The Church: Its Organization, Order and Discipline

God and I

“The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows, and even by our utterance of them. Take to him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for him to bear; for he holds up worlds, he rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that concerns in any way our peace is too small for him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience to dark for him to read; there is no perplexity too deep for him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of his children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our Heavenly Father is unobservant, of in which he takes no immediate interest. ‘He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.’ The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul for whom he gave his beloved Son. COOD 20.1

“Every believer should be whole-hearted in his attachment to the church. Its prosperity should be his first interest, and unless he feels under sacred obligations to make his connection with the church a benefit to it in preference to himself, it can do far better without him. It is in the power of all to do something for the cause of God. There are those who spend a large amount for needless luxuries; they gratify their appetites, but feel it a great tax to contribute means to sustain the church. COOD 20.2

They are willing to receive all the benefits of its privileges, but prefer to leave others to pay the bills. Those who really feel a deep interest in the advancement of the cause will not hesitate to invest money in the enterprise wherever and whenever it is needed. They should also feel it a solemn duty to illustrate in their characters the teachings of Christ, being at peace one with another, and moving in perfect harmony as an individual whole. They should defer their individual judgment to the judgment of the body of the church. Many live for themselves alone. They look upon their lives with great complacency, flattering themselves that they are blameless, when, in fact, they are doing nothing for God, and are living in direct opposition to his expressed word.”-Testimonies for the Church 4:18. COOD 21.1