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Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
before the people until he has first communed with God. Then he
is led to work as Christ worked. He respects the varied minds that
compose his audience. He has a word that touches the case of all, not
worldly, confusing ideas. He has no right to introduce the worldly
perplexities. The bread of life will satisfy every soul hunger.
* * * * *
Conference Officers
[Special Testimonies, Series A 8:27-32 (1897).]
Cooranbong, Australia,
August, 1896
Conference Presidents and Counselors,
God gave to Moses special direction for the management of his
work. He directed Moses to associate men with him as counselors,
that his burdens might be lightened. Through Jethro the message
was given: “Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel,
and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to Godward, that
thou mayest bring the causes unto God: and thou shalt teach them
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ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they
must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt
provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of
truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of
thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that
every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter
they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear
the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command
thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall
also go to their place in peace.”
This counsel is for us. It should be heeded by our responsible
men. The president of our General Conference has been left to gather
to himself burdens which God has not laid upon him, and the things
that he has tried to do could not be done wisely and well....
Moses said, “When they have a matter, they come unto me;
and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know