Chapter 10—Conserving Life’s Energies
Short Discourses, Longer Life
My dear brother [George I. Butler],
We shall have trials. But I am instructed to say to you and to
others, that laborers often bring upon themselves greater taxation than
is required. The counsel given is, Cut the discourses short. Were a
long discourse divided, and only one-half given, it would be better
retained in the minds of the hearers than the whole of a long discourse.
This counsel belongs to me as well as to you. Except when I have a
special message to bear, I am determined to speak briefly because it is
best.
I am growing old, but I do not feel the weight of years. I have
always been afflicted, ever since I was nine years old. And at seventy-
eight I suffer less pain than I suffered in my earlier years. But I am
now determined to take care of my strength, and I shall not weary
others by long talking. I want you, as one of the old hands and the
experienced workers, to live to be able to bear your testimony, as did
John [the Revelator].
We are personally under the training of God. Let us trust in God,
for we need His help constantly. You do too much talking at one time,
and so do I. It is not best to put this extra strain upon ourselves that
is unnecessary. We need to hold more testimony meetings. Please
consider the words I bear to you. Save your strength. I am afraid for
so old a man to bear such heavy burdens. We do want you to have a
clear testimony to bear just at this period of the earth’s history. We
[124]
want you to have a clear mind, that you may counsel together with
those of like precious faith.
Let us do our best to bring about unity. I am in a position where
I cannot change the past experience if I would; for the Lord has led
me and has given me such evidence of His power in every advance
movement of our work, that I have assurance, made doubly sure, as
[to] every position we now hold as truth. We cannot distrust such
90