The Story of our Health Message

Mrs. White’s Testimony

The Review and Herald, with its columns open to correspondence, also set forth the response of its readers to the messages contained in the book. A few weeks after the publication of Spiritual Gifts, Vol. IV, a communication appeared from H. S. Gurney, expressing his conviction that a dietetic reform was needed, and stating: SHM 93.5

“It has now become evident that such a reform movement has commenced among Seventh-day Adventists. And I rejoice that I have the opportunity to unite my influence with such a movement, and adopt a system which appears rational, convenient, and Scriptural.”—The Review and Herald, November 8, 1864. SHM 94.1

As those who adopted the health reform principles began to see the beneficial results, they wrote of their experiences. Mrs. White herself bore testimony of a marked improvement. For years she had thought that she was dependent upon a flesh diet for strength. She suffered from discomfort of the stomach and from dizziness, and frequently fainted. Because eating flesh food seemed to remove these distressing symptoms, she had decided that it was indispensable, at least in her case. Writing in 1864, she said: SHM 94.2

“Since the Lord presented before me, in June, 1863, the subject of meat eating in relation to health, I have left the use of meat. For a while it was rather difficult to bring my appetite to bread, for which, formerly, I have had but little relish. But by persevering, I have been able to do this. I have lived for nearly one year without meat. For about six months most of the bread upon our table has been unleavened cakes, made of unbolted wheat meal and water, and a very little salt. We use fruits and vegetables liberally. I have lived for eight months upon two meals a day.”—Spiritual Gifts 4a:153. SHM 94.3

As a result of these changes she could report that, though taxing her mind constantly in writing, with but little exercise, her health had never been better. The faint and dizzy feelings had left her. And for the first time she had gone through the spring season without a loss of appetite. Of the rigid determination that it took for her to make some of these changes, she says in another connection: SHM 94.4

“I suffered keen hunger. I was a great meat eater. But when faint, I placed my arms across my stomach and said, ‘I will not taste a morsel. I will eat simple food, or I will not eat at all.’ Bread was distasteful to me. I could seldom eat a piece as large as a dollar. Some things in the reform I could get along with very well; but when it came to the bread, I was especially set against it. When I made these changes, I had a special battle to fight. The first two or three meals, I could not eat. I said to my stomach, ‘You may wait until you can eat bread.’ In a little while I could eat bread, and graham bread too. This I could not eat before; but now it tastes good, and I have had no loss of appetite.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:371, 372. SHM 94.5