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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
reluctance to exert an influence outside of a special circle. You
idolize yours, and shut yourselves within yourselves. That the Lord
may save me and mine is the great burden. This spirit will have to die
before you can flourish in the Lord and make spiritual advancement,
before the church can grow and souls be added unto them of such as
shall be saved.
You are all narrowed up as to labor for others, and must change
your base of operations. Your relatives are no dearer in the sight
of God than any other poor souls who need salvation. We must put
self and selfishness under our feet, and exemplify in our lives the
spirit of self-sacrifice and disinterested benevolence manifested by
Jesus when He was upon earth. All should have an interest for their
relatives, but should not allow themselves to be shut up to them as
though they were the only ones whom Jesus came to save.
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