110
Counsels on Diet and Foods
delicate digestive organs. In vain the stomach protests, and appeals to
the brain to reason from cause to effect. The excessive amount of food
eaten, or the improper combination, does its injurious work. In vain do
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disagreeable premonitions give warning. Suffering is the consequence.
Disease takes the place of health.
Some may ask, What has this to do with board meetings? Very
much. The effects of wrong eating are brought into council and board
meetings. The brain is affected by the condition of the stomach. A
disordered stomach is productive of a disordered, uncertain state of
mind. A diseased stomach produces a diseased condition of the brain,
and often makes one obstinate in maintaining erroneous opinions. The
supposed wisdom of such a one is foolishness with God.
I present this as a cause of the situation in many council and board
meetings, where questions demanding careful study have been given
but little consideration, and decisions of the greatest importance have
been hurriedly made. Often when there should have been unanim-
ity of sentiment in the affirmative, decided negatives have entirely
changed the atmosphere pervading a meeting. These results have been
presented to me again and again.
I present these matters now because I am instructed to say to my
brethren in the ministry, By intemperance in eating, you disqualify
yourselves for seeing clearly the difference between sacred and com-
mon fire. And by this intemperance you also reveal your disregard
for the warnings that the Lord has given you. His word to you is:
“Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of
His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust
in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” ... Shall we not
draw near to the Lord, that He may save us from all intemperance in
eating and drinking, from all unholy, lustful passion, all wickedness?
Shall we not humble ourselves before God, putting away everything
that corrupts the flesh and the spirit, that in His fear we may perfect
holiness of character?—
Testimonies for the Church 7:257, 258, 1902
No Recommendation of Health Reform
227. Our preachers are not particular enough in regard to their
habits of eating. They partake of too large quantities of food, and of
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too great a variety at one meal. Some are reformers only in name.