The Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts

Chapter 8 — Messenger and Master Builder

BOTH THE SCRIPTURES AND church history show many instances of two persons joining hands in strong teamwork for God. There were the apostles John and Peter and the Reformers Luther and Melanchthon. There was Paul who planted and Apollos who watered. In the early days of the advent movement we find several such couples, the most unique and successful being Elder and Mrs. White. FSG 97.1

In 1906 out in western Illinois one of our reliable preachers came into a territory along the Mississippi River where there were no Adventists at all. Some of the older settlers who were favorable to the message said, “Many years ago a man and his wife drove through here on their way from Michigan to Missouri. The river was high, and they lingered here nearly two weeks. It was Bishop White and his gifted wife, who is supposed to have visions. They had several meetings, and we were glad to entertain them. The bishop was a mighty preacher who knew his Bible, a real ruler of his church. His little wife was kind and reserved, but really a more moving speaker than the bishop. The country was new and there was much drinking, but people just flocked to hear her. We have never known a person who told such touching things about Jesus and heaven, and when she called sinners forward, scores and scores of youth and the unconverted came up to the altar.” I checked up on the story at the time and found it to be genuine. FSG 97.2

Mrs. White was the revivalist, and Elder White was the organizer. As man and wife they were a unique and strong gospel team. Their method and division of the work were perfect. Adventists have never had their equal. The reader may be interested to know what Elder White himself thought of Mrs. White as wife and fellow worker, and these are his words: FSG 98.1

“Marriage marks an important era in the lives of men. ‘Whoso finds a wife finds a good thin& and obtains favor of the Lord,’ is the language of wisdom. Proverbs 18:22. This expression taken alone may be understood to convey the idea that all wives are from the Lord. But Solomon qualifies the expression by other statements. ‘A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband; but she that makes ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.’ Proverbs 12:4. FSG 98.2

“We were married August 30, 1846, and from that hour to the present she has been my crown of rejoicing. I first met her in the city of Portland, in the State of Maine. She was then a Christian of the most devoted type. And although but sixteen, she was a laborer in the cause of Christ in public and from house to house. She was a decided Adventist, and yet her experience was so rich and her testimony so powerful that ministers and leading men of different churches sought her labors as an exhorter in their several congregations. But at that time she was very timid, and little thought that she was to be brought before the public to speak to thousands. FSG 98.3

“We both viewed the coming of Christ near, even at the doors, and when we first met had no idea of marriage at any future time. But God had a great work for both of us to do and He saw that we could greatly assist each other in that work. As she should come before the public she needed a lawful protector, and God having chosen her as a channel of light and truth to the people in a special sense, she could be of great help to me....It had been in the good providence of God that both of us had enjoyed a deep experience in the Advent movement.... This experience was now needed as we should join our forces and, united, labor extensively from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific, to build up churches and establish that discipline which the New Testament recognizes, and establish those institutions which should be of great service to the cause of truth.”—Life Sketches of James White and Ellen G. White (1880), 125-127. FSG 98.4

Elder White was a strong, outspoken, enthusiastic, and doctrinal preacher and an effective singer. The old-time Adventists always loved to tell of his stirring songs. He was also keen in business, and money seemed to come his way. His business friends in Battle Creek used to say that he ought to have been a banker.. But all his business deals had but one purpose—to gather funds for the strengthening of the advent movement. Elder White was a great friend of the poor and needy, of whom there were many in those pioneer days. Whenever he found people in need he helped them from his own resources and endeavored to interest others in doing the same. That he unselfishly devoted all his time and talents to the advent cause was admitted everywhere. For some years after the organization of the General Conference in 1863 he was in poor health, but in spite of that he continued to work. Elder White was a stanch defender of organization, and his efforts for gospel order were perhaps the greatest service he rendered to the advent movement. FSG 99.1

Mrs. White, on the other hand, shrank from leadership, but had a great burden for evangelism. In our churches from Maine to California they labored untiringly to rescue the backslidden and to save the youth. Usually Elder White first preached a doctrinal sermon, and then Mrs. White gave a soul-stirring exhortation and spiritual appeal. Everywhere they went they encouraged the people and gathered the scattered believers and called back those who had fallen away. Those were days of small things, and it needed that kind of labor to strengthen and preserve the advent cause. FSG 99.2

