“Our religious experience is of exactly the same quality as the food we give our minds.”—“True Education,“ July 8, 1897. PH140 40.1
“God wants every child of tender age to be his child, to be adopted into his family. Young though they may be, the youth may be members of the household of faith, and have the most precious experience. They may have hearts that are tender and ready to receive lasting impressions. Their hearts may be drawn out in confidence and love for Jesus, that they may live for the Saviour. Christ will make them little missionaries. The whole current of their thoughts may be changed, so that sin will not appear a thing to be enjoyed, but to be hated and shunned. Children who are properly instructed will be witnesses for the truth... We may bring hundreds and thousands of children to Christ if we will work for them. Let all who read these words be melted and subdued. Let us in our educational work embrace far more of the children and youth than we have done, and there will be a whole army of missionaries raised up to work for God. In the last days children's voices will be heard proclaiming the message. As Christ in the temple solved the mysteries which priests and rulers had not discerned, so in the closing work of this earth children in their simplicity will speak words which will be an astonishment to men who now talk of ‘higher education.’ Then let the church carry a burden for the lambs of the flock in its locality, and see how many can be educated and trained to do service for God.”—P. C., “Need of Church Schools.” PH140 40.2
“Our schools are to be educational schools to qualify youth to become missionaries both by precept and example.”—P. C., “To Teachers.” PH140 41.1
“Children are to be trained to become missionaries, and but few understand distinctly what they must do to be saved.... The Holy Spirit of God will impress the lessons upon the receptive minds of children, that they may grasp the ideas of Bible truths in their simplicity, and the Lord will give an experience to these children in missionary lines. He will suggest to them lines of thought which the teachers themselves do not have. The children who are properly instructed will be witnesses for the truth.”—P.C. December 15, 1897. PH140 41.2