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Chapter 1
GREETINGS TO ALL
I have thought it would be nice to publish an account of some of my church activities and experiences and leave for my children and all who desire to read them.
I'd like to share them with you. They have meant much to me and I hope you will not think I am boasting when I share them with you. I have read many books
and many stories but the sweetest thing on my memory today is the story of the Restored Gospel told me by my parents when we met around the family altar to offer our prayers and make the old home ring with the songs of Zion.
What a challenge! I have tried to meet that challenge and make my home a home of prayer where we could talk over the things of God unmolested and without fear.
I am sure I have made many mistakes and still I find myself far from the goal but very sure that my salvation is nearer than when I first believed.
Why do I say that? Testimonies from Heaven, angel ministry, Heavenly vision, Spiritual dreams, a voice from
Heaven talking to me, the sick being healed through the ministry of my hands, all these and more have converted me to the Faith as it is in Jesus Christ and has inspired me to seek His counsel and believe in the things He said
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and caused me to put them to the test and demonstrated the truth of the story.
Some one will say "that's more than I could say." The answer is this, The work of the Kingdom is very urgent and if we do not meet the requirements of God the answer will be silence. That means No.
You remember that good man of Cessarea named Cornelius. He kept the commandments, gave much alms to the people and prayed to God, always. He was working at the job and so the angel came and talked with him and told him what to do. He did it and was told about the church of Jesus Christ and how to get into it. He did something about it. He went into the church. Could you do as much? Would you be willing to do something about it? Well here it comes to you and in its exact harmony with the story of the New Testament. What I mean is when Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee and called to those fishermen, and they left their nets and followed Him, He ordained them and named them Apostles. Then the Seventy, as in Luke 10 and so on till the church had Apostles, Elders, Prophets, Priests, Teachers, Deacons, Bishops, High Priests. So Jesus said, I appoint unto you a kingdom as My Father appointed unto me. Luke 22:29. All that was His doing and He worked with them and they enjoyed His powerful ministry and He said to them they would be able to do greater works than those which He did. It sure seems to me we don't have too many believers in my time.
My childhood days were spent in Western Iowa on a farm and I was sick with chills, and fever. Had the ague. When I was nearly 10 1 was administered to by J. C. Crabb and Davis H. Bays who were ministers and elders in the church. I was healed and that may have been the seed of faith that has been with me and I have
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never doubted that God could heal the sick if we comply with the required way.
When I was 17 years old I went with my brothers to the Western Iowa Reunion of the church which was held that year, 1889 at Garner's Grove. Every sermon I heard I was moved by the Spirit of God and I said to my brother Hubert I was going to be baptized as soon as I get home. He said he was too, so on October 17, 1889 we were both baptized in the river Jordan, a small stream in Western Iowa. A wonderful testimony was given to me on that day. Sunday afternoon I went out in the woods to pray and while I was engaged in prayer a voice spoke to me telling me the church with which I had united was His and if I would prepare I'd be permitted to do a good work.
I was soon called to the office of an Elder. In 1893 my father had said to me, "When are you going to take up the ministry." I remarked, "God knows my name and address and if He wants me He will tell me."
I was teaching school and another of those Western Reunions was coming on and I decided to go. It was to be held at Logan, Iowa., 25 miles from our home. I told mother I was going. She said, "What will you do about your school ?" I remarked I'd go down Friday night and come back Sunday night. So when I was ready to start from the school house I decided to pray about what my father asked me as he had told me at that time that he had received a testimony when I was a baby that I 'd preach the gospel. So I went up there to the desk where I had been teaching all day and I told the Lord all about it and told him that if He wanted me to preach this gospel I'd like to have Him reveal it to me by moving some one whom I did not know and in the gift of tongues and interpretation he would tell me it was in answer to this prayer.
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I arrived at the reunion ground about midnight. A police met me and helped me care for my horse and find my tent. There were about 425 tents on the ground. The next morning I told Hubert I was going to the prayer service. We went together. Entering the big tent, there were about 1,500 in that meeting, we went down about the center. The meeting had progressed about 15 or 20 minutes. An old gray haired man A. H. Rudd arose directback of us in the next row of seats. He spoke in an unknown tongue and in the message he laid his hand on my head at one time. In the interpretation he said to me, "Yes, you are called to the ministry and this is in answer to your prayer you offered at the schoolhouse last evening and you will go to the East, West, North and South and will be instrumental in baptizing hundreds into the church.
He also laid his hands on my Bro. Hubert calling him to the ministry and telling him of his work and mission in which he would baptize many souls. That message filled our souls and has been fulfilled to the most minute detail and we have both been active in our ministry for 67 years. We have never turned back.
I was sent out in a few years as a missionary and soon was ordained a Seventy.
First series of services on my first year under church appointment, I went to Decatur, Nebraska, a small town 60 miles north of Omaha. I secured a large hall down town and started inviting the people. Every day I went out and invited them in. I soon had the hall full, and standing room taken and people standing outside. I preached three weeks and baptized 12. 1 said to myself this is my opportunity. I'm going to call a prayer meeting. I'll ask God to give these people I have baptized the gifts of the Gospel. I called that meeting and did not tell anyone
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why we met. The hall was full. The meeting had progressed about 15 or 20 minutes and the gifts were given to two I had baptized.
One young woman about 25 that I had baptized, when she went home her husband cursed her and would not quit. He continued for three days and all she could do was cry. He took sick and they called the doctor. He called the other doctor in town, they could not tell what was wrong they called a doctor from Omaha, he was puzzled, called one from Sioux City. He named the malady and said if he had any financial matters to fix up he'd better get it done. He called me, I went, sat down by the bed and asked him what he wanted. He said I want you to forgive me. I told him I did not know what for. He said I have said some bad things about you. I said don't tell me what they are. We will wipe the slate clean no matter what they are. He said I have said bad things about my wife. I said you will have to fix that up with her I don't have anything to do about that. He said lie had made his confession to her and fixed it up. I said you had better talk with the Lord about it. He said I have and I have promised Him if lie would help me out this once I will come into the church and be a man the remainder of my life. I said I don't know whether he would or not but I could pray for him. He asked if I would administer to him. I said yes, I will.
There were about fifteen people in the room. I told them what I was going to do and if anyone here did not believe in this ordinance to leave the room as we wanted unity in this house. No one left. I administered and he got up immediately and walked across the room and said, "I'm a well man. "
I preached the gospel of salvation for now and for all time to come. It meets our present and future needs.
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