The Story of our Health Message

Elder White Restored to Health

Following his return from Dansville, New York, to Battle Creek, Michigan, in December, 1865, he improved in health; but his recovery was greatly retarded because of the suggestion by the head physician at Dansville that either physical or mental exertion would prove to be dangerous and perhaps fatal. Contrary to her judgment, Mrs. White endeavored for a time to carry out the doctor’s instructions, but the results only made her more certain that this course was not correct. She believed that an incentive to exertion would prove to be the needed stimulus to arouse his mind and body to resist and overcome disease. Writing in 1867, she said: SHM 160.1

“For years past I have been shown from time to time that the sick should be taught that it was wrong to suspend all physical labor in order to regain health. In thus doing the will becomes dormant, the blood circulates through the system sluggishly and grows more impure. Where there is danger of the patient’s imagining his case worse than it really is, indolence will be sure to produce the most unhappy results. Well-regulated labor gives the invalid the idea that he is not totally useless in the world, that he is, at least, of some benefit. This will afford him satisfaction, give him courage, and impart to him vigor.”—The Review and Herald, October 8, 1867. SHM 160.2

In harmony with such principles, in the spring and summer of 1866 Mrs. White encouraged her husband to travel by carriage, as his strength permitted, to visit old friends and to conduct meetings over week ends. This seemed beneficial, but with the coming of the cold winter and his confinement in a heated home, his health again began to fail. With patient fortitude and perseverance his faithful companion had sought to overcome his fears and had hoped to lead him gradually back into service, but now he again lost hope and courage. SHM 160.3

By this time, to quote Mrs. White’s words, she had “become fully satisfied” that her husband “would not recover from his protracted sickness while remaining inactive.” For eighteen months she had devoted herself entirely to caring for him, but now she was convinced that the time had come when she must resume her public labors. She decided to venture with him on a tour among the churches in northern Michigan. Although it was winter, and he was extremely feeble, she felt that “to remain longer from the field” seemed “worse than death,” and that should they move out they could “but perish.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:570. SHM 161.1

Accordingly on December 19, 1866, in a blinding snowstorm, they started in an open sleigh for Wright, Michigan, a distance of ninety miles. No ill effects followed, and soon Elder White united with his wife in spiritual labors for the church, speaking briefly at the Sabbath meetings. And when, on a Sabbath morning, he spoke for an hour “with clearness and power,” Mrs. White wept tears of gratitude for this hopeful sign of progress. SHM 161.2