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Gospel Workers 1915
who are willing and anxious to labor in Christ’s lines; it discourages
from entering the work many who would become efficient laborers
[489]
together with God, if they were given a fair chance.
To the prophet, the wheel within a wheel, the appearance of living
creatures connected with them, all seemed intricate and unexplainable.
But the hand of Infinite Wisdom is seen among the wheels, and perfect
order is the result of its work. Every wheel, directed by the hand of
God, works in perfect harmony with every other wheel. I have been
shown that human instrumentalities are liable to seek after too much
power, and try to control the work themselves. They leave the Lord
God, the mighty Worker, too much out of their methods and plans,
and do not trust to Him everything in regard to the advancement of the
work. No one should for a moment fancy that he is able to manage
those things that belong to the great I AM. God in His providence is
preparing a way so that the work may be done by human agents. Then
let every man stand at his post of duty, to act his part for this time, and
know that God is his instructor.
The General Conference
I have often been instructed by the Lord that no man’s judgment
should be surrendered to the judgment of any other one man. Never
should the mind of one man or the minds of a few men be regarded
as sufficient in wisdom and power to control the work, and to say
what plans shall be followed. But when, in a General Conference,
the judgment of the brethren assembled from all parts of the field,
is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be
stubbornly maintained, but surrendered. Never should a laborer regard
as a virtue the persistent maintenance of his position of independence,
[490]
contrary to the decision of the general body.
At times, when a small group of men entrusted with the general
management of the work have, in the name of the General Conference,
sought to carry out unwise plans and to restrict God’s work, I have
said that I could no longer regard the voice of the General Conference,
represented by these few men, as the voice of God. But this is not
saying that the decisions of a General Conference composed of an
assembly of duly appointed, representative men from all parts of the
field, should not be respected. God has ordained that the representa-