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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
stronghold in the corruptions of the heart. God is raising up men to
go forth to labor in the harvest field, and if they are humble, devoted,
and godly, they will take the crowns which those ministers lose who
concerning the faith are reprobate.
November 5, 1862, I was shown that some men mistake their
calling. They think that if a man cannot labor with his hands, or if
he is not a business character, he will make a minister. Many make
a great mistake here. A man who has no business tact may make
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a minister, but he will lack qualifications that every minister must
possess in order to deal wisely in the church and build up the cause.
But when a minister is good in the pulpit, and, like Elder Hull, fails in
management, he should never go out alone. Another should go with
him to supply his lack and manage for him. And although it may be
humiliating, he should give heed to the judgment and counsel of this
companion, as a blind man follows one who has sight. By so doing he
will escape many dangers that would prove fatal to him were he left
alone.
The prosperity of the cause of God depends much upon the minis-
ters who labor in the gospel field. Those who teach the truth should be
devotional, self-sacrificing, godly men who understand their business
and go about doing good because they know that God has called them
to the work, men who feel the worth of souls and will bear burdens
and responsibilities. A thorough workman is known by the perfection
of his work.
There are but few preachers among us. And because the cause of
God seemed to need help so much, some have been led to think that
almost anyone claiming to be a minister would be acceptable. Some
have thought that because persons could pray and exhort with a degree
of freedom in meeting, they were qualified to go forth as laborers. And
before they were proved, or could show any good fruit of their labors,
men whom God has not sent have been encouraged and flattered by
some brethren lacking experience. But their work shows the character
of the workman. They scatter and confuse, but do not gather in and
build up. A few may receive the truth as the fruit of their labors, but
these generally rise no higher than those from whom they learned the
truth. The same lack which marked their own course is seen in their
converts.
The success of this cause does not depend upon our having a large
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