The Great Visions of Ellen G. White

Chapter 1—The First Vision “The Path” December 1844

At Christ’s first miracle, when He turned water into unfermented wine ¹ at Cana, the governor of the wedding feast declared that his host had kept the best for the last (John 2:10). Just so, in the year 1844, Jesus again seems to have saved His “best”—a renewed bestowal of the Holy Spirit’s gift of prophetic utterance—for the last month of that year. GVEGW 15.1

Just as a jewel is most brilliant in its proper setting, so this climactic act of Providence, to be most fully appreciated, must be viewed in the greater light of its immediate historical context. GVEGW 15.2

What a pivotal year was 1844! GVEGW 15.3

The eleventh president of the United States was to be chosen on Election Day in late autumn. Earlier in the year, the political campaign between Democrat James K. Polk and Whig Henry Clay was already hot when it was joined by a third contender, Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and also of the Mormon colony in Nauvoo, Illinois. GVEGW 15.4

Smith’s candidacy was short-lived, however. The thought of a polygamist in the White House scandalized many, even on the frontier. A newspaper editor who strongly dissented in print suffered vengeance by fire from the Sons of Dan, vigilante night riders. Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were arrested, then tragically assassinated, defenseless in their jail cell at Carthage, Illinois, on June 27. ² But there was more to come. GVEGW 15.5

The summer of 1844 saw religious excitement vie with political for the attention of the masses. For this was the year that Jesus was supposed to return to earth from heaven, according to the preaching over the past 13 years by farmer-turned-Baptist evangelist, William Miller. Miller, it must be pointed out, never prescribed a precise date; but that deficiency was conveniently supplied at an Exeter, New Hampshire, camp meeting (which began August 11), by one Samuel Sheffield Snow. GVEGW 15.6

Snow breathlessly rode into camp and electrified the congregation (and, subsequently, the eastern United States) by announcing his calculation that this history-shattering event would take place on October 22 of that very year, a scant three months later! ³ GVEGW 16.1

Thus Snow unwittingly set the Millerites up for the “Great Disappointment,” which began at 12:01 a.m. on October 23, after Jesus failed to appear as scheduled. Two weeks later, on November 5, Henry Clay endured his own personal “great disappointment” when he went down to defeat at the hands of American voters in his fourth (of five) unsuccessful attempts to win the U.S. presidency. GVEGW 16.2

Finally, in the final month of that year, God acted! GVEGW 16.3

The exact day in December is lost to history, as is also the exact street address in Portland, Maine, where Elizabeth Haines resided. ⁴ But what happened in her home would never be forgotten by any of the five women who gathered for family devotions to pray for guidance and a divine explanation of the meaning of their disappointment. GVEGW 16.4

According to an eyewitness, several had already prayed when a young woman who had just celebrated her seventeenth birthday (on November 26) began to address the Lord in a hoarse whisper. Although it was not an exciting occasion, yet suddenly, in a movement surely as dramatic as was Pentecost itself, the Holy Spirit came into that dwelling and took physical possession of the petitioner. And Joel 2:28-32 found another fulfillment when this modern “handmaid” lost consciousness of her immediate surroundings, “the power of God came upon me,” and “I was wrapped in a vision of God’s glory.” ⁵ GVEGW 16.5

Thus Ellen Harmon, later to become Mrs. James White (on August 30, 1846), was inaugurated as God’s newest prophet to His people. GVEGW 16.6