Although you have been in doubt and perplexity, you have not dared to entirely sever the connecting link between yourself and God’s commandment-keeping people. Yet you have not yielded all for the truth’s sake; you have not yielded yourself, your own will. You fear to lay yourself and all that you have upon the altar of God, lest you may be required to yield back to Him some portion of that which He has lent you. Heavenly angels are acquainted with our words and actions, and even with the thoughts and intents of the heart. You, dear brother, fear that the truth will cost you too much, but this is one of Satan’s suggestions. Let it take all that you possess, and it does not cost too much; the value received, if rightly estimated, is an eternal weight of glory. How little is required of us! How small the sacrifice that we can make in comparison with that which our divine Lord made for us! And yet a spirit of murmuring comes over you because of the cost of everlasting life. You, as well as others of your brethren at -----, have had severe conflicts with the great adversary of souls. You have several times nearly yielded the conflict, but the influence of your wife and eldest daughter has prevailed. These members of your family would obey the truth with the whole heart could they have your influence to sustain them. {1T 544.2}

Selv om du har været rådvild og i tvivl, har du ikke vovet at helt afbryde kæden mellem dig selv og Guds lovlydige folk. Alligevel har du ikke opgivet alt for sandhedens sag; du har ikke overgivet dig selv, din egen vilje. Du er bange for at lægge dig selv og alt hvad du har, på Guds alter, af frygt for at få krævet det tilbage, som du har fået lånt. Himmelens engle kender vore ord og handlinger, ja endda hjertets tanker og hensigter. Du er bange for, kære broder, at sandheden vil koste for meget, men det er en af Satans fristelser. Lad den få alt hvad du har og det vil ikke koste så meget. Hvis det beregnes rigtigt, vil den gave du får, være en evig herlighedsvægt. Der kræves så lidt af os! Hvor et lille offer vi dog kan gøre i sammenligning med det som, vor guddommelige Herre har gjort for os! Alligevel kommer en utilfredshed over dig, fordi det liv koster noget. Du, såvel som andre brødre i ___, har haft strenge kampe med den store sjælefjende. Du har adskillige gange næsten opgivet kampen, men indflydelsen fra din hustru og ældste datter har taget overhånd. (545) Disse medlemmer fra din familie ville adlyde sandheden af et helt hjerte, hvis de havde din indflydelse som støtte.