Chapter 1—Sketch of Experience From February 7, 1868, to May 20, 1868 After we had reached our home, and ceased to feel the inspiring influence of journeying and laboring, we felt most sensibly the wearing labors of our eastern tour. Many were urging me by letters to write what I had related to them of what the Lord had shown me concerning them. And there were many others to whom I had not spoken whose cases were as important and urgent. But in my weary condition the task of so much writing seemed more than I could endure. A feeling of discouragement came over me, and I sank into a feeble state and remained so several days, frequently fainting. In this state of body and mind I called in question my duty to write so much, to so many persons, some of them very unworthy. It seemed to me that there was certainly a mistake in this matter somewhere. {2T 10.1}

(10) Fra den 7.februar, 1868 til den 20.maj, 1868
Efter at vi kom hjem og ophørt med at mærke den inspirerende påvirkning fra rejser og arbejde, følte vi meget mærkbart det betyngende arbejde fra vor østlige tur. Mange bad mig indtrængende om at skrive i breve det som jeg havde fortalt dem hvad Herren havde vist mig om dem. Og der var mange andre som jeg ikke havde talt med hvis sager var ligeså betydningsfulde og presserende. Men i min trætte tilstand synes det store arbejde at være mere end jeg kunne udholde. En modløshed overvældede mig og jeg sank ned i en svækket tilstand og blev der i nogle dage og besvimede ofte. I den legems- og sindstilstand betvivlede jeg min pligt at skulle skrive så meget, til så mange mennesker, nogle af dem var meget uværdige. Det var for mig som om der var noget bestemt galt, et eller andet sted.