The Ellen G. White Writings

The Visions Give Significance

As noted in Chapter 1, Seventh-day Adventists have never claimed to be the originators of all the principles of health reform they hold. This was acknowledged in the article appearing in the The Review and Herald, August 7, 1866, written by Elder J. H. Waggoner and quoted in The Story of Our Health Message, 79, 80. (See pages 39, 40.) Waggoner points out that there are others who are working in the field of reform in health, but when the Lord calls these things to our attention in the visions given to Ellen White, they take on special significance to us, “to be received with the blessing of God, or rejected at our peril.” EGWW 88.2

What is said concerning this in the field of health reform might also be said in the field of education. It is well known that there were those in a few places who were leading out in educational reforms in advance of Ellen White. However, it was the visions given to her that drew our attention to these things and the importance of these things that made them a part of the Seventh-day Adventist philosophy and working program. We have valued highly the work that others have done, but these things take on significance to us because of the visions given to Ellen White. EGWW 88.3

Some people have been perplexed about this fact. They have said, “Yes, it isn’t new, and so how do we know that Ellen White got it from God?” To those who might say Ellen White was influenced by those about her, let’s bring in a little illustration. EGWW 89.1