Life Sketches Manuscript

Change Wrought by Conversion

Soon after this the camp-meeting closed, and we started for home. My mind was full of the sermons, exhortations, and prayers we had heard. It seemed to me that every one must be at peace with God, and animated by His Spirit. Everything that my eyes rested upon seemed to have undergone a change. LSMS 23.3

During the meeting, clouds and rain prevailed a greater part of the time, and my feelings had been in harmony with the weather. Now the sun shone bright and clear, and flooded the earth with light and warmth. The trees and grass were a fresher green, the sky a deeper blue, and the birds sang more sweetly than ever before; they seemed to be praising the Creator in their songs. The very earth seemed to smile under the peace of God. So the rays of the Sun of Righteousness had penetrated the clouds and darkness of my mind, and dispelled its gloom. I did not care to talk, for fear this happiness might pass away, and I should lose the precious evidence of Jesus’ love for me. LSMS 24.1

As we neared our home in Portland we passed men at work upon the street. They were conversing with one another upon ordinary topics, but my ears were deaf to everything but the praise of God, and their words came to me as grateful thanks and glad hosannas. Turning to my mother, I said, “Why, these men are all praising God, and they haven't been to the camp-meeting.” I did not then understand why the tears gathered in my mother's eye, and a tender smile lit up her face, as she listened to my simple words. They had recalled a similar experience of her own. LSMS 24.2

My mother was a great lover of flowers, and took much pleasure in cultivating them, and thus making her home attractive and pleasant for her children. But our garden had never before looked so lovely to me as upon the day of our return. I recognized an expression of the love of Jesus in every shrub, bud, and flower. These things of beauty seemed to speak in mute language of the love of God. LSMS 24.3

There was a beautiful pink flower in the garden, called the Rose of Sharon. I remember approaching it and touching the delicate petals reverently; they seemed to possess sacredness in my eyes. My heart overflowed with tenderness and love for these beautiful creations of God. I could see divine perfection in the flowers that adorned the earth; God tended them, and His all-seeing eye was upon them. He had made them, and called them good. LSMS 25.1

“Ah,” thought I, “if He so loves and cares for the flowers that He has decked with beauty, how much more tenderly will He guard the children who are formed in His image.” I repeated softly to myself, “I am a child of God; His loving care is around me. I will be obedient, and in no way displease Him; but will praise His dear name, and love Him always.” LSMS 25.2

My life appeared to me in a different light. The affliction that had darkened my childhood seemed to have been dealt me in mercy, for my good, to turn my heart away from the world and its unsatisfying pleasures; and incline it toward the enduring attractions of heaven. LSMS 25.3