- Foreword
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- Preparing to Meet Christ
- The Vision of the Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan
- How the Light Came to the Prophet
- The Life and Work of Mrs. E. G. White
- Mrs. E. G. White as Others Knew Her
- Messages that Changed Lives
- The Vision that Could not Be Told
- The Testimonies and the Reader
- Practical Test of a Good Prophet
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- Chapter 2—The Time of The End
- Chapter 3—Prepare to Meet the Lord
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- Chapter 5—Christ Our Righteousness
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- Chapter 9—The Publications of the Church
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- Chapter 32—Music
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- Parents Must Agree
- The Danger of Too Severe Training
- To Allow Children to Grow Up in Ignorance Is a Sin
- The Evil of Idleness
- Parents, Lead Your Children to Christ
- Do Not Neglect the Wants of the Mind
- Never Correct a Child When Angry
- The Importance of Strict Honesty With Children
- The Importance of Character Development
- A Personal Experience in Counseling Children
- Parents’ Need of More Divine Guidance
- Teach Respect and Courtesy
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- The Church's Responsibility
- Moral Support of Our Institutions
- Teachers Under God
- Qualifications of a School Teacher
- The Bible in Christian Education
- Dangers in Sending Children to School Too Young
- Importance of Training in Duties of Practical Life
- The Dignity of Labor
- One's Mother Tongue Should Not Be Ignored
- The Works of Skeptics Forbidden by God
- The Results of Christian Education
- Student's Responsibility to Uphold His School
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- Chapter 39—The Importance of Cleanliness
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- “Of Every Man That Giveth It Willingly”
- Tithing Is Ordained by God
- The Privilege of Being a Co-laborer With God
- God Asks for One-tenth of the Increase He Gives
- God Evaluates Gifts by the Love Which Prompts the Sacrifice
- The Proper Disposition of Property
- “If Riches Increase, Set Not Your Heart Upon Them”
- A Pledge Made to God Is Binding and Sacred
- Offerings of Thanksgiving to Be Set Aside for the Poor
- Our Property and the Support of God's Work
- The Spirit of Self-denial and Sacrifice
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- Chapter 64—Christ Our Great High Priest
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Influence of Unwholesome Reading
Satan knows that to a great degree the mind is affected by that upon which it feeds. He is seeking to lead both the youth and those of mature age to read story-books, tales, and other literature. The readers of such literature become unfitted for the duties lying before them. They live an unreal life, and have no desire to search the Scriptures, to feed upon the heavenly manna. The mind that needs strengthening is enfeebled, and loses its power to study the great truths that relate to the mission and work of Christ—truths that would fortify the mind, awaken the imagination, and kindle a strong, earnest desire to overcome as Christ overcame.CCh 168.3
Could a large share of the books published be consumed, a plague would be stayed that is doing a fearful work upon mind and heart. Love stories, frivolous and exciting tales, and even that class of books called religious novels—books in which the author attaches to his story a moral lesson—are a curse to the readers. Religious sentiments may be woven all through a story-book, but, in most cases, Satan is but clothed in angel-robes, the more effectively to deceive and allure. None are so confirmed in right principles, none so secure from temptation, that they are safe in reading these stories.CCh 168.4
The readers of fiction are indulging an evil that destroys spirituality, eclipsing the beauty of the sacred page. It creates an unhealthy excitement, fevers the imagination, unfits the mind for usefulness, weans the soul from prayer, and disqualifies it for any spiritual exercise.CCh 168.5
God has endowed many of our youth with superior capabilities; but too often they have enervated their powers, confused and enfeebled their minds, so that for years they have made no growth in grace or in a knowledge of the reasons of our faith, because of their unwise choice of reading. Those who are looking for the Lord soon to come, looking for that wondrous change, when “this corruptible shall put on incorruption,” should in this probationary time be standing upon a higher plane of action.CCh 169.1
My dear young friends, question your own experience as to the influence of exciting stories. Can you, after such reading, open the Bible and read with interest the words of life? Do you not find the Book of God uninteresting? The charm of that love story is upon the mind, destroying its healthy tone, and making it impossible for you to fix the attention upon the important, solemn truths that concern your eternal welfare.CCh 169.2
Resolutely discard all trashy reading. It will not strengthen your spirituality, but will introduce into the mind sentiments that pervert the imagination, causing you to think less of Jesus and to dwell less upon His precious lessons. Keep the mind free from everything that would lead it in a wrong direction. Do not encumber it with trashy stories, which impart no strength to the mental powers. The thoughts are of the same character as the food provided for the mind.239Messages to Young People, 271-273CCh 169.3