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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
better than we who have the means to improve our own condition and
that of others. These must be patiently taught and cheerfully helped.
But they must be willing and anxious to be taught. They must
cherish a spirit of gratitude to God and their brethren for the help they
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receive. Such persons generally have no just ideas of the real expense
of treatment, board, room, fuel, etc., at a Health Institute. They do not
realize the magnitude of the great work of present truth and reform,
and the many calls for the liberalities of our people. They may not
be aware that the numbers of our poor are many times larger than
the numbers of our rich. And they may not also feel the force of the
frightful fact that a majority of these wealthy ones are holding on to
their riches and are in the sure road to perdition.
These poor afflicted persons should be taught that when they mur-
mur at their lot and against the wealthy on account of their covetous-
ness, they commit a great sin in the sight of heaven. They should
first understand that their sickness and poverty are misfortunes most
generally caused by their own sins, follies, and wrongs; and if the Lord
puts it into the hearts and minds of His people to help them, it should
inspire in them feelings of humble gratitude to God and His people.
They should do all in their power to help themselves. If they have
relatives who can and will defray their expenses at the Institute, these
should have the privilege.
And in view of the many poor and afflicted ones who must, to a
greater or less extent, be objects of the charity of the Institute, and
because of the lack of funds and the want of accommodations at the
present time, the stay of such at the Institute must be brief. They should
go there with the idea of obtaining, as fast and as far as possible, a
practical knowledge of what they must do, and what they must not
do, to recover health and to live healthfully. The lectures which they
hear while at the Institute, and good books from which to learn how
to live at home, must be the main reliance of such. They may find
some relief during a few weeks spent at the Institute, but will realize
more at home in carrying out the same principles. They must not rely
on the physicians to cure them in a few weeks, but must learn so to
live as to give nature a chance to work the cure. This may commence
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during a few weeks’ stay at the Institute, and yet it may require years
to complete the work by correct habits at home.