RLDS Church History Search

Chapter Context

RLDS History Context Results

Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 39 Page: 773

Read Previous Page / Next Page

773 rest our weary souls needed. Sectarianism in all its forms was too much like Isaiah's bed, "Too short for a man to stretch himself on, and the covering too narrow for a man to wrap himself in."

We left Utah in 1859, and came to Nebraska by ox team, and found a temporary home with my brother, who, with our mother, had come thus far on their way to Utah, but had been induced by letters from me and the influence of other friends to stay there. I soon heard of the Reorganized Church, but I feared, at first, it was another move of Brigham Young to capture those whom he called apostates, but upon receiving a number of the Saints' Herald, I was satisfied there was no connection between the Reorganized Church and that of Brigham. Moreover, the Spirit of God began to work with me, and I was drawn to him, remembering the evidences he had given me of his love, and his power that had attended my ministry, and I determined to find the Reorganization.

Accordingly, in the last days of February, 1861, I left my family in a little cabin in Dodge County, Nebraska, and with the snow eighteen inches deep on the level, and a few cookies in a small sack, I started for Iowa. After traveling about seventy-five miles, I found Elders W. W. Blair and E. C. Briggs, and after a proper investigation of the claims of the Reorganized Church I was again buried with Christ in baptism, in Farm Creek, Mills County, Iowa, and was again ordained an elder, during the ordinance of confirmation by Elder Blair. This was early in March, 1861. I returned to Nebraska by the kind aid of Philip Gatrost, who took me with his team to where I had left my family, and he brought myself and family into Pottawattamie County, Iowa, where I found a temporary home among the Saints of God.

I was again called into the traveling ministry and labored in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska until the fall of 1862. In that time I was called to the office of a Seventy, and in October of that year I was appointed on a mission to England, in connection with Elder J. W. Briggs, of the Quorum of the Twelve. On December 6 of that year I started on

(page 773)

Read Previous Page / Next Page

Killing Abinadi...

RLDS Church History Search