Gilmore Callison Preaching at Fort Laramie

Gilmore was still preaching from John chapter 3:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and Only son,
that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish,
but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through Him.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned..."

The preacher was still talking, but James was already caught up, thinking of the words he heard: "...that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Was it this simple then? Just believe that God sent Jesus to be his Savior? Preacher Gilmore had much more to say. Now he was quoting from another book in the Bible, Romans, chapter 5:
"But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

James was thinking hard. 'But I am only twenty-two years old. What have I done that is so bad? I don't feel as if I need saving.' The same hymn they sang in the beginning was starting up again, and Gilmore asked anyone who wanted to declare their need for Christ their Savior to come right now, up to the front. He would pray for them and give them a New Testament Bible. Something was tugging at James to get up, and go up there with others who were walking to the front of the tent. He resisted. This was just a desire to conform to what others were doing, James told himself. He would not be led about like a sheep. He kept singing, the last verse was next:

"Are we cold and unbelieving,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Here the Lord is still our refuge,

Take it to the Lord in prayer."

Thankful the service was done, he escorted Mary Ann back to their wagon. Richard and Edward went to check on their oxen. Nancy was walking on the other side of Mary Ann, asking if she was sleeping well at night.

"No, mama, it is so noisy here. People up all hours talking and laughing, I don't see how anyone can sleep."

"It will be better when we are back on the trail," replied Nancy. "There's just too many people here."

Fort Laramie by William Henry Jackson.
In the Public Domain, (Authors life plus 70 years).
Picture taken by Paul Hermans