| 410 multitude. I was much astonished at this scene, and wondered with great admiration. All still continued in silence, wondering what this meant. Some thought that it was an omen of some awful event; and some thought otherwise. This personage soon landed in the midst of the multitude.
I drew near him, to hear from whence he came, and I soon learned that he was from some distant planet, but he refused to give any further information upon the subject. I was then very anxious to watch the actions and movements of the stranger, and hear what he had to say. Some of the Christian part of the multitude soon enqnired [inquired] if he believed and enjoyed religion; he answered that he was entirely ignorant of the Christian religion; but he manifested a willingness to learn the particulars of the same. I was much elated at this, and supposed that he would soon be converted and embrace the Christian faith. Some from all parties rushed forward to enter into conversation with him, each hoping to convince him that his system of religion was superior to others. He was however dissatisfied with their contentious spirit, and called for their rules or statutes; they soon presented the bible to him, extolling it as being the best of all books. In it said they are the principles of the pure Gospel of Christ,-the fountain of light and knowledge. The favorable description they gave of it, induced him to peruse it.
Without any prepossessed opinions he read its sacred pages, and was much pleased with the doctrine therein set forth. He read the history of Christ, and the object of his mission, and was much elated. He read the Gospel of Christ and was overwhelmed with joy to think that he had found a doctrine that guaranteed unto him his soul's salvation, and warranted to him such precious blessings and gifts. He read that God had organized his Church on earth, with apostles, prophets, and had promised various spiritual gifts, such as healing the sick, speaking in other tongues, prophesyings, visions, administration of angels, &c., on conditions of obedience. After he had learned the doctrine of Christ, and the manner the church was organized, and the blessings promised, he resolved that he would go to any length in order to embrace such a religion as this. After he had carefully perused the scriptures, he had no other expectation than that he should find a church organized according to the New Testament pattern, and people enjoying the blessing above mentioned. Indeed, he was conscious in his own mind that those who advised him to read the bible believed all those things, and that they had apostles, and prophets in the church according to the pattern. He immediately solicited some of them in a candid way to give him an introduction to some of their apostles, that he might converse with them on this important subject. The reply was we have no apostles in the church now-a-days.
The stranger was astonished at this, and looked as though he was greatly disappointed in his anticipations, and his hopes were entirely blasted, and he would sink in despair. However, he recovered himself from the shock, and enquired [inquired] for prophets and those who enjoyed some of the spiritual gifts.-The reply was, we have no prophets, and these gifts are no longer needed. He immediately accused them of acting dishonestly with him: first, they informed him that the bible gave a description of their doctrines; but when he read and compared it with their doctrines and enquired [inquired] for apostles & prophets, &c., they denied having any such organization; yet they said they worshipped God according to the scriptures. He declared that they did not believe what they professed, and turned from them much dissatisfied, condemning the whole of the Christian religion and its votaries, saying he would have nothing more to do with them.-They soon, however, said he was deluded, and warned the multitude to beware of him.
After carefully watching the actions of the stranger, and hearing what he had to say, and seeing the manner in which he was treated, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and I saw the condition I was in, and also the awful apostacy [apostasy] of the Church, or of those who professed the Christian religion, and began to contend for the necessity of a continuation of apostles, prophets, &c. I was soon considered a heretic-the finger of scorn was pointed
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