Duncan M. McAllister's Spiritual Confirmation through Fasting and Prayer

“Looking upwards at the twinkling stars, deeply impressed by the circumstances then surrounding me on this lovely night, about the hour when all nature appeared to be at rest and my fellow-creatures asleep, involuntarily, my soul was drawn out in earnest prayer, as never before, and I silently pled with God to make known unto me what I should do to gain His favor and eternal life. I will not attempt to tell the many desires that were expressed as I tramped along the lonesome road. My heart was full of solemn supplication, and, as mile after mile was passed, while thus engaged, there gradually developed in my mind a firm conviction that in spite of the bad reputation which the Utah members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bore in the world, I ought to yield obedience to the Gospel as taught by the Elders. I was led to remember that the Saints in former days had a bad reputation, and that the Savior was crucified because of the lies that were told about Him. . . . The impressions then made have been enduring, and I regard that experience as among the most important and valuable of my lifetime. — Millennial Star 86:3”