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Extremes in Health Reform
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powers of his mind at work to invent some excuse that he flattered
himself was not a direct lie, rather than humble himself sufficiently
to confess his wrong. This habit has been brought with him into his
religious experience. He has a peculiar faculty of turning away a
point by pleading forgetfulness, when, many times, he chooses to
forget.
His relatives and friends might have been brought into the truth
had he been what God would have him to be. But his set ways have
made him disagreeable. He has used the truth as a subject to quarrel
over. In spite of his father’s opposition he has talked Bible subjects
in his father’s family, and has used the most objectionable subjects
to quarrel over, instead of seeking in all humbleness of mind, and
with an undying love for souls, to win to the truth and bring to the
light.
When he has pursued a wrong course, evidently unbecoming a
disciple of the meek and lowly Jesus, and has known that his words
and acts were not in accordance with the sanctifying influence of
truth, he has mulishly stood in his own defense, until his honesty
has been questioned. He has made the most precious truth for these
last days disgusting to his friends and relatives; he has proved a
stumbling block to them. His evasions, his bigotry, and the extreme
views he has taken have turned more souls away from the truth than
his best endeavors have brought into it.
His combativeness, firmness, and self-esteem are large. He
cannot bless any church with his influence until he is converted. He
can see the faults of others, and will question the course of this one
and that one if they do not fully endorse what he may present; but if
anyone receives what he advocates, he cannot and will not see their
faults and errors. This is not right. He may be correct upon many
points, but he has not the mind which dwelt in Christ. When he can
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see himself as he is, and will correct the defects in his character,
then he will be in a position to let his light so shine before men, that
they, by seeing his good works, may be led to glorify our Father who
is in heaven. His light has shone in such a manner that men have
pronounced it darkness and turned from it in disgust. Self must die,
and he must possess a teachable spirit, or he will be left to follow
his own ways and be filled with his own doings.