Mollie Higginson's conversation with a Methodist preacher regarding hell

“Not long before leaving England, I had a conversation on this subject with a Methodist preacher— He contended that hell was a literal fire, and that the wicked would go away into everlasting fire and burn for ever and ever. Arguing proved fruitless; but at last, pointing to the fire burning brightly in the grate, I said, "Say—that's a mighty nice fire. Now, supposing God had sent you a little baby, and one day the child displeased you, you would pick him up and throw him into the fire, would you not?" His eyes fairly blazed, as he exclaimed, "What next, Mollie, what do you take me for?" "What do you take God for?" I asked. He collapsed into his chair, and for some moments remained silent. "Ah!" he said at last, "I see, I never thought of that before. No, God could not do a thing like that and remain a God of love. But what, then, is hell?" I gave him the "Mormon" views, and he accepted them. A week or so after this conversation I met him again. "I wish you had been with me on Sunday," he said, "I was preaching-." "What was your subject?" I asked, and he answered, "And these shall go away into everlasting fire." "Well," I said, "and did you preach a literal fire?" "Of course, I didn't," he answered, "I preached that hell was the remorse of conscience." "Then," I said, "you preached 'Mormonism.'" "Oh, no," he answered, "I merely preached common sense." — Millennial Star 77:52”