Chapter 54—Overstudy
We Are to Preserve Brain Power—I believe, I believe that the
Lord hears my prayers, and then I go to work to answer my prayers,
which I am sure are indited by the Lord. I am of good courage. Let us
not overtax the strength that the Lord gives us. We are to preserve our
brain power. If we abuse this power, we shall have no deposit to draw
from in times of emergency.—Lt 150, 1903.
Wisdom Needed in Choosing Mental Diet—The gathering to-
gether of many books for study too often interposes between God
and man a mass of knowledge that weakens the mind and makes it
incapable of assimilating that which it has already received. The mind
becomes dyspeptic. Wisdom is needed that man may choose aright
between these many authors and the word of life, that he may eat the
flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God.—
Testimonies for the
Church 7:205
(1902).
Shortens Life—To those who are desirous of becoming efficient
laborers in the cause of God I would say, If you are putting an undue
amount of labor on the brain, thinking you will lose ground unless
you study all the time, you should at once change your views and your
course. Unless greater care is exercised in this respect, there are many
[507]
who will go down to the grave prematurely.—
Counsels to Parents,
Teachers, and Students, 296
(1913).
Overconcentration Wears Our Vital Organs—The power to
concentrate the mind upon one subject to the exclusion of all oth-
ers is well in a degree; but the constant exercise of this faculty wears
upon those organs that are called into use to do this work; it throws
too great a tax upon them, and the result is a failure to accomplish the
greatest amount of good. The principal wear comes upon one set of
organs, while the others lie dormant. The mind cannot thus be health-
fully exercised, and, in consequence, life is shortened.—
Testimonies
for the Church 3:34
(1872).
Overtaxed Mind Opens Door to Temptation—Students who
apply themselves wholly to brain labor in the schoolroom injure the
108