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Reasons for the Gift: To Define Truth, August 12
At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth,
and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore
understand the matter, and consider the vision.
Daniel 9:23
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After the passing of the time in 1844 we searched for the truth as for
hidden treasure. I met with the brethren, and we studied and prayed earnestly.
Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the
entire night, praying for light and studying the Word. Again and again these
brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its
meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the
point in their study where they said, “We can do nothing more,” the Spirit
of the Lord would come upon me. I would be taken off in vision, and a
clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me,
with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light
was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, His
mission, and His priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the
time when we shall enter the city of God was made plain to me, and I gave to
others the instruction that the Lord had given me.
During this whole time I could not understand the reasoning of the
brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend
the meaning of the scriptures we were studying. This was one of the greatest
sorrows of my life. I was in this condition of mind until all the principal
points of our faith were made clear to our minds, in harmony with the Word
of God. The brethren knew that, when not in vision, I could not understand
these matters, and they accepted, as light directly from heaven, the revelations
given.
Many errors arose, and though I was then little more than a child, I was
sent by the Lord from place to place to rebuke those who were holding
these false doctrines. There were those who were in danger of going into
fanaticism, and I was bidden in the name of the Lord to give them a warning
from heaven.—
The Review and Herald, May 25, 1905
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