Basic HTML Version
252
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students
The science of cooking is not a small matter. The skillful prepa-
ration of food is one of the most essential arts. It should be regarded
as among the most valuable of all the arts, because it is so closely
connected with the life. Both physical and mental strength depend to
[313]
a great degree upon the food we eat; therefore the one who prepares
the food occupies an important and elevated position.
Both young men and young women should be taught how to
cook economically, and to dispense with everything in the line of
flesh food. Let no encouragement be given to the preparation of
dishes which are composed in any degree of flesh food; for this is
pointing to the darkness and ignorance of Egypt, rather than to the
purity of health reform.
Women especially should learn how to cook. What part of the
education of a girl is so important as this? Whatever may be her
circumstances in life, here is knowledge that she may put to practical
use. It is a branch of education which has a most direct influence
upon health and happiness. There is practical religion in a loaf of
good bread.
Culture on all points of practical life will make our youth useful
after they leave the school to go to foreign countries. They will not
then have to depend upon the people to whom they go to cook and
sew for them, or to build their habitations. And they will be much
more influential if they show that they can educate the ignorant how
to labor with the best methods and to produce the best results. A
smaller fund will be required to sustain such missionaries, because
they have put to the very best use their physical powers in useful,
practical labor combined with their studies. This will be appreciated
where means are difficult to obtain. They will reveal that missionar-
ies can become educators in teaching how to labor. And wherever
[314]
they go, all that they have gained in this line will give them standing
room.
The Common Arts
Skill in the common arts is a gift from God. He provides both
the gift and wisdom to use the gift aright. When He desired a work
done on the tabernacle He said, “See, I have called by name Bezaleel
the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled