50
Counsels to Writers and Editors
put them in front before his brethren and create differences of ideas.
While he might hold these views subordinate himself, once [they are]
made public, minds would seize [upon them], and just because others
believe differently would make these differences the whole burden of
the message, and get up contention and variance.
There are the main pillars of our faith, subjects which are of vital
interest, the Sabbath, the keeping of the commandments of God. Spec-
ulative ideas should not be agitated; for there are peculiar minds that
love to get some point that others do not accept, and argue and attract
everything to that one point, urging that point, magnifying that point,
when it is really a matter which is not of vital importance, and will be
understood differently. Twice I have been shown that everything of
a character to cause our brethren to be diverted from the very points
now essential for this time, should be kept in the background.
Christ did not reveal many things that were truth, because it would
create a difference of opinion and get up disputations, but young men
who have not passed through this experience we have had, would as
soon have a brush as not. Nothing would suit them better than a sharp
discussion.
If these things come into our conference, I would refuse to attend
one of them; for I have had so much light upon this subject that I know
that unconsecrated and unsanctified hearts would enjoy this kind of
[78]
exercise. Too late in the day, brethren, too late in the day. We are in
the great day of atonement, a time when a man must be afflicting his
soul, confessing his sins, humbling his heart before God, and getting
ready for the great conflict. When these contentions come in before
the people, they will think one has the argument, and then that another
directly opposed has the argument. The poor people become confused,
and the conference will be a dead loss, worse than if they had had no
conference.
Now when everything is dissension and strife, there must be de-
cided efforts to handle, [to] publish with pen and voice these things
that will reveal only harmony....
But how do you think I feel to see our two leading papers in
contention? I know how these papers came into existence, I know
what God has said about them, that they are one, that no variance
should be seen in these two instrumentalities of God. They are one
and they must remain one, breathing the same spirit, exercised in the