Chapter 47—Concealing Reproofs
I was shown the course of H and I. Although reproved, they have
not corrected their wrongs. The people of God, especially in the
State of New York, have been affected by their wrong course. Their
influence has been injurious to the cause of God. For the last ten years
they have been often presented before me in vision, their wrongs have
been shown me, and I have written to them concerning these things.
But they were careful to conceal from their brethren the fact that they
had been reproved, fearing it would have a tendency to destroy their
influence. Those who were affected by their wrong course, should
have been benefited by the reproofs which they received. I should
have placed these messages in the hands of judicious brethren in the
church, that if necessary, all might understand the instruction the Lord
saw fit to give His people. But when I related the messages given me
for these brethren to anyone but themselves, they censured me in the
most unsparing manner. This caused me so much suffering of mind
that I have been led to conceal what the Lord has given me in regard
to the wrongs of individuals.
It was pride of heart which led these brethren to manifest so much
fear lest others should know that they had been corrected. If they had
humbly confessed their wrongs to the church, they would have acted
out the faith they professed to have in the visions, and the church would
have been strengthened to receive correction and confess their faults.
These teachers stood in the way of the flock. They set them a wrong
example, and the church have looked to them, and when reproved have
inquired: “Why have not these ministers been reproved, when we are
following their teachings?” A door has thus been opened for Satan to
tempt them as to the truthfulness of the visions.
The brethren have been deceived and wronged. They believed
that we were in union with these teachers, and followed their instruc-
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tions, when they were all wrong. I have written to these ministers in
anguish of spirit as I have seen the cause of God wounded by their
injudicious course. How anxiously have I watched the effect of these
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