Testimony for the Church — No. 26

Epistle Number Six.

Dear Bro. and Sister L——: I have been shown that you have erred in the management of your children. You received ideas at —— from Dr. —— which you have spoken of before the patients, and before your children. They will not bear to be carried out. From Dr. ——'s stand-point they may not appear so objectionable, but viewed from a Christian stand-point they are positively dangerous. T26 130.1

The instructions Dr. —— has given in regard to shunning physical labor, has proved a great injury to many. The do-nothing system is a dangerous one. The necessity for amusements, as he teaches it and enjoins it upon his patients, is a fallacy. In order to occupy the time and engage the mind they are made a substitute for useful, healthful exercise and physical labor. Amusements, such as Dr. —— recommends, excite the brain more than useful employment. T26 130.2

Physical exercise and labor combined has a happy influence upon the mind, strengthens the muscles, improves the circulation, and gives the invalid the satisfaction of knowing his own power of endurance, whereas, if he is restricted from healthful exercise and physical labor, his attention is turned to himself. He is in constant danger of thinking himself worse than he really is, and of having established within him a diseased imagination which causes him to continually fear that he is overtaxing his powers of endurance. As a general thing if he should engage in some well directed labor, using his strength and not abusing it, he would find that physical exercise would prove a more powerful and effective agent in his recovery than even the water treatment he is receiving. T26 130.3

The inactivity of the mental and physical powers, as far as useful labor is concerned, is that which keeps many invalids in a condition of feebleness, which they feel powerless to rise above. It also gives them a greater opportunity to indulge in impure imagination, which indulgence has brought many of them where they are in point of feebleness. They are told they have expended too much vitality in hard labor, when, in nine cases out of ten, the labor they performed was the only redeeming thing in their lives, and has been the means of saving them from utter ruin. While their minds were thus engaged they could not have as favorable an opportunity to debase their bodies and complete the work of destroying themselves. To have all such persons cease to labor with brain and muscle, is to give them an ample opportunity to be taken captive by the temptations of Satan. T26 131.1

Dr. —— has recommended that the sexes should mingle together; he has taught that their physical and mental health demand a closer association with each other. Such teaching has done, and is doing, great injury to inexperienced youth and children, and is a great satisfaction to men and women of questionable character, whose passions have never been controlled, and who, for this reason, are suffering from various debilitating disorders. These persons are instructed from a health stand-point to be much in the company of the opposite sex. Thus a door of temptation is opened before them, passion rouses like a lion within their hearts, and every consideration is overborne; everything elevated and noble is sacrificed to lust. This is an age when the world is teeming with corruption. Were the minds and bodies of men and women in a healthful condition, were the animal passions subject to the higher intellectual powers of the mind, it might be comparatively safe to teach that boys and girls, and the youth of still more mature age, would be benefited by mingling much in each other's society. If the minds of the youth of this age were pure and uncorrupted, the girls might have a softening influence upon the minds and manners of the boys, and the boys, with their stronger, firmer natures, might have a tendency to ennoble and strengthen the characters of the girls. T26 131.2

But it is a painful fact that there is not one girl in a hundred who is pure minded, and there is not one boy in a hundred whose morals are untainted. Many that are older have gone to such lengths in dissipation that they are polluted soul and body, and corruption has taken hold of a large class who pass among men and women as polite gentlemen and beautiful ladies. It is not the time to recommend, as beneficial to health, the mingling of the sexes by being as much as possible in each other's society. The curse of this corrupt age is the absence of true virtue and modesty. T26 132.1

Dr. L——, you have advanced these ideas in the parlor. The young have heard you, and your remarks have had as great an influence upon your own children as upon others. It would have been better to have left those ideas at ——. T26 133.1

Close application to severe labor is injurious to the growing frames of the young, but where hundreds have broken down their constitutions by over-work alone, inactivity, over-eating, and delicate idleness has sown the seeds of disease in the systems of thousands that are hurrying to swift and sure decay. T26 133.2

