Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 1 (1844 - 1868)

Lt 5, 1853

Dodge, Brother and Sister

Rochester, New York

July 5, 1853

Portions of this letter are published in 1Bio 282. See also Annotations.

Dear Brother and Sister Dodge:

I have but a few moments to write, so must be brief. We are prospering in the Lord and are of good courage. For a time after we arrived here James’ health was very poor, his lungs were much affected, but we had some powerful seasons of prayer for him and the Lord in mercy has drawn near and condescended to answer our petitions. He is much better than he has been, and is of good courage. 1LtMs, Lt 5, 1853, par. 1

Last Sabbath the power of God settled upon me. I was taken off in vision and saw many things of great interest to us. I have scribbled off the vision. It covers 24 pages, many things were explained to us which we did not understand and which were necessary for us to know. I saw that we must have the truth got out oftener—that the only paper in the land owned and approved of God should come out oftener than once in two weeks, while papers that are full of error come out weekly and some oftener than that. I saw that the way was opening for us to extend our labors. I saw something about things west. 1LtMs, Lt 5, 1853, par. 2

I saw that there has been a cruel denying of the power of God by some in Jackson. The course of Brother Russell and a few connected with him is very dark, and if he pursues such a course still he must be cut off from the fellowship of the saints. He has had such a good opinion of himself that it looks impossible that God should show that he was wrong; and he has been closing his eyes to himself and doubting what God has shown concerning him. He is deceived and is suffering himself to be deceived and I greatly fear will be given up to his own ways to be filled with his own doings. 1LtMs, Lt 5, 1853, par. 3

Dear Brn. you must move united and shoulder to shoulder if you would have the error and mismoves, which have eaten in the church like the canker, removed and a healthy influence exerted in the church. I saw that God had taken hold to assist you in Jackson and now you must take hold and help yourselves in the fear of God and work diligently to wipe away the reproach that has been brought upon the cause by the unwise moves of some. Those who are on the Lord’s side will be with you and those on the side of Baal and confusion will be against you. God is sifting you with a sieve and if there is any among you that rebel, God will separate him from you that you may move on. 1LtMs, Lt 5, 1853, par. 4

I saw that things in Jackson had not been held up in their wrong light. O, no, but if Brn. in Jackson could see these things as God sees them and could see how His frown has been upon Jackson for these wrongs, they would ever feel a grateful thankfulness to God that He had not taken His Spirit utterly from them and left them in darkness and error. I mean those who have been in the wrong who have brought sorrow and mental anguish on all the church. I saw that it had been the work of the enemy through false teaching to cause the Brn. to be in haste to dispose of their means, and not leaving them free to act, leaving them for God to teach, to direct, and guide by the operation of the Spirit upon the heart when they shall sell, and how much, and when to give and how much. 1LtMs, Lt 5, 1853, par. 5

The messengers, some of them, have taken this burden upon themselves when they had no authority for so doing. Instead of those who have means looking to their Brn. for direction, they must look to God, for they are His stewards and God knows just how much means will be wanted and when. But men know not and Satan has worked to help the means away from the true object, and when the time has come when publishments must come out more frequently, there are means that have been wasted which will be needed, and the lack is felt. God’s ways are not as our ways, nor His thoughts as our thoughts. Those who have means often have been made to feel that they were stewards of men instead of stewards of God, and have looked to men for light and teaching instead of God. These evils I saw must be remedied. 1LtMs, Lt 5, 1853, par. 6

But I must be in haste. We have not forgotten your kindness to us. We remember the kindness of Bro. Smith’s family with gratitude; thank them for me. Brother Dodge, I remember your kind attentions and the interest you manifested for us. You all seem very near to me. Give my love to each member of the family and to the Brn. and sisters. Tell them to be faithful, and have no communion with the unfaithful works of darkness. 1LtMs, Lt 5, 1853, par. 7

Bro. Dodge look up, be of good cheer, the Lord is our God. We shall be overcomers in a little while. 1LtMs, Lt 5, 1853, par. 8

E. G. White

[Variant copy of vision:]

I saw that it had been the work of the enemy through false teachings to cause brethren to be in haste to dispose of their means, and not leaving them free to act, not leaving them for God to teach, direct, and guide by the operations of His Spirit upon the heart, when they shall sell, and how much, and when to give and how much. 1LtMs, Lt 5, 1853, par. 9

The messengers, some of them, have taken this upon themselves when they had no authority for so doing. Instead of those having means looking to their brethren for direction, they must look to God, for they are His stewards and God knows just how much means will be wanted, when and where; but men know not, and the enemy has worked to keep the means away from the true object. And when the time has come that the work of God is to be more extensive, when publications, tracts, and papers must come out more frequently, means that have been wasted and carelessly disposed of will be needed, and the lack will be felt. God could rain down money from heaven, but it is not His plan. Everything is arranged here on earth so as to move like clockwork in the cause of God, and when this is thrown out of order the cause must suffer in consequence. And the one who has caused the jargon must suffer loss, if he enters the kingdom of God. I saw that God’s ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts as our thoughts. Those who have means often have been made to feel that they were stewards of men instead of stewards of God, and have looked to men for light and teaching instead of God. These evils I saw must be remedied. 1LtMs, Lt 5, 1853, par. 10