Clarity and Purity of Utterance
119
Parents, train yourselves to speak in a way that will be a blessing
to your children. Women need to be educated in this respect. Even the
busy mothers, if they will, can cultivate the talent of speech and can
teach their children to read and speak correctly. They can do this while
they go about their work. It is never too late for us to improve. God
calls upon parents to bring all the perfection possible into the home
circle.—
Testimonies for the Church 6:381, 382
.
Musical Voices—Those who open the oracles of God to the people
should improve in their manner of communicating the truth, that it may
be presented to the world in an acceptable way. Place proper emphasis
upon the words that should be made impressive. Speak slowly. Let the
voice be as musical as possible.
God desires His ministers to seek for perfection, that they may
be vessels unto honor. They are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit;
and when they speak, they are to show an energy proportionate to the
importance of the subject they are presenting. They are to show that the
power about which they speak has made a change in their lives. When
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they are truly united with Christ, they will give the heavenly invitation
with an earnestness that will impress hearts. As they manifest zeal
in proclaiming the gospel message, a corresponding earnestness will
be produced in the hearers, and lasting impressions for good will be
made.—
The Review and Herald, January 14, 1902
.
Truth as Manna From Heaven—The truth should be spoken
clearly, slowly, forcibly, that it may impress the hearer. When the truth
in any line is presented it is essential for it to be understood, that all
its precious food, the bread of life, the manna from heaven, may be
received.—
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 257
.
Destruction of Body Organs—Many who might be useful men
are using up their vital force and destroying their lungs and vocal
organs by their manner of speaking. Some ministers have acquired a
habit of hurriedly rattling off what they have to say, as though they had
a lesson to repeat, and were hastening through it as fast as possible.
This is not the best manner of speaking. By using proper care, every
minister can educate himself to speak distinctly and impressively, not
to hurriedly crowd the words together without taking time to breathe.
He should speak in a moderate manner, that the people may get the
ideas fixed in their minds as he passes along. But when the matter is
rushed through so rapidly, the people cannot get the points in their