True, she never saw nor heard “things,” as old Kata claimed to do; she was not given to seeing visions, and certainly had no claim to the power of second sight. But she had strange dreams which Kata, when in the mood, would interpret in such wise that Alma became thoroughly convinced of the old woman’s powers.
They had strange talks together at times.
“Why is it, do you think, Kata,” Alma might ask, “that there is always more suffering than joy in life?”
“I doubt but it’s all because they crucified the Son of God.”
“But don’t you think there’s many a human being must have suffered as much as He did? Others have been crucified, you know; and then death on the cross is not the worst kind of torture that could be imagined.”
“Nay, there’s many a heavy cross to be borne, that’s true. But God is God, and that’s another thing.”
Or Fru Alma would start another theme, asking Kata’s views as to whether sufferings of human beings were confined to this world, or if there were perhaps still greater pains and trouble to come.
Old Kata opined that each and every one would receive punishment or reward according to their doings in this world.
“It seems to me,” said Alma quietly, “that we are so bound by inherited weakness and sin that however much evil we may do, we cannot fairly be judged beyond our life on earth.”
“There’s a deal in that, maybe,” answered Kata. “And there’s many a poor sinner not rightly answerable for all they’ve done. But God is God.”