Chapter 22—The Book Committee
Selection of the Book Committee—Great care should be exer-
cised in selecting the members of the book committee. The men who
are to pass judgment on the books offered for publication should be
few and well chosen. Only such as have an experimental knowledge
of authorship are qualified to act in this capacity. Only those should be
chosen whose hearts are under the control of the Spirit of God. They
should be men of prayer, men who do not exalt self, but who love
and fear God, and respect their brethren. Only such as, in distrust of
self, are led by divine wisdom, are competent to fill this important
position.—
Testimonies for the Church 7:160
.
Men of Experience to Serve—Manuscripts have been placed in
the hands of men for criticism when the eyes of their understanding
were so blinded that they could not discern the spiritual import of the
subject with which they were dealing. More than this, they had no real
knowledge of bookmaking. They had had neither study nor practice in
the line of literary productions. Men have sat in judgment upon books
and manuscripts, unwisely placed in their hands, when they should
have declined to serve in any such capacity. It would have been only
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honest for them to say, “I have had no experience in this line of work,
and should certainly do injustice to myself and to others in giving my
opinion. Excuse me, brethren; instead of instructing others, I need
that someone should teach me.” But this was far from their thoughts.
They expressed themselves freely in regard to subjects of which they
knew nothing. Conclusions have been accepted as the opinions of wise
men, when they were simply the opinions of novices.—
Manuscript
14, 1896
.
Counsel to the Book Committee—I have some things to say in
reference to the making of books. There are dangers which our book
committee needs to guard against. Men who have any part to act in
the service of God should be careful, lest they use the common fire in
the place of the sacred. They should watch and pray, and be careful
that their own hearts are under the control of the Spirit of God. If,
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