Missionary Periodicals
73
Calls are coming in from all directions, not only from persons of
our faith, but from those who have become interested by reading our
publications; they say, Send us a minister to preach to us the truth.
But there is a great want of laborers. We have to answer, There is
no man to send among you. Many are obliged to be content with the
silent preacher until God shall send them the living messenger. Let
all our brethren take this to heart, and by personal effort in faith and
hope contribute to the Signs of the Times; for in sending matter that
is alive, in speaking by the pen words bearing the holy unction, they
are preaching to thousands. Long, dry articles are not wanted for this
paper. The great lack of men to go from place to place and preach the
word may be in a great degree supplied by tracts and papers, and by
intelligent correspondence.
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The many scattered all over the land who can seldom have the liv-
ing preacher, may make their meetings very interesting and profitable
by selecting a good reader to read appropriate discourses published
in our papers and books. You have a large variety to choose from,
both doctrinal and practical. You can form a Bible class and search
the Scriptures for yourselves, with the aid of our publications, and in
this way learn much of present truth. You may present the reasons of
our faith to those who shall inquire for them. All should be making
the most of the opportunities granted them to become intelligent in the
Scriptures.—
The Signs of the Times, January 2, 1879
.
Meat in Due Season—Permit me to express my mind, and yet not
my mind, but the word of the Lord. I am troubled in regard to the
Signs of the Times. There are plenty of newspapers and magazines that
publish many of the things which are put into the Signs. The name of
this paper was selected because it expressed the character of the matter
to be presented in its pages. You should not have so much matter in
long articles that have no reference to the signs of the near coming of
the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. I
think if the editor of this paper could discern the necessity of being a
faithful householder, he would give meat in due season to the flock of
God. There is too much common matter and not enough of the sacred;
there is too much dependence upon pictures and other things that do
not relate to the vital issues for this time. There is danger of following
in the track of Nadab and Abihu, using common in the place of sacred
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fire. Concerning many of the matters that are so fluently presented,