Relationship Controlled by Reason—Those who regard the marriage relation as one of God’s sacred ordinances, guarded by His holy precept, will be controlled by the dictates of reason. They will consider carefully the result of every privilege the marriage relation grants. Such will feel that their children are precious jewels committed to their keeping by God, to remove from their natures the rough surface by discipline, that their luster may appear. They will feel under most solemn obligations to so form their characters that they may do good in their life, bless others with their light, and the world be better for their having lived in it, and they be finally fitted for the higher life, the better world, to shine in the presence of God and the Lamb forever.—Healthful Living, 48, 1865 (Part 2) . {1MCP 155.1}

Forholdet styres af fornuften. - Dem som ser ægteskabsforholdet som en af Guds hellige forordninger, der oppasses efter hans hellige forskrift, vil styres af fornuftsslutningerne. De vil tænke nøje over følgen af alle de privilegier som ægteskabsforholdet giver. Disse vil føle at deres børn er dyrebare juveler som Gud har betroet dem i deres varetægt, der fjerner deres naturs rå overflade, ved disciplin, som deres begær kan vise. Under de højtideligste forpligtelser vil de forme deres karaktertræk så de kan gøre godt i deres liv, velsigne andre, med deres lys, og verden er bedre efter at have levet i den, og de vil til sidst udrustes til et højere liv, den bedre verden, at skinne i Guds og Lammets nærhed for evigt. - HL (Part 2) 48, 1865.