I have seen mothers of large families, who could not see the work that lay right in their pathway, just before them in their own families. They wanted to be missionaries and do some great work. They were looking out for themselves some high position, but neglecting to take care of the very work at home which the Lord had left for them to do. How important that the brain be clear! How important that the body be as free as possible from disease, in order that we may do the work which Heaven has left for us to do, and perform it in such a manner that the Master can say: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” My sisters, do not despise the few things which the Lord has left for you to do. Let each day’s actions be such that in the day of final settlement of accounts you will not be ashamed to meet the record made by the recording angel. {2T 366.2}

I hans fars familie har han ikke været en velsignelse, men årsag bekymring og sorg. I hans barndom blev hans vilje ikke underkuet. (388) Han havde en sådan ulyst til at rent erkende at han havde gjort fejltagelser og gjort noget galt at han, for at komme ud af vanskelighederne, satte sine åndelige kræfter i arbejde for at finde nogle undskyldninger som han smigrede sig selv med ikke var en direkte løgn. Hellere dette end at ydmyge sig selv så meget så han skulle bekende sin fejl. Denne vane har fulgt ham i hans religiøse erfaring. Han har en særlig evne til at vende sig væk fra sagens kærne, ved at påkalde forglemmelse, når han, mange gange, bevidst vælger at glemme.