Dangers of the Young
125
Some parents have failed to give their children a religious educa-
tion, and have also neglected their school education. Neither should
have been neglected. Children’s minds will be active. If not engaged
in physical labor, or occupied with study, they will be exposed to bad
influences. It is sin for parents to suffer their children to grow up in
ignorance. They should be supplied with useful and interesting books.
They should be learned to work, and have hours for physical labor,
and hours to devote to study and reading.
Parents should seek to elevate the minds of their children. They
should cultivate their intellect, and strive to improve their mental
faculties. The mind left to itself uncultivated will be generally low,
sensual, and corrupt. Satan improves his opportunity, and educates
idle minds.
Parents, the recording angel writes every impatient, fretful word
you utter to your children. Every failure on your part to give your
children proper instruction, and show them the exceeding sinfulness
of sin, and the final result of a sinful course, is marked against your
name. Every unguarded word spoken before your children carelessly,
or in jest, not chaste and elevated, the recording angel marks as a spot
against your Christian character. All your acts are recorded, whether
they are good or bad.
Parents cannot succeed well in the government of their children
until they first have perfect government and control over themselves.
They must first learn to subdue themselves, and control their words,
and the very expression of the countenance. They should not suffer
the tones of their voice to be disturbed or agitated with excitement and
passion. Then they can have a decided influence over their children.
Children may wish to do right; they may purpose in their hearts
to be obedient and kind to their parents or guardians; but they need
help and encouragement from them. They may have good resolutions,
[142]
but unless their principles are strengthened by religion, and their lives
influenced by the renewing grace of God, they will fail to come up to
the mark.
Parents should redouble their efforts for the salvation of their chil-
dren. They should faithfully instruct them, and not leave them to gather
up their education as best they can. They should not be left to learn
good and bad indiscriminately, with the idea that at some future time
the good will predominate, and the evil lose its influence. The evil will