Ellen White—an author, health-reform advocate, Bible scholar, and one of the most influential founding figures of the Seventh-day Adventist Church—was blessed by the Holy Spirit with the spiritual gift of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14; Romans 12:6-8). During her lifetime, she received direct guidance and inspiration from God in several different ways.

But primarily she demonstrated the gift of prophecy through visions and prophetic dreams, many of which she documented in her numerous books. Ellen White estimates that she had several hundreds of these prophetic experiences over her 70-year ministry.

So what were all these visions about? What messages did God want her to share with others?

Here’s a comprehensive list of her more significant visions and prophecies, starting with some important notes about the context of these visions and how to best use this list for reference. Then the list is divided into five categories that apply to the majority of her prophetic experiences.

• Ellen White’s prophetic ministry
• The church
• Bible doctrine
• End times
• Health and stewardship

First, a little preamble.

What you’ll find on this list

Photo by Oleksandr P

The list specifically covers daytime visions and prophetic dreams Ellen White received from the Holy Spirit. (This is not a comprehensive list of every topic she addressed in all her writings.)

Prophetic visions were common throughout the Bible. We don’t hear much about them in recent years, but according to Ellen White’s experiences, the description is similar to what we’d read in stories about the Bible’s prophets in both the Old and New Testament.

Ellen White experienced what we might call a dream, since what she saw in her mind was not happening around her. She was often shown supernatural things or faraway places.

Unlike dreams, however, her visions happened when she was awake. And those who were around her when they happened could tell when she went into vision.

As defined by the Bible, prophecies, no matter how they are received by the chosen individual, are messages from God. Sometimes they are for the receiver alone, sometimes they are for a small, specific audience, sometimes they are for a broad audience, and sometimes they include predictions of the future.

Most of the prophecies communicated by Ellen White came to her through visions that the Holy Spirit gave to her directly.

She usually recorded them in her autobiographical accounts or in letters to others, so this list will include links to those original sources.

Unfortunately, she didn’t record the details of all her visions, but we’ll mention each vision that had enough documented details to make them distinct from other visions or prophetic messages.

How to use this list

You can search for the visions and prophecies by topic on this page. In each section, the individual visions will be listed in order of the date Ellen White experienced them, and they will have some keywords or phrases in the heading to describe them.

Below the header of each vision, you’ll learn:

• The date of the vision
• The location where Ellen White had the vision (if documented)
• The type of vision/prophecy (revelatory, predictive, advisory, warning, situational, etc.)
• A short summary of the vision and its context

(To find a specific vision more quickly, try searching the page for keywords using the Command/Control+F function.)

For future reference, bookmark the page in your browser to find it quickly. You can share it with others by sending the link through email or social media.

Visions about Ellen White’s ministry

Artist’s conception of Ellen Harmon’s (later Ellen White) first vision in Portland, Maine, December 1844 – Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

This section will cover any instructions or guidance Ellen White received directly for herself and her ministry as a messenger for God.

The beginning—Ellen White’s call to share her visions

Date: December 1844
Location: Portland, Maine
Type: Situational
Summary: Near the beginning of her ministry, Ellen White had this one in which God called her to share what He had revealed to her. She saw some of the difficulties she would have to face, but an angel reminded her of Paul’s message in 2 Corinthians 12:9 and promised her that “the grace of God is sufficient for you; He will sustain you.”
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 63)

A visual representation of strength and encouragement

Date: December 1844
Location: Portland, Maine
Type: Situational
Summary: Ellen White was struggling with the decision to follow God’s call to share her visions. As a group of people was praying for strength for her, she felt that light came upon her and a ball of fire struck her heart. She felt like she was in the presence of angels, one of which told her, “Make known to others what I have revealed to you.”
(Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 71)

50 texts of Scripture in letters of gold

Date: 1845
Location: Portland, Maine
Type: Revelatory
Summary: Because of all the fanatical religious movements happening at the time, some people had accused Ellen White’s visions of just being a part of that hype. This troubled her, and one time when she felt she was receiving a vision, she resisted it out of concern that it wasn’t really God. When she did so, she became mute. In the vision, an angel told her she’d be able to speak again in 24 hours. She also saw a card that had 50 texts of Scripture written in letters of gold. These verses indeed acknowledged her faltering faith in this situation, but also encouraged her to keep on, knowing God would be guiding her.
(Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 89-90)

Jesus Christ’s frown

Date: 1845
Location: Portland, Maine
Type: Warning
Summary: Ellen White struggled to share some direct rebukes that God gave her for other people, so she would often soften these messages. In this vision, she saw Jesus’ frown because of her timid approach, which caused these important messages to be taken less seriously. She realized that she was letting her own fears overshadow her trust in God.

An angel told her, “This is not your case now, but this scene has passed before you to let you know what your situation must be if you neglect to declare to others what the Lord has revealed to you. But if you are faithful to the end, you shall eat of the tree of life, and shall drink of the river of the water of life. You will have to suffer much, but the grace of God is sufficient.”
(Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, p. 79)

Holding up the large family Bible in the Harmon home

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

Date: 1845
Location: Portland, Maine
Type: Situational
Summary: While in her family’s home, Ellen White had a vision about the true value of the Word of God. During the vision, she picked up the large family Bible, quoting passages of Scripture while holding it at arm’s length for about half an hour—something that would’ve been incredibly difficult for a frail young woman of roughly 80 pounds.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 92)

Protection on a sailboat during a storm

Date: 1846
Location: Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Massachusetts
Type: Situational
Summary: Ellen White and her two travel companions decided to take a sailboat to visit an Adventist family that lived on an island off the coast of Massachusetts. But on the voyage there, they ended up in a violent storm. Those on the boat were afraid they wouldn’t make it! But while Ellen White knelt in the boat and prayed, God gave her a vision assuring her that they would indeed survive the trip despite the storm.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 109)

The purpose of Ellen White’s trials

Date: 1847
Location: Topsham, Maine
Type: Counsel
Summary: At the time of this vision, Ellen and James White were struggling financially, and their first child Henry was sick. God showed her that even through the trying times, He was still with them. These trials were a part of living in a sinful world, and she experienced agonizing challenges just like many other human beings. And these difficult times ended up preparing her for her ministry work and keeping her from seeking comfort in her home life rather than relying on God for her comfort and sustenance.
(Life Sketches of James White and Ellen G. White, 1880 ed., p. 243)

Instruction to go to Dartmouth and pray for a sick boy

Date: February 1849
Location: Topsham, Maine
Type: Situational
Summary: God gave Ellen White a vision that instructed her to go to Dartmouth, Massachusetts. She soon understood why when she received a letter about the son of a believer there who was very sick.
(Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 121)

She received many visions in which she “saw” that God wanted her to go somewhere, though many of them are so briefly mentioned that we won’t include them all in this list.

Encouragement from a tall angel

Date: May 1850
Location: Sutton, Vermont
Type: Situational
Summary: While away from home, Ellen White was discouraged about not being able to be with her children. She felt she was sacrificing so much for God’s work and yet the results were so small. That’s when God gave her encouragement by sending her a “tall angel” to help her open her heart and share her worries with God.

The angel told her, “You have given to the Lord two beautiful flowers, the fragrance of which is as sweet incense before Him, and is more precious in His sight than gold or silver, for it is a heart gift…. Every self-denial, every sacrifice, is faithfully recorded, and will bring its reward.”
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 177)

This prophetic experience even involved the angel helping James and Ellen choose the right horse to pull their carriage on their travels!

James White would speak about the near coming of Christ on a trip

James White, circa 1864 – Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

Date: December 1851
Location: Unknown
Type: Prediction
Summary: God had shown Ellen White what would transpire on a particular trip that she and her husband went on. One event that God said would happen was a “meeting in a private family” where James would speak about his favorite topic, the near coming of Christ. On their way home, this ended up happening in Saratoga Springs, New York, when they unexpectedly visited a family who asked James to share about the Second Coming with their neighbors.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 225)

Saved from injury in a train accident

Date: May 23, 1854
Location: Michigan
Type: Situational
Summary: As they were boarding a train to go to Wisconsin, the Whites were disappointed that they couldn’t sit in the more comfortable seats of one of the “sleeping cars” and instead had to move into the next car. Shortly after the train left, it wrecked. The car with the seats they had wanted to sit in was greatly damaged, but James and Ellen White escaped unharmed. Later she was shown that an angel had been sent to preserve their lives.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, pp. 294-296)

Revealing the reason behind an attack of paralysis

Date: June 1858
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Type: Situational/Revelatory
Summary: This vision showed Ellen White that the sudden attack of paralysis she experienced a few weeks earlier was actually an attempt from Satan to keep her from continuing to write out her vision about the Great Controversy, which ended up becoming one of her most widely-read books.
(Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 272)

Help for James White’s health

Date: April 4, 1878
Location: Oakland, CA
Type: Counsel/Revelatory
Summary: This scene of this vision was of a “celebrated physician” entering James and Ellen White’s home. It recounted the specifics of James’ failing health and exactly what he needed to do to start regaining his strength and faith.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 22, 1878”)

Seeing her son Edson nearly drown, symbolizing his spiritual condition

Date: June 21, 1893
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Type: Situational/Revelatory
Summary: Ellen White had a dream about the spiritual life of her son Edson, who was losing his faith. She saw him on a beach being swept away by the undertow, unable to save himself. But someone saved him with a rope, and she was given encouragement and guidance in how to reach out to him.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 123, 1893”)

Warning of a deceitful assistant

Date: Late 1893
Location: New Zealand
Type: Warning/Revelatory
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White was shown the behind-the-scenes actions and conversations of her editorial assistant, Fannie Bolton. Fannie had become tempted by the limelight she perceived Ellen White to be experiencing, and wanted credit for her editorial work—which included altering Ellen White’s words and adding ideas of her own. So she was warned not to employ Fannie any longer.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 59, 1894″)

Visions for the Seventh-day Adventist Church

The following list of visions includes Ellen White’s inspired messages for Adventist believers and church leaders. This included instructions for specific people or specific duties, corporate messages of encouragement or caution, and counsel toward starting significant ministry efforts and establishing institutions.

“Advent people” traveling to the Holy City

Artist’s conception of Ellen G. White’s first vision, showing believers traveling on a narrow pathway to the Holy City – Photo courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

Date: December 1844
Location: Portland, Maine
Type: Revelatory
Summary: She saw believers traveling on a narrow pathway to the Holy City with their eyes fixed on Jesus. This vision was Ellen White’s first prophetic experience and it happened soon after the Great Disappointment in 1844, when Jesus didn’t return as expected by William Miller’s followers. It served as an encouragement to the believers that God had still been leading them, despite their misunderstanding of Bible prophecy.
(Early Writings, p. 14-19)

Encouragement for Washington Morse after the Disappointment in 1844

Date: Late spring of 1845
Location: Home of Washington Morse in New Hampshire
Type: Counsel
Summary: While traveling to Claremont, New Hampshire, Ellen White and her traveling companions stayed in the home of Washington Morse, a man who had been very disappointed and humiliated when Jesus didn’t return in 1844. While there, she had a vision counseling Morse to focus on the light God was giving, and would continue to give, rather than worrying about what others thought of him.
(Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 77-78)

Warnings of two false teachers in Claremont

Date: Late spring of 1845
Location: Claremont, New Hampshire
Type: Warning
Summary: This vision revealed that two men who claimed to be ministers were actually teaching deceptive ideas. They claimed they couldn’t sin, but they were actually hiding secret sins and exercising a powerful influence of mesmerism (similar to hypnosis, but with a spiritualistic focus) that would be damaging to other believers.
(Life Sketches of James White and Ellen G. White, 1880 ed., p. 210-211)

Fanaticism in Portland, Maine

Date: Spring 1845
Location: New Hampshire
Type: Warning
Summary: Fanaticism—a term used to describe a religious frenzy usually accompanied by false or exaggerated teachings—was taking place in Ellen White’s hometown because of the influence of a man named Joseph Turner. He was discouraging people and telling some of them that God had rejected them. God instructed Ellen White to return to Portland and confront Turner’s false teachings.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 87)

Confronting Joseph Turner

Date: Spring 1845
Location: Portland, Maine
Type: Warning
Summary: Ellen White gathered a group of believers to discuss her concerns about the false teachings of Joseph Turner, who had claimed to receive impressions and guidance from God. Amid that gathering, she had a vision right in front of him, revealing to him his errors.
(Life Sketches of James White and Ellen G. White, 1880 ed., p. 213)

Rebuke for Elder Stevens

Date: 1845
Location: Paris, Maine
Type: Warning/Prediction
Summary: Elder Stevens had been leading out in a fanatical group that believed that work was a sin. During a meeting with him, Ellen White had a vision that pointed out his errors and predicted that his ministry would come to an end before long.
(Life Sketches of James White and Ellen G. White. 1880 ed., p. 225)

The errors of Robbins and Sargent

Date: 1845
Location: Randolph, Massachusetts
Type: Situational/Revelatory
Summary: While visiting a church in Randolph, Massachusetts, Ellen White saw the errors of two men there—Robbins and Sargent—who had tried to discredit her ministry. During this vision, which was her longest and lasted almost four hours, she held a large Bible outstretched in one hand and recited texts without seeing them.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 103)

View of the planets

Photo by Planet Volumes on Unsplash

Date: November 1846
Location: Topsham, Maine
Type: Revelatory
Summary: Ellen White had a vision in front of Joseph Bates in which God showed her various planets and information about astronomy that she would have had no way of knowing otherwise. Joseph Bates, a sea captain, knew from his experience that it was accurate and became convinced that God was using her.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 113-114)

Handing a large Bible to a man who didn’t believe in the Sabbath

Date: August 26, 1848
Location: Hannibal, New York
Type: Situational
Summary: Though the contents of this vision is not known, during the vision Ellen White took a large Bible, spoke from it, and carried it to a man who didn’t believe in the Sabbath truth. This action moved the man to tears.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 143)

Call for unity among Adventist believers at a conference in New York

Date: August 27-28, 1848
Location: Port Gibson, New York
Type: Counsel
Summary: While attending a conference in New York that was held in the barn of Hiram Edson, an early Advent Movement pioneer, Ellen White received a vision that emphasized the need to lay aside differences and be unified on Bible truth.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 143)

A publishing project to spread truth as “streams of light” around the world

Date: November 18, 1848
Location: Dorchester, Massachusetts
Type: Counsel/Revelatory/Prediction
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White was shown the importance of publishing the three angels’ messages. She received instruction for her husband to start a small periodical that would eventually become “like streams of light that went clear around the world.”
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 150-151)

Call for James White to rely on God to support his publishing ministry

Date: 1849
Location: Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Type: Counsel/Situational
Summary: James White had been unsure of how to earn the money to start the publishing work God had instructed him to do through Ellen’s “streams of light” vision. He decided to go out and mow hay to get funds, but around that time, God gave Ellen White a vision, instructing James that he should “write, write, write, and walk out by faith.”
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 164)

Encouraging Brother Rhodes

Date: November 1849
Location: Centerport, New York
Type: Situational
Summary: “Brother Rhodes” was a man who had been discouraged and humiliated by the Great Disappointment when Jesus didn’t return. As a result, he’d withdrawn to live away from society in a forest in New York. During a conference Ellen White attended, some believers gathered to pray for Rhodes. She had a vision encouraging some of the other Adventists to go and reach out to Rhodes with a message of hope.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 197-198)

Another call for James White to write, write, write, write

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Date: January 10, 1850
Location: Oswego, New York
Type: Counsel/Situational
Summary: James White was struggling with discouragement because he still wasn’t getting financial support to publish the Present Truth periodical. Yet again, Ellen White received a vision that encouraged him to keep moving forward; the paper was needed!
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 172)

Comfort after the death of Elvira Hastings

Date: March 1850
Location: Oswego, New York
Type: Situational/Prediction
Summary: Ellen White received news that Elvira Hastings, a devoted follower of God and someone who’d been involved in the Advent movement, had died. Soon after, she had a vision revealing to her that Elvira would indeed be among those resurrected by God’s voice when Jesus returned. She passed this comforting thought along to Elvira’s husband in a personal letter.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 173)

The dishonest county treasurer in Oswego

Date: 1850
Location: Oswego, New York
Type: Situational/prediction
Summary: While Ellen White was visiting Oswego, New York, she found out about a Methodist minister and county treasurer who was leading religious revivals there. A man named Hiram Patch and his fiancée were thinking about joining the Advent movement and asked Ellen White what she thought about the minister and his revivals. Not long after, she received a vision with the following instructions for the Patches: “Wait a month, and you will know for yourself the character of the persons who are engaged in this revival.”

