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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
painful and agonizing it would be to be without the forgiveness of
God, and that he might understand the scripture: “If ye forgive not
men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
I saw that if God should be as exacting as we are, and should deal with
us as we deal with one another, we might all be thrown into a state of
hopeless despair.
I was shown that God had suffered this affliction to come upon us
to teach us much that we could not otherwise have learned in so short a
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time. It was His will that we should go to-----, for our experience could
not have been thorough without it. He would have us see, and more
fully understand, that it is impossible for those who obey the truth
and are keeping His commandments, to live up to their convictions
of duty and unite with the leaders at-----; so far as serving God is
concerned, their principles can unite no better than oil and water. It
is only those of the purest principles and the greatest independence
of mind, who think and act for themselves, having the fear of God
before them and trusting in Him, who can safely remain any length of
time in-----. Those who are not thus qualified should not be advised to
go to that institution, for their minds will become bewildered by the
smooth words of its conductors and poisoned by their sophistry, which
originates with Satan.
Their influence and teachings in regard to the service of God and a
religious life are in direct opposition to the teachings of our Saviour
and His disciples. By precept and example they lower the standard
of piety and say that they need not sorrow for their sins or separate
from the world in order to be followers of Christ, but can mingle with
the world and participate in its pleasures. These leaders would not
encourage their adherents to imitate the life of Christ in prayerfulness,
sobriety, and dependence upon God. Persons of conscientious minds
and firm trust in God cannot receive one half as much benefit at-----as
those can who have confidence in the religious principles of the leaders
of that institution. The former have to stand braced against much of
their teachings, so far as religious principles are concerned, sifting
everything they hear lest they should be deceived and Satan obtain
advantage over them.
I saw that, as far as disease and its treatment is concerned,-----is
the best health institution in the United States. Yet the leaders there
are but men, and their judgment is not always correct. The leading
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