“Many seem to think they have a right to treat their own bodies as they please, but they forget that their bodies are not their own. Their Creator, who formed them, has claims upon them that they cannot rightly throw off. Every needless transgression of the laws which God has established in our being is virtually a violation of the law of God, and is as great a sin in the sight of Heaven as to break the Ten Commandments. Ignorance upon this important subject is sin; the light is now beaming upon us, and we are without excuse if we do not cherish the light and become intelligent in regard to these things, which it is our highest earthly interest to understand.” CH 40

“Our first duty toward God and our fellow beings is that of self-development. Every faculty with which the Creator has endowed us should be cultivated to the highest degree of perfection, that we may be able to do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable. Hence that time is spent to good account which is directed to the establishment and preservation of sound physical and mental health. We cannot afford to dwarf or cripple a single function of mind or body by overwork or by abuse of any part of the living machinery. As surely as we do this, we must suffer the consequences.” CG 395

“Intemperance is at the foundation of the larger share of the ills of life. It annually destroys tens of thousands.” Pacific Health Journal, April 1890

“We have been bought with a price; therefore we are to glorify God in our body and in our spirit, which are His. We are not to deny Him by one act of intemperance, because the only-begotten Son of God has purchased us at an infinite cost, even the sacrifice of His life. He did not die for us in order that we might become slaves to evil habits, but that we might become the sons and daughters of God, serving Him with every power of the being.” CG 399

“It is a sin to be sick, for all sickness is the result of transgression.” CH 37

“So closely is health related to our happiness, that we cannot have the latter without the former. A practical knowledge of the science of human life is necessary in order to glorify God in our bodies. It is therefore of the highest importance that among the studies selected for childhood, physiology should occupy the first place. How few know anything about the structure and functions of their own bodies and of nature’s laws! Many are drifting about without knowledge, like a ship at sea without compass or anchor; and what is more, they are not interested to learn how to keep their bodies in a healthy condition and prevent disease.” CH 38

“The apostle Paul exhorts the church, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.' Men, then, can make their bodies unholy by sinful indulgences. If unholy, they are unfitted to be spiritual worshipers, and are not worthy of heaven. If man will cherish the light that God in mercy gives him upon health reform, he may be sanctified through the truth, and fitted for immortality. But if he disregards that light, and lives in violation of natural law, he must pay the penalty.” CD 70

• With united, intelligent effort (CW 123.2)
• With a heart full of the love of Christ for their souls (CW 124.2)
• By those who believe and proclaim the truth and practice health reform (CW 125.2)
• By those who believe in Jesus and seek to make the journal a success (CW 128.2)
• By those who practice in their families and at their tables the things that they are advocating (CW 130.1)
• It should be as perfect as it can be made, crowded with good living matter (Letter 34, 1887, par. 4)
• Start with more simple material in places where people are more uninformed (CW 127.2, 128.1)
• Perhaps make it a monthly instead of a quarterly journal in places where people are more uninformed (Letter 34, 1887, par. 5)
• Everyone who is a writer can do a little, and it can remain a live journal that is a means of much good (Letter 32, 1887, par. 4)
• All who have literary ability should feel an obligation to make the journal live (Letter 34, 1887, par. 7)
• Give the journal a chance to grow (Letter 34, 1887, par. 5)
• Keep in mind the great object—the good of the suffering people of God (CW 127.1)
• Success will be the result of persevering, determined effort, along with prayer, work, and faith (Letter 34, 1887, par. 5)

“Many of those looked upon as hopelessly depraved, will, if properly instructed in regard to their unhealthful practices, be arrested with the truth. Then they may be elevated, ennobled, sanctified, fit vessels for the Master’s use. Go with your hands full of proper reading matter, and your heart full of the love of Christ for their souls, reaching them where they are.” CW 124.2

“I am informed by my guide, ‘All who believe and proclaim the truth should not only practice health reform, but teach it diligently to others.’ ” CW 125.2

“There must be a coming up from the simple beginning. The Good Health is a journal that will do its work east of the Rocky Mountains, but will not do the work demanded in the interest of the Health Retreat and on the Pacific Coast in its present infancy. They must have matter that the Health Reformer started out on, and just as much better ability as we can put into the work, but it must be monthly instead of quarterly ere long. The Good Health places the crib too high to meet the demands of uninformed men and women. There must be greater simplicity. . .” CW 127, 128

“While working for the Herald of Health believe in the Lord Jesus, and seek to make the paper a success.” Letter 137, 1900

“Above all things, we should not with our pens advocate positions that we do not put to a practical test in our own families, upon our own tables. This is dissimulation, a species of hypocrisy.” CW 130.1

