In the Return of the Erring, June 21

When she hath found it, she called her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Luke 15:9. In the East the houses of the poor usually consisted of but one room, often windowless and dark. The room was rarely swept, and a piece of money falling on the floor would be speedily covered by the dust and rubbish. In order that it might be found, even in the daytime, a candle must be lighted, and the house must be swept diligently. The wife’s marriage portion usually consisted of pieces of money, which she carefully preserved as her most cherished possession, to be transmitted to her own daughters. The loss of one of these pieces would be regarded as a serious calamity, and its recovery would cause great rejoicing, in which the neighboring women would readily share.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 193. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” If angels of God rejoice over the erring who see and confess their wrongs, and return to the fellowship of their brethren, how much more should the followers of Christ, who are themselves erring, and who every day need the forgiveness of God and of their brethren, feel joy over the return of a brother or a sister who has been deceived by the sophistry of Satan.—Testimonies for the Church 3:100.