I dreamed that several of our brethren
were in counsel considering plans of labor for this season. They
thought it best not to enter the large cities, but to begin work
in small places, remote from the cities; here they would meet
less opposition from the clergy and would avoid great expense.
They reasoned that our ministers, being few in number, could
not be spared to instruct and care for those who might accept
the truth in the cities, and who, because of the greater opposition
they would there meet, would need more help than would the churches
in small country places. Thus the fruit of giving a course of
lectures in the city would, in a great measure, be lost. Again,
it was urged that, because of our limited means, and because
of the many changes from moving that might be expected from a
church in a large city, it would be difficult to build up a church
that would be a strength to the cause. My husband was urging
the brethren to make broader plans without delay and put forth,
in our large cities, extended and thorough effort that would
better correspond to the character of our message. One worker
related incidents of his experience in the cities, showing that
the work was nearly a failure, but he testified to better success
in the small places.
One of dignity and authority--One who is
present in all our council meetings--was listening with deepest
interest to every word. He spoke with deliberation and perfect
assurance. "The whole world," He said, "is God's
great vineyard. The cities and villages constitute a part
of that vineyard. These must be worked. Satan
will try to interpose himself and discourage the workers, so
as to prevent them from giving the message of light and warning
in the more prominent as well as in the more secluded places.
Desperate efforts will be made to turn the people from truth
to falsehood. Angels of heaven are commissioned to co-operate
with the efforts of God's appointed messengers on earth. Ministers
must encourage and maintain an unwavering faith and hope, as
did Christ, their living Head. They must keep humble and contrite
in heart before God."
God designs that His precious word, with
its messages of warning and encouragement, shall come to those
who are in darkness and are ignorant of our faith. It is to be
given to all, and will be to them a witness, whether they will
hear, or whether they will forbear. Do not feel that the responsibility
rests upon you to convict and convert the hearers. The power
of God alone can soften the hearts of the people. You are to
hold forth the word of life, that all may have an opportunity
of receiving the truth if they will. If they turn from the truth
of heavenly origin, it will be their condemnation.
We must not hide the truth in the corners
of the earth. It must be made known; it must shine in our large
cities. Christ in His labors took His position by the lakeside
and in the great thoroughfares of travel where He could meet
people from all parts of the world. He was giving the true light;
He was sowing the gospel seed; He was rescuing truth from its
companionship with error, and presenting it in its original simplicity
and clearness, so that men could comprehend it.
The heavenly Messenger who was with us
said: "Never lose sight of the fact that the message you
are bearing is a world-wide message.
It is to be given to all cities, to all villages; it is to be
proclaimed in the highways and the byways. You are not to localize
the proclamation of the message." In the parable of the
sower, Christ gave an illustration of His own work and that of
His servants. The seed fell upon all kinds of soil. Some seed
fell upon poor soil, yet the sower did not therefore cease his
work. You are to sow the seeds of truth in every place. Wherever
you can gain access, hold forth the word of God. Sow beside all
waters. You may not at once see the result of your labors, but
be not discouraged. Speak the words that Christ gives you. Work
in His lines. Go forth everywhere as He did during His ministry
on the earth.
The world's Redeemer had many hearers,
but few followers. Noah preached one hundred and twenty years
to the people before the Flood, and yet there were few who appreciated
this precious, probationary time. Save Noah and his family, not
one was numbered with the believers and entered into the ark.
Of all the inhabitants of the earth, only eight souls received
the message; but that message condemned the world. The light
was given in order that they might believe; their rejection of
the light proved their ruin. Our message to the world will be
a savor of life unto life to all who accept it, and of condemnation
to all who reject it.
The Messenger turned to one present and
said: "Your ideas of the work for this time are altogether
too limited. Your light must not be confined to a small compass,
put under a bushel, or under a bed; it must be placed on a candlestick,
that it may give light to all that are in God's house--the world.
You must take broader views of the work than you have taken."