“Give it up? no, no! If among all the talent in that office different ones cannot keep that journal a live paper, coming out quarterly, I should be ashamed to acknowledge it. If every one of those who are writers will do a little, it may be a journal that will be a means of much good.” Letter 32, 1887, par. 4

• All proper questions (CW 127.1)
• Health (CW 123.1)
• First principles of the laws of life and how to obey them and preserve health (CW 127.1)
• Temperance (CW 123.1)
• Social purity (CW 123.1)
• Danger of wine and strong drinks (CW 123.2)
• Bible hygiene and Christian temperance—don’t drop the religious phase (Letter 34, 1887, par. 5)
• Home treatment (CW 127.1)
• What to do in case of sickness (Manuscript 113, 1901, par. 7; CG 361.1)
• Self-denial of appetite (CW 124.3)
• Errors in the preparation of food and the influence on us morally (CW 125.1)
• Recipes for the plainest, simplest, and most wholesome food; how to prepare dishes that are inexpensive, wholesome, and palatable (CW 129.1, 2)
• Recipes prepared with great care, e.g. not using too many nuts (TSDF 99.7)
• Unhealthful habits of dress (CW 125.1)

• Our bodies as the dwelling-place of God (TSDF 105.8)
• Pure air and ventilation (ST Sept. 30, 1897 par. 1)
• Cleanliness–washing the skin and clothing to remove impurities (CH 61.2)
• Useful work and physical exercise–important for circulation, mental health (2MCP 646.4)
• How to use natural remedies instead of drugs (CCH 105.4)
• To abstain from flesh meat, tea, and coffee (CD 205.4)
• How to overcome appetite and liquor addiction (MH 176.4)
• Times for meals

“The gratification of every perverted appetite is doing its work of death. Intemperance must be met. With united, intelligent effort make known the evils of beclouding the powers that God has given, with wine and strong drinks. The truth must come to the people upon health reform. This is essential in order to arrest the attention in regard to Bible truth.” CW 123.2

“Nearly every family needs to be stirred up on this question, and their consciences aroused to be doers of the word of God in practicing self-denial of appetite.” CW 124.3

“One reason that there is not more sincere piety and religious fervor, is because the mind is occupied with unimportant things and there is no time to meditate, search the Scriptures, or pray. If the consciences can be aroused to see the errors in the preparation of the food, and the influence upon the moral tendencies of our nature, there would be in every family decided reforms. Intemperance in desire resulted to our first parents in the loss of Eden. We generally find, even among Seventh-day Adventists, that inclination; habit; delicate, unhealthful preparations in cooking; and unhealthful habits of dress are weakening physical, mental, and moral efficiency, and making it impossible to overcome temptation. Now what shall we do? This subject is a sadly neglected matter.” CW 125.1

“It should be the very best health journal in our country. It must be adapted to the wants of the common people, ready to answer all proper questions, and fully explain the first principles of the laws of life, and how to obey them and preserve health.” CW 127.1

“Recipes that are formed on the old plan of preparing food are gathered up and put into our health papers. This is not right. Only recipes for the plainest, simplest, and most wholesome food should be put into our health journals. We must not expect that those who all their life have indulged appetite will understand how to prepare food that will be at once wholesome, simple, and appetizing. This is the science that every sanitarium and health restaurant is to teach. We are to teach the people how to prepare dishes that are not expensive, but wholesome and palatable. And never is a recipe to appear in our health journals that will injure our reputation as health reformers.” CW 129.1, 2

“Great care should be exercised by those who prepare recipes for our health journals. Some of the specially prepared foods now being made can be improved, and our plans regarding their use will have to be modified. Some have used the nut preparations too freely. Many have written to me, “I can not use the nut foods; what shall I use in the place of meat?” One night I seemed to be standing before a company of people, telling them that nuts are used too freely in their preparation of foods; that the system can not take care of them when used as in some of the recipes given; and that, if used more sparingly, the results would be more satisfactory.“ TSDF 99.7

“Let not the religious phase be dropped out. Keep before the people Bible hygiene, temperance from a Christian standpoint.” Letter 34, 1887, par. 5

“Our own people should read and study the health books. They will then know what to do in case of sickness.” Manuscript 113, 1901, par. 7

• In a proper manner (CW 123.1)
• In their true light (CW 123.1)
• Not prosy, but spicy with the fragrance of pure truth (CW 128.3)
• Short, interesting articles (CW 126.1)– pamphlet style
• Arranged in a cheap style (CW 126.1)– pamphlet style
• With short sentences to make it more interesting (CW 128.2)
• Simple, yet full of knowledge (PM 226.5)
• Adapted to the wants of the common people (CW 127.1)
• Keep with the people; don’t advance too fast, but help them step by step (CW 129.3)
• Not buried so deep in science that the common people will fail to see and appreciate the truth (PM 227.1)
• Consider the foods available to the poor people; it may not be best to prescribe the strictest diet (CD 205.4, CCh 238.2)
• Should be the very best health journal in our country (CW 127.1)

