Binding Off Thoroughly
281
While duties are suffering to be done right in our path, we should
not reach out and long and sigh for work at a great distance.... God
would not want you to leave so much work that you have planned, and
started the people in upon, to be neglected, to run down, and be harder
to bring up than if it had never been started....
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I hope you will look at things candidly and not move impulsively
or from feeling. Our ministers must be educated and trained to do their
work more thoroughly. They should bind off the work and not leave it
to ravel out. And they should look especially after the interests they
have created, and not go away and never have any special interest after
leaving a church. A great deal of this has been done.—
Letter 1, 1879
.
Soul Interests Hold Priority—For years light has been given
upon this point, showing the necessity of following up an interest that
has been raised, and in no case leaving it until all have decided that
lean toward the truth, and have experienced the conversion necessary
for baptism, and united with some church, or formed one themselves.
There are no circumstances of sufficient importance to call a minis-
ter from an interest created by the presentation of truth. Even sickness
and death are of less consequence than the salvation of souls for whom
Christ made so immense a sacrifice. Those who feel the importance of
the truth, and the value of souls for whom Christ died, will not leave
an interest among the people for any consideration. They will say, Let
the dead bury their dead. Home interests, lands and houses, should not
have the least power to attract from the field of labor.
If ministers allow these temporal things to divert them from the
work, the only course for them to pursue is to leave all, possess no lands
or temporal interests which will have an influence to draw them from
the solemn work of these last days. One soul is of more value than the
entire world. How can men who profess to have given themselves to
the sacred work of saving souls, allow their small temporal possessions
to engross their minds and hearts, and keep them from the high calling
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they profess to have received from God?—
Testimonies For The Church
2:540, 541
(1870).
Loss in Leaving an Unfinished Work Illustrated—What
courage have we—what courage can we have—to put forth efforts in
different places that use up our strength and vitality to the very last
edge; and then go away and leave it to all ravel out, with nobody to
look after it?