Parental Influences
139
Preoccupation of Mind Rules Out Low Thoughts—Educate the
faculties and tastes of your dear ones; seek to preoccupy their minds so
that there shall be no place for low, debasing thoughts or indulgences.
The grace of Christ is the only antidote or preventive of evil. You
may choose, if you will, whether the minds of your children shall be
occupied with pure, uncorrupted thoughts or with the evils that are
existing everywhere—pride and forgetfulness of their Redeemer.—
Letter 27, 1890
(
Child Guidance, 188
.)
Surrounded by a Wall Not Easily Broken Down—Every Chris-
tian home should have rules; and parents should, in their words and
in their deportment toward each other, give to the children a precious
living example of what they desire them to be. Purity in speech and
true Christian courtesy should be constantly practiced. Let there be no
encouragement of sin, no evil surmising or evil speaking.
Teach the children and youth to respect themselves, to be true
to God, true to principle; teach them to respect and obey the law of
God. Then these principles will control their lives and will be carried
out in their association with others. They will love their neighbor as
themselves. They will create a pure atmosphere, one that will have an
influence to encourage weak souls in the path that leads to holiness
and heaven. Let every lesson be of an elevating, ennobling character,
and the records made in the books of heaven will be such as you will
not be ashamed to meet in the judgment.
Children who receive this kind of instruction will not be a burden,
a cause of anxiety, in our institutions [educational, medical, publish-
ing, etc.]; but they will be a strength, a support to those who bear
responsibility. They will be prepared to fill places of trust and by pre-
cept and example will be constantly aiding others to do right. Those
whose moral sensibilities have not been blunted will appreciate right
principles and will practice them. They will put a right estimate upon
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their endowments and will make the best use of their physical, mental,
and moral powers.
Such souls are constantly fortified against temptation; they are
surrounded by a wall not easily broken down. All such characters are,
with the blessing of God, light-bearers; their influence tends to elevate
others for a practical Christian life. The mind may be so elevated
that divine thoughts and contemplations come to be as natural as the
breath.—
Letter 74, 1896
.
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