Chapter 124—The Value of Recreation
Christians should be the most cheerful and happy people that live.
They may have the consciousness that God is their father and their
everlasting friend.
But many professed Christians do not correctly represent the Chris-
tian religion. They appear gloomy, as if under a cloud. They often
speak of the great sacrifices they have made to become Christians.
They appeal to those who have not accepted Christ, representing by
their own example and conversation that they must give up everything
which would make life pleasant and joyful. They throw a pall of dark-
ness over the blessed Christian hope. The impression is given that
God’s requirements are a burden even to the willing soul, and that
everything that would give pleasure, or that would delight the taste,
must be sacrificed.
We do not hesitate to say that this class of professed Christians have
not the genuine article. God is love. Whoso dwelleth in God, dwelleth
in love. All who have indeed become acquainted, by experimental
knowledge, with the love and tender compassion of our Heavenly
Father will impart light and joy wherever they may be. Their presence
and influence will be to their associates as the fragrance of sweet
flowers, because they are linked to God and heaven, and the purity and
exalted loveliness of heaven are communicated through them to all
that are brought within their influence. This constitutes them the light
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of the world, the salt of the earth. They are indeed savors of life unto
life, but not of death unto death.
Christian Recreation
It is the privilege and duty of Christians to seek to refresh their
spirits and invigorate their bodies by innocent recreation, with the
purpose of using their physical and mental powers to the glory of God.
Our recreations should not be scenes of senseless mirth, taking the
form of the nonsensical. We can conduct them in such a manner as will
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