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His Principles are to Be Our Principles, May 16
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to
you.
John 13:15
.
In this age we are pained to see that children and youth look upon
themselves as too far advanced to submit themselves to the control of their
parents.... They seem to imagine that to yield to parental authority would
be an evidence of weakness, a sacrifice of their rightful independence. But
instead of being capable of governing themselves, they are vacillating and
weak in purpose. Their moral powers are feeble, and they have but little
spiritual power. The reason why they are thus weak and easily led away
by temptation, is that they do not imitate the life of Christ....
Instead of following in the footsteps of the divine Redeemer, they are
filled with pride and self-esteem. They study inclination, and follow the
bent of their unconsecrated minds
In a moment He [Christ] distinguished between right and wrong, and
placed sin in the light of God’s commands, holding up the law as a mirror
which reflected light upon wrong. It was this keen discrimination between
right and wrong that often provoked Christ’s brothers to anger. Yet His
appeals and entreaties, and the sorrow expressed in His countenance,
revealed such a tender, earnest love for them that they were ashamed
of having tempted Him to deviate from His strict sense of justice and
loyalty
God will have a people zealous of good works, standing firm amid the
pollutions of this degenerate age. There will be a people who hold so fast
to the divine strength that they will be proof against every temptation. Evil
communications in flaming handbills may seek to speak to their senses
and corrupt their minds; yet they will be so united to God and angels that
they will be as those who see not and hear not.... The youth may have
principles so firm that the most powerful temptations of Satan will not
draw them away from their allegiance
[144]
51
The Youth’s Instructor, July 14, 1892
.
52
The Youth’s Instructor, September 8, 1898
.
53
Testimonies for the Church 3:472
.
147