Chapter 68—Prevalence of Corrupting Vices
An Age of Abounding Iniquity—We live amid the perils of the
last days. Because iniquity abounds, the love of many waxes cold.
The word “many” refers to the professed followers of Christ. They
are affected by the prevailing iniquity and backslide from God, but it
is not necessary that they should be thus affected. The cause of this
declension is that they do not stand clear from this iniquity. The fact
that their love of God is waxing cold because iniquity abounds shows
that they are, in some sense, partakers in this iniquity, or it would not
affect their love for God and their zeal and fervor in this cause
Influence of Debasing Books and Pictures—Many of the young
are eager for books. They read everything they can obtain. Exciting
love stories and impure pictures have a corrupting influence. Novels
are eagerly perused by many; and, as the result, their imagination
becomes defiled. In the cars photographs of females in a state of
nudity are frequently circulated for sale. These disgusting pictures are
also found in daguerrean saloons [photo shops] and are hung upon the
walls of those who deal in engravings. This is an age when corruption
is teeming everywhere. The lust of the eye and corrupt passions
are aroused by beholding and by reading. The heart is corrupted
through the imagination. The mind takes pleasure in contemplating
scenes which awaken the lower and baser passions. These vile images,
seen through defiled imagination, corrupt the morals and prepare the
deluded, infatuated beings to give loose rein to lustful passions. Then
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follow sins and crimes which drag beings formed in the image of God
down to a level with the beasts, sinking them at last in perdition
Licentiousness the Special Sin—A terrible picture of the condi-
tion of the world has been presented before me. Immorality abounds
everywhere. Licentiousness is the special sin of this age. Never did
vice lift its deformed head with such boldness as now. The people
1
Testimonies For The Church 2:346
.
2
Testimonies For The Church 2:410
.
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