Thomas B. Marsh's Return to the Church

One rainy night in 1857 in Florence, Nebraska (just outside current-day Omaha), Wandle Mace was eating dinner when there was a knock. An old man soaked to the bone asked, "Is this where Brother Mace lives?"

"I'm Brother Mace."

"I must introduce myself. I am Thomas B Marsh the Mormon apostate. I left the church in Missouri in 1838. I never wrote against the church nor persecuted the people. I did nothing to disturb or hinder its progress. I just left it and kept myself away from it and have been silent. Now I want to return and end my days with the Saints."
Brother Mace wrote in his journal, "the announcement of himself as Thomas B. Marsh the Mormon apostate produced a singular sensation in each one present and a feeling of pity and sorrow took possession of each of us as we gazed upon the man who had fallen from so high."
Brother Mace had never met Thomas but knew he was "enemy to Joseph and the Church" and had always thought if he did meet him, they would "have a sharp controversy."
"But his humble attitude and speech disarmed me. His sorrowful countenance, his palsied frame and above all his humiliating confession whipped me. I felt more like weeping. I invited him to supper with us. I assisted him to remove his waterproof coat. When seated at the table I found he was unable to cut his foods I therefore helped him in this."
Thomas told his story. The previous summer he had a stroke and for six weeks he was unable to help himself or turn over in bed. They had to move him in a sheet. While in this condition Thomas made a determination if the Lord spared his life and he received sufficient strength he would return to the church.
As soon as he was able to travel he left his home in Missouri taking with him only what he could carry in a satchel.
His first stop was George W. Harris, the husband of the woman who shared the milk strippings with Sis. Marsh. Sis. Harris had passed away. "They talked over their past difficulty and their quarrels and made things right with each other and separated good friends." Brother Mace felt like weeping as Thomas related all this. That night Bro Mace helped Thomas dress for bed since he was helpless from the stroke. Thomas said, "if I should have another stroke tonight, tomorrow take me to the river and baptize me if you have to baptize me in a sheet. I want to die in the church." Then Thomas said in a sorrowful voice, "Oh if I could see Joseph and talk with him and acknowledge my faults to him and get his forgiveness from him as I have to Brother Harris then I would die happy, but Joseph is gone."
The next morning Thomas spoke to the Saints in that town. He pleaded with them not to apostatize. On his trip over the plains to arrive in Utah, he met John Taylor and was given permission to be baptized in Papio Creek.

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