Haskell, Brother and Sister
“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California
1905
This letter is published in entirety in PC 108-111 and 198-203.
Dear Brother and Sister Haskell,—
I thank you for your letter, telling me about your movements and plans. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 1
I think I have kept before you my expectation that you would spend a part of the winter in California. By unmistakable representations, the Lord has given evidence that a great work is to be done in Southern California. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 2
Elder Simpson has been holding tent-meetings in Los Angeles, with good results. Many souls have been converted to the truth. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 3
We thank the Lord that we have a good sanitarium at Paradise Valley, seven miles from San Diego; a sanitarium at Glendale, eight miles from Los Angeles; and a large and beautiful place at Loma Linda, sixty-two miles east from Los Angeles, and close to Redlands, Riverside, and San Bernardino. The Loma Linda property is one of the most beautiful sanitarium sites I have ever seen. There has been expended on the place more than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and it was purchased by our people for forty thousand dollars. Of the seventy-six acres of land comprised in the property, about one half forms a hill which stands one hundred and twenty-five feet above the valley. On this hill the buildings are situated. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 4
Loma Linda is about five miles from Redlands, five miles from San Bernardino, four miles from Colton, and nine miles from Riverside. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 5
Redlands and Riverside are places which the Lord has shown me should be thoroughly worked. Elder Simpson has done some evangelical work in these places, and in each of them a company of believers has been raised up and a meetinghouse built. But more work must be done there, and a work must be done in San Bernardino. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 6
I have wished that you and your wife could come to Loma Linda and carry on a work similar to that which you have done in other places. You could make your home at the sanitarium and drive back and forth to Redlands and Riverside and other surrounding places. The roads are level and well oiled. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 7
By the securing of Loma Linda, the Lord has opened the way for a work to be done in the neighboring cities and towns. The securing of this property at such a price as we paid for it is a miracle that should open the eyes of our understanding. If such manifest workings of God do not give us a new experience, what will? If we cannot read the evidence that the time has come to work in the surrounding cities, what could be done to arouse us to action? 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 8
That you should receive an invitation to go to Battle Creek and give Bible lessons to the nurses and medical students is not a surprise to me. I have been instructed that an effort would be made to obtain your names as teachers to the nurses at Battle Creek, so that the mangers of the sanitariums can say to our people that Elder and Mrs. Haskell are to give a course of lessons to the Battle Creek Sanitarium nurses, and use this as a means of decoying to Battle Creek those who otherwise would heed the cautions about going there for their education. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 9
I warn you against doing anything which would help those who are working directly contrary to the counsels of God, those who are working directly against the counsels of the Lord, to carry out any of their deceptive plans. I know you would not willingly place yourself in any such position, and I warn you because I know the men and the plans better than you do. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 10
If you should be drawn into such a plan, it would bring much perplexity upon me, and I should have another hard battle to fight. You must take no part in healing “the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly.” [Jeremiah 6:14.] Should the word go forth that Elder and Mrs. Haskell were to take part in teaching the nurses in the Battle Creek Sanitarium, it would be my duty to send forth testimonies, that I do not wish to be called upon to bear. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 11
Elder and Mrs. Farnsworth have been requested to spend some time in Battle Creek, laboring for the church. I encourage them to do so and shall counsel them how to labor. It will be well for Elder Haskell and Elder A. T. Jones to stand shoulder to shoulder, preaching the Word in the tabernacle for a time, and giving the trumpet a certain sound. There are in Battle Creek precious souls who need bracing up. Many will gladly hear and distinguish the note of warning. But Elder Farnsworth should not remain in Battle Creek long. I write these things to you, because it is important that they should be understood. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 12
God would have men of talent who will not deviate from the principles of righteousness to stand in defense of the truth in the tabernacle at Battle Creek. One man should not be stationed in Battle Creek for long at a time. After he has faithfully proclaimed the truth for a time, he should leave to labor elsewhere and some one else be appointed who will give the trumpet a certain sound. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 13
We should understand by experience word for word the message the Lord gave to Isaiah, and from this message there is to be no deviation. The Holy Spirit’s meaning will be understood. This meaning is not to be changed a hair’s breadth to harmonize with any new doctrine. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 14
We know that in the past the truth has been demonstrated by the Holy Spirit. Not one word of human devising is to be permitted to subvert minds, or to add unto or to take from the message that God has given. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 15
There must be connected with our sanitariums in various places ample facilities for the training of workers. And great care should be taken in the selection of young people to connect with our sanitariums. We cannot afford to accept every one who is willing to come. Great injury is done to our medical institutions when we connect with them inexperienced youth who do not understand what it means to do faithful service for God. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 16
Every soul connected with our institutions is to be tested and tried. If self is not hid with Christ in God, the workers will blindly do many things that will hinder the precious work of God. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 17
“Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples.” [Isaiah 8:13-16.] 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 18
God has a denominated people, who are to wait on and trust in Him. They are to be true to the light He has given them, following closely the sacred landmarks. Their language is to be: 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 19
“I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me, are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 20
“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Verses 17-20.] 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 21
The things mentioned in this scripture will be worked out before us. Some of them we see even now. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 22
Those who have crowded into Battle Creek, and are being held there, see and hear many things that tend to weaken their faith and engender unbelief. They would gain a more practical knowledge in an effort to impart to others that which they receive of the Word of God. They should scatter out and be working in all our cities under the training of men who are sound in the faith. If those who teach these workers are true and loyal, a great work will be accomplished. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 23
