Show THE missionaries those elders of the church who are called to the various nations to preach the gospel and who receive of the spirit of their mission experience a deep sense of the responsibility which rests on them to proclaim the divine mes message sage wherever they have opportunity will t Y the hardships and biscom forts which they experience in being separated from families and friends and traveling among and trusting to the hospitality ol of strangers are count ed for naught as an weighed against the duty of preaching the gospel which they offer without money and without price or hope of earthly reward freely they have received and freely they give seeking only to convey the ibe message of truth which the divine master has charged them with in this work it to Is almost the universal rule for the elders to bend all the power and energy of their souls to the task it is very rarely that there is ft a shirking from duty however unpleasant the circumstances connected therewith may be in this respect the missionaries sion aries have literally followed the divine injunction to fear not them that destroy the body and unflinchingly they have proclaimed the truth sometimes at the expense of their lives they have searched diligently and spared no effort to spread the gospel news and bear witness of their heavenly calling and mission while are many people who treat the elders with great oon sidera tion and kin kindness doess and whose reward is assured from the throne of fl frace yet the reception which has been accorded by others to the missionaries sion tork a aries to is such as to enable the latter to realize that their position to is identical with that of the apostles whom the savior called in ancient times and to whom he said behold I 1 send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves fl in this situation it to is the duly of missionaries to give careful attention to the divine command which was given the servants of the lord on the occasion referred to as a rule role for or their general guidance be ye therefore wise as servants and harmless as doves J it sometimes happens in certain 10 lo oali ties where th the me missionaries go to hold bold meetings wee tings and preach or to visit friends either in or out of the church that prejudiced and wicked persons who do not possess sufficient regard dejard for law and the rights of other people combine to disturb and break up meetings ings and threaten and sometimes commit other lawless acts of a serious nature ordinarily the elders pay little heed to threats made against them as they are aware that they are committing no DO wrong in preaching the gospel but are discharging a solemn duty and are legally and rightfully entitled to protection therein their message too to la of that peaceful nature that where it la is listened to there seldom is any trouble even from those opposed to them in their views but among people actuated by bigotry and fanaticism and whose prejudices are stirred up through misrepresentation it to la different and occasionally there is danger of trouble that may be serious in its results when there la a anything of the latter kind in view it to is the imperative duty of the missionaries in the interest of peace and good order to take steps to avoid unpleasantness unpleasant even it if it be necessary for them to withdraw from the district to attain the desired end their calling does not require them to crowd themselves upon the he people in defiance ot ol the batters lat wishes cipher they are to use diligence in presenting their message menage in every city town and village where they enter if the people do not want it the response onal ability for that choice to is their own if they hey threaten or use violence in rejecting that message it is wrong to seek to force it upon them the lord has baa commanded his servants when they persecute you in this city flee ye into another aud and says whosoever shall not receive you nor hear you when you depart thence shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them jhew in places where the people are merely indifferent and take no active steps of opposition they are not per neou tors and should be dealt with leniently and patiently but bat where they resort report to violence to drive the isidore elders out the command of the lord as quoted is strictly applicable and ought to be observed por nor should the aha missionaries wait sit to be actually driven out any more than they should retire when there is no occasion to do so go do far as an the admonition to be wise wine and harmless lees to la concerned it to ie not wisdom when there la Is p prospect of violence to invite its coni and when lawlessness is threatened it js not being harmless to bid aid by any rash sted in bringing it to pass due caution n should be exercised and every reasonable und mud consistent latent means be taken to avoid contention and disturbance that is the spirit of the gospel gospe a disposition to court danger and invite contention Is from an opposite opp Laite source As the missionaries go out to various they witness a spirit ot of f great teat indifference among the people lor or their eternal welfare and comparatively few evince a willingness to obey the plan of salvation this to is however ng vause of discouragement tp to abose who are entrusted with the keys of preaching pre tae gospel of the kingdom it is an that the people have turned to ungodly noes the disciples disciple of the lord who are called to deliver the divine mee sage wish that for their own welfare men land and women would listen to and embrace the truth but each soul has its ita free agency and must make its own choice it must also abide the re sult suit in the days of noah the world did not believe his bis testimony concerning the coming deluge but this unbelief did not stay the waters watern the few who gave heed to the divine call were all that were saved from the di dia auter sauter As it was wan in the days of noah so shall it be at the coming of the sou son of man those who will not heed the warning call must share in the judgments through their own neglect to take ad vantage of the opportunity for salvation the rejection of the testimony of the elders by many of the gentile nations today is a fulfilment fulfillment of prophecy and to is one of the most notable signs of the latter times Is to is an incontrovertible witness of the near approach of the hour of gods judgment upon the world for after the testimony of his servants there will come upon those who will not receive his word the testimony of his wrath shown in the thunders and the light niage theearta quakes storms pestilences pestilence and famines and oom commotions motions in the heavens and on earth and while the missionaries are called xe as laborers in the barvest field let them preach in word and deed the peaceable winge things of the kingdom warning the people to seek in the gospel salvation from the judgments to come and leaving the result in the hands of the almighty |