Ellen G. White — Messenger to the Remnant

Personal Testimonies Published

Many of the personal testimonies which were written out and sent to the individuals addressed dealt with dangers and problems which confronted others in similar circumstances. It soon became evident that the instruction found in many of these would also be of great benefit to the church members generally, and it was decided to include them in the published Testimonies. Of this, Mrs. White wrote: EGWMR 63.13

“Since the warning and instruction given in testimony for individual cases applied with equal force to many others who had not been specially pointed out in this manner, it seemed to be my duty to publish the personal testimonies for the benefit of the church.... EGWMR 63.14

“I know of no better way to present my views of general dangers and errors, and the duty of all who love God and keep His commandments, than by giving these testimonies. Perhaps there is no more direct and forcible way of presenting what the Lord has shown me.”—Testimonies for the Church 5:658, 659. EGWMR 63.15

As to the Lord’s approval of this, she says: EGWMR 63.16

“In a vision given me June 12, 1866, I was shown that which fully justified my course in publishing personal testimonies: ‘When the Lord singles out individual cases, and specifies their wrongs, others, who have not been shown in vision, frequently take it for granted that they are right, or nearly so. If one is reproved for a special wrong, brethren and sisters should carefully examine themselves to see wherein they have failed, and wherein they have been guilty of the same sin.’”—Testimonies for the Church 5:659. EGWMR 63.17

The work of correcting wrongs and reproving sins was not pleasing to the great enemy of souls, and it is not strange that he should endeavor to prevent the message from reaching the individuals whom he had led into sin. An allusion to this is found in these words: EGWMR 64.1

“You should have had this long ago, but our labors have been so hard that I could not possibly get the time to write. Every place that we visited brought before my mind much that I had been shown of individual cases, and I have written in meeting, even while my husband was preaching. The vision was given me about two years ago. The enemy has hindered me in every way he could to keep souls from having the light which God had given me for them.” Testimonies for the Church 1:711 (italics ours). EGWMR 64.2

One gets a glimpse, in a brief statement written a few months later, of the circumstances under which much writing was done: EGWMR 64.3

“Tuesday we journeyed thirty-two miles to St. Charles [Mich.], and stopped for the night with Brother Griggs. Here I wrote fifteen pages of Testimony, and attended meeting in the evening. Wednesday morning we decided to return to Tuscola if Brother Andrews would fill the appointment at Alma. To this he agreed. That morning I wrote fifteen pages more, attended a meeting, and spoke one hour, and we rode thirty-three miles with Brother and Sister Griggs to Brother Spooner’s in Tuscola. Thursday morning we went to Watrousville, a distance of sixteen miles. I wrote sixteen pages and attended an evening meeting, in which I gave a very pointed testimony to one present. The next morning I wrote twelve pages before breakfast, and returned to Tuscola, and wrote eight pages more.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:14. EGWMR 64.4

Thus, many times under unfavorable circumstances, and when heavily pressed with other lines of labor, Mrs. White faithfully delivered the messages orally, by personal correspondence, and by the printed page. EGWMR 64.5