These youth finally lose all respect for the Sabbath and have no relish for religious meetings or for sacred and eternal things. If their parents mildly remonstrate with them, they shield themselves by telling of the faults of some of the church members. In place of silencing the first approach to anything of the kind, the parents think just as their children think; if this one or that one were perfect, their children would be right. Instead of this they should teach them that the sins of others are no excuse for them. Christ is the only true pattern. The wrongs of many would not excuse one wrong in them or lessen in the least their guilt. God has given them one standard, perfect, noble, elevated. This they must meet, irrespective of the course which others may pursue. But many parents seem to lose reason and judgment in their fondness for their children, and, through these indulged, selfish, mismanaged youth, Satan in turn works effectually to ruin the parents. I was referred to the wrath of God which came upon the incredulous and disobedient of ancient Israel. Their duty to instruct their children was plainly enjoined upon them. It is just as binding upon believing parents in this generation. “Give ear, O My people, to My law: incline your ears to the words of My mouth. I will open My mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done.” {5T 37.1}

Disse unge mister al respekt for sabbaten og har ingen tillid til religiøse møder eller hellige og evige sager. Hvis deres forældre protesterer mildt mod dem, beskytter de sig selv ved at tale om nogle menighedsmedlemmers fejl. I stedet for at fortie den første tilnærmelse i den retning, tænker forældrene ligesom deres børn tænker; hvis denne og denne var fuldkommen, ville deres børn gøre det rigtige. I stedet for dette, skulle de hellere lære dem at andres synder ikke er nogen undskyldning for dem. Kristus er det eneste sande mønster. Mange menneskers fejl undskylder ikke en eneste fejl hos dem, eller formindsker deres skyld det mindste. Gud har givet dem en standard, fuldkommen, ædel og ophøjet. Dette må imødekommes, uanset hvordan andre opfører sig. Men mange forældre synes at miste fornuften og dømmekraften i deres ømhed for deres børn og, ved disse forkælede, selviske vildfarne unge, arbejder Satan på den anden side effektivt på at fordærve forældrene. Jeg blev henvist til Guds vrede, som kom over det gamle Israels vantro og ulydighed. Deres pligt at belære deres børn blev tydeligt pålagt dem. Det er ligeså bindende for troende forældre i denne slægt. »Lyt, mit folk til min lære, bøj eders øre til ord fra min mund; jeg vil åbne min mund med billedtale, fremsætte gåder fra fordums tid, hvad vi har hørt og ved, hvad vore fædre har sagt os; vi dølger det ikke for vore børn, men melder en kommende slægt om Herrens ære og vælde og underne, som han har gjort.«