The Seventh-day Adventist Church was not founded by some outstanding Reformer like Luther or Wesley. It was a child of the mighty advent movement of 1834-1844, often called Millerism, but it was begun in poverty and distress. Because of blind prejudice few public meetings could be held—no one would attend. Those who did, exposed themselves to endless scoffing and opposition. Press, pulpit, church, and business combined against the advent idea and hope. FSG 100.1

The labors of Elder and Mrs. White to revive and strengthen the churches were of unusual value in those pioneer days. Our church today is to a larger degree than most of us realize the fruitage of those earnest efforts. Without them the Seventh-day Adventist Church would have raveled out as did other small advent groups. FSG 100.2

The labors and experiences of those two noble servants of God have often been told in our denominational literature. For an example of what they suffered and accomplished we refer the reader to Testimonies for the Church 1:653-663. There is a shorter, yet in some ways a fuller, account of the same sort of experiences in that old book called Spiritual Gifts, volume 2, now reprinted and on sale. These books, especially the reprints of older editions, should be carefully read and reread. Though they tell almost exclusively of the work of Mrs. White, we should today remember also the character and large pioneer building work of her husband, one of the strongest leaders this church ever had. Though he laid down his work early, we may learn much from the things said about him by those who had labored closely with him for many years, right from the beginnings of the movement. FSG 100.3

The unexpected death of Elder White, August 6, 1881, was more than a shock to our people everywhere—it was like a crushing sorrow. Though but a child I remember as if it were yesterday the Sabbath when his decease was made known. Before the meeting the older men, all of whom knew him, stood about in groups and talked in an undertone, while the sisters, with tear-filled eyes, looked on. Instead of beginning the church services with the Sabbath school, the people at our church first had a meeting to tell about his death and to pray for his family. The ordained minister present—a friend of Elder White—was so moved that he could hardly read what the notice in the Review of August 9 said about his illness and death. FSG 100.4

The funeral of Elder White was held on Sabbath, August 13. His son, W. C. White, and wife had arrived from California. A brother, John White, for many years a presiding elder in the Methodist Church, with his son-in-law, came from Ohio. The other son, J. E. White, and his family, as well as Mrs. E. G. White and other relatives, lived in Battle Creek. We read that it was “the largest funeral ever held in this city.” The old “dime Tabernacle” which seated over 3,200 was filled. A large portrait of Elder White was suspended from the arch over the pulpit. The employees of the Review office, of whom there were more than one hundred, wore appropriate badges of mourning. Eighty-eight of these joined in a foot procession accompanying to the grave the ninety-five carriages that constituted the funeral train. (The Review and Herald, August 16, 1881, page 120.) FSG 101.1

The death of Elder White was given prominent notice in the press. The leading Detroit paper reported: “Detroit, Aug. 8.—Eld. James White, the founder of the sect of Seventh-day Adventists and President of their Publishing Association and of the College at Battle Creek in this state, died at that place, of malarial fever, on Saturday, at the age of sixty years. He was a direct descendant of Peregrine White, the first White child born among the Pilgrim Fathers.” The Battle Creek Journal, edited and published by a former member of Congress, gave editorially a sketch of his life from which we quote: FSG 101.2

“He [Elder White] was a man of the patriarchal pattern, and his character was cast in the heroic mold. If the logical clearness to formulate a creed; if the power to infect others with one’s own zeal, and impress them with one’s own convictions; if the executive ability to establish a sect and to give it form and stability; if the genius to shape and direct the destiny of great communities, be a mark of true greatness, Elder White is certainly entitled to the appellation, for he possessed not one of these qualities only, but all of them in a marked degree.”—A Memorial of Elder James White, page 10. FSG 102.1

“For the last twenty-six years of his life, his home has been in this city. His duties have often called him elsewhere, but Battle Creek has with pride and satisfaction claimed him as a citizen, and has long since learned to reckon him among the foremost men of the community. To him the city owes no small share of its population, as well as its reputation for enterprise and business prosperity. His death is universally regarded as the departure of a real leader from our midst, one born to organize and to command, and to leave an impress upon the age in which he lived.”—Ibid., pages 16, 17. FSG 102.2

Uriah Smith, editor of the Review and an old-time associate, preached the funeral sermon, paying high tribute to the deceased as follows: FSG 102.3

“In 1872 Elder White first visited California, and assisted in the establishment of a State Conference. He again visited that State in the latter part of 1873, remaining until August, 1874. At this time he established the office of publication in Oakland, Cal., which is doing a large business on the Pacific Coast. The Signs of the Times there published, equal in size to the Review, has a wide circulation in all parts of this country, and a large list is sent to foreign countries. FSG 102.4

