Ellen G. White and Her Critics

The Setting of Her Visions

As we turn the pages of her earliest autobiographical work, we find repeatedly sentences like these: EGWC 35.4

“The meeting commenced with prayer. Then as I tried to pray, the blessing of the LORD rested upon me, and I was taken off in vision.”—Spiritual Gifts 2:64. EGWC 35.5

“In the afternoon the blessing of the LORD rested upon me, and I was taken off in vision.”—Spiritual Gifts 2:76. EGWC 35.6

That is the usual picture she paints of the prelude to a vision—a religious setting, prayer around a family circle, with her own prayer generally offering a transition point between the world of earthly things and the world of vision. Sometimes the transition point was a public sermon, when she was addressing a company. EGWC 35.7

There were instances, however, when her visions were preceded by attacks of illness that were marked by fainting. She recounts a number of visions, such as we have already noted, before the following incident took place: EGWC 35.8

“I was suddenly taken ill and fainted. The brethren prayed for me, and I was restored to consciousness. The Spirit of GOD rested upon us in Bro. C.’s humble dwelling, and I was wrapt in a vision of GOD’s glory.”—Spiritual Gifts 2:83. EGWC 36.1

On August 30, 1846, she married James White, a young Adventist preacher who had been active in the Millerite movement. To this union were born four sons. EGWC 36.2

The years of their early married life provide a record of stark poverty coupled with poor health, for neither husband nor wife had a rugged constitution. She wrote: EGWC 36.3

“We were poor, and saw close times. We had resolved not to be dependent, but to support ourselves, and have something with which to help others.... EGWC 36.4

“We endeavored to keep up good courage, and trust in the Lord. I did not murmur. In the morning I felt grateful to God that He had preserved us through another night, and at night I was thankful that He had kept us through another day.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 105. EGWC 36.5

As to Mrs. White’s mental attitude when in bodily danger we have this that she records of a boat trip from Portland to Boston when a great storm broke. Among the passengers there was much weeping and praying. A woman asked her, “Are you not terrified?” Of her reply she wrote: EGWC 36.6

“I told her I had made Christ my refuge, and if my work was done, I might as well lie in the bottom of the ocean as in any other place; but if my work was not done, all the waters of the ocean could not drown me. My trust was in God, that he would bring us safe to land if it was for his glory.”—Spiritual Gifts 2:85, 86. EGWC 36.7