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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
to a great extent, shut up to his own case. This was the burden
of his thoughts and the theme of his conversation. In this precise,
systematic course he has failed to receive the benefit, in point of
health, that he might have realized if he had been more forgetful of
himself and, from day to day, engaged in physical exercise, which
would have diverted his mind from himself.
The same deficiencies have marked his labor in the gospel field.
In speaking to the people, he has many apologies to make and many
preliminaries to repeat, and the congregation become wearied before
he reaches his real subject. As far as possible, ministers should avoid
apologies and preliminaries.
Brother D is too specific. He dwells upon minutiae. He takes
time to explain points which are really unimportant and would be
taken for granted without producing proof, for they are self-evident.
But the real, vital points should be made as forcible as language
and proof can make them. They should stand forth as prominent
as mileposts. He should avoid many words over little particulars,
which will weary the hearer before the important points are reached.
Brother D has large concentrativeness. When he gets his mind
in a certain direction, it is difficult for him to place it anywhere else;
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he lingers tediously upon one point. In conversation he is in danger
of wearying the listener. His writings lack a free, easy style. The
habit of concentrating the mind upon one thing, to the exclusion of
other things, is a misfortune. This should be understood by him, and
he should labor to restrain and control this power of the mind, which
is too active. Too great activity of one organ of the mind strengthens
that organ to the enfeebling of other organs. If Brother D would
make a successful laborer in the gospel field, he should educate his
mind. The large development of this organ impairs his health and
his usefulness. There is a lack of harmony in the organization of his
mind, and his body suffers in consequence.
It would be greatly for the interest of Brother D to cultivate
simplicity and ease in his writings. He needs to avoid dwelling at
length upon any point that is not of vital importance; and even the
most essential, manifest truths, those which are of themselves clear
and plain, may be so covered up with words as to be made cloudy
and indistinct.