During my stay in England, which was less than a year, there were many cases of healing and other incidents of interest occurred, but such things being usual with all the Elders I need not rehearse them.
CHAPTER V.
I GO TO SWITZERLAND—GOD'S POWER MANIFESTED IN MY BEHALF—A PROPHECY FULFILLED—CONDITION OF THE SWISS MISSION—WHERE ELDERS WERE EXPELLED EVIL SPIRITS TAKE POSSESSION—KARL G. MAESER WRITES ME A LETTER—I RETURN IT, THINKING IT A RUSE TO ENTRAP ME—I RECEIVE IT AGAIN—BROTHER MAESER'S FAITH AND BAPTISM—ELDERS PARTAKE OF POISONED FOOD—ARE RESTORED TO HEATH—MY MISSION ENDS.
In the fall 1854, I was sent to Switzerland, to take charge of the Swiss and Italian missions; the French and German missions were subsequently added.
Here was fulfilled a prediction spoken in tongues by a Sister More, in the tenth Ward, of Salt Lake City, the year before I was called on my European mission. I was at the time going on crutches, with a broken leg, and having but little hope of ever being able to walk. The leg was badly fractured, and by getting out of place and having to be reset caused the bones to be very slow in knitting together. It was about seven months before I could bear any weight upon my broken limb. While in this condition, I went on my crutches to a little prayer meeting in a private house, there being no public meeting house then built in the ward.
In going to the meeting, my worst fears of always being a cripple had loomed up before me like a great mountain, and, like Jonah, I felt that "it was better for me to die than to live." This was a weakness in me, of course, but so it was.
After the meeting was opened, Sister More arose and began to speak in tongues. She addressed her remarks to me, and I understood her as well as though she had spoken the English language. She said: "Your leg will be healed, and you will go on a foreign mission and preach the gospel in foreign lands. No harm shall befall you, and you shall return in safety, having great joy in your labors."
This was the substance of the prophecy. It was so different from my own belief and the fears of many others that I was tempted not to give the interpretation, lest it should fail to come to pass. The Spirit, however, impressed me and I arose, leaning upon my crutches, and gave the interpretation.
Not long afterwards I was told in a dream what to do to strengthen my fractured limb, and it began to receive strength immediately, and in the short space of about one week I dispensed with my crutches and walked with a cane.