A Response to an Urgent Testimony
By Doctor Charles Stewart
7
Testimonies For and Against Butter
HAS THE TIME COME TO DISCARD MILK, EGGS, AND BUTTER?
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, Nos. 21-25 p. 21:
"We bear positive testimony against tobacco spirituous liquors, snuff, tea coffee, flesh meats, butter, spices, rich cakes, mince pies, a large amount of salt and all other exciting substances used as articles of food."
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, Nos. 15-20 p. 367:
"Because we from principle discard the use of meat, butter, mince pies spices, lard, and that which irritates the stomach and destroys health."
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, No. 18, p 485:
"One family in particular have needed the benefits they could receive from the reform in diet; yet these very ones have completely backslidden. Meat and butter have been used by them quite freely, and spices have not been entirely discarded."
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, No. 18, p. 487:
"I have a well-set table on all occasions. I make no change for visitors whether believers or unbelievers. . . No butter or flesh meats of any kind come upon my table."
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, p. 136:
"Children are allowed to eat flesh meats, spices, butter, cheese, pork, pastry, and condiments generally. . . These things do the work of deranging the stomach, exciting the nerves to unnatural action and enfeebling the intellect."
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, p. 362:
"You place upon your tables butter, eggs, and meat, and your children partake of them. They are fed with the very thingsthat will excite their animal passions, and then you come to meeting and ask God to bless and save your children. How high do your prayers go?"
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 7, No. 35, p. 135:
"Milk, eggs, and butter should not be classed with flesh meat. Let diet reform be progressive. Let the people be taught how to prepare food without the use of milk or butter. Tell them that the time will soon come when there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream, or butter, because disease in animals is increasing."
From the foregoing statements it is difficult to form an opinion as to what the Lord wishes us to understand with reference to the use of butter. Over thirty years ago your testimony states: "We bear positive testimony against . . . flesh meats, butter," etc., which seems to clearly indicate that butter as well as meat must not be used. In several other testimonies, parts of which are quoted, butter and flesh meats are classed together; but in a testimony written more than thirty years later, when butter was certainly much more liable to disease, you state: "Butter should not be classed with flesh meat," and give the impression that it can be used with some degree of safety at least. There is seemingly a mistake of some sort here. Please inform me as to the facts with reference to the matter.
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