Laboring for Young Friends

My heart was so thankful to God for the blessing He had given me that I longed to have others participate in this sacred joy. My mind was deeply interested for those who might be suffering under a sense of the Lord's displeasure and the burden of sin. I felt that no one could resist the evidence of God's pardoning love that had wrought so wonderful a change in me. The reality of true conversion seemed so plain to me that I felt like helping my young friends into the light, and at every opportunity exerted an influence toward this end.LSMS 45.2

I arranged meetings with my young friends, some of whom were considerably older than myself, and a few were married. A number of them were vain and thoughtless; to these my experience sounded like an idle tale, and they did not heed my entreaties. But I determined that my efforts should never cease till these dear souls, for whom I had so great an interest, yielded to God. Several entire nights I spent in earnest prayer for those whom I had sought out and brought together for the purpose of laboring and praying with them,LSMS 45.3

Some of these had met with us from curiosity to hear what I had to say; others thought me beside myself to be so persistent in my efforts, especially when the young people manifested no concern on their own part. But at every one of our little meetings I continued to exhort and pray for each one separately until every one had yielded to Jesus, acknowledging the merits of His pardoning love, and been truly converted.LSMS 46.1

Night after night in my dreams I seemed to be laboring for the salvation of souls. At such times special cases were presented to my mind; these I afterward sought out and prayed with. In every instance but one, these persons yielded themselves to the Lord.LSMS 46.2

Some of our more formal brethren feared that I was too zealous for the conversion of souls; but time seemed to me so short that it behooved all who had a hope of a blessed immortality, and looked for the soon coming of Christ, to labor without ceasing for those who were still in their sins and standing on the awful brink of ruin.LSMS 46.3

Although I was very young, the plan of salvation was so clear to my mind, and my personal experience had been so marked, that upon considering the matter I knew it was my duty to continue my efforts for the salvation of precious souls, and to pray and confess Christ at every opportunity. My entire being was offered to the service of my Master. Let come what would, I determined to please God, and to live as one who expected the Saviour to come and reward the faithful. Like a little child, I went to God as to my father, asking Him what He would have me to do. Then as my duty was made plain to me, it was my greatest happiness to perform it. Peculiar trials sometimes beset me. Those older in experience than myself endeavored to hold me back and cool the ardor of my faith; but with the smiles of Jesus brightening my life, and the love of God in my heart, I went on my way with a joyful spirit.LSMS 46.4