Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

oards, and we walked on in search of someone of like faith. We soon found BrotherC., who took us to his house.The Conference was held at Rocky Hill, in the large, unfinished chamber of BrotherBelden’s house. The brethren came in until we numbered about fifty; but these werenot all fully in the truth. Our meeting was interesting. Brother Bates presented thecommandments in a clear light, and their importance was urged home by powerfultestimonies. The word had effect to establish those already in the truth, and to awakenthose who were not fully decided.We were invited to meet with the brethren in the State of New York the followingsummer. The believers were poor, and could not promise to do much toward defrayingour expenses. We had no means with which to travel. My husband’s health was poor,but the way opened for him to work in the hayfield, and he decided to make the effort.It seemed then that we must live by faith. When we arose in the morning, we bowedat our bedside and asked God to give us strength to labor through the day. We wouldnot be satisfied unless we had the assurance that the Lord heard us pray. My husbandthen went forth to swing the scythe, not in his own strength, but in the strength of theLord. At night, when he came home, we would again plead with God for strength toearn means to spread His truth. We were often greatly blessed. In a letter to BrotherHowland, July, 1848, my husband wrote: “God gives me strength to labor hard all day.Praise His name! I hope to get a few dollars to use in His cause. We have sufferedfrom labor, fatigue, pain, hunger, cold, and heat, while endeavoring to do our brethrenand sisters good, and we hold ourselves ready to suffer more if God requires. I rejoicetoday that ease, pleasure, and comfort in this life are a sacrifice on the altar of my faithand hope. If our happiness consists in making others happy, we are happy indeed. Thetrue disciple will not live to gratify beloved self, but for Christ, and for the good of Hislittle85