The utter neglect of training children for God has perpetuated evil and thrown into the ranks of the enemy many who with judicious care might have been co-laborers with Christ. False ideas and a foolish, misdirected affection have nurtured traits which have made the children unlovely and unhappy, have embittered the lives of the parents, and have extended their baleful influence from generation to generation. Any child that is permitted to have his own way will dishonor God and bring his father and mother to shame. Light has been shining from the word of God and the testimonies of His Spirit so that none need err in regard to their duty. God requires parents to bring up their children to know Him and to respect His claims; they are to train their little ones, as the younger members of the Lord’s family, to have beautiful characters and lovely tempers, that they may be fitted to shine in the heavenly courts. By neglecting their duty and indulging their children in wrong, parents close to them the gates of the city of God. {5T 325.2}

Den totale forsømmelse i at oplære børn for Gud, har for al fremtid gjort ondt og sat mange i fjendens rækker, som med god omhu kunne have være blevet Kristi medarbejdere. Falske idéer og en tåbelig vildledt hengivenhed har opfostret træk, som har gjort børnene utiltalende og ulykkelige, har forbitret forældrenes liv og har udvidende ført deres fordærvelige indflydelse videre fra generation til generation. Ethvert barn der har fået lov at gå sin egen vej, vil vanære Gud og bringe sin fader og moder skam. Lys har skinnet fra Guds ord og hans Ånds vidnesbyrd, så at ingen behøver at fare vild, med hensyn til deres pligt. Gud forlanger at forældre skal opdrage deres børn til at kende ham og (326) respektere hans krav; de skal oplære deres små, som yngre medlemmer af Herrens familie, at få en smuk karakter og yndige gemytter; så de vil kunne skinne i de himmelske sale. Forsømmes deres pligt og føjes børnene i deres fejl, lukker forældrene Guds bys porte for dem.