Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)

Lt 271a, 1903

Daniells, A. G.

“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California

September 18, 1903

Portions of this letter are published in 5Bio 302-303.

Elder A. G. Daniells

Dear Brother,—

I received your letter today noon, and read it aloud to the family. They were much interested. You need have no fear of wearying me by your letters; for I am deeply interested in everything that is connected with the advancement of the great and important work which we are all so earnestly endeavoring to carry forward. The Lord is at the door. We have a work to do, and we are not to allow our minds to be diverted from this work by any side issues. 18LtMs, Lt 271a, 1903, par. 1

I will at once write a few lines in reply; and I hope to write more fully soon. A short time after Dr. Kellogg was connected with the Battle Creek Sanitarium as a physician, he had much to say along lines similar to his teachings at the present time. He presented another phase of error; but it was similar to his later theories, in that it was a spiritualistic idea of God. He communicated his ideas to Dr. Sprague and to Dr. Fairfield. 18LtMs, Lt 271a, 1903, par. 2

The Lord presented this matter to me, revealing that the result of such teaching was a subtle beguiling of the mind, and that the Doctor himself did not foresee this result of his extreme views in regard to God in nature. These ideas were presented in an attractive, alluring form. I told him that the Lord was greatly dishonored by being thus represented, and that such ideas would lead the people into spiritualism. I bore a very plain testimony on this point. 18LtMs, Lt 271a, 1903, par. 3

Dr. Kellogg acknowledged that he saw his danger, and he had no more to say in regard to these ideas. But they had been communicated to his fellow physicians. The three had been enthusiastic over the theory, clothed, as it was, in a beautiful garb. And although Dr. Kellogg received my testimony, Dr. Sprague and Dr. Fairfield, once conscientious Christians, were bewildered and unsettled in the faith. They both gave up the truth. 18LtMs, Lt 271a, 1903, par. 4

Since Dr. Kellogg has devised documents binding all our medical institutions to the central organization in Battle Creek, and has done everything in his power to induce our brethren to sign these documents, I have received from the Lord testimony after testimony that placed this matter in the light in which God viewed it. God endorsed no such effort. He forbade his people from signing any such documents. Regardless of this light, a determined effort has been made to carry these manmade plans through. 18LtMs, Lt 271a, 1903, par. 5

When I learned that the Lord had manifested His displeasure by letting His judgments fall upon the Sanitarium, sweeping it away by fire, I knew that this was a decided warning to the workers there, and especially to Dr. Kellogg. He would not heed any testimony that was given. 18LtMs, Lt 271a, 1903, par. 6

By representations and warnings, I was instructed by the Lord that Dr. Kellogg was being led into a very specious, attractive delusion—extreme views in regard to God in nature. These views were similar to the old ones he advocated, but they were presented in a more deceptive way and were more liable to mislead minds. I was instructed that the one who was operating his mind was the one who once was an exalted angel in the heavenly courts—the one who was a covering cherub. He, the originator of sin, worked with all his deceptive powers and satanic subtlety to become equal with God in heaven, as the Son of God was. Then, he thought, he could sway the heavenly angels as he desired. This specious, deceptive work was carried on secretly. The archdeceiver himself concealed his identity, so far as was possible, and the Lord permitted this rebellion to develop before anything was done to save the angelic host from apostasy. 18LtMs, Lt 271a, 1903, par. 7