On Sunday afternoon in October, 1840, my parents were visited by my mother's sister's husband—Uncle John Grieve, who resided in Edinburgh. In the course of conversation he informed them that a celebrated clergyman was to preach in Edinburgh that same evening, and invited my father to accompany him to hear this man speak.
He consented, and together they set out to walk from Leith to Edinburgh, a distance of two miles. They had reached a place called "Dickson's Nursery," which was about half way, when suddenly my father felt that he could not proceed any farther. Uncle John walked on a few steps, thinking my father would follow, then turned and inquired if he was not coming. Father replied, "John, I can go no farther with you to-night."
Uncle John insisted upon his going, but all in vain. Father declared that he could not lift his feet-they seemed sealed to the ground, and he felt that he must go back.
Just as soon as he had said "Good evening" my father's feet were loosed from the ground. He walked towards Leith until he reached the street which led to his home, called Kirkgate. Then something prompted him to take the street to the right, called Constitution. Down the street he walked until he came to an entrance leading to the "Mason's Lodge," which entrance was called a "pind." This was an arched alley-way, leading to buildings in the rear, where the Mason's hall was situated. At this "pind" stood an old, fresh-complexioned man, dressed in home-spun clothes. He bade my father "Good evening," and inquired if he was aware that the new sect called Latter-day Saints were to hold meeting in the Mason's hall that evening.
Father replied that he was not, whereupon the old man invited him to attend, and led the way into the hall, where he put father into a good seat.
My father turned around to thank him for his courtesy, but he was gone, and he never saw him again; but to the last he maintained that the old man was one of "the Three Nephites."
The speakers were Orson Pratt and George D. Watt. They preached the first principles of the Gospel, and claimed that the Lord had again spoken from the heavens and restored the everlasting Gospel in its fullness, with the gifts and blessings belonging to the same. They declared too that the Lord had promised that the Gospel would never again be taken from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.
My father sat listening and amazed at the good news—just what he had been waiting for, and it seemed to fit into his heart. The precious seed did indeed fall into fertile soil, and it bore "a hundred fold."
To hear was to investigate; to investigate was to embrace the new and everlasting Gospel which the Lord had again restored to the earth, and which He in His loving kindness had gradually prepared my father to receive.
My father rejoiced greatly, for he realized he had indeed found the "pearl of great price." This jewel he wore and prized for forty-five years. He died December 19, 1885, in the 81st year of his age; and so valiant a soldier was he in the cause of truth that it was said of him "he did not owe his country one testimony."