In the vision given me June 12, 1868, I
was shown that a great work might be accomplished in bringing
souls to the knowledge of the truth, were proper exertions made.
In every town, city, and village there are persons who would
embrace the truth if it were brought before them in a judicious
manner. Missionaries are needed among us, self-sacrificing missionaries,
who, like our great Exemplar, would not please themselves, but
live to do others good.
I was shown that as a people we are deficient
Our works are not in accordance with our faith. Our faith testifies
that we are living under the proclamation of the
most solemn and important message that was
ever given to mortals. Yet in full view of this fact, our efforts,
our zeal, our spirit of self-sacrifice, do not compare with the
character of the work. We should awake from the dead, and Christ
will give us life.
With many of our brethren and sisters there
is a strong inclination to live in Battle Creek. Families have
been coming from all directions to reside there, and many more
have their faces set that way. Some who have come to Battle Creek
held offices in the little churches from which they moved, and
their help and strength were needed there. When such arrive at
Battle Creek, and meet with the numerous Sabbathkeepers there,
they frequently feel that their testimonies are not needed, and
their talent is therefore buried.
Some choose Battle Creek because of the
religious privileges it affords, yet wonder that their spirituality
decreases after their sojourn there a few months. Is there not
a cause? The object of many has been to advantage themselves
pecuniarily-- to engage in business which will yield them greater
profits. Their expectations in this particular may be realized,
while they have dearth of soul and become dwarfed in spiritual
things. They take no special burden upon themselves because they
think they would be out of place. They do not know where to take
hold to labor in so large a church, and therefore become idlers
in their Master's vineyard. All who pursue this course only increase
the labor of those who have the burden of the work in the church.
They are as so many dead weights. There are many in Battle Creek
who are fast becoming withered branches.
Some who have been workers, and who have
an experience in the cause of present truth, move to Battle Creek
and lay off their burden. Instead of feeling the necessity of
double energy, watchfulness, prayer,
and diligent performance of duty, they do scarcely anything at
all. Those who have burdens to bear in the office, and have not
time for duties aside from their work, are obliged to fill responsible
positions in the church and to perform important, taxing labor
which if they do not do will remain undone because these others
will not take the burden.
Brethren who wish to change their location,
who have the glory of God in view, and feel that individual responsibility
rests upon them to do others good, to benefit and save souls
for whom Christ withheld not His precious life, should move into
towns and villages where there is but little or no light and
where they can be of real service and bless others with their
labor and experience. Missionaries are wanted to go into towns
and villages and raise the standard of truth, that God may have
His witnesses scattered all over the land, that the light of
truth may penetrate where it has not yet reached, and the standard
of truth be raised where it is not yet known. The brethren should
not flock together because it is more agreeable to them, but
should seek to fulfill their high calling to do others good,
to be instrumental in the salvation of at least one soul. But
more may be saved than one.
The sole object of this work should not
be merely to increase our reward in heaven. Some are selfish
in this respect. In view of what Christ has done for us, and
what He has suffered for sinners, we should, out of pure, disinterested
love for souls, imitate His example by sacrificing our own pleasure
and convenience for their good. The joy set before Christ, which
sustained Him in all His sufferings, was the salvation of poor
sinners. This should be our joy and the spur of our ambition
in the cause of our Master. In so doing we please God and manifest
our love and devotion to Him as His servants. He first loved
us, and withheld not from us His beloved Son, but gave Him from
His bosom to die that we might
have life. Love, true love for our fellow men, evinces love to
God. We may make a high profession, yet without this love it
is nothing. Our faith may lead us to even give our bodies to
be burned, yet without self-sacrificing love, such as lived in
the bosom of Jesus and was exemplified in His life, we are as
sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
There are families that receive spiritual
strength by moving to Battle Creek. It is just the place to help
some, while it is the wrong place for others. Brother and Sister
A are a sample of the class who may be benefited in moving to
this place. The Lord directed them to take this course. Battle
Creek was just the place to benefit them, and has proved a blessing
to the entire family. They have, in coming here, gained strength
to plant their feet firmly upon the platform of truth, and if
they continue in the path of humble obedience they may rejoice
for the help they have received in Battle Creek.