The Great Visions of Ellen G. White

Visit to Lovett’s Grove

Sometime between Monday, March 8, and Friday, March 12, the Tillotsons and the Whites made their way 35 miles north of Gilboa to a hamlet called Lovett’s Grove (after a well-known local grove of black walnut trees). At that time Lovett’s Grove and nearby Bowling Green, two miles to the south, were competing for supremacy in local municipal growth and status; Lovett’s Grove had its own post office and other amenities. Today it is just a wide spot in the road on U.S. Route 25. GVEGW 66.6

The visitors found there a new company of some 40 Sabbathkeepers, recently raised up through the evangelistic prowess of George W. Holt. James White later wrote, “We enjoyed great freedom with these brethren.” ²⁷ GVEGW 66.7

(On February 8, 1862, the Lovett’s Grove company became the first Seventh-day Adventist church to organize in Ohio. ²⁸ A bronze marker, jointly sponsored by the Wood County and Ohio State historical societies, commemorates the event.) GVEGW 67.1

In reporting that “on First-day God manifested His power in a wonderful manner,” James White apparently referred to the response to his call to become a member of the Advent band. He wrote that “several decided to keep the Lord’s Sabbath and go with the people of God.” ²⁹ GVEGW 67.2

Incredibly, however, White omits any reference whatever to the most dramatic exhibition of God’s power—his wife’s subsequent vision, which substantially interrupted the funeral service he conducted that Sunday afternoon in the local schoolhouse! GVEGW 67.3

For two hours ³⁰ Ellen was given a two-part message by God. As so often happened on similar occasions, there was revealed specific, practical counsel to meet immediate problems and needs of the local congregation. Then there was given a more broad message for the church at large, this time a cosmic sweep of the ages-long war “between Christ and His angels, and Satan and his angels” (as she later characterized it in a rather lengthy formal book title typical of the day). GVEGW 67.4

Locally, members with unbelieving spouses and children were urged to patience and forbearance if their lot were, ultimately, to “walk the straight path alone.” Yet they should “never indulge a harsh, unkind spirit.... Treat them tenderly. Give them no occasion to reproach the cause of Christ; but never yield the truth to please anyone. Be decided, be fixed, be established, be not of a doubtful mind. GVEGW 67.5

“But if your companions and children will not come, if you cannot win them to yield to the claims of truth, make their lives here as pleasant as possible; for all they will ever enjoy will be this poor world.” ³¹ GVEGW 67.6

With regard to the broader subject, Ellen White had been given a more limited view of this great controversy theme some 10 years earlier. What, then, was different this time? (1) Now she was given a much more greatly expanded, detailed view of the issues and events; (2) now she was told, for the first time, to write it all out; and (3) now she was bluntly warned by God that “I should have to contend with the powers of darkness, for Satan would make strong efforts to hinder me, but angels of God would not leave me in the conflict, that in God I must put my trust.” ³² GVEGW 67.7

Little did she or James realize how quickly—and in what startling manner—the attack of Satan would take place! GVEGW 68.1