Why the youth have so little strength of brain and muscle is because they do so little in the line of useful labor. “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy; and they were haughty and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.” Ezekiel 16:49, 50. T26 133.3

There are but few of the youth of this degenerate age who can even endure the study necessary to obtain a common education. Why is this? Why do the children complain of dizziness, headache, bleeding at nose, palpitation, and a sense of lassitude and general weakness? Should this be attributed mainly to their close study? Fond and indulgent parents will sympathize with their children because they fancy their lessons are too great a task, and that their close application to study is ruining their health. True, it is not advisable to crowd the minds of the young with too many and too difficult studies. But, parents, have you looked no deeper into this matter than merely to adopt the idea suggested by your children? Have you not given too ready credence to the apparent reason for their indisposition? It becomes parents and guardians to look beneath the surface for the cause of this evil. T26 133.4

In ninety-nine cases out of one hundred the cause searched out and revealed to you would open your understanding to see that it was not the taxation of study alone that was doing the work of injury to your children, but their own wrong habits were sapping the brain and the entire body of its vital energy. The nervous system has become shattered by being often excited, and thus has been laid the foundation for premature and certain decay. Solitary vice is killing thousands and tens of thousands. T26 134.1

Children should have occupation for their time. Proper mental labor and physical out-door exercise will not break the constitutions of your boys. Useful labor and an acquaintance with the mysteries of house-work will be beneficial to your girls, and some out-door employment is positively necessary to their constitution and health. Children should be taught to labor. Industry is the greatest blessing that men, women, and children can have. T26 134.2

You have erred in the education of your children. You have been too indulgent. You have favored them and excused them from labor until, with some of them, it is positively distasteful. Inactivity, lack of well-regulated employment, has injured them greatly. Temptations are on every side ready to ruin the youth for this world and the next. The path of obedience is the only path of safety. T26 135.1

You have been blind to the power the enemy was having over your children. Household labor, even to weariness, would not have hurt them one-fiftieth part as much as indolent habits have done. They would have escaped many dangers, had they been instructed, at an earlier period, to occupy their time in useful labor. They would not have contracted such a restless disposition for change, and to go into society. They would have escaped many temptations to vanity and to engage in unprofitable amusements, light reading, idle talking, and nonsense. Their time would have passed more to their satisfaction, and without so great temptation to seek the society of the opposite sex, and to excuse themselves in an evil way. Vanity and affectation, uselessness and positive sin, have been the result of this indolence. The parents, and especially you, the father, have flattered and indulged them to their great injury. T26 135.2

Dear Bro., you have made a sad mistake in standing before the patients in the parlor, as you have frequently done, and exalting yourself and wife. Your own children have learned lessons from those remarks that have given shape to their characters. You will now find it not an easy matter to correct the impressions that have been made. They have thought that as your children they were superior to children in general. They have been proud and self-conceited. You have felt anxious lest the people should not give you the respect due your position as a physician of the Health Institute. This has shown a vein of weakness in you which has hindered your spiritual advancement. It has also led to a jealousy of others, fearing that they would supplant you, or not place the right estimate upon your position and value. T26 136.1

You also exalted your wife, placing her before the patients as a superior creature. You were like a blind man. You gave her credit for qualifications she did not possess. You should have remembered that your moral worth is estimated by your words, your acts, your deeds. These can never be hidden, but will place you upon the right elevation before your patients. If your interest is manifested for them, if your labor is devoted to them, they will know it, you will have their confidence and love. T26 136.2

But talk will never make your patients believe that your arduous labor for them has taxed you and exhausted your vitality when they know that they have not had your special attention and care. T26 137.1

The patients will have confidence and love for those who manifest a special interest in them and who labor for their recovery. T26 137.2

If you are the one to do this work, which must be done, which cannot be left undone, which the patients pay their money to have done, then you need not by talking, seek to gain esteem and respect, you will as surely have it as you do the work. T26 137.3

