Casting Out Devils.
By Elder E. D. Jones,
Midway Mills, Va., Feb. 27, 1888.
On Feb. 14, 1888, Elders Alonzo
Shirts and myself arrived here at the home of Elder James B. Nash, located near
Midway Mills, Va., on an elevation that commands a beautiful view of the James
river and the country contiguous thereto for half a mile around.
We were made welcome, as usual,
being received with that cordial hand-shake so pleasant out here where the
Latter Day Saints are so few and far between. After disposing of our grips and
other apparatus we were soon “made one of the family,” so to speak, and
comfortably installed at the supper table, after which we engaged in pleasant
conversation.
Elder Nash had quite an
experience, which he related, in substance, as follows:
About three weeks ago I went over
into Buckingham county, near the court house, and preached to a number of
people, who seemed to be very much interested in the Gospel. It was at the home
of Charles B. Denton. When I first entered the house I felt Satan almost
overpower me, but being so humble all through the day as I was riding along and
praying to the Lord for help, it seemed that I was strengthened at once and was
able to perform my duty.
I noticed his wife lying in bed
sick. I saw in her face honesty and that she would surely come out and obey the
Gospel. I administered to her and promised her in the name of the Lord that if
she would exercise faith in the Savior here life would be spared, so that she
could be baptized and obey the Gospel. I felt a great interest in these people,
believing them to be honest-hearted, and I took delight in briefly explaining
the Gospel to them. They had a number of our books to read and said they
believed the doctrines as taught by the Latter Day Saints. The lady told me
that she had been an invalid for years, but had been getting worse for the past
year. While I was there she became much better, being able to sit up. They have
been writing to me ever since and Mr. Denton wishes to bring her over as soon
as the next Elders come.
I could very plainly see that
Brother Nash was worried over the matter. I therefore sat down and wrote Mr.
Denton to come and bring his wife and child prepared to be baptized. From this
time on I have been suffering with a feeling of dread and horror. My mind was
occupied in examining my missionary life to find wherein I had been slack in
the performance of my duty. My night’s rest was disturbed by all kinds of
horrible dreams, often waking up feeling almost crushed to death with some evil
power. However, time went on and every day seemingly brought more gloom for me.
February the 22d we were standing
by the way station when the train pulled in; we saw, a bright, honest looking
woman step from the car; her face looked troubled with something more serious
than the cares of life; her forehead was wrinkled with agonies beyond the
natural sickness of the human family. She looked around as if lost, and I,
remembering the Denton family, concluded this was the lady. I introduced myself
to her. After a short time she proceeded to tell us of her troubles:
“Oh, I am so thankful to see you;
no sooner as we received your Gospel letter instructing us what to do I could
not content myself until I came here. It seems to me that I am possessed with
evil spirits, for wherever I think of a Mormon Elder my heart jumps for joy and
then comes a gloomy feeling and a power that tries to overcome me. I have been
suffering such a long time this way, but felt better for about two weeks after
Elder Nash administered to me. I told my husband if I did not go today I would
not live to see you, which accounts for my being here. I have traveled sixty
miles to see you; my husband will be here Sunday. I know the devil will kill me
if you do not do something for me.”
That night before retiring we
administered to her. The moment Elder Nash went near to anoint her she grinned
and snapped her teeth at him, and when we placed our hands upon her head we
felt the power of Satan pervade our whole systems. She felt somewhat relieved,
but still not quite satisfied. After a miserable night’s rest we commenced
fasting in her behalf. At noon we held secret prayers and administered to her
again; we all felt very weak. The devil seemed to be getting more powerful.
Elder Nash was under the necessity of going to work, so we were left without
his aid. Suddenly she started to choke and said: “Oh! he is killing me! Quick!
Quick!! Administer to me or I will die!” We again laid our hands upon her head
and demanded in the name of the Lord that the devils should come out. When we
took our hands from her head she opened her eyes wide, with the most terrifying
look man can imagine and stared me in the face. I took a long breath and
thought my time had come. I trembled like a leaf. I shut my eyes until I had
gained strength to speak; we then laid hands upon her again and demanded old
Satan and all his imps to come out of her body. I looked over to see how Elder
Shirts was standing, and noticed he was very white and perturbed. The poor
woman then began to cry and laugh with joy, saying: “I feel better than I have
felt for years.”