Before long, the sheriff and constable uncovered that the Methodist county treasurer had stolen $1000 from the treasury. His revivals came to an end, and the Patches had their answer.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 175)

Instructions to make a chart of the three angels’ messages

Date: October 1850
Location: En route to Dorchester, Massachusetts
Type: Counsel
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White received the following instruction about the three angels’ messages in Revelation: “The truth must be made plain upon tables.” Soon after, church leaders followed this instruction by making a chart of the visions of Daniel and Revelation.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 185)

Warning against “ecstatic” experiences

Date: December 24, 1850
Location: Paris, Maine
Type: Counsel
Summary: While praying with a group of people for the Holy Spirit, Ellen White saw a vision that warned God’s followers against turning from the Word of God and relying on “unhealthy and unnecessary excitement” in worship. This is likely a reference to religious practices or behaviors that encouraged hysterical, erratic, emotionally-heightened actions or expressions. In the vision, she also received counsel for specific people.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 11, 1850″)

James to continue in publishing work

Photo by 4motions Werbeagentur on Unsplash

Date: 1851
Location: Ballston Spa, New York
Type: Situational
Summary: Ellen and James White had been seeking God’s will to know what to do about the publishing work and where it should take place. She wrote the following about the vision she had: “It was shown me in vision that James must lay his hand to the work and strive to open the way, and if the way should bend before him, he must remain; but if it was shut up and did not open, we must go elsewhere.”
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 4, 1851″)

God’s frown upon His people in Medford, Massachusetts

Date: November 1851
Location: Medford, Massachusetts
Type: Situational
Summary: This vision revealed some errors that people in a church in Medford, Massachusetts, had accepted. James White said this about his wife’s vision: “[She] saw that the frown of God was on us as a people, because the accursed thing was in the camp, that is, errors among us, and that the church must act.”
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 217)

False teachings rebuked in Bethel, Vermont

Date: November 1851
Location: Bethel, Vermont
Type: Situational
Summary: Ellen White had a vision about some individuals present at a gathering in Bethel, Vermont. These individuals had accepted a false teaching called the “age to come,” which taught that the Jews would return to Israel and that individuals would have a second chance for repentance during the 1,000-year period after Jesus’ coming.¹ God gave Ellen White “straight messages to bear to different individuals” about the false teachings.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 8, 1851″)

During the same conference, one individual (called “Brother Baker”) recognized his error and acknowledged that Ellen White’s vision about him was true. She soon had another vision that encouraged him and showed that God was still calling him.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 222)

“Accursed thing must be put out of the camp”

Date: November 1851
Location: Vergennes, Vermont
Type: Situational
Summary: Ellen and James White attended a conference in the home of a man named Elon Everts, who had accepted the false “age to come” teaching. Ellen White had a vision about him, in which God said that “the accursed thing must be put out of the camp,” a reference to the story of rebellious Achan in the Bible (Joshua 7). When she shared the vision, Everts confessed and gave up the false teaching.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 223)

Bringing much-needed correction to a hypocritical man

Date: Fall 1852, a Sabbath
Location: Rochester, New York
Type: Situational
Summary: Ellen White saw that a man, whom she had not met yet, was traveling away from home. While he was preaching on God’s law and the Sabbath, he was simultaneously maintaining an adulterous relationship. This man turned out to be someone everyone in the area knew. When he was eventually confronted, he confessed and dropped onto his knees.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 238)

Revealing more dangerous hypocrisy

Date: May 28, 1853
Location: Tyrone, Michigan
Type: Situational
Summary: Similar to the previous vision in Rochester, New York, Ellen White was shown a woman in the Tyrone area who had traveled around to share the Adventist message. However, while her husband remained at home, working to support her efforts, she was traveling with another man. Ellen White saw how this woman would respond to being confronted, which helped eventually identify her.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 277)

Speaking to false accusations

Date: June 3 & 4, 1853
Location: Jackson, Michigan
Type: Situational/Revelatory
Summary: Ellen White was shown the particulars of a church situation where a woman was falsely accused of calling a neighbor a crude word. These messages were given to reprove the woman for her attitude toward the neighbor. But she also had something to say for the accusers, who didn’t deal with the situation in a very Christ-like attitude.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 276)

A call to step up the publishing work

Central SDA Publishing Association – Photo courtesy of the Ellen. G. White Estate, Inc.

Date: July 2, 1853
Location: Rochester, New York
Type: Revelatory
Summary: This vision was the call to further increase publishing efforts. Ellen White was shown that they needed to be distributing material more often than every two weeks. She also saw that God was opening up a way to make this possible.

This vision also included some details regarding the Michigan churches.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 282)

Gospel order

Date: Late September 1852
Location: Dorchester, Massachusetts
Type: Revelatory/Counsel
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White was shown seven points on which the Adventists in the area had not met the standards of “Gospel order.”

• People who “hurried into the field” though they “lack wisdom and judgment”
• Knowingly allowing certain men to have teaching and/or missionary roles, even though they were ultimately unqualified and their hearts weren’t fully converted, and “confusion and disunion are the result”
• People sent out who were able to argue theories but knew little of practical applications or true spiritual conviction
• Pushing people “into the work,” even though it was clearly not their particular calling
• The church not embracing the “responsibility” to “look carefully and attentively at the lives, qualifications, and general course of those who profess to be teachers”
• This church’s need to distance itself from those who “are not called of God, yet profess to be teachers”
• The need to return to deep Bible study so they can “establish Gospel order” and shield themselves from Satan’s temptations to corrupt the congregation and its mission

(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 286-287)

Addressing a congregation’s potential downfalls

Date: January or early February, 1854
Location: Brookfield, New York
Type: Counsel
Summary: This vision touched on a number of things. First and foremost, Ellen White was shown that the church was tolerating behavior that could harm its unity and integrity. She was informed that certain members were maintaining adulterous relationships, and parents were neglecting proper instruction and discipline for their children.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 290-291)

Instruction about using tents

Ellen G. White at the Moss, Norway, camp meeting, June 1887 – Photo courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

Date: Early June, 1854
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Type: Situational/Counsel
Summary: This vision included a variety of instruction, correction, and counsel regarding the church. A specific topic was using tents for evangelism outreach. These would be patterned after the tent revivals popular in the earlier part of the century. Ellen White was encouraged that success would accompany the use of tents, and she was given pointers for best practices.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 299)

Counsel about handling an antagonistic group

Date: June 20, 1855
Location: Oswego, New York
Type: Situational
Summary: This vision gave insight on a group that had branched away from Adventism and began publishing opposing viewpoints. Ellen White was shown that engaging with this group would do no good, and Adventists would do well to ignore them, keeping their eyes forward. In time, the group would break apart with internal strife.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 309-310)

Settling a dispute and caution against “fading zeal”

Date: November 20, 1855
Location: Possibly Rochester, New York
Type: Counsel
Summary: This vision addressed many issues among Adventists at the time. A prominent one had to do with members’ zeal for God falling off. They gave excuses for spending money for selfish reasons instead of the church. Another part of the vision settled the question on when Sabbath began.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 326, 324)

The “Two Ways”

Date: May 27, 1856
Location: Battle Creek conference session
Type: Counsel
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White was shown the “Two Ways,” or paths a person could take in life. One was narrow and rugged and led to heaven, and the other was broad and open and led to destruction. She was also shown conformity to the world and people who believed they were on the narrow and rugged road but actually were not. She was also given counsel to pass on to ministers’ wives, showing them how they could aid their husbands in service.
(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 127-130, 137-140)

How the Church would be attacked by Satan

Date: February 1857
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Type: Revelatory/Counsel
Summary: Ellen White saw in this vision the method of Satan’s attacks on the church: temptation with earthly prosperity and possessions.
(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 141-143)

Counsel to the New York church

Date: July 6, 1857
Location: Ulysses, Pennsylvania
Type: Counsel
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White was shown the state of the Adventist Church in New York. They were having a huge problem with fault-finding and focusing on accusing one another of various wrongs. In doing so, they had lost their strength as a church and their unity in mission. Ellen White advised the people to elevate their minds to more important matters.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 358)

Various insights for the church

Date: June 4, 1859
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Type: Revelatory/counsel
Summary: Ellen White was given a variety of information:

• She would not die yet (she was sick at the time)
• The Laodicean message (Revelation 3) applied to the current church
• Tithing was appropriate
• Counsel on clothing and fashion
• Counsel on covetousness and sacrifice for the church

(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 185-195)

Civil War predictions

Photo by Scott Umstattd on Unsplash

Date: January 12, 1861
Location: Parkville, Michigan
Type: Revelatory
Summary: In this vision, which took place so soon after several Southern states had seceded from the Union, Ellen White saw that more states would secede and people from the congregation she was speaking to would lose their lives in the resulting war.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 463)

Counsel about the Civil War

Date: August 3, 1861
Location: Roosevelt, New York
Type: Revelatory/Counsel
Summary: This vision mostly addressed situations in the Civil War, such as a review of the Battle of Bull Run. She was also shown many points on the evils of slavery. The vision also touched on some aspects of church organization.
(The Review and Herald, “August 26, 1861: Communication from Sister White—Slavery and the War,”)

Caution about a specific pastor

Date: November 5, 1862
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Type: Revelatory/Counsel
Summary: This vision gave Ellen White insight on the troubling direction a pastor, Moses Hull, was headed. Mr. Hull was an Adventist pastor who later abandoned the church and turned to spiritualism. She saw that he had relented to various temptations of the devil and that he would leave the church soon.
(Ellen G. White: The Progressive Years: 1862-1876, vol. 2, p. 53, 56, 58)

Counsel to a prominent pastor

Date: Several years before 1873
Location: Unknown
Type: Counsel
Summary: Ellen White received counsel to address some issues regarding Dudley Canright and his wife’s attitudes and actions. Mr. Canright was a pastor and both were heavily involved in the Adventist Church at the time.
(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 304-311)

The extent of the Adventist publishing

Date: January 3, 1875
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Type: Revelatory
Summary: Ellen White saw that both the Adventist work in general and Adventist printing presses would go to many different countries. She also saw several details having to do with the Battle Creek school, publishing house, and health institute that was recently established.
(Ellen G. White: The Progressive Years: 1862-1876, vol. 2, p. 462)

Foundations for colporteurs

Photo by Emmanuel Phaeton on Unsplash

Date: September 12, 1875
Location: Rome, New York
Type: Revelatory
Summary: This vision revealed to Ellen White many things about the colporteur ministry, which involves distributing Adventist books as a means of evangelism.
(The Review and Herald, “November 4, 1875: A Remarkable Dream”)

Caution and encouragement for James White

Date: January 5, 1876
Location: Oakland, CA
Type: Warning/Counsel
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White saw herself addressing her husband’s impatient attitudes toward others. She heard the heavenly instruction: “Give sympathy, give love, and you will find this power will soften and subdue the most wayward, and the greatest good will be realized upon your own heart and life.”
(Letters and Manuscripts, vol. 3 (1876-1882), “Manuscript 2, 1876″)

Counsel for sanitarium property

Date: 1883
Location: Unknown
Type: Situational
Summary: Ellen White was instructed not to sell an eight-acre part of the St. Helena Sanitarium property. She bought it because God told her it must not be developed. The Sanitarium would need it later.
(Ellen G. White: The Later Elmshaven Years: 1905-1915, vol. 6, p. 139-141)

Counsel for the Adventist Church in Europe

Date: September 26, 1885
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Type: Counsel
Summary: In this vision, a book was opened that recorded the past year’s events. She was shown some areas of improvement to bring to the attention of the European leaders. She cautioned them not to let certain things distract them from spreading the Gospel. This especially related to one person, a Mr. Bourdeau.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 20,1885″)

A Christ-centered solution for a German congregation

Meeting House in Vohwinkel, Germany – Photo courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

Date: May 27, 1886
Location: Vohwinkel, Germany
Type: Situational
Summary: This vision showed Ellen White the tensions and problems within the Vohwinkel church and how Jesus would have them solve these problems.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 32, 1887”)

Further insight on the publishing work

Date: November 3, 1890
Location: Salamanca, New York
Type: Warning/Counsel
Summary: This vision revealed a lot of counsel, advice, and warnings regarding the publishing work. She was warned against them forming alliances with unbelievers and covering up their distinctness of the Adventist message. She was also warned against trusting in human efforts and called for more trust in God.
(Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 319)

Warning to publishers

Date: November 21, 1890
Location: New York City, New York
Type: Warning
Summary: Ellen White was given many warnings about the direction the publishing ministry was starting to take. She described what would happen if the head of publishing work didn’t put God first. This was a continuation of the previously-listed vision she had in Salamanca.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 29a, 1890″)

Revelations about a man’s involvement in secret societies

Date: 1891
Location: Australia
Type: Revelatory
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White was shown Mr. Faulkhead’s work in the Freemasonry lodges and Knights Templar. He had a high position within these societies and was refusing to give up his involvement with them. As a result, his interest in spiritual things was dying.
(Ellen G. White: The Australian Years: 1891-1900, vol. 4, p. 50)

Insisting on a piece of land

Date: 1894
Location: Australia
Type: Revelatory
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White saw a furrow plowed on the future site of the Avondale school. The people there said the soil was unfit for good yield but Ellen White was shown that they would produce good crops, despite what they said.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Message 62, 1898.”)

Proper attitudes for a Christian school

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

Date: Early July 1897
Location: Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
Type: Situational
Summary: Ellen was given this vision about Avondale, the Australian school. The faculty and students were reckless and didn’t “stand the counsel of God.” This recklessness included attitudes of joking and low, cheap talk.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 174, 1897″)

Planning the Cooranbong church

Date: August 23, 1897
Location: Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
Type: Situational
Summary: This vision gave Ellen White instructions as to the size of the Cooranbong church being built. She saw the dimensions on paper for the church and saw everyone was satisfied.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 175, 1897″)

The location of a meat substitute factory

Date: August 1898
Location: Australia
Type: Counsel
Summary: In symbolism, Ellen White was shown what to do about the meat substitute factory proposed to be built in Melbourne, Australia. She was shown it was better put in Sydney, Australia, because it could be of better use there. She was also shown it would have many branches of the factory in the future.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter, 63a, 1898″)

Rebuilding the Battle Creek sanitarium

Date: April 30, 1902
Location: St. Helena, California
Type: Situational
Summary: This vision addressed Dr. Kellogg’s plans of rebuilding the Battle Creek Sanitarium. He was planning to build a huge complex that could be the worldwide hub for the Adventist health centers. Ellen White was shown that one large building was not appropriate. Rather, it should be smaller, so other smaller sanitariums could be built around the country and world for missionary purposes.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 125, 1902″)

Should the Pacific Press manager resign?

C.H. Jones, manager of the Pacific Press – Photo courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

Date: April 22, 1902
Location: St. Helena, California
Type: Situational
Summary: This vision answered the question asked if C. H. Jones should resign from his job as manager of the Pacific Press. He had received a lot of criticism lately. In the vision, Ellen White saw a council discussing the problems of the Pacific Press. Her Instructor then put his hand on Jones’ shoulder and told him to start his work again, arming himself with the armor of God. He could not and should not quit.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 65, 1902″)

Battle Creek warnings

Date: Fall 1902
Location: St. Helena, California
Type: Warning/Revelatory
Summary: These numerous visions Ellen White had both day and night in the months leading up to the fire that destroyed the Review and Herald office in Battle Creek. She described seeing an angel with a sword of fire over Battle Creek. This sword moved back and forth across the city, and incident after incident followed.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 37, 1903″)

Should the South get a publishing house?