You have not been free from selfishness, and therefore you have not had the blessing which God gives his unselfish workmen. Your interest has been divided. You have had such a special care for yourself and yours, that the Lord has had no reason to especially work and care for you. Your course in this respect has disqualified you for your position. T26 137.4

I saw one year ago that you felt competent to manage the Institute yourself alone. Were it yours and you the one to be especially benefited or injured by its losses and gains, you would see it your duty to have an especial care that losses should not occur, and that patients who were there upon charity should not drain the Institute of means. You would investigate, you would not have them remain a week longer than it was positively necessary. You would see many plans and ways by which you could reduce expenses and keep up the property of the Institute. But you were merely employed, and the zeal, interest, and ability which you think you possess, to carry on such an institution, does not appear. The patients do not receive the attention for which they have paid and which they have a right to expect. You was shown to me frequently turning away from invalids who were in need of your counsel and advice. You were presented before me as apparently indifferent, seeming rather impatient while scarcely listening to what they were saying which was to them of great importance. You seemed to be in a great hurry, putting them off till some future time, when a very few appropriate words, spoken in sympathy and encouragement, would quiet a thousand fears, and give, in the place of disquietude and distress, peace and assurance. You appeared to dread to speak to the patients. You did not enter into their feelings, but held yourself aloof when you should have manifested more familiarity. You were too distant and unapproachable. They look to you as children to a parent, and have a right to expect and receive attentions from you which they do not obtain. “Me and mine” comes between you and the labor your position requires you to do. The patients and helpers need your advice frequently, but they feel an unwillingness to go to you, and do not feel free to speak with you. T26 137.5

You have sought to maintain an undue dignity. In the effort you have not attained the object, but lost the confidence and love which you might have gained had you been unassuming, possessing meekness and humility of mind. True devotion and consecration to God will find for you a place in the hearts of all, and clothe you with a dignity not assumed but genuine. You have been exalted by the words of approval you have received. The life of Christ must be your pattern, to do good in every place you occupy. In caring for others, God will care for you. The Majesty of Heaven did not avoid weariness. He traveled on foot from place to place to benefit the suffering and needy. Although you possess some knowledge and may have some understanding of the human system, and can trace disease to its cause, and even if you had the tongue of men and angels, there are yet qualifications necessary or all your gifts will be of no special value. You must have a power from God, which can only be realized by those who make him their trust and consecrate themselves with devotion to the work he has given them to do. Christ must be a portion of your knowledge. His wisdom instead of yours should be considered. Then will you understand how to be a light in the rooms of the sick. You lack freedom of spirit, power and faith. Your faith is feeble for want of exercise; it cannot be vigorous and healthful. Your efforts will not be as successful for those who are sick in heart and body, and they will not be gaining in physical and spiritual strength if you do not carry Jesus with you in your visits. His words and works you want to accompany you. Then you will feel that those whom your words of sympathy and prayers have blessed will bless you in return. T26 139.1

You have not felt your whole dependence upon God, and your inefficiency and weakness without his especial wisdom and grace. You worry, fear, and doubt, because you have worked too much in your own strength. In God you can prosper. In humility and holiness of mind you will find great peace and strength. They shine brightest who feel most their own weakness and darkness, for such make Christ their righteousness. Your strength should come from your union with Christ. Be not weary in well doing. T26 140.1

The Majesty of Heaven has invited the weary ones, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Why the burden sometimes seems so heavy, and the yoke so galling, is because you have got above the meekness and the lowliness possessed by our divine Lord. Cease trying to gratify and exalt self; but rather let self be hidden in Jesus, and learn of him who has invited you and promised you rest. T26 140.2

I saw that the Health Institute could never prosper while those who held responsible positions connected with it, had more interest for themselves than for the institution. God wants unselfish men and women as workers in his cause, and those who take charge of the Health Institute should have an oversight of every department there, practicing economy, caring for the trifles, guarding against losses, in short they should be as careful and judicious in their management as if they themselves were the actual proprietors. T26 140.3

