That evening the burden left us. It was rolled upon the brethren and sisters of Waukon, and they labored for each other with zeal and with the power of God upon them. Countenances that looked sad when we came to the place, now shone with the heavenly anointing. It seemed that heavenly angels were passing from one to another in the room to finish the good work which had begun. Soon we were able to bid farewell to our brethren in Waukon, and to start on our homeward journey.
(LS 161.1)
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In the spring of 1858, we visited Ohio, and attended conferences at Green Springs, Gilboa, and Lovett’s Grove. At Lovett’s Grove the Lord’s blessing rested upon us in special power. On Sunday afternoon there was a funeral service at the schoolhouse where our meetings were being held. My husband was invited to speak. He was blessed with freedom, and the words spoken seemed to affect the hearers.
(LS 161.2)
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When he had closed his remarks, I felt urged by the Spirit of the Lord to bear my testimony. As I was led to speak upon the coming of Christ and the resurrection, and the cheering hope of the Christian, my soul triumphed in God; I drank in rich draughts of salvation. Heaven, sweet heaven, was the magnet to draw my soul upward, and I was wrapped in a vision of God’s glory. Many important matters were there revealed to me for the church.
(LS 161.3)
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In the vision at Lovett’s Grove, most of the matter which I had seen ten years before concerning the great controversy of the ages between Christ and Satan, was repeated, and I was instructed to write it out. I was shown that while I should have to contend with the powers of darkness, for Satan would make strong efforts to hinder me, yet I must put my trust in God, and angels would not leave me in the conflict.
(LS 162.1)
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Two days afterward, while journeying on the cars to Jackson, Mich., we arranged our plans for writing and publishing, immediately on our return home, the book entitled, “The Great Controversy between Christ and His Angels, and Satan and His Angels,” commonly known as “Spiritual Gifts,” Vol. 1. [Note.—This volume, dealing with the fall of man, the plan of redemption, and the history of the church from the time of Christ to the new earth, corresponds with the latter part of Early Writings, 145-295 (new edition). A portion of the volume, as enlarged in later years, is now published separately under the general title, “The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan.”] I was then as well as usual.
(LS 162.2)
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On the arrival of the train at Jackson, we went to Brother Palmer’s. We had been in the house but a short time, when, as I was conversing with Sister Palmer, my tongue refused to utter what I wished to say, and seemed large and numb. A strange, cold sensation struck my heart, passed over my head, and down my right side. For a time I was insensible, but was aroused by the voice of earnest prayer. I tried to use my left limbs, but they were perfectly useless. For a short time I did not expect to live. It was my third shock of paralysis; and although within fifty miles of home, I did not expect to see my children again. I called to mind the triumphant season I had enjoyed at Lovett’s Grove, and thought it was my last testimony, and felt reconciled to die.
(LS 162.3)
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