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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
jesting, in joking, and in foolish indulgences. While engaged in folly
and indulgence of the senses, some think of nothing but the momentary
gratification connected with it. Their desire for amusement, their love
for society and for chatting and laughing, increases by indulgence, and
they lose all relish for the sober realities of life, and home duties seem
uninteresting. There is not enough change to meet their minds, and
they become restless, peevish, and irritable. These young men should
feel it a duty to make home happy and cheerful. They should bring
sunshine into the dwelling, rather than a shadow by needless repining
and unhappy discontent.
These young men should remember that they are responsible for
all the privileges they have enjoyed, that they are accountable for the
improvement of their time and must render an exact account for the
improvement of their abilities. They may inquire: Shall we have no
amusement or recreation? Shall we work, work, work, without varia-
tion? Any amusement in which they can engage asking the blessing of
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God upon it in faith will not be dangerous. But any amusement which
disqualifies them for secret prayer, for devotion at the altar of prayer,
or for taking part in the prayer meeting is not safe, but dangerous. A
change from physical labor that has taxed the strength severely may
be very necessary for a time, that they may again engage in labor,
putting forth exertion with greater success. But entire rest may not
be necessary, or even be attended with the best results so far as their
physical strength is concerned. They need not, even when weary with
one kind of labor, trifle away their precious moments. They may then
seek to do something not so exhausting, but which will be a blessing
to their mother and sisters. In lightening their cares by taking upon
themselves the roughest burdens they have to bear, they can find that
amusement which springs from principle and which will yield them
true happiness, and their time will not be spent in trifling or in selfish
indulgence. Their time may be ever employed to advantage, and they
be constantly refreshed with variation, and yet be redeeming the time,
so that every moment will tell with good account to some one.
You have thought that it was of the highest importance to obtain
an education in the sciences. There is no virtue in ignorance, and
knowledge will not necessarily dwarf Christian growth; but if you seek
for it from principle, having the right object before you and feeling
your obligation to God to use your faculties to do good to others and