“Please make your sentences short, for then your articles will be much more interesting. . . . I hope and pray that you may make the Herald of Health a living, speaking, vital agency for good. Do not let it get prosy. Let it be spicy with the fragrance of pure truth. This is a savor of life unto life.” CW 128.2, 3

“When at our large gatherings, make all the discourses highly reformative. Arouse the intellect. Bring up the talents possible into the efforts made, and then follow up the effort with tracts and pamphlets, with articles written in simple form, to make the subjects brought before them distinctly stated, that the word spoken may be repeated by the silent agent. Short, interesting articles should be arranged in cheap style, and scattered everywhere. They should be at hand upon every occasion where the truth is brought before the minds of those to whom it is new and strange.” CW 126.1

“We must go no faster than we can take those with us whose consciences and intellects are convinced of the truths we advocate. We must meet the people where they are. Some of us have been many years in arriving at our present position in health reform. It is slow work to obtain a reform in diet. We have powerful appetites to meet; for the world is given to gluttony. If we should allow the people as much time as we have required to come up to the present advanced state in reform, we would be very patient with them, and allow them to advance step by step, as we have done, until their feet are firmly established upon the health-reform platform. But we should be very cautious not to advance too fast, lest we be obliged to retrace our steps. In reforms, we would better come one step short of the mark than to go one step beyond it. And if there is error at all, let it be on the side next to the people.” CW 129.3

“There is danger of burying the truth so deep in science that the common minds for whom we labor and who will compose the members of our churches will fail to see it and appreciate it. We want the truth as it is in Jesus. We want to meet the wants of our people.” PM 227.2

“While working against gluttony and intemperance, we must recognize the condition to which the human family is subjected. God has made provision for those who live in the different countries of the world. Those who desire to be co-workers with God must consider carefully before they specify just what foods should and should not be eaten. We are to be brought into connection with the masses. Should health reform in its most extreme form be taught to those whose circumstances forbid its adoption, more harm than good would be done. As I preach the gospel to the poor, I am instructed to tell them to eat that food which is most nourishing. I cannot say to them: ‘You must not eat eggs, or milk, or cream. You must use no butter in the preparation of food.’ The gospel must be preached to the poor, but the time has not yet come to prescribe the strictest diet.” CCh 238.2

“It should be the very best health journal in our country. It must be adapted to the wants of the common people.” CW 127.1

• Every family should obtain instruction from it (16MR 145.3)
• Nearly every family needs to be stirred up on this question (CW 124.3)
• Believers and unbelievers (PM 226.4)
• Unbelieving (CW 125.2)
• Uninformed and the highest minds (PM 227.1)
• All classes and minds (Letter 34, 1887, par. 3)
• Many who will not see or read anything upon important Bible subjects (CW 123.2)
• Many who are looked upon as hopelessly depraved (CW 124.2)
• Available every time the truth is brought before those to whom the truth is new and strange (CW 126.1) –pamphlet style
• Common people, especially those too poor to attend the Institute (CW 127.1)
• It will reach a class that otherwise would never be reached by the truth (PM 226.4)
• Our own church members should subscribe to and study the health publications, and practice its instruction (Manuscript 113, 1901, par. 7)

“Health reform will reach a class and has reached a class that otherwise would never have been reached by the truth. There is a great necessity for labor being put forth to help the people, believers and unbelievers, at the present time by health talks, and health publications.” PM 226.4

“We want that Good Health shall be circulated, and we want to shape our work and our efforts to reach the people where they are, much in the same way Christ worked in simplicity, that the uninformed may be reached and the highest minds may be benefited also.” PM 227.1

“Many of those looked upon as hopelessly depraved, will, if properly instructed in regard to their unhealthful practices, be arrested with the truth. Then they may be elevated, ennobled, sanctified, fit vessels for the Master’s use.” CW 124.2

“Publications upon health reform will reach many who will not see or read anything upon important Bible subjects.” CW 123.2

“The great object to be kept in view by the publication of such a journal should be the good of the suffering people of God. The common people, especially those too poor to attend the Institute, must be reached and instructed by the Health Reformer.” CW 127.1

“Our own people should read and study the health books. They will then know what to do in case of sickness. They should subscribe for the Good Health, or some other of our health journals, and should study and practice the instruction it contains. And more than this, they should make earnest efforts to circulate it among their neighbors.” Manuscript 113, 1901, par. 7

