After returning from the Conference, a great uncertainty came upon me in relation to the prosperity of the cause of God. Doubts existed in my mind where none had been six months before. I viewed God’s people as partaking of the spirit of the world, imitating its fashions, and getting above the simplicity of our faith. It seemed that the church at Battle Creek were backsliding from God, and it was impossible to arouse their sensibilities. The testimonies given me of God had the least influence and were the least heeded in Battle Creek of any part of the field. I trembled for the cause of God. I knew that the Lord had not forsaken His people, but that their sins and iniquities had separated them from God. At Battle Creek is the great heart of the work. Every pulsation is felt by the members of the body all over the field. If this great heart is in health, a vital circulation will be felt all through the body of Sabbathkeepers. If the heart is diseased, the languishing condition of every branch of the work will attest the fact. {1T 596.2}

Efter at være vendt tilbage fra konferensen, kom en stor usikkerhed over mig, som vedrørte fremgangen i Guds sag. Der kom tvivl i mit sind, hvor der ikke hvad været tvivl seks måneder før. Jeg så at Guds folk tog del i verdens ånd, efterlignede dets skikke og overså vor tros simpelhed. Det var som om at menigheden i Battle Creek faldt væk fra Gud og det var umuligt at vække deres sanser. De vidnesbyrd jeg havde fået fra Gud, havde lille indflydelse og blev påagtet allermindst i Battle Creek, end nogen andre dele af marken. Jeg var alvorlig bange for Guds sag. Jeg vidste at Gud ikke havde svigtet sit folk men at deres synder og misgerninger havde adskilt dem fra Gud. Værkets store hjerte er i Battle Creek. Ethvert pulsslag fra kroppen mærkes af medlemmerne over hele marken. Hvis dette store hjerte er sundt, vil en livskraftig strøm kunne føles gennem hele sabbatsholderes legeme. Hvis hjertet er sygt, vil enhver grens slappe tilstand bekræfte dette.