[James E. Talmage]
Here I take occasion to record a manifestation of Divine over-ruling such as I have witnessed on a few occasions, the last of which is an occurrence of this day. A man who had been excommunicated years ago on proof of gross transgression had recently been readmitted to the Church by baptism on his profession of repentance and on the recommendation of his Bishopric. Application had been made by him, and this had been transmitted to the First Presidency, to receive his former blessings by the ordinance of the laying on of hands. The matter was referred to me. I interviewed the man in the presence of the President of the Stake, and the manifestation to which I refer is that of the Divine power compelling a man to tell the truth against his will. It was evident that this man had falsified to his Bishopric as also to the Stake Presidency. Under questioning, evidently against his desire and literally with the gnashing of teeth, he confessed to other sins than those for which he had been dealt with and to recent transgressions. The evil one has very great power over him, and I fear will continue to hold it unless the man is genuine and whole-souled in his repentance. Of course, I declined to officiate in the ordinance of restoring to him his former Priesthood.
[The Journals of James E. Talmage—Excerpts, Compiled by J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dOE6pgN6OkBJIq-X73JGpCdt0p5b8_UdfTfLREz4uTg/]
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