By beholding we become changed. Though formed in the image of his Maker, man can so educate his mind that sin which he once loathed will become pleasant to him. As he ceases to watch and pray, he ceases to guard the citadel, the heart, and engages in sin and crime. The mind is debased, and it is impossible to elevate it from corruption while it is being educated to enslave the moral and intellectual powers and bring them in subjection to grosser passions. {1MCP 225.5}

Vi forvandles ved beskuelse. Til trods for at vi er skabt i Guds billede, kan vi lære sindet op til at nyde det vi engang afskyede. Når vi glemmer at våge og bede og når vi undlader at holde vagt ved sindets fæstningsværker, vil vi blive et let bytte for syndes magt. Vort tankeliv bliver fornedret og vi har ikke noget værn mod forfaldet, så længe vi tillader menneskenaturens stærke lidenskaber at slavebinde forstandens og samvittighedens kræfter.