Reasons for Reform
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Diet
Our habits of eating and drinking show whether we are of the world
or among the number whom the Lord by His mighty cleaver of truth
has separated from the world.
Testimonies for the Church 6:112
As we near the close of time, we must rise higher and still higher
upon the question of health reform and Christian temperance, pre-
senting it in a more positive and decided manner. We must strive
continually to educate the people, not only by our words but by our
practice. Precept and practice combined have a telling influence.
Testimonies for the Church 7:136-137
The light God has given on health reform is for our salvation and
the salvation of the world.... The Lord has been sending us line upon
line, and if we reject these principles, we are not rejecting the messen-
ger who teaches them, but the One who has given us the principles.
Reform, continual reform, must be kept before the people, and by our
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example we must enforce our teaching. True religion and the laws
of health go hand in hand. It is impossible to work for the salvation
of men and women without presenting to them the need of breaking
away from sinful gratifications, which destroy the health, debase the
soul, and prevent divine truth from impressing the mind. Men and
women must be taught to take a careful view of every habit and every
practice, and at once put away those things that cause an unhealthy
condition of the body, and thus cast a dark shadow over the mind. God
desires His light-bearers ever to keep a high standard before them.
By precept and example they must hold their perfect standard high
above Satan’s false standard, which, if followed, will lead to misery,
degradation, disease, and death for both body and soul. Let those who
have obtained a knowledge of how to eat, and drink, and dress so as
to preserve health, impart this knowledge to others. Let the poor have
the gospel of health preached unto them from a practical point of view,
that they may know how to care properly for the body, which is the
temple of the Holy Spirit.