Family Religion
85
I was shown that many drive Christ from their families by an
impatient, passionate spirit. Such have something to overcome in
this respect. The human family was presented before me, enfeebled.
Every generation has been growing weaker, and disease of every form
visits the human race. Thousands of poor mortals are dragging out a
miserable existence. Some with deformed, sickly bodies, shattered
nerves, and gloomy minds. Satan’s power upon the human family
increases. If the Lord should not soon come and destroy his power,
the earth would soon be depopulated.
I was shown that Satan’s power is especially exercised upon the
people of God. Many were presented before me in a doubting, despair-
ing condition. The infirmities of the body affect the mind. A cunning
and powerful enemy attends our steps, and employs his strength and
skill in trying to turn us out of the right way. And it is too often the case
that the people of God are not on their watch; therefore are ignorant of
his devices. He works by means which will best conceal himself from
view. And he often gains his object.
Brethren have engaged in patent rights, and other enterprises, and
have induced others to interest themselves, who could not bear the
perplexity and care of such business. Their anxiety and over-taxed
minds seriously affect their already diseased bodies, and they then be-
come desponding, which increases to despair. They lose all confidence
in themselves, and think God has forsaken them, and they dare not
believe that God will be merciful to them. These poor souls will not
be left to the control of Satan; they will make their way through the
gloom, and their trembling faith will again fasten upon the promises of
God, and he will deliver them, and turn their sorrow and mourning into
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peace and gladness. But such, I was shown, must learn by the things
they suffer, to let patent rights and these various enterprises alone.
They should not suffer even their brethren to flatter them to entangle
themselves with any such enterprise, for their anticipations will not
be realized, and then they are thrown upon the enemy’s battle-field
unarmed for the conflict. Means, which it was shown me should be
put into the treasury of God to advance his cause, is worse than lost
by being invested in some of these modern improvements. Those
who profess the truth, and feel at liberty to engage, and capable of
engaging, in these patent rights and inventions, should not go among
their brethren and make that their field of operation, but go among