Date: October 19/20, 1902
Location: St. Helena, California
Type: Situational
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White was shown many scenes that led her to conclude that the South needed its own publishing house, a thing many people did not want or see the need for. She was shown rooms where doctors were chastised for amputating before they’d made every effort to save the limb, and saw a council meeting where the members were told they needed another publishing house, instead of just one in North America.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 162, 1902″)

The symbol of a ship

Date: Fall 1903
Location: St. Helena, California
Type: Counsel
Summary: Ellen White saw a ship in this vision. It was navigating through a thick fog, when the alarm was sounded, “Iceberg!” A giant iceberg loomed in front of them. The ship’s crew turned the ship directly onto the iceberg and crashed into it. The passengers were violently shaken by the impact, but no one was killed. This vision referred to a book and its pantheistic views being circulated in the Adventist world. This vision revealed that the book was inaccurate and should not be used.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 238, 1903″)

Dr. Kellogg

J.H. Kellogg – Photo courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

Date: May 19, 1904
Location: Berrien Springs, Michigan
Type: Counsel
Summary: This vision showed Ellen White that it was time to take an active role in trying to save Dr. Kellogg, who had been derailed by pantheistic theology, as well as other fixations. Everyone, she reminded others, is tempted by one thing or another, and saving Dr. Kellogg was worth the trial.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 165, 1904″)

A vision at a General Conference meeting

Date: May 1904
Location: Berrien Springs, Michigan
Type: Situational
Summary: This vision was given to Ellen White during a General Conference meeting to address the pantheism problem and to save Dr. Kellogg. In it, she was shown what the men were thinking and doing behind the scenes. She saw what had been done wrong during the meeting that made Dr. Kellogg’s opinions seem justified.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Elmshaven Years: 1900-1905, vol. 5, p. 334)

Guidelines for a new sanitarium

Date: August 1901
Location: Los Angeles, California
Type: Revelatory
Summary: This vision laid out the foundation for the new sanitarium to be established in southern California. She saw that, contrary to everyone’s opinion, the sanitarium should not be in the city, but in the countryside, where the people attending could receive fresh air, outdoor work, and exercise as part of their treatment.
(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 85)

The importance of medical missionaries

Date: December 1904
Location: Paradise Valley, California
Type: Counsel
Summary: This cluster of visions and instruction was given to her during the last three nights of her stay in Paradise Valley. She saw that medical missionary work is as important to the third angel’s message as a right hand to a body. She was also given instruction as to the temperament and actions of the employees at the sanitariums.
(The Paradise Valley Sanitarium, p. 13)

A necessary sanitarium

Date: April 1904
Location: Takoma Park, Maryland
Type: Counsel
Summary: Ellen White saw that a sanitarium desperately needed to be established near Los Angeles. Yet it should not be in the city, but in a rural area, where the patients could receive the benefits of the outdoors as well as medical treatment.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 147, 1904″)

Loma Linda shouldn’t involve commercial elements

Loma Linda Hill and Sanitarium – Photo courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

Date: May 1906
Location: Mountain View, California
Type: Warning
Summary: Ellen White was shown in the vision that starting big health food production at the Loma Linda sanitarium was a disastrous idea. She advised Adventists to keep it and commercial enterprises apart. The sanitarium should be devoted totally to the ministry of healing and not be distracted by commercial aspects.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 140, 1906″)

A sanitarium in Colorado

Date: September 28, 1905
Location: St. Helena, California
Type: Warning
Summary: This vision gave Ellen White insight on why a sanitarium shouldn’t be established in Canon City, Colorado, like several were proposing to. She saw that if these men did so the enterprise would result in constant friction and the wrong experience for patients.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 285, 1905″)

Important concepts for teachers

Date: April 26, 1910
Location: Loma Linda, California
Type: Counsel/revelatory
Summary: Ellen White saw that everyone associated with higher education should understand what it means to learn from God and then carry that out in their teaching. They were not to follow the lead of secular schools of higher education. Salvation was to be a core element in the curriculum.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Letter 61, 1910″)

Idle amusement

Date: July 4, 1912
Location: St. Helena, California
Type: Counsel
Summary: Ellen White saw some events that took place at the St. Helena Sanitarium and objected to their nature. She wanted the young people to remember that they should glorify God and not spend their time amusing themselves.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 49, 1912″)

Advice for wages

Date: December 3, 1913
Location: St. Helena, California
Type: Counsel
Summary: Ellen White received instruction as to payment of physicians. One physician at the St. Helena Sanitarium was asking for higher wages than the others and was prepared to resign if he didn’t get them. Ellen White saw that raising his wages would cause the others to demand higher wages, too. She also saw that they should only pay physicians what they could afford at the time, and raise wages as they expanded and had more means.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 12, 1913″)

Appropriate books

Date: March 3, 1915
Location: St. Helena, CA
Type: Revelatory
Summary: This vision dealt with books. Ellen White saw that young people often neglected reading some books in favor of other books of lighter reading. She laid aside books that weren’t helpful to the youth. Instead, she told them to focus on books that pointed them to God and a godly life.
(The Review and Herald, “April 15, 1915: A Message for Our Young People”)

Visions about Bible doctrine

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

These visions related to teachings in the Bible that Adventist believers had been studying at the time.

Jesus moving from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in heaven

Date: February 1845
Location: Exeter, Maine
Type: Revelatory
Summary: This vision portrayed what had happened in 1844 when the 2,300-day prophecy ended—Jesus had gone into the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary to begin a work of ministry there and receive His kingdom. She saw that the Father moved from the Holy Place in the sanctuary to the Most Holy Place; Jesus followed. Believers who were praying in the Holy Place followed Jesus, who breathed His Spirit upon them.
(Early Writings, p. 54-56)

The heavenly sanctuary and a halo around the Sabbath commandment

Date: April 3, 1847
Location: Topsham, Maine
Type: Revelatory
Summary: Ellen White saw a vision of the sanctuary (temple) in heaven. She went into the Most Holy Place where the ark of the covenant was located. In it, she saw the Ten Commandments, and the fourth commandment had a halo of light encircling it. This view helped confirm the Sabbath truth the Adventists had been studying.
(Early Writings, p. 32)

Truth about the 1,000 years in Revelation 20

Date: August 18, 1848
Location: Volney, New York
Type: Revelatory
Summary: While at a conference in Volney, Ellen White had some concerns about the opinions people there were sharing. She had a vision that revealed some errors they had about the 1,000 years mentioned in Revelation 20. While having the vision, she held a Bible and quoted Scriptures that disproved the false teachings.
(Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 98)

Bible conference visions of 1848

Date: 1848
Location: Varying locations
Type: Revelatory
Summary: During 1848, the Advent believers met numerous times for in-depth Bible study on various doctrines. Sometimes, they would study all night, agonizing over passages they couldn’t understand. While these studies took place, Ellen White often couldn’t understand what was being studied; she described her mind as being “locked.” But when the believers came to a point of being stuck on a difficult passage, Ellen White would often have a vision that directed them to other passages in the Bible that helped explain the passages they were studying. She wrote, “Light was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood.”
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 144)

The Great Controversy and compromise

Photo by Aleksandar Popovski on Unsplash

Date: March 14, 1858
Location: Lovett’s Grove, Ohio
Type: Predictive
Summary: This vision, which lasted for two hours, gave Ellen White an overview of many different topics. The most important was a recap of the Great Controversy vision she was shown earlier. She was also shown some practical advice for church members. She was shown that, though they may walk alone in their beliefs, they should not compromise their standards for others.
(Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 265-270)

Proper observance of the Sabbath

Date: December 25, 1865
Location: Rochester, New York
Type: Counsel
Summary: This vision gave Ellen White insight on proper observance of the Sabbath. It also gave her encouragement that her husband would be healed, and that he should leave the sanitarium (or hospital) at Dansville, New York.
(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 531-533)

Visions about the last days

The following visions are about end-time events, Jesus’ Second Coming, the millennium, heaven, the final judgment, and the New Earth.

The new earth

Date: 1845
Location: Portland, Maine
Type: Revelatory
Summary: Ellen White traveled to the New Earth and saw the New Jerusalem, its temple, fields of flowers that never fade or die, and animals living peacefully together—among many other beautiful things.
(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 67-69)

Jesus to return after a time of trouble

Date: 1845
Location: Carver, Massachusetts
Type: Prediction
Summary: After the Great Disappointment, some believers tried to set other dates for Jesus’ coming. But in this vision, the Holy Spirit showed Ellen White that these people would be disappointed and that a time of trial, known as Jacob’s trouble, would take place before Jesus returned.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 100)

The shaking of the powers of the heavens

Date: December 16, 1848
Location: Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Type: Revelatory
Summary: She saw that the sun, moon, and stars would be moved out of place and shaken by the voice of God before the Second Coming (according to Matthew 24:29-30), but that this was different from the shaking of the powers of the earth that is happening currently (the wars, famine, and pestilence).
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 154)

Jesus interceding in the Most Holy Place in heaven and other last-day events

Date: January 5, 1849
Location: Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Type: Revelatory
Summary: Ellen White had a view of Jesus interceding for his people in the Most Holy Place in heaven. Then, she saw last-day events in succession: the seven last plagues, the death decree, and the deliverance of God’s people.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 154-155)

Angels holding back the four winds until God’s people are sealed

Date: January 6, 1849
Location: Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Type: Revelatory
Summary: In this vision, angels were holding back the four winds, which symbolize the judgments of God, until God’s people had His seal.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 155)

Duty during the time of trouble

Date: January 18, 1849
Location: Topsham, Maine
Type: Warning
Summary: This vision assured Ellen White that God would provide for His people during the time of trouble in the last days. All they need to do is trust Him rather than trying to prepare physically. God would teach His people and guide them to know their duty and when it’s time to let go of their belongings. At the same time, He warns them against becoming focused on and attached to the things of this world.
(Early Writings, p. 56)

Angels helping God’s people; heaven and other worlds

Date: Unknown, though most likely between 1848 and 1849
Location: Unknown
Type: Revelatory
Summary: Ellen White saw God’s love for His people and the care His angels provide to them. She was also given a glimpse of heaven and other inhabited worlds. In each of these other worlds, she saw a tree of knowledge of good and evil, which the inhabitants had never touched. And in one world, she saw Enoch visiting.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 156)

Open and shut door; spiritualistic deceptions of Satan

Photo by Marcus Aurelius

Date: March 24, 1849
Location: Topsham, Maine
Type: Revelatory/Predictive
Summary: This vision involved many different aspects. In one part, she saw that Jesus had shut the door to the Holy Place and opened a door in the Most Holy Place, where He is ministering in heaven. From the Most Holy Place, the Ten Commandments shine out.
(Early Writings, p. 42)

In another part of the vision, God showed her that Satan was trying to distract God’s people from the truth through the influences of spiritualism that were emerging in Ellen White’s time—such as the mysterious “knocking” in New York at the home of the Fox sisters. He would use “mysterious signs and wonders” to deceive people.

People unwilling to give to God’s work; views of Jesus and the Holy City

Date: January 26, 1850
Location: Oswego, New York
Type: Warning/Revelatory
Summary: In the first part of the vision, Ellen White saw people in the Advent movement who were unaware of the times they were living in and unwilling to give of their means and energies to support God’s work. She saw this scene in contrast with Jesus’ suffering and intercession on our behalf. An angel told her, “Those who are not interested in the cause of God on earth can never sing the song of redeeming love above.”
(Early Writings, p. 48-50)

She also saw scenes of Jesus and of future events: God’s people living in the Holy City for the 1,000 years of the Millennium, the descent of that city to the earth afterward, and the cleansing of the earth by fire.

The mark of the beast, the seven last plagues, and the need to get ready

Date: June 27, 1850
Location: Unknown
Type: Warning/Revelatory
Summary: In this vision, Ellen White saw the contrast between the reward of God’s faithful people and the seven last plagues that would be poured on those who reject and rebel against God. An angel told her that God’s people needed to “get ready, get ready, get ready.”
(Early Writings, p. 64-66)

Powers of darkness rising

Date: July 29, 1850
Location: Possibly New York state
Type: Warning
Summary: This vision showed Ellen White that Satan was working hard to stop God’s work and that God’s people lacked power because they let go of His promises too quickly. She was encouraged to “have faith in God” and depend completely on Jesus.
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 7, 1850″)

Satan’s efforts to stop God’s work and deceive people in the last days

Date: August 24, 1850
Location: Oswego, New York
Type: Revelatory/Warning
Summary: This vision gave Ellen White a behind-the-scenes view of how Satan was trying to stop her work, whether making her son sick or trying to hurt her when she was thrown from a wagon. It then continued with scenes of how Satan will work in the last days through spiritualism, miracles, and other signs. But with all the danger, she saw that God had his angels “hovering around the saints.” God’s people would need to be vigilant and have the “whole armor of God.”
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 7, 1850″)

Those who reject the truth would slander God’s people

Date: September 7, 1850
Location: Oswego, New York
Type: Revelatory/predictive
Summary: In this vision, God showed her that “a great work must be done for His people before they could stand in the battle of the day of the Lord.” She saw that many people who claimed to be Adventists were rejecting truths of the Bible and that they would actually turn and slander God’s people. Eventually, though, their actions would help open the eyes of other people to the truth.
(Early Writings, p. 69)

Last plagues, the millennium, and the final judgment

Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA

Date: September 1850
Location: Sutton, Vermont
Type: Revelatory
Summary: Ellen White saw that the seven last plagues would be poured out after Jesus finished His work in the Most Holy Place of the Sanctuary. She also saw scenes of God’s people with Him during the millennium (1,000 years) after the Second Coming and the execution of the final judgment on the wicked when the millennium is over.
(Early Writings, p. 52-54)

Scattering and gathering of God’s people

Date: September 23, 1850
Location: Sutton, Vermont
Type: Revelatory
Summary: This vision revealed that God was gathering His people and calling them to put more effort into spreading the truth of the three angels’ messages. The promise was that, as God’s people united in this mission, their efforts would be successful. God also showed Ellen White that time prophecy would not be a test of the faith of God’s people again as it had been during the misunderstanding in 1844.
(Early Writings, p. 74)

Time wouldn’t be a test before Jesus’ coming

Date: June 21, 1851
Location: Camden, New York
Type: Warning
Summary: A well-meaning Adventist leader had published a pamphlet giving a possible time for Jesus’ return. As a result, God gave Ellen White a vision to warn against calculating the time of the Second Coming.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 208)

Seeing the seven last plagues

Date: June 26, 1854
Location: Rochester, New York
Type: Revelatory
Summary: This vision gave Ellen White a view of the seven last plagues described in Revelation. This was also a time when people in the audience examined her during the vision. At the end, she held the Bible up high above her and began turning pages and quoting verses, all correct.
(Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 302)

A glimpse of heaven and the new earth

Date: June 12, 1868
Location: Battle Creek
Type: Revelatory
Summary: Ellen White was given a view of heaven and the new earth in this vision. This view included those who won’t be going to heaven, which included some Adventists.
(Ellen G. White: The Progressive Years: 1862-1876, vol. 2, p. 235)

View of the judgment

Date: October 23, 1879
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Type: Revelatory
Summary: This vision focused on the judgment at the end of time.
(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 384-387)

Foreseeing disaster in San Francisco

Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash

Date: April 16, 1906
Location: Loma Linda, California
Type: Warning
Summary: Ellen White was shown a representation of a city that would suffer from an earthquake and fire. This is assumed to be San Francisco, which was hit with the infamous earthquake just two days later. She saw buildings shaking and crumbling, fires breaking out, and people killed.
(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 92-93)

Visions about health

Here, you’ll find Ellen White’s visions on various topics of personal health and the counsel she received from God about starting health institutions.

A focus on the dangers of tobacco

Date: 1848
Location: Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Type: Counsel
Summary: In the first vision about health that Ellen White received, God showed her the negative effects of tobacco and its addictive nature. “I have seen in vision that tobacco was a filthy weed, and that it must be laid aside or given up,” noting that it can easily become an idol in someone’s life. She was also shown that the stimulant effects of caffeine from tea and coffee can also have negative effects on physical and mental health.
(The Story of Our Health Message, p. 65-66)

Basic hygiene and a simple diet

Date: January or early February, 1854
Location: Brookfield, New York
Type: Counsel
Summary: Ellen White’s second health vision included concerns about the behavior of church members and counsel for them. But it specifically addressed two aspects of health: cleanliness/hygiene and eating a simple diet. She learned that a healthy diet focuses on simple foods rather than what she called “rich foods” (such as cakes, pies, pastries, spicy and highly seasoned foods, cheese, butter, and condiments).
(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 1, 1854”)

Cautioning against overzealous ministry, finger-pointing, and “running ahead” of God’s plans or timing

Date: October 1858
Location: Mannsville, New York
Type: Warning
Summary: Ellen White received a vision that revealed the concerning mindset and overzealous behavior of a well-meaning but dangerously misguided couple of Christians. She was shown that they were taking “an exalted position that God has never assigned” to them. She was shown their mistaken notions of “afflicting your bodies” (depriving themselves of various foods) in order to appear more sacrificial and holy than others, all while maintaining an “appearance of humility.”

In her vision, she also saw three angels leading people in different ways, as the times and situations needed. She cautioned this couple against “running ahead of the angels that are leading this people.”

Instead, she encouraged them to focus on their own walk with Jesus and to stop “looking at the church and … noticing little things, when your attention should be turned to your own soul’s interest. God has not laid the burden of His flock up on you.”

(In this account of this vision, she also mentioned this couple’s question about avoiding pig products in the name of health, which was one of the fixations of their finger-pointing behavior. She cautioned them to let God be the one to “convict them on the matter” and to trust in God’s timing that, if this issue needed to be addressed church-wide, it would be. And five years later, Ellen White received what was known as the “health reform vision,” which addressed the question about pork products as well as several others.)
(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 204-209)

“The health reform vision”

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

Date: June 5/6, 1863
Location: Otsego, Michigan
Type: Revelatory/Counsel
Summary: This vision, referred to as the health reform vision, shed light on some important aspects of well-being that are often ignored or overlooked. It was written as insight given specifically to the unique life and calling she and her husband, James, shared. But Ellen White also wrote it down to express principles of health that everyone, especially those involved in ministry, can consider and apply in their own lives.

For herself and James, the vision addressed:

• The need for mutual care and understanding regarding individual sensitivities and areas of vulnerability
• The temptation to dwell in the past, and how Satan can use this as a distraction
• James’ stress and suffering due to picking up the slack of others. She saw an angel tell James to forgive them and to give the situation to God, rather than fixating on the injustices.
• The dangers of overworking and neglecting rest, and not maintaining a healthy work/home balance.
• Encouraging a cheerful and hopeful frame of mind for the sake of overall health, and shunning the compulsion to be constantly busy, or to live up to the expectations of others in place of what’s needed for a balanced and peaceful home life.

Her vision also covered more general health principles, which later became an important part of the Adventist health message. These included:

• The connection of health to the spiritual life
• The link between lifestyle and disease
• The negative effects of alcohol, tobacco, stimulating drinks, and rich food
• Temperance (self-control) in every aspect of life—eating, drinking, and working
• A simple vegetarian diet
• Avoidance of unclean meat, such as pork, per Leviticus 11
• Cleanliness
• The healing power of exercise, pure water, fresh air, and sunlight
• The dangers of recreational drugs (particularly those used in Ellen White’s time)
• How the mind and attitude affect health
• The role of health in the Adventist mission

(Letters and Manuscripts, “Manuscript 1, 1863″)

Call to begin a health center

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

Date: December 25, 1865
Location: Rochester, New York
Type: Counsel
Summary: Ellen White’s final vision about health gave her a glimpse of the way health could be part of the Seventh-day Adventist mission. It called the leadership to begin health centers, where they could teach others about caring for their bodies. In her own words, “I was shown that we should provide a home for the afflicted and those who wish to learn how to take care of their bodies that they may prevent sickness.”

