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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
hands. He pursued a selfish course toward his brothers because he
had the advantage and could do so. His brothers have not had right
feelings. They have felt bitter toward him. He has in deal advantaged
himself to the disadvantage of others until his course has reproached
the cause of God. He has lost command of himself. His greatest object
has been gain, selfish gain. The love of money in the heart was the
root of all this evil. I was shown that had he turned his powers to labor
in the vineyard of the Lord he would have done much good, but these
qualifications perverted can do a great deal of harm.
The brothers B have not had the help they ought to have had. A
B has labored to great disadvantage. He has taken too many burdens
upon him, which has crippled his labors so that he has not increased
in spiritual strength and courage as he should. The church, who
have the light of truth, and should be strong in God to will and do,
and to sacrifice, if need be, for the truth’s sake, have been like weak
children. They have required the time and labor of Brother A B to
settle difficulties which should never have existed. And when these
difficulties have arisen because of selfishness and unsanctified hearts,
they could have been put away in an hour, had there been humility and
a spirit of confession.
The brothers B make a mistake in remaining at-----. They should
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change their location and not see this place oftener than a few times in
the year. They would have greater freedom in bearing their testimony.
These brethren have not felt freedom in speaking out truth and facts as
they have existed. If they had lived elsewhere, they would have been
more free from burdens, and their testimony would have had tenfold
more weight when they did visit this church. While Brother A B has
been weighed down with petty church trials and kept at-----, he should
have been laboring abroad. He has served tables until his mind has
become clouded, and he does not comprehend the force and power of
the truth. He has not been awake to the real wants of the cause of God.
He has been losing spirituality and courage. The work of keeping up
systematic benevolence has been neglected. Some of the brethren,
whose whole interest was once in the advancement of the cause of
God, have been growing selfish and penurious instead of becoming
more self-sacrificing and their love for the truth and devotion to it
increasing. They have been growing less devotional and more like the
world. Father C is one of this number. He needs a new conversion.