Kellogg, Brother
NP
1861
Previously unpublished.
Dear Brother Kellogg:
Some things were shown me in my last vision. I was shown some things in regard to you and your family. I saw that you fail much in looking upon the dark side, and dwelling upon discouraging prospects. This clips your faith and casts a gloom upon your hopes and prospects, and while in this state of mind you cannot glorify God or strengthen others. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 1
I was shown that you were very sensitive and have felt keenly on the account of your children. You let their course of action have too great an influence upon you. Your older children have not felt and acted as they should. They have not heeded the counsel you have given them, and thereby have brought trouble upon themselves and upon you. They too often think their judgment and plans are the best, and when you have planned and advised them for their good they have too often thought that it was to advantage yourself instead of them. They have not felt as they ought, that you were planning for their interest, and if they will follow your counsel both you and they would be benefitted. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 2
Your children have too often thought they were young and you old, and they could better manage business matters themselves. Here they mistake. They have not the ability, neither are they as capable of managing as their father. Had all your sons submitted to your counsel as they should have done, as it was their duty to do, and as God required them to, your dwelling upon the past would not call to your mind so many sad associations and remembrances which, if dwelt upon any length of time, bring gloom, sadness, and despair. It is the duty of these children to redeem the time and regard their parents and heed their counsels as they never yet have done. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 3
Albert has thought that he could manage business matters better than his father, but if he followed his own judgment he would meet with many losses and difficulties from which he will be saved if he seeks counsel and moves guardedly. He has built his hopes too high, and has thought he was fully capable of managing business without the help of others. He has failed to understand himself here. In this respect his father’s head and tact for business is much better than his own, and it is the duty of Albert to have a kind care at all times for his father’s interest, and never bring a cloud upon his brow or needlessly cause him anxiety of mind. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 4
Albert is apt to have too exalted an opinion of himself, and as a general thing there is too much pride of heart among the children. There is lacking that humility which ever becomes a follower of Christ. There is a lack of true piety and devotion. They must encourage these graces and ever seek to understand themselves. They must closely examine themselves to see whether they are in the love of God. There needs to be the reforming influence of the Spirit of God to affect and sanctify the heart, and then there will be less selfish interest and a kind regard for the interest of others. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 5
There has been with the children too much moving from impulse, moving from feeling; therefore there has been much moving wrong. I saw that Brother Kellogg was prematurely old on account of the anxiety and care his children have caused him. And now it is their duty, while their father shall plan and advise with them and calculate for them, in their turn to help their father in every way in their power. God has marked their unwillingness to heed instruction. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 6
Merrit should be an example to all the children. The curse of God has rested upon him ever since he married his wife without advising and consulting with his parents. His course led the parents to feel and act as they did in regard to Smith’s marrying Maria. They felt too strongly and acted too strongly in regard to the matter, but they feared that the curse which rested on Merrit would rest on Smith. The cases are not alike. They are regarded very differently by heaven. God’s frown does not rest upon Smith because of his marriage with Maria. But his former course has caused his parents many heartaches and much anxiety and distress. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 7
Smith has been trying to return unto the Lord that He may heal him. God pities him and if he earnestly seeks the salvation of God and heartily repents of his wrong course, God will turn His face toward him and will remember his transgressions no more. You have felt wounded, and shut Smith and Maria too much from your hearts. Take them into your hearts, help them by your counsel and faithful instructions. You can have a saving influence on Smith. Maria loves God. She loves the truth and will be a help to Smith. Let them know that they have your confidence and it will cause them greater joy than anything else on earth. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 8
Albert, a sacred duty rests upon you in regard to your parents, and a sacred duty rests upon all the older children. God has had an eye upon you. You have had a good, a kind and tender mother who would not swerve from her duty of right if she knew what it was. You have had a better mother than you deserved, a mother who has loved you with a great love because you were helpless and motherless. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 9
Brother Kellogg, I saw that when you get depressed in spirit, you forget the great mercies shed upon your pathway. You forget the good and can only see the evil and the dark, and you let these things overbalance the mercies of God. You have been blest in life above a greater portion of the human family. You might have had a wife who would feel no interest in your children, who would not be as true, as constant, to you as she has been. Although there is quite a difference in your ages, yet your wife’s affections have been just as ardent and consistent and true as though she were the wife of your youth and had had your first and only love. Your interest and happiness she has preferred to her own. To your children she has been true and faithful, as if they were flesh of her flesh and bone of her bone. The children have not always felt thus and regarded it in this light, but it is because a prejudice blinded their eyes and destroyed their judgment. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 10
I saw that God in mercy stretched out His hand and snatched Laura from the grave because He saw that the furnace was becoming heated a little too hot. It is the mercy of God alone that saved Laura, and that she is now with us instead of lying beside Mary in Oak Hill Cemetery. God has spared Laura a time that she might be a blessing and comfort to her parents; and that she might be a humble, devoted Christian and be a blessing to her younger sister and brothers. A responsibility rests upon Laura. God requires more at her hand. She must exert an influence for good and dedicate to God the life which He has so graciously spared. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 11
Brother Kellogg, are these things no sources of encouragement and joy to you? Turn your face from gloom and darkness and discouragement to the light God has granted you, to the blessings He has strewn in your pathway. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” [Philippians 4:4.] Gratitude from you is due Him for His abundant mercy to you. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 12
I was pointed back and saw the time when Seymour and Miller came here. You felt indignant that the cause of God was reproached and that it must be vindicated. You let your feelings get the better of your judgment and moved unadvisedly. You should have trusted matters in the hands of God, but you felt a zeal to vindicate the truth which was trampled upon. You moved impulsively; you erred, and only gave the enemies of our faith greater triumph. The first wrong was in suffering them to have a meeting and to preach at all, when there was no minister to meet their influence. These things Satan has held before your mind sometimes and caused you trouble. But I saw that God marked no sin against you. You would not have moved wrong knowingly. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 13
I saw that God wants you to forget the sad and discouraging things in the past and come up now and engage heartily in the work of God. God wants to bless you and your family. You are injuring your health and mind by dwelling upon things that will do you no good. Turn from these things and believe in God; trust in His power to save; take hold of His salvation. He that has had a care even for the sparrow has a care for you, and the future is in His hand. He will bring you along safely if you trust in Him with all your heart. 1LtMs, Lt 15, 1861, par. 14