You are selfish and exacting. You mark little things and talk of small errors in your wife and children. In short, you seek to gauge their consciences by your own; you try to be conscience for them. Your wife has an identity of her own, which can never be merged in that of her husband. She has an individuality which she should preserve, for she is accountable before God for herself. You cannot, Brother M, be responsible before God for the character your wife forms. She alone will bear this responsibility. God is just as willing to impress the conscience of your God-fearing wife as He is to impress your conscience for her. {4T 255.2}

Du er egenkærlig og nøjeregnende. Du bemærker småting og taler om små fejl hos din hustru og børn. Kort sagt, du prøver at justere deres samvittighed med din egen; du prøver at være samvittighed for dem. Din hustru har sin egen identitet, som aldrig kan smelte sammen med sin mands. Hun har en personlighed, som hun skal bevare, for hun er selv regnskabsskyldig for Gud. Du kan ikke, bror M, drages til ansvar for Gud for den karakter din hustru danner. Hun vil alene bære dette ansvar. Gud er ligeså villig til indprente din gudfrygtige hustrus karakter, som han er for at indprente din samvittighed for hende.