God has never left His church without a witness. In all the scenes of trial and proving, of opposition and persecution amidst moral darkness, through which the church has passed, God has had men of opportunity who have been prepared to take up His work at different stages and carry it forward and upward. Through patriarchs and prophets He revealed His truth to His people. Christ was the teacher of His ancient people as verily as He was when He came to the world clothed in the garments of humanity. Hiding His glory in human form, He often appeared to His people and talked with them “face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” He, their invisible Leader, was enshrouded in the pillar of fire and of cloud, and spoke to His people through Moses. The voice of God was heard by the prophets whom He had appointed to a special work and to bear a special message. He sent them to repeat the same words over and over again. He had a message prepared for them that was not after the ways and will of men, and this He put in their mouths and had them proclaim. He assured them the Holy Spirit would give them language and utterance. He who knew the heart would give them words with which to reach the people. {TM 404.3}

Gud har aldrig løftet hans menighed uden et vidnesbyrd. I alle synerne for prøvelser og påvisninger, for modstand og (405) forfølgelse under moralsk mørke, hvilket menigheden har været igennem, har Gud haft mennesker i rette øjeblik som har været beredt til at tage hans arbejde op på forskellige trin, og bære det fremad og opad. Gennem patriarker og profeter åbenbarede han sin sandhed til hans folk. Kristus var hans gamle folks lærer så sandelig som han var det, da han kom til verden klædt i menneskehedens klæder. Med hans herlighed skjult i menneskelig skikkelse, viste han sig ofte for hans folk og talte med dem, »ansigt til ansigt, som når den ene mand taler med en anden.« Han, deres usynlige leder, var indhyllet i søjler af ild og skyer, og talte til deres folk gennem Moses. Guds røst var hørt ved profeterne som han havde bestemt til et særligt arbejde og til at bære et særligt budskab. Han sendte dem for at gentage de samme ord om og om igen. Han havde et budskab der var beredt for dem som ikke var efter menneskers vilje og veje, og dette lagde han i deres mund og lod dem forkynde. Han forsikrede dem at Helligånden vil give dem sprog og talegave. Ham der kendte hjertet ville give dem ord hvorved folket kunne nåes.