“He has also taken a deep interest in the work in Europe, raising $ 10,000 for the establishment of the press in Switzerland, and a large sum for the work among the Scandinavians. He has traveled constantly and extensively, and his voice has been heard in all our Conferences from the Atlantic to the Pacific. He has taken a deep interest in the welfare of his brethren in all the different States, and thousands will feel his loss as that of a personal friend. FSG 102.5

“It is proper that we say a few words respecting the character of this great and true man who has fallen. He possessed many prominent and strongly defined traits of character, such as would be necessary, and such as one would naturally expect to find, in a man capable of organizing and leading forward to its present degree of success such a movement as that in which he has been engaged. FSG 103.1

“We first notice that in times of confusion and excitement he was always calm and cool. A brief chapter of his experience will illustrate this: The time immediately following the disappointment of 1844 was a trying time to all who had been engaged in that movement. Almost every one seemed to lose his bearings. A multitude of conflicting theories was at once advanced in explanation of the situation. It was a time for one not well balanced to become confused. But he calmly looked about him for some sure anchorage ground. This he soon found in the fact that the preceding movement had too much of goodness and greatness about it, too much of the evident operation of the Spirit of God, to be renounced as altogether an erroneous movement.... FSG 103.2

“He was a man never given to fanaticism. That there were on the part of some, excesses at the time referred to, is not to be denied. But he always opposed. While he did not believe in the form without the power, still less did he believe in the power without the form. This leads to the dethronement of reason, and to everything extravagant and wild. In all his revival work, which has been extensive, he never labored to produce excitement, but to convince the judgment, enlist the reason, and thus secure an intelligent movement, from principle, instead of a thoughtless step from mere impulse. This has made his influence lasting and his work permanent.... FSG 103.3

“He was endued with remarkable acuteness of perception to determine the most judicious moves to be made. As an illustration on this point, the circumstance of the removal of the office from Rochester may be mentioned. At this time but little had been done in our work west of New York and Pennsylvania. The brethren in Vermont, where the greatest success had been achieved, wished the office removed to that State, and the general feeling was in favor of such removal. But Elder White reasoned differently. He looked over the whole field, and took in, to some extent, the future of this cause. He reasoned that a large work was to be accomplished in these broad Western States, and judged that the office should be as near as possible to the center of the field of operation. He examined the ground for himself, and finding in Battle Creek a few brethren ready to take hold of the work, and judging this community to be one characterized by sobriety, thrift and moral worth—an estimate in which we have not been disappointed—the office was located here, with the results already stated.... FSG 103.4

“He was a man who would never yield to discouragements. The word ‘fail’ was not in his vocabulary. Allow me to say that for twenty eight years I have been intimately associated with him in this work. With the exception of a few brief periods, there has been no important act of my life that has not been influenced, either by his personal presence, his counsel, or some thought of him as connected with the work. And in reference to many of his own plans, he has opened to me all his mind. Yet I never once knew him to harbor the idea of giving up, or suffering to fail, any enterprise he had undertaken. There have been, to be sure, many plans suggested, and it may be for a time entertained, but which, through prudence and caution, have never been adopted. But when once the weight of evidence was sufficient to cause an enterprise to be undertaken, then no obstacles, present or prospective, were allowed to defeat the purpose; it must be accomplished.... FSG 104.1

“He was a man who would look forward to the future wants of his work, and make provision for them. He foresaw that certain elements of stability must he wrought into the work, which could be secured only through organization. When he removed to this place, everything was in his hands as an individual. He was the only legal representative of the property which was accumulating. His health was poor, and he often remarked that, if he should be taken away, everything would be left in confusion; and he anticipated, moreover, that the work would grow to such an extent as to finally involve great financial responsibilities. He therefore pleaded for the formation of a legally incorporated association, by which the business should be conducted, which result was finally secured. FSG 104.2

“Much the same reasons he urged in behalf of the organization of churches, State Conferences, and, finally, a General Conference, the executive committee of which should be the highest board of appeal, and thus the whole work be unified. FSG 104.3

“The plan of raising means to compensate the ministry is owing to the same sagacity on his part. When each one depended for his support on what personal and private donations he might secure, the distribution was almost sure to be unequal. But when every account passes under the inspection of an auditing committee, and payment is rendered according to labor performed, there is, at least, not so much opportunity for favoritism and partiality. To the foresight, sagacity, and good judgment thus manifested, much of the progress and prosperity of this work is due.”—Ibid., pages 28-33. FSG 104.4

