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Show INTERESTING LETTER RECEIVED FROM MISSIONARY i Elizabeth CIV. North Cerollno, February 14, 1022. My Dear Folks at Home: To-'day Is Valontlne's day and our hearta'.Bhould rojolco In memory of that-LOod Old Saint who has lived so loag In th0 thoughts of the people or tho" world. I am, sorry not to know more about ihat man, and It I llv0 and nothing happens, I nm golnii to scorch him out la oomo library. Of course tho subat&Bce of his work in llfo was that of remembering people and Bonding Bond-ing ..them notes, cards, and tokens o( ntfocUen; nnd I wan thinking how that was applicable to the people of our present day. We should nil un-dortah un-dortah to become bettor friends both to ourselves and to those with whom we associate. We should call a halt once la a while lb the hurry and strlfo of life, we should forgot tho restless, Bols: Bptrit el the day and spend a fen moments thinking of our associates. And not only thinking of them but ex-hunting1 ex-hunting1 acts of kindness, a helping hand, n pat on tho shoulder and a word here nnd thero to rouse someone some-one whose heart and soul are sick of the depression of life. JustMsst nlirht we attended e. service ser-vice -ot-tho Baptist chlirch and the nastar stated that the people were fladla too much fault with tho church, chur-ch, with tho Pastors nnd with life in general. Then In his own wisdom he undertook to glvo them counsel which'- would overcome this rife spirit among his people Everywhere tho mtnlstors of the Sectarian world ore admitting th way-watdneso of tho people of the church. Tho Great Apostle Paul ad mitted it wnen tne cnurcnes in abih turned against him and It hnn been rolng on over slnco and ospeclaU) In this dispensation when "men have become lovers of plensuie more than lovers of God." "When there Is only a form of Godliness, denying tho power pow-er thereof." Havlnc been " evoi learning but nover nble to come to the knowledge of the truth". Everywhere men nro crying Ixi Here" and nro striving heart and soul for the redemption of man-kind; for peace to abide in our cities end to bring an end to the strire and sedltkm exlsttag nmong the people of the nations. nati-ons. But their cries are vahvandiper-soaaUy vahvandiper-soaaUy I believe we can look for worse wor-se times in the future. According to the Prophot Isaiah all these things are- going to happea. Paul f even more definite la swung theveBdltloas of the' last days aaa Our-BartOT gave utterance of the terrihfe afflictions and scourges which nhould come as a warning of his second sec-ond advent. I love to read the fifteenth nnd sixteenth six-teenth chapters of the. Gospel of Saint John for there-ln Is contained a solution sol-ution for the present problems which are confronting Christianity. And not only the solution but also words of comfort and counsel to thoso who are abiding in the Gospel. I read these chapters over every day nnd especially, when I am sot received In a friendly way by the people. . And no, .why Is it that there is no neace. why la there so much sick ness, scourges, diseases, aad vlieaass. Why Is it that men are seditious aad desplners of thoso that are KoodI, Why Is it that the people of the churches are way-ward aad are heaping heap-ing reproach upoa their several Pas- "And these things will they do unto un-to you because they have not known the Father-for me." And speaking of the other "comforter, Jesus said, "Even the Bplrlt of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it see-th see-th him not, neither knoweth him;' Tho people have "transgressed the lawa, changed the ordinances and broken the 'evor-lastlng covenant They have rejected revolntlons from God, they are all blind leaders of tho blind and "teach for their doctrine the commandments of men". How thankful wo can bo that we bolonc to that scored body of Christ; thnt wo are blessed with the Holy Ghost; that V have Inspired men to lend, guide and direct ns in tho way of peace, righteousness nnd Godliness. Godli-ness. The world a Buffering because It Is lacklns of- the essentials of. Christianity. In that haste and eagerness eag-erness which Is overused In reaching forth jfor -mortal gain and prosperity they forcatlto.mlnsle a bit of love along1 with tthe dutleH nnd remarks nnd as Paul says, "Tho I speak with hn tnnraea -of men and of Angels, tho I haveStho gift of prophecy and understand anv mysteries an tho I havo all.falthiso thai I could remove mountains, 'and havemot love, I am nothing" . ... The greatest thine, in tho world Is T,ovo. 7And what floofl of th.,a ,n" fluencolla ever aurrtng thru tho very 1'oirtB pf mutrOrimd nd nnhle Saints. What lfcal the vrnrld; would embrace the Klorlus.''catise.Te.!nrn presenting to thom In . our hnMrlpki efforts? Then i-n would hr.vV" rMlrn.tlon "' all 'ir hopes, Sprayers; and even our fondest fond-est dreama of peaci and Joy would to. dim compared1 with tho Materialisation Materialisati-on of the promise pf our Father In Heaven. . ,L, I feol much like Paul when writing to tho Corinthians, "And Brethren, when I came to you. I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, dolaring unto you tho testimony ot God, And