Testimony for the Church — No. 16

To Ministers

In the vision given me June 12, 1868. I was deeply impressed with the great work to be accomplished to prepare a people for the coming of the Son of man. I saw that the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Many who are at the present time in the field laboring to save souls, are feeble. They are greatly lacking in physical strength. They have borne heavy burdens, which have tried and worn them. Yet, I was shown, that with some of our ministers there has been too great an expenditure of strength, which was not actually required. Some pray too long, and too loud, which greatly exhausts their feeble strength and needlessly expends their vitality. T16 6.1

In preaching, their discourses are protracted, frequently one-third or one-half longer than they should be. In thus doing, they become excessively weary, and the interest of the people decreases before the discourse closes, and much is lost to them, for they cannot retain it. One-half that was said would be better than more. Although all the matter may be important, the success would be much better were the praying and talking less lengthy. The result would be reached without so great weariness. Vitality is being used up needlessly, and strength wasted, which, for the good of the cause, it is so necessary to retain. It is the long-protracted effort, after laboring to the point of weariness, which wears and breaks. T16 6.2

I saw that it was this extra labor, when the system was exhausted, that consumed the life of dear Bro. Sperry, and brought him prematurely to the grave. Had he worked with reference to health, he might have lived to labor until the present time. It was, also, this extra labor that exhausted the life-force of our dear Bro. Cranson, and caused his life of usefulness to be extinguished. T16 7.1

Much singing wearies to a great degree, as well as long and protracted praying and talking. Our ministers generally should not continue their efforts longer than one hour. They should leave preliminaries, and come to the subject at once. They should study to close the discourse while the interest is the greatest. They should not continue the effort until their hearers desire them to cease speaking. They are often too weary to be benefited by what they may hear. Much of this extra labor is lost upon the people, and who can tell how great is the loss that is sustained by the ministers who thus labor? Nothing in the end is gained by this draft upon the vitality. T16 7.2

The strength is frequently exhausted at the commencement of a protracted effort. And at the very time when there is much to be gained or much to be lost, the devoted minister of Christ, who has an interest—a will to labor, cannot command the strength. He used that up in singing, in lengthy prayers, and protracted preaching, and the victory is lost for want of earnest, well-directed labor at the right time. The golden moment is lost. Impressions that were made were not followed up. It would have been better had no interest been awakened; for when convictions have been once resisted and overcome, it is very difficult to impress the mind again with the truth. T16 7.3

I was shown in regard to our ministers, that in the space of one year, with the care that should be exercised to preserve the strength, instead of needlessly expending it, much more could be accomplished by judicious, well-directed labor, than by long talking, and praying and singing which exhausts and wears. In this case, the people are frequently deprived of labor which they much need at the right time, but cannot have it, for the laborer is in need of rest, and will endanger his health and life if he continue his effort. T16 8.1

Our dear Brn. D. T. Bourdeau and Matteson have made a mistake here, and should reform in their manner of laboring. They should speak short and pray short. They should come to the point at once, and stop short of exhaustion in their labors. They can both accomplish more by doing thus, and at the same time preserve strength to continue their labors which they love, without breaking down entirely. T16 8.2

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