"One thing I must advise our brethren, for light has been given me of the Lord that no encouragement should be given to one man to lead and carry on a series alone. This has plainly been set before me [that it] should not be. The Lord is not in the plan. As many [as] three should be selected to carry the religious interest in any place. And if the larger numbers are in any one place, then the gatherings demand more speakers. One man’s talent is not sufficient."
I was considering some points. How shall we reach the people? Begin in a way that will not be necessary to set too many at work, and [do not] get a large number at work who offer themselves, for they may have ways and methods that will be coarse and undesirable. Have your appointed meetings, and then do not send out questionable men and women, but select special ones. A great excitement started in any city needs to be started in a most earnest way and in different sections, and there will be men and women who are not adapted to the work. And let there be no such performance as of a theatrical characteristic. Let a few be attracted to the work, and hold meetings in our cities, pleading for the wisdom which God alone can give. The whole [population of the] cities are to be warned, but [we must follow God’s counsel in] the way this shall be done. There are some who have no experience. Do not send them out alone. But let there be no undue excitement. Having Scripture open before you, take the discourses one after another which Christ gave, and keep the special truths appropriate for the delivery of the truth in Christ’s own words. These are to be spoken and repeated. Be sure, many a devised plan will have to [be] treated in a sensible manner. And if you set too much in operation, confusion will be the result. {Ms 67, 1910, par. 32}
There must be no fanciful and theatrical exercises, but the Word, Christ’s words, are to be your stronghold. You shall seek the Lord daily in humble prayer and that in different companies in different places. Simplicity of true godliness is to be put into the work, not a make-believe work which some may interpret against us. There is to be a general taking in of the places that are desirable; and let not superficial persons, who themselves need first to learn how to manage wisely, [be employed]. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” [Proverbs 9:10.] My brethren, ministers spread out over too much ground. Take time to give most convincing Bible readings. Calmly are these matters to be studied. But the Holy Spirit’s power will do that for the penitent souls that have first heard the reasons of our faith. Yourselves may be in need of training and the Spirit of Christ. Most precious Scriptures full of instruction are to be brought in. And the more calm, sensible reasoning from the convincing words of Scripture will be the most convincing Scripture evidence [needed] to settle the mind. Every true worker will place himself under the true theocracy, that the will of God may be done in himself and the teacher daily converted to the understanding of the work. {Ms 67, 1910, par. 33}
(John 17:15-26) give in full. This is the great purpose for which Christ came into our world. He left the heavenly courts and came to convince the world of sin, that they may come into complete harmony with God in taking away their sin and become channels of light to a sinful world, through the Spirit which shall mold and fashion their souls after the divine similitude. What are the words of Christ? “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word: that they all may be one” [verses 20, 21], not independent atoms, doing as they please, but united in the great, grand principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that the power of the gospel may be demonstrated to the unbelieving world. {Ms 67, 1910, par. 34}
“That they all may be one, as Thou Father art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them: that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one: and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” [Verses 21-23.] What a work! Shall every believer work, interested for the souls that are perishing in their sins? When those who claim to be Christians begin to draw apart, they are discarding the divine theocracy. We need now the converting influence of the Holy Spirit of God. The Lord will work with all who will engage earnestly for the salvation of perishing souls. {Ms 67, 1910, par. 35}
One thing I must advise our brethren, for light has been given me of the Lord that no encouragement should be given to one man to lead and carry on a series alone. This has plainly been set before me [that it] should not be. The Lord is not in the plan. As many [as] three should be selected to carry the religious interest in any place. And if the larger numbers are in any one place, then the gatherings demand more speakers. One man’s talent is not sufficient. Various subjects must come to the people, and therefore the family plan of conducting meetings that was entered into by Elder Franke must never be permitted again, because that family carried things in certain lines strongly. It is not wisdom, for the Lord’s plan is not followed. And the linking up of even four together in a large meeting would be better than less, because the Lord works different minds. {Ms 67, 1910, par. 36}
But wherever it is possible, two and two to associate in the work is the Saviour’s plan. When He sent His disciples, two and two were connected together. And the Lord would not have one man’s mind and one man’s judgment take the responsibility, because it is not the Lord’s plan. Neither would He have a whole family go into any place and carry forward the responsibilities of the work, because there would need to be other talents. And it is the Lord’s plan to work with a variety of minds, and let the Lord’s name be glorified in the two or three or five not of the same family, but of the Lord’s family. Never consent to accept one man’s labor to bear the responsibilities of the series of meetings. The Lord’s plan is two and two, and He understands [that] a more healthful current would circulate through the congregation, and the wearied brain of one man is not wholesome or sanctifying when others can be obtained. Another evil is to be guarded—that the presentation of truth should be in a dignified manner; no theatrical gestures or expressions. Everything should be represented in correct manner. This is the great purpose for which Christ came to our world—to give to our world a pattern, and secure to Himself a people in the world who would work out His plans and His will in complete harmony as to become channels of light to the world which should fashion the human soul after the divine similitude. {Ms 67, 1910, par. 37}
Christ’s prayer continues, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may” become not independent atoms, doing as they please, but become united; [and through them] the great, grand, elevated, sanctified principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ may [be] demonstrated to the unbelieving world; that they all may be sanctified through the power of the gospel and may be laborers together with God, that the unbelieving world may become one in heart and one in principle as Thou. “And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me.” [Verses 20-23.] {Ms 67, 1910, par. 38}
There are some who wish to do all the preaching, but this is not the Lord’s plan. The Lord made the arrangement that two should carry the responsibility of the work and consult together, unite their prayers, and blend in unity in their work. This unity can be reached only as every believer can unite under the Lord’s theocracy. One man’s mind and one man’s judgment cannot be a perfect whole. It is a solemn work in which we are engaged, and perfect unity is to be expressed in labor; and these are to be sanctified through the truth. And all will be drawn by the cords of love and tender confidence of sympathy to the great center, Jesus Christ. The Lord calls for talent to be cultivated. {Ms 67, 1910, par. 39}
I have much to say in the future, if the Lord gives me strength, upon unity in the work. All must be under the molding influence of Christ’s discipline through the eternal principles of truth and righteousness. The cities have [been] neglected. Now let there be work commenced in a right way. Do not launch out and accumulate so much work for our cities that confusion will be the result. Let methods be carried out and not bank up so many interests that there will [be] confusion. The work has been pointed out for the last twenty years, but neglected to be taken up in our cities. Let not now confusion come in. Let all things be worked intelligently. The Lord will instruct, and as the work moves on in our cities [we must keep] praying and believing. Order must be encouraged, and light continually shining will regulate the working forces. {Ms 67, 1910, par. 40}