174
Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 2
the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong; and the thoughts
and feelings combined make up the moral character. When you decide
that as Christians you are not required to restrain your thoughts and
feelings, you are brought under the influence of evil angels and invite
their presence and their control. If you yield to your impressions and
allow your thoughts to run in a channel of suspicion, doubt, and repin-
ing, you will be among the most unhappy of mortals, and your lives
will prove a failure.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:310
(1885).
Seeing Life as It Is—Unless you view life as it is, cast aside the
brilliant fancies of imagination, and come down to the sober lessons
of experience, you will awake when it is too late. You will then realize
the terrible mistake you have made.—
Testimonies for the Church
3:43
(1872).
[594]
Acquisitiveness Creates Imaginary Wants—The case of
Brother I is fearful. This world is his god; he worships money....
He needs the censure of none but the pity of all. His life has been
a terrible mistake. He has suffered imaginary pecuniary want while
surrounded with plenty. Satan has taken possession of his mind and,
exciting his organ of acquisitiveness, has made him insane upon this
subject. The higher, nobler powers of his being have been brought
very much into subjection to this close, selfish propensity.
His only hope is in breaking the bands of Satan and overcoming
this evil in his character. He has tried to do this by undoing something
after his conscience has been wrought upon, but this is not sufficient.
This merely making a mighty effort and parting with a little of his
mammon, feeling all the time that he is parting with his soul, is not
the fruit of true religion.
He must train his mind to good works. He must brace against
his propensity to acquire. He must weave good works into all his
life. He must cultivate a love for doing good and get above the little,
penurious spirit which he has fostered.—
Testimonies for the Church
2:237, 238
(1869).
Superstition Arising Out of Imagination—Your experience was
shown to me as not reliable because opposed to natural law. It is
in conflict with the unchangeable principles of nature. Superstition,
my dear sister, arising from a diseased imagination, arrays you in
conflict with science and principle. Which shall be yielded? Your
strong prejudices and very set ideas in regard to what course is best to