Testimonies to the Church Regarding our Youth Going to Battle Creek to Obtain An Education

How Shall our Youth be Trained?

September, 1903.

As I consider the state of things in Battle Creek, I tremble for our youth who go there. The light given me by the Lord,—that our youth should not collect in Battle Creek to receive their education,—has in no particular changed. The fact that the Sanitarium has been rebuilt does not change the light. That which in the past has made Battle Creek a place unsuitable for the education of our youth makes it unsuitable today, so far as influence is concerned. SpTB06 52.3

When the call came to move out of Battle Creek, the plea was, “We are here, and all settled. It would be an impossibility to move without enormous expense.” SpTB06 53.1

The Lord permitted fire to consume the principal buildings of the Review and Herald and the Sanitarium, and thus removed the greatest objection urged against moving out of Battle Creek. It was his design that instead of rebuilding the one large Sanitarium, our people should make plants in several places. These smaller sanitariums should have been established where land could be secured for agricultural purposes. It is God's plan that agriculture shall be connected with the work of our sanitariums and schools. Our youth need the education to be gained from this line of work. It is well—and more than well, it is essential—that efforts be made to carry out the Lord's plan in this respect. SpTB06 53.2

Shall we encourage our most promising young men and women to go to Battle Creek to obtain their training for service where they will be surrounded with so many influences that tend to lead astray? SpTB06 53.3

The Lord has revealed to me some of the dangers that the youth connected with so large a sanitarium will have to meet. Many of the wealthy, worldly men and women who patronize this institution will be a source of temptation to the helpers. Some of these helpers will become the favorites of wealthy patients, and will be offered strong inducements to enter their employ. Through the influence of the worldly display of some who have been guests at the Sanitarium, tares have already been sown in the hearts of young men and women employed as helpers and nurses. This is the way in which Satan is working. SpTB06 53.4

Because the Sanitarium is where it ought not to be, shall the word of the Lord regarding the education of our youth be of no account? Shall we allow the most intelligent of our youth in the churches throughout our conferences to be placed where some of them will be robbed of their simplicity through contact with men and women who have not the fear of God in their hearts? Will those in charge of our conferences allow our youth who in the schools for Christian workers could be fitted for the Lord's service, to be drawn to a place from which for years the Lord has been calling upon his people to move? SpTB06 54.1

We desire our youth to be so trained that they will exert a saving influence in our churches, working for greater unity and deeper piety. Men may not see the necessity for the call to families to leave Battle Creek, and settle in places where they can do gospel medical missionary work. But the Lord has spoken. Shall we question his word?—Testimonies for the Church 8:227-229. SpTB06 54.2