The vision went on to provide more details of what this health center would be like: a place that taught people simple principles of healthy eating, fresh air, and exercise and also had the freedom to teach the Bible and Christian living.

(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, pp. 485–494)

Ellen White’s visions give us a glimpse of who she was

Here, we’ve given you an in-depth resource to dig deeper into Ellen White’s visions. And more than just learning about the contents of the visions, you’ve also gotten a glimpse into the type of woman she was.

She was a humble messenger of God, sharing the messages He gave her and not seeking credit for them. Because of this attitude, He used her in many great and small ways to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the church.

To zoom out and understand a bigger picture of her life and work,

Related Articles

1. “Adventist Denominations,” Ellen G. White Encyclopedia. [↵]

More Answers

Ellen G. White is a well-known name among Seventh-day Adventists, but she also made an impact in many other parts of history, aside from being a co-founder of the Adventist Church. That’s why Smithsonian Magazine recognized her as one of the 100 most influential Americans of all time.

So what was it about Ellen White’s life that brought about this kind of lasting influence and inspiration? Not only did she help guide the Adventist Church in areas of education and health, she also wrote more than 40 books (and about 5,000 journal articles) to guide people toward a closer walk with Jesus Christ.¹

And even with her ministry taking place over a century ago, her Spirit-led counsel continues to bless and guide people even in the 21st century.

Let’s look at the different parts of her life that contributed to the legacy she left behind her. We’ll cover:

• Her personal and family life
• The field of education
• Adventist doctrine
• The field of health
• Her writings

And in everything she did, she always gave the glory to God.

Let’s start by looking at how her legacy lives on through her family.

Personal and family legacy

“The White Family”

Ellen White had four sons, but only two of them survived to adulthood.

These two boys, Edson and Willie, would grow to follow in their mother’s footsteps in working for God’s ministry.

Her greatest desire for her children was that they would each accept God as their personal Savior.²

She took painstaking efforts to set a good example for them, reminding them to mold their characters to be like Jesus—compassionate, empathetic, purpose-driven, and most importantly, with their eyes on their Heavenly Father.

Though she was busy caring for their home, writing books, and traveling while serving in various ministry roles, she made sure her children knew they were valued and loved. She often wrote personal letters to each of them while she was away.

It was in these letters that we’re able to catch a glimpse of the kind of mother Ellen White was. She wrote them regularly whenever they were apart, telling them about her journey.³ And she was careful to show a personal interest in the lives of her children, asking about what they’d been involved in and what recent challenges they were up against.⁴

Like any good mother, she helped advise and lead them. And in her letters she would include a specific reminder to love and follow Jesus.⁵

From her writings and stories written about her, we can learn a lot about the very different personalities of her sons, Willie and Edson. Willie was generally more obedient and easygoing, while Edson proved to be more stubborn, inclined to do things his own way.⁶ And she knew God had unique plans for each of them.

“Edson White”

Often Edson and his father, James White, would argue about the poor decisions Edson would make—particularly how he handled money.⁷ But she often stood up for Edson, seeing his potential and knowing that God would never give up on him, and neither would she.⁸

But at one point in his life, Edson had gotten so discouraged that he decided to turn away from God altogether.⁹

Ellen White agonized over his decision. And while she respected his right to choose, she pleaded with him in her letters to turn back to God.¹⁰

It was at this time that God gave her a symbolic dream of Edson drowning in an undertow.¹¹ This represented his dire spiritual situation, and how he needed a helping hand to help him keep his head above water during his tumultuous spiritual struggle.¹²

She shared this dream with Edson, not in an attempt to frighten him, but to show him the reality of what his decision to reject God would mean.

Contemplating his mother’s perseverance and dedication to his spiritual well-being, this experience eventually convicted Edson that he needed a change of direction in his life. He decided to once again invite God into his heart.¹³

His conversion was due in part to the tireless efforts of his mother. And together, they rejoiced over the newfound freedom he was able to find in his relationship with God. Edson could sense His holy guidance as he finally fulfilled his ambition to become a sailor.

By witnessing Ellen White’s dedication to God, and to the world and the children He loves, her sons were inspired to also use their talents for God.

With his steamboat, Edson created an educational ministry on the Mississippi River for African Americans.¹⁴ In the past he had also worked as a printer, songbook publisher, writer, and also helped with the General Sabbath School Association.¹⁵

Meanwhile, Willie became her assistant and traveling companion as she traveled abroad to help establish and encourage additional ministry efforts to help spread the Gospel.¹⁶ Throughout his lifetime, Willie was an editor and an administrator, along with other roles such as serving on the Battle Creek College Board and assisting with the Sabbath School Association.¹⁷ Some other noteworthy positions include his role as one of the directors for the Health Reform Institute and vice president of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association.¹⁸ He even became the president of the Australian Union Conference.¹⁹

Ellen White was proud of both her sons’ ministerial careers. She prayed for them constantly and aspired to always be there for them in their struggles, encouraging them to keep doing God’s work.

Overall, she was happy to see the next generation taking over her work for the Lord. She knew it didn’t depend on her. She was just a willing vessel for the Holy Spirit to do His work.

Ellen White passed away in 1915. But she left her children with the memories of her unique ministry and the miraculous ways she was used by God. These were priceless experiences that complemented her genuine love for her sons, and her desire to help everyone learn about Jesus.

Her legacy in the field of education

Marienhohe Adventist College, Darmstadt, Germany

Because of that very desire to help people around the world learn about who Jesus Christ really is, Ellen White contributed to the field of education by encouraging Adventists to develop high-quality schools that included whole-person education and spiritual instruction—something that was quite rare in her day.

Through her diligent Bible study and guidance from the Holy Spirit, she helped establish the Seventh-day Adventist Educational system based on fundamental biblical principles that make a difference in each child’s ability to learn and grow.

Of the denomination’s early founders, Ellen White was one of the strongest supporters of Adventist schools. She saw the need for educational efforts that encouraged godly living and a closer walk with Christ, rather than basic book learning that only focused on the bare necessities.

She envisioned schools that would help students grow mentally, physically, and spiritually.

“True education means more than the perusal of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come.”²⁰

She helped Adventist schools pursue these ideals by sharing the instruction God gave her through the spiritual gift of prophecy.

She recorded these principles in her book, Education.

Some of these principles include:

• All subjects should be taught within a biblical framework.²¹
• Students learn practical skills and participate in manual labor.²²
• Teachers should encourage students to think critically.²³
• Students should spend more time out in nature.²⁴
• Students should learn how to serve others, and regularly be given chances to do so.²⁵

Ellen White, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, also helped the Adventist Church determine the location of several Adventist schools, some of which include:

• Andrews University (1874)²⁶
• Pacific Union College (1882)²⁷
• Avondale College (1897)²⁸
• Loma Linda University (1905)²⁹

Most of the educational institutions she helped establish are still in full operation today. And several more schools have been established around the world.

Today there are over 9,000 Adventist schools worldwide.³⁰ This includes 118 colleges, 6,621 primary schools, and 2,731 secondary schools.³¹

Overall, the Adventist school system is the largest Protestant school system in the entire world.³²

It’s thanks to the Holy Spirit working through Ellen White, coupled with the diligent efforts of Adventist teachers and administrators, that this educational dream continues to flourish. Children can not only learn about more of the wonders of God’s creation, they can also learn how to get to know their Creator better and how to follow His leading throughout their whole lives.

Her legacy upholding the importance of studying and following Bible truth

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

And her desire to educate didn’t stop with young children. She knew that everyone, from unbelievers to new believers to long-time followers of Christ, has more to learn about our Creator God and how He works with humanity.

When the Seventh-day Adventist Church was in its early years, Ellen White was deeply involved in the Bible study efforts that eventually formed the Fundamental Beliefs of the denomination. The small but fast-growing group of believers wanted to be very careful that their collective beliefs were firmly based in Scripture. They didn’t want to rely too heavily on tradition or popular philosophies of the time.

Through this study, early Adventists came to understand central concepts like the Sabbath, the Second Coming, and the Investigative Judgement. And because these concepts are complex and dependent on the understanding of other parts of the Bible, sometimes these study efforts would become temporarily stalled when they came across a passage that they weren’t unanimously agreed upon in how to interpret or apply it.³³

There were also occasions throughout early Adventist history when church leaders would disagree on some of the core concepts behind Adventist doctrine. One of the most controversial theological discussions was on the topic of salvation by faith.

Ellen White had a lot to say at one of the General Conference sessions when this topic was greatly debated.³⁴

Some delegates were so overzealous about obeying God’s law they de-emphasized the role of God’s grace in the process of salvation, even though it’s emphasized all throughout Scripture.³⁵

Ellen White agreed that people should obey the law. God asks this of His followers in the Bible, and human beings need an understandable framework to live by. But she, along with fellow believers E.J. Waggoner, and A.T. Jones, insisted that we should not lessen the role of God’s grace and His unfathomable love demonstrated by giving His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross.

They continued to present Bible-based information about righteousness by faith, as well as the fact that our faith is demonstrated through our works by the guidance of the Holy Spirit (James 2:14-26).

Ellen White studied the Bible diligently and was always listening for the prompting of the Holy Spirit. She took a practical approach to studying this complex topic. And as a result, she asked believers to accept salvation by faith, and once they’d done that, to live a life of active faith and service to the Lord as a response to His love, not as a way to “earn” salvation.

In addition to confronting legalism, she also played a significant role in keeping the Adventist Church from being influenced by false or misleading teachings of trending philosophies or belief systems.

One of these philosophies was pantheism, the idea that God is an impersonal force rather than a relational Being, and that this “force” was in everything, particularly expressed through nature. While God certainly created everything and we can see His glory expressed through nature, the big problem with this philosophy was that those who followed it usually ended up essentially worshiping nature itself, as well as other people, as if everything was fully divine all the time. It deterred the focus from having a personal relationship with a loving God, who created everything in nature for us to respect, enjoy, and care for—not to worship.³⁶

Ellen White demonstrated time and time again that the only way to establish sound doctrine is through thorough Bible study under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

She also followed the Holy Spirit’s prompting to help people apply biblical principles to their daily lives.

The health message

“Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.”

Ellen White left a considerable legacy in the fields of health and medicine. She did this by emphasizing the connection between physical health, and mental and spiritual health. She also taught people how we can best care for the bodies God gave us, and even helped establish health institutions that still stand today.

The Holy Spirit led Ellen White to encourage the establishment of sanitariums (countryside hospitals that treat specific or chronic illnesses). She was even given guidance on what they should offer and where they should be located. (Some of these include those in Glendale, Paradise Valley, and Loma Linda.³⁷)

Sanitariums are different from your average hospital because they teach patients about preventive care and lean toward natural, lifestyle-based treatments.

In other words, they don’t just patch up their patients and discharge them. The idea is to both help them get better and show them what to do to ensure they stay healthy in the future.

Many of these sanitariums would later become full-fledged hospitals, although some sanitariums still exist today. We now have more than 230 Adventist hospitals and sanitariums around the world.³⁸

These types of health clinics were especially helpful in Ellen White’s day. She lived during the US Industrial Revolution, which was also a time when general health suffered due to poor hygiene practices, exposure to toxins, dangerous working conditions, and little knowledge about proper nutrition. Moved by the Holy Spirit, she recognized the need to improve people’s physical health, so they could better enjoy the lives God gave them and be better able to serve others.³⁹

Photo by Juliane Liebermann on Unsplash

She also wrote several books and many letters to help people live fuller, healthier lives, based on the information God inspired her with. She encouraged people to stop harming their bodies and minds with tobacco and alcohol, and to spend time outside in the sunshine and fresh air, enjoying what nature has to offer.

While this might not seem like revolutionary advice to us today, there was a time when tobacco was used as a go-to remedy for roughly 65 different health conditions.⁴⁰ And people gave little thought to sanitation methods or the importance of including fruits and vegetables in their regular diets.

Her consistent advice about caring for our bodies in practical ways can be summarized by these key points, which is now known as the NEWSTART system:⁴¹

• N = Nutrition
• E = Exercise
• W = Water
• S = Sunlight
• T = Temperance
• A = Air
• R = Rest
• T = Trust in divine power

Sanitarium staff were encouraged to teach their patients about these health principles. And it was considered revolutionary at the time to embrace a plant-based diet, which she pointed out would lead to a healthier body and mind.

This concept, reflecting principles from Daniel 1, has since been proven in studies on Adventist health, to help people avoid getting diabetes, cancer, stroke, and various cardiovascular diseases.

So beyond teaching people about Jesus and creating a Christian school system, Ellen White’s legacy has actually led people to live longer, happier lives. That’s why so many of her books share the importance of whole-person health and how that can complement a life of service to God and others.

Overall, however, her writings cover a wide variety of both theological and practical topics. Even though she only had formal education that ended at age nine, she became the most translated female nonfiction author.⁴²

Ellen G. White’s publishing legacy

Photo by Emmanuel Phaeton on Unsplash

Of all Ellen White’s achievements, the writings she published are the most lasting legacy of her ministry.

At a time when a fledgling Christian movement needed divine leadership and direction, her writings served to point back to biblical principles that were often forgotten, misunderstood, or misapplied in her day. This included essential subjects like health, Christian behavior, servant-leadership, doctrine, evangelism, and spiritual gifts.

According to Tim Poirier, Vice-Director of the Ellen G. White Estate, the most important thing about her writings is that:

“They provide spiritual and practical instruction for living in this world and preparing for the world to come.”

And because these things are written down, we don’t have to worry about forgetting what she taught us. These helpful words are recorded for the benefit and growth of the Adventist Church (particularly books like Testimonies for the Church) and for those wanting to foster a personal relationship with their Savior, Jesus Christ (with books such as Steps to Christ).

Though her writings were written for believers, and sometimes specifically Adventists, everyone can find practical value in her writings. Even though she authored these books over a century ago, the underlying principles are always applicable.

The Ellen G. White Estate owns all of Ellen White’s personal and published writing. They have the responsibility of faithfully preserving and sharing her writings for the world to read.

If you’re interested in reading her writings for yourself, you can access them at egwwritings.org.

(And for those who prefer to listen rather than read, they have digital audiobook versions of her writings.)

“Ellen White”

Overall, she wrote more than 100,000 pages within her lifetime.⁴³

Some of her most popular works include The Desire of Ages and Steps to Christ, both of which are published by Pacific Press and can be found in every Adventist Book Center, among other places.⁴⁴

Today, her legacy lives on primarily through her writings, which is how God gifted her to share His love and the Gospel message with the world. Through them we can see both the depth and breadth of her work.

The Impact of Ellen G. White

Ellen White was a devoted wife, mother, friend, messenger, speaker, teacher, health reformer, and humanitarian.

Wherever she went, people generally expressed a favorable impression of her. In fact, whenever God called her to visit a town to speak or meet with people, many of the locals found themselves wishing she would stay.⁴⁵

And she wasn’t only recognized on a personal level. Big papers soon caught on to the impact she was making on the world.

In fact, shortly after she passed away, the New York Independent, a monthly journal, wrote:

“She was absolutely honest in her belief in her revelations. Her life was worthy of them. She showed no spiritual pride and she sought no filthy lucre. She lived the life and did the work of a worthy prophetess.”⁴⁶

This is a big part of why she was recognized by Smithsonian Magazine. She helped countless people look to the Bible for answers, and she contributed to the improvement of the general health of Americans. By being a willing vessel for the Holy Spirit to work through her, she accomplished remarkable things.

Want to learn more about one of Ellen White’s most popular books?

Related Articles

1. “How many books and articles did Ellen White write?” [↵]
2. White, Ellen G., “I’d Like to Ask Sister White,” Ellen G. White Estate, p. 87. [↵]
3. Ibid, p. 85-87. [↵]
4. Ibid, p. 91. [↵]
5. Ibid, p. 90. [↵]
6. “Edson White: His Conversion and Work,” [↵]
7. Ibid. [↵]
8. Ibid. [↵]
9. Ibid. [↵]
10. Ibid. [↵]
11. Ibid. [↵]
12. Ibid. [↵]
13. Ibid. [↵]
14. “Edson White: His Conversion and Work,” [↵]
15. Norman, Steve III, “James Edson White: A ‘No Limit’ Man,” [↵]
16. Ibid. [↵]
17. William Clarence ‘Willie’ White,” [↵]
18. Ibid. [↵]
19. Ibid. [↵]
20. White, Ellen G., Education,  p. 13. [↵]
21. Ibid., p. 17. [↵]
22. Ibid., p. 219. [↵]
23. Ibid, p. 231. [↵]
24. Ibid., p. 101. [↵]
25. Ibid., p. 215. [↵]
26. “Andrews Facts,” [↵]
27. “About PUC,” [↵]
28. “About Us,” [↵]
29. “About the University,” [↵]
30. “Seventh-day Adventist Education Statistics,” [↵]
31. Ibid. [↵]
32. “Now more than ever! Adventist Education,” [↵]
33. White, Ellen Gould, Selected Messages Book 1, pp. 206-207. [↵]
34. Douglass, E. Herbert, Messenger of the Lord, p. 195. [↵]
35. Ibid. [↵]
36. Ibid, pp. 200-201; White, Ellen G., Testimonies for the Church vol. 8. [↵]
37. Douglass, p. 163. [↵]
38. “Quick Statistics on the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” [↵]
39. Ellen G. White, Counsels on Health,  p. 6. [↵]
40. anchez-Ramos, R. Juan, “The rise and fall of tobacco as a botanical medicine, ”[↵]
41. “The NEWSTART Program,” [↵]
42. White, Arthur L., Ellen G. White: A Brief Biography. [↵]
43. “How many books and articles did Ellen White write?” [↵]
44. “What is Ellen White’s Most Popular Book?” [↵]
45. Skrzypaszek, John, “Ellen G. White’s Ministry in the South Pacific,” [↵]
46. The Test Results Pt.4,” [↵]

More Answers

When it comes to lifelong struggles with health, Ellen White was no stranger. In fact, health challenges set the tone for her life early on—years before she was involved in co-founding the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

She was born healthy in 1827 into a family of eight children. But an accident in her early years changed everything.

