The Story of our Health Message

Further Instructions

The instruction given in 1865 regarding the establishing of a health institution was reviewed. Of this she said: “This was the means God was to use in bringing His people to a right understanding in regard to health reform. It was also to be the means by which we were to gain access to those not of our faith. We were to have an institution where the sick could be relieved of suffering, and that without drug medication. God declared that He Himself would go before His people in this work.”—Ibid. SHM 307.2

In addition to her remarks pointing out the benefits of personal adoption of the health reform, and of the educational work to be carried forward in the sanitariums, Mrs. White spoke of the work to be done by church members and ministers in their service for others. She urged that many of the members of the Battle Creek church should go out into the field “and help their fellow beings, to bring joy to those in sorrow, to heal the sick, to show men and women that they are destroying themselves.” It was in this connection, while relating the instruction given to her the previous night, that Mrs. White uttered such striking statements in regard to the importance of medical missionary work as the following: SHM 307.3

“Medical missionary work is the pioneer work. It is to be connected with the gospel ministry. It is the gospel in practice, the gospel practically carried out. I have been made so sorry to see that our people have not taken hold of this work as they should. ... SHM 308.1

“I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work. The work of a minister is to minister. Our ministers are to work on the gospel plan of ministering. ... SHM 308.2

“The medical missionary work is God’s work. The Lord wants every one of His ministers to come into line. Take hold of the medical missionary work, and it will give you access to the people. Their hearts will be touched as you minister to their necessities. ... SHM 308.3

“I am fully in favor of this resolution, because I know that medical missionary work is the gospel in practice and, as the Lord has declared, is never, never to be separated from the gospel ministry.”—Ibid. SHM 308.4

Mrs. White was at this time nearly seventy-four years of age, and it was very unusual for her to take part in the business proceedings of the conference. The resolution that so aroused her interest as to lead her to depart from her usual absence from the business meetings was one making provision for the formation of a General Conference Committee of twenty-five members, of which six were to be chosen by the International Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association, and nineteen by the General Conference. SHM 308.5