my speech and my preaching preach-ing was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but In demonstration of the spirit and of power; That your faith should not stand In the wisdom of men, hut In tho power of God." The Lord has said, "I will destroy tho vlndom of tho 'vise, end will bring to nothing the iindoretetidlntt, ot the prudent" "But God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. That t no nosh should glory In his presence." pres-ence." I am suro We all feel our weakness weak-ness In preaching of our Gospel ot Ixvo and Salvation nnd Ho will bless us with Joy and tho satisfaction ot our dovotednoss of duty. And as I snld, 1 am going to search out the llfo of such a man as was St. Valentino Valent-ino and find that essence of truth which made him live In tho hearts ot devouted men and women. There is bo bows to tell you, that Is the reason I got sldo tracked on a bit of spirituality. And do you know 1 0 feel deeply and pitifully sorry tor the 9 people or this city. Moreso this city jg because this Is the hardest placo I a ever had to labor In. The Baylor gavo his greatest Com- fi mandment to the people- "that they 8 should Jove their God. with all their C heart and understanding, and their , neighbor as tholr self". And ho gives thorn to understand that In 9 keeping this ono law they will nat- Jj urnlly keep all othor commandmonts. 7 Then tho Apostle John gives the j peoplo this understanding-- that "If n man lovoth not his brother whom ( ho hnth seen, how can ho lovo God j whom ho hath not sconT". "He that J lovoth not knoweth not Ood: for God J Is Lovo." J Theso Commandments are alt from divine source and aro the very funda mentals ot religion. Rut regardless of these teachings men have grows 1 wanting in this principal, nnd we aro persocutod tn every way that the wicked peoplo of tho earth can devise. . Isnt It peculiar, but most ot the j suffering of the rhurch comes front "they who nra supposed to be the truest and strongest believers". The Christiana-In the Meridian ot time were harassed by the Jows".,and they went so far ns to kill John the Baptist, Bap-tist, the Savior; Stephen. Barnabas; James, Androw nnd numerous others. Then when Constantino made Christianity Chris-tianity the rullnrr, element then .the "Christians" turned upon the Jews nnd their suf ferine are too numerous numer-ous nnd heartrending to menton. And now In this cnllhtcned age the orld io exhibiting their "Christianity" "Chris-tianity" bv continual persecution upon up-on tho church and poonle I nm so nrotid to ranrenent. Regardless, of Christ teachings or I-oVe, thoy hate -s nnd in ovory nossllflo way thoy seek our dectmctlon. I rwllzo how wenk my words are hut I know you will understand what I mean. Mv eves nio filled with tenrs pr I think how wo have been treated nnd my heart goes out In sympathy to the many noble 8nlnts here In the world who nro sacrificing sacrific-ing nil tho happiness of this life for, that eternal Joy which comes thru the Gospel. Some day. and not far Into the future fut-ure there Is comlnrr thnt dav of reckoning' re-ckoning' and thank God wo hnve the assurance of pence aad a place where we will be secure from the latnwlon of the wicked. This Is the first time 1 1 have written, you, like -thin and nerhans you wonder what Is the matter. ' , I strated out to .write my experience, experi-ence, but there Is not a least desire wlthtB me to do that I am Jast so full of the Gospel and can thlak of nothing olse. It Is raining hard, outside out-side It has boen this way for days and we can do but little trading I havo done my best to get the work golntr but all la in vain aad my attempts seem futile. Perhsps you thiakc my letter is a sign of discouragement; aad to a degree de-gree you are light , Now Just think, we have' had. Lula Lovejand Shepherd hero preaching preach-ing on the "Menace of Mormonlsm" and now we've had aaother womaa Who Is waging the same war ngalnst us, and it Just impossible to get along. Tast night wo listened to a fellow preach aad It seemed like he Jusf: couldn't .hcln glvlBg us a few, wo'rds Imbtttered by the falsehood they bote to his contTegatlon. I havont been able to sell a book of Mormon In the psst two weeks. Well, let us nralso the Lord that we are olive nnd not weanr In well do-nr do-nr for the 8avlor said. "If the world hsto von. Ye know that it hated me boforo It hated you-- I hare chosen voib out of tho world, therefore the world hateth you. remember the word that I said unto yow. the servant Is not greater tthnn his lrd. Tf thav have porweutefl m. thev will 8lo p'ersectitn you: If they have kent mv snvlnrc. thev will keep yourn also. Bnt nil these things will they do unto you for my name sake, become they know not him thnt sent mo." I must cloie for mv letter Is rath- r Inn- but you will be rlad to know" thnt T anj well and strong In Jhn Fnlth. Mv every effort Is for our mil in of righteousness nnd the Lord J will h with, m in mv 1nbo,ri Prnvln thnt von are nil well pnd ijmnny pd pMlentlv wnltlqs for tho time 'whpn T shall he nmnm? von o enloy the T-ove and affection which Is so doar to me, T nm ( Your son and devoted missionary In the Gospel, Irving L. Pratt Jr. ' . ' |
