380
Testimony Studies on Diet and Foods
under the burning truths of God’s word. They can neither keep their
eyes open, nor comprehend the solemn discourses given. Do you
think that such are glorifying God in their bodies and spirits, which
are His? No; they dishonor Him. And the dyspeptic—what has made
him dyspeptic is taking this course. Instead of observing regularity, he
has let appetite control him, and has eaten between meals. Perhaps, if
his habits are sedentary, he has not had the vitalizing air of heaven to
help in the work of digestion; he may not have had sufficient exercise
for his health.
Some of you feel as though you would like to have somebody tell
you how much to eat. This is not the way it should be. We are to act
from a moral and religious standpoint. We are to be temperate in all
things, because an incorruptible crown, a heavenly treasure, is before
us. And now I wish to say to my brethren and sisters, I would have
moral courage to take my position and to govern myself. I would not
want to put that on some one else. You eat too much and then you
are sorry, and so you keep thinking upon what you eat and drink. Just
eat that which is for the best and go right away, feeling clear in the
sight of Heaven, and not having remorse of conscience. We do not
believe in removing temptations entirely away from either children or
grown persons. We all have a warfare before us, and must stand in a
position to resist the temptations of Satan; and we want to know that
we possess the power in ourselves to do this.
Testimonies for the Church 2:412-413
My brother, you have much to learn. You indulge your appetite
by eating more food than your system can convert into good blood.
It is sin to be intemperate in the quantity of food eaten, even if the
quality is unobjectionable. Many feel that if they do not eat meat and
[162]
the grosser articles of food, they may eat of simple food until they can
not well eat more. This is a mistake. Many professed health reformers
are nothing less than gluttons. They lay upon the digestive organs so
great a burden that the vitality of the system is exhausted in the effort
to dispose of it. It also has a depressing influence upon the intellect;
for the brain nerve power is called upon to assist the stomach in its
work. Overeating, even of the simplest food, benumbs the sensitive
nerves of the brain, and weakens its vitality. Overeating has a worse