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Healthful Living

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Mental and Moral Influence of Dress

526. The sum and substance of true religion is to own and continually acknowledge by words, by dress, by deportment, our relationship to God.—Testimonies for the Church 4:582. HL 119.2

527. Perhaps no question has ever come up among us which has caused such development of character as has the dress reform.—Testimonies for the Church 4:636. HL 120.1

528. Simplicity of dress will make a sensible woman appear to the best advantage. We judge of a person's character by the style of dress worn. Gaudy apparel displays vanity and weakness. A modest, godly woman will dress modestly. A refined taste, a cultivated mind, will be revealed in the choice of simple and appropriate attire.—Testimonies for the Church 4:643. HL 120.2

529. We would not by any means encourage carelessness in dress. Let the attire be appropriate and becoming. Though only a ten-cent calico, it should be kept neat and clean.—Testimonies for the Church 4:642. HL 120.3

530. Taste should be manifested as to colors. Uniformity in this respect is desirable so far as convenient. Complexion, however, may be taken into account. Modest colors should be sought for. When figured material is used, figures that are large and fiery, showing vanity and shallow pride in those who choose them, should be avoided. And a fantastic taste in putting on different colors is bad.—The Health Reformer, September 1, 1868. HL 120.4

531. Let the wearing of useless trimmings and adornments be discarded. Extravagance should never be indulged in to gratify pride. Our dress may be of good quality, made up with plainness and simplicity, for durability rather than for display.—The Review and Herald, November 21, 1878. HL 120.5

532. There is no need to make the dress question the main point of your religion. There is something richer to speak of. Talk of Christ; and when the heart is converted, everything that is out of harmony with the word of God will drop off.—The Signs of the Times, July 1, 1889. HL 121.1

533. There is no use in telling you that you must not wear this or that, for if the love of these vain things is in your heart, your laying off your adornments will only be like cutting the foliage off a tree.—The Review and Herald, May 10, 1892. HL 121.2

534. “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil”.... Be not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Fashion is deteriorating the intellect and eating out the spirituality of our people.—Testimonies for the Church 4:647. HL 121.3

535. As soon as any have a desire to imitate the fashions of the world that they do not immediately subdue, just so soon God ceases to acknowledge them as his children.—Testimonies for the Church 1:137. HL 121.4

536. Those who have had the light upon the subjects of eating and dressing with simplicity, in obedience to physical and moral laws, and who turn from the light which points out their duty, will shun duty in other things. If they blunt their consciences to avoid the cross which they will have to take up to be in harmony with natural law, they will, in order to shun reproach, violate the ten commandments.—Testimonies for the Church 3:51. HL 121.5