Chapter 47—Mental Hygiene
[
See chapter 42, “Mind and Health.”
]
Mental Powers Depend on Health—Health is a blessing of
which few appreciate the value; yet upon it the efficiency of our men-
tal and physical powers largely depends. Our impulses and passions
have their seat in the body, and it must be kept in the best condition
physically and under the most spiritual influences in order that our
talents may be put to the highest use. Anything that lessens physical
strength enfeebles the mind and makes it less capable of discriminating
between right and wrong.—
The Review and Herald, June 20, 1912
.
(
Messages to Young People, 235
.)
All Faculties Can Be Cultivated—Many are not doing the great-
est amount of good because they exercise the intellect in one direction
and neglect to give careful attention to those things for which they think
they are not adapted. Some faculties that are weak are thus allowed to
lie dormant because the work that should call them into exercise, and
consequently give them strength, is not pleasant. All the powers of
the mind should be exercised, all the faculties cultivated. Perception,
judgment, memory, and all the reasoning powers should have equal
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strength in order that minds may be well balanced.—
Testimonies for
the Church 3:32, 33
(1872).
Weak Faculties Not to Be Neglected—It is agreeable, but not
most profitable, to exercise those faculties which are naturally the
strongest, while we neglect those that are weak, but which need to be
strengthened. The feeblest faculties should have careful attention that
all the powers of the intellect may be nicely balanced and all do their
part like well-regulated machinery.
We are dependent upon God for the preservation of all our faculties.
Christians are under obligation to Him to so train the mind that all the
faculties may be strengthened and more fully developed. If we neglect
to do this, they will never accomplish the purpose for which they were
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