For most of her life, she had to cope with pain, illness, and discouragement. But she also learned to put complete trust in God, which opened the doors to amazing opportunities. God used Ellen White in extraordinary ways.

Here’s the story of how she became a strong, capable woman by following the Holy Spirit’s lead and making important decisions about how she treated her mind and body.

We’ll cover:

• The beginning of Ellen White’s health challenges
• Navigating these health challenges as she grew and matured
• How she overcame many health-related limitations
• Amazing things we can learn from her experience

Let’s start with the day Ellen White’s life changed dramatically.

The beginning of Ellen White’s health challenges

Photo by petr sidorov on Unsplash

The story of Ellen (Harmon) White’s struggles with pain and illness began when she was only nine years old. One day, as she was walking with her twin sister and a classmate, another older classmate angrily threw a stone that hit her square in the face. She collapsed and lay unconscious for three weeks.¹

Even after she regained consciousness, she remained weak and in pain because of the injury to her nose and face. No one thought she would live long.

A couple years passed before she attempted school again. While her mind could still learn and think critically, her body couldn’t keep up. She would grow tired very quickly, and dealt with symptoms most kids her age wouldn’t be familiar with at all.

“As I endeavored to bend my mind to my studies, the letters in the page would run together, great drops of perspiration would stand upon my brow, and a faintness and dizziness would seize me. I had a bad cough, and my whole system seemed debilitated.”²

Her nervous system was “prostrated,” she wrote.³

A few years later, she tried school again, but her health failed her yet again. She was forced to permanently end her schooling.⁴

And not only did her classwork stop, but most typical childhood activities did as well. She remained disabled throughout her childhood.

Upon later reflection, however, she actually said that this dark cloud of infirmity had a silver lining.

“The affliction that had darkened my childhood seemed to have been dealt me in mercy, for my good, to turn my heart away from the world and its unsatisfying pleasures, and incline it toward the enduring attractions of heaven.”⁵

Her seclusion away from school and friends led her to a deep study of God and His Word—the Bible. She was baptized into the Methodist Church at the age of 12, and as a teenager, she joined the Millerite movement.

And this movement paved the way for the beginning of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She became involved in ministry when she was 17 years old.

Because of this deep desire to know more about God, He worked through her to do incredible things.

Navigating health challenges over the years

Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash

The health issues that resulted from her childhood accident stayed with her for much of her life. She dealt with chronic illness and consistent pain. But because of her growing faith, she didn’t give in to despair—even though there were several times she felt like everything was impossible.

Her injured nasal area continued to bother her for much of her life. She suffered from general weakness and other strange, nagging side-effects, describing herself as “weak and feeble, subject to frequent fainting spells.”⁶ While speaking in 1869, she noted “having had five shocks of paralysis. I have been with my left arm bound to my side for months, because the pain in my heart was so great.”⁷

Imagine trying to work with such a defeating condition!

And yet she felt a great responsibility in her life, wanting to do good for others and share the Gospel. She never quit.

But her determination would sometimes push her too far, and she’d overwork herself.

“When writing ‘Spiritual Gifts,’ Volumes III and IV [1863-64], I would become exhausted by excessive labor. I then saw that I must change my course of life, and by resting a few days I came out all right again.”⁸

Proper rest became an important theme in her life. Because without enough of it, she simply couldn’t function.

When she’d overdo things, she would become so weak that she couldn’t even hold her children without fainting.

And besides her writing and duties at home, she and her husband, James White, traveled often, which contributed to their exhaustion.

James was also sick with various ailments from time to time, leaving Ellen to tend to him—all on top of caring for her young children, her church and ministry activities, and maintaining her household. At one point, things got so bad that they had to go to a sanitarium, or health and wellness clinic, in New York.

However, most of what Ellen White is known for has nothing to do with her health setbacks. She lived a long life of 87 years and was very active.

So how was she able to get past these health issues?

How she overcame her health-related limitations

Ellen White conquered her illness through a number of lifestyle changes, and she attributes this wisdom to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In her own life, and in the lives of those she counseled, she witnessed the connection between these aspects of healthful living and improved well-being. Many of these insights even came through visions she received from God’s Holy Spirit.

Physical health

Photo by Shannon Nickerson on Unsplash

In 1863, Ellen White received a vision from God that has been referred to as the “health reform” vision. In it, she saw many common foods or substances of her time that were to be avoided or used in moderation because of their harmful effects on the human body. These included meat, sugar, and various stimulants.

And with the limited medical and wellness knowledge in her time, around the years following the US’s Industrial Revolution, this information was surprising. In fact, much of it was exactly the opposite of what she—and many others—had always thought.

“Over thirty years ago I was often in great weakness,” she wrote in a letter. “…It was thought that flesh meat would give me vitality, and this was, therefore, my principal article of diet. But instead of gaining strength, I grew weaker and weaker. I often fainted from exhaustion.”⁹

God showed her that instead of more meat, she should greatly decrease her portions of it. And she should be adding fruit, vegetables, legumes, and other whole, unprocessed foods to her diet.

Diet was a primary part of the health reform efforts she was involved in, but it connected with many other things, like Christian temperance (or the principle of moderation), proper rest, personal hygiene, physical activity, and faith in God.

Many of these subjects were based on biblical principles. They outlined God’s original plan for humans that they would have followed in the Garden of Eden.

Ellen White immediately began incorporating these principles God showed her into her life as much as she could. When she did, she began to feel stronger and more clear-minded.

After a year of making changes to her lifestyle, she wrote, “[M]y health has never been better than for the past six months. My former faint and dizzy feelings have left me. … It is seldom I have a faint feeling. My appetite is satisfied. My food is eaten with a greater relish than ever before.”¹⁰

By focusing on whole, plant-based food options, she found that she felt better overall.

Spiritual Health

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Through her health challenges, Ellen White learned to depend on God more and strengthened her faith. She prayed and read the Bible, consistently asking for guidance and wisdom.

She encouraged other church members who had the means to change their lifestyles as well. She wrote many articles in the Adventist publication her husband regularly edited, The Review and Herald.

And in her book Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2, she wrote, “When making these changes in my diet, I refused to yield to taste, and let that govern me. Shall that stand in the way of my securing greater strength, that I may therewith glorify my Lord? Shall that stand in my way for a moment? Never!”¹¹

By reading Scripture and communicating with God, she had the strength to push away temptation.

But she also acknowledged that change was difficult. She depended on frequent prayer and self-discipline. And sometimes she’d still have occasional moments of weakened willpower, just like any of us. But the most important part about her health journey—she did not give up.

“…I resolved with the help of God to overcome this appetite. I fought the temptation, determined not to be mastered by this habit. For weeks I was very sick; but I kept saying over and over, The Lord knows all about it. If I die, I die; but I will not yield to this desire. The struggle continued, and I was sorely afflicted for many weeks.”¹²

In this passage, she was referring to a specific food, instead of her whole diet. Sometimes, she determined to cut a specific food out of her diet that was a significant temptation, or that her body did not react well to. But it was rarely easy for her.

While she was making these lifestyle alterations, she prayed often for mental strength and courage. In a letter about making positive lifestyle changes, she wrote, “Ask for the prayers of those who can comprehend your need of help.”¹³

With God’s help, Ellen White was able to strengthen her self-control, overcoming the temptations of unhealthy foods and opting for a simple, nourishing diet.

And over time, her health improved. It didn’t occur the moment she switched her diet. She persevered, also nurturing her faith in God along the way, which helped give her strength to keep improving.

When she was sick for so long, even after cutting out certain foods, she probably questioned if it was a good idea. But she chose to trust that God would work it out, and in time, He did. Even after she regained her full health, she still was not exempt from health challenges in her later years. She, like everyone else, sometimes caught illnesses and had other difficulties, despite her healthy diet.

But in her later years, she was stronger and healthier than she was as a young woman, enabling her to travel more and stay active in ministry, in addition to caring for her household.

What we can learn from her experience

Photo by Artem Kovalev on Unsplash

There are many things we can glean from Ellen White’s health journey. Here are three big takeaways:

• Dependence on God. Health challenges can be bothersome, inconvenient, and even terrifying. It affects all sides of our lives and can be ongoing. But no matter how hard it is or how discouraged we get, let’s not lose sight of God. In Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, Ellen White wrote, “Christ is a ‘tried stone,’ and never disappoints those who trust in Him.”¹⁴ So whether we’re just wanting to decrease our sugar intake or we’re fighting an aggressive cancer, nothing is too big or too small for God to help us with. We can always pray for His strength and guidance.
• Overworking ourselves can be a silent killer. Many people have tried pushing the limits of their minds and bodies for various reasons, and then discovered that the body can only sustain that heightened level of activity for a limited time. Ellen White saw this firsthand, leading her to write, “It is not wise to be always under the strain of work and excitement, even in ministering to men’s spiritual needs; for in this way personal piety is neglected, and the powers of mind and soul and body are overtaxed.”¹⁵ It’s easy to get too busy with all the things demanded of us today. But you don’t have to feel guilty for taking a break every now and then. Your body and mind need it.
• There can be big power in small lifestyle changes. Sometimes, even the smallest or simplest things can hold us back from better health. Looking back later in life, Ellen White wrote, “I accepted the light on health reform as it came to me. It has been a great blessing to me. I have better health today, notwithstanding I am seventy-six years old, than I had in my younger days.”¹⁶ When she made a progression of simple changes, her health improved remarkably.

Ellen White’s journey to better health was long and tiring. Her struggles with illness sapped much of her energy during the years she needed it most.

But she didn’t let it stop her from working to bring the Word of God to the world around her. She didn’t let the difficult times squash her faith in Jesus Christ. She was patient, and God showed her ways to improve her health.

Jesus will do the same for us. Even if our health challenges seem overwhelming, we can trust in God and pray for help. He will always answer us and guide us.

If you’d like to learn more about Ellen White’s ministry,

Related Articles

1. White, Arthur L., “Ellen G. White—A Brief Biography,” [↵]
2. White, Ellen G., Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 19. [↵]
3. White, Ellen G., Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, p. 15. [↵]
4. Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 26. [↵]
5. Ibid., p. 25. [↵]
6. White, Ellen G., Be Like Jesus, p. 316. [↵]
7. White, Ellen G., Testimonies For the Church, Vol. 2, p. 371. [↵]
8. Ibid., p. 372. [↵]
9. White, Ellen G., Letter 83, 1901. [↵]
10. White, Ellen G., Spiritual Gifts 4a, p. 153. [↵]
11. Testimonies For the Church, Vol. 2, p. 372. [↵]
12. White, Ellen G., “Letter 70, 1911.” [↵]
13. Ibid. [↵]
14. White, Ellen G., Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 3, p. 38. [↵]
15. White Ellen G., Gospel Workers, 1915 Edition, p. 243. [↵]
16. White, Ellen G., Counsels of Diet and Foods, p. 482 [↵]

More Answers

Ellen and James White, cofounders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, met and married under somewhat unusual circumstances. But it’s a sweet story of partners in ministry becoming partners in life. And their married life continued to center on furthering the spread of the gospel together.

But that doesn’t mean their marriage was atypical in all areas. They raised children, traveled, established homesteads, stayed active in their communities, and faced many of the common challenges families still face today.

But let’s see what made James and Ellen White’s marriage so inspiring. We’ll look at:

• How they met and became a couple
• Their wedding and newlywed life
• Challenges in married life
• What we can learn from James and Ellen White

First, let’s hear the story of how they met.

How they met and became a couple

“Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.”

Ellen Harmon didn’t remember meeting James White before her trip to Orrington, Maine, in 1845, but James first met her when she was sixteen, in 1843. He was visiting her hometown of Portland, Maine as a Millerite preacher. And he was impressed by her sincere Christian missionary efforts.¹

By the time they met again in early 1845, the situation was vastly different. The Millerite movement had crumbled with the Great Disappointment of 1844, and Ellen was beginning her own ministry efforts. Persuaded by her friends, she traveled to Orrington, Maine, to share a vision she received from the Holy Spirit about the parts of Scripture she’d been studying.²

Once more, James admired her willingness to share the Advent message (that the Second Coming was still imminent). He offered to accompany her on her travels, and she accepted.

Before long, however, people couldn’t help but notice how much time the two were spending together, traveling so often. Their names would even pop up in some communities’ gossip circles. They traveled together so much—was their relationship just that of getting to know each other, or of working together, or was more going on? Ellen and James were certainly interested in each other, but up until that point, they hadn’t discussed their relationship. But it was time to address what they truly meant to each other, especially since they appeared in public together so often.³

Ellen White later remembered the finality of James’ proposal. “He told me … he should have to go away and leave me to go with whomsoever I would, or we must be married.”⁴

Despite the purely ministerial reason they were traveling together, mutual affection had sprung up between them. They had plenty of opportunity to see how the other acted in various circumstances because they were together so often on the road.

Tricky situations, like dealing with weather or finding lodging, treatment of strangers and acquaintances alike, processing upsetting news—all of these scenarios Ellen and James undoubtedly encountered during their travels. By seeing how the other handled these situations, they were able to determine each other’s characters and their compatibility.

Apparently, everything checked out. Ellen saw in James desirable qualities: his “firmness and decision,” his ability to “stand in defense of the truth, without yielding,” “bold and fearless in acting,” and “unbending integrity,” among others. These helped her decide James was the one for her.

And that was that! Soon after, they married.⁵

Wedding and life as newlyweds

On Sunday, August 30, 1846, 18-year-old Ellen Harmon and 25-year-old James White said their marriage vows. Charles Harding, a Justice of the Peace in Portland, Maine, performed the ceremony.⁶

It was a joyous occasion, but their early life together was no piece of cake. Ministers of the Advent Movement were not paid then. So not only did they have to find ways to support themselves, they also had to fund their own missionary efforts.⁷

In their first years of marriage, James had to divide his time between traveling, preaching, and working jobs like railroad construction, forestry work, and hay harvesting.⁸ They were very poor and often lived with other people, although their goal was to be independent.

Sometimes, things were so tight that they couldn’t afford the basic food items we take for granted today, like potatoes and butter. Instead they’d eat turnips and sauce, on a table made of fireboard supported by two flour barrels.⁹

Struggles were many and often, and they certainly had their share of discouragements. But, they did not give up. “We are willing to endure privations if the work of God can be advanced,” she wrote.¹⁰

“Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.”

Eventually, they were able to live on their own, first in New York, then in Battle Creek, Michigan. The Adventist Church became more organized, and they could support themselves off the work they did for it.

Although no less busy, their lives became a bit more comfortable. They were blessed with four sons over the years: Henry Nichols, James Edson, William Clarence, and John Herbert. They involved their sons in their work as much as possible as a way to incorporate family time.

Despite the hardships, there were many happy times in James and Ellen’s marriage. Together, they were a strong team. They traveled, preached, and united their available funds and time to help share the Advent message.

And they didn’t just work together for a common cause. They truly enjoyed working as partners in ministry. Here’s one example of how they benefited from their team effort. On one occasion, early in their marriage and ministry, Ellen White had a vision.

Afterward, she went to her husband. “I have a message for you. You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first. From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world.”¹¹

James had already been interested in writing and publishing about the new Scriptural discoveries they had been studying, and this encouraged him. He did indeed start a publication, and it became known as The Present Truth.

Challenges in Ellen White’s married life

Like any marriage, Ellen White’s wasn’t perfect. She and James encountered many difficulties along the way that challenged the knot they had tied.

Balancing family life and ministry

Unlike most women at that time, Ellen White’s ministry required working extensively outside the home. This meant the time she had for her husband, and later children, was limited.

She loved her family deeply, but felt a keen sense of responsibility for her work in the Adventist Church. It involved traveling—sometimes across the country—to preach, and she also began writing books like The Great Controversy and articles for periodicals like the Review and Herald.

Ultimately, she had to leave her children in the care of others for much of their young lives.

“I cannot do my duty to my family and devote myself to the benefit of God’s children too,” she wrote in a letter. “My mind cannot be everlastingly planning and cutting and contriving, and yet be prepared to write for the Review and Instructor and answer the numerous letters sent in to me.”¹²

But she realized her situation was unique. She was not an example for how things should be. And she still worried over her children, wishing the situation could be different. In Testimonies For the Church, Volume 1, she wrote,

“I had felt the deepest anxiety that my children should be brought up free from evil habits, and I was often grieved as I thought of the contrast between my situation and that of others who would not take burdens and cares, who could ever be with their children, to counsel and instruct them, and who spent their time almost exclusively in their own families.”¹³

Despite being separated from her children, Ellen White wrote regularly to them, as she did with her husband, when travel separated them. Much to her happiness, her entire family eventually came under one roof again.

