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358
Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
father and children if they would profit by the advantages of farm
life.
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I saw that the family of Brother G need a great work done for
them. H and I have gone to great lengths in this crime of self-abuse;
especially is this true of H, who has gone so far in the practice of
this sin that his intellect is affected, his eye-sight is weakened, and
disease is fastening itself upon him. Satan has almost full control
of this poor boy’s mind, but his parents are not awake to see the
evil and its results. His mind is debased, his conscience hardened,
his moral sensibilities benumbed, and he will be a ready victim for
evil associates to lead into sin and crime. Brother and Sister G,
arouse yourselves, I beg of you. You have not received the light of
health reform and acted upon it. If you had restricted your appetites
you would have been saved much extra labor and expense; and,
what is of vastly more consequence, you would have preserved to
yourselves a better condition of physical health and a greater degree
of intellectual strength to appreciate eternal truths; you would have
a clearer brain to weigh the evidences of truth and would be better
prepared to give to others a reason of the hope that is in you. Your
food is not of that simple, healthful quality which will make the
best kind of blood. Foul blood will surely becloud the moral and
intellectual powers, and arouse and strengthen the baser passions of
your nature. Neither of you can afford a feverish diet, for it is at the
expense of the health of the body and the prosperity of your own
souls and the souls of your children.
You place upon your table food which taxes the digestive organs,
excites the animal passions, and weakens the moral and intellectual
faculties. Rich food and flesh meats are no benefit to you. Could you
know just the nature of the meat you eat, could you see the animals
when living from which the flesh is taken when dead, you would
turn with loathing from your flesh meats. The very animals whose
flesh you eat are frequently so diseased that, if left alone, they would
die of themselves; but while the breath of life is in them, they are
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killed and brought to market. You take directly into your system
humors and poison of the worst kind, and yet you realize it not. You
love to indulge appetite. You have this lesson to learn: Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of
God.”