318
Child Guidance
Dangers in the Love of Dress—The love of dress endangers the
morals and makes woman the opposite of the Christian lady, charac-
terized by modesty and sobriety. Showy, extravagant dress too often
encourages lust in the heart of the wearer and awakens base passions
in the heart of the beholder. God sees that the ruin of the character is
frequently preceded by the indulgence of pride and vanity in dress. He
sees that the costly apparel stifles the desire to do good
[417]
The Witness of Simplicity in Dress—Simple, plain, unpretend-
ing dress will be a recommendation to my youthful sisters. In no better
way can you let your light shine to others than in your simplicity of
dress and deportment. You may show to all that, in comparison with
eternal things, you place a proper estimate upon the things of this
life
Modesty Will Shield From a Thousand Perils—My sisters,
avoid even the appearance of evil. In this fast age, reeking with
corruption, you are not safe unless you stand guarded. Virtue and
modesty are rare. I appeal to you as followers of Christ, making an
exalted profession, to cherish the precious, priceless gem of modesty.
This will guard virtue
Chaste simplicity in dress, when united with modesty of demeanor,
will go far toward surrounding a young woman with that atmosphere
of sacred reserve which will be to her a shield from a thousand perils
An Old-fashioned Idea—To train children to walk in the nar-
row path of purity and holiness is thought an altogether odd and old-
fashioned idea. This is prevalent even among parents who profess
to worship God, but their works testify that they are worshipers of
mammon. They are ambitious to compete with their neighbors and to
compare favorably, in the dress of themselves and their children, with
the members of the church to which they belong
The Only Dress Admitted Into Heaven—There is a dress which
every child and youth may innocently seek to obtain. It is the righ-
teousness of the saints. If they will only be as willing and persevering
in obtaining this as they are in fashioning their garments after the
15
Testimonies For The Church 4:645
.
16
Testimonies For The Church 3:376
.
17
Testimonies For The Church 2:458
.
18
Education, 248
.
19
The Signs of the Times, September 10, 1894
.