Dear brethren, as a church you have sadly neglected your duty toward the children and youth. While rules and restrictions are laid upon them, great care should be taken to show them the Christlike side of your character and not the satanic side. Children need constant watchcare and tender love. Bind them to your hearts, and keep the love as well as the fear of God before them. Fathers and mothers do not control their own spirit and therefore are not fit to govern others. To restrain and caution your children is not all that is required. You have yet to learn to do justly and love mercy, as well as to walk humbly with God. Everything leaves its impress upon the youthful mind. The countenance is studied, the voice has its influence, and the deportment is closely imitated by them. Fretful and peevish fathers and mothers are giving their children lessons which at some period in their lives they would give all the world, were it theirs, could they unlearn. Children must see in the lives of their parents that consistency which is in accordance with their faith. By leading a consistent life and exercising self-control, parents may mold the characters of their children. {4T 621.1}

Kære brødre, som en menighed har I sørgeligt forsømt jeres pligt mod børn og unge. Når der lægges regler og begrænsninger på dem, bør der gøres stor omhu for at vise dem den Kristuslignende side af jeres karakter og ikke den sataniske side. Børn behøver hele tiden bevogtning og øm kærlighed. Bind dem til jeres hjerter og hold kærligheden, såvel som gudsfrygten, foran dem. Fædre og mødre styrer ikke dem selv og derfor er de ikke egnede til at styre andre. Begrænse og formane jeres børn er ikke alt hvad der behøves. I skal endnu lære at handle rigtigt og elske barmhjertighed, såvel som at vandre ydmygt med Gud. [Alt efterlader et indtryk på det ungdommelige sind. De unge studerer ansigtet, stemmen øver sin indflydelse og de efterligner nøje opførselen. Vrantne og irritable fædre og mødre lærer deres børn en lektie, som de engang vil give alt i verden for at få dem til at glemme igen. Børnene må se, at forældrenes liv er i nøje overensstemmelse med deres tro. Ved en konsekvent livsførelse og udøvelse af selvbeherskelse kan forældrene forme børnenes karakter. Barnet i hjemmet side 466]