In His providence the Lord has seen fit to teach and warn His people in various ways. By direct command, by the sacred writings, and by the spirit of prophecy has He made known unto them His will. My work has been to speak plainly of the faults and errors of God’s people. Because the sins of certain individuals have been brought to light, it is no evidence that they are worse in the sight of the Lord than many whose failings are unrecorded. But I have been shown that it is not mine to choose my work, but humbly to obey the will of God. The errors and wrongdoings in the lives of professed Christians are recorded for the instruction of those who are liable to fall into the same temptations. The experience of one serves as a beacon light to warn others off the rocks of danger. {4T 12.4}

I sit forsyn har Herren fundet det rigtigt at undervise og advare sit folk på forskellige måder. Ved direkte påbud, ved de hellige (13) skrifter og ved profetiens ånd har han kundgjort sin vilje for dem, Min gerning har været at tale; tydeligt om Guds folks fejl og vildfarelser. At visse menneskers synder er blevet bragt for lyset beviser ikke, at de er værre i Herrens øjne end mange, hvis fejltrin ikke er blevet omtalt. Men jeg har set, at det ikke tilkommer mig at vælge min gerning, men ydmygt at lyde Guds vilje. Vildfarelser og urigtige handlinger i bekendende kristnes liv omtales til lærdom for dem, som er udsatte for at falde i de samme fristelser. Den enes erfaring tjener som en lysbøje til at advare andre imod de farlige klipper.