To parents God has given the greatest and most blessed work ever given to human beings. He says, “Take this son, this daughter, train it for me; give it a character polished after the similitude of a palace, that it may shine in the courts of the Lord forever.” Few parents realize their responsibility and their privilege till it is almost too late to make the most of it.
“The world is full of snares for the feet of the young. Multitudes are attracted by a life of selfish and sensual pleasure. They cannot discern the hidden dangers, or the fearful ending of the path that seems to them the way of happiness. . . . Parents must remember that their children must encounter these temptations.”—Ministry of Healing.
The work of the parents, from the time a child is given them, is to prepare that child to pass safely and successfully through life, and be fitted to occupy the place that the Lord has planned for him in his kingdom. “Work as if working for your life to save the children from being drowned in the polluting, corrupting influences of the world.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. VI, page 199.
The mother of Moses understood something of the importance of the early training of her child. She knew that he was to be placed amid all the temptations—the pomp and pride—of a heathen court. But she knew that she had the blessed privilege of planting in his mind and heart the seeds of truth which would be a safeguard to him through all that Satan could bring against him. This is the privilege of every mother.
Probably nothing else has so great an influence in character building as the literature which we read. As a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he.” And833the thoughts are largely shaped by what we read. How carefully parents protect their children from poisons which would destroy the body; but many are thoughtlessly allowing poisons of the most deadly character to be taken into the mind.
An incident occurred some years ago which forcibly illustrates the influence of both good and bad reading. Two young men had read stories of the escapades of Jesse James till they were fired with a desire to follow in his footsteps. The result was that they committed a crime which lodged them in the penitentiary. While there, in some way, a copy of the book “Daniel and the Revelation” fell into their hands. One of the boys was converted by the reading of this book; and upon his release from prison, he went to Battle Creek to find Elder Uriah Smith, the author of the book, for the purpose of learning more perfectly the way of salvation. Thus the reading of a bad book sent him to prison, and the reading of a good book brought him to Christ.
Officers in charge of the juvenile courts have stated that the reading of cheap, trashy literature, as well as the moving-picture show (which is an evil of the same nature), is responsible for a great many of the cases that come before them. In a large number of the cases requiring discipline in our own schools, it is learned that the offenders are habitual story readers. But we need not spend much time in considering the effect of bad books, for probably no one doubts their pernicious influence.
There is another class which some one has called “water soup.” These books are not bad; in fact, many of them seem to point out a good moral, but they really amount to nothing. They contain no real food to nourish or strengthen the mind. Those who read them do so simply to pass away the time, thinking that they are receiving no harm because there is nothing bad about the books.
The habit of reading in that way is in itself pernicious because it weakens the mind; in other words, it makes a strainer of the mind, causing it to lose the power to retain and digest what is placed in it. Besides, the reading of such literature destroys the taste for anything solid and substantial. The brain becomes indolent and is satisfied with that which requires no mental effort.
Solomon said, “Of making many books there is no end.” These words are surely true in this age of the world. It is estimated that, throughout the world, the average daily output of books is two hundred. There was a time when book lovers found it hard to obtain anything to satisfy their hunger for reading, but that time is past. Now the problem is to choose from the mass that which is worth reading.
It is not enough to see that our children do not read that which is harmful. We must give them a taste for the good. Some children are allowed to grow up without ever forming the habit of reading anything. These miss one of the greatest means toward mental growth and culture, as well as a source of infinite pleasure all through life. One who loves good books need never be lonely, for he can have with him the best companions to be found. Unless a taste for reading is formed in youth, it is not likely to be gained in later years. An old man once said:—
“I have no love for books. I know I am to blame. When a boy of fifteen I gave up reading, and by habit I am left today without a desire to read the best books. A few years ago I might have had a good position, but my knowledge was so sparse they could not employ me. I made a grave mistake, and I hope, while young, you will not be so unwise as I was; for it is hard to change the habits of an old man. If I were to speak from my own experience, I should say: Begin early to cultivate a love for the best books,—books which have influenced men, manners, and matters. Even a few books will work wonders in a young person’s career.”
A taste for good books, formed in early life, gives any person the foundation for a good education. Through reading we may have the benefit of the best thoughts of the best men and women of all ages; we may, while seated cozily at home, travel through all countries of the world, becoming acquainted with the history and customs of different nations; we may, through their biographies, become the intimate associates of the successful men and women who have made the world better by their lives. Thus the reader, instead of living within the narrow environments of his own little corner, is enabled to store up the information gained by a world-wide vision. He also is inspired with desire and courage to make his own life worth living.
Parents, is not such a foundation for the characters of our children worth any effort we can make? Their whole future will be affected by the habits formed during their early years spent in the home nest. What if many little things that we should like to do have to be left undone in order to find time to interest our children in good reading? Many things which we allow to take our time are of small importance compared with the desire “that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” Ps. 144: 12. Shall we not feel well repaid when we see them turning away from the chaff and developing a real interest in wholesome, strengthening literature?
Soon the new Missionary Volunteer Reading Courses will commence. What a splendid opportunity this affords for beginning the habit of family reading! Young children are usually much more interested in what they read with their parents. Soon we shall have long evenings which can be made very pleasant and profitable by taking up the books of the Reading Courses. One member of the family can read aloud while others are working with their hands; thus all get the benefit without spending so much time.
Another helpful way is to assign certain pages to different members to read by themselves, and then when the family is assembled, each in order to tell the story of what he read. This is an excellent practise, as it helps the mind to retain what has been read, and also improves the language of the children.
Great efforts have been made by the Missionary Volunteer Department of the General Conference to choose the best books for these courses, those especially adapted to the children being given in the Junior Course, the Senior Course being for the young people. But all members of the family will find both courses most helpful and interesting.
Shall we not, as parents, give earnest heed to this matter, realizing what it means to our sons and daughters? Let us prepare now to give a happy answer to the question which all parents must meet, “Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?”