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Testimonies for the Church Volume 7
At bountiful tables men often eat much more than can be easily
digested. The overburdened stomach cannot do its work properly. The
result is a disagreeable feeling of dullness in the brain, and the mind
does not act quickly. Disturbance is created by improper combinations
of food; fermentation sets in; the blood is contaminated and the brain
confused.
The habit of overeating, or of eating too many kinds of food at one
meal, frequently causes dyspepsia. Serious injury is thus done to the
delicate digestive organs. In vain the stomach protests and appeals to
the brain to reason from cause to effect. The excessive amount of food
eaten, or the improper combination, does its injurious work. In vain do
disagreeable premonitions give warning. Suffering is the consequence.
Disease takes the place of health.
Some may ask, What has this to do with board meetings? Very
much. The effects of wrong eating are brought into council and board
meetings. The brain is affected by the condition of the stomach. A
disordered stomach is productive of a disordered, uncertain state of
mind. A diseased stomach produces a diseased condition of the brain
and often makes one obstinate in maintaining erroneous opinions. The
supposed wisdom of such a one is foolishness with God.
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I present this as the cause of the situation in many council and
board meetings, where questions demanding careful study have been
given but little consideration, and decisions of the greatest importance
have been hurriedly made. Often when there should have been una-
nimity of sentiment in the affirmative, decided negatives have entirely
changed the atmosphere pervading a meeting. These results have been
presented to me again and again.
I present these matters now because I am instructed to say to my
brethren in the ministry: By intemperance in eating you disqualify
yourselves for seeing clearly the difference between sacred and com-
mon fire. And by this intemperance you also reveal your disregard for
the warnings that the Lord has given you. His word to you is: “Who is
among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant,
that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name
of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire,
that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your
fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of Mine
hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.”
Isaiah 50:10, 11
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