Chapter 1—Atmosphere of the Home
Home Is the Heart of All Activity—Society is composed of fam-
ilies, and is what the heads of families make it. Out of the heart are
“the issues of life”; and the heart of the community, of the church,
and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the
success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home
influences
The elevation or deterioration of the future of society will be de-
termined by the manners and morals of the youth growing up around
us. As the youth are educated, and as their characters are molded in
their childhood to virtuous habits, self-control, and temperance, so
will their influence be upon society. If they are left unenlightened
and uncontrolled, and as the result become self-willed, intemperate
in appetite and passion, so will be their future influence in molding
society. The company which the young now keep, the habits they now
form, and the principles they now adopt are the index to the state of
society for years to come
The Sweetest Type of Heaven—Home should be made all that
the word implies. It should be a little heaven upon earth, a place where
the affections are cultivated instead of being studiously repressed. Our
happiness depends upon this cultivation of love, sympathy, and true
courtesy to one another
The sweetest type of heaven is a home where the Spirit of the Lord
presides. If the will of God is fulfilled, the husband and wife will
respect each other and cultivate love and confidence
[16]
Importance of the Home Atmosphere—The atmosphere sur-
rounding the souls of fathers and mothers fills the whole house, and is
felt in every department of the home
1
The Ministry of Healing, 349
.
2
Pacific Health Journal, June, 1890
.
3
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 3:539
.
4
The Signs of the Times, June 20, 1911
.
5
Manuscript 49, 1896
.
8