We found that we could do nothing for the scattered sheep near us until we had first corrected the wrongs in many of the members of the church. They had let these poor souls wander. They felt no burden for them. In fact, they seemed shut up to themselves, and were dying a spiritual death for want of spiritual exercise. They still loved the general cause, and were ready to help sustain it. They would take good care of the servants of God. But there was a decided want of care for widows, orphans, and the feeble of the flock. Besides some interest for the cause in general, there was but little apparent interest for any only their own families. With so narrow a religion they were dying a spiritual death. {2T 19.1}

Vi fandt at vi intet kunne gøre for de spredte får der stod os så nært, før vi havde rettet fejlene hos mange af menighedens medlemmer. De havde ladet disse stakkels sjæle strejfe omkring. De har ikke følt nogen byrde for dem. Faktisk, var det som om de skubbede det fra sig selv og døde en åndelig død af mangel på åndelig virksomhed. De elskede stadig den almindelige sag og var rede til at støtte den den. De ville tage sig godt af Guds tjenere. Men der var en absolut mangel på omsorg for enker, forældreløse og de svage i flokken. Ved siden af nogen interesse for sagen i almindelighed, var der kun en lille åbenbar interesse for nogen andre end deres egen familie. Med en så smålig religion døde de en åndelig død.