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Chapter 4—Evilspeaking
Brother F has had the cause of God at heart, but he has felt too
deeply, and has taken on many burdens which he should not have
borne. He has suffered in health in this way. He has sometimes
viewed matters in a strong light, and has been too earnest and anxious
to have all see them just as he did; and because they were backward
in doing so, he has felt nearly crushed. He feels to the depths, and is
in danger of urging his views of things too strongly.
Sister F wants to be a Christian, but she has not cultivated discre-
tion and true courtesy. She is of a very sanguine turn of mind, ardent
and self-confident. She shows the rough part of her character, and
has not appeared to advantage. She has moved from impulse, acting
just as she felt, and sometimes her feelings have been much excited
and strong. She has strong likes and dislikes, and has permitted
this unfortunate trait in her character to develop itself, greatly to the
detriment of her own spiritual advancement and to the injury of the
church. She has talked too much and unwisely, just as she felt. This
has had a strong influence upon her husband, and has at times led
him to move from excitement of feeling, when if he had waited and
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looked at matters calmly and weighed them properly, it would have
been better for himself and for the church. Nothing is gained by
moving hurriedly, moving from impulse, or from strong feeling.
Sister F moves from impulse, and finds fault, and has had too
much to say against her brethren and sisters. This will cause con-
fusion in any church. If she could control her own spirit, a great
victory would be gained. If she would seek the heavenly adorning,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which God, the Creator
of the heavens and the earth, calls of great price, she would then be a
real help to the church. If she would cherish the spirit of Christ, and
become a peacemaker, her own soul would flourish, and she would
be a blessing to the church wherever she might be located. Unless
she is converted and an entire change is wrought in her, unless she
educates herself to be slow to speak and slow to wrath, and cultivates
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