I must chronicle an event which occurred in 1875 in the city of London, Ontario, December 29, at a baptism in the River Thames, south branch, at which time two young ladies were baptized, viz: Mrs. Polly Taylor and Miss Sarah Lively. Of this Miss Lively wrote seven days later as follows:

London, Ontario, January 5, 1876.—I have been in London the last three weeks visiting my sister where I first enjoyed listening to the true gospel as taught by the Latter Day Saints. I was converted under the preaching of J. J. Cornish, and feel rejoiced that I can bear testimony to the truth of the work, fully convinced that this is the work of God; and ever shall I praise God that he has been pleased to lead me from the darkness into the light of the gospel. Although a constant attendant of the P. M. C., I was blind to much of the gospel truth until I was baptized and became a believer in the doctrine as taught by the Latter Day Saints; and I shall ever bless God for the hour that I submitted to bow in obedience to his commands. . . . I shall never forget the glorious sight witnessed by myself and a number of my brothers and sisters in Christ at once. On entering the water to be baptized, I felt that God was with me and acknowledged me by shining a beautiful light down upon me from above. The heavens seemed lighted up by a bright and shining light, which continued to shine until I was immersed in the water and arose with the blessed assurance that my sins were washed away, and I returned home rejoicing.

As yet my parents know nothing of the change, and from my heart I pray God will lead them into the true light that I now rejoice in; and I hope they will shortly join our number, as I know they were never exposed to the belief of the doctrine of the Saints, inasmuch as they ever heard (her parents and relatives were baptized later.—J. J. C.). Praying that we may all continue form in the strength and favor from God, I, too, am your sister in Christ. Sarah Lively. —Saints' Herald, vol. 23, p. 54.

On account of working at daily labor this baptism was performed on Wednesday late in the evening of December 29, 1975; an intensely dark night. After our prayer meeting Mrs. John Taylor and Miss Sarah Lively, who had, as stated in her letter, attended our meeting in the city, were baptized by me in the River Thames, when suddenly there came a very beautiful light from heaven, which rested upon all—both members and nonmembers—brighter than the sun at noonday. There were about thirty people present, and I feel certain that none of them could forget that night. It came down with a soul like that of a mighty rushing wind. We could hear it far above in the distance, and as it reached the place where we stood, we were enveloped in the brightest and most beautiful light I ever saw—the glory of the Lord. . . . The light was round, straight up and down like a shaft from heaven to earth, and just as bright on the inside edge as it was in the center; and so far as we could see, it was just as dark on the outer edge as it was a mile away. . . . Among the number who witnessed the scene was John Taylor, the husband of Mrs. Taylor. He came from behind the crowd of people who were present, knelt down by my side with his arms around my body, and said: "Oh, Brother Cornish, pray for me. This is enough to convince anyone that this gospel is true," . . . He, as well as all that company who were not then baptized (about 10) afterwards came to the church for baptism. . . . One who had made fun about us and our work, viz: William Clow, was the only one of the whole company who did not fall on his knees in prayer to God at the time of baptism, and he alone heard the voice from heaven saying to him, "These are my people and you must not laugh at them."

—Into the Latter Day Light, pp. 47-49.