Appeal for Burden Bearers
15
and exercise their own brains; for they have this branch of business
alone, while my husband has the responsibility of many departments
of the work. If a workman makes a failure, he should feel that it rests
upon him to repair damages from his own purse, and should not allow
the office to suffer loss through his carelessness. He should not cease
to bear responsibilities, but should try again, avoiding former mistakes.
In this way he will learn to take that care which the word of God ever
requires, and then he will do no more than his duty.
[13]
“My husband should take time to do those things which his judg-
ment tells him would preserve his health. He has thought that he must
throw off the burdens and responsibilities which were upon him, and
leave the office, or his mind would become a wreck. I was shown
that when the Lord released him from his position, he would give him
just as clear evidence of his release as he gave him when He laid the
burden of the work upon him. But he has borne too many burdens,
and those laboring with him at the office, and also his ministering
brethren, have been too willing that he should bear them. They have,
as a general thing, stood back from bearing burdens, and have sympa-
thized with those who were murmuring against him, and left him to
stand alone while he was bowed down beneath censure, until God has
vindicated His own cause. If they had taken their share of the burdens,
my husband would have been relieved.
“I saw that God now requires us to take special care of the health
He has given us, for our work is not yet done. Our testimony must still
be borne, and will have influence. We should preserve our strength
to labor in the cause of God when our labor is needed. We should be
careful not to take upon ourselves burdens that others can and should
bear. We should encourage a cheerful, hopeful, peaceful frame of
mind; for our health depends upon our so doing. The work that God
requires us to do will not prevent our caring for our health, that we
may recover from the effect of overtaxing labor. The more perfect
our health, the more perfect will be our labor. When we overtax our
strength, and become exhausted, we are liable to take cold, and at such
times there is danger of disease assuming a dangerous form. We must
not leave the care of ourselves with God, when He has placed that
responsibility upon us.”
October 25, 1869, while at Adams Center, New York, I was shown
that some ministers among us fail to bear all the responsibility that