Life Sketches of Ellen G. White

Chapter 42—Fortitude Under Affliction

Sabbath afternoon, August 20, 1881, two weeks after the death of her husband, Mrs. White met with the Battle Creek church, and spoke to the people for nearly an hour. Reporting this service, Elder Uriah Smith wrote: LS 255.1

“Her theme was the lesson we are to learn from the recent experience through which we have passed. The uncertainty of life is the thought first impressed upon us.… We should also consider what manner of persons we ought to be while we live.… LS 255.2

“The speaker's mind then turned to those blessed exhortations of the apostles in reference to the relation which the members of the body of Christ should sustain one to another, and their bearing, words, and actions toward one another. We were pointed to such passages as these: ‘Be at peace among yourselves;’ ‘be kindly affectioned one to another;’ ‘be kind;’ ‘be courteous;’ ‘speak the same thing;’ ‘be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment;’ ‘speak not evil one of another;’ ‘live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.’” The Review and Herald, August 23, 1881. LS 255.3