Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 20 (1905)

Ms 186, 1905

Remarks/Sister White’s Remarks at the Los Angeles Church

Los Angeles, California

June 20, 1905

Previously unpublished.

Extracts Taken From Sister White’s Remarks at the Los Angeles, California Church

I am glad to meet so many here and I know the Lord is working for Los Angeles and for San Diego. The Lord wants the work carried on intelligently in these places, and in Riverside and Redlands. All are responsible to God for all the talents He has given them. Their physical strength must be employed to His glory. If we place ourselves in the right relation to God we shall see of His salvation. The Lord wants all in Southern California to have a larger growth in grace, and there can be if every one will consider that God has given him his work. Now is our favorable opportunity and there never was a more favorable time to work Los Angeles. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 1

Efforts are being made by the ministers to bring the truth before the people, and I hope every member of the church will feel and act as they did in 1842, 1843 and 1844. Then they used to come in the morning and bring their lunch, and eat it there at noon lest they should fail to hear all that was said. The power of God rested upon Elders Himes, Miller, Fleming, and Stockman as they gave the message, and I want to see advance made as we have a knowledge of the truth. The message was carried on in those days in the spirit of sacrifice. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 2

I have been shown again and again that the people, like the foolish virgins, are asleep and have no oil in their lamps. What is the oil? It is the Spirit of God. It is emptied out of the olive trees to the lamps. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 3

The light given in regard to Southern California is that they are far behind in the work because they do not realize the time in which we live. Our God is a God of intelligence and He wants every human being who claims to be a child of God to grasp all he can of the truth. Instead of spending time in preparation of food, have your food simple and bring forth the Word of Life. Christ said, If ye eat my flesh and drink my blood ye shall have eternal life. It is the Word we are to eat. The flesh profiteth nothing. It is the Spirit that is to enter into our lives. As it comes out in our lives it will be imparted to others. We are to have our hearts in constant communion with God, for we are preparing for eternal life. The Lord wants us to put on the whole armor and be prepared for emergencies. It is our work to stand in the right relation to God, and every person must have an individual experience in the truth that comes through the Word, so that you will be prepared to give meat in due season and to sow beside all waters. You want to realize the work resting upon you and prepare for consecrated service, having on the whole armor, and having done all God requires you, to stand. Now you stand for you have principalities and powers. Spiritual wickedness is in high places, therefore we need that power from above. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 4

The time has come to work Redlands, and we have a small but neat meetinghouse there. It is a big problem to reach the people of all these cities. There has been something done in Los Angeles and other of these cities but not a hundredth part of what should be done. I told a number that we ought to have sanitariums around these places to reach the people. Night after night the work was before me that should be done. Around Riverside and Redlands they told us there were already 60 physicians and no room for more and they were afraid if a sanitarium was established it would bring tubercular patients. All this seemed to shut us off. Finally Brother Burden found Loma Linda and wrote the particulars, and I said, This is from the Lord. It is the place where we can reach the people of Riverside and Redlands. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 5

The truth must be preached as represented in the Bible. Give the warning in the highways and hedges. When I heard Brother Simpson was working with success in Los Angeles just as given in the Word, I thought we must reach the people where they are. I felt to weep and to pray to God for His help that Brother Simpson’s health might be preserved, and that others might feel the responsibility of going to work and meeting to pray and improve every opportunity. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 6

My message is: Out of the cities. There are places out from the cities that have buildings that we would be able to secure where there was grass and flowers with plenty of grounds, where we could take the sick like a family, and let them drink in the atmosphere of heaven. In the cities there is nothing but walls and enough to keep them sick. We want to get them out where there are singing birds, with flowers, with trees and shade, where they can be in God’s line. Then the sick would have a remedy by using natural methods in securing health. Water, pure air, and to be near nature will restore health. When we began in Battle Creek the Lord blest wonderfully as we used these means. How drugs come in is a mystery to me with all the light God has given. The Lord does not want us to go into the cities to establish sanitariums unless there is some feeder in the cities to lead them out where they can get correct treatment. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 7

The problem is, Where is the means coming from? I have done all I could. I have given Christ’s Object Lessons, and not one penny have I used for myself. There have been two hundred thousand dollars raised for 300 thousand books. The sale of these books has been a blessing to those who have sold them. All this had been done for the relief of the schools. Now to relieve the sanitariums of debts we are preparing the book The Ministry of Healing. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 8

There is spiritual wickedness in high places, and we want every piece of the armor on that the Lord has provided for us. When we are fully clothed and have the gospel shoes on, there will be more travelling from house to house and from church to church and you will see the power of God revealed. In establishing the work at Loma Linda we want you all to take hold as though you are interested in it. I have a longing for souls to come to a knowledge of the truth, and I tell you, angels of God are descending that ladder the same as Jacob saw, bringing us help. They carry our prayers and bring us the help we need. Through lack of faith we see we have not the means on hand to go on with the work. If I had done that, the work never would have been established in Australia. That work is now self-sustaining and they are sending their means here. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 9

