Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)

Lt 274, 1907

Burden, J. A.

St. Helena, California

September 2, 1907

This letter is published in entirety in LLM 258-260.

Elder J. A. Burden, Loma Linda, California:

I received your letter and read it with much interest. The work you speak of that has been done for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union is in harmony with the work that, before the Loma Linda property came into our hands, I was shown must be entered into. A grand work is to be done by our people for the W.C.T.U. The Lord has in that association precious souls, who will accept the truth and become one with our labors. These workers will be a great help to us in our efforts in temperance lines. And the education our people have had in Bible truth and in a knowledge of the requirements of the law of Jehovah they will impart to those who come in among us. Thus a union and sympathy will be created where in the past prejudice has existed. 22LtMs, Lt 274, 1907, par. 1

We need the help that these women workers can give us; they need the help we can give them in a knowledge of the gospel Sabbath. By holding ourselves aloof from the workers in the W.C.T.U., our people have lost much; and the members of the W.C.T.U. have also been on losing ground. If every possible effort is now made to reach these people, prejudice will be removed, and souls will be reached whom our people have thought would never accept this present truth. 22LtMs, Lt 274, 1907, par. 2

I have been instructed that no hindrance should be placed in the way of Sister Starr’s work for the W.C.T.U. While I was in Australia, Elder A. T. Jones, by an unwise course of action, nearly cut off all opportunity for us to work for this people. At that time I was shown that no obstacle should be placed in the way of those who are seeking to reach these temperance workers. In some matters they are far in advance of our leaders on the important question of temperance. 22LtMs, Lt 274, 1907, par. 3

Give Sister Starr the right of way. Let no hand be stretched out to hinder her in her work. Give her an opportunity to bring this message before the temperance organization. Every possible ray of light that we can shed upon the W.C.T.U. should be given. If we had one hundred soundly converted workers from this body, the cause of present truth would be greatly helped. Many of our own laborers would be taught wherein they might come up on to higher ground, and our sisters would learn how they might exert a wider and more uplifting influence than they have in the past. 22LtMs, Lt 274, 1907, par. 4

We need to have the temperance question revived among our own people. It would be a good thing if at our camp-meetings we should invite the members of the W.C.T.U. to take part in our exercises. This will help them to become acquainted with the reasons of our faith and will open the way for us to unite with them in temperance work. If we will do this, we will come to see that the temperance question means more than many of us have supposed. And we in turn can teach these workers many things. They will hear the truth, and many will be converted to the faith. 22LtMs, Lt 274, 1907, par. 5

In his labors, my husband, whenever he had opportunity, invited the workers in the temperance cause to his meeting and gave them an opportunity to speak. And when invitations were given us to attend their gatherings, we always responded. I have had some opportunity to see the great advantage to be gained by connecting with the W.C.T.U. workers, and I have been much surprised as I have seen the indifference of many of our leaders to this organization. I call on my brethren to awake. The Lord gave the best gift of heaven to the world, that He might win men back to their allegiance to Him. We should do all in our power to co-operate with heavenly agencies for the promulgation of truth and righteousness in the earth. We cannot do a better work than to unite, so far as we can do so without compromise, with the W.C.T.U. workers. 22LtMs, Lt 274, 1907, par. 6

Years ago we regarded the spread of temperance principles as one of our most important duties. It should be so today. Our schools and sanitariums are to reveal the power of the grace of Christ to transform the life. They should be important factors in the temperance cause. 22LtMs, Lt 274, 1907, par. 7

In choosing men and women for His service, God does not measure them according to the standard of the world. He asks, “Do they walk in such humility that I can teach them My way? Can I put My words in their lips and trust them to speak those words? Will they represent Me in meekness and lowliness of heart? Will they receive My Spirit, learn My ways, and wear My yoke? All who truly follow Me will represent in their characters the immortal principles of truth.” 22LtMs, Lt 274, 1907, par. 8

God’s commandment-keeping people are to stand distinguished from the world because He has placed His seal upon them. Christ has healing power for every soul. He will manifest in His believing ones His own character and cover them with the robe of His righteousness. 22LtMs, Lt 274, 1907, par. 9