Care of Health a Sacred Duty

Through this vision Mrs. White’s prayer for her husband’s recovery to health was answered, but not by immediate restoration. Rather, it was better answered by pointing out some of the causes for his weakness, and by emphasizing the importance of making the proper care of the health a religious duty. “It is not safe nor pleasing to God,” Mrs. White wrote, “to violate the laws of health, and then ask Him to take care of our health, and keep us from disease, when we are living directly contrary to our prayers.” (Ibid.) And further:SHM 78.1

“I saw that it was duty for everyone to have a care for his health, but especially should we turn our attention to our health, and take time to devote to our health, that we may in a degree recover from the effects of overdoing and overtaxing the mind. The work God requires of us will not shut us away from caring for our health. The more perfect our health, the more perfect will be our labor.”—Ibid.SHM 78.2

The injunction to Elder and Mrs. White that they were to give attention to their health was accompanied by practical instruction pointing out specific mistakes that they had made, and laying down great fundamental principles of general application. The bearing of heavy burdens, and the feeling that some of his brethren had failed to give him due co-operation in his arduous labors and responsibilities, had led Elder White into a condition of mental discouragement and depression. He was exhorted to exercise faith in God and to rise above these gloomy thoughts, for this state of mind was seriously affecting his health. Thus was laid down the broad principle that “we should encourage a cheerful, hopeful, peaceful frame of mind, for our health depends upon our doing this.”—Ibid.SHM 78.3

Another effect of intemperate labor was pointed out. “When we tax our strength, overlabor, and weary ourselves much, then we take colds, and at such times are in danger of diseases taking a dangerous form.”—Ibid.SHM 79.1