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Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce
shepherd, a representative of Christ.” But can we do this? Have we not
seen the workings of an unsanctified heart?
A Man Bewitched—The persistency in Elder H to accept and
claim Mrs. S as his—what shall I call it—his affinity? What is this?
Who can name it? Is Elder H one who has hated the light God has
given him, showing that his preferences for Mrs. S’s society, and his
intimacy with her, was sinful as in the light of the Word of God? Or
did he accept the message and act upon it?
Notwithstanding, I went to Elder H with the testimony given me of
God, yet he did not reform. His course has said, “I will do as I please
in the matter; there is no sin in it.” He promised before God what he
would do, but he broke his promises made to Brother C. H. Jones,
W. C. White, and myself, and his feelings did not decidedly change;
but he seems to act like a man bewitched, under the spell of the devil,
who had no power over his own inclinations. Notwithstanding all the
light given, he has evidenced no real conviction or sense of sin; no
repentance, no reformation. Hearts have ached sorely over this state
of things, but they had no power to change his heart or his purposes.
Perversion of God-given Powers—Now, we should be very grate-
ful for the help of Elder H in England, and in Switzerland, but what
can we decide upon? We must have evidence that he is clear before
God. We do not want to make a light matter of sin, and say to the
sinner, “It shall be well with thee.” We do not want to connect Elder H
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with the work here unless he has a connection with God. We do not
want to have the drawback that would come by connecting a man with
the work who has a blot on his garments. We cannot pass lightly over
this matter.
The plague of sin is upon Elder H, and pain and sorrow are upon
the souls of all who are aware of this chapter in his experience. Christ
is dishonored. A man blessed with superior light and knowledge, en-
dowed with great capacity for good, that he may by a life of obedience
and fidelity to God become equal with angels [and] his life measure
with the life of God, has perverted his God-given powers to admin-
ister to lust, coveting the wife of another. God finds Elder H setting
at naught the most costly lessons of experience, violating the most
solemn admonitions of God, that he may continue in sin.
I have hoped and prayed that he would restore reason to its right
throne and break the fetters that for years Satan has been weaving