The Voice of The Spirit

Second Surprise: The Prophet’s Uses Of Other Author’s Statements

It is possible that the reader has heard the word plagiarism with reference to the writings of Ellen White. During recent decades, this second “surprise” has caused frustration and incredulity in some believers. How is it possible, some wonder, that a prophet who receives the message of heaven needs to appeal to the expressions of other authors to communicate that message? VOTS 85.3

Some believers, in their frustration, have ended up accusing Ellen White of plagiarism; of using, covertly, the statements of other authors without giving due credit. Why did Ellen White use the language of others? The answer, in fact, is uncomplicated. VOTS 85.4

Ellen White did not use the statements of other authors covertly. Proof of this fact is the statement mentioned above, where she informs her readers that, on occasion, she has used the statements of respected historians. Studies done by professional specialists in literary property laws, have reached the conclusion that, taking into account the time and circumstances, Ellen White can not be accused of plagiarism for the use of other author’s expressions. ⁹ However, the question may still persist: Why did she use the words of others? VOTS 85.5

The messenger of the Lord was fully aware that God did not give her the exact words to use. In most cases, she was presented with graphic scenes—like those we would see today as movie films—without comprehensive statements or comments. On occasion she heard words and expressions, but even these had to be integrated within a more comprehensive description. Ellen White was aware of her limitations as a writer, ¹⁰ but she was also aware of the limitless possibilities of enriching her language, her vocabulary, and her literary culture through reading. As is the case with any self-educated person, what she read immediately became an integral part of her fund of knowledge and her culture. That was her language, enriched by hundreds of pages read. Ellen White was a great reader. Her library—about fourteen hundred volumes at the time of her death—would give pause to more than one scholar of her time, and even today. VOTS 86.1

When the messenger arose at two or three in the morning to write—she regularly used these first hours of the day to do so—certain expressions, literary figures, and well-formed sentences, came to mind from her reading. In fact, it seems that she did not go back to her library to check a statement word for word, but rather quoted it as she remembered it, or because it was already integrated into her language. Studies carried out in recent years show that the quotations cited word for word constitute only a small percentage. ¹¹ VOTS 86.2

Why did she do it? Simply because prophets are allowed to use their own language. That language includes all that they may have memorized throughout a lifetime, including passages from their reading. Just as the apostle Paul mentioned a Cretan poet without mentioning his name (Titus 1:12) and other biblical authors referred to well-known writings in their times, ¹² modern prophets are allowed to use the expressions, literary figures, or phrases they have learned or read, in order to communicate the divine message that they have received. VOTS 86.3