpool--Kindness of Captain Baker--Learn of his death and my duty--My shabby appearance--First sermon--Money put into my hand--Visit home--More help from strangers.

OVERCOMING DIFFIDENCE.

Difference in persons about speaking in public--The Lord willing to help His servants to overcome timidity--Early experience in preaching--A feeling of fear and the Spirit of God not congenial--Timidity conquered.

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.

A Mother and Children in great want--The Mother's faith--Her prayer--Is provided with money in a mysterious way.

DIALOGUE ON RELIGION.

TESTIMONIES FOR THE TRUTH.

CHAPTER I.

The Author's birth and parentage--Early religious impressions--Marriage--Vision of his Brother, and of the Bible--The Author dreams of preaching--Attends a "Protracted Meeting"--His impressions while there--He meets with the Latter--Day Saints--Vision of two Nephite Apostles.

CHAPTER II.

Vision of the last days--Baptism of the Author and four others--His Wife's dream and baptism--He is ordained an Elder--Visits Kirtland--On his return is attacked by fever--Is miraculously healed--Visits Kirtland--Re-visits Kirtland--Begins to preach--Miraculous healing of a cancer--Accident and miraculous healing of Jesse W. Crosby--Poison miraculously nullified--Casting out of evil spirits.

CHAPTER III.

Removal to Nauvoo--Sickness--Miraculously healed--Acquire considerable property--Acquaintance with Joseph Smith--Missions to Albany, and the Eastern states; also, with Elder J. W. Crosby, to Nova Scotia--Preach in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and organize six Branches of the Church--Travel to New Brunswick--Invited to preach--Baptisms--Persecution--The Author waylaid by a mob, beaten, and left for dead--Attack on the house where he and Elder Crosby were in bed--The mob dispersed by Mrs. Shelton--They return and re--attack the house--Are dispersed by Mr. Shelton--Two Branches organized.

CHAPTER IV.

Return to Nauvoo--Sent to Jefferson Co. on a Tithing mission--Return with a thousand dollars--Move West with the Church--Stay at Winter Quarters--Ordained Bishop--Scurvy in Camp--Hire out in Missouri--Arrive in Salt Lake Valley--Elder Kimball's prophecy and its fulfillment.

FINDING A FATHER.

By ABRAHAM A. KIMBALL.