I appealed to those present to judge whether my connection with the work and cause of God would lead me to speak lightly of the church at Battle Creek, from whom I had not the slightest alienation of feeling. Was not my interest in the cause and work of God as great as it was possible for theirs to be? My whole experience and life were interwoven with it. I had no separate interest aside from the work. I had invested everything in this cause, and had considered no sacrifice too great for me to make in order to advance it. I had not allowed affection for my loved babes to hold me back from performing my duty as God required it in His cause. Maternal love throbbed just as strongly in my heart as in the heart of any mother that lived, yet I had separated from my nursing children and allowed another to act the part of mother to them. I had given unmistakable evidences of my interest in, and devotion to, the cause of God. I have shown by my works how dear it was to me. Could any produce stronger proof than myself? Were they zealous in the cause of truth? I more. Were they devoted to it? I could prove greater devotion than anyone living engaged in the work. Had they suffered for the truth’s sake? I more. I had not counted my life dear unto me. I had not shunned reproach, suffering, or hardships. When friends and relatives had despaired of my life, because disease was preying upon me, I had been borne in my husband’s arms to the boat or cars. At one time, after traveling until midnight, we found ourselves in the city of Boston without means. On two or three occasions we walked by faith seven miles. We traveled as far as my strength would allow and then knelt on the ground and prayed for strength to proceed. Strength was given, and we were enabled to labor earnestly for the good of souls. We allowed no obstacle to deter us from duty or separate us from the work. {1T 581.1}

Jeg opfordrede de tilstedeværende til at bedømme mig, uanset om min forbindelse til værket og Guds sag ville lede mig til at tale letsindigt om menigheden i Battle Creek, som jeg ikke havde det mindste foragt for. Var min interesse for Guds sag og værk ikke lige så stor som det var muligt for dem. Hele min erfaring og hele mit liv var indvævet i det. Jeg har ingen interesser der er adskilt fra arbejdet. Jeg har sat alt til for sagen og har ikke anset noget offer at være for stort for mig at give, for at fremme sagen. Jeg har ikke ladet mig hengive til mine børn og blive holdt tilbage fra at udføre min pligt som Gud krævede for sin sag. Moderlig kærlighed bankede lige så stærkt i mit hjerte som hos enhver anden moder som levede, alligevel har jeg været adskilt fra mine diene børn og ladet andre tage moderrollen for dem. Jeg har givet umiskendelige beviser for min interesse i og helligelse for, Guds sag. Jeg har ved mine gerninger vist hvor dyrebar den er for mig. Kunne nogen gøre et stærkere bevis end jeg selv? Var de nidkære for sandhedens sag? Jeg var mest. Var de helliget til den? Jeg kunne vise større helligelse end nogen levende, der var involveret i arbejdet. Havde de lidt for sandhedens skyld, havde jeg lidt mest. Jeg havde ikke regnet mit liv for at være så kært. Jeg undgik ikke bebrejdelse, lidelse eller prøvelser. Når venner og slægtninge opgav håbet for mit liv, fordi sygdomme tyngede på mig, er jeg blevet båret i min mands arme til båden eller vognen. En gang efter at vi havde rejst og det var midnat, fandt vi ud af, at vi var i Boston by uden midler. Ved (582) to eller tre lejligheder vandrede vi, i tro, elleve kilometer. Vi rejste så langt som min styrke kunne holde til det og derefter knælede vi på stedet og bad efter styrke til at fortsætte. Styrke fik vi og vi kunne arbejde seriøst for sjælenes gode. Vi lod ingen hindringer afskrække os fra at udføre pligten eller adskilles os fra arbejdet.