Diet and Morals
55
Manuscript 133, 1902
Let not any of our ministers set an evil example in the eating of
flesh-meat. Let them and their families live up to the light of health
reform. Let not our ministers animalize their own nature and the nature
of their children. Children whose desires have not been restrained, are
tempted not only to indulge in the common habits of intemperance,
but to give loose rein to their lower passions, and to disregard purity
and virtue. These are led on by Satan not only to corrupt their own
bodies, but to whisper their evil communications to others. If parents
are blinded by sin, they will often fail of discerning these things.
Tract Regarding the Use of Flesh Foods (Eight page tract)
Hot biscuits and flesh-meats are entirely out of harmony with
health-reform principles. If we would allow reason to take the place
of impulse and love of sensual indulgence, we should not taste of the
flesh of dead animals....
There is an alarming lethargy shown on the subject of unconscious
sensualism. It is customary to eat the flesh of dead animals. This stim-
ulates the lower passions of the human organism. In the preparation
of food, the golden rays of light are to be kept shining, teaching those
who sit at the table how to live....
Our sanitariums should never be conducted after the fashion of the
hotel. A meat diet changes the disposition and strengthens animalism.
We are composed of what we eat, and eating much flesh will diminish
intellectual activity. Students would accomplish much more in their
studies if they never tasted meat. When the animal part of the human
agent is strengthened by meat-eating, the intellectual powers diminish
proportionately. A religious life can be more successfully gained and
maintained if meat is discarded, for this diet stimulates into intense
activities lustful propensities, and enfeebles the moral and spiritual
nature. “The flesh warreth against the spirit, and the spirit against the
flesh.”
We greatly need to encourage and cultivate pure, chaste thoughts,
and to strengthen the moral powers rather than the lower and carnal
powers. God help us to break from our self-indulgent appetites.