Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White held a very strong stance against masturbation, which she frequently referred to as "self-abuse," "moral pollution," or "secret indulgence." She described it as a "disgusting, soul-and-body-destroying vice" (1MCP 230.1) that had serious consequences for a person's physical, mental, and spiritual health. In her writings, she emphasized that this practice has a devastating impact on the mind and the spiritual life. She explained that "when persons are addicted to the habit of self-abuse, it is impossible to arouse their moral sensibilities to appreciate eternal things or to delight in spiritual exercises" (2MCP 592.1). According to her counsel, "impure thoughts seize and control the imagination," leading to an "almost uncontrollable desire" for further "impure actions" (2MCP 592.1). Physically, she warned that this "vice is laying waste the vital forces, and debilitating the system" (HL 50). Beyond the physical and mental effects, Ellen White viewed this habit as a significant moral issue. She stated that "self-abuse stands as the most degrading sin, polluting the whole character of the man" (21MR 384.1). She warned that those practicing this vice must "break off their sin and repent before God" if they wish to have a place in the "city of God," because such characters are "living a lie continually" (21MR 384.1). For those seeking to overcome this habit, she offered practical spiritual advice focused on mental discipline. She encouraged individuals to seek a "higher, purer plane of spiritual living" (CH 2.3) and to overcome "self-indulgent practices" through correct education and the help of God (RP September 15, 1908, par. 14). In summary, Ellen White's stance was one of serious warning, viewing the practice as a threat to the entire being—body, mind, and soul—while pointing toward mental discipline and spiritual repentance as the path to recovery. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the connection between the mind and physical health? • How did she suggest parents should protect their children's moral integrity? • What was her counsel on overcoming "habits of indulgence" in general? --- 📚 **thousands of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=Did+Ellen+White+have+an+anti-masturbation+stance%3F)