William C. Staines Receives Gift of Prophecy Through Spirit
Published March 25, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Contributed by
Todd Morgan
Beaumont, CA, 92223
William C. Staines, a young convert to the Church in England, documented a remarkable spiritual experience. After fasting and praying for the spiritual gifts, he recorded: 'I commenced that evening and continued two days and three nights. The third morning while I was pruning raspberry canes and alone in the garden, I commenced to experience a very happy feeling, and the spirit of prophecy rested upon me. I prophesied about the Church in that place, and also of the troubles that the Saints in Zion would encounter by mobs and so forth.' At first, an evil spirit attempted to deceive him, suggesting he had not joined the true Church. However, when Staines spoke to Apostle Lorenzo Snow, Snow prophesied: 'Some time when in meeting the same spirit would come upon me, and I would repeat the very words I had spoken in the garden.' Two Sundays later, this prophecy was fulfilled exactly. Staines recorded: 'This strengthened my faith so much that I have never doubted the truth of the Latter-day work since.'
In Their Own Words
“I commenced that evening and continued two days and three nights. The third morning while I was pruning raspberry canes and alone in the garden, I commenced to experience a very happy feeling, and the spirit of prophecy rested upon me. I prophesied about the Church in that place, and also of the troubles that the Saints in Zion would encounter by mobs and so forth. While I was speaking, a spirit came upon me and said, 'You have not joined the true Church; you are deceived.' I felt a cold chill run through me, and I was very unhappy. I went to Elder Lorenzo Snow, who was presiding over the branch, and told him what had happened. He said, 'Brother Staines, that was an evil spirit trying to deceive you. Some time when in meeting the same spirit will come upon you, and you will repeat the very words you have spoken in the garden.' Two Sundays after this, while in meeting, the same spirit came upon me, and I repeated the very words I had spoken in the garden. This strengthened my faith so much that I have never doubted the truth of the Latter-day work since.”
— William C. Staines, 'Reminiscences of William C. Staines,' The Contributor, vol. 12
Sources & References
William C. Staines, 'Reminiscences of William C. Staines,' The Contributor, vol. 12 (1890–91), reproduced at Doctrine and Covenants Central, 'William C. Staines': https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/william-c-staines/. (research confidence: high) Full first-person account: William C. Staines, 'Reminiscences of William C. Staines,' The Contributor, vol. 12 (1890–91), p. 123 https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/william-c-staines/
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