A Prophet Among You

“Testimonies for the Church”

Side by side with the Conflict of the Ages Series stands the second major series of books, Testimonies for the Church. Different in nature from the largely historical and biographical “Conflict” books, the Testimonies are made up of letters, articles, records of visions, sermons, and addresses containing simple, straightforward instruction concerning the everyday affairs of life. While they outline broad principles that all can apply, they also bring the principles down to specific applications. Mrs. White sets forth the purpose of the volumes succinctly in Testimonies for the Church 2:608. There she quotes the words spoken to her in a prophetic dream. “One stood by my side,” she said, and spoke, among other things, these words: “Your success is in your simplicity. As soon as you depart from this, and fashion your testimony to meet the minds of any, your power is gone. Almost everything in this age is glossed and unreal. The world abounds in testimonies given to please and charm for a moment, and to exalt self. Your testimony is of a different character. It is to come down to the minutiae of life, keeping the feeble faith from dying, and pressing home upon believers the necessity of shining as lights in the world.” APAY 314.5

Near the end of April, 1855, a conference of advent believers convened at Battle Creek, Michigan. As one item in his report of the meetings, James White wrote in the The Review and Herald, May 15, 1855: “The brethren in Battle Creek and vicinity are generally awake to the wants of the cause, and are anxious to establish the Review Office in that place. They are able and willing to do so, and manifest much anxiety to relieve us of those cares and responsibilities which we have too long borne. The climate, water, prices of rent, fuel, provisions, &c., seem favorable to the location.” APAY 315.1

Since April, 1852, the Review office had been located at Rochester, New York. For several years interests of the cause had developed slowly and painfully. Commenting on their situation, Ellen White said: “In 1855 the brethren in Michigan opened the way for the publishing work to be removed to Battle Creek. At that time my husband was owing between two and three thousand dollars; and all he had, besides a small lot of books, was accounts for books, and some of these were doubtful.... Orders for publications were very few and small. My husband’s health was very poor. He was troubled with cough and soreness of lungs, and his nervous system was prostrated.” Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 157. APAY 315.2

There were men at Battle Creek who were eager to promote the advent cause, and at the same time to relieve the Whites of the pressure of the full responsibility for the publishing work. Daniel R. Palmer, Cyrenius Smith, J. P. Kellogg, and Henry Lyon each agreed to furnish $300 without interest to purchase a lot and erect a publishing office. On the lot a 20 × 30 foot two-story wooden building was built. At about the same time the first Seventh-day Adventist meetinghouse was erected not far away. It was only 18 × 24 feet, but it marked a beginning. Circumstances improved decidedly soon after the removal to Battle Creek. The friendly earnestness of the believers caused the future to appear brighter. APAY 316.1

“From the time we moved to Battle Creek, the Lord began to turn our captivity. We found sympathizing friends in Michigan, who were ready to share our burdens and supply our wants. Old, tried friends in central New York and New England, especially in Vermont, sympathized with us in our afflictions, and were ready to assist us in time of distress. At the conference at Battle Creek in November, 1856, God wrought for us. New life was given to the cause, and success attended the labors of our preachers.” Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 159. APAY 316.2

The last issue of the Review and Herald to be printed at Rochester was dated October 30, 1855. None came out in November. Battle Creek, Michigan, December 4, 1855, was the date line for the next issue. In the meantime an important conference had been held. James White reported on the conference in the first Review sent out from the new publishing house in Battle Creek. APAY 316.3

“Held at the ‘House of Prayer,’ at Battle Creek, Nov. 16th-19th, was a Meeting of importance, and deep interest. Brn. Hart of Vt., Bates of Mass., Belden of Conn., and Waggoner, lately from Wis., and a goodly number from different parts of this State, were present. Nov. 16th was spent in transacting business expressed in the call for the Conference. Sabbath, 17th, in a most thorough examination and discussion of the time to commence the Sabbath; 18th, three discourses were given by Brn. Waggoner and Bates; 19th, in prayer, and remarks, and confessions relative to the evident departure of the remnant from the spirit of the message, and the humble, straightforward course taken by those who first embraced it. Strong desires were expressed, and fervent prayers were offered to Heaven, for the return of the Spirit of consecration, sacrifice, and holiness once enjoyed by the remnant. Our long-suffering, and tender Father in heaven smiled upon His waiting children, and manifested His power to their joy. The brethren separated greatly refreshed and encouraged.” The Review and Herald, December 4, 1855. APAY 316.4

During the four-year period, 1851-55, there had appeared in the Review only four articles of general exhortation from Mrs. White’s pen. No reference had been made to the visions. This was one of the items to be considered at the Battle Creek conference, for it was obvious to some that the progress of the work had suffered since little attention was being given to revelations from God. As a result of the conference a decided change was made in attitudes toward the visions and their publication in the paper. APAY 317.1

“At our late Conference at Battle Creek, in Nov. God wrought for us. The minds of the servants of God were exercised as to the gifts of the Church, and if God’s frown had been brought upon His people because the gifts had been slighted and neglected, there was a pleasing prospect that His smiles would again be upon us, and He would graciously and mercifully revive the gifts again, and they would live in the Church, to encourage the desponding and fainting soul, and to correct and reprove the erring.” Ellen G. White, in The Review and Herald, January 10, 1856. APAY 317.2