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Spirit of Independence
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consecrated zeal, is doing a special work in God’s appointed way,
they are retarding the advancement of the Lord’s cause.
God can and will use those who have not had a thorough edu-
cation in the schools of men. A doubt of His power to do this is
manifest unbelief; it is limiting the omnipotent power of the One
with whom nothing is impossible. Oh, for less of this uncalled-for,
distrustful caution! It leaves so many forces of the church unused; it
closes up the way so that the Holy Spirit cannot use men; it keeps in
idleness those who are willing and anxious to labor in Christ’s lines;
it discourages from entering the work many who would become
efficient laborers together with God if they were given a fair chance.
To the prophet the wheel within a wheel, the appearance of living
creatures connected with them, all seemed intricate and unexplain-
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able. But the hand of Infinite Wisdom is seen among the wheels,
and perfect order is the result of its work. Every wheel, directed
by the hand of God, works in perfect harmony with every other
wheel. I have been shown that human instrumentalities are liable to
seek after too much power and try to control the work themselves.
They leave the Lord God, the Mighty Worker, too much out of their
methods and plans, and do not trust to Him everything in regard to
the advancement of the work. No one should for a moment fancy
that he is able to manage those things that belong to the great I AM.
God in His providence is preparing a way so that the work may be
done by human agents. Then let every man stand at his post of duty,
to act his part for this time and know that God is his instructor.
The General Conference
I have often been instructed by the Lord that no man’s judg-
ment should be surrendered to the judgment of any other one man.
Never should the mind of one man or the minds of a few men be
regarded as sufficient in wisdom and power to control the work and
to say what plans shall be followed. But when, in a General Con-
ference, the judgment of the brethren assembled from all parts of
the field is exercised, private independence and private judgment
must not be stubbornly maintained, but surrendered. Never should a
laborer regard as a virtue the persistent maintenance of his position
of independence, contrary to the decision of the general body.