I was shown that while Sister J and Brother and Sister K have seen wrongs in others, they have not made efforts to correct those wrongs and help those whom they ought to have helped. They have left them too much alone, and held them off at arms' length, and felt that it was of no use to try to do anything for them. This is wrong. They commit an error in so doing. Christ said: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." The Lord would have us help those who most need help. While you have seen the errors and wrongs in others, you have shut yourselves too much to yourselves, and have been too selfish in your enjoyment of the truth. God does not approve this being satisfied with the truth and making no sacrifice to aid and strengthen those who need strength. We are not all organized alike, and many have not been educated aright. Their education has been deficient. Some have had a quick temper transmitted to them, and their education in childhood has not taught them self-control. With this fiery temper, envy and jealousy are frequently united. Others are faulty in other respects. Some are dishonest in deal, overreaching in trade. Others are arbitrary in their families, loving to rule. Their lives are far from being correct. Their education was all wrong. They were not told the sin of yielding to the control of these evil traits; therefore sin does not appear to them so exceedingly sinful. Others, whose education has not been so faulty, who have had better training, have developed a much less objectionable character. The Christian life of all is very much affected for good or for evil by their previous education.
Jesus, our Advocate, is acquainted with
all the circumstances with which we are surrounded and deals
with us according to the light we have had and the circumstances
in which we are placed. Some have a much better organization
than others. While some are continually harassed, afflicted,
and in trouble because of their unhappy traits of character,
having to war with internal foes and the corruption of their
nature, others have not half so much to battle against. They
pass along almost free from the difficulties which their brethren
and sisters who are not so favorably organized are laboring under.
In very many cases they do not labor half so hard to
overcome and live the life of a Christian
as do some of those unfortunate ones I have mentioned. The latter
appear to disadvantage almost every time, while the former appear
much better because it is natural for them so to do. They may
not labor half as hard to watch and keep the body under, yet
at the same time they compare their lives with the lives of others
who are unfortunately organized and badly educated, and flatter
themselves with the contrast. They talk of the failings, errors,
and wrongs of the unfortunate, but do not feel that they have
any burden in the matter, farther than to dwell upon those wrongs
and shun those who are guilty of them.
The prominent position which you as a family
occupy in the church makes it highly necessary for you to be
burden bearers. Not that you are to take burdens for those who
are able to bear their own and also to aid others; but you should
help those who stand most in need of help, those who are less
favorably situated, who are erring and faulty, and who may have
injured you and tried your patience to the utmost. It is just
such ones that Jesus pities, because Satan has more power over
them and is constantly taking advantage of their weak points
and driving his arrows to wound them where they are least protected.
Jesus exercises His power and mercy for just such pitiable cases.
When He asked who loved most, Simon answered: "He to whom
he forgave most." Thus it will be. Jesus did not shun the
weak, unfortunate, and helpless, but He helped such as needed
help. He did not confine His visits and labors to a class more
intelligent and less faulty, to the neglect of the unfortunate.
He did not inquire whether it was agreeable for Him to be a companion
of the poorest, the most needy. These are the ones whose company
He sought, the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
This is the work you have neglected. You
have shunned disagreeable responsibilities and have not gone
to the erring and visited them,
and manifested an interest and love for them, and made yourselves
familiar with them. You have not had a spirit of Christlike forgiveness.
You have marked out just such a course that all must come up
to before you could throw over them your mantle of charity. You
are not required to cloak sin, but to exercise that pitying love
for the erring which Christ has exercised toward you.
You are placed under the most favorable
circumstances for the development of good Christian characters.
You are not where you feel pinching want, or where your souls
are galled and distressed with the conduct of disobedient, rebellious
children. In your family there is no dissenting voice. You have
all that heart can wish. Yet, notwithstanding your favorable
surroundings, you have faults and errors, and much to overcome
in order to be free from spiritual pride, selfishness, a hasty
spirit, jealousy, and evil surmisings.
Brother K has not the sin of evilspeaking
to repent of, as very many have, but he lacks a willingness to
help those who most need help. He is selfish. He loves his home,
loves quiet, rest, freedom from care, perplexities, and trials;
therefore he pleases himself too much. He does not bear the burdens
which Heaven has assigned him. He shuns disagreeable responsibilities,
and shuts himself up too much to his love of quietness. He has
been quite liberal with means, but when it is necessary to deny
self to do some needed good, when real sacrifice on his part
is called for, he has but little experience, and must gain it.
He fears that he will be blamed if he ventures
to help the erring. "We then that are strong ought to bear
the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let
every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.
For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The
reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me." All
who are partakers of this great
salvation have something to do to help those who are hanging
on the skirts of Zion. They should not cut off their hold and
thrust them away without making an effort to help them to overcome
and prepare for the judgment. No, indeed! While these are bleating
around the fold, they should be encouraged and strengthened by
all the aid which it is in our power to bestow. You as a family
have too rigid rules and set ideas which cannot be made to fit
every case. You lack love, gentleness, tenderness, and pity for
those who do not move as fast as they should. This spirit has
prevailed to such an extent that you are withering spiritually
instead of flourishing in the Lord. Your interest, and efforts,
and anxieties are for your family and your relatives. But you
have not entertained the idea of reaching out for others around
you, overcoming your reluctance to exert an influence outside
of a special circle. You idolize yours, and shut yourselves within
yourselves. That the Lord may save me and mine is the great burden.
This spirit will have to die before you can flourish in the Lord
and make spiritual advancement, before the church can grow and
souls be added unto them of such as shall be saved.
You are all narrowed up as to labor for others, and must change your base of operations. Your relatives are no dearer in the sight of God than any other poor souls who need salvation. We must put self and selfishness under our feet, and exemplify in our lives the spirit of self-sacrifice and disinterested benevolence manifested by Jesus when He was upon earth. All should have an interest for their relatives, but should not allow themselves to be shut up to them as though they were the only ones whom Jesus came to save.
