Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White’s writings occasionally mention social activities like dancing within the context of her observations of the world and the behavior of those around her. In the documents provided, she describes how external circumstances can shift a person's focus from worldly amusement to more somber realities. During a sea voyage, she observed that a storm significantly changed the behavior of the people on board. She noted that "The passengers, instead of dancing and singing, were lying in their berths" (2SAT 152.2). This shift occurred because the "boat rocked and tossed" (2SAT 152.2) so violently that she herself remained in her berth all day to avoid sickness. This account illustrates how the typical social pleasures of the time, such as dancing, were often set aside during moments of trial or physical distress. While these specific documents do not provide a comprehensive theological treatise on dance, they emphasize the importance of character development and the influence of one's environment. For example, she counseled a mother that "Children who are not trained to be courteous and to yield to the claims of their parents will not have a sense of their duty to God" (DG 209.3). This suggests that her primary concern was always the spiritual direction and discipline of the individual. Her reflections remind us that while social activities like dancing were common in the society of her day, she remained focused on the spiritual welfare and the practical realities of the situations she encountered. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the influence of worldly amusements on spiritual life? • How did she describe the importance of training children in obedience and character? • What were her experiences and observations while traveling for her missionary work? --- 📚 **44 passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=baile%22+)