I was shown the case of Stephenson and
Hall of Wisconsin. I saw that while we were in Wisconsin, in
June, 1854, they were convicted that the visions were of God;
but they examined them and compared them with their views of
the age to come, and because the visions did not agree with these,
they sacrificed the visions for the Age-to-Come. And while on
their journey East, last spring, they both were wrong and designing.
They have stumbled over the Age-to-Come, and they
are ready to take any course to injure the
Review; its friends must be awake and do what they can to save
the children of God from deception. These men are uniting with
a lying and corrupt people. They have had evidence of this. And
while they were professing sympathy and union with my husband,
they (especially Stephenson) were biting like an adder behind
his back. While their words were smooth with him, they were inflaming
Wisconsin against the Review and its conductors. Especially was
Stephenson active in this matter. Their object has been to have
the Review publish the Age-to-Come theory, or to destroy its
influence. And while my husband was openhearted and unsuspecting,
seeking ways to remove their jealousy, and frankly opening to
them the affairs of the office, and trying to help them, they
were watching for evil, and observing everything with a jealous
eye. Said the angel as I beheld them: "Think ye, feeble
man, that ye can stay the work of God? Feeble man, one touch
of His finger can lay thee prostrate. He will suffer thee but
a little while."
I was pointed back to the rise of the advent
doctrine, and even before that time, and saw that there had not
been a parallel to the deception, misrepresentation, and falsehood
that has been practiced by the Messenger party, or such an association
of corrupt hearts under a cloak of religion. Some honest hearts
have been influenced by them, concluding that they must have
at least some cause for their statements, thinking them incapable
of uttering so glaring falsehoods. I saw that such will have
evidence of the truth of these matters. The church of God should
move straight along, as though there were not such a people in
the world.
I saw that decided efforts should be made
to show those who are unchristian in life their wrongs, and if
they do not reform, they should be separated from the precious
and holy, that God may have a clean and pure people that He can
delight in. Dishonor Him not by linking or
uniting the clean with the unclean.
I was shown some coming from the East to
the West. I saw that it should not be the object of those who
leave the East for the West to get rich, but to win souls to
the truth. Said the angel: "Let your works show that it
is not for honor, or to lay up a treasure on earth, that ye have
moved West, but to hold up and exalt the standard of truth."
I saw that those who move West should be like men waiting for
their Lord. Said the angel: "Be a living example to those
in the West. Let your works show that you are God's peculiar
people, and that you have a peculiar work, to give the last message
of mercy to the world. Let your works show to those around you
that this world is not your home." I saw that those who
have entangled themselves should break the snare of the enemy
and go free. Lay not up treasures upon earth, but show by your
lives that you are laying up treasure in heaven. If God has called
you West, He has a work, an exalted work, for you to do. Let
your faith and experience help those who have not a living experience.
Let not the attraction be to this poor, dark speck of a world,
but let it be upward to God, glory, and heaven. Let not the care
and perplexity of farms here engross your mind, but you can safely
be wrapped up in contemplating Abraham's farm. We are heirs to
that immortal inheritance. Wean your affections from earth, and
dwell upon heavenly things.
