Points on Selling
69
The press is a power; but if its products fall dead for want of men
who will execute plans to widely circulate them, its power is lost.
While there has been a quick foresight to discern the necessity of
laying out means in facilities to multiply books and tracts, plans to
bring back the means invested so as to produce other publications,
have been neglected. The power of the press, with all its advantages,
is in their hands; and they can use it to the very best account, or they
can be half asleep and through inaction lose the advantages which they
might gain. By judicious calculation they can extend the light in the
sale of books and pamphlets. They can send them into thousands of
families that now sit in the darkness of error.—
Testimonies for the
Church 4:388, 389
(1880).
Not to Rely on Premiums—Those who have genuine humility,
and whose minds have been expanded by the truths unfolded in the
gospel, will have an influence that will be felt. They will make an
impression upon minds and hearts, and they will be respected by the
larger number, even of those who have no sympathy with their faith.
With the truths of the Bible and our valuable papers they will have
success, for the Lord will open the way before them. But to urge
our papers upon the people by means of gifts and premiums does not
have a permanent influence for good. If our workers would go forth
relying upon the truths of the Bible, with the love of Christ and of souls
in their hearts, they would accomplish more in obtaining permanent
[88]
subscribers than by depending upon premiums or low prices. The
prominence given to these inducements to take the paper gives the
impression that it cannot possess real merit in itself. The results
would be better if the paper were made prominent and the money
spent for premiums were reserved to distribute a few copies free.
When premiums are offered, some may be induced to take the paper
who otherwise would not, but others will refuse to subscribe because
they think it a speculation. If the canvasser would present the merits
of the paper itself, with his heart uplifted to God for success, and
would depend less upon premiums, more would be accomplished.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:401
(1885).
Canvassers should be secured to handle the books, Great Con-
troversy, Patriarchs and Prophets, Desire of Ages, Daniel and the
Revelation, and other books of like character, who have a sense of the
value of the matter these books contain, and a realization of the work