Sister Van Dorn’s Conversion
By Minerva Van Dorn
Bro. WHITE: For the first time I use my pen in writing to the Review, which I have had the pleasure of reading but five months. For the same length of time I have been an Adventist. I was converted to this precious faith through the preaching of Bro. Cornell. He lectured four or more weeks in this place before I commenced to attend, which I have regretted ever since, as I did not realize till after he left what precious, wholesome food his lectures would have been to me. I can truly say that those were the happiest moments of my life that I spent in listening to this truth. Before that my life was all dark and dreary; what I thought to be enjoyment, has proved but mockery. I knew not that there was going to be a new earth, neither did I know, there was a real city, called the New Jerusalem. O, my heart does rejoice and is glad; for now I know there is a living God, who will hear my prayers; and I know that I have something to pray for—something to build my hopes upon—something to win; and by the grace of God I mean to win a place in his kingdom. My three sisters and myself have given up a great deal for this truth, and are willing to give up all for Jesus, for whom we are watching and waiting. We know he will soon appear, and our desire is to be prepared to meet him with hearts overflowing with joy and gratitude, and be able to say, Lo, here is our Lord, we have waited for him. Bro. Snook's last visit was meat in due season. It gave me more strength to come out from the world and be separate. We desire to leave every vestige of worldliness in the past, and in the future to serve the Lord in truth and uprightness, and be meek and lowly as becometh followers of Jesus. I love to meet with my brethren and sisters to speak and pray; and above all I love to go away by myself and pray to my Father who is in heaven. A home with God! O, solemn thought,
The frame the mighty Maker wrought,
To his inspection given.
For he alone can search the heart,
He only needed grace impart,
To press our way to heaven. Alone with God! the thought how sweet!
That we alone with him may meet,
In free communion blest.
We'll meet him soon, but not alone,
For all around his glorious throne
We'll meet in heavenly rest. "One thing have I desired of the Lord; that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple." Ps. xxvii, 4. This desire of the psalmist is mine. Yours, striving to overcome,
MINERVA VAN DORN.
West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa.