Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

cheered and encouraged to renew their faith. At Garland a large number collected fromdifferent quarters to hear my message. But my heart was very heavy; I had just receiveda letter from my mother begging me to return home, for false reports were circulatingconcerning me. This was an unexpected blow. My name had always been free fromthe shadow of reproach, and my reputation was very dear to me. I also felt grieved thatmy mother should suffer on my account; her heart was bound up in her children, andshe was very sensitive in regard to them. If there had been an opportunity, I shouldhave set out for home immediately; but this was impossible.My sorrow was so great that I felt too depressed to speak that night. My friendsurged me to trust in the Lord; and at length the brethren engaged in prayer for me. Theblessing of the Lord soon rested upon me, and I bore my testimony that evening withgreat freedom. There seemed to be an angel standing by my side to strengthen me.Shouts of glory and victory went up from that house, and the presence of Jesus wasfelt among us.In my labors I was called to oppose the course of some who by their fanaticismwere bringing reproach upon the cause of God. These fanatical ones seemed to thinkthat religion consisted in great excitement and noise. They would talk in a mannerthat would irritate unbelievers, and cause them to hate them and the doctrines theytaught; then they would rejoice that they suffered persecution. Unbelievers could seeno consistency in their course. The brethren in some places were prevented fromassembling for meetings. The innocent suffered with the guilty. I carried a sad andheavy heart much of the time. It seemed cruel that the cause of Christ should be injuredby the course of these injudicious men. They were not only ruining their own souls,but placing upon the cause a stigma not easily removed. And Satan loved to have it so.It suited him well to see the truth66