Financial struggles

Photo by Emil Kalibradov on Unsplash

As mentioned earlier, Ellen and James had their own set of financial difficulties, especially early on in their marriage. Part of it was due to the lack of financial support for ministers. But another part of it was because of their joint decision to not go into debt.

James worked his fingers to the bone doing odd jobs to bring in money. Ellen White’s biography describes that hauling stone for the railroad “wore the skin on his hands to the bleeding point.”¹⁴ Cutting wood from dawn to dusk earned him a meager 50 cents a day, and nagging pain at night.¹⁵

At home, Ellen White pinched pennies to keep them all fed and clothed. Sometimes, she even had to go without basic necessities so there would be enough for others.

“Ellen could afford only one pint of milk a day for her child [Henry] and herself. Then came a day when she had to cut out the nine-cent allowance for the milk supply for three days to have enough money to buy a bit of cloth for a simple garment for the baby.”¹⁶

Their poverty discouraged them for a time, and James wrote that he “suffered more in mind and body than he could show with pen and paper.”¹⁷

Fortunately, they had friends who were willing to help them out. But it took several years for their circumstances to improve, and they credit the Holy Spirit’s guidance and comfort for helping them overcome the near-constant discouragement.

Loss of loved ones

The Whites experienced grief fairly early in their married life. They lost two of their children within three years.

In 1860, they were blessed with a fourth son, John Herbert. But just a month or two later, he came down with erysipelas—a type of bacterial skin infection. “Twenty-four days and twenty-four nights we watched our suffering little one,” Ellen White wrote. “Much of the time during his sickness I was mourning and pleading before the Lord that, if consistent with His will, my precious one might be spared. I could give vent to my feelings with bitter tears.”¹⁸

But John died. Ellen White fainted at the funeral. “Although my heart ached to bursting, I could not shed a tear. For one week this anguish pressed me. My mind was in a continual study as to why it should be so.”¹⁹

The stricken parents naturally wondered why God didn’t heal John. But they did not give up. They knew that death and suffering were an inevitable part of living in a sinful world, and they trusted God would get them through this unbearable time.

Then in 1863, their oldest son Henry, a young man of 16, came down with pneumonia. He rapidly grew worse, and eventually, everyone, including Henry himself, knew he was going to die. On December 8, 1863, he passed away.²⁰

“When our noble Henry died, at the age of 16—when our sweet singer was borne to the grave, and we no more heard his early song—ours was a lonely home.”²¹

This was another blow to the White home. But Ellen White did not let it conquer her as a wife, mother, and Christian. She wrote, “…God comforted us in our bereavements, and with faith and courage we pressed forward in the work He had given us, in bright hope of meeting our children who had been torn from us by death, in that world where sickness and death will never come.”²²

James and Ellen carried the pain of those losses for the rest of their lives. But they also expressed overwhelming gratitude for their other two sons, James Edson and William Clarence, both of whom lived to adulthood.

Long-term sickness

Photo by Nina Hill on Unsplash

Later in life, James suffered a series of strokes, beginning with one on August 16, 1865. So Ellen, in addition to her own significant health struggles, had to be a caregiver for him as he recovered.

In the 1870s, he had more strokes. These changed his personality, so as you can imagine, it made things tougher in their relationship. James had always done well in management positions at work, but his stroke caused him to lean on those familiar workplace-type roles even while at home. Sometimes he’d end up ordering Ellen around, rather than treating her like his life partner.

In a letter, Ellen White confided the strain she was enduring, caring for James in his altered state:

“I can but dread the liability of James’ changeable moods, his strong feelings, his censures, his viewing me in the light he does, and has felt free to tell me his idea of my being led by the wrong spirit, my restricting his liberty, et cetera.”²³

Throughout their friendship and their marriage, they had always worked as a team. So hearing these things from her beloved husband was undoubtedly disheartening.

She also wrote of his complaints. “He has said we must not seek to control each other. I do not own to doing it, but he has, and much more. I never felt as I do now in this matter. I cannot have confidence in James’ judgment in reference to my duty.”²⁴

This type of situation may sound painfully familiar for those who have had spouses or family members suffer from strokes, mental illness, or other mind-altering conditions. Sometimes it just feels impossible.

And, since she had always leaned upon his judgment when they made decisions together, this made the burden on Ellen even heavier. Finally, she and James decided to continue their ministries by working separately for about two months.

She traveled for a while on church business, but always wrote loving letters home. Eventually, James’ physical and mental health improved to the extent that these difficulties lessened and they were able to resume their united ministry.

Lessons from Ellen White’s marriage

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Ellen White gained a lot of personal insight and biblical guidance from her years as a working wife and mother. Here are a few takeaways from her experience.

• Seek God’s will before entering marriage. When James proposed marriage to Ellen, she took time to pray before giving James her answer. Likewise, she advised young people to pray about their relationships, bringing concerns, questions, and joys to God and listening for His leading. This was to accompany the study of the Bible and its fundamental principles for loving relationships of any kind. She wrote later in The Adventist Home, “The instruction given in God’s word on this point should be carefully considered. Heaven looks with pleasure upon a marriage formed with an earnest desire to conform to the directions given in the Scripture.”²⁵
• Maintaining a proper balance between work and family. From an early age, Ellen White knew what it was like to have too much to do. She also learned that if she wasn’t intentional about her time management, things wouldn’t come into balance on their own. “As a rule, the labor of the day should not be prolonged into the evening. … Let parents devote the evenings to their families. Lay off care and perplexity with the labors of the day.”²⁶ She knew that for genuine quality time with her children, she had to guard her time with them, making sure it was clear they were the priority.
• The best of marriages still have problems, but God’s principles can help us navigate them. From the very start of their marriage, James and Ellen White had to deal with poverty, loss, illness, and several types of overwhelming circumstances. Their commitment to one another, to their family, and to their ministry is a testament to their faith, and to God’s loving sustenance. That’s why she advised, “But what human wisdom cannot do, the wisdom of God can do through the surrender of the will, the mind, the soul, the strength, the entire being, to God. … [H]eart is bound firmly to heart in the golden chain of a love that is genuine.”²⁷

Marriage is an adventure—it can be fun, exhilarating, and fulfilling. But adventures also include difficulty. Ellen White’s marriage may have been a bit different from many others, but the relational components and principles are the same. Love and marriage is more than just strong feelings of attraction. It’s a spectrum of emotions, experiences, and growth, all taking place under a commitment to cherish and support the other for the whole of life. And with God being the ultimate source and example of true, unconditional love, it makes perfect sense to trust this precious relationship to His will.

Ellen and James White placed their marriage in God’s hands, no matter how hard it was at times. And they were both glad they did. There is much we can learn from such a couple.

Interested in what the Bible says about marriage and relationships?

Related Articles

1. Steinweg, Marlene, “Her Husband’s Crown,” Adventist Pioneer Library, vol. 5, 1995, p. 3. [↵]
2. Ibid. [↵]
3. “Marriage and Children,” [↵]
4. “Her Husband’s Crown,” p. 6. [↵]
5. Ibid. [↵]
6. “Marriage and Children.” [↵]
7. Coon, Roger W., A Gift of Light, p. 26. [↵]
8. Ibid. [↵]
9. A Gift of Light, p. 27. [↵]
10. Ibid. [↵]
11. White, Ellen G., Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 125. [↵]
12. White, Ellen G., “Letter 27,” 1861. [↵]
13. White, Ellen G., Testimonies For the Church, vol. 1, p. 101. [↵]
14. White, Arthur Lacey, Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827-1862, vol. 1, p. 134. [↵]
15. Ibid. [↵]
16. Ibid. [↵]
17. Ellen G. White: The Early Years, p. 135. [↵]
18. White, Ellen G., “Letter 17, 1861.” [↵]
19. Ibid. [↵]
20. “Henry White’s Death At Fort Howland,”  [↵]
21. White, Ellen G., Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 165. [↵]
22. Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, pp. 165-166 [↵]
23. White, Ellen G., Letter 64, 1876. [↵]
24. Ibid. [↵]
25. White, Ellen G., The Adventist Home, p. 70. [↵]
26. White, Ellen G., Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, p. 65. [↵]
27. White, Ellen G., “Letter 76, 1894.” [↵]

More Answers

Ellen G. White’s contributions to the formation and growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are an integral part of its history. As a significant co-founder of the denomination, her writings provided millions of people with practical and spiritual counsel. So to preserve and manage this literary legacy, the Ellen G. White Estate was established as outlined in her last will.

But this organization is more than just an archive or a library. The White Estate also serves as a place of learning about the early history of the Adventist Church. So if you’re ever in Silver Spring, Maryland, you can even stop by to tour the museum inside the Ellen G. White Visitor Center.

A big part of the White Estate’s mission is to be a helpful resource for anyone who wants to understand more about Adventist history, Ellen White, and her extensive, widely-influential ministry.

Let’s learn more about how the White Estate operates and why it’s so highly valued by Adventists. We will cover:

• How the Ellen G. White Estate was established
• Purpose and mission
• History
• Operation

Let’s start with some historical background.

How was the Ellen G. White Estate established?

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

As she faced the later years of her life, Ellen White considered what might be the best way to manage the preservation of her written works. So when she established her will in 1912, she also laid out the framework for this estate. As specified in her will, the organization would have a four-part purpose:

• Acting as her legal agent by holding custody and copyright of her writings
• Conducting any business related to her writings
• Securing the printing of new translations, whether modernizations of wording or translations into other languages like Spanish, Portuguese, or French
• Printing of compilations from [her] manuscripts, such as books like The Adventist Home¹

Ellen White also listed the names of those she wished to be on the first board of trustees: Arthur G. Daniells, William C. White (her son), Clarence C. Crisler, Charles H. Jones, and Francis M. Wilcox.²

When she passed away in 1915, the Estate was established.³

It had its beginnings at Ellen White’s final home, known as “Elmshaven,” in St. Helena, California. The first trustees rented an office building on the grounds to conduct any business.⁴

The purpose and mission of the White Estate

Ellen White wanted to be clear that the establishment of this estate was not because of any personal pride, or simply due to familial sentiment. The Estate’s mission statement reflects the true purpose for its existence:

“The Ellen G. White Estate supports the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in uplifting Jesus Christ and His Word by sharing Ellen White’s prophetic ministry and writings throughout the world.”⁵

To do that, the White Estate provides digital access to all the published writings of Ellen G. White, as well as some additional letters and manuscripts meant for sharing. These writings, be they books, letters, articles, or pamphlets, can be searched through at egwwritings.org, which is operated by the White Estate. These writings have also been translated into more than 140 languages, and those translations are available on that site as well.

They’ve also developed apps for iOS and Android for users to read on mobile, or listen to as audiobooks.

All of this is in addition to the White Estate’s website, which has several articles that address different aspects of her ministry within the Adventist Church, and how she always sought to point people toward the Bible, the one authoritative standard of all truth.

They also have a question-and-answer section. People have submitted questions about what Ellen White wrote about a certain subject, or if she provided counsel in applying a particular biblical principle to modern life. Then her writings, along with the Bible, are used to answer those questions.

History

Soon after Ellen White passed away, the original five trustees began the work of indexing and publishing compilations of her writings. They also laid the groundwork for keeping the trusteeship self-perpetuating, as she had directed in her will.

This led the trustees to form a corporation to manage the Estate. The corporation would then be the entity that had the legal responsibility of carrying out the provisions of the charitable trust that was also created by Ellen White’s last will and testament.

Additionally, even though the White Estate is a separate entity from the General Conference, the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they formed a mutually beneficial alliance early on. The General Conference provides financial support for the ministry of the White Estate.

In January 1938, the White Estate moved its office to Washington, DC to be more closely connected to the work of the General Conference.

As the church grew, it became apparent that the White Estate would also have to grow to meet the needs. So in 1950, it increased its number of board members. Although the number has fluctuated over the years, there are currently five lifetime trustees and 10 term-based board members.

Today, the Ellen G. White Estate continues to serve the Adventist Church from its main office in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Operation

“Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.”

In addition to the trustees who compose the White Estate board, the day-to-day work of the Estate is managed by several staff members who work at General Conference headquarters. These staff members are in charge of:

• Maintaining the records and indexes entrusted to the Estate
• Handling copyrights for Ellen White’s works
• Researching her works and related historical material when needed
• Answering questions regarding Ellen White’s writings and ministry
• Assembling material for compilations of Ellen White’s writings
• Coordinating the translation of her writings, as well as preparing adaptations or abridgments
• Presentations at churches, events, and ministry offices
• Conducting tours of historical Adventist sites, especially in New England
• Preparing articles, text, and correspondence lessons⁶

While its main office is in Maryland, the White Estate operates branch offices and research centers all over the world. Its four branch offices are located at:

• Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
• Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan
• Adventist University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
• Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, Cavite, Philippines

Each branch office and research center contains copies of all Ellen White’s letters and manuscripts.

In addition to the branch offices, the White Estate maintains more than 20 research centers at Adventist universities around the world for public use. These centers will gladly assist people who are visiting or looking for information about Ellen White and Adventist history.

These branch offices and research centers are just one more way the White Estate works to fulfill the mission of Ellen G. White and the founders of the Adventist Church.

The Holy Spirit worked through Ellen White in extraordinary ways, primarily through the gift of prophecy (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:28). From its inception, the White Estate has sought to continue the blessing of that ministry, seeking to glorify God with the resources they have been tasked to manage.

Related Articles

1. “Origins of the White Estate,” [↵]
2. Ibid. [↵]
3. Ibid. [↵]
4. “Organizations of the White Estate,” [↵]
5. “Our Mission,” [↵]
6. “The Work of the White Estate,” [↵]

More Answers

It’s natural to be a bit skeptical when you hear about someone being “divinely inspired,” or that something is a “message from God,” etc. And we expect nothing different if you’re hearing about Ellen White, an influential co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, for the first time. After all, the Bible tells us that we’re supposed to test these things!

Fortunately, there’s a fairly simple answer to why we’re confident that Ellen White’s spiritual counsel was prompted by the Holy Spirit: Any information she claimed to have received from God has always been in line with what the Bible says and has always upheld Jesus Christ as the Son of God, our Redeemer and Savior.

(And that’s a huge part of what Scripture tells us to use as “tests of a prophet.”)¹

So whether you’ve read her writings yet or not, we’ll take you through:

• The Adventist Church’s position on the nature of Ellen White’s writings
• How we can tell which of her writings were inspired, and which came about from her own observations and studies
• Why Ellen White’s writings are still relevant today

Let’s start with the official stance of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

What does the Adventist Church say about the nature of Ellen White’s writings?

The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes that Ellen White’s writings align with the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10).

In other words, we believe she was given one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit—the prophetic gift—as mentioned in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 14.

(You can read more about this in the 18th Fundamental Belief of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.)

Some people wonder whether God still uses prophets today, in the post-biblical era.

But Scripture hasn’t given any indication that God would ever stop using prophets to further the gospel or help nurture and guide His followers. We’re even told that prophecy is a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit, just as leadership, giving, and teaching are (Romans 12:6-8).

As a matter of fact, the Bible tells us that the gift of prophecy will increase as we reach the last days (Acts 2:17).

It also tells us to “test the spirits,” so we don’t get led astray by false prophets (1 John 4:1-2, ESV). And Scripture gives us several guidelines to use in doing just that.

And throughout her life, Ellen White has demonstrated that she passes the biblical tests of a prophet.

(For a more comprehensive list of the tests of a prophet, check out “6 Ways to Tell if Someone is a True Prophet” or “10 Tests of a Prophet.”)

Here are just a few examples:

1) A prophet’s words should align with the Bible (Isaiah 8:20; 1 John 4:1-3): As we’ve already mentioned, Ellen White’s messages always point to principles found within Scripture, and always uplift the Bible as the ultimate spiritual authority. In fact, she made a point to remind her fellow Christians of this in her very first book.

“I recommend to you, dear reader, the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice. By that Word we are to be judged. God has, in that Word, promised to give visions in the “last days”; not for a new rule of faith, but for the comfort of His people, and to correct those who err from Bible truth.”²

2) A prophet’s predictions should come true (Deuteronomy 18:20-21): Ellen White knew things she could only know through divine revelation. For example, she was shown the yet-unknown (or neglected to be acknowledged) dangers of certain 19th-century medical practices. On top of that, she was also given specific visions about last-day events. Many of her predictions have come true, while others have yet to happen. One of the most notable predictions she gave was when she described how the secession of the Southern states would lead to the Civil War.³

3) A prophet’s message should inspire positive change (Ezekiel 13:10): The primary goal of all her writings were to call people to be more diligent about following the Scriptures they profess to believe in.

This is evident in the way she calls people to put their sins and selfishness behind them and come to God.

Sometimes she would call for positive change on a grand scale, by pointing out areas where church leaders had begun to stray from what Scripture teaches (such as when she warned church leaders to guard against the growing influence of spiritualism, especially in the form of pantheistic teachings).⁴

On other occasions, she would write personal letters to some whom she felt needed direct confrontation. One example of this is when she contacted John Byington, the man who would soon become the first president of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference.⁵ She wrote him a letter to remind him to take his focus off of worldly struggles, and instead focus his attention on God’s faithfulness.⁶

Because this man was on the path toward leadership in the Adventist Church, she knew that it was appropriate to be rather blunt. So she called him out, warning him that a fixation on becoming well-respected and financially comfortable was a distraction from the ministry work ahead of him.

