Individual Independence Needed—There are men who flatter themselves that they might do something great and good if they were only circumstanced differently, while they make no use of the faculties they already have by working in the positions where Providence has placed them. Man can make his circumstances, but circumstances should never make the man. Man should seize circumstances as his instruments with which to work. He should master circumstances, but should never allow circumstances to master him. Individual independence and individual power are the qualities now needed. Individual character need not be sacrificed, but it should be modulated, refined, elevated.—Testimonies for the Church 3:496, 497 (1875). {1MCP 269.1}

Behov for personlig selvstændighed. - Der er fine mænd som smigrer sig med at de kunne urette noget stort og godt hvis de bare var stillet under andre forhold, mens de på samme tid ikke gør brug af de evner som de allerede har, ved at virke i de stillinger Forsynet har anvist dem. Mennesket kan danne sine forhold, men forholdene kan aldrig danne mennesket. Mennesket bør gribe forholdene som redskaber der kan arbejdes med. Det bør mestre forholdene, men bør aldrig lade forholdene mestre ham. Personlig selvstændighed og personlig kraft er de egenskaber som nu behøves. Han behøver ikke at give slip på sin individuelle karakter, men den bør tilpasses, forædles og højnes. - vidnesbyrd 3 496, 497 (1875).