Chapter 70—Dangers and Duty of Ministers
I have been shown that more can now be accomplished by laboring
in places where a few have been raised up, than in entirely new fields,
unless the opening is very good. A few in different towns who really
believe the truth will exert an influence and excite inquiry in regard
to their faith; and if their lives are exemplary, their light will shine,
and they will have a gathering influence. And yet I was shown places
where the truth has not been proclaimed, which should be visited soon.
But the great work now to be accomplished is to bring up the people
of God to engage in the work and exert a holy influence. They should
act the part of laborers. With wisdom, caution, and love, they should
labor for the salvation of neighbors and friends. There is too distant
a feeling manifested. The cross is not laid right hold of and borne as
it should be. All should feel that they are their brother’s keeper, that
they are in a great degree responsible for the souls of those around
them. The brethren err when they leave this work all to the ministers.
The harvest is great, and the laborers are few. Those who are of good
repute, whose lives are in accordance with their faith, can be workmen.
They can converse with others, and urge upon them the importance of
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the truth. They must not wait for the ministers and neglect a plain duty
which God has left for them to perform.
Some of our ministers feel but little disposition to take upon them
the burden of the work of God and labor with that disinterested benevo-
lence which characterized the life of our divine Lord. The churches, as
a general rule, are farther advanced than some of the ministers. They
have had faith in the testimonies which God has been pleased to give,
and have acted upon them, while some of the preachers are far behind.
They profess to believe the testimony borne, and some do harm by
making them an iron rule for those who have had no experience in
reference to them, but they fail to carry them out themselves. They
have had repeated testimonies which they have utterly disregarded.
The course of such is not consistent.
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