Chapter 36—Broader Plans
While in California in the year 1874, I was given an impressive
dream, in which was represented the instrumentality of the press in
the work of giving the third angel’s message to the world.
I dreamed that several of the brethren in California were in council,
considering the best plan for labor during the coming season. Some
thought it wise to shun the large cities, and work in smaller places.
My husband was earnestly urging that broader plans be laid, and more
extended efforts made, which would better compare with the character
of our message.
Then a young man whom I had frequently seen in my dreams,
came into the council. He listened with deep interest to the words that
were spoken, and then, speaking with deliberation and authoritative
confidence, said:
“The cities and villages constitute a part of the Lord’s vineyard.
They must hear the messages of warning. The enemy of truth is
making desperate efforts to turn the people from the truth of God to
falsehood.... You are to sow beside all waters.
“It may be that you will not at once see the result of your labor, but
this should not discourage you. Take Christ as your example. He had
many hearers, but few followers. Noah preached for one hundred and
twenty years to the people before the flood; yet out of the multitudes
on the earth at that time only eight were saved.”
The messenger continued: “You are entertaining too limited ideas
of the work for this time. You are trying to plan the work so that you
can embrace it in your arms. You must take broader views. Your light
must not be put under a bushel or under a bed, but on a candlestick,
that it may give light to all that are in the house. Your house is the
world.
[217]
“The verity and truth of the binding claims of the fourth command-
ment must be presented in clear lines before the people. ‘Ye are My
witnesses.’ The message will go in power to all parts of the world, to
Oregon, to Europe, to Australia, to the islands of the sea, to all nations,
148