Loma Linda Messages

Notes Of Travel (E. G. W.)

Review, June 21, 1906

Dedication of the Loma Linda Sanitarium

Sunday, April 15, 1906, the beautiful buildings and ground of the Loma Linda Sanitarium were solemnly dedicated to the service of God. LLM 161.4

The exercises of the day meant much to those who had made many personal sacrifices in order to help secure the institution and set it in operation... LLM 161.5

During the exercises the people were told of the remarkable providences that had attended every step taken to secure the property. The purpose we have in view in the establishment of many sanitariums was also dwelt upon. I was present at the meeting only a portion of the time, and spoke with freedom for nearly half an hour on the advantages of outdoor life in the treatment of disease. LLM 161.6

I tried to make it plain that the sanitarium physicians and helpers were to cooperate with God in combating disease, not only through the use of the natural remedial agencies He has placed within our reach, but also by encouraging their patients to lay hold on divine strength through obedience to the commandments of God. LLM 161.7

... Physicians and ministers are to unite in an effort to lead men and women to obey God's commandments. They need to study the intimate relationship existing between obedience and health. Solemn is the responsibility resting upon medical missionaries. They are to be missionaries in the true sense of the term. The sick and the suffering who entrust themselves to the care of the helpers in our medical institutions, must not be disappointed. They are to be taught how to live in harmony with heaven. As they learn to obey God's law, they will be richly blessed in body and spirit. LLM 162.1

The advantage of outdoor life must never be lost sight of. How thankful we should be that God has given us beautiful sanitarium properties at Paradise Valley and Glendale and Loma Linda. “Out of the cities! Out of the cities!”—this has been my message for years. And yet how slow some are to realize that the crowded cities are not favorable places for sanitarium work. LLM 162.2

Even in Southern California not many years ago, there were some who favored the erection of a large sanitarium building in the heart of Los Angeles. In the light of the instruction God has given we could not consent to the carrying out of any such plan. In the visions of the night, the Lord had shown me unoccupied properties in the country, suitable for sanitarium purposes, and for sale at a price far below the original cost. LLM 162.3

It was some time before we found these places. First, we secured the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, near San Diego. A few months later, in the good providence of God, the Glendale property came to the notice of our people, and was purchased and fitted up for service. But light came that our work of establishing sanitariums in southern California was not complete; and on several different occasions Testimonies were given that medical missionary work must be done somewhere in the vicinity of Redlands. LLM 162.4

April 6, 1905. “On our way to Redlands, as our train passed through miles of orange groves, I recognized this section of southern California as one of the places that had been presented to me with the word that it should have a fully equipped sanitarium... LLM 162.5

“As I looked from the car window, and saw the trees laden with fruit,…there arose before me a vision of what the spiritual harvest might have been had earnest, Christlike efforts been put forth for the salvation of souls. LLM 162.6

“The Lord would have brave, earnest men and women take up His work in these places. The cause of God is to make more rapid advancement in southern California than it has in the past. Every year thousands of people visit S. Calif. in search of health, and by various methods we should seek to reach them with the truth. They must hear the warning to prepare for the great day of the Lord which is right upon us... LLM 162.7

“We are called upon by God to present the truth for this time to those who year by year come to S. Calif. from all parts of America. Workers who can speak to the multitudes are to be located where they can meet the people, and give them the warning message....” LLM 163.1

These words were written before I had learned anything about the property at Loma Linda. Still the burden of establishing another sanitarium rested upon me. In the fall of 1903 I had a vision of a sanitarium in the midst of beautiful grounds, somewhere in S. Calif., and no property I had visited answered to the presentation given in this vision. At the time I wrote about this vision to our brethren and sisters assembled at the Los Angeles campmeeting early in Sept. 1903. LLM 163.2

While attending the General Conference of 1905, at Washington, D. C., I received a letter from Elder J. A. Burden describing a property he had found four miles west of Redlands, five and one-half miles southeast of San Bernardino, and eight miles northeast of Riverside. As I read his letter, I was impressed that this was one of the places I had seen in vision, and I immediately telegraphed him to secure the property without delay. He did so, and as the result, Loma Linda is in our possession. LLM 163.3

Later, when I visited this property, I recognized it as one of the places I had seen nearly two years before in vision. How thankful I am to the Lord our God for this place, which is all prepared for us to use to the honor and glory of His name......... LLM 163.4

The extensive view of valley and mountain is magnificent. One of the chief advantages of the institution at Loma Linda is the pleasing variety of charming scenery on every side. LLM 163.5

But more important than magnificent scenery and beautiful buildings and spacious grounds, is the close proximity of this institution to a densely populated district, and the opportunity thus afforded of communicating to many, many people a knowledge of the third angel's message. We are to have clear spiritual discernment, else we shall fail of understanding the opening providences of God that are preparing the way for us to sound the warning message, by the agencies that God has given us for this purpose. Let us remember that one most important agency is our medical missionary work. Never are we to lose sight of the great object for which our sanitariums are established,—the advancement of God's closing work in the earth. LLM 163.6

Loma Linda is to be not only a sanitarium, but an educational center. With the possession of this place comes the weighty responsibility of making the work of the institution educational in character. A school is to be established here for the training of gospel medical missionary evangelists. LLM 163.7

Much is involved in this work, and it is very essential that a right beginning be made. The Lord has a special work to be done in this part of the field. He instructed me to call upon Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell to help us in getting properly started a work similar to that which they had carried on in Nashville and at Avondale. They came, and are now laboring with all the powers of their being to do a solid work. They conduct classes regularly in the institution, and have established a Bible training school at San Bernardino, from which center is extending an influence throughout this district. LLM 164.1

November 1, 1905. B-309-'05

“I thank the Lord with heart and soul and voice that He has brought Loma Linda to our notice, and that we might obtain it. I thank the Lord that He has sent you to help me carry out in a determined effort that which He designed should be a great blessing to us. Redlands will be a center, and so also will Loma Linda. A school will be established as soon as possible, and the Lord will open the way.” LLM 164.2

December 10, 1905.

“I am certainly thankful to our heavenly Father that in His providence we have been favored to secure this beautiful location as a health resort. It answers perfectly to the representation that was given me. Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy expressed to us amidst the many difficulties we have to meet. The Lord is our helper, and constant guide. I say to you, my brother, Jesus will be to us a present helper in every time of need. In regard to the school, I would say, Make it all you possibly can in education of nurses and physicians.” LLM 164.3

“Make the school especially strong for nurses and physicians. Thousands of workers are to be qualified with all the ability of physicians, to labor not as physicians, but as medical missionary evangelists.” LLM 164.4

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