I want every soul to be working in love and fear of God and to arouse, for doing good will remove prejudice. God will help us in this line of work. We shall see the glory of God revealed through His people. The Lord will help in the work at Loma Linda, and I want them to be sure and secure the property, for I knew God was leading in the move. That was the way I felt when they pointed out the buildings on the way to Washington. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 10

Everyone has a work to do for the Master. There is an individual work to be done in giving the last message of mercy to the world. Not one is to be sleeping at this time. Humanity must be clothed with divinity, because for our sakes He became poor that we might be made rich. He wants us to show that humanity can grasp divinity and can stand. When the sick come to our sanitariums, they will see divinity in humanity ready to help humanity, for as many as received Him to them He gave power to become the sons of God. That is our work, to become the sons of God. And how? Humanity must grasp divinity through Christ. It is the robe of Christ’s righteousness that is the channel, and every one in this house is to be a channel to reach others. Those who are partakers of Christ with His sacrifice shall become the sons of God, and through Christ’s righteousness we shall escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 11

Some shall depart from the faith and give heed to doctrines of devils; they will mix up truth with heresies. They asked me in Battle Creek what will we do when Sister White is taken away? I believe just as I did when the great tent was pitched and ministers and lawyers selected Mrs. White to be their speaker. I never saw more interest, and the blessing of God rested upon me in my weakness so they could hear every word in that large tent. Sister White believes just as she did when she gave that message. If you could see the pile of books I have written you would know if she dies there are views written that will speak. Although dead, she is still speaking. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 12

Light came to me months ago that there was work that must be done. A company of us were praying and the power of God was in our midst. If any come up with modern thoughts of the Holy Spirit which takes off from the sanctuary, we need to be on guard, for God wants us to stand in the right position. This truth has been given us point by point and if we take a piece out of our faith it will leave us, as Christ said, on the sand. If we stand on the Word nothing can move us, for it is riveted to the rock. Ministers may present theories that God has never given. If you have God for the pillars of truth, you will not be turned away, for He is the foundation of gold, silver, and precious stones. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 13

The word that comes to me is that we must revive the testimony of the dead among the living. There will be species of error brought in, but where are they when they are established? There is no more truth to that then. We must not be moved by any sophistry that man can bring in. We need the truth once delivered to the saints—the testimony of the dead to be revived. We know the Holy Ghost spoke these things. I know wherein I believe and what is the foundation of my hope. I stand where I have for the past 50 years. I have not changed. We want to be where we can speak the truth to those in need. We want all to have the truth in the inward parts. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 14

You need to be established in the truth. Don’t give away all the things you have heard. (Revelation 3) tells you the things to be brought to mind. Brethren and sisters, we should have more harmony. How will we have it? Take care of number one. Don’t complain of others, but go in tenderness, for it will have a wonderful effect on hearts. Our sanitariums are places for the soul-sick to recover as well as those who are sick in body. We want every one who works in them to have a living connection with the Lord. The physicians can feel individual sorrows and tell them what is the truth. Don’t tell them the Sabbath the first thing, but let them see Christ, and then they will ask about the Sabbath. Let them see the Bible in the lives about them. Let them lead out and ask you questions and they will see that the Lord is working, and in this way God will manifest Himself through His people. Dress so as not to be slouchy—neat, but natural. Be saving so as to help the work in Nashville, Huntsville, and New Orleans, for these places need help. We hear some talk about their field being hard. We are to endure trials so that you may go where you can be an example as workers. Young men and women should be working. “I write unto you young men because ye are strong.” [1 John 2:14.] We want our young men to take hold of the work. We want every one to stand by our institutions, and if you have means you do not use, sell it to prepare souls that are ready to perish, and thus give back to God His own. The Lord has given His people means, and they should be selling out to help carry on the work. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 15

I have done all I can with Christ’s Object Lessons. We must do all we can to reach the higher classes. The cities need working. We can reach them be administering to them in sickness. Those who fear God and know how to speak a word in season should present health reform, for every one must be on the side of Christ. We want means to meet the bills as they come due on the Loma Linda Sanitarium and we must go to those who have means and ask them to use self-denial, for we want you to help. The blessing of God will rest upon every one that will help in this work. Loma Linda will become the leading institution for training of workers on the Pacific Coast. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 16

This conference has not stepped as they ought to and have lost much by not doing. When God places anything before them, they are to say, What can I do to help in the matter? The light I have is that there are means that can be secured to go on with this if they would counsel those who have means and let them feel they have a voice by putting in their money. There will be means enough, and the Spirit of God will help those who will try to secure it in the southern part of the state. From the light I have there is no reason why they should depend upon the General Conference to help. If all in the conference take hold, you can carry it through. All should in accordance with the light God has given. You can have the book Ministry of Healing to help in the matter. I will do my part and am willing to advise with those who have means. 20LtMs, Ms 186, 1905, par. 17