The true object of education is to restore the image of God in the soul. In the beginning God created man in His own likeness. He endowed him with noble qualities. His mind was well balanced, and all the powers of his being were harmonious. But the Fall and its effects have perverted these gifts. Sin has marred and well-nigh obliterated the image of God in man. It was to restore this that the plan of salvation was devised, and a life of probation was granted to man. To bring him back to the perfection in which he was first created is the great object of life--the object that underlies every other. It is the work of parents and teachers, in the education of the youth, to co-operate with the divine purpose; and is so doing they are "laborers together with God." 1 Corinthians 3:9.

Det egentlige formål med uddannelsen er at genoprette Guds billede i sjælen. I begyndelsen skabte Gud mennesket i sit billede. Han gav det ædle egenskaber. Dets sind var sundt, og alle dets evner og kræfter var harmonisk afstemt. Men ved syndefaldet blev disse egenskaber fordærvet. Synden har vansiret og næsten udslettet Guds billede i mennesket. Det var for at råde bod herpå, at frelsesplanen blev lagt, og at mennesket fik en prøvetid. Den store hensigt med livet er at føre mennesket tilbage til det fuldkomne stade, som det befandt sig på ved sin skabelse. Dette er livets hovedhensigt. Det er forældres og læreres opgave at tjene dette guddommelige formål, når de tilrettelægger ungdommens uddannelse. Når de gør det, er de "Guds medarbejdere". 1. Kor. 3, 9.