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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
Talk of Subjects Upon Which Minds Run—With many young
ladies the boys are the theme of conversation; with the young men, it
is the girls. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”
(
Matthew 12:34
). They talk of those subjects upon which their minds
mostly run. The recording angel is writing the words of these professed
Christian boys and girls. How will they be confused and ashamed
when they meet them again in the day of God! Many children are
pious hypocrites. The youth who have not made a profession of
religion stumble over these hypocritical ones and are hardened against
any effort that may be made by those interested in their salvation.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:460
(1870).
Why Youth Prefer Company of Youth—Why the young feel
more liberty when the older ones are absent is: they are with those
of their kind. Each thinks he is as good as the other. All fail of the
mark but measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves
among themselves, and neglect the only perfect and true standard.
Jesus is the True Pattern. His self-sacrificing life is our example.—
Testimonies for the Church 1:154, 155
(1857).
A Young Lady Counseled to Guard the Affections—You are
altogether too free with your affections and would, if left to your own
course of action, make a lifelong mistake. Do not sell yourself at a
cheap market. Do not be free with any gentleman student. Consider
that you are preparing to do a work for the Master, that in order to act
well your part, and render back the talents to Him who has given them
to you, and to hear the precious commendation from His lips, “Well
done, good and faithful servant” (
Matthew 25:23
), you must take heed
and not be careless of your associations.
[301]
In order to act your part in the service of God you must go forth
with the advantages of as thorough an intellectual training as possible.
You need a vigorous, symmetrical development of the mental capa-
bilities, a graceful, Christian, many-sided development of culture, to
be a true worker for God. You need your taste and your imagination
chastened and refined and all your aspirations made pure by habitual
self-control. You need to move from high, elevated motives. Gather all
the efficiency you can, making the most of your opportunities for the
education and training of the character to fill any position which the
Lord may assign you. You need so much a balance wheel in judicious
counsel. Do not despise advice.—
Letter 23, 1893
.