In the Spirit of prophecy there is to be found much helpful counsel to the teacher of health principles. There is presented in the following selected quotations pointed reference to (I) the purpose of reform, (2) the need of education in healthful living, (3) the list of individuals who are charged with responsibility for this work, and (4) pertinent suggestions as to how to engage successfully in this endeavor.
1. The Great Object of Reform.
"In teaching health principles, keep before the mind the great object of reform,—that its purpose is to secure the highest development of body and mind and soul."—"Ministry of Healing," p. 146.
"The work of health reform is the Lord's means for lessening suffering in our world and for purifying His church."—"Testimonies," Vol. Ix, pp. 112, 113.
2. The Need of Health Education.
"Education in health principles was never more needed than now. Notwithstanding the wonderful progress in so many lines, relating to the comforts and conveniences of life, even to sanitary matters and to the treatment of disease, the decline in physical vigor and power of endurance is alarming. It demands the attention of all who have at heart the well-being of their fellow men." —"Counsels on Diet and Foods," p, 441.
"There is great need of instruction in regard to dietetic reform. Wrong habits of eating and the use of unhealthful food are in no small degree responsible for the intemperance and crime and wretchedness that curse the world."—/bid.
"There is a message regarding health reform to be borne in every church. There is a work to be done in every school. Neither principal nor teachers should be entrusted with the education of the youth until they have a practical knowledge of this subject. Some have felt at liberty to criticize and question and find fault with health reform principles of which they knew little by experience. They should stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, with those who are working in right lines."—Id., p. 455.
3. Who Are to Engage in Health Teachings "Conscientious physicians should be prepared to enlighten those who are ignorant, and should with wisdom make out their prescriptions, prohibiting those things in their diet which they know to be erroneous. They should plainly state the things which they regard as detrimental to the laws of health, and leave these suffering ones to work conscientiously to do those things for themselves which they can do, and thus place themselves in right relation to the laws of life and health."—Id., p. 448.
"A great amount of good can be done by enlightening all to whom we have access, as to the best means, not only of curing the sick, but of preventing disease and suffering. The physician who endeavors to enlighten his patients as to the nature and causes of their maladies, and to teach them how to avoid disease, may have uphill work; but if he is a conscientious reformer, he will talk plainly of the ruinous effects of self-indulgence in eating, drinking, and dressing, of the overtaxation of the vital forces that has brought his patients where they are."—M., p. 449.
"Our ministers should become intelligent upon this question. They should not ignore it, nor be turned aside by those who call them extremists. Let them find out what constitutes true health reform, and teach its principles, both by precept and by a quiet, consistent example. At our large gatherings, instruction should be given upon health and temperance. Seek to arouse the intellect and the conscience. Bring into service all the talent at command, and follow up the work with publications upon the subject. 'Educate, educate, educate,' is the message that has been impressed upon me."—/d., p. 455.
"Our ministers should become intelligent on health reform. They need to become acquainted with physiology and hygiene; they should understand the laws that govern physical life, and their bearing upon the health of mind and soul."—Id., p. 452.
"Our sanitariums are to be the means of enlightening those who come to them for treatment. The patients are to be shown how they can live upon a diet of grains, fruits, nuts, and other products of the soil.
I have been instructed that lectures should be regularly given in our sanitariums on health topics. People are to be taught to discard those articles of food that weaken the health and strength of the beings for whom Christ gave His life. The injurious effects of tea and coffee are to be shown. The patients are to be taught how they can dispense with those articles of diet that injure the digestive organs."—Id., p. 444.
"Parents should live more for their children, and less for society. Study health subjects, and put your knowledge to a practical use. Teach your children to reason from cause to effect. Teach them that if they desire health and happiness, they must obey the laws of nature. Though you may not see so rapid improvement as you desire, be not discouraged. but patiently and perseveringly continue your work."—Id., p. 454.
"We have come to a time when every member of the church should take hold of medical missionary work. The world is a lazar house filled with victims of both physical and spiritual disease. Everywhere people are perishing for lack of a knowledge of the truths that have been committed to us. The members of the church are in need of an awakening, that they may realize their responsibility to impart these truths."—/d., p. 455.
"There is a wide field of service for women as well as for men. The efficient cook, the seamstress, the nurse—the help of all is needed. Let the members of poor households be taught how to cook, how to make and mend their own clothing, how to nurse the sick, how to care properly for the home. Even the children should be taught to do some little errand of love and mercy for those less fortunate than themselves."—Id., p. 456.
4. How to Present the Subject.
"Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, 'Follow Me.'
"There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled."—Id., p. 458.
"In all your work remember that you are bound up with Christ, a part of the great plan of redemption. The love of Christ, in a healing, life-giving current, is to flow through your life. As you seek to draw others within the circle of His love, let the purity of your language, the unselfishness of your service, the joyfulness of your demeanor, bear witness to the power of His grace. Give to the world so pure and righteous a representation of Him, that men shall behold Him in His beauty.
"It is of little use to try to reform others by attacking what we may regard as wrong habits. Such effort often results in more harm than good. . . . We must offer men something better than that which they possess, even the peace of Christ, which passeth all understanding. . . .
"Of all people in the world, reformers should be the most unselfish, the most kind, the most courteous. In their lives should be seen the true goodness of unselfish deeds.
The worker who manifests a lack of courtesy, who shows impatience at the ignorance or waywardness of others, who speaks hastily or acts thoughtlessly, may close the door to hearts so that he can neve.: reach them."—Id., pp. 459, 460.
"Do not catch hold of isolated ideas and make them a test, criticizing others whose practice may not agree with your opinion: but study the subject broadly and deeply, and seek to bring your own ideas and practices into perfect harmony with the principles of true Christian temperance.
"There are many who try to correct the lives of others by attacking what they regard as wrong habits. They go to those whom they think in error, and point out their defects, but do not seek to direct the mind to true principles. Such a course often comes far short of securing the desired results."—Id., p . 464.
"The Lord desires every minister, every physician, every church member, to be careful not to urge those who are ignorant of our faith to make sudden changes in diet, thus bringing them to a premature test. Hold up the principles of health reform, and let the Lord lead the honest in heart. They will hear and believe. The Lord does not require His messengers to present the beautiful truths of health reform in a way that will prejudice the minds of others. Let no one place stumbling blocks before those who are walking in the dark paths of ignorance." —Id., p. 465.
Thus we find that the object of healthful living is a most worthy one. The need for just this kind of endeavor is tremendous. Every physician, nurse, sanitarium worker, minister, teacher, cook, seamstress, parent—in fact, every member of the church—is needed and should be instructed to engage in this type of work. We are to present a sound, common-sense, scientifically correct message to the world. We are to go forth in the spirit of the Master, in the most courteous and unselfish manner, teaching a better way of living by precept and example, not by castigation or ridicule, or by advocating radical, narrow views which will serve to arouse prejudice toward the "beautiful truths of health reform."
In all our teaching, however, we must not only give practical and reliable information, but we must also arouse the conscience to the importance of honoring God in our bodies and spirits, which are His.
H. M. W
