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Source: Church History Vol. 4 Chapter 12 Page: 181 (~1878)

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181 "Sister, I feel that if you are faithful, you will never have that again." And from that day to this she has never had them again that I am aware of.

One Wednesday night after prayer-meeting Mrs. Sarah Lively and Mary Taylor offered themselves for baptism. It was late when we closed our meeting, and, by the time we got to the Thames (south branch), it must have been almost eleven or half past eleven o'clock at night. A number of the Saints with others went to witness the baptism, probably about twenty Saints and about ten others. Among the number of the outsiders was one who endeavored to persecute us to a great degree; and the night being dark, with very dark, heavy clouds, and also a little misty rain, it was so that we could scarcely see each others' forms. The way being rough, with little hills and valleys, the Saints occasionally fell into the water and got wet. This provoked the persecutor to make more fun than ever. By and by we reached the river, and, after we got through with our opening exercises, I stepped to the water with the hands of one of the candidates in mine. The moment my foot touched the water there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty rushing wind; and with it came a very bright and brilliant light, more bright and glorious than my eyes had ever before seen. We were all filled with the Spirit, and the Saints immediately fell upon their knees and thanked God that he had shown unto the persecutors that we were acknowledged from on high. I gave a glance around as I was walking into the water, to see the light, and also the position of the people on the bank. The light came down from heaven, and it was in a circle, and it was about large enough to take in the thirty people, and also a part of the river, just that part where I baptized. I stood about one foot inside of this bright circle, and I cast a look outside of it, and it was just as dark one foot from the outer edge of it as it was ten rods or a mile away. When I came leading the sister to the bank, I noticed that all, both Saints and outsiders, were on their knees, with the exception of the one who persecuted us the most. After the two were baptized, one of the outsiders cried out, "O pray for me! This is enough to convince any one that the latter-day work is true." In time every one who was at the baptism came into the church.

At another time, while I was confirming a sister, the Spirit declared that from that time if she continued faithful, she would have the gift of visions. She immediately saw the Savior; and she was wrapt in the glory of the Spirit.

J. J. CORNISH.

LONDON, ONTARIO, JULY 12, 1877

We, the undersigned, hereby certify that we are the parties baptized as described above on December 27, 1875, and that the circumstances related in the foregoing letter are correct to the best of our knowledge, so far as they relate to that event

MRS. R. MAY.

MARY E. BUSHNELL.

We, the undersigned, hereby certify that we were present at the baptism

(page 181)

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