General Counsel for the Church

The opening article, which as republished in volume 1 of the Testimonies, is titled “Slackness Reproved,” covers a number of points, and reins the church up for overlooking sin in its midst. Among the perils threatening the church was the practice of members establishing their own standards, and in so doing entirely failing “to reach the gospel standard set up by our divine Lord” (Testimonies for the Church, 1:214).1BIO 437.1