My Dear Brethren and Sisters: The Lord
will work in behalf of all who will walk humbly with Him. He
has placed you in a position of trust. Walk carefully before
Him. God's hand is on the wheel. He will guide the ship past
the rocks into the haven. He will take the weak things of this
world to confound the things that are mighty.
I pray that you will make God your Counselor.
You are not amenable to any man, but are under God's direction.
Keep close to Him. Do not take worldly ideas as your criterion.
Let there be no departure from the Lord's methods of working.
Use not common fire, but the sacred fire of the Lord's kindling.
Be of good courage in your work. For many
years I have kept before our people the need, in the education
of the youth, of an equal taxation of the physical and mental
powers. But for those who have never proved the value of the
instruction given to combine manual training with the study of
books, it is hard to understand and carry out the directions
given.
Do your best to impart to your students
the blessings God has given you. With a deep, earnest desire
to help them, carry them over the ground of knowledge. Come close
to them. Unless teachers have the love and gentleness of Christ
abounding in their hearts, they will manifest too much of the
spirit of a harsh, domineering master.
The Lord wishes you to learn how to use
the gospel net. That you may be successful in your work, the
meshes of your net must be close. The application of the Scriptures
must be such that the meaning shall be easily discerned. Then
make the most of drawing in the
net. Come right to the point. However great a man's knowledge,
it is of no avail unless he is able to communicate it to others.
Let the pathos of your voice, its deep feeling, make an impression
on hearts. Urge your students to surrender themselves to God.
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have
compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling
them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the
flesh." Jude 21-23. As you follow Christ's example you will
have the precious reward of seeing your students won to Him.