Henry had been from us five years, and Edson had received but little of our care. For years our family was very large, and our home like a hotel, and we from that home much of the time. I had felt the deepest anxiety that my children should be brought up free from evil habits, and I was often grieved as I thought of the contrast between my situation and that of others who would not take burdens and cares, who could ever be with their children, to counsel and instruct them, and who spent their time almost exclusively in their own families. And I have inquired: Does God require so much of us, and leave others without burdens? Is this equality? Are we to be thus hurried on from one care to another, one part of the work to another, and have but little time to bring up our children? Many nights, while others were sleeping, have been spent by me in bitter weeping. {1T 102.1}

(102) Henry havde været væk fra os i fem år, og Edson havde kun fået lidt af vor omsorg. I årevis var vor familie meget stor, og vort hjem var som et hotel, og meget af tiden var vi ikke hjemme. Jeg havde den dybeste bekymring for, at mine børn skulle opdrages fri for onde vaner, og jeg blev ofte ked af det, når jeg tænkte på kontrasten mellem min og andres situation, som ikke ville påtage sig byrder og ansvar, og som altid kunne være sammen med deres børn og råde og belære dem, og som tilbragte deres tid næsten udelukkende sammen med deres egne familier. Og jeg har spurgt: Kræver Gud så meget af os og efterlader andre uden byrder? Er det ligeberettigelse? Skal vi således haste fra et ansvar til et andet, fra en del af arbejdet til en anden og kun have lidt tid til at opdrage vore børn? Jeg har tilbragt mange nætter, mens andre sov, i bitter gråd.