“As left by him, his work bears the marks of a wise builder. The elements of stability and permanence are wrought into all the structure. By the wise foresight already mentioned, of introducing order, securing careful arrangements and thorough organization, his efforts will not be lost. God buries the workman, but still carries on the work. His influence will still be felt, the impress of his shaping hand will still be seen, and all the future workings of this cause will revive and keep alive his memory. His love for the work, especially the publishing department, continued to the last. But a few days before his final illness, holding up his right hand, he exclaimed, ‘Let my right hand forget its cunning if I forget the interests of this work.’ His spirit has seemed of late to be fitting up for the great transition. FSG 105.1

“Many of us have marked the themes upon which he has delighted to dwell: the wonders of redemption; the position and work of Christ as one with the Father in the creation, and in all the dispensations pertaining to the plan of salvation; and, finally, the glories of the coming restitution, the realities of which he will soon enjoy. And as he now lays off the armor and goes down to rest, while his voice will no more be heard in words of encouragement and counsel, and while he will no more go in and out among us, we can but pray that his mantle may fall upon those who are to come after him; that a multitude may catch his spirit of love for the work, and emulate his zeal to do faithfully the Master’s will.”—Ibid., pages 35, 36. FSG 105.2

“At the conclusion of the discourse, unexpectedly to all, Sister White arose, and occupied some ten minutes with well-chosen and impressive remarks. Though so feeble that she had to be borne into the Tabernacle, she was enabled to speak in a clear, strong voice, concerning the peculiar value of the Christian’s hope on such occasions as this.... FSG 105.3

“Brother Joseph Haughey took notes of her remarks, and we are therefore enabled to present them herewith. FSG 105.4

“Mrs. White’s Address FSG 105.5

“I want to say a few words to those present on this occasion. My dear Savior has been my strength and support in this time of need. When taken from my sick-bed to be with my husband in his dying moments, at first the suddenness of the stroke seemed too heavy to bear, and I cried to God to spare him to me—not to take him away, and leave me to labor alone. Two weeks ago we stood side by side in this desk; but when I shall stand before you again, he will be missing. He will not be present to help me then. I shall be alone, and yet not alone, for my Savior will be with me. When my husband was breathing out his life so quietly, without a groan, without a struggle, I felt that it would be selfishness in me to wish to throw my arms of affection around him and detain him here. He was like a tired warrior lying down to rest. My heart can feel to its very depths, and yet I can tell you I have no tears to shed for the dead. My tears are for the living. And I lay away my beloved treasure to rest, to rest until the morning of the resurrection, when the Life giver shall call the captives from the prison-house to a glorious immortality. FSG 105.6

“And now I take up my life-work alone. I thank my Savior I have two sons He has given me to stand by my side. Henceforth the mother must lean upon the children; for the strong, brave, noble hearted husband is at rest. The turmoil with him is over. How long I shall fight the battles of life alone I cannot say; but there is one thing that I will say to you, and that is, that when I saw my husband breathe his last, I felt Jesus was more precious to me then than He ever had been in any previous hour of my life. When I stood by my firstborn, and dosed his eyes in death, I could say, ‘The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ And I felt then that I had a Comforter in Jesus Christ. And when my little one was torn from my arms, and I could no longer see its little head upon the pillow by my side, then I could say, ‘The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ And now he upon whose large affections I have leaned, with whom I have labored, and we have been united in labor for thirty-six years—is taken away; but I can lay my hands upon his eyes and say, I commit my treasure to Thee until the morning of the resurrection. FSG 106.1

“When I saw him passing away, and saw the many friends sympathizing with me, I thought, What a contrast to the death of Jesus as He hung upon the cross! What a contrast! In the hour of His agony, the revilers were mocking and deriding Him. But He died, and He passed through the tomb to brighten it, and to lighten it, that we might have joy and hope even in the event of death; that we might say as we lay our friends away to rest in Jesus, We shall meet them again.”—Ibid., pages 40-42. FSG 106.2

A short time after the death of Elder White his bereaved companion wrote a brief “Sketch of Experience” from which we take a few paragraphs: FSG 107.1

