God has called men from different states, and has been testing and proving them to see what characters they would develop, to see if they could be trusted to keep the fort at -----, and to see whether or not they would supply the deficiencies of the men already there, and, seeing the failures that these men have made, would shun the example of those who are not fit to engage in the most sacred work of God. He has followed men at ----- with continual warnings, reproof, and counsel. He has poured great light about those who officiate in His cause there, that the way may be plain before them. But if they prefer to follow after their own wisdom, scorning the light, as did Saul, they will surely go astray and involve the cause in perplexity. Light and darkness have been set before them, but they have too often chosen the darkness. {4T 86.3}

Gud har kaldet mænd fra forskellige stater og har prøvet og forsøgt dem for at se, hvilken karakter de ville (87) udvikle, for at se, om det kunne overlades til dem at holde skansen i ___ og for at se, hvorvidt de ville kunne erstatte manglerne hos de mænd, som allerede er der og om de ved at se de fejl, disse mænd har gjort, ville undgå deres eksempel, som ikke er skikkede til at deltage i Guds hellige værk. Han har sendt mænd i ___ stadige advarsler, irettesættelser og råd. Han har ladet et stort lys tilstrømme den, som gør tjeneste i hans sag der på stedet, for at vejen foran dem må være klar. Men dersom de foretrækker at følge deres egen visdom og foragter lyset, ligesom Saul gjorde, vil de visselig fare vild og indvikle sagen i vanskeligheder. Lys og mørke er blevet forelagt dem, men de har alt for ofte valgt mørket.