Chapter I: Preface

No lesson taught by the Savior during his ministry in mortality was more frequently and thoroughly impressed than that of unselfish service. Of those who labored solely for the things of this world, or for praise or the honors that men can bestow, He had a habit of saying: "They have their reward." If they obtained that which they strove for they were already repaid: they were entitled to nothing more. Of the rich He said, "Ye have received your consolation." It was not sufficient that man should seek to benefit or bring happiness alone to those they loved. Even that He evidently regarded as a species of selfishness, as implied by the saying: "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?" "For sinners do even the same." His exhortation was: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."

All this was not intended to imply that wealth itself was intrinsically bad, or that poverty had any essential virtue, except as a means to an end. The rule was, as expressed by the great Teacher, that "where the treasure is, there will the heart be also." A sublime test upon this point was that made of the young man who applied to the Savior upon one occasion to know what good thing he could do to gain eternal life. Though he was able to say that he had kept all the commandments from his youth up, it was apparent to the Master that his heart was set upon the wealth he possessed, as evidence of which he turned away sorrowfully when required by the Savior to surrender his possessions, for the benefit of the poor, and follow Him.

The Gospel as revealed anew in our day has shed a flood of light upon the subject of salvation, and the conditions upon which it is predicated. The glorious principle of salvation for the dead, as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith, has awakened a desire in the hearts of thousands of earnest seekers after truth to do a vicarious work for the benefit of their dead relatives and friends, that they may share in all the blessings and privileges of the Gospel. In this work, as well as in the preaching of the Gospel to the living, have avenues been opened up for unselfish work, which, as it involves no earthly reward, is clearly in the line of laying up treasures in heaven, as distinguished from the work of amassing treasures upon earth which absorbs the attention of so many of the earth's inhabitants. That the recital of some typical examples of sacrifices unselfishly made in the interest of others, and the joy experienced therein, may tend to promote faith in those who read the same and incite them also to lay up treasures in heaven, this volume is published in continuation of the "Faith Promoting Series," originated and published by the present author about thirty-five years ago.

CONTENTS

A MODERN STOIC

CHAPTER I.

Birth of Niels--Obscure Childhood--Crippled, Helpless Condition--Gospel Preached--Taught Needlework--Training in Bible and Lutheran Creed--A Prophetic Priest--Remarkable Prediction Concerning Niels. Page 7.

CHAPTER II.

Death of his Mother--Life in Aalborg--Conversion to Mormonism--Heavenly Message to Elder Kempe--His Obedience thereto--Baptism of Niels--His Relatives Ashamed of Him--Proposition to Make Him a Lutheran Preacher. Page 12.

CHAPTER III.

Desire to Migrate--Discouraging Prospects--Help From an Unexpected Source--Religious Discrimination--Contends for His Rights--Effects a Compromise--Characteristics of Niels--Spiritual Impressions and Premonitions. Page 17.

CHAPTER IV.

A Vision and its Pre-Mortal Counterpart--Beset by Evil Spirits--Deliverance Therefrom--Preparations to Migrate--Long Voyage--Toilsome Journey--Lost on the Plains--Help from the Lord. Page 21.

CHAPTER V.

Feat as a Pedestrian--Lessons Learned and Ambition Developed While Traveling--Arrival in Salt Lake City--Employment Diligently Sought--Precarious Success--Miraculously Fed. Page 27.

CHAPTER VI

Invests in Real Estate--Acquires a Home--Vicarious Work in Logan Temple--Consequent Elation--Promise to a Dying Friend--Gratuitous Fulfillment in Manti Temple. Page 33.

CHAPTER VII.

Completion of Salt Lake Temple--His Work Therein--Sister Corradi Inspired to Apply to Him--Devoted Work for her Kindred--His Severe Afflictions--Saving Work for 2200--Graceful Old Age. Page 37.

CHAPTER VIII. Modern Stoic--His Modest Obscurity--What Religion Has Done for Niels--Philosophic Way in Which He Views Death. Page 40.

A WOMAN WITH A PURPOSE

Purpose Essential to Success--Birth and Parentage of Carolina Corradi--Her Mother's Prescience--Preparation for Future Career--Devoted Work in Behalf of Dead Kindred. Page 47.

AN EXCEPTION

A Rich Man's Handicap--Wealth Not Essentially Bad--But Qualities its Possession Develops a Bar to Salvation--Typical Case of a Man Reared in Affluence--Unpromising Start in Married Life--How He Became Interested in Temple Work--Worthy Example in Recent Years. Page 55.

MY MOTHER

CHAPTER I.

Prediction from Malachi Fulfilled--Birth and Childhood of Mary Alice Cannon--Cannon Family Embrace the Gospel--Migrate--Mother's Death at Sea--Arrival at Nauvoo--Father's Death--Her Marriage. Page 65.

CHAPTER II.

Strenuous Life in Nauvoo--City Besieged--Thrilling Experience--Miracle of Quails--Run Over by Wagon--Wagon Sinks to Bottom of River--Life in Utah--Mission Abroad--Her Posterity. Page 74.

EXAMPLES OF RIGHTEOUS ZEAL

Night Workers Who Serve in the Temple During the Day--Many Women Serve at Great Personal Sacrifice--Temple Work a Boon to the Blind. Page 89.

A MODERN STOIC