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have they felt under obligation to their parents to be true, thorough, and
faithful in the humble, lowly duties of life which lie directly in their
pathway. They look above the common branches of knowledge, so
very necessary for practical life.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:221,
222
(1872).
Recreation Versus Amusement—There is a distinction between
recreation and amusement. Recreation, when true to its name, re-
creation, tends to strengthen and build up. Calling us aside from our
ordinary cares and occupations, it affords refreshment for mind and
body, and thus enables us to return with new vigor to the earnest
work of life. Amusement, on the other hand, is sought for the sake
of pleasure and is often carried to excess; it absorbs the energies that
are required for useful work and thus proves a hindrance to life’s true
success.—
Education, 207
(1903).
Senseless Mirth—Our recreations should not be scenes of sense-
less mirth, taking the form of the nonsensical. We can conduct them
in such a manner as will benefit and elevate those with whom we
associate and better qualify us and them to more successfully attend
to the duties devolving upon us as Christians.—
The Health Reformer,
July, 1871
. (
The Adventist Home, 493
).
The Fashionable Modern Dance—David’s dancing in reverent
joy before God has been cited by pleasure lovers in justification of the
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fashionable modern dance, but there is no ground for such an argument.
In our day, dancing is associated with folly and midnight reveling.
Health and morals are sacrificed to pleasure. By the frequenters of the
ballroom, God is not an object of thought and reverence; prayer or the
song of praise would be felt to be out of place in their assemblies.
This test should be decisive. Amusements that have a tendency
to weaken the love for sacred things and lessen our joy in the service
of God are not to be sought by Christians. The music and dancing
in joyful praise to God at the removal of the ark had not the faintest
resemblance to the dissipation of modern dancing. The one tended to
the remembrance of God, and exalted His holy name. The other is a
device of Satan to cause men to forget God and to dishonor Him.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 707
(1890).
Seeking Satisfaction in Amusements and Pleasures—The en-
emy seeks in many ways to draw our minds from the study of the
Word. Many he leads to seek for satisfaction in amusements and plea-