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A Distribution of Responsibility
[Manuscript read before the delegates at the General Conference,
Washington, D.C., May 30, 1909.]
God would have His people an understanding people. He has
so arranged matters that chosen men shall go as delegates to our
conferences. These men are to be tried and proved. They are to be
trustworthy men. The choosing of delegates to attend our confer-
ences is an important matter. These men are to lay the plans that
shall be followed in the advancement of the work; and therefore they
are to be men of understanding, able to reason from cause to effect.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the
people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the
evening. And when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the
people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people?
why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from
morning unto even? And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because
the people come unto me to inquire of God: when they have a matter,
they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do
make them know the statutes of God, and His laws. And Moses’
father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with
thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform
it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel,
and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to Godward, that
thou mayest bring the causes unto God: and thou shalt teach them
ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they
must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt
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provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of
truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers
of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of
tens: and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be,
that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small
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