At this time I was shown that the Lord had been trying us for our good, and to prepare us to labor for others; that He had been stirring up our nest, lest we should settle down at ease. Our work was to labor for souls; if we had been prospered, home would be so pleasant that we would be unwilling to leave it; trials had been permitted to come upon us to prepare us for the still greater conflicts that we would meet in our travels. We soon received letters from brethren in different States, inviting us to visit them; but we had no means to take us out of the State. Our reply was that the way was not open before us. I thought that it would be impossible for me to travel with my child. We did not wish to be dependent, and were careful to live within our means. We were resolved to suffer rather than get in debt. {LS 106.1}

På det tidspunkt fik jeg vist at Herren prøvede os for vores skyld og at berede os til at arbejde for andre; så han har oprørt vores bosted, så vi ikke skulle sætte os til rette og føle os hjemme. Vor gerning var at arbejde for sjæle; hvis vi trives, ville hjemmet være så behageligt at vi ikke ville forlade det; prøvelser har han ladet komme over os for at berede os for de stadig større kampe, som vi ville møde på vore rejser. Vi modtog snart breve fra brødre fra forskellige stater der indbød os til at besøge dem; men vi havde ingen midler til at tage væk fra staten. Vort svar var at vejen ikke var åbnet for os. Jeg tænkte at det ville være umuligt for mig at rejse med mit barn. Vi ønskede ikke at være afhængige og var forsigtige med at leve inden for vore midler. Vi var besluttet på at tåle mere end vi tog i gæld.