“Fathers and mothers, there is much that you may learn in regard to the expressed will of God concerning true missionary work. Obtain all the help you can from the study of our books and publications. I see great advantage in every family’s reading Good Health. It is full of valuable information. Let every family obtain instruction from this journal. It is a physician that you may always have in your home.” 16MR 145.3

• Arrests the attention of the people (CW 123.1)
• Spreads much-needed light (CW 123.1)
• Wield an untold influence (CW 123.1)
• Prepares the way for the introduction of truth (CW 124.2, 124.3)
• Causes them to heed the warning of the third angel (CW 123.1)
• People consider that if we are intelligent on health reform, we would also be sound on Bible truth (CW 125.2)
• When read and practiced, it leads souls to the searching of the Bible for a better understanding of truth (Manuscript 113, 1901, par. 4)
• A small number will accept truth compared to those who will reject it, but the value of even one soul makes everything worth it (CW 126.2)
• A powerful agency in preparing the people to accept the special truths that will fit them for the second coming of Jesus (PM 226.3)
• Prepares the way for Jesus to come in power and great glory (CM 139.1)
• Removes a large amount of prejudice (CW 124.3)
• Nothing else so quickly unlocks hearts as health literature (Manuscript 113, 1901, par. 4)
• Make it a living, speaking, vital agency for good (CW 128.3)
• Become elevated, ennobled, sanctified vessels for the Master’s use (CW 124.2)
• It is like always having a physician in the home (16MR 145.3)

• Circulation of health publications is a most important work (CH 445.1)
• The circulation of the health journal is not a minor matter (CH 447.1)
• All who believe the special truths for this time should have a living interest in it (CH 445.1)
• All should take part in its circulation with more interest and greater efforts (CH 447.1)
• Ministers can and should to much to urge its circulation (PM 226.2)
• Every member of the church should work earnestly for it as for other periodicals (PM 226.2)
• Care should be taken that the health journal’s circulation is not neglected while other portions of work are emphasized (RH Nov. 12, 1901, par. 18)
• If its circulation is neglected, the people will suffer a great loss (RH Nov. 12, 1901, par. 18)
• Canvassers should present health journals to people, telling them their usefulness in treating disease and bringing health to the family (Manuscript 113, 1901, par. 5)
• The sale of health journals does not hinder the sale of other religious books (CM 139.1)
• God will greatly bless those who take hold of it earnestly (CH 447.1)

The people are in sad need of the light shining from the pages of our health and temperance journals. God desires to use these journals as mediums through which flashes of light shall arrest the attention of the people, and cause them to heed the warning of the message of the third angel…. PM 226.1
Ministers can and should do much to urge the circulation of the health journals. Every member of the church should work as earnestly for these journals as for our other periodicals. There should be no friction between the two…. PM 226.2
The circulation of the health journals will be a powerful agency in preparing the people to accept those special truths that are to fit them for the soon coming of the Son of man…. PM 226.3
Health reform will reach a class and has reached a class that otherwise would never have been reached by the truth. There is a great necessity for labor being put forth to help the people, believers and unbelievers, at the present time by health talks, and health publications. I cannot see why the health books should not have a permanent place as well as the other publications notwithstanding human prejudices to the contrary. PM 226.4

The minds of our California people are not advanced far enough in health reform to receive the most good from Good Health. [Good Health and Health Reformer were two early denominational health journals. See SDAEn 573. Today Your Life and Health has taken the field.] The crib is placed too high. You can, with the counsel of S and Dr. W, prepare articles that are already in print that are simple, yet full of knowledge, by perusing the back numbers of Health Reformer. I would today that the Good Health were more after the same order, for I think there is more simplicity and good religion in the Reformer, and matter that will benefit all classes and minds, than that contained in Good Health as a whole. PM 226.5
We want that Good Health shall be circulated, and we want to shape our work and our efforts to reach the people where they are, much in the same way Christ worked in simplicity, that the uninformed may be reached and the highest minds may be benefited also. There is danger of burying the truth so deep in science that the common minds for whom we labor and who will compose the members of our churches will fail to see it and appreciate it. We want the truth as it is in Jesus. We want to meet the wants of our people. PM 227.1

Ministers can and should do much to urge the circulation of the health journals. Every member of the church should work as earnestly for these journals as for our other periodicals. There should be no friction between the two….
The circulation of the health journals will be a powerful agency in preparing the people to accept those special truths that are to fit them for the soon coming of the Son of man….
Health reform will reach a class and has reached a class that otherwise would never have been reached by the truth. There is a great necessity for labor being put forth to help the people, believers and unbelievers, at the present time by health talks, and health publications. I cannot see why the health books should not have a permanent place as well as the other publications notwithstanding human prejudices to the contrary. PM 226

Counsels to Writers and Editors Chapter 16—Our Health Journals

The Publishing Ministry Chapter 20—Periodicals and their Circulation