Prenatal Influences
109
disease, enfeebled intellects, and polluted morals.—
Testimonies for
the Church 4:31
(1876).
Insatiable Cravings, Unholy Desires Transmitted to Young—
Both parents transmit their own characteristics, mental and physical,
their dispositions and appetites, to their children....Liquor drinkers
[135]
and tobacco users may, and do, transmit their insatiable craving, their
inflamed blood and irritable nerves, to their children. The licentious
often bequeath their unholy desires, and even loathsome diseases, as a
legacy to their offspring. And as the children have less power to resist
temptation than had the parents, the tendency is for each generation to
fall lower and lower.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 561
(1890).
As a rule, every intemperate man who rears children transmits his
inclinations and evil tendencies to his offspring.—
The Review and
Herald, November 21, 1882
. (
Temperance, 170
.)
Samson’s Prenatal Life Regulated by God—The words spoken
to the wife of Manoah contain a truth that the mothers of today would
do well to study. In speaking to this one mother, the Lord spoke to
all the anxious, sorrowing mothers of that time and to all the mothers
of succeeding generations. Yes, every mother may understand her
duty. She may know that the character of her children will depend
vastly more upon her habits before their birth and her personal efforts
after their birth than upon external advantages or disadvantages.—
The
Signs of the Times, February 26, 1902
. (
Counsels on Diet and Foods,
218
.)
God had important work for the promised child of Manoah to do,
and it was to secure for him the qualifications necessary for this work
that the habits of both the mother and the child were to be so carefully
regulated....The child will be affected for good or evil by the habits
of the mother. She must herself be controlled by principle and must
practice temperance and self-denial if she would seek the welfare
of her child.—
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 38, 1890
.
(
Temperance, 90
.)
Fathers as Well as Mothers Involved—Fathers as well as moth-
ers are involved in this responsibility, and they too should seek
earnestly for divine grace that their influence may be such as God
[136]
can approve. The inquiry of every father and mother should be, “What
shall we do unto the child that shall be born?” By many the effect of
prenatal influence has been lightly regarded; but the instruction sent