Why I Believe in Mrs. E. G. White

Looking Back on a Great Event

In a letter written from Australia to the 1893 General Conference session, Mrs. White recounted the history of church order and organization of the Adventist Church. We quote a few paragraphs: WBEGW 38.2

“I was one of the number who had an experience in establishing it [gospel order] from the first. I know the difficulties that had to be met, the evils which it was designed to correct, and I have watched its influence in connection with the growth of the cause. At an early stage in the work, God gave us special light upon this point, and this light, together with the lessons that experience has taught us, should be carefully considered. WBEGW 38.3

“From the first our work was aggressive. Our numbers were few, and mostly from the poorer class. Our views were almost unknown to the world. We had no houses of worship, but few publications, and very limited facilities for carrying forward our work. The sheep were scattered in the highways and byways, in cities, in towns, in forests. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus was our message.... WBEGW 38.4

“Our numbers gradually increased. The seed that was sown was watered of God, and He gave the increase. At first we assembled for worship, and presented the truth to those who would come to hear, in private houses, in large kitchens, in barns, in groves, and in schoolhouses; but it was not long before we were able to build humble houses of worship. WBEGW 38.5

“As our numbers increased, it was evident that without some form of organization there would be great confusion, and the work would not be carried forward successfully. To provide for the support of the ministry, for carrying the work in new fields, for protecting both the churches and the ministry from unworthy members, for holding church property, for the publication of the truth through the press, and for many other objects, organization was indispensable. WBEGW 39.1

“Yet there was strong feeling against it among our people. The first-day Adventists were opposed to organization, and most of the Seventh-day Adventists entertained the same ideas. We sought the Lord with earnest prayer that we might understand His will, and light was given by His Spirit that there must be order and thorough discipline in the church—that organization was essential. System and order are manifest in all the works of God throughout the universe. Order is the law of heaven, and it should be the law of God’s people on the earth. WBEGW 39.2

“We had a hard struggle in establishing organization. Notwithstanding that the Lord gave testimony after testimony upon this point, the opposition was strong, and it had to be met again and again. But we knew that the Lord God of Israel was leading us, and guiding by His providence. We engaged in the work of organization, and marked prosperity attended this advance movement.”—Daily Bulletin of the General Conference, Jan. 29, 30, 1893, pp. 22, 24. Republished in Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 24-27. WBEGW 39.3

Yes, there was “a hard struggle in establishing organization.” But it was Mrs. White’s voice, sounding out clearly and emphatically over the years, that contributed greatly to the creation of this much-needed organization. Without such organization the Advent Movement most certainly would ultimately have broken into a strange array of discordant pieces. WBEGW 39.4