My health was so poor that I was in constant bodily suffering, and, to all appearance, had but a short time to live. I was but seventeen years of age, small and frail, unused to society, and naturally so timid and retiring that it was painful for me to meet strangers. I prayed earnestly for several days, and far into the night, that this burden might be removed from me and laid upon someone more capable of bearing it. But the light of duty did not change, and the words of the angel sounded continually in my ears: “Make known to others what I have revealed to you.” {1T 62.3}

Mit helbred var så dårligt, at jeg konstant var underlagt fysisk lidelse, og efter alt at dømme havde jeg kun kort tid at leve i. Jeg var kun sytten år gammel, lille og svag, uvant til selskab, og af naturen så genert og tilbageholdende, at det var smertefuldt for mig at møde fremmede. I adskillige dage og til langt ud på natten bad jeg inderligt om, at denne byrde måtte blive fjernet fra mig og lagt på nogen, der var bedre i stand til at bære den. Men pligtens lys ændredes ikke, og englens ord lød hele tiden i mine øren: "Gør andre bekendt med, hvad jeg har åbenbaret for dig."