Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 24 (1909)
Lt 100, 1909
Burden, J. A.
Washington, D. C.
June 9, 1909
This letter is published in entirety in PC 267-269. +Note
Elder J. A. Burden
Loma Linda, California
Dear Brother Burden:
In the night season I seemed to be conversing with you, and encouraging you to go forward in the name of the Lord, preparing your school to give the education most needed at this time. The education that is to be given by our people in the large cities of Southern California is set before me day and night. The people in these cities are to be made to understand what constitutes “higher education.” Higher education means conformity to the plan of salvation. 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 1
Obtain facilities for your school work. Let the means that shall come to you be used very economically. Do not spend one dollar unnecessarily. 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 2
Endeavor to place yourself where you will not be confused by the representations and forbiddings of human agencies who would misinterpret the true meaning of the higher education. Lift up the Man of Calvary. By the work of teaching and by earnest prayer, endeavor to place the students where they will receive the inspiration of heaven. Jesus Christ is to be presented before them as the Source of all light and knowledge. Let none dishonor Him by choosing to accept the world’s interpretation of what the higher education means. Let us leave that to those who do not acknowledge the truths of the Word of God as the source of all true knowledge. 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 3
Give to the teachers all the advantages possible, to secure a clear understanding of what constitutes the essential education. 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 4
Teach the students to look for wisdom to the One who gave His life for the salvation of the world. Now is your time to work. That same Jesus who walked with His disciples on earth, and who taught them from day to day, will teach His servants in this age. 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 5
I would call your attention to the eighth chapter of Acts, in which is related Philip’s experience with the Ethiopian seeker after truth. The record states: 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 6
“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 7
“Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 8
“The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened He not His mouth: in His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth. ... 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 9
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 10
“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 11
“And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.” [Verses 26-33, 35-40.] 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 12
The whole of the book of Acts should receive careful study. It is full of precious instruction; it records experiences in evangelistic work, the teachings of which we need in our work today. This is wonderful history; it deals with the highest education, which the students in our schools are to receive. 24LtMs, Lt 100, 1909, par. 13