Brethren, if you connect your souls with God by living faith, He will make you men of power. If you trust to your own strength and wisdom, you will surely fail. It is not pleasing to God that you take so little interest in religious service. You are representative men, and as such, you exert a wider influence than persons in less prominent positions. You should ever seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. You should be active, interested workers in the church, cultivating your religious faculties, and keeping your own souls in the love of God. The Lord has claims upon you in this matter that you cannot lightly disregard; you must either grow in grace or be dwarfed and crippled in spiritual things. It is not only your privilege but your duty to bear testimony for Christ when and where you can; and by exercising the mind in this way, you will cultivate a love for sacred things. {4T 541.3}

Den svageste Kristi efterfølger er gået i alliance med den uendelige kraft. I mange tilfælde kan Gud gøre lidt for mennesker i lærdom, fordi de ikke føler behov for at lære af ham, som er al visdoms Kilde; derfor sætter han dem, efter en prøvelse, til side - efter mennesker med ringere talent, som har lært af stole på ham, hvis sjæle er bestyrket af godhed, sandhed og urokkelig troskab og som ikke vil bøje sig for noget der vil efterlade en plet på samvittigheden.