A Prophet Among You

Passing On the Messages

Within a week after she had received her first vision, Ellen Harmon received another vision in which her duty was set forth. “In a second vision, which soon followed the first, I was shown the trials through which I must pass, and that it was my duty to go and relate to others what God had revealed to me.... The teaching of this vision troubled me exceedingly, for it pointed out my duty to go out among the people and present the truth.” Testimonies for the Church 1:62. For several days she prayed that the burden might be removed from her, for she questioned her ability to give the message fittingly. “But the light of duty did not change, and the words of the angel sounded continually in my ears: ‘Make known to others what I have revealed to you.’” Ibid. APAY 288.2

A little later, the word came to Ellen Harmon, “Write out the instructions I give you for the people.” She described her reaction and response in these words: “I answered, ‘I cannot write, Lord.’ Because of the accident which had nearly cost me my life, I had been feeble in health and unable to write, for my hand trembled so that I was forced after many efforts to give up the attempt to write. But one night the angel of the Lord came to my bedside and said to me, ‘You must write out the things that I give you.’ I said, ‘I cannot write.’ Again the command was given, ‘Write out the things I give you.’ I thought I would try, and taking up a lapboard from the table, I began to write, and found that I could trace the words easily. The Lord had wrought a miracle upon me.”—Ellen G. White, in The General Conference Bulletin, May 27, 1909, p. 225. APAY 288.3

In the years that followed, Ellen White bore a large number of testimonies of counsel given orally to individuals and groups. An incident during one of the “Sabbath conferences” in 1848 is typical. There were differences of opinion about the truths being studied. “The light of heaven then rested upon me, and I was soon lost to earthly things. My accompanying angel presented before me some of the errors of those present, and also the truth in contrast with their errors. These discordant views, which they claimed were in harmony with the Scriptures, were only according to their opinion of Bible teachings; and I was bidden to tell them that they should yield their errors, and unite upon the truths of the third angel’s message. APAY 289.1

“Our meeting closed triumphantly. Truth gained the victory. Our brethren renounced their errors and united upon the third angel’s message, and God greatly blessed them and added many to their numbers.” Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 111. APAY 289.2

In sermons and personal counsels, these oral testimonies continued to be given throughout Ellen White’s ministry. Some were written out and read to those concerned, others were recorded in writing after they were given in person. Of still others, no written record was made. APAY 289.3

The major work of Ellen White in the giving of testimonies was accomplished through writing them in the form of letters, and writing them for publication. Many of the testimonies contained in letters were later published. These written messages make up the more than 4,500 periodical articles from her pen, and the forty-five volumes of her writings currently available. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, she wrote some one hundred thousand manuscript pages in longhand. The duty of keeping up with the writing of large numbers of letters and other manuscripts often taxed the messenger’s strength to the utmost. In the early morning hours, and late at night, in private and in public, she persisted in her task. “Write, write, write, I feel that I must, and not delay.” Ellen G. White Letter 11, 1884. APAY 289.4

Ellen White carried a deep sense of responsibility that the letters she wrote should bear testimony to individuals in the most appealing way possible to accomplish their intended work. It was the purpose of the testimony to guide those persons addressed in the right way, to help them make wise decisions, or perhaps show them that they must repent and turn to God. Ordinarily the message was sent immediately, but sometimes she was told by the angel that the word should be set aside until she received further instructions. On other occasions the message was not sent directly to the one addressed, but was entrusted to another to be read to the one for whom it was intended. Thus there was opportunity for discussion, counsel, and prayer, that would help bring a better understanding and more ready acceptance. In explanation of her reason for following this practice, she said: APAY 290.1

“Sometimes when I receive a testimony for someone who is in danger, who is being deceived by the enemy, I am instructed that I am not to place it in his hands, but to give it to someone else to read to him, because, being deceived by the insinuations of Satan, he would read the testimony in the light of his own desires, and to him its meaning would be perverted.” Ellen G. White Manuscript 71, 1903. APAY 290.2

The work was not done mechanically. It called for every energy to be devoted to it, every sympathy to be exercised. It required the greatest of tact and the most careful planning. In 1903, Mrs. White wrote: “I have been afraid that I should not have the strength to write to you thus plainly, for to do it takes hold of every fiber of my being. It is indeed as if I were writing to my own son.... My brother, I am drawn out to write to you the words that I spoke last night when in the night visions I was talking with you.” Ellen G. White Letter 180, 1903. What was true of the letters was also true of the articles and books. Painstaking attention was given to them that they might appropriately present Bible truths and that the instruction applying Bible principles might be outlined clearly. It is apparent to the reader that these works are productions of the heart and not merely from the pen of the messenger. APAY 290.3

In speaking, as well as in writing, words of instruction, there was the ever-present guidance of the Holy Spirit. This guidance did not extend to the exact words chosen, except in rare instances. “Although I am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing my views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen are my own, unless they be those spoken to me by an angel, which I always enclose in marks of quotation.” Ellen G. White, in The Review and Herald, October 8, 1867. “When I am speaking to the people I say much that I have not premeditated. The Spirit of the Lord frequently comes upon me. I seem to be carried out of, and away from, myself; the life and character of different persons are clearly presented before my mind. I see their errors and dangers, and feel compelled to speak of what is thus brought before me.” Testimonies for the Church 5:678. APAY 291.1

This sense of sacred compulsion is emphasized further in this explanation penned in 1890. “Before I stand on my feet, I have no thought of speaking as plainly as I do. But the Spirit of God rests upon me with power, and I cannot but speak the words given me. I dare not withhold one word of the testimony.... I speak the words given me by a power higher than human power, and I cannot, if I would, recall one sentence. APAY 291.2

“In the night season the Lord gives me instruction, in symbols, and then explains their meaning. He gives me the word, and I dare not refuse to give it to the people. The love of Christ, and, I venture to add, the love of souls, constrains me, and I cannot hold my peace.” Ellen G. White Manuscript 22, 1890. APAY 291.3

The weight of responsibility for a fitting presentation of the messages was never lifted. “Now I must leave this subject so imperfectly presented, that I fear you will misinterpret that which I feel so anxious to make plain. O that God would quicken the understanding, for I am but a poor writer, and cannot with pen or voice express the great and deep mysteries of God. O pray for yourselves, pray for me.” Ellen G. White Letter 67, 1894. APAY 291.4

All the factors mentioned have combined to aid in bringing out a body of Christian literature that is practical, enlightening, sympathetic, and appealing; literature that has played a major role in strengthening Seventh-day Adventists as individual Christians, and in building up the church as a whole. APAY 292.1