My Experience by A. B. Atwood

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Mar 18, 1875

My Experience.

By A. B. Atwood

Eighteen years ago I sought the Lord with all my heart. Though I had for years felt myself a great sinner, I had now come to that point where I wanted religion more than anything or all things else. But how to obtain an experience in the things of God I knew not. I talked with my wife and we agreed to erect the family altar, as we knew of no better way to begin. That evening we bowed together in prayer. We plead with God for the pardon of our sins, but it was more than a week before we obtained the desired evidence. The blessing came while we were kneeling before the Lord, and oh! how full of peace and glory! We then promised the Master we would walk in all the ways of his commandments.

For eleven years we were members of the Baptist church. Residing in a village of five thousand inhabitants, we attended a union Sunday school made up of Baptists, Methodists, and Congregationalists. It was in this school that I learned that I was breaking the fourth commandment. I was led to investigate by the subject of the Sabbath being given out in the school, by the Baptist minister. The question was, Which day was the Sabbath of the Lord, and when was it instituted?

As it was given out for the following Sunday we had one week for study, and I was not surprised to hear from all the school, which was composed of adults, that the seventh day was the Sabbath of the Lord, and it was instituted at creation.

The subject for the next Sunday was, When was the Sabbath changed, and by what authority? I had ever felt certain that Christ changed the day; and as I searched for proof, for the first time my Bible read all wrong to me. I searched it day and night to find divine authority for the change. From Bible proof I found my way clear into the seventh day, but found no way to get back into the first day. As Bible testimony alone could satisfy my mind, I was convicted that I had been instructed wrong. I plead with God to give me a spirit that would agree with his word, and I promised that I would obey. That week I decided that I would never again trample upon God's authority, but keep all his commandments.

The next Sunday, although our school was large, only five took any part in examining the subject: two ministers, a lawyer, a doctor, and myself. Oh! how small and weak I felt to defend the truth, but the Lord gave me strength to say to them that unless they could produce Bible proof, I must henceforth keep the seventh day as the Bible Sabbath. And I thank my Heavenly Father to-day that I still stand a witness for this precious truth.

I know what are the sorrows and blighted hopes of earth. The dearest ones I have laid in the grave, but I look for the great Lifegiver soon to come to waken the sleeping saints. "This hope cheers the prospect that's gloomy and drear, And points to the haven of rest that is near."

To all the brethren and sisters, and to all desiring the peace of God, I would say, do not neglect the family altar. I have found it a precious means of grace. Here I have enjoyed the rich blessing of God. May the Lord ever bless us, and help us to so live to his glory here, that with all who keep his commandments we may enter the glorious city of God when our Saviour comes to deliver us from the ills of this present world.

A. B. ATWOOD.

St. Helena, Cal.