It appears to me that one of the first essentials in the consideration of this problem is to make absolutely sure, from the standpoint of leadership, that "greater spirituality, piety, and usefulness" are the objectives toward which we are leading. As a leader, before I can help in bringing any solution to this question, I must be sure that I am myself leading toward the ends here specified. I may be regarded as a successful leader, but if my leadership tends in directions other than those here specified, I am not helping to solve the particular problem which is under consideration at this hour. To be a helper in this matter I must be found personally progressing toward these things.
It might be well for us to ask ourselves, Are these the things we are actually striving for in our leadership, or are they something we are merely talking about? I believe that it is of primary importance to determine what our actual objectives are. I am sure that what the brethren state of the need of making our leadership effective in the direction of these things, is all true; and I am also sure that we cannot substitute anything else for that of which they have been speaking. It is folly for us to suppose that slogans or drives or anything of that nature can replace personal spirituality or piety or usefulness. Unless we are actually reaching these objectives in our own individual lives, it will be impossible to inspire in those with whom we associate, confidence that our leadership is bringing the people to these objectives. I do not believe that our ministers will place any more confidence in us than our life's appeal to them causes them to believe that we deserve.
At the same time, I recognize that it is possible for us to be very spiritual in our own private lives and individual experience, and even to reach great personal usefulness, and yet lack these essential objectives in our leadership of the work. When this is so, we invariably fail to lead the people very far in the things that really count. There is need of more than a powerful life, and a spiritual and useful experience on the part of leaders. The objectives of our leadership should stand out clearly and definitely and publicly to the people associated with us. They must know that we purpose to lead them somewhere, and to what it is that we are going.
More and more I am convinced that we need to review our own attitude toward the objectives of this movement. I believe that these objectives were clearer years ago than they are today; and I believe the time has come to clear away all that we have heaped around what were once the distinctive objectives of this movement, and keep them constantly before us, not only in our private devotions, but in our active aims. I consider this absolutely necessary and preparatory to a candid answering of the question which is before us.
In conversation with a brother who is present I was impressed by a statement of his that great help would come to us if we would give diligent heed to the counsel for leaders, as it has come to us in the volumes of the Spirit of prophecy. I truly believe that we are allowing this counsel to remain too much out of our lives, and that we should return to the study of these volumes, and make definite application of their instruction in our leadership of the work. That brother did not know that he was giving me needed counsel, but the Lord spoke to me by his words, and I wish to testify that I greatly desire to understand the counsel of the Lord more clearly, and so far as in me is to yield myself to it.
