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Pastoral Ministry
yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My
burden is light.” Those who heed this invitation will have no thought
of repining, no thought of loneliness. Their work is to do the will
of Christ. As they do this, they will have sweet peace, and rest of
soul.—
Manuscript Releases 14:307
.
[87]
Being overly swayed by one’s companion can prove harmful
to the minister—The wife of one of our ministers kept her husband,
who was a very sensitive-minded man, tortured by suggestions similar
to those you have uttered. Upon the words and actions of others she
cast untruthful suspicions, and presented her views in such a strong
light that her husband thought that she possessed superior insight into
character. The Lord gave me a message for this brother and sister, but
neither of them received it. He thought that he was right in his belief
that his wife possessed superior discernment, and he believed that her
suggestions were perfectly true. Any effort made to enlighten him, or
to remove the wrong impressions he had received, were looked upon
as a design to deceive him. And the unruly tongue of his wife was
constantly at work. Any endeavor to save him from a breakdown was
interpreted by her as a desire to put someone else in his place. His
brethren worked with all their power to save him, but their plans were
construed as deep-laid schemes set on foot to hurt his influence. Thus
the work of God was counteracted by home influence.—
Manuscript
Releases 12:341
.
Workers with marriage problems may present themselves as
having been wronged, when it is their companions who have been
most wronged—I cannot appear to justify your course of action in
your married life. Leaving your wife and family is an offense to God,
and I must present this matter as it is, before the president of your
conference, Elder Williams. I had hoped that when you saw your
delusion you would feel that repentance for your course of action that
needeth not to be repented of. But my experience at Armadale, and
the burden brought upon me there, made me a great sufferer; and
matters in regard to your past life have been more fully opened before
me....You have thought that you would receive the credentials of a
minister of the gospel, but had these been given you, reproach would
have been brought upon the cause of God. You have represented
yourself as being a wronged man, but it is your wife who has been