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Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce
commonness, should be decidedly rebuked.—
The General Conference
Bulletin, 1893, 162
.
No Time for Corrupt Impulses—Our probation is short at best.
We have no time to spend in indulging corrupt impulses. The familiar-
ity of married men with married women and young girls is disgusting
in the sight of God and holy angels. The forwardness of young girls
in placing themselves in the company of young men, hanging around
where they are at work, entering into conversation with them, talking
common, idle talk, is belittling to womanhood. It lowers them, even
in the estimation of those who themselves do such things.
There is a positive necessity for reform in all our institutions. All
frivolity, all undue attention of men and women, must be condemned
and discontinued. Some, even married men, who have indulged in
this trifling familiarity, have endeavored to excuse themselves and
escape censure by claiming that they have done no moral wrong. Was
it no moral wrong to jest, joke, and pay flattering attentions to young
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women? Are you not starting in their minds a train of thought which
it is impossible for you to change? Do you not by your levity and
coquetry, sanction such conduct?
You who hold positions of trust, and claim to be Christians, do
you not give countenance to a familiarity which leads to sin? What
record is made in the books of heaven by the divine Watcher? Was
there no moral wrong done to the souls of those with whom you were
so familiar? Indeed there was. Impressions were made that will be
enduring. These girls are confirmed in coquetry and flirting. Every
such indulgence tends to make them coarse and bold. They become
more and more infatuated with the society of men and women who are
trifling and frivolous, whose conversation is anything but holy, pure,
and ennobling.
Definition of Moral Wrong—“No moral wrong.” This has been
the excuse made by everyone reproved for similar conduct. What is
moral wrong? Have your spiritual senses become so blinded that you
cannot discern the truth? Do you not know that grapevines will not
bear thorns, nor a bramble bush grapes? If the truth is brought into
the inner sanctuary of the soul, it will create a pure moral taste. Then
all these objectionable, demoralizing practices will be seen to be a
positive denial of Christ, a sin which will pollute the soul.... All trifling,
jesting, joking, and flattery spoken to young girls or women, boys or