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Counsels for the Church
The Book of Books
The nature of one’s religious experience is revealed by the character
of the books one chooses to read in one’s leisure moments. In order to
have a healthy tone of mind and sound religious principles, the youth
must live in communion with God through His word. Pointing out
the way of salvation through Christ, the Bible is our guide to a higher,
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better life. It contains the most interesting and the most instructive
history and biography that were ever written. Those whose imagination
has not become perverted by the reading of fiction will find the Bible
the most interesting of books.
The Bible is the Book of books. If you love the Word of God,
searching it as you have opportunity, that you may come into posses-
sion of its rich treasures, and be thoroughly furnished unto all good
works, then you may be assured that Jesus is drawing you to Himself.
But to read the Scriptures in a casual way, without seeking to com-
prehend Christ’s lesson that you may comply with His requirements,
is not enough. There are treasures in the word of God that can be
discovered only by sinking the shaft deep into the mine of truth.
The carnal mind rejects the truth; but the soul that is converted
undergoes a marvelous change. The book that before was unattractive
because it revealed truths which testified against the sinner, now be-
comes the food of the soul, the joy and consolation of the life. The
Sun of righteousness illuminates the sacred pages, and the Holy Spirit
speaks through them to the soul.
Let all who have cultivated a love for light reading, now turn their
attention to the sure word of prophecy. Take your Bibles, and begin
to study with fresh interest the sacred records of the Old and New
Testaments. The oftener and more diligently you study the Bible, the
more beautiful will it appear, and the less relish you will have for light
reading. Bind this precious volume to your hearts. It will be to you a
friend and guide
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Messages to Young People, 273, 274