Ellen White re-tells the story of her granddaughter's experience accepting Jesus as her personal Savior and relates it to her own experience when she was young.

"Oh, but, Mother, what can I do? You, know, Mother, it is hard for me to give up my own will; I am afraid Christ will come and find I have a will of my own. What shall I do, Mother?" 

"You must ask Him to give you a heart to do His will."

"I can't wait till night, Mother, to pray. Won't you pray with me right here?"

What conviction upon that child's heart; tears streamed down her cheeks. She said,

"Dear Lord, I've got a will that is wicked, a will that is hard for me to give up. Will you help me, Jesus, for I don't know what to do?" 

Well, the Lord heard that prayer and He did give help. She has had a precious experience. She has been a changed child from that day. . . .  (Manuscript Release 10, p. 382.)

I [Ellen] gave my life to Him when I was eleven years old. I remember the experience of that little girl was enacted in my life. I picked up a little piece of paper in the road; that paper said that a man was going to preach that the Lord was coming. I was so afraid that He would come before I was ready. I wrestled with God, and He gave me His blessing, and He gave me peace. I went to my young companions; I told them, I pled with them. I got them to bow with me before God in prayer. I was possessed of a hasty temper. I began to pray for the Lord to help me overcome this. I began to wrestle in prayer for God's grace and blessing, and He gave it to me. When we have God's blessing with us, we can improve our powers, so that we can render back glory to God.--Ms. 20, 1888, pp. 12, 13, 16. (Sermon preached in Potterville, Mich., Nov. 25, 1888.)