The Difficult Position of a Messenger for God

When in the critical situation in Battle Creek, with friends turning a cold shoulder, she moved ahead fearlessly, feeling the arm of the Lord sustaining her. In that strength she dealt with the evil reports and related what God had revealed to her regarding the dangers of some, and reproving wrong courses of action. This placed her in an unenviable position. She made this explanation in Testimony No. 13:2BIO 209.1

When families and individuals were brought before me in vision, it was frequently the case that what was shown me in relation to them was of a private nature, reproving secret sins. I have labored with some for months in regard to wrongs of which others knew nothing.2BIO 209.2

As my brethren see the persons sad, and hear them express doubts in regard to their acceptance with God, also feelings of despondency, they have cast censure upon me, as though I were to blame for their being in trial. Those who thus censured me were entirely ignorant of what they were talking about. I protested against persons’ sitting as inquisitors upon my course of action. It has been the disagreeable work assigned me to reprove private sins.2BIO 209.3

Were I, in order to prevent suspicions and jealousy, to give a full explanation of my course, and make public that which should be kept private, I should sin against God and wrong the individuals. I have to keep private reproofs of private wrongs to myself, locked in my own breast. Let others judge as they may, I will never betray the confidence reposed in me by the erring and repentant, or reveal to others that which should only be brought before the ones that are guilty.—Ibid., 1:584, 585.2BIO 209.4