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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
their deficient understanding they fail to realize the exalted character
of the work and lower it to meet their own finite standard.
[553]
I saw that there was great inefficiency in the bookkeeping in many
departments of the cause. Bookkeeping is, and ever will be, an im-
portant part of the work; and those who have become expert in it are
greatly needed in our institutions and in all branches of the missionary
work. It is a work that requires study that it may be done with correct-
ness and dispatch, and without worry or overtaxation; but the training
of competent persons for this work has been shamefully neglected. It
is a disgrace to allow a work of such magnitude as ours to be done in a
defective, inaccurate way. God wants as perfect work as it is possible
for human beings to do. It is a dishonor to sacred truth and its Author
to do His work in any other way. I saw that unless the workers in
our institutions were subject to the authority of God, there would be a
lack of harmony and unity of action among them. If all will obey His
directions, the Lord will stand as the invisible commander; but there
must also be a visible head who fears God. The Lord will never accept
a careless, disorderly company of workers; neither will He undertake
to lead forward and upward to noble heights and certain victory those
who are self-willed and disobedient. The upward progress of the soul
indicates that Jesus bears rule in the heart. That heart through which
He diffuses His peace and joy, and the blessed fruits of His love, be-
comes His temple and His throne. “Ye are My friends,” says Christ,
“if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
Our institutions are far beneath what God would have them be,
because many of those connected with them are not in fellowship with
Him. They are not growing men. They are not constantly learning
of Jesus; therefore they are not becoming more and more efficient. If
they would come close to Him and seek His help, He would walk with
them and talk with them; He would be their counselor in all things,
and would grant to them, as He did to Daniel, heavenly wisdom and
understanding.
[554]
Years ago I saw that our people were far behind in obtaining that
knowledge which would qualify them for positions of trust in the
cause. Every member of the church should put forth efforts to qualify
himself to do work for the Master. To each has been appointed a work,
according to his ability. Even now, at the eleventh hour, we should
arouse to educate men of ability for the work, that they may, while