Chapter 1—The Church of ChristThe Object of His Supreme Regard[The General Conference Bulletin, 1893, 408, 409. Read before the general conference in session, February 26, 1899.]Melbourne, Australia,December 23, 1892Dear Brethren of the General Conference,I testify to my brethren and sisters that the church of Christ, enfeebled and defective as it may be, is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard. While He extends to all the world His invitation to come to Him and be saved, He commissions His angels to render divine help to every soul that cometh to Him in repentance and contrition, and He comes personally by His Holy Spirit into the midst of His church. “If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning.... Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” {TM 15.1}

Melbourne Australien, 23 december 1892
Kære brødre i generalkonferensen:
Jeg kan bevidne overfor mine brødre og søstre at Kristi menighed, svækket og mangelfuld som den er, er den eneste på jorden som han giver sin største opmærksomhed. Sålænge han giver hele verden sin invitation om at komme til ham og blive frelst, så pålægger han sine engle at afgive guddommelig hjælp til ham i omvendelse og anger, og han vil komme personligt ved sin Helligånd, og være i blandt hans menighed. »Tog du vare, Herre, på misgerninger, Herre, hvo kunne da bestå? Men hos dig er der syndsforladelse, at du må frygtes. Jeg råber på Herren, min sjæl håber på hans ord, på Herren bier min sjæl mer end vægter på morgnen. Israel bi på Herren! Thi hos Herren er miskundhed, hos ham er forløsning i overflod. Og han vil forløse Israel fra alle dets misgerninger.«