You have been troubled with a feeling that this and that was not your business. Everything connected with the Institute is your business. If certain things come under your observation that you cannot attend to properly, being called in another direction, call for the help of someone who will give these matters immediate attention. If this work is too arduous for you, someone should take your place who can perform thoroughly all the duties devolving upon one holding your responsible position. T26 141.1

You have frequently charged the patients and helpers, in your parlor talks, with bringing unnecessary burdens and cares upon you, while, at the same time, I saw you were not performing half the duties resting upon you as a physician. You were not properly attending to the cases of the sick under your care. The patients are not blind; they perceive your neglect of them. They are away from their homes and upon expense to obtain the care and treatment they could not receive there. All this scolding in the parlor is injurious to the institution and displeasing to God. T26 141.2

It is true you have had heavy burdens to bear, but in many oases you have blamed the patients and helpers when the trouble was in your own family. They require your constant help, but do not help you in return; there is no one in your home to stay up your hands or give you encouragement. Had you no burden outside the Institute, you could bear up much better, and not lose strength and fortitude. It is your duty to care for your family, but it is not at all necessary for them to be as helpless as they are, and so great a weight upon you. They could assist you if they would. T26 142.1

It is your duty also to preserve your health; and if your family cares are so great, and the work in which you are engaged is over-taxing you, and you are unable to devote the time and attention to the patients and the Institute which is actually their due, then you should resign your position and seek to place yourself where you can do justice to your family, yourself, and to the responsibilities you assume. T26 142.2

The position you now occupy is an important one. It requires clear intellect, strength of brain, nerve and muscle. Earnest devotion to the work is necessary for its success, and nothing short of this will make the Institution prosperous. To be a living thing it must have live, disinterested workers to conduct it. T26 142.3

Sister L—, you have not been the help to your husband that you should have been. Your attention has been devoted more to yourself. You have not realized the necessity of arousing your dormant energies to encourage and strengthen your husband in his labors, or bless your children with the right influence. If you had set yourself diligently about the duties God enjoined upon you, had helped to bear the burdens of your companion and united with him to properly discipline your children, the order of things in your family would have been changed. T26 142.4

But you have yielded to feelings of gloom and sadness which has brought a cloud upon your dwelling instead of sunshine. You have not encouraged hope and cheerfulness and your influence has been depressing upon those whom you should have aided by kindly words and deeds. All this is the result of selfishness. You have required the attention and sympathy of your husband and children, and yet have not felt that it was your duty to take your mind off yourself and labor for their happiness and well-being. You have given way to impatience, and have harshly reproved your children; this has only confirmed them in their evil ways, and severed the cords of affection that should bind the hearts of parents and children together. T26 143.1

You have lacked self-control, and have censured your husband in the presence of your children, and this has lessened your authority over them as well as his. You have been very weak; when your children have come to you with complaints of others, you have immediately decided in favor of your children and have unwisely censured and blamed those of whom they complained. This has cherished in the minds of your children a disposition to murmur against those who do not pay them the deference they imagine they deserve. You have indirectly encouraged this spirit instead of silencing it. You have not dealt with your children as firmly and justly as you should have done. T26 143.2

You have had trials. You have been oppressed in mind. You have been discouraged but have charged this unhappiness unjustly upon others. The main cause is to be found in yourself. You have failed to make your home what it should be and what it might have been. It is yet in your power to correct the faults there. Come out of that cold and stiff reserve. Give more love, rather than exact it, cultivate cheerfulness, let the sunshine into your heart and it will shine upon those about you, be more social in your manners, seek to gain the confidence of your children that they may come to you for advice and counsel, encourage in them humility and unselfishness, and set before them the right sort of example. T26 144.1

Awake my dear brother and sister, to the needs of your family. Do not be blinded, but take hold of the work unitedly, calmly, prayerfully, and in faith. Set your house in order and God will bless your efforts. T26 144.2