Chapter 1—Our Literature and Its Mission
“Begin to Print”—At a meeting held in Dorchester, Mas-
sachusetts, November, 1848, I had been given a view of the proclama-
tion of the sealing message, and of the duty of the brethren to publish
the light that was shining upon our pathway.
After coming out of vision, I said to my husband: “I have a message
for you. You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the
people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send
you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first.
From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of
light that went clear round the world.”—
Life Sketches, 125
(1915).
Make Truth Clear and Plain—Our publications have a most
sacred work to do in making clear, simple, and plain the spiritual
basis of our faith. Everywhere the people are taking sides; all are
ranging themselves either under the banner of truth and righteousness
or under the banner of the apostate powers that are contending for the
supremacy. At this time God’s message to the world is to be given
with such prominence and power that the people will be brought face
[2]
to face, mind to mind, heart to heart, with truth. They must be brought
to see its superiority over the multitudinous errors that are pushing
their way into notice, to supplant, if possible, the word of God for this
solemn time.
The great object of our publications is to exalt God, to call men’s
attention to the living truths of His word. God calls upon us to lift up,
not our own standard, not the standard of this world, but His standard
of truth.—
Testimonies for the Church 7:150, 151
(1902).
Publish Light and Truth—In the night of March 2, 1907, many
things were revealed to me regarding the value of our publications on
present truth and the small effort that is being made by our brethren
and sisters in the churches for their wide circulation.
I have been repeatedly shown that our presses should now be
constantly employed in publishing light and truth. This is a time of
spiritual darkness in the churches of the world. Ignorance of divine
6