An Impoverished Diet
[
Testimonies for the Church 2:367, 368
(1869).]
I have spoken of the importance of the quantity and quality of
food being in strict accordance with the laws of health. But we would
not recommend an impoverished diet. I have been shown that many
take a wrong view of the health reform and adopt too poor a diet.
They subsist upon a cheap, poor quality of food, prepared without
care or reference to the nourishment of the system. It is important
that the food should be prepared with care, that the appetite, when not
perverted, can relish it. Because we from principle discard the use
of meat, butter, mince pies, spices, lard, and that which irritates the
stomach and destroys health, the idea should never be given that it is
of but little consequence what we eat.
There are some who go to extremes. They must eat just such an
amount and just such a quality, and confine themselves to two or three
things. They allow only a few things to be placed before them or their
families to eat. In eating a small amount of food, and that not of the
best quality, they do not take into the stomach that which will suitably
nourish the system. Poor food cannot be converted into good blood.
An impoverished diet will impoverish the blood....
Two classes were presented before me: First, those who were not
living up to the light which God had given them.... There are many
of you who profess the truth, who have received it because somebody
else did, and for your life you could not give the reason. This is why
you are as weak as water. Instead of weighing your motives in the light
of eternity, instead of having a practical knowledge of the principles
underlying all your actions, instead of having dug down to the bottom,
[152]
and built upon a right foundation for yourself, you are walking in the
sparks kindled by somebody else. And you will fail in this, as you
have failed in the health reform. Now if you had moved from principle,
you would not have done this.
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