Many apparently good things will need to be carefully considered with much prayer; for they are specious devices of the enemy to lead souls in a path which lies so close to the path of truth that it will be scarcely distinguishable from it. But the eye of faith may discern that it is diverging, though almost imperceptibly, from the right path. At first it may be thought positively right, but after a while it is seen to be widely divergent from the way which leads to holiness and heaven. My brethren, I warn you to make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way.— Manuscript 82, 1894.{1MCP 42.3}

Mange tilsyneladende gode ting må overvejes omhyggeligt i megen bøn; for de er fjendens falske bedrag der leder sjæle på en sti, der ligger tæt op ad sandhedens sti, der knapt nok vil kunne ses forskel fra den. Men troens øje kan se at den divergerer, næsten umærkbart, fra den rette sti. Først ser den tydelig rigtig ud, men efter en stund, vil den ses helt anderledes, fra den vej som fører til hellighed og himlen. Mine brødre, jeg advarer jer at gøre lige stier for jeres fødder, for at den halte ikke vendes bort fra vejen. - MS 82, 1894.