To get away from the evil
influence, we took a walk and after train time met Elder Frank S. Snow, a son
of President Snow, and Ernest Knowles, a pair of new Elders. We felt thankful
to God for the aid and help thus given. We remained away from the house a short
time and then returned. We found that Satan had left Sister Denton and then
administered to her again. Everything was peaceful and calm. We retired to
rest, all being still until about 4 o’clock a. m., when a voice was heard from
Elder Shirts: “Are you brethren all alive? I tell you, I have suffered more
during the night than I ever did before in my life. The devil jumped on me and
tried to choke me; I thought I was gone, sure. It seemed to me that the room
was full of them. I heard one say, ‘You have driven me out of my home and I am
going to dwell in you, then I will fix you.’ But I managed to keep him off.”
Elder Snow then related his
experience, which was as follows: “I saw a face shrunken to almost nothing with
a hideous grin on it within about two feet of me and I was nearly frightened to
death. Soon he induced me to believe hell was my doom, but I fought him off. I
believe the room was full of evil spirits.”
While we administered to her the
following night the devil came out again and knocked Elder Knowles back and
made him so sick he almost fainted. We fasted away almost night and day,
fasting and praying, but it seemed the devil would return to her again as soon
as we would leave her. She complained of something tearing her to pieces every
time we administered to her.
Saturday at 3 p. m. Brother
Denton came in and expressed himself as being glad to meet with us all and
thanked us, saying his wife was looking much better than before. We held an
enjoyable meeting at night. After a good time in the evening we all retired and
about 3 a. m. I was awakened by Elder Shirts putting me into his arms and
trying to roll me off the bed. I asked, “What are you doing?” “Oh, I am just
taking this man away we just cast a devil out of.” I explained to him that I
was not the man and refused to go.
At 11 a. m. Sunday, 26th, we held
a meeting, during which the devil came to our meeting and tried to stay its
progress. I spoke to the people, but every word was an effort. I felt as though
a power was going to choke me down every moment. However, I managed to stand
forth and call the people to repentance.
Elder Nash experienced the same
uncanny feeling. After meeting we adjourned to the water’s edge and baptized
Brother and Sister Denton and little daughter, Mabel. Elder Nash officiating.
He tells his experience while in the water as follows: “As for Brother Denton,
I felt all right while I was baptising him, but when his wife came into the
water old Satan’s influence penetrated my very system, and as I immersed her in
the water the devil struck me in the face as though a man had used a club on
me. I thought I would drop in the water helpless, but I continued to be firm
and as soon as I raised her up out of the water all darkness left me and I felt
a joyful feeling; the spirit of the Lord was with me.”
After arriving at the house
Sister Denton wept for joy and exclaimed: “Thank God, it is done! I know your
words have come true.” We held two more meetings the last being a testimony
meeting, and all enjoyed the spirit of the Lord.
Before they left us Brother and
Sister Denton expressed their sincere thanks to the Lord for sending His
servants to do the good they are doing. Sister Denton said: “Elder Snow, your
face was the first I beheld after leaving darkness and coming into light. I
will never forget the heavenly look.”
The following is a testimonial
voluntarily written by her own hand after we had confirmed her, Elder Shirts
officiating:
“Elder Shirts, I will never
forget the dear hands that were placed upon my head and for what cause. Oh! no,
I will never forget and will you please remember your sister always? I will
never forget you four Elders as long as I live. May heaven’s richest blessings
ever attend you four Elders, is the prayer of a sister.”
Brethren and sisters, near and
far, we testify to the truthfulness of the above statements and pray God the
Eternal Father that all will take this as a testimony and profit by the same.
(Signed): E. D. Jones, Alonzo
Shirts,
J. B. Nash, Ernest Knowles, F. H. Snow. (E. D. Jones, “Casting Our Devils,” Latter
Day Saints Southern Star 1, no. 16 [March 18, 1899], 126)
