16
Counsels on Sabbath School Work
and hearts. How much more profitable to be faithful disciples of Christ,
engaged in searching the Scriptures that they may be thoroughly fur-
nished to all good works, and be able to give an intelligent explanation
of the word given of God to guide our footsteps to the eternal shores.
Mothers are heard to deplore that they have no time to teach their
children, no time to instruct them in the word of God. But these same
mothers find time for outward adorning, time to ornament with tucks
and ruffles and needless stitching. Needless trimming is seen upon
their own dresses and their children’s. The inward adorning of the
mind and the culture of the soul are neglected as though inferior to
the adornment of the apparel. The minds of mothers and children are
starved in order to follow custom and fashion.
All the Family to Unite in Bible Study
Fathers and mothers, we entreat you to take up your long-neglected
duties. Search the Scriptures yourselves; assist your children in the
study of the Sacred Word. Make diligent work because of past neglect.
Do not send the children away by themselves to study the Bible, but
read it with them, teach them in a simple manner what you know,
and keep in the school of Christ as diligent students yourselves. Be
determined that this work shall not be neglected. Mothers, dress
yourselves and your children in modest apparel, clean and neat, but
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without needless adornment. When you learn to do this, to dress
with conscientious plainness, then you will have no excuse for being
novices in the Scriptures. Follow Christ’s injunction, “Search the
Scriptures;” then you will advance in spiritual strength yourselves,
and be able to instruct your children so that they need not come to the
Sabbath school untaught.
Many of the youth say, I have no time to study my lesson. But
what are they doing? Some are crowding in every moment to earn
a few cents more, when this time pressed into work, if given to the
study of the Bible, would, if they practiced its lessons, save them
more than the amount gained by overwork. It would save much that is
expended in needless ornaments, and preserve vigor of mind to under-
stand the mystery of godliness. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom.” But these very youth who profess to be Christians gratify
the desires of the carnal heart in following their own inclinations; and