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Counsels for the Church
your care to be fitted as precious jewels to shine in the kingdom of God.
Beware how you lull them to sleep over the pit of destruction with the
mistaken thought that they are not old enough to be accountable, not
old enough to repent of their sins and profess Christ.
Parents should explain and simplify the plan of salvation to their
children that their young minds may comprehend it. Children of eight,
ten, or twelve years are old enough to be addressed on the subject of
personal religion. Do not teach your children with reference to some
future period when they shall be old enough to repent and believe the
truth. If properly instructed, very young children may have correct
views of their state as sinners and of the way of salvation through
Christ. Ministers are generally too indifferent to the salvation of chil-
dren and are not as personal as they should be. Golden opportunities
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to impress the minds of children frequently pass unimproved
Fathers and mothers, do you realize the importance of the respon-
sibility resting upon you? Do you realize the necessity of guarding
your children from careless, demoralizing habits? Allow your children
to form only such associations as will have a right influence upon their
characters. Do not allow them to be out in the evening unless you
know where they are and what they are doing. Instruct them in the
principles of moral purity. If you have neglected to teach them line
upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, begin
at once to do your duty. Take up your responsibilities and work for
time and for eternity. Let not another day pass without confessing
your neglect to your children. Tell them that you mean now to do your
God-appointed work. Ask them to take hold with you in the reform.
Make diligent efforts to redeem the past. No longer remain in the
condition of the Laodicean church. In the name of the Lord I call upon
every family to show its true colors. Reform the church in your own
home
Do Not Neglect the Wants of the Mind
I have been shown that while parents who have the fear of God
before them restrain their children, they should study their dispositions
and temperaments, and seek to meet their wants. Some parents attend
300
Testimonies for the Church 1:396-400
301
Testimonies for the Church 7:66, 67