Chapter 112—Ministers, Order, and Organization
Some ministers have fallen into the error that they cannot have
liberty in speaking unless they raise their voices to a high pitch and
talk loud and fast. Such should understand that noise and loud, hurried
speaking are not evidence of the presence of the power of God. It is
not the power of the voice that makes the lasting impression. Ministers
should be Bible students, and should thoroughly furnish themselves
with the reasons of our faith and hope, and then, with full control of
the voice and feelings, they should present these in such a manner
that the people can calmly weigh them and decide upon the evidences
given. And as ministers feel the force of the arguments which they
present in the form of solemn, testing truth, they will have zeal and
earnestness according to knowledge. The Spirit of God will sanctify to
their own souls the truths which they present to others, and they will
be watered themselves while they water others.
I saw that some of our ministers do not understand how to preserve
their strength so as to be able to perform the greatest amount of labor
without exhaustion. Ministers should not pray so loud and long as to
exhaust their strength. It is not necessary to weary the throat and lungs
in prayer. God’s ear is ever open to hear the heartfelt petitions of His
humble servants, and He does not require them to wear out the organs
of speech in addressing Him. It is the perfect trust, the firm reliance,
the steady claiming of the promises of God, the simple faith that He is
and that He is a rewarder of all those who diligently seek Him, that
prevails with God.
Ministers should discipline themselves and learn how to perform
the greatest amount of labor in the brief period allotted them, and yet
preserve a good degree of strength, so that if an extra effort should be
required, they may have a reserve of vital force sufficient for the occa-
sion, which they can employ without injuring themselves. Sometimes
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all the strength they have is needed to put forth effort at a given point,
and if they have previously exhausted their fund of strength and cannot
command the power to make this effort, all they have done is lost. At
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