Chapter 51—The Cause in the West
I have seen that men of worth have embraced the truth West who
will yet be pillars to the cause. When they can place their temporal
affairs in a condition where they can use a portion of their means, they
will do their part toward sustaining the cause. I also saw that some
were willing to receive the truth, brought to them by the liberalities of
their Eastern brethren, without its costing them anything. The brethren
West should arouse and meet the expenses of their own states. God
requires this at their hands, and they should feel it a privilege to do
so. The Lord will prove them, He will try them to see if they will
withdraw their affections from the world and make their faith perfect
by works.
I saw that God’s hand was stretched out to gather in souls in the
West. He has been bringing out men who can teach the truth to others,
whose duty it will be to bear the message into new fields. I saw
that if the men who have moved from the East to the West and have
endured the hardships of settling in a new country, receive present
truth understandingly, they will manifest a perseverance and decision
of character in regard to the truth, similar to that manifested in securing
to themselves temporal possessions, and will engage as heartily in the
work of advancing the truth. If this corresponding zeal is lacking, the
truth has not yet had its saving, sanctifying influence upon them.
I was pointed back to a meeting in-----. Brother P felt the burden
of the cause, but R had a spirit of opposition. His testimony was not
in union with the work of God, and he brought grief and burden upon
those who were laboring for its advancement. But it would have been
better for the cause had he been suffered a time longer, and the brethren
borne the confusion he caused. I saw that Brother P moved unwisely in
his case. It gave R and the enemies of our faith the advantage. Brother
P should have waited until R’s religious character was more fully
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developed. He would soon either have united with the remnant people
of God or been left one side. But R obtained sympathy on account
of his age. He had partaken of the spirit of the Messenger party, and
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