Only one lease of life is granted us; and the inquiry with everyone should be “How can I invest my
powers so that they may yield the greatest profit? How can I do most for the glory of God and the
benefit of my fellow beings?” For life is valuable only as it is used for the attainment of these ends.
Our first duty toward God and our fellow humans is that of self-development. Every faculty with
which the Creator has endowed us should be cultivated to the highest degree of perfection, that we
may be able to do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable. Hence that time is spent to
good account which is used in the establishment and preservation of physical and mental health. We
cannot afford to dwarf or cripple any function of body or mind. As surely as we do this, we must
suffer the consequences.
Every person has the opportunity, to a great extent, of making himself or herself whatever he or she
chooses to be. The blessings of this life, and also of the immortal state, are within their reach. They
may build up a character of solid worth, gaining new strength at every step. They may advance
daily in knowledge and wisdom, conscious of new delights as they progress, adding virtue to virtue,
grace to grace…. Their intelligence, knowledge, and virtue will thus develop into greater strength
and more perfect symmetry.