VISIT TO THE MOON FAMILY--PREJUDICED AGAINST OUR DOCTRINE--A PROPHECY
ABOUT THEM--IMPRESSED TO CALL AT THEIR HOUSE AGAIN--MY PRESENCE HAILED
WITH JOY AS AN ANSWER TO PRAYER--THE PROPHECY FULFILLED: THEY JOIN THE
CHURCH--A DREAM AND ITS INTERPRETATION.
Having an appointment to preach in the village of Wrightington, while
on the way I stopped at the house of Brother Amos Fielding. When I
arrived he informed me that a certain family by the name of Moon had
sent a request by him for me to visit them, that they might have
the privilege of conversing with me on the subject of the gospel.
Accordingly, Brother Fielding and I paid them a visit that evening.
We were very kindly received by the family, and had considerable
conversation on the object of my mission to that country, and the great
work of the last days. They listened with attention to my statements,
but they appeared to be prejudiced against them rather than otherwise.
We remained in conversation until a late hour, and then returned.
On our way home, Brother Fielding observed that he thought our visit
had been in vain, as the family seemed to have considerable prejudice.
I replied, "Brother Fielding, be not faithless, but believing; we shall
yet see great effects from this visit, for I know there are some of the
family who have received the testimony and will shortly manifest the
same."
At this remark he appeared surprised.
The next morning I continued my journey to Wrightington, and after
spending two or three days in that vicinity, preaching the gospel, I
returned by the way of Brother Fielding's, with whom I again tarried
for the night.
The next morning I commenced my journey, intending to go direct to
Preston, but when I got opposite the road leading to Mr. Moon's, I
was forcibly impressed by the Spirit of the Lord to call and see them
again. I could not resist, and therefore directed my steps to the
house, not knowing what it meant.
On my arrival at the house, I knocked at the door, and Mrs. Moon from
within exclaimed, "Come in! come in! you are welcome here! I and the
lasses (meaning her daughters) have just been calling on the Lord, and
praying that He would send you this way."
She then informed me of her state of mind since I was there before,
and said she at first rejected my testimony, and endeavored to think
lightly of the things I had advanced, but on trying to pray, she said
that "the heavens seemed to be like brass over her head, and it was
like iron under her feet." She did not know what was the matter, and
exclaimed, "Certainly the man has not bewitched me!"
Upon inquiry she found it was the same with the "lasses." They had
begun to reflect on the things I had told them, and, thinking it
possible that I had told them the truth, they resolved to lay the case
before the Lord, and beseech Him to give them a testimony concerning
the things I had testified of.
She then observed, that as soon as they did so, light broke in upon
their minds, they were convinced that I was a messenger of salvation,
and that it was the work of the Lord; and they had resolved to obey the
gospel, which they did, for that evening I baptized father and mother
and four of their daughters.
Shortly after I visited them again, and baptized the remainder of the
family, consisting of thirteen souls, the youngest of whom was over
twenty years of age. They received the gospel as little children,
and rejoiced exceedingly in its blessings. The sons were very good
musicians, and the daughters excellent singers, and when they united
their instruments and their voices in the songs of Zion, the effect was
truly transporting.
Before I left England, there were about thirty of that family and
connections baptized, six of whom were ordained to be fellow-laborers
with us in the vineyard, and I left them rejoicing in the truths they
had embraced.
One night, while at the village of Rochester, I dreamed that I, in
company with another person, was walking out, and saw a very extensive
field of wheat, more so than the eye could reach. Such a sight I never
before witnessed. The wheat appeared to be perfectly ripe, and ready
for harvest. I was very much rejoiced at the glorious sight which
presented itself; but judge of my surprise, when, on taking some of the
ears and rubbing them in my hands, I found nothing but smut. I marveled
exceedingly, and felt very sorrowful, and exclaimed, "What will the
people do for grain; here is a great appearance of plenty, but there is
no sound wheat!"
While contemplating the subject, I looked in another direction, and saw
a small field in the form of the letter L, which had the appearance of
something growing in it. I immediately directed my steps to it, and
found that it had been sown with wheat, some of which had grown about
six inches high, other parts of the field not quite so high, and some
had only just sprouted. This gave me great encouragement to expect that
at the harvest there would be some good grain. While thus engaged, a
large bull, very fierce and angry, leaped over the fence, ran through
the field, and stamped down a large quantity of that which had just
sprouted, and after doing considerable injury he leaped over the fence
and ran away.
I felt very much grieved, that so much wheat should be destroyed, when
there was such a prospect of scarcity. When I awoke next morning, the
interpretation was given me. The large field with the great appearance
of grain, so beautiful to look upon, represented the nation in which I
then resided, which had a very pleasing appearance and a great show of
religion, and made great pretensions to piety and godliness, but denied
the power thereof. It was destitute of the principles of truth, and
consequently of the gifts of the spirit.
The small field I saw clearly represented the region of country where
I was laboring, and where the word of truth had taken root, and was
growing in the hearts of those who had the gospel, some places having
grown a little more than others. The village I was in, was that part
of the field where the bull did so much injury, for during my short
visit there, most of the inhabitants were believing, but as soon as
I departed, a clergyman belonging to the church of England, came out
and violently attacked the truth, and made considerable noise, crying,
"false prophet! delusion!" and after trampling on truth, and doing
all the mischief he could, before I returned, he took shelter in his
pulpit. However, he did not destroy all the seed, for after my return I
was instrumental in building up a church in that place.