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Testimonies for the Church Volume 7
loss. But even should you receive a much larger sum, this class of
literature could be published only at a great loss. The influence on the
workers is demoralizing. All the messages that God shall send them,
presenting the sacredness of the work, are neutralized by your action
in consenting to print such matter.”
The world is flooded with books that might better be consumed than
circulated. Books upon Indian warfare and similar topics, published
[165]
and circulated as a money- making scheme, might better never be
read. There is satanic fascination in such books. The heartsickening
relation of crimes and atrocities has a bewitching power upon many
youth, exciting in them the desire to bring themselves into notice by
the most wicked deeds. There are many works more strictly historical
whose influence is little better. The enormities, the cruelties, the
licentious practices, portrayed in these writings have acted as leaven
in many minds, leading to the commission of similar acts. Books that
delineate the satanic practices of human beings are giving publicity
to evil works. The horrible details of crime and misery need not to be
lived over, and none who believe the truth for this time should act a
part in perpetuating their memory.
Love stories and frivolous, exciting tales constitute another class
of books that is a curse to every reader. The author may attach a good
moral and all through his work may weave religious sentiments, yet in
most cases Satan is but clothed in angel robes the more effectually to
deceive and allure. The mind is affected in a great degree by that upon
which it feeds. The readers of frivolous, exciting tales become unfitted
for the duties lying before them. They live an unreal life and have
no desire to search the Scriptures, to feed upon the heavenly manna.
The mind is enfeebled and loses its power to contemplate the great
problems of duty and destiny.
I have been instructed that the youth are exposed to the greatest
peril from improper reading. Satan is constantly leading both the
young and those of mature age to be charmed with worthless stories.
Could a large share of the books published be consumed, a plague
would be stayed that is doing a fearful work in weakening the mind
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and corrupting the heart. None are so confirmed in right principles
as to be secure from temptation. All this trashy reading should be
resolutely discarded.