Chapter 15—Our Camp Meetings
I have been shown that some of our camp meetings are far from
being what the Lord designed they should be. The people come un-
prepared for the visitation of God’s Holy Spirit. Generally the sisters
devote considerable time before the meeting to the preparation of gar-
ments for the outward adorning, while they entirely forget the inward
adorning, which is in the sight of God of great price. There is also
much time spent in needless cooking, in the preparation of rich pies
and cakes and other articles of food that do positive injury to those
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who partake of them. Should our sisters provide good bread and some
other healthful kinds of food, both they and their families would be
better prepared to appreciate the words of life and far more susceptible
to the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Often the stomach is overburdened with food which is seldom as
plain and simple as that eaten at home, where the amount of exercise
taken is double or treble. This causes the mind to be in such a lethargy
that it is difficult to appreciate eternal things; and the meeting closes,
and they are disappointed in not having enjoyed more of the Spirit of
God.
While preparing for the meeting each individual should closely
and critically examine his own heart before God. If there have been
unpleasant feelings, discord, or strife in families, it should be one of the
first acts of preparation to confess these faults one to another and pray
with and for one another. Humble yourselves before God, and make
an earnest effort to empty the soul temple of all rubbish—all envyings,
all jealousies, all suspicions, all faultfindings. “Cleanse your hands, ye
sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and
mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your
joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He
shall lift you up.”
The Lord speaks; enter into your closet, and in silence commune
with your own heart; listen to the voice of truth and conscience. Noth-
ing will give such clear views of self as secret prayer. He who seeth in
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