4) A prophet should always glorify God (John 16:13):⁷ True prophets never seek to glorify themselves. When they speak of their ability, they always direct any glory to God. After all, prophets aren’t called to be popular. They’re called to be humble messengers for God. Even at the expense of their own lives, popularity, and welfare, true prophets call people to be more like Jesus Christ and to worship God alone (Revelation 22:9).

Ellen White’s writings were all about sharing God’s glory and love with others. She constantly reflected on her reliance on the Holy Spirit, humbling herself before God and others as she asked Him to guide her ministry.⁸ And even when her messages were not well received, she continued with her spiritual duty to provide guidance or even rebuke, when necessary.

Overall, it’s not hard to see divine inspiration in Ellen White’s writings because they continuously give glory to God, and consistently ask us to live by His Word above all else. Nothing she wrote gave indication that any of her prophetic gift was used to bolster her own pride or public standing.

How we can tell which of her messages were directly inspired by God?

There are certain markers that help us distinguish between Ellen White’s personal views and her inspired writings.

After all, just because Ellen White had prophetic duties doesn’t mean she didn’t have her own life and her own informed opinions. For example, she would often write newsy letters to friends and family.

Some of the advice she gave family and close friends through these personal letters she did not attribute to divine inspiration, but to her own experiences and good sense.

And it’s not difficult to differentiate between her personal and inspired writings, especially if we look at the context when we encounter a quote from her.

For one thing, Ellen White was careful to tell people whether she was speaking from her own thoughts or from God’s instruction.

And the fact that she wrote her own thoughts demonstrates what true prophets are really like.

They’re not distant, impersonal, or cold. They’re not overly strange or intentionally isolated from the goings-on of daily life. Prophets, throughout history, haven’t been much different than any other person—they have families, jobs, differing personalities, personal struggles, and unique perspectives.

Their positions as prophets simply call them to have a closer connection with the Holy Spirit, which often enables them to look at even the most simple things of life with a deeper spiritual perspective.

As Tim Poirier, the Vice Director of the Ellen G. White Estate, puts it:

“It is easy to know whether the message came from revelation when she says ‘I was shown…’ or ‘It was revealed to me…’ etc. But the mere absence of such expression does not necessarily mean that what follows is only her own opinion. A colleague of mine used to say that what she wrote was the product of ‘an enlightened mind’—meaning that even if she hadn’t received a specific revelation about a matter, the counsels and instruction that she presented were based on principles that derived from the benefit of having received many visions and prophetic dreams throughout her lifetime.”

This helps us see that while not every piece of her writing was a direct message from God or the recounting of a prophetic vision, we can rest assured that her words were prayed over, and the concepts she wrote about were studied with a biblical perspective.

But if you come across a quote of hers and you’re wondering if it was inspired or not, here are some things you can do to help determine as such.

First, always check the context of the quote. (You can find all her writings at egwwritings.org.)
Then, ask the following questions:

• Is she speaking to family or close friends, to a general audience, or to a specified group of people? Once it’s clear who the audience is, then proceed to the following questions.
• Is it practical advice about a common subject, or spiritual guidance about a serious matter?
• Does she say it’s her own opinion, or that it’s based on her observations? If not, does she seem to be making a spiritual plea for the sake of a person’s well-being, or the sake of the gospel message?

In general, you can usually assume she was relaying instruction from God when she:

• Gave spiritual reproof
• Described events of biblical prophecy, or provided information about future events
• Provided instruction on health reform (for the sake of ministry, stewardship, and representing Christ)
• Provided guidance on matters of doctrine
• Gave guidance to the General Conference or other church leaders (particularly regarding fundamental beliefs or the mission and administration of the Adventist Church)

And, though many of her personal writings weren’t directly inspired, that doesn’t mean they aren’t important or that they aren’t based on biblical truths. As someone with the prophetic gift, she was constantly growing closer to God—which also meant growing in wisdom. We can often find helpful advice in her words that help us apply the Bible’s profound principles to daily life.

Why Ellen White’s writings are still relevant today

Photo by Emmanuel Phaeton on Unsplash

Ellen White’s writings contain timeless truths for God’s people. These truths include information about how we care for ourselves, how we treat other people, how to apply Bible prophecy to history, and how we might recognize and understand prophetic events yet to come.

While there might be specific instruction she gave that doesn’t apply to current times (like cautioning families from wasting their money on bicycles, which were very expensive at the time), we can still find value in the general principle behind what she wrote about maintaining good standards of stewardship by managing our money responsibly.

We just have to be careful about applying her instruction directly to contemporary situations that don’t match the context in which she was writing.

But you might still find that some of her quotes, books, articles, or pamphlets are not relevant to your situation, or maybe you come across statements where the contextual details would require some extra research.

Well, that’s okay! Her writings were for those who needed them. They weren’t all written for everyone, at every time, in every situation. And there’s no requirement to read everything she wrote. After all, her primary goal was to get people to keep up with regular Bible study!

So even if some of her writings don’t seem relevant or useful to us at the time, we can be thankful for the principles presented and we can appreciate the impact they’ve had on other people’s lives.

Her first vision gave hope to the Millerite people regarding the Second Coming. From there, she led Advent believers—like Joseph Bates and James White—through what she wrote in her books, such as Testimonies for the Church and Spiritual Gifts, as well as her contributions to Signs of the Times and The Review and Herald.

Even today, Ellen White’s more popular books (like the Desire of Ages, The Great Controversy, and Steps to Christ) have provided spiritual enrichment for countless people. Many have attested to how these books have helped them grow closer to Jesus Christ.

In fact, the writings of Ellen G. White have grown so popular that she is considered one of the most translated female authors in the world.⁹

If you’re interested in taking a look at her writings for yourself, you can find them at the Ellen G. White Estate or at egwwritings.org.

Want to learn more about Ellen White’s life and how she became involved in ministry? prophetic gift?

Related Articles

1. Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Isaiah 8:20; Jeremiah 23:16; Matthew 7:15-20; Luke 6:26; John 14:6; Romans 16:18; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1-6. [↵]
2. White, Ellen G., Early Writings, p. 78 [↵]
3. Douglass, E. Herbert, Messenger of the Lord, p. 158 [↵]
4. Ibid, pp. 200-201 [↵]
5. https://adventistreview.org/news/when-ellen-white-rebuked-the-adventist-church-s-future-first-president/ [↵]
6. Ibid. [↵]
7. “10 Tests Of A Prophet,” https://www.ellengwhitetruth.com/her-ministry/10-tests-of-a-prophet [↵]
8. “The Test Results Pt.2,” https://www.ellengwhitetruth.com/her-ministry/the-test-results/the-test-results-pt-2 [↵]
9. https://m.egwwritings.org/en/about [↵]

More Answers

Ellen White traveled to Australia in the later part of her life, and she ended up spending nine years there. In that time, she helped the Australian Seventh-day Adventist Church increase in size and strength.

Much of her time there involved speaking at churches and camp meetings. She also was instrumental in establishing various Adventist institutions, such as health centers, a health-food factory, and an Adventist college.

But what was it that really made this trip so significant in her ministry? Let’s look more closely at:

• Why Ellen White went to Australia
• When she made the trip
• Places she went and things she accomplished
• The impact she had in Australia

Let’s learn a little more about how Ellen White’s efforts affected the “land down under” for the Adventist Church.

Why did Ellen White go to Australia?

“Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.”

Ellen White went to Australia at the request of the Foreign Mission Board of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Here’s some of the story from her biography, as explained by her grandson, Arthur White.¹

The idea to send Ellen White to Australia started at the 29th General Conference Session of 1891. An Adventist missionary named Stephen Haskell was among the first to suggest it. He thought Ellen White’s presence would encourage progress in the church there and wanted her help starting an Australian mission school.

Many conference members agreed with his idea. And eventually, the Foreign Mission Board asked Ellen White if she would be willing to go.

She had often been instructed by the Holy Spirit regarding where she was being called to serve. But this time, He seemed to remain silent on the matter.

Because He didn’t tell her to stay or go, she wondered if she was meant to go at all.

Personally, she hoped she wouldn’t have to go. She had grown weary of travel. She had already traveled through a considerable amount of the United States and also visited Europe as a missionary. Now she was older and struggling with multiple health challenges. She thought she could best serve the Lord by staying home and writing the instruction that could be beneficial to share with the church.

But in the end, she decided she would follow the General Conference’s counsel (as she had done when invited to go to Europe a few years before).

Yet, even as she traveled there, she still faced moments of doubt and depression, wondering whether God really wanted her there.

This just demonstrates that even those with the gift of prophecy sometimes struggle with discerning what God wants them to do. No human is immune to sin’s effects of fear and doubt.

But although God may have seemed silent, Ellen White relied on prayer and her God-given reason to make a decision, trusting Him with the outcome.

God later revealed to her that it had not been His plan for her to go to Australia, but rather the will of the church leaders to send her there. Some reports even suggest that certain church leaders wanted Ellen White to leave for a while because of personal disagreements they had with her.²

But even though church leaders weren’t acting in cooperation with God’s will by asking her to go to Australia, His providence worked through her to accomplish wonderful things. So much so, that she decided to stay in Australia many more years than the two she had been asked to serve. God helped her to meet the great need for mission work and Bible teaching in the area.

Additionally, other things started falling into place. In a vision she was given back in 1875, she saw a printing press that she later ended up seeing in person in Australia.³

And in another vision the previous year, an angel told her the gospel message should be spread to all lands (including Australia):

“You are entertaining too limited ideas of the work for this time…You must take broader views…The message will go in power to all parts of the world, to Oregon, to Europe, to Australia, to the islands of the sea.”⁴

These two visions may have predicted Ellen White’s unintended but eventual influence in Australia.

Ellen White’s experience regarding her decision to go to Australia was one of the many, many times God demonstrates that even when things don’t pan out like they should, He can still do extraordinary things through those who are willing to follow His leading.

When she made the trip

Ellen White traveled to Australia by boat in 1891, when she was 64 years old. She was joined by her son W.C. White—Willie for short—and her writing assistants (as well as some Adventists who were interested in witnessing to the Australian people).

The trip was 26 days long because of stops in different countries. After leaving San Francisco, the ship stopped in Hawaii, Samoa, and then New Zealand. She arrived in Sydney, Australia, on December 8, 1891.⁵

And from that day until the day she left, she worked hard to build up the Australian Church.

But despite the success of her work, she also faced some challenges.

For one, shortly after she arrived, Australia descended into an economic depression.⁶ This made it hard for people to come up with enough money to build Adventist churches, schools, and hospitals. Beyond that, many Australian communities were in need of basic necessities. There were times when Ellen White and her family suffered financially as well.⁷

Even so, she was willing to forego new clothes and share what little food she had with others.⁸

Another hardship she faced was more illness. She caught rheumatic fever shortly after arriving in Australia.⁹

And on top of that, Willie’s wife had passed away only a year before they left for Australia.¹⁰

But even so, Ellen White and those with her were able to witness to countless people, establish several Adventist institutions, and spread the gospel through the Australian printing press. Willie even got remarried.¹¹

By 1895, she and her family settled in a house at Cooranbong, New South Wales, which they came to call “Sunnyside.” In the beginning, Ellen White had intended to stay in Australia for only two years, but her trip ended up stretching to nine years.¹²

During that time, she ministered in several major Australian cities.

Places she went and things she accomplished

“Ellen White sitting on the front porch of her home in Cooranbong, Australia.”

Ellen White traveled to many different towns, cities, and states during her time in Australia. They are well-documented in Arthur L. White’s book, Ellen G. White: The Australian Years: 1891-1900.

A sample of her visits to the most prominent places are:

• Sydney: Soon after her arrival in Australia, she spoke to a group of people about the hope we have in righteousness by faith and was well-received.¹³ She ended up visiting here often.
• Melbourne: She came here to speak to the publishing house of the Australian Church—the Echo Publishing Company. This is where she recognized the printing presses from her visions. She also spoke at the fourth annual Australian Seventh-day Adventist Conference in Melbourne. In one session, she shared about the importance of creating Adventist schools.¹⁴
• Adelaide: She preached at the church here and frequently visited the area to speak with church members and minister to their needs.¹⁵
• Brighton: She spoke at a camp meeting where around a hundred people were baptized.¹⁶
• Williamstown: She also spoke at a camp meeting here.¹⁷ What she said about healthy living may have encouraged the development of an Adventist cooking school.
• Granville: She moved to this location in the northern part of New South Wales. She believed this new location in the countryside was better for her health.¹⁸
• Cooranbong: The church decided to plant the Australian school here.¹⁹ She approved of the location as God gave her a vision confirming the value of the land.²⁰ And later on, she encouraged them to place a health-food factory and hospital here, too. In 1895, she moved here to a home called “Sunnyside.”
• Tasmania: This is where Ellen White went for her son’s wedding.²¹ She also attended a convention here.²²
• Stanmore: She spoke at a camp meeting here.²³
• Newcastle: Spoke at a camp meeting here as well.²⁴
• Brisbane: At this particular camp meeting, she spoke about following God’s calling and living a temperate lifestyle.²⁵

She even visited New Zealand for speaking engagements.²⁶

And besides traveling to speak, she also helped establish key Adventist institutions—ones that still reveal the effects of her contributions.

What impact did Ellen White have in Australia?

“Avondale Adventist School in Australia”

By the end of her time in Australia, Ellen White had made an incredible impact on the Australian Seventh-day Adventist Church. For starters, her presence helped increase church membership. When she first arrived in Australia, there were 445 members of the Adventist Church.²⁷ By the time she left, there were over 2,086!²⁸

But that was only a small part of her legacy. Here are some other ways she left her mark:

• She donated to help build the first Adventist church in continental Australia: During the economic depression, church leaders in Australia were struggling to come up with enough money to build the Parramatta Church. At the same time, Ellen White’s loved ones sent her $75 so she could buy a more comfortable chair to ease her pain when she was ill. But instead of using the money for herself, she donated it to the building funds for the Parramatta Church.²⁹
• She helped locate the Avondale school: Ellen White was responsible for the final location of what is now known as Avondale University in Cooranbong, Australia. At first, many doubted whether it would be a suitable location because land inspectors reported the land to be unfruitful. But in a vision, Ellen White was assured that this was the land God had chosen.³⁰
• She helped establish health institutions: This includes a sanitarium (health center) in Sydney and a hospital in Cooranbong.³¹
• She encouraged the founding of a health-food factory: This health-food factory, which she advised should be next to Avondale College, was created with the intention of providing healthy food alternatives like vegetarian meat substitutes.³²
• She finished her book on the life of Jesus Christ while there: One of Ellen White’s primary concerns in going to Australia was that she wouldn’t have time to work on writing. Despite her concerns, she finished writing The Desire of Ages while she was there.³³ This book is among her most popular works.
• She recommended a new organizational structure for the General Conference: Ellen White noticed that the General Conference back in the United States was struggling to handle the concerns of congregations around the world. Australian leadership often had to wait months for a reply from the General Conference (as mail didn’t travel very quickly). She was among one of several who recommended an intermediate conference, which became known as the Australasian Union Conference. Soon, every division of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church adopted this system and structure.³⁴
• She ministered to Australians on a personal level: Despite facing her own financial struggles during Australia’s economic crisis, she provided new clothes and food for those in need.³⁵

Ellen White’s contributions and Christian influence are still affecting Australian communities today.

Take Avondale University for instance. It has continued to expand and now features two campuses—one in its original location in Cooranbong and the other in the Lake Macquarie area. And the Sydney Adventist Hospital has become the largest private hospital in its state!

Ellen White’s time in Australia shows her heart for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and making a difference in the lives of individuals, even when it meant taking long journeys and living in a different country for years.

What commitment!

Related Pages

1. White, L., Arthur, Ellen G. White: The Australian Years: 1891-1900 (vol. 4), pp. 13–18 [↵]
2. Bradley, P. W., “When God Overrules,” Adventist Review, April 1, 1962, p. 8,https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH19820401-V159-13.pdf. [↵]
3. Ibid, p. 12 [↵]
4. Ibid. [↵]
5. Ibid, pp. 19–21 [↵]
6. Douglass, Herbert, Messenger of the Lord, p. 82 [↵]
7. Ibid. [↵]
8. Ibid. [↵]
9. https://lineagejourney.com/read/ellen-white-called-to-australia [↵]
10. White, Arthur, p. 18 [↵]
11. Ibid., p. 188 [↵]
12. Ibid., p. 8 [↵]
13. Ibid., p. 22 [↵]
14. Ibid., pp. 22-24 [↵]
15. Ibid., p. 47[↵]
16. Ibid., p. 124 [↵]
17. Ibid. [↵]
18. Ibid., pp. 138–139 [↵]
19. Ibid., p. 148 [↵]
20. Ibid., p. 151 [↵]
21. Ibid., p. 188 [↵]
22. Ibid. [↵]
23. Ibid., p. 336 [↵]
24. Ibid., p. 371 [↵]
25. Ibid., pp. 366–367 [↵]
26. Ibid., p. 78 [↵]
27. “Report of Seventh-day Adventist Foreign Conference and Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, p. 86 [↵]
28. “Summary of the Statistics of Conferences and Missions Year Ending December 31, 1900,” General Conference Bulletin 1901, pp. 162, 164 [↵]
29. Douglass, p. 82 [↵]
30. Ibid., p. 190 [↵]
31. White, Arthur, pp. 430, 437, 452 [↵]
32. Ibid., p. 433 [↵]
33. Ibid., p. 375 [↵]
34. Ibid., pp. 120–121 [↵]
35. Douglass, p. 82 [↵]

More Answers

When the Seventh-day Adventist Church was still young, a council of the church in Europe requested Ellen White, one of Adventism’s key leaders, to come to Europe. Despite the many obstacles, God led her there to help the new churches and members for two years.

