Show correspondence BUCKEYE CLAY CO ALA jan 1887 editor deseret news A little over two years ago the elders first came into this settlement about six miles below here one sunday they preached but I 1 could not go the next nest sunday they preached nine miles below here I 1 was at that time a member of the baptist church but bat w was as J jut t prejudiced against others so I 1 thought that I 1 would go and hear them preach as I 1 bad never seen an aldei though I 1 had bad heard beard much talk about them and like many out here thought they were most outlandish characters so myself and a few out I 1 here went there and I 1 was somewhat surprised at the class of nien men we found A few of the old settlers refused to lei let them breath in the meeting house blouse so they took the benches out of doors and preached outside those who were A cazian and K R M stephens and I 1 thought they spoke well and I 1 wanted my wife and friends to hear them iso so I 1 asked them to come up where I 1 lived and preach the next sunday gunday at 2 and they said they would I 1 told them that they should have a house to preach in if I 1 had to give up my own house then I 1 saw tile the d rasing raging one man a methodist said to the elders how many wives has brigham young and they told him enough to let other mens wives alone then some of the crowd laughed and some were an egiy ge the elders came according to promise they had a gouri crowd and everything went off all light ight i so I 1 invited A cazian to acme to my house houe houeland aud and asked several of imy friends to ca come in that night nigh and tand we asked him many ques eions but he seemed to have havear an answer sw er for them all then lies began to spread and the d to rage race but A caniar came to my house again andi and had love for that man that I 1 never bau baa for any man bedfor he staved all night ight with me dip ardee and we talked about religious matters I 1 told JAM him that 1 I never wanted to be a mormon for I 1 thought there was wod pod in all churches and I 1 iwas was a baptist and would remain so he kindly fondly laughed and I 1 can almost fancy I 1 see his smiles i now H he was called home and about christmas two other elders came into the settlement and I 1 asked them to come to my house the elders came and talked with me and I 1 could not help believing what they said while they were there but as soon as the elders would leave some one would tell a big story stort about them and I 1 would forget what they had sad but somehow or other I 1 would always ask them to come back to my house and tie I 1 thank god that I 1 did I 1 thought it if the lord answered joseph smiths prayers he would answer mine and as I 1 wanted to know it if what the elders told bold ine was true tree I 1 went toworu tolver to and the more I 1 prayed and read the stronger I 1 got until I 1 got so I 1 did not believe the tales that I 1 would hear about them and I 1 asked them to have prayers in m my y house one night and they pred prayed fo for r me and my family and all t that at W would work works of righteousness and it so rested on my mind that I 1 kept kepi asking the lord to aid and assist me in the Gow knowledge redge of the truth that I 1 could see that the lord ila had d answered my prayers e d I 1 asked my brother in law one day what he thought of the docar doctrine in e for he had read many of their b books 00 ks and he said he thought they were good men but he did not think any of us could live ive here if we were to join them I 1 said to him I 1 have a notion of trying it so I 1 said something to my wife about it and she did not dot 8 say much auch about abou believe tit ft however ow everI said to the elders I 1 believed I 1 would be baptized they took the to tel me a great deal about the gospel and on the ad day of may 1885 1 was baal sized and ican say that I 1 never have regretted it I 1 have tried to stick close to the gospel and keep all coutair sel and I 1 liay god to aid and assist me that I 1 may mav always be able to keep all counsel ind and I 1 would ask all who may road read this to remember me for all of my friends and connections have turned against me but I 1 found that the LO lord r d is on my side and I 1 hope that till the way will soon saon be opened that I 1 may be gathered out to zion I 1 ask an interest in the prayers of the saints I 1 merely write this to let some of the youth of zion know my experience may god bless all ane elders and lead them to the honest in heart is the prayer of your brother in the gospel ot of the church of jesus christ of latter day faints W J CONGER 0 I 1 |