Spirit of Independence
415
tives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a
General Conference, shall have authority. The error that some are in
danger of committing, is in giving to the mind and judgment of one
man, or of a small group of men, the full measure of authority and
influence that God has vested in His church, in the judgment and voice
of the General Conference assembled to plan for the prosperity and
advancement of His work.
When this power, which God has placed in the church, is accredited
wholly to one man, and he is invested with the authority to be judgment
for other minds, then the true Bible order is changed. Satan’s efforts
upon such a man’s mind would be most subtle, and sometimes well-
nigh overpowering; for the enemy would hope that through his mind
he could affect many others. Let us give to the highest organized
authority in the church that which we are prone to give to one man or
to a small group of men.—
Testimonies for the Church 9:257-261
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