Having been silent for a long time so far as writing to church papers is concerned, I though this morning to break the spell. I know of nothing more interesting of which to write than to relate the following vision or dream presented to Elder John Wilson, who is now a crippled rheumatic, and to whom writing is a very difficult task on account of his affliction:

"After coming into the work," he says, "about nine years ago, my mind was much agitated in regard to Joseph Smith translating the Book of Mormon by means of the Urim and Thummim. I could accept the statement of an angel coming to him, but the idea of translating one language into another by use of a stone seemed incredible. After contemplating this thought for about three weeks the following was presented to me:

"The Urim and Thummim was placed to my eyes. It was a transparent stone of about three quarters of an inch in thickness. I looked through it and translated the word 'Corinthians' from the original text of the King James Bible. The Book of Mormon plates were also before me, and in the translating of the above, I seemed to be looking through the metallic plates, and yet it did not destroy the plainness of the Bible as I looked through the sacred stones. I still continued to look through the instrument, and presently the world and its history was shown me, from the time of Adam until the judgement. I saw the garden of Eden and the antediluvian world. Then Solomon's temple in all its grandeur and sublime equipment was shown me. I saw the spoons, veils, bonnets, molten sea, twelve oxen, and, in fact, everything pertaining to the temple. This temple was a representation of the Church of Jesus Christ. Every little article seemed to have a significant meaning. I wish I could have retained the knowledge given me in viewing that wondrous temple, but I could not, and not until we reach the millennium, when the veil of darkness will be rent from the human mind, will this knowledge in perfection be given to mankind.

"I saw the twelve tribes of Israel coming up to the bar of judgment. They were marching in order as soldiers on the march; their officers were at the side. Each tribe seemed to have a stone, by means of which they identified Israel, as to which tribe each one belonged. The stones which they had seemed to be the stones which were taken out of Jordan at the time Israel was to cross into the promised land. See Joshua chapter 4.

"I was also shown how it could be known what tribe a man would belong to if his father was a Benjamite and his mother a Judahite, or any other tribes. The spirit of man is what God considers; and when a spirit is placed in an infant tabernacle, God knows what tribe it belongs to, even before it enters the body; and when death comes the spirit returns to God who gave it, while the body goes to dust. Intermarrying has no determination of the tribe to which the offspring belongs. That is settled in eternity prior to birth.

"I was shown all nations of the earth, England especially. I could see everything that was going on, even intricate matters. Mountains or any other material object had no effect in hindering my vision. Distance was no barrier, and time past or future was no hindrance to beholding everything. All seemed to be present; no past or future; and events to be done a thousand years hence seemed as done in the present. Hence I learned to understand that saying of Saint Peter's, 'One day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.' The sparrow falling to the ground and yet taken notice of by Jehovah was made very plain, and also the statement, 'Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.' Oh, how great is the wisdom of God and his ways past finding out."

Many things were presented to our brother which he can not retain; but enough was given him to show the power of God, and ever after this he never doubted the Book of Mormon. —Autumn Leaves, August, 1900.