“About two weeks before his death, my husband often asked me to accompany him to the grove, near our house, to engage with him in prayer. These were precious seasons. Upon one of these occasions he said, ‘I feel my heart unusually drawn out in earnest longing for more of the Spirit of God. I have not prayed as often as I should. When we neglect prayer, we come to feel a sufficiency in ourselves, as though we could do great things. But the nearer we come to God, the more we feel our own weakness, and our need of help from above. In God is my strength; in Him I shall triumph.’ FSG 107.2

“At another time, while walking to the usual place for prayer, he stopped abruptly; his face was very pale, and he said, ‘A deep solemnity is upon my spirit. I am not discouraged, but I feel that some change is about to take place in affairs that concern myself and you. What if you should not live? Oh, this cannot be! God has a work for you to do. But I hope you will give yourself time to rest, that you may recover from this enfeebled condition. It continues so long that I feel much anxiety as to the result. I feel a sense of danger, and with it comes an unutterable longing for the special blessing of God, an assurance that all my sins are washed away by the blood of Christ. I confess my errors, and ask your forgiveness for any word or act that has caused you sorrow. There must be nothing to hinder our prayers. Everything must be right between us, and between ourselves and God.’ FSG 107.3

“We there in humility of soul confessed to each other our errors, and then made earnest supplication for the mercy and blessing of God. My husband remained bowed some minutes after our prayers had ceased. When he arose, his countenance was cheerful and happy. He praised the Lord, saying he felt the assurance of the love of Christ. ‘How quickly,’ said he, ‘our self-sufficiency disappears when we obtain a view of Jesus on the cross. I am ashamed that I ever thought I had a hard time; that I ever complained of my trials. One look at the cross makes me feel that I have endured nothing for Jesus and His truth. This experience shall never be forgotten by me. When misunderstood and misrepresented, I have permitted a combative spirit to be aroused in me, and have sought to vindicate my course. I now see my mistake in this. I will never again call attention to myself. If I walk in humility I shall have a friend who will never leave nor forsake me. I will leave my work and all my interests in the hands of Jesus, and let Him vindicate my cause.’ FSG 107.4

“He then uttered a few words of earnest prayer: ‘Thou, O God, hast a work to be done in the earth; a work so great that we in our weakness tremble as we contemplate its magnitude. But if thou wilt give us strength, we will take up the work committed to our hands, and carry it forward. We will seek to put self out of sight, and to magnify the power of grace in every word and act of life. A solemn trust is ours. What will be our record in the day of God? I will praise Thee, O Lord, for I am wholly Yours, and Thou art mine.’ FSG 108.1

“‘From this time,’ he continued, ‘I will be free in God. I have allowed business to hurry and burden me, so that I have had little time to pray. Here I have erred. The Lord does not desire us to be in so great a hurry. He can use us to better effect if we take time to pray, to study the Bible, and to praise His name. The Lord has a work for us to do. I must be fitted for it, and I feel that I have not a moment to lose. I will not yield to doubt or discouragement. The Lord blesses me, even me.’... FSG 108.2

“Ours has been a life of active service. Traveling east and west, in the cold of winter and the heat of summer, never allowing ourselves to be controlled by circumstances, undaunted by poverty, undismayed by opposition, we have pressed on in the path of duty. Life has been a constant scene of exertion; and now to learn to lay off the heavier burdens seems as difficult as to part with my life. The necessity for great effort inspires me with corresponding zeal, energy, and perseverance. Opposition has strengthened in me the power of resistance. I have thrown all the energies of body, and mind, and soul into every undertaking, resolved that success should crown my efforts. This iron determination has molded my character, and now I have that hardest lesson to learn, “Be still, and know that I am God.” I must learn to wait, learn to be quiet, and let others lead in the battles for right. FSG 108.3

“‘When I look over our life of travel and warfare for the past thirty-five years, and see how wonderfully we have been preserved from accident and harm, it awes and humbles me, under a sense of my obligations to God. We have been on the cars when fatal accidents have occurred, and the Lord’s mercy has preserved us, so that life and limb have been uninjured. This appears to me in a new light. A prominent man, in conversing with me of our extensive travels, with no serious accident, once remarked, “Elder White, yours seems to be a charmed life.” I answered, “The God whom I serve has given His angels charge over me, and until my work is done, He will preserve me.’” FSG 108.4

“After relating this incident, my husband continued, ‘I can but wonder at the mercy and goodness of God. I must come nearer to Him. I must walk in greater humility before Him. I will take no credit to myself for the success that has crowned my efforts in the up building of the cause of truth. I know that I have not labored in vain; but it is the power of God that has wrought with me to save sinners. It is His blessing that has opened hearts to receive the truth. God alone shall be glorified; for He has made His work a marvelous success.’”—Ibid., pages 46-50. FSG 109.1

