My father renewed his covenants the following week, and continued an honorable member during his life. He died holding the office of a High Priest, while Elder W.... died a poor outcast and apostate.
My father remained in Scotland, laboring in the Gospel cause, both at home and elsewhere, paying his tithing, and trusting in the Lord for his promised blessing until the year 1863. Previous to this period he had at various times requested my mother to accompany him to Utah. This she refused to do, not being able to see the Gospel light. Then father decided to gather with the Saints, taking his youngest son with him, and leaving four daughters, two married and two single, with their mother.
Shortly before leaving Scotland my father, in conversation with one of the brethren, expressed his regret at leaving his wife and daughters behind him. The brother told him to be of good courage, for his wife and family would follow him, and that he would live to see the promise fulfilled.
Father could scarcely believe this prediction, it appeared so very unlikely to ever come to pass. However, he trusted in the Lord, knowing that He "moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform," and surely in the case of my father's family this was exemplified to a wonderful degree. The prophecy concerning the gathering of my father's family was fulfilled to the letter, for he had the satisfaction of receiving us all in Salt Lake City. He located at 54 East First South Street, where he built a good comfortable house, in which he lived until called to his final rest.
A Prediction and Its Fulfillment
PREDICTION THAT AN APPARENTLY BARREN WOMAN WOULD GIVE BIRTH TO A SON—ITS LITERAL FULFILLMENT—THAT SON'S REVERENCE FOR THE ELDER WHO MADE THE PREDICTION.
ACCORDING to the Scriptures, prophecy was one of the gift which should characterize the Church in the last days, and thousands can attest that the gift has been enjoyed by the Latter-day Saints to a marked degree.
Under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord many of the Elders have made predictions that have really frightened themselves when they have contemplated them afterwards, for it was only by the eye of the Spirit they could see any probability of their fulfillment.
A case in point is related by Elder C., who filled a mission in England in the early sixties. He, in company with the president of the mission and several other Elders, visited a branch of the Church in which a large number of Saints had made preparations to migrate to Utah, and who desired a blessing under the hands of the Elders before undertaking the journey. It came Elder C.'s turn to bless a. sister who had been married a good many years, but who had no children. She was not perhaps as old as her appearance indicated, but her hair was almost white. In the course of the blessing pronounced upon her Elder C., under the prompting of the Spirit, promised that she should journey safely to Zion and there establish and enjoy a comfortable home, and give birth to a son who would live to call her blessed.