Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)

Lt 32, 1912

Sanitarium Family at St. Helena

St. Helena, California

July 5, 1912

This letter is published in entirety in AUCR 09/30/1912.

To the Sanitarium Family at St. Helena

My Brethren and Sisters:

Last night after I had retired to rest, a strange depression came over me, and for a long time I was unable to sleep. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 1

Then I seemed to be talking with companies of our people—to a little group here, and a little group there, and a little group somewhere else. I was saying to them, You do not need to plan for unholy amusements. When your life is hid with Christ in God, you will find in Him all the enchantment that you need. Words like these had been spoken to me. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 2

As I passed from one group to another, I experienced disappointment after disappointment. There was revealed in each company a desire for foolish pleasure. Men and women, acting like children, seemed to have forgotten their responsibility to glorify God. I saw the foolish actions and heard the foolish words that were spoken. And I saw how the Spirit of God was grieved and the Lord dishonored. While God and angels were working by every possible means for the upbuilding of the kingdom of heaven in earth, in truth and righteousness, those who should have been standing as heaven’s representatives were taking a low level and dishonoring their Redeemer’s name. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 3

I said to some, You should bear in mind that as God’s professed people you are called to reach a high standard. The Lord cannot be glorified by such a course as you are now pursuing. He bids us glorify Him in our body, and in our spirit, which are His. I do not know with what words to describe these scenes, or what character to give them; but I know that in participating in them you are lessening your influence for righteousness; you are displeasing the Lord; you are setting an example that none can safely follow. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 4

I was cited to the words of inspiration with which Paul voiced his hope for those who had been won to the gospel in Thessalonica. “We pray always for you,” he declared, “that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith and power: that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” [2 Thessalonians 1:11, 12.] The example of these converts to the faith would tell more for the glory of God then all the preaching of Paul and his fellow laborers. And so the consistent course of believers in this age will do more to magnify the power of truth than all the sermons of our ministers. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 5

At the camp-meeting that has just closed at Santa Rosa, truths were presented and instruction given, which if appropriated and rightly used would work transformations in the church and would change the atmosphere in the home, aiding parents in giving the right mold to the characters of the children and youth. It could change the relations of many of the workers in our institutions, enabling them to bear testimony for the truth in consistent, devoted lives. The impressions made by the camp-meeting were good. I feel sad that any should come from that meeting to take part in scenes that could not fail to remove the impressions of the Spirit from the mind. My heart is burdened as I think of such experiences being repeated after such good instruction had been given. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 6

All sanitarium workers, and parents, and ministers should realize their responsibility to God, to be themselves patterns of what they desire the youth to become. “For their sakes I sanctify Myself,” Christ declared, “that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” [John 17:19.] So those to whom the youth look for direction and a godly example should sanctify themselves. Paul directed Timothy, “Be thou an example to the believers.” [1 Timothy 4:12.] This is instruction to the workers in every institution. If they are learning of Christ daily, they will never forget how potent for good is the influence of right example. But if they are seeking only to amuse and please themselves, they set for themselves and for those within the range of their influence a low standard. Such a course can only end eventually in the yielding up of their faith. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 7

How can gospel believers act in such a way as to encourage those with whom they associate in frivolity and pleasure loving and spend their time in acting out the foolishness of the sinner! Do they not know that angels of God are standing by, making a record of their words and actions? I saw angels of God writing, and I looked to see what they had written. I read these words: None of these things will give you spiritual strength, but will lessen your influence for righteousness. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 8

I was directed to the words of Paul to Timothy: “Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God: who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. ... Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” [2 Timothy 1:8-14.] 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 9

“Be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus, and the things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man strive for the mastery, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” [2 Timothy 2:1-7.] 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 10

I was given words of warning and appeal to parents and ministers. Turning from one to another I told them of their need of being converted daily, of the great importance of having the Spirit of God resting upon them. I said, My brethren and sisters, we have no time to spend in glorifying the enemy of all righteousness. Individually we are to strive for the mastery over all foolishness; we are to strengthen our souls by training our minds to dwell upon the sound, sensible truths of the Word of God, that when the enemy seeks to take possession of the mind, and to lead us into sin, we shall have strength to act like Christians. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 11

If we will let the Spirit of God make its impression on our minds, and will yield our lives to His control, we shall not dishonor God before the world. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 12

I asked the youth and those more advanced in years what impression such scenes were likely to make on the minds of unbelievers; what influence would this folly have upon those to whom it was their privilege to minister the things of eternal life. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 13

As I spoke with great earnestness, pointing them to their privileges as sons and daughters of God, some were overcome with a sense of their wrongdoing. And as the conviction of the Spirit of God came upon them, they fell on their knees and prayed for forgiveness. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 14

When I awoke I supposed that these things presented to me related to something that would transpire in the future; and I thought I would wait before saying anything to my brethren. I had not heard of anything that was going on at the sanitarium the day before; but I felt discouraged and disappointed. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 15

The gatherings together in our institutions should never be of such a nature as to give the stamp of pleasure-loving and worldliness. There is enough of foolishness in the world. It should be the endeavor of the workers, not to encourage a delight in these things in those who come to our institutions, but to learn how to fill the mind with the things of God. Our ministers need to work during the vacation time to strengthen and steady the minds of the youth. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 16

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” [2 Timothy 3:1-5.] This class will be developed among us as a people as well as in the world. Great then is the need that we stand in that position where every jot of our powers may be used to magnify God and His truth. 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 17

“Speak thou the thing that becometh sound doctrine:” the apostle enjoins, “that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false answers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded, in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of thee.” [Titus 2:1-8.] 25LtMs, Lt 32, 1912, par. 18