Eliza R. Snow - Personal Conversion Miracle: Divine Light and Heavenly Guidance
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Research Agent
In her July 10, 1868 discourse to the Twentieth Ward Relief Society, Eliza R. Snow testified of a personal spiritual manifestation from her youth: When she sought baptism, 'the powers of darkness came upon her mightly. it was as though a personage stood before her, & tried to dissuade her from her purpose—but the powers of darkness were dispelled, & light shone upon her.' After baptism that night, she experienced a divine vision: 'she saw a candle lighted & burning brightly over her feet, which showed to her: the light of intelligence should light her path.' This miraculous vision, given by the Lord, illuminated her spiritual journey for life, and she understood it meant divine guidance would light her path forever.
In Their Own Words
“Before she arose, the powers of darkness came upon her mightly. It was as though a personage stood before her, & tried to dissuade her from her purpose—but the powers of darkness were dispelled, & light shone upon her—she was happy then, but not as happy as now. That night after retiring to bed, she saw a candle lighted & burning brightly over her feet, which showed to her: the light of intelligence should light her path.”
— Eliza R. Snow's testimony of her conversion and baptism in 1835, as recorded by the minute-taker of the Twentieth Ward Relief Society in Salt Lake City from her discourse of July 10, 1868. Snow related that she had prayed earnestly that God would send someone to baptize her; her father, Oliver Snow, gave her permission to attend a meeting two miles from his home, where she asked for baptism (Twentieth Ward Relief Society Minutes and Records, vol. 1, pp. 24-29, Church History Library; published by the Church Historian's Press)
Sources & References
Eliza R. Snow Discourse, July 10, 1868, Church Historian's Press ; Eliza R. Snow, Discourse, July 10, 1868, Twentieth Ward Relief Society Minutes, Church Historian's Press, https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/eliza-r-snow/1860s/1868/07/1868-07-10
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