Ellen G. White and the Shut Door Question

The First Vision as Published in Mrs. White’s First Book

With the coming of the opportunity to reach people of the world with the Review and Herald, Elder James White announced in the July 21, 1851 Review “Extra” that “As many are prejudiced against visions we think best at present not to insert anything of the kind in the regular paper.” And he promised: “We will therefore publish the visions by themselves for the benefit of those who believe that God can fulfill His word and give visions ‘in these last days.’” EGWSDQ 38.1

Already the type was being set for what he promised as a “small, neat pamphlet,” which when published was a 64-page book which they titled: A Sketch of the Christian Experience and views of Ellen G. White. ⁶ The “Extra” had been devoted largely to the presentation of a brief sketch of Ellen White’s experience and included her first vision, the vision of the New Earth, and the vision of April, 1847, in which she was shown the halo of light about the fourth commandment. (Early Writings, 32-35) EGWSDQ 38.2

But as noted earlier, there were some portions of the first vision which were not included in these 1851 printings. Some 32 years later, this was on the part of certain critics to be occasion of some discussion. There is no record or hint of concern over this in 1851. In fact, as Ellen White presented her early visions in the 1851 Review EXTRA and the next month in her first book, they were introduced by this clear-cut explanation: EGWSDQ 38.3

Here I will give the view that was first published in 1846. In this view I saw only a very few of the events of the future. More recent views have been more full. I shall therefore leave out a portion and prevent repetition.—Review Extra, July 21, 1851, and A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White, 9. (August, 1851). EGWSDQ 39.1

Before discussing these deletions she refers to, allow us to review the various printings of her first vision up to this time. EGWSDQ 39.2

1. The letter dated December 20, 1845, bearing the account of the vision addressed to Enoch Jacobs, editor of the Day Star and published by him in the issue of January 24, 1846. A postscript states that it “was not written for publication.” EGWSDQ 39.3

2. The Broadside, published in Portland, Maine, by James White and H. S. Gurney on April 6, 1846, and titled, “To the Little Remnant Scattered Abroad.” EGWSDQ 39.4

3. The James White printing in his 24 page pamphlet “A Word to the Little Flock” published in Brunswick, Maine, May 30, 1847, with Scripture references he added. Pages 14-16. EGWSDQ 39.5

Except for very minor editorial changes the three printings of the vision are identical. As “A Word to the Little Flock” is currently available in a facsimile reprint, our reference will be to this source. (See Exhibit 1.) EGWSDQ 39.6

Then in 1851 it was embodied in Mrs. White’s first book and from there it went into Early Writings in 1882. It was following this reprinting that questions were raised and charges of suppression brought by A. C. Long of the Seventh-day Church of God, a group which in the 1860s withdrew from Seventh-day Adventists because of church organization and the Spirit of Prophecy. It was these charges that Ellen White herself met in the statement filed as Ms 4, 1883, now found in Selected Messages 1:59-73, several times quoted from in this statement. EGWSDQ 39.7