Plants Do Not Grow Through Worry or Conscious Effort—In place of growing anxious with the thought that you are not growing in grace, just do every duty that presents itself, carry the burden of souls on your heart, and by every conceivable means seek to save the lost. Be kind, be courteous, be pitiful; speak in humility of the blessed hope; talk of the love of Jesus; tell of His goodness, his mercy, and His righteousness; and cease to worry as to whether or not you are growing. Plants do not grow through any conscious effort....The plant is not in continual worriment about its growth; it just grows under the supervision of God.—The Youth’s Instructor, February 3, 1898. (My Life Today, 103.) {2MCP 471.4}

Planterne gror ikke igennem bekymringer eller bevidste anstrengelser — I stedet for at bekymres over tanken at du ikke vokser i nåden, så gør enhver pligt som byder sig, tag dit hjertes sjælsbyrde til dit hjerte, og søg ved alle tænkelige midler at frelse den tabte. Vær venlig, høflig og medynkende, tal i ydmyghed om det velsignede håb; tal om Jesu kærlighed; fortæl om Hans godhed, hans barmhjertighed, og Hans retfærdighed; og bekymre dig ikke om du vokser eller ej. Planter vokser ikke ved bevidste anstrengelser. . . . Planten bekymrer sig ikke hele tiden om sin vækst; den vokser præcis under Guds ledelse. — The Youth’s Instructor, 3. februar, 1898. (My Life Today, 103.)