Nature and Influence of the “Testimonies”
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mortar, and to destroy the influence of my labors. The Lord would
move upon me to bear reproof, and then individuals would step in
between me and the people to make my testimony of no effect.
“In almost every case where reproof is necessary, there will be
some who entirely overlook the fact that the Spirit of the Lord has
been grieved and His cause reproached. These will pity those who
deserved reproof, because personal feelings have been hurt. All this
unsanctified sympathy places the sympathizers where they are sharers
in the guilt of the one reproved. In nine cases out of ten if the one
reproved had been left under a sense of his wrongs, he might have been
helped to see them and thereby have been reformed. But meddlesome,
unsanctified sympathizers place altogether a wrong construction upon
the motives of the reprover and the nature of the reproof given, and
by sympathizing with the one reproved lead him to feel that he has
been really abused; and his feelings rise up in rebellion against the
one who has only done his duty. Those who faithfully discharge their
unpleasant duties under a sense of their accountability to God will
receive His blessing.” [
Testimonies for the Church 3:359
(1875).]
“There are some in these last days who will cry: ‘Speak unto us
smooth things, prophesy deceits.’ But this is not my work. God has
set me as a reprover of His people; and just so surely as He has laid
upon me the heavy burden, He will make those to whom this message
is given responsible for the manner in which they treat it. God will not
be trifled with, and those who despise His work will receive according
to their deeds. I have not chosen this unpleasant labor for myself. It
is not a work which will bring to me the favor or praise of men. It is
a work which but few will appreciate. But those who seek to make
my labor doubly hard by their misrepresentations, jealous suspicions,
and unbelief, thus creating prejudice in the minds of others against
the Testimonies God has given me, and limiting my work, have the
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matter to settle with God, while I shall go forward as Providence and
my brethren may open the way before me. In the name and strength of
my Redeemer I shall do what I can.... My duty is not to please myself,
but to do the will of my heavenly Father, who has given me my work.”
[
Testimonies for the Church 4:231, 232
(1876).]
If God has given me a message to bear to His people, those who
would hinder me in the work and lessen the faith of the people in
its truth are not fighting against the instrument, but against God. “It