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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
have had that you are giving the conference a narrow mold and have
stood in the way of its advancement because you have not elevated
the standard of truth. I will here quote a few paragraphs from this
testimony, which was written during the General Conference at Battle
Creek, in November, 1883:
“Our conversation in regard to the-----mission has left a disagree-
able impression on my mind. Do not think me severe in my remarks
in regard to this mission. You spoke with great satisfaction of the way
this work had been carried forward. You said that Brother O and those
associated with him were willing to do any way to get along; that they
had a small room in a loft, where they prepared their food; and that
they were doing a good work in the most economical way. Your ideas
on this subject are not correct. The light which God has given us,
precious above the price of silver and gold, is to go forth in a way to
give character to the work. The brethren connected with this mission
are not free from the infirmities of humanity; and unless attention is
given to their health, their work must be greatly embarrassed. Those
who stand at the head of the work in the conference should not permit
such a state of things to exist. They should educate the people to
give of their means, that no pinched want may be experienced by the
workers. As the stewards of God the responsibility rests upon them to
see that one or two do not have all the sacrificing to do while others
are taking their ease, eating, drinking, and dressing, without a thought
of our sacred missions or of their duty with reference to them.
“I have been shown, Elder M, that you do not take a correct view
of the work, that you do not realize its importance. You have failed
to educate the people in the true spirit of self-sacrifice and devotion.
You have feared to urge duty upon wealthy men; and when you have
made a feeble effort in the right direction, and they have begun to
make excuses and to find a little fault with someone in regard to the
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management of the work, you have thought perhaps they were right.
This subterfuge, which has developed in them doubt and unbelief, has
taken effect in your own heart, and they have turned this to account and
have learned just how to treat your efforts. When they have encouraged
doubt in regard to the Testimonies, you have not done what you should
to uproot this feeling. You should have shown them that Satan is
always picking flaws, questioning, accusing, and laying reproach upon
the brethren, and that it is unsafe to be in any such position.”