From the Elder's Pen "Step Forward Please" 3/16/03 Past/Future Articles

Once, when five volunteers were needed to undertake a dangerous mission, a General lined up his men and asked that all those willing to volunteer take one step forward.  During the process, he said he would turn his back.  When he refaced his men, the line was intact.  As he expressed his disappointment that not a single man of the entire group was brave enough to volunteer for the task, a corporal interrupted him saying,  “We all stepped forward, sir.”

Think what it would mean to the church if this was the attitude of our people.  In spite of all the good that is being done in congregations throughout the brotherhood, we know that it is still being done by a very small percentage of those who are members.  Perhaps that is why Jesus said, “Many are called but few are chosen.”  Too many people wish just to be “counted” a worker in the church.  For that reason, someone else must carry the load that they should carry.

Only a few are willing to really work for the Lord.  Others allow weeks to pass into years without doing more than worship once a week and not even once a week if something comes up that they desire to do.   They neither advertise nor attend gospel meetings, much less invite and bring visitors.  Thousands die every day without the gospel, but it is not any of their concern.  Religion has never meant anything to them, except as an escape from hell, and they are not using it enough to do that.

But suppose all of our people should step forward at once.  The story would be much different.  It is our hope and prayer that some day all of us will desire to be really loyal and work as the Master commanded.  Have you stepped forward for the Lord?