Life Sketches Manuscript

Visions at Sister Haines's

Shortly after our return to Portland, a meeting was appointed at the home of Sister Haines, that I might have the opportunity to relate what had been shown to me. While I was praying for strength to discharge this painful duty, the Spirit of God rested upon me. I was taken off in vision, and in the presence of Joe Turner I was shown the errors of his teachings and his ungodly course. Those present said that I talked it out plainly before him. LSMS 127.2

At the first, when I spoke in vision of the pride and self-exaltation that were being manifested by some of the ministers who had acted a part on the advent movement, he said, “Amen,” but when I pointed him out as the one who loved the flattery of women, and at the same time neglected his own family, he declared that another spirit had come in, and that I was under the influence of a sort of mesmerism. LSMS 127.3

After I came out of vision and had related what had been shown me, he acknowledged that the part of my testimony which had no reference to his course was right, but said that the part which reproved his conduct was wrong. He said that it would take a critical spiritual observer to detect the difference; that this was the same spirit, which had always followed him to crush him. LSMS 127.4

I was convinced that from that time he would resist and oppose my testimony, and would labor to deceive souls to their ruin. My heart was oppressed as I thought of the reproach that would be brought upon the cause of God through the influence of this man and those who should unite with him, and I left the meeting in anguish of spirit. LSMS 127.5

This man and some of his associates were studying a science which some called spiritual magnetism, but which was the rankest mesmerism. He said he could take a child and hold it up on his hand, and so influence it that he could take his hand away and the child would stay where he had held it. LSMS 128.1