Abstinence From Narcotics
[
Testimonies for the Church 3:569, 570
(1875).]
Our people are constantly retrograding upon health reform. Satan
sees that he cannot have such a controlling power over them as he
could if appetite were indulged. Under the influence of unhealthful
food, the conscience becomes stupefied, the mind becomes darkened,
and its susceptibility to impressions is blunted. But because violated
conscience is benumbed and becomes insensible, the guilt of the trans-
gressor is not lessened.
Satan is corrupting minds and destroying souls through his subtle
temptations. Will our people see and feel the sin of indulging perverted
appetite? Will they discard tea, coffee, flesh meats, and all stimulating
food, and devote the means expended for these hurtful indulgences to
spreading the truth? These stimulants do only harm, and yet we see
that a large number of those who profess to be Christians are using
tobacco. These very men will deplore the evil of intemperance, and
while speaking against the use of liquors, will eject the juice of tobacco.
While a healthy state of mind depends upon the normal condition of
the vital forces, what care should be exercised that neither stimulants
nor narcotics be used.
Tobacco is a slow, insidious poison, and its effects are more dif-
ficult to cleanse from the system than those of liquor. What power
can the tobacco devotee have to stay the progress of intemperance?
There must be a revolution in our world upon the subject of tobacco
before the ax is laid at the root of the tree. We press the subject still
closer. Tea and coffee are fostering the appetite which is developing
for stronger stimulants, as tobacco and liquor. And we come still closer
[86]
home, to the daily meals, the tables spread in Christian households. Is
temperance practiced in all things? Are the reforms which are essential
to health and happiness carried out there? Every true Christian will
have control of his appetite and passions. Unless he is free from the
bondage and slavery of appetite, he cannot be a true, obedient servant
99