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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
rob God of the glory He might have if they had trained themselves to
speak the word with power.
No man should regard himself as qualified to enter the ministry un-
til by persevering effort he has overcome every defect in his utterance.
If he attempts to speak to the people without knowing how to use the
talent of speech, half his influence is lost, for he has little power to
hold the attention of a congregation.
Whatever his calling, every person should learn to control the
voice, so that when something goes wrong, he will not speak in tones
that stir the worst passions of the heart. Too often the speaker and the
one addressed speak sharply and harshly. Sharp, dictatorial words,
uttered in hard, rasping tones, have separated friends and resulted in
the loss of souls.
Instruction in vocal culture should be given in the home. Parents
should teach their children to speak so plainly that the listeners can
understand every word. They should teach them to read the Bible with
clear, distinct utterance in a way that will honor God. And let not those
who kneel around the family altar put their faces in their hands close
down to the chair when they address God. Let them lift up their heads
and with holy awe speak to their heavenly Father, uttering their words
in tones that can be heard.
Parents, train yourselves to speak in a way that will be a blessing
to your children. Women need to be educated in this respect. Even the
busy mothers, if they will, can cultivate the talent of speech and can
teach their children to read and speak correctly. They can do this while
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they go about their work. It is never too late for us to improve. God
calls upon parents to bring all the perfection possible into the home
circle.
In the social meeting there is special need of clear, distinct utter-
ance, that all may hear the testimonies borne and be benefited by them.
Difficulties are removed and help is given as in social meeting God’s
people relate their experiences. But too often the testimonies are borne
with faulty, indistinct utterance, and it is impossible to gain a correct
idea of what is said. Thus the blessing is often lost.
Let those who pray and those who speak pronounce their words
properly and speak in clear, distinct, even tones. Prayer, if properly
offered, is a power for good. It is one of the means used by the Lord
to communicate to the people the precious treasures of truth. But