Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Public Visions and Night Visions

All through these years Mrs. White had been having from time to time what we may call public visions, that is, visions in the presence of others. She had also been having night visions, when, shut out from all the world, she received what she declared were revelations from God. She saw no distinction between the two, so far as the essential nature and content of the visions were concerned. Gradually the public visions became less in number. EGWC 43.2

One of the last, if not the last, of her public visions was given to her in October, 1878, while she was attending the General Conference session, held in Battle Creek, Michigan. She mentions it thus briefly: EGWC 43.3

“On Wednesday of the second week of the meeting, a few of us united in prayer for a sister who was afflicted with despondency. While praying, I was greatly blessed. The Lord seemed very near. I was taken off in a vision of God’s glory, and shown many things.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 238. EGWC 43.4

Three pages farther on in her narrative she refers to a night vision thus: “On the morning of Oct. 23, 1879, about two o’clock, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I beheld scenes in the coming judgment.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 241. EGWC 43.5

Mrs. White’s increasing public labors never seemed to take her away from the realm of matter-of-fact home duties. In a letter she wrote to D. M. Canright and his wife, November 12, 1873, she said: EGWC 43.6

“I have arisen at half past five o’clock in the morning, helped Lucinda wash dishes, have written until dark, then done necessary sewing, sitting up until near midnight; yet we have not got sick. I have done the washings for the family after my day’s writing was done.”—Letter 1, 1873. EGWC 44.1

Someone has well said that a healthy sense of humor is one of the best evidences of a healthy, normal mind. At first blush it may startle some readers to think of Mrs. White as having had a trace even of dry humor. But if innocent little children may laugh, why may not a prophet of God at least smile betimes. We think Mrs. White even chuckled when she wrote the following lines in a letter to her husband from Oakland, California, where she was staying for a time while he was in Battle Creek, Michigan: EGWC 44.2

“Dear Husband: EGWC 44.3

“We received your few words last night on a postal card: EGWC 44.4

“Battle Creek, April 11. No letter from you for two days. James White. EGWC 44.5

“This lengthy letter was written by yourself. Thank you for we know you are living. EGWC 44.6

“No letter from James White previous to this since April 6.... I have been anxiously waiting for something to answer.”—Letter 5, 1876. EGWC 44.7