There is to be a working of our cities as they never have been worked. That which should have been done twenty, yes, more than twenty, years ago is now to be done speedily. The work will be more difficult to do now than it would have been years ago, but it will be done. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 24
Our work is made exceedingly hard because of many false theories that have to be met and because of the dearth of efficient teachers and willing helpers. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 25
It is not the work of the Lord that so many are gathered in Battle Creek, receiving a mold which unfits them for the work of the Lord till they are thoroughly converted. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 26
The Lord is to do a strange work very soon. A representation has been given me that I have not yet had strength to trace upon paper. I must know when to speak and when to keep silent. When the Lord bids me speak, I cannot keep silent. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 27
The Lord will work. Great facts will be revealed in the Word. There are rich experiences to be received from the great Medical Missionary. The knowledge of salvation through faith and a full trust in a personal God and a personal Saviour will be manifest. Those who have held the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will have the proof of the things which they have learned by personal experience. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 28
The gospel will be revealed and verified. The experience of the day of Pentecost will surely be repeated. Some will receive the Holy Spirit of truth; yes, some who are now in uncertainty. The Lord has given His Word. For years He has been sending messages of warnings, but by many they have been unheeded. Notwithstanding the repeated urgent warnings God has given, many have been turned away from their original faith and are lost in the fog of error. They have refused to follow the light that God has given to point out the true path. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 29
Christ is the same Christ that He has ever been. He is our Redeemer. Those who have been striving to quench their thirst at broken cisterns, which can hold no water, need to be born again, that Christ may be formed within, the hope of glory. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 30
There are those who will never receive the gospel message in its fullness; they will never see the greater light and working of the Holy Spirit. There is a depth of depravity in unbelieving human nature that will never be healed, because the true light has been misinterpreted and misapplied. The Lord has given His Spirit in abundance of assurance to enable men and women to understand the fallacies and errors of Satan and to guard against them. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 31
Some will soon turn from their deceptive errors and calculations. To those who will be born again, the Bible will become a new book. There is a higher elevation to reach. True faith is to take the place of unbelief. The living springs of the Word of God, with all their rich treasure, are to flow into the soul. The truth of the Christian religion depends upon the divine authority of the Word of God. The authority of the Word is Yea and Amen. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 32
Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Our great need is to have Him formed within, the hope of glory. He is to come into our individual experience as a personal Saviour. He is the foundation of our faith, the Rock of Ages. “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity.” [Psalm 32:2.] 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 33
When Christ shall come in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then will all men be convinced of the truth that God hath set apart him that is godly for Himself. But the words of Isaiah will come to many minds: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” [Isaiah 58:1.] The fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah gives a wonderful presentation of truth. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 34
I wish you could make me a visit at my home. I should indeed be pleased to see you and talk with you. Do nothing that will lead others to make of no account the long, determined resistance which has been shown to the messages sent by the Lord. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 35
We do not want the impression left on minds that our nurses should be educated and trained in Battle Creek. You are not to remove the impressions that I have been trying to make that our people are to be drawn away from Battle Creek. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 36
I have light regarding the impression that your going to Battle Creek would make on our people who have had placed before them many falsehoods regarding the work and influences there. Your going to Battle Creek in answer to the call you have received would not be in harmony with the light God has given me. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 37
If you cannot understand this, I can, and I will make every effort possible to save our people from being mixed up with the methods followed by some of the Battle Creek Sanitarium managers. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 38
The Lord would have Dr. Morse leave Battle Creek and labor where the light of truth has not been taught, that he may break every thread of sophistry. The sophistry that there is no personal God and no personal Christ has been set forth, and still lives, to be brought forth and fastened upon human minds. I have seen satanic agencies leading and controlling the minds of those who have taught these theories. Unless the snare is broken, ruin will result as surely as to the house built upon the sand. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 39
Great trials are right upon us, to test every soul. The end of the world is near at hand. We are not to consent to have our workers, God’s workers, tied up in Battle Creek. “Out of Battle Creek” is my message. I understand perfectly the meaning of the invitation that has been sent you. You have not a sense of what it means, but I am to tell you that God has not given you the work of teaching nurses in Battle Creek, or in any way of encouraging our youth to go there for their training. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 40
We must soon start a nurses’ training school at Loma Linda. This place will become an important educational center, and we need the efforts of yourself and your wife to give the right mold to the work in this new educational center, and in Los Angeles, where there are many converts. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 41
If you see your way clear to labor a portion of this winter in Southern California, I think I could be with you, and I will help you all I can to open up the work. If you will gather about you a group of workers, and do for a time in Southern California a work similar to that which you have done in New York and Nashville, praying and working and doing the will of the Lord, God will not fail to show Himself your Helper; for you will be following where He has marked out the way. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 42
I do not propose that you divorce yourself permanently from the work in the cities of the southern states, but I ask you to come and help us start the work of training true medical missionaries in this very fruitful field, Southern California. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 43
If we turn unto the Lord with full purpose of heart, teaching in the places He indicates, all things that He has commanded, we may be assured of the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” [Matthew 28:20.] God is able and waiting to be gracious. 20LtMs, Lt 277, 1905, par. 44