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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
they are in Christ’s stead, that they must illustrate by example the
life of Christ. “For we are laborers together with God.” “We then, as
workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the
grace of God in vain.”
I was shown that the usefulness of young ministers, married or
unmarried, is often destroyed by the attachment shown to them by
young women. Such do not realize that other eyes are upon them,
and that the course pursued by them may have a tendency to very
much injure the influence of the minister to whom they give so much
attention. If they would strictly regard the rules of propriety, it would
be much better for them and much better for their minister. It places
him in a disagreeable position and causes others to look upon him in
a wrong light. Yet I saw that the burden of the matter rests upon the
ministers themselves. They should show a distaste for these things,
and if they take the course which God would have them, they will
not be troubled long. They should shun every appearance of evil, and
when young women are very sociable, it is their duty to let them know
that it is not pleasing. They must repulse this forwardness even if they
are thought to be rude. Such things should be rebuked in order to save
the cause from reproach. Young women who have been converted to
the truth and to God will listen to reproof and will be reformed.
Ministers should follow up their public labors by private efforts,
laboring personally for souls whenever there is an opportunity, con-
versing around the fireside, and entreating souls to seek for those things
which make for their peace. Our work here is soon to close, and every
man will receive his reward according to his own labor. I was shown
the saints’ reward, the immortal inheritance, and saw that those who
had endured the most for the truth’s sake will not think they have had
a hard time, but will count heaven cheap enough.
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