Our Influence
Every act of our lives affects others for good or evil. Our influence
is tending upward or downward; it is felt, acted upon, and to a greater
or less degree reproduced by others. If by our example we aid others in
the development of good principles, we give them power to do good. In
their turn they exert the same beneficial influence upon others, and thus
hundreds and thousands are affected by our unconscious influence. If
we by acts strengthen or force into activity the evil powers possessed
by those around us, we share their sin and will have to render an
account for the good we might have done them and did not do, because
we made not God our strength, our guide, our counselor.—
Testimonies
for the Church 2:133
(1868).
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