Life Sketches Manuscript

Comfort for a Broken-hearted Wife

After I had borne my testimony, as stated, I hurried away to find his wife, for I had a message of comfort for her. I found her at home, weeping. She said, “Sister Ellen, my heart is breaking.” I related the vision of reproof given me for her husband, which she confirmed. She told me that her husband had often brought to the home a young sister, and spent much time conversing with her and exercising his mesmeric influence over her. As a result, this young woman thought she had visions in which she was instructed that she must go with him and engage in public labor. “And because I can not receive these things,” she said, “He tells me that I am a lost soul.” I told her that the Lord was not in any such work as she had described and as had been revealed to me, and that she should not accept the words of censure and discouragement. Other honest, precious souls had been told by these fanatics that they were rejected of God. These cruel words, coming from men whom they believed to be men of God, wholly overthrew some, while others were much discouraged for a time; but comforting testimonies were given me by God for them, which gave them hope and courage. LSMS 128.2