I saw you listening to the conversation of men and women, and saw that you were only too pleased to gather up their views and impressions that were detrimental to our labors. Some found fault with one thing, and some with another, as did the murmurers among the children of Israel when Moses was their leader. Some were censuring our course, saying that we were not as conservative as we ought to be; we did not seek to please the people as we might; we talked too plainly; we reproved too sharply. Some were talking in regard to Sister White’s dress, picking at straws. Others were expressing dissatisfaction with the course that Brother White pursued, and remarks were passing from one to another, questioning their course and finding fault. An angel stood before these persons, unseen by them, busily writing their words in the book which is to be opened to the view of God and angels. {3T 312.3}

Jeg så at I lyttede til mænds og kvinders samtale og så at I kun var tilfreds med at tage deres synspunkter og indtryk til jer som ellers var modsat vort arbejde. Nogle fandt fejl ved en ting og nogle ved andet, ligesom de knurrende Israels børn da Moses var deres leder. Nogle kritiserede vor fremgangsmåde, sagde at vi ikke var ligeså vedholdende som vi skulle være; vi forsøgte ikke at behage folk som vi kunne gøre; vi talte for tydeligt, vi irettesatte for skarpt. Nogle talte om søster Whites klæder og trak halmstrå. Andre udtrykte utilfredshed med bror Whites fremgangsmåde og bemærkningerne gik fra den ene til den anden og drog deres fremgangsmåde i tvivl og fandt fejl. En engel stod for disse personer, usynlig for dem og havde travlt med at skrive deres ord ned i den bog som skal åbnes for Gud og englene.