How They Became Convinced
By Editor
[Believing it would be of interest to our readers, the editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES has asked Sabbath-keeping ministers and evangelical workers to tell in a few words the scripture or scriptures, the truths and principles, which constrained them to accept the unpopular truth of the seventh-day Sabbath. These testimonies must not exceed 500 words. Let us hear from all.] I WAS brought up by my good Presbyterian mother to read the Bible and observe God’s Ten Commandments as she understood them. When about ten years of age I was led to wonder why, when the Lord said, "The seventh day is the Sabbath," Christian people kept the first day. My mind was relieved, however, when my mother said that the day had been changed, and I found the same statement in the Presbyterian Catechism. I was converted and united with the Presbyterian Church at the age of sixteen. About that time I found a book intended to prove that Sunday is the true Sabbath. Eagerly I seized upon it, expecting to find the reason for the change, but I was disappointed, as the desired "Thus saith the Lord," in support of first-day observance was not there. That same summer a brother was canvassing for books in a town about twenty-five miles from where I lived. Only one person would listen to his conversation, and this woman purchased "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation." She also accepted the "Third Angel’s Message." I am not aware that any one else there purchased books. This lady lent her book to my sister, and from the list of tracts contained therein we selected four, and obtained them from the Review and Herald office. So truthful and consistent were these leaflets that we ordered one dollar’s worth more from the same list. Further reading brought me into a quandary; for if I continued to investigate I surely would be convinced. Gladly I would have dropped the subject, but how could I? I knew I would be just as guilty if I refused to look for the light, as if I refused to obey after I had seen the truth. So I proceeded to investigate. During the day these thoughts oppressed me. At night I mentioned my convictions to my mother. She disagreed with me, preferring that I remain in the Presbyterian Church. That night my violent agitation and trembling, caused by the apprehension of the opposition sure to follow if I should be governed by my convictions, attracted the attention of my mother, whose bed I shared. But I was too fearful to explain, in reply to her kind inquiries. However, unexpectedly at this time, the merciful Father smoothed the way for me, and I accepted the Sabbath and the Third Angel’s Message in its fulness. With a deep sense of gratitude I would acknowledge the loving-kindness of our Father, who called after me in childhood, and in youth enabled me to read my way out into present truth. I thank Him for sustaining grace to keep me, tho so much alone for nearly seven years before I had the pleasure of meeting any one of like faith, and for courage and strength, when the tent came, to step out amid opposition. And I still trust Him to bring me safely home. WHEN I was about fifteen years old, living near Evans, Colo., I asked my father, who was a Methodist preacher, why we kept Sunday instead of Saturday, when the Bible says, "The seventh day is the Sabbath." He said that the Sabbath was changed from the seventh to the first day in honor of the resurrection of Christ. Altho he did not tell me who changed it, I rested satisfied with his answer about twelve years, or until January, 1897. At that time my brother, T. J. Landrum, came down from Fort Morgan, and told us that the first day of the week is not the Sabbath, but purely and only a man-made institution, and that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, commanded by Him, in the fourth commandment, to be remembered and kept holy. He also showed us that the Bible distinguishes between the two days by always calling the first day, "The first day" and the Sabbath "The Sabbath." Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1, 2; Luke 23:56; 24:1; John 20:1. By these scriptures and others I saw the truth. A little later came Elder M. A. Altman, preaching the truth as it is in God’s Word. Several persons at Merino believed and accepted the Sabbath for a time, tho none of us kept it properly until a year later, when Mrs. Landrum and I read a letter of exhortation written by T. J. Landrum to our mother, in which he quoted the scripture, "And that servant, which knew his Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes." Luke 12:47. Then the Lord gave us grace and courage to step out on His promises; and since that time the truth about the Sabbath, and other Biblical doctrines not before understood, have grown brighter and dearer to us day by day; for which we thank God.