A Prophet Among You

A Steadying Hand—1887-91

The four years following her return from Europe were for Ellen White years involving much travel and labor in the conferences and individual churches. After her absence from the United States she received many requests for her services at meetings. In addition to her field work, a good deal of writing was done during this period. The enlarged edition of The Great Controversy appeared in 1888, and Testimonies, volume 5, in 1889, followed by Patriarchs and Prophets in 1890. Although Steps to Christ did not come from the press until 1892, work on the manuscript was completed in the summer of the previous year. APAY 239.1

Among the outstanding events of this period was the General Conference session at Minneapolis, beginning October 17, 1888. At this session a crisis was reached in the spiritual development of the denomination. The problem centered in the right understanding and proper emphasis of the doctrine of righteousness by faith. Although it appeared that the controversy circled about a few men and their theological views, actually it was a matter of basic understanding of the Bible. Attention needed to be focused on Jesus, “His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family.” Testimonies to Ministers, page 92. In many of the logical, closely reasoned Biblical presentations, much of the love and warmth and appeal of the righteousness of Christ had been lacking. For nearly two years before the Minneapolis meeting Mrs. White had called for a revival and a change of emphasis in preaching. Her messages before, during, and after the session, form a sound basis for understanding, living, and teaching the message of righteousness by faith. Despite the changing opinions and faulty positions of men, the denomination has not been left without a clear-cut picture of what its beliefs and practices should be. APAY 239.2

Two chapters in Steps to Christ express the heart of Ellen White’s views on righteousness by faith. They are the chapters entitled “Faith and Acceptance” and “The Test of Discipleship.” The contrast between an outward rightness and an inward righteousness is simply depicted in the latter chapter. APAY 240.1

“It is true that there may be an outward correctness of deportment without the renewing power of Christ. The love of influence and the desire for the esteem of others may produce a well-ordered life. Self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil. A selfish heart may perform generous actions. By what means, then, shall we determine whose side we are on? APAY 240.2

“Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ’s, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. All that we have and are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things.” Steps to Christ, 62. APAY 240.3

In the months following the Minneapolis session, Ellen White held meetings with the churches in the vicinity of Battle Creek, in New England, and in California. Everywhere she appealed to her listeners to accept Christ as a personal Saviour, and not to present one’s own righteousness to God. Almost weekly, sermons of this character, preached in the churches by Ellen White, were published in the Review and Herald. The confusion that had existed at Minneapolis called for firm, straightforward preaching on the part of the one whose views on righteousness by faith had, as had Paul’s, received the confirmation of revelation as well as of diligent Bible study. Mrs. White’s visits, sermons, and articles helped to stabilize the believers during a time of unrest. APAY 240.4

In July, 1890, Ellen White went to Petoskey, Michigan, near the northern tip of the Michigan peninsula to rest from her public labors and do some writing. In a letter to her son she recounted: “I have been feeling much better in health since coming here. I receive treatment every day. I have not ventured on any excursion or to attend any meetings lest I should get a backset. I let all the rest go while I remain alone half a day. Yesterday was alone all day from eight o’clock a.m. until six p.m. I am not at all lonely. I love to be quiet and write and think and pray. I want so much to obtain strength that I can labor.” Ellen G. White Uncopied Letter 32, 1890. APAY 241.1

In August she wrote, “I feel sometimes as though it was a terrible neglect of duty to be here while camp meetings are being held. But I again consider it is the first rest I have had in my life. I speak, however, twice each week, write from twelve to twenty-five pages nearly every day. Then, when my head gets tired, I go out in the berry patch. Marian and I scour round and get berries enough for table use.” Ellen G. White Uncopied Letter 37, 1890. Few preachers would consider two sermons a week and twelve to twenty-five pages of writing a day much of a vacation and rest, but this was a real change from Ellen White’s regular program of traveling, speaking, and writing. September found her back in Battle Creek, and most of the remaining months of the year were spent on a speaking tour through New England and the Eastern states. For the most part, this had been a period of intensive field work and voluminous writing for the messenger of God. She helped the churches become firmly grounded, guided them through a time of crisis, and helped them prepare for the future. APAY 241.2