The Youth to Learn the Principles of True Temperance

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An intelligent, conscientious care of our bodies is a duty we owe to our heavenly Father, who «so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.» We are individually the property of Christ, his purchased possession. It is required of each one of us to preserve our health and strength by the practice of temperance in all things. The appetites and passions must be controlled, that we may not weaken or defile God’s human temple.

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Any wrong habit that lessens the physical powers enfeebles the mind, and makes it less clear to discriminate between good and evil, between right and wrong. This principle is illustrated in the case of Nadab and Abihu. God gave them a most sacred work to perform, permitting them to come near to himself in their appointed service. But they had a habit of drinking wine, and they entered upon the holy service in the sanctuary with confused minds. There was the sacred fire, kindled by God himself; but they used the common fire upon their censers, when they offered incense to ascend as sweet fragrance with the prayers of God’s people. Because their minds were beclouded by an unholy indulgence, they disregarded the divine requirement. «And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.»

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The Lord himself has spoken upon this subject. He says, «If any man destroy the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.» And again, «Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.» «Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.»

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God has permitted the light of health reform to shine upon us in these last days, that by walking in its light we may escape many of the dangers to which we shall be exposed. Satan in working with great power to lead men and women to indulge appetite, to gratify inclination, and to spend their days in heedless folly. He presents attractions in a life of selfish enjoyment and of sensual indulgence. He who is thus overcome places himself upon Satan’s ground where he will be tempted and annoyed, and finally overcome, by the enemy of all righteousness.

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Parents need to be impressed with their obligation to give to the world children having well-developed characters,-children who have moral power to resist temptation, and whose lives will be an honor to God and a blessing to their fellow-men. Those who enter upon active life with firm principles will be prepared to stand unsullied amid the moral pollution of this corrupt age.

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The work of the mother is sacred and important. She should teach her children from the cradle habits of self-denial and self-control. Her time in a special sense belongs to her children. Many mothers who deplore the intemperance that exists everywhere do not look deep enough for the cause. Too often it may be traced to the home table. Many a mother, even among those who claim to be Christians, is daily setting before her household rich and highly seasoned foods which tempt the appetite and encourage overeating. Whoever eats too much or partakes of food which is not healthful is weakening his power to resist the clamors of other appetites and passions. Many parents, to avoid the task of patiently educating their children to habits of self-denial, indulge them in eating and drinking whenever they please. The desire to satisfy the taste and to gratify inclination does not lessen with the increase of years; and these indulged youth, as they grow up, are governed by impulse. When they take their places in society and begin life for themselves, they are powerless to resist temptation. In the glutton, the tobacco devotee, and the inebriate we see the evil results of erroneous education and of self-indulgence.

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When we hear the sad lamentation of Christian men and women over the terrible results of intemperance, the questions at once arise, Who have educated the youth? Who have fostered in them these unruly appetites? Who have neglected the solemn responsibility of forming their characters for usefulness in this life, and for the society of heavenly angels in the next? When parents and children meet at the final reckoning, what a scene will be presented! Thousands of children who have been slaves to appetite and debasing vice, whose lives are moral wrecks, will stand face to face with the parents who have made them what they are. Who but the parents must bear this fearful responsibility?

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Our youth need mothers who will teach them from the cradle to control passion, to deny appetite, and to overcome selfishness. These youth need to be instructed line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. The Hebrews were taught how to train their children so that they might avoid the idolatry and wickedness of the heathen nations. «Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they be as frontlets between thine eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.»

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The position of the woman in her family is more sacred than that of the king upon his throne. Her great work is to make her life an example such as she would wish her children to copy. And by precept as well as example she is to store their minds with useful knowledge, and lead them to self-sacrificing labor for the good of others. The great stimulus to the toiling, burdened mother should be that every child that is trained aright, and who has the inward adorning, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, will shine in the courts of the Lord.

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Would that mothers of this generation might feel the sacredness of their mission, not trying to vie with their wealthy neighbors in appearance, but seeking to honor God by the faithful performance of duty. If right principles in regard to temperance were planted in the youth who are to form and mold society, there would be little necessity for temperance crusades. Firmness of character, moral control, would prevail, and in the strength of Jesus the temptations of these last days would be resisted.

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It is a most difficult matter to unlearn the habits which have been indulged through life. The demon of intemperance is of giant strength, and it is not easily conquered. But if parents begin the crusade against it at their own firesides, in their own families, in the principles they teach their children from very infancy, they may hope for success. It will pay you, mothers, to use the precious hours which are given you by God in forming the characters of your children, and in teaching them to adhere strictly to principles of temperance in eating and drinking.

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A sacred trust is committed to parents, to guard the physical and moral constitutions of their children, so that the nervous system may be well balanced, and the soul not endangered. Fathers and mothers should understand the laws of life, that they may not, through ignorance, allow wrong tendencies to develop in their children. The diet affects both physical and moral health. How carefully, then, should mothers study to supply the tables with the most simple, healthful food, in order that the digestive organs may not be weakened, the nerves unbalanced, or the instruction that they give their children counteracted. Satan knows that he can not have so great power over minds when the appetite is kept under control as when it is indulged, and he is constantly working to lead men to indulgence. Under the influence of unhealthful food, the conscience becomes stupefied, the mind is darkened, and its susceptibility to good impressions impaired. But the guilt of the transgressor is not lessened because conscience has been violated till it has become insensible. Every true Christian will have control of his appetites and passions; for unless he is free from the bondage of appetite, he can not be a true, obedient servant of Christ.