“A Mark that Satan Cannot Give”: Love for the Lord’s Appointed Servants

In reading Wilford Woodruff’s journal which covers his first Apostolic mission to England I came across the following jewel. In October 1840 a Sister Bromley was interviewed by the Apostle and she described a vision she had received. We only know of her experience because Woodruff recorded her account in his own journal, which she felt inspired to share with him, and that record has since been made public. Almost four years later, the Prophet Joseph Smith would be murdered and the responsibility to lead the Church would fall upon the shoulders of the Twelve who along with their rightful successors have continued to lead and direct the Lord’s Church. President Monson is a true Prophet today and the Apostles are his faithful servants. As false prophets and messengers are as common today as they were in the past I share this here because it contains wisdom by which perhaps some may benefit. I have kept the spelling which is in the original. It reads as follows: The italics are mine.


I had an interview with Sister Eliza Bromley during the afternoon, & she related to me the following vision which she had on the 8th inst:

At one oclock at noon there came a deep sleep upon me & I slept one hour. I was awoke with a hand touching me. I looked around me & saw one s a personage standing by the side of me clothed in linen. His face had the appearance of much meekness love & light. I said Oh. He Said fear not. He came & touched me with his hand. Then fear departed from me. I said doth the Lord love me so much? He said it is thy faith in the servents of the God of heaven. Though hast Clothed the Naked & fed the hungry & the God of heaven will feed thee forever & forever & the desire of thy heart shall be granted thee in Gods own time. No weapon shall prosper against thee for thou art sealed up unto the Lord.

Think it not strange when you see many fall away & some of the Elders of this Church for the Scriptures must be fulfilled. Many are Called but few are Chosen. Thou hast desired to see this day, & when thou goest to thine inheritants I will go with thee & take care of thee. One thing I say unto thee thou must not think because some will fall away from their stedfastness that they were not Called to their office. Some have desired their office & some will fall by their desires.

See thou desire no one thing but that which is given thee from the father. If the Father gives a desire that will be the assurance of the gift, & as desire increases there will be the greater love to the servants of God. This is the mark the  servants of God have to go by & is a mark Satan Cannot give.
Be patient in all things & humble in thy walk before the world & the Lord will make the a blessing to thy friends & enemies. Thy tears have come up before the Lord & are more in number than thine enemies. Thy tears shall Condemn many if they do not repent. Love all thy enemies as Christ loveth thee for this is the Law of God.

And I arose up & said I will, & he smiled & seamed as though he was going away. I said tell me sumthing els before you go. He smiled & said keep these from the world. I said must I not tell no one? He said thou wilt know by the spirit of God that is within thee who to tell. Thou hast asked for wisdom & it will be given thee. He turned around from me & a greater light overshadowed me & he disappeared.
      
 [Wilford Woodruff's Journal, Vol. 1, 1833–1840, p. 530-531].


The prophet Alma wrote,

I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he alloteth unto men, yea decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction (Alma 29:4; see also 5-9).

We should be careful and wise in our desires.Those desires that come from God are righteous desires and those are the kinds of desires that should hold sway in our hearts. As our righteous desires, given of God, increase, there will be an accompanying increase in our love for the Lord's authorized appointed servants. Hence, the Saints need not be deceived by those who speak evil of the Lord's Apostles and Prophets (1 John 2:3-6, 9-11).