Brother M is molded by the positive temperament of his wife. He has become in a degree selfish like her. His mind is almost completely occupied by “me and mine,” to the exclusion of other things of infinitely more importance. He does not take his position in his family as father of his flock and, unprejudiced and uninfluenced, pursue a uniform course with his children. His wife is not, and without a transformation never can be, a true mother to his motherless children. Brother M, as a father to his children, has not stood in the position that God would have him. These motherless children are God’s little ones, precious in His sight. Naturally Brother M has a tender, refined, loving, generous, sensitive nature, while his wife is exactly the opposite. Instead of his molding and softening the character of his wife, she is transforming him. {3T 533.1}

Bror M formes af sin hustrus selvsikre gemyt. Han er i en vis grad blevet lige så selvsikker som hende. Han er næsten helt optaget af "mig og mine" tanken, så andre ting af uendelig betydning udelukkes. Han tager ikke standpunkt som familiefader til sin hjord og, upartisk og upåvirkelig, giver sine børn en ensartet behandling. Hans hustru er ikke og kan ikke uden forvandling, blive en sand moder for sine forældreløse børn. Bror M har ikke, som en fader for sine børn ikke stået i den position som Gud ville have ham til. Disse forældreløse børn er i Guds øjne sine små dyrebare børn. Af naturen har bror M ømme, fine, elskelige, ædelmodige og følsomme egenskaber, medens hans hustru er præcis det modsatte. I stedet for at forme og blødgøre sin hustrus karakter, forvandler hun ham.