Gems for the Young Folks Fourth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-Day Saints.

Start upon a mission, penniless--Aid from the Captain and passengers on the steamboat--Arrive at New Orleans--Fail in trying to find free passage to England--Discouragement--Prayer--Rebuke and answer--Apply for passage on the _Berlin_--Kind reception from Captain Baker--Bargain for passage--One-half to be paid in discussing religion with an Episcopalian Minister.

The voyage--Discussion--Minister's discomfiture--Arrive in Liverpool--Kindness of Captain Baker--Learn of his death and my duty--My shabby appearance--First sermon--Money put into my hand--Visit home--More help from strangers.

OVERCOMING DIFFIDENCE.

Difference in persons about speaking in public--The Lord willing to help His servants to overcome timidity--Early experience in preaching--A feeling of fear and the Spirit of God not congenial--Timidity conquered.

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.

A Mother and Children in great want--The Mother's faith--Her prayer--Is provided with money in a mysterious way.

DIALOGUE ON RELIGION.

TESTIMONIES FOR THE TRUTH.

The Author's birth and parentage--Early religious impressions--Marriage--Vision of his Brother, and of the Bible--The Author dreams of preaching--Attends a "Protracted Meeting"--His impressions while there--He meets with the Latter--Day Saints--Vision of two Nephite Apostles.

Vision of the last days--Baptism of the Author and four others--His Wife's dream and baptism--He is ordained an Elder--Visits Kirtland--On his return is attacked by fever--Is miraculously healed--Visits Kirtland--Re-visits Kirtland--Begins to preach--Miraculous healing of a cancer--Accident and miraculous healing of Jesse W. Crosby--Poison miraculously nullified--Casting out of evil spirits.

Removal to Nauvoo--Sickness--Miraculously healed--Acquire considerable property--Acquaintance with Joseph Smith--Missions to Albany, and the Eastern states; also, with Elder J. W. Crosby, to Nova Scotia--Preach in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and organize six Branches of the Church--Travel to New Brunswick--Invited to preach--Baptisms--Persecution--The Author waylaid by a mob, beaten, and left for dead--Attack on the house where he and Elder Crosby were in bed--The mob dispersed by Mrs. Shelton--They return and re--attack the house--Are dispersed by Mr. Shelton--Two Branches organized.

Return to Nauvoo--Sent to Jefferson Co. on a Tithing mission--Return with a thousand dollars--Move West with the Church--Stay at Winter Quarters--Ordained Bishop--Scurvy in Camp--Hire out in Missouri--Arrive in Salt Lake Valley--Elder Kimball's prophecy and its fulfillment.

FINDING A FATHER.

By ABRAHAM A. KIMBALL.

At the earnest request of many of my friends I have compiled a few incidents of my early life, some of which have an important bearing on the past history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

My grandfather's confession and testimony are especially important, and this sketch is written for the express purpose of giving publicity to his statement.

In order, however, to arrive at a clear understanding of this, it becomes necessary for me to insert a sketch of my early life.

I have carefully penned these incidents from memory, having taken no notes at the time of their occurrence, and they are as correct as it is possible to give them, especially such as refer to my grandfather Cutler's testimony of the work of the Latter-day Saints, and this I can vouch for, word for word. At the time this occurred I had just joined the Church, and his remarks made a powerful impression upon my mind, which nothing can ever efface.

My father, Heber C. Kimball, removed to Utah when I was only about twelve months old, leaving his two wives (my mother--Clarissa Cutler, and her sister Emily) with one boy each, at Winter Quarters, now called Florence, Nebraska, at the residence of my grandfather, Alpheus Cutler.

This occurred in the spring of 1847.

My father (as I have since learned) was very much impressed, prior to leaving us, with the belief that my mother would never come to Utah, and he, therefore, blessed my brother Isaac A. and myself, and while his hands were upon my head he significantly remarked that I should see the day that I would come to the valleys of the mountains and afterwards return for my brother.

Shortly after he left us my grandfather was called on a mission to the Indians on Grasshopper River, Indian Territory, and took his daughters and their two children with him.

About two years afterwards the grim monster, death, visited us and deprived me of my mother, and a few months later my aunt Emily died, also Henrietta Cutler (widow of Moses Cutler) who left a girl now named Phelinda Rawlance.

We shortly afterwards removed to Manti, Fremont County, Iowa, where my grandfather established a church and constituted himself its leader, calling it "The True Church of Latter-day Saints," and presumed to officiate in the ordinances of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, such as baptisms, endowments, etc.

He also energetically denounced polygamy and the law of tithing, and taught his followers that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, but that Brigham Young was not his successor, but an impostor, and that he (Alpheus Cutler) was the true leader and held the authority to carry on the latter-day work.

This pretended "True Church" was organized, with Alpheus Cutler, president; Edmund Fisher, first counselor; Chancey Whiting, second counselor, and grandfather Fisher, patriarch.

They claimed all the gifts and powers belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Repeated inducements were held out for my brother Isaac and myself to join the Church after we became old enough for membership. Isaac finally consented to become a member, but I failed to see or comprehend the necessity of it.

Some time afterwards my grandfather was afflicted with rheumatism and phthisic, in consequence of which he was unable to follow his usual avocations in procuring a livelihood.

Often have I known him to sit up for six weeks at a time, not being able to lay down on account of the difficulty of breathing while in that position.