[Wilford Woodruff] I arose early in the morning & Baptized & confirmed one. A number of others soon came to us & wished to be Baptized. We immediately walked to the river Lug. & we being hendered a short time in looking for a suitable place for Baptizing a man by the name of Pitt Came to us filled with the Devil & wrath at the head of a mob & commanded us not to he Baptized in that river & threatened us much if we did so. Elder Richard Preached to Mr Pitt & warned him to repent & be Baptized or he could not be saved. But the Devel raged to such a degree in this man & his company we thought it wisdom to omit it on this occasion. We did so & retired & went our way, with this wicked man & the rest of the mob following us shouting, hooting, & yelling as though a part of hell at least had broke loose. The Saints were strengthend seeing that they were not of the world but the world hated them & we also went our way rejoicing that we were counting worthy to partake of thes things.
We clensed our feet by the way side as a testimony against Mr Pitt for rejecting our testimony, & forbiding, & hindering, others from Entering into the kingdom of God. May the will of God be done conserning that man, I pray that we may ever be reconciled to his will in all things
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
WW & WR did indeed have the power and priesthood authority at that time and should have rebuked the wicked mob IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST and they would have fled and they could have continued with the baptisms. "resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
ReplyDeletePitt was probably one of the local sectarian ministers.
ReplyDelete