My brother made no immediate reply, but the cause of his silence was soon apparent to me; he was weeping in sympathy with my distress. This encouraged me to confide in him still more, to tell him that I had coveted death in the days when life seemed so heavy a burden for me to bear; but now the thought that I might die in my present sinful state and be eternally lost, filled me with terror. I asked him if he thought God would spare my life through that one night, if I spent it agonizing in prayer to Him. He answered: “I think He will if you ask Him with faith, and I will pray for you and for myself. Ellen, we must never forget the words we have heard this night.” {1T 15.3}

Min bror svarede ikke øjeblikkeligt, men årsagen til hans tavshed var snart tydelig for mig; han græd i sympati for min kval. Dette opmuntrede mig til at betro ham endnu mere, at fortælle ham, at jeg havde eftertragtet døden i de dage, hvor livet for mig havde været en tung byrde; men nu fyldte tanken om, at jeg kunne dø i min nuværende syndige tilstand og gå fortabt. for evigt, mig med rædsel. Jeg spurgte ham, om han troede, at Gud ville skåne mit liv denne ene nat, hvis jeg tilbragte den i inderlig bøn til ham. Han svarede: "Jeg tror, han vil, hvis du beder til ham i tro, og jeg vil bede for dig og for mig selv. Ellen, vi må aldrig glemme de ord, vi har hørt i aften."