When Christian Science was first brought to my notice...

Laura A. Yourtee

When Christian Science was first brought to my notice some eighteen years ago, I was sorely in need of help, both physically and spiritually, I was suffering from a severe bronchial affection of years' standing, many times losing my voice entirely for days, and I was constantly trying every material remedy I heard of, but with no relict. I was also hungering and thirsting for a better understanding of God and my relation to Him. Having had two husbands who were clergymen, and having been in the Methodist itinerancy over twenty years, I was well versed in theology and had enjoyed all there was in their creeds. At times I had much spiritual light and comfort, for I was living up to my highest understanding. For a number of years before I heard of Christian Science, I was much interested in the healing of disease, and in reading Jesus' commands to his disciples, to preach the gospel and heal the sick, and I believed it was our privilege to be healed of our physical infirmities as well as to have our sins forgiven. Occasionally I would hear of some one being healed by faith, and I have spent bours praying for the faith that would heal the sick.

As a minister's wife I was often called to pray for the sick, and I have gone and with prayer laid my hand on the sick, to try and carry into the understanding of Christian Science as taught in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. Since then I have had abundant proof that the healing power of Truth and Love is just as efficacious to-day as when Jesus was here on earth. I have seen sufferers, after nineteen years of invalidism, after the doctors had said they had done all they could for them,—with two or three treatments, these have been raised up, made strong to walk a mile daily for treatment. Others, in the last stages of consumption, expecting that every day would be the last of their earthly life, —these have been able to rise from bed in a few hours and to do their ordinary housework with ease.

The spiritual light, comfort, and understanding I now have, in comparison with my experience in the old theology, is so great I hardly know how to tell of it. It seems as if, in the old thought, I was out in the vestibule, praying, and trying to believe, for many desired blessings, but receiving very few. Now it seems as if the doors of the inner sanctuary had been thrown open wide, and I have entered into the holy place of understanding and realization; I have learned the true basis of all prayer, and there is no more anxious waiting for answers to prayer which never come. The answer is already here and I only have to take and appropriate it.

When I first heard of Christian Science, I was told that it is the same truth that Jesus demonstrated in healing the sick and that it was for any one spiritual enough to understand his teaching. I was also told that this truth was to be found in the Bible and in Science and Health. I got a copy of Science and Health, clasped it to my bosom, went home and began to read. I read ncarly all night, for the truth seemed so clear, and unfolded to my consciousness so beautifully, that I could not stop. All I could say was, "Praise God, I have it, I have it now!" Very soon I began to demonstrate the truth revealed in that divinely inspired book, in healing the sick and doing the works that Jesus said his followers should do. The beautiful and wonderful revelations of Truth and Love given in the Bible and Science and Health, when our understanding is opened to see our God-given inheritance,—our dominion over the educated beliefs of mortal sense,—are so great that love and praise is the language of the heart. It is said that on one occasion Jesus opened the understanding of his disciples. It seems to me that was a simple lesson in Christian Science, for truly it does open our understanding to know the truth which makes free.

To me this revelation grows more and more grand with each day's experience. So much of good comes to me, and such a realization of the guidance of divine Principle that I am led to praise God that I live in this day and age. "Whereas I was blind, now I see." Yes, blind in the mortal dream and belief of sense, but the true light now shines and I am working my way up and out of the bondage of mortal, man-made laws and environment, and am realizing a little of what "dominion" means. It is all of Truth, and in humility I do praise God from whom all blessings flow. I see more and more that Mrs. Eddy is the God-chosen one to this age to prepare the way of the Lord for the coming of the Christ-idea through the wonderful revelation of Christian Science.

Mrs. Laura A. Yourtee, Chicago, Ill.

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Testimony of Healing

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