These views of Elder White give us a helpful glimpse of the prayer life of this devoted servant of Jesus. FSG 109.2

No leader among us has ever been so generally and deeply missed when he died as was Elder White. In almost every number of the Review for months someone wrote about the loss that had come to the church and to him personally. The old pioneer of Northern Europe, J. G. Matteson, wrote a touching tribute to the memory of Elder White, as did J. N. Andrews in Switzerland. In Illinois, Ohio, and other conferences that autumn, resolutions of sympathy were adopted for Mrs. White and the family. FSG 109.3

George I. Butler, at that time and for many years afterward the president of the General Conference, wrote in the Review: FSG 109.4

“For about thirty years I have known Elder White, and for ten years I have been acquainted with him intimately. He was a man of remarkable mind. In some respects I never saw his equal. As an organizer, and in laying the foundation of an enterprise, his mind was far-reaching and he could see the bearing and connection of things with surprising clearness....May God help us to imitate his earnestness, emulate his virtues, and share in the rest for which he labored.”—The Review and Herald, August 16, 1881, pages 120, 121. FSG 109.5

Later in the year at the next session of the General Conference, these resolutions of gratitude, confidence, and sympathy by the entire Adventist Church were adopted: FSG 110.1

“Whereas, In the providence of God, Elder James White has during the past Conference year, been removed by death from the labors and responsibilities which have devolved upon him for so many years; therefore FSG 110.2

“Resolved, That while we feel that words are inadequate to express the sense of loss which we feel at his death; and while we are deeply conscious that there is no one among us who can fill as he did the position of counselor and laborer in the work of the third angel’s message, we will nevertheless earnestly pray that the same God who helped him to devise and execute the plans which have contributed so much to the prosperity of the cause of present truth, may permit the mantle of his faithfulness and power to fall upon others, whose devotion to the cause of God shall be characterized by the same spirit of self-sacrifice and be crowned with the same marked success as that which distinguished his life and labors. FSG 110.3

“Resolved, That we hereby express to our afflicted sister, Ellen G. White, and the other members of her family, our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this great bereavement which has fallen upon them; and that we assure them of our earnest prayers that our Heavenly Father will graciously sustain them under the deep affliction and great loss which they have experienced. FSG 110.4

“This and the preceding resolution were adopted, not by the Conference only, but by a rising vote unanimously given by the whole congregation. FSG 110.5

“Resolved, That we renew the expressions of our confidence in the spirit of prophecy, which has acted so prominent a part thus far in directing the efforts of our people in giving the last message of mercy to the world; and that we will earnestly pray that God in his infinite mercy may remember the humble instrument he has employed in connection with the same, and impart to her in her present enfeebled condition the strength necessary to enable her to visit the different parts of the field, and actively participate in such general gatherings as may be held from time to time. Adopted.”—The Review and Herald, December 13, 1881, page 376. FSG 110.6

Great as was the leadership services of Elder White to the advent cause, his greatest service was his abiding faith in and defense of the Spirit of prophecy. That he—a strong businessman of broad good sense and balanced judgment, absolutely free from fanaticism, always against counterfeit manifestation of religion, and knowing the messenger intimately as his wife—should always stand so staunchly for her calling and work as a messenger from God, gave our members great confidence in her testimonies. Then after his death another thing came that established this confidence yet more. While Elder White lived some would say that he had written her messages or influenced her personal testimonies. I well remember how they said, “Now we will see what happens.” But after being left a widow, she wrote more than ever, and gave counsel with the same assurance as before. In fact, by far the largest work of Mrs. White was done after Elder White’s death. She traveled more, lectured more, wrote far more, than before. FSG 111.1

Although Elder White stood as the founder and outstanding leader of the Adventist Church for over thirty years, he is really best known as the husband of Mrs. E. G. White, God’s messenger to this generation. Though most progressive, independent, and strong in his thinking and planning as well as in his individual decisions, he had implicit faith in her revelations, on the contents of which he never exercised any influence at all. His position was unique, and he filled it to perfection. He thought of his life mission as an instrument to make known to the church the visions of the Lord given to his companion. These testimonies instructed and reproved him as they did others, but he accepted and followed them implicitly as light from heaven. FSG 111.2