Here’s an overview of her journey and all the ways God used her to spread the gospel there.

We’re going to cover:

• When Ellen White traveled to Europe
• Why she went there
• What she accomplished

Let’s first take a look at the timing of her trip.

When Ellen White traveled to Europe

Photo by Katherine McCormack on Unsplash

Ellen White journeyed to Europe in August of 1885 and remained there until 1887.

This was a time when airplanes were yet future. Ships were the only way to cross the sea, while on land, trains and horse-drawn carriages were typical transportation.

No air conditioning existed for the hot summer days, either, so traveling could be rather uncomfortable.

The Adventist Church at this time was just a few decades old, Following the Millerite Movement in the 1840s, those of the Advent Movement began meeting and studying together, but they didn’t organize into a church until 1863. And in Europe, the movement was even newer and it needed support.

On July 6, 1885, Ellen White began her trip across the United States from her home in St. Helena, California. On the way, she stopped in Kansas City, Missouri, Battle Creek, Michigan, and some other places, arriving in Boston in time for her August 7 embarkation on the ship S.S. Cephalonia.

She traveled with her son, William C. White, his wife Mary Kelsey White, and their three-year-old daughter Ella, as well as some other assistants and close church members.

It took 11 days to cross the Atlantic, and the trip was pleasant. Ellen White and her companions arrived in Liverpool, England, on August 18.

She stayed in Europe for two years. She returned to America by way of England again, departing from Liverpool on August 3, 1887, on the ship City of Rome.

This time she traveled with a smaller group: her daughter-in-law Mary and granddaughters Ella and Mabel. They arrived in New York on August 11.

Why Ellen White went to Europe

“Ellen White in Norway with a group of Adventist believers”

Ellen White’s goal in traveling to Europe was to assist in the newly started work of the Adventist Church there. She went to encourage and strengthen the small congregations scattered across the Old World.

The request for her to come arrived after the Second European Council of Seventh-day Adventist Missions in 1884. The council members wanted her to visit the European mission. She also felt she could help Europe more in person because her writings hadn’t been translated into all the European languages.¹

Before Ellen White was asked to visit Europe, another Adventist, J. N. Andrews, had been a key figure in the European mission. He was the first Adventist missionary to go to the continent and was deeply involved in the writing and editing of Adventist publications. Sadly, though, he had died in 1883.

The European council members also wanted Ellen White’s son, W. C. White, to help oversee some building projects—in addition to assisting his mother.

Despite all these reasons to go, Ellen White took eight months to decide to make the trip. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see the Adventists in Europe; she deeply wanted to help where she could to share the gospel of Jesus’ second coming.

But she just realized the enormity of such a trip.

She was an older woman—nearly 60 years old—and was worn down from the ceaseless round of meetings, speaking, and travel. Her husband, James White, had died recently, and she was alone. In the Review and Herald, she wrote,

“To travel across the continent to leave from Boston for Europe in the heat of summer and in my condition of health, seemed almost presumptuous. … I had suffered great mental weariness and physical debility…. My courage was gone, and I longed for human help, one who had a firm hold from above, and whose faith would stimulate mine.”²

After many months of debating and worrying, her son William visited her and became that human help. He reminded her of past times when she had been worried and Jesus had helped her. She wrote,

“The love and blessing of God filled my heart, and from that hour I began to gather strength and courage.”³

And she embarked on a new adventure.

What Ellen White did in Europe

From the time she arrived in England to the time she left two years later, Ellen White devoted her attention to the churches and the people. She spoke at countless churches and halls and held numerous tent meetings, which were popular in the day. In between her speaking engagements, she helped start organizations and spent time writing and publishing her books.

She traveled to:

• England
• Switzerland
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Sweden
• Norway
• Denmark

Many were excited to see and hear her speak in person.

The largest European crowd she addressed was in a military gymnasium in Norway. Sixteen hundred people packed in to hear her talk.⁴

Working with specific congregations

“Adventist church in Vohwinkel, Germany”

Aside from speaking, Ellen White was involved in various church activities and in counseling congregations.

While in Tramelan, Switzerland, on Christmas Day in 1886, she performed the dedication ceremony for the first Seventh-day Adventist church building in Europe.⁵

On another occasion, she conducted Bible study classes in Basel, Switzerland, for the young people working in the Adventist publishing house there.⁶ She wrote to her son Edson about the progress of the classes:

“Our meetings are doing good. I wish there could be something of this kind every morning in the Review and Herald office.”⁷

As Ellen White spent time with various congregations, she also found ways to counsel them in their specific needs.

Church members in Christiana (now Oslo), Norway, were treating the Sabbath in a lax way by sending their children to school on that day and justifying it as acceptable because it was “doing good.” Ellen White counseled them:

“[Your] duty is plain, to obey God’s requirements at whatever cost.”⁸

Even though attending school on Saturday was a cultural norm, she encouraged them to place God’s principles first.

Another problem the members had was harshly criticizing each other for minor things.⁹

Ellen White realized that such nit-picking ignored the big picture, just as it did in the time of the Pharisees in the Bible:

“There is a conscientiousness that will carry everything to extremes, and make Christian duties as burdensome as the Jews made the observance of the Sabbath.”¹⁰

She began solving the problems by gathering all the members of the church after services one day and praying over them.

She also helped with challenges at a church in Vohwinkel, Germany. There also, unkind criticism had crept in and split the church.

While there, Ellen White had a dream about a group that obviously referred to the church in Vohwinkel. They were all involved in an unhappy and unpeaceful meeting when a stranger with a hidden face addressed their animosity and criticism. When he finished speaking, a light suddenly illuminated the man’s face:

“They [the church members] said one to another: ‘It is Jesus; it is Jesus!’ and then such confessions of sins as were made and confessions to one another. There was weeping, for the hearts seemed to be broken, and then there was rejoicing and the room was filled with the mellow light of heaven.”¹¹

With this in mind, Ellen White went to the Vohwinkel Church that Sabbath. After services, she suggested the members have a social gathering. Everyone was surprised but attended, resulting in a successful time. Later, she gave appeals for peace and unity, all of which helped the members see the dangerous direction they were heading in.

Helping individuals

Ellen White did much to assist the fledgling congregations, but that didn’t sap her time or energy for individual people. One such person was young Edith Andrews, a niece of the Adventist missionary J. N. Andrews.

This girl was dying of tuberculosis, and in her last few months, Ellen White talked and studied Scripture with her. Edith was a friendly girl and a natural leader among the other young people, but she hadn’t always set the best example.¹² Ellen White encouraged her to repent and accept Jesus.

Shortly before she died, Edith took the advice to heart. Ellen White later wrote:

“We have evidence that Edith’s life is not what it might have been, but her last days were days of penitence, repentance, and confession.”¹³

In the midst of all Ellen White’s busyness, one person was just as important to her as a whole congregation.

Starting camp meetings

“Adventist camp meeting in Norway, 1887”

Camp meetings—large meetings held in tents with singing and preaching—were in vogue in North American Adventist circles, but not yet in Europe due to the smaller Adventist population there. But through Ellen White’s efforts, the Adventist number grew large enough to support a camp meeting.

The first European camp meeting was held in Moss, Norway, in June of 1887.¹⁴ Ellen White was invited to speak at this significant event, and she did.

Writing and publishing

Besides all the preaching, teaching, and visiting Ellen White did over her two-year stay, she also spent a considerable amount of time writing and publishing. Her European headquarters was in Basel, a city in northwestern Switzerland. She would return there in between tours and when winter snow prevented her from traveling.

During this downtime, she wrote for The Review and Herald and compiled copy for her books.

She spent the first winter arranging and editing sermons and travel notes about Europe for a book called Historical Sketches of SDA Foreign Missions.¹⁵

The next winter, she took on the formidable task of revisiting and expanding the Spirit of Prophecy book The Great Controversy.¹⁶

Readers had been thrilled by the first version in 1884, which was an enlarged version of the original story in Spiritual Gifts. With her trip to Europe, Ellen White realized she needed to enlarge The Great Controversy and gear it toward an audience both inside and outside Adventism.

In Europe, she had the opportunity of visiting the site of the Reformation, including the Swiss cities Basel and Zurich and parts of Germany—all places she’d written about. Her son Willie wrote in a letter,

“During [Ellen White’s] two years residence in Basel, she visited many places where events of special importance occurred in the Reformation days. This refreshed her memory as to what she had been shown [in vision] and this led to important enlargement in those portions of the book dealing with the Reformation days.”¹⁷

She was also able to access the extensive library of J. N. Andrews, who had been an earnest scholar in the Adventist Church.

Touring and experiencing different cultures

Yes, Ellen White had gone to Europe to work, but not every moment was spent doing so. During her stay, she found time to take excursions for rest and relaxation.

For example, when she visited France in 1886, she stopped in Paris, where she toured the stock exchange, Versailles, and the tomb of Napoleon.¹⁸

The Adventists in Scandinavia also gave her opportunities to experience different cultures. On one visit, Ellen White sampled Swedish culture at breakfast. She described it this way:

“There was a round table with a cloth upon it and a flower pot in the center, and bread, a quarter of uncut cheese, hot milk, and fried cakes, which constituted our breakfast…. We were invited to come to the table, all standing. A blessing was asked and then we stood around the table, took something in our hands, and walked about, talking and eating.”¹⁹

She had experienced her first smorgasbord.

Besides seeing these unique examples of culture, Ellen White went on walks and picnics in the countryside of the places she stayed, especially around Basel.

Ellen White’s European legacy

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Ellen White’s European tour brought lasting encouragement and support to the Adventists there.

At a time before television, radio, and cell phones, seeing leaders in person was an inspiring thing for a group. It was no different for the Adventist Church.

L. H. Christian, president of the European Adventist Division in the 1920s, wrote about Ellen White’s influence years after she visited:

“The advent movement in Europe would never have been the same if it had not been for her visit…. [W]hen now and then in later years a few disloyal ones ridiculed and belittled the gift of prophecy and the servant of God, our people said: ‘We know better. We heard her speak. We have seen her humble, godly, inspiring life. We have her books, and they agree with the Bible and deepen our love for Jesus.’”²⁰

The words of the Europeans sum up Ellen White’s legacy. Not only did she encourage and support individual congregations with her counsel but she also helped many more learn about the truth of the Bible through her evangelism efforts.

Traveling in Europe also helped her realize the need for translating her books into other languages so the Adventist message could reach non-English speakers. She worked with the publishing houses in Switzerland and England to achieve those goals.

In addition, Ellen White used her European experience to enrich her book The Great Controversy.

She had seen places and people in her visions, but sometimes she hadn’t known where or who they were or when they took place. Being in Europe expanded her understanding.

Being outside North America for the first time, Ellen White learned a lot too. She saw firsthand how different the thinking and culture was in the European countries, but she also realized, under all the exterior differences, how similar everyone really is—whether they’re in Michigan or Italy. It paved the way for her ministry in other countries, such as Australia.

Ellen White had set out to spread the gospel of Christ in Europe. Through her encouragement and support, the European churches today can reach even more people with that same message.

Read more about her visit to Europe in the book Ellen G. White in Europe 1885-1887 by D. A. Delafield.

Also get a peek into The Great Controversy, the significant book Ellen White revised in Europe.

Related Articles

1. “Establishing the British Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 1863-1887: Chapter 8,” British Conference Union of Seventh-day Adventists, Adventisthistory.org.uk [↵]
2. White, Ellen G, The Review and Herald, September 15, 1885 [↵]
3. Ibid. [↵]
4. Delafield, D. A., Ellen White in Europe, (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1975), p. 122 [↵]
5. Ibid., p. 247 [↵]
6. Ibid., p. 212 [↵]
7. White, Ellen G, Letter 105, 1886 [↵]
8. Delafield, p. 121 [↵]
9. Ibid., p. 119 [↵]
10. Ibid., p. 120 [↵]
11. Ibid., p. 278 [↵]
12.  Ibid., p. 88 [↵]
13. White, Ellen G, Manuscript 30, 1885 [↵]
14. Delafield, p. 300 [↵]
15. Ibid., p. 256 [↵]
16. Ibid. [↵]
17. White, Arthur L., The Ellen G. White Writings, p. 127 [↵]
18. Ibid., pp. 229–230 [↵]
19. White, Ellen G, Manuscript 26, 1885 [↵]
20. Delafield, p. 318 [↵]

More Answers

Though Ellen White, a co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is best known for her ministry in the United States, she also traveled to twelve other countries in her lifetime—a big accomplishment in the 19th century when travel was strenuous and long.

Not to mention that she was also helping guide the Adventist Church in the United States and writing thousands of pages of material!¹

To give you an idea of how far-reaching her ministry was, we’ll take a look at:

• Why Ellen White traveled so much
• The different places she went and what she did there:
  • North America
  • Europe
  • Australia
• The results of her travels

But before we list all the places she visited, lets’ first look at why she ended up traveling so much in the first place.

Why did Ellen White travel so much?

“Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.”

Ellen White visited specific international locations simply because God called her to. The growing Adventist Church knew that the Advent message wasn’t just for their own communities, or even their own country. It was for all God’s children!

So to help establish a global ministry, she visited various places to meet people, offer guidance, attend camp meetings, support fellow missionaries, and assist in establishing educational and health institutions.

At first, she often felt unsure of going so far away from home, but the Holy Spirit’s promptings reassured her that she would be safe, and that her services would further the spread of the gospel.

And because Adventism spread so quickly, she didn’t stop after one or two countries. By the end of her life, she had ministered in 13 countries, including several locations across the United States.²

Of course, she was no stranger to missionary work.

She had already called for a worldwide publishing ministry.³ It all began in 1848 when she was impressed by the Holy Spirit that the Adventist Church should start its own paper. She told her husband about this vision she received from God, encouraging him and others to start publishing Adventist literature (books, magazines, and tracts) that would eventually circulate throughout the world.⁴

But ministry efforts weren’t supposed to stop there, either. Many Adventists were convicted that it was also time to put significant effort into missionary work.

In 1874, Ellen White had a vision in which God showed her that the Adventist Church must spread the gospel everywhere—not just the United States:

“You must take broader views. Your light must not be put under a bushel or under a bed, but on a candlestick, that it may give light to all that are in the house. Your house is the world.”⁵

This counsel led to the Church’s very first missionary program. And eventually, Ellen White herself felt the call to visit Adventist conferences and churches in various international locations.⁶

While most missionaries were reaching out to non-Adventists, Ellen White’s ministry work was largely among Adventist church members. She spoke to large groups and also met with smaller church groups and ministry leaders, offering counsel and encouragement as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Along the way, she met many people and helped establish multiple Adventist schools and sanitariums (later hospitals).

She accomplished these groundbreaking achievements despite several obstacles and dangers.

Unlike the relative smoothness and speed of travel today, travel back then was riskier and took longer. Whether by boat, train, or horse and buggy, the ride was always rough and usually exhausting. And sickness spread quickly, especially when the weather was cold or damp.

But her efforts were well worth it.

Today, there are more than 9,000 Adventist schools and 230 hospitals established partly because of the tireless missionary efforts of Ellen White.⁷ While she didn’t personally oversee the creation of each institution, she did help select the location for several schools and health centers. She also helped lay the foundation for operating these institutions—the success of which we still see today.

Her travels began in North America, so we’ll start there.

Travels in North America

Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

As the Adventist Church grew, Ellen White received invitations to churches across the United States, and even in Canada. She frequently traveled to the New England states near her but also ventured to the South and the distant West.

Most of the time, church leaders asked her to speak for their camp meetings, which were weekend or week-long meetings often held in tents. And as she traveled, she continued to write articles for the church paper, the Review and Herald.⁸

On other occasions, Ellen White received visions telling her to travel. Some of these visions involved the Holy Spirit calling her to go somewhere to speak to specific people, and others asked her to show the church where they should plant new Adventist institutions.

While in North America, she mainly traveled with her husband, James White. And for some trips, she had to leave her young sons to stay with family friends. But as they got older, she frequently brought Willie with her on her travels.

They traveled to many beautiful places, but their trips were anything but easy. They often suffered from poor travel conditions—anything from biting cold to rough roads.⁹

Sometimes, their travels could be dangerous. One time, Ellen was thrown off her horse.¹⁰ On another trip, James was run over by carriage wheels. He had been trying to keep the carriage from flipping when the horse suddenly stopped while going up an embankment.¹¹

But probably their most horrific travel experience was when they were on a train that crashed. Several passengers were killed, but Ellen White and her husband were uninjured. They believed it was because an angel of God intervened to protect them.¹²

But despite the significant risks, their travels allowed them to accomplish many amazing things and see some amazing places.

While on one of her trips, Ellen White wrote a letter to her children about a mechanical bird she came across:

“And the little feathers would move on the little bird, and it would twirl its pretty little head this way and that, flