Decision and the Will
249
the misfortune to be always on the wrong side, when the Lord would
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have them faithful men who can distinguish good from evil.—MS 121,
1898.
Two Elements of Character—Strength of character consists of
two things—power of will and power of self-control. Many youth
mistake strong, uncontrolled passion for strength of character, but the
truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. The
real greatness and nobility of the man is measured by the power of
the feelings that he subdues, not by the power of the feelings that
subdue him. The strongest man is he who, while sensitive to abuse,
will yet restrain passion and forgive his enemies. Such men are true
heroes.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:656
(1881).
The Will United With Divine Strength—You may become men
of responsibility and influence if, by the power of your will, united
with divine strength, you earnestly engage in the work. Exercise the
mental powers, and in no case neglect the physical. Let not intellectual
slothfulness close up your path to greater knowledge. Learn to reflect
as well as to study that your minds may expand, strengthen, and
develop. Never think that you have learned enough and that you may
now relax your efforts. The cultivated mind is the measure of the
man. Your education should continue during your lifetime; every day
you should be learning and putting to practical use the knowledge
gained.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:561
(1881).
Right Exercise of Will Resists Disease—I have been shown that
many who are apparently feeble and are ever complaining are not
so badly off as they imagine themselves to be. Some of these have
a powerful will, which, exercised in the right direction, would be a
potent means of controlling the imagination and thus resisting disease.
But it is too frequently the case that the will is exercised in a wrong
direction and stubbornly refuses to yield to reason. That will has
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settled the matter; invalids they are, and the attention due to invalids
they will have, irrespective of the judgment of others.—
Testimonies
for the Church 2:524
(1870).
A Factor in Dealing With Disease—The power of the will is not
valued as it should be. Let the will be kept awake and rightly directed,
and it will impart energy to the whole being and will be a wonderful
aid in the maintenance of health. It is a power also in dealing with
disease