1 Timothy 5:14
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
The younger women are to marry, bear children and guide the house so as to be kept usefully busy and give Satan, the adversary, no occasion for reproach, for idleness opens the way to his snares while diligent labor protects from them. Guiding the house means a young woman learns household duties so that she can become a capable wife and mother who guides her household, teaches her children and contributes to her family's happiness. Mothers must therefore train daughters in the useful branches of household labor and in decided obedience to duty even when surrounded with plenty.
They are not to excuse daughters from work or encourage indolence and frivolous use of time, but to help them gain practical knowledge by which they could live by their own labor if necessary. They are also to teach daughters not to yield to indispositions and slight ailments by lying in bed while continuing to eat, but to fast one or two meals taking only pure soft water so that the overburdened system can overcome slight and even graver difficulties, since indolence enfeebles the physical, mental and moral powers. The home duties commanded show work to be a blessing rather than a curse, to be done with Jesus present, with the heart in the work, and with exactness and thoroughness that will bear inspection, since faithfulness in life's common duties is as essential as in greater responsibilities and no useful employment is degrading in itself.
The verse applies to the care of widows and orphans, in that widows and orphans of faithful believers must not be neglected, while those able to support themselves should not be maintained from the church's limited resources. Its warning to give no occasion to the adversary teaches all believers, men and women, to guard words and actions and remain pure in thought, word and deed with conduct consistent with faith. Others watch for defects and inconsistencies that bring reproach, so such watchfulness keeps influence uplifting to others and keeps their good from being spoken of as evil.
For young women working in sanitariums this means being modest and reserved in word and action, especially in dealings with men, so as not to give wicked people grounds to speak evil of the truth. The warning also cautions against imprudent excessive familiarity that harms influence and gives cause to speak evil, as in the excessive familiarity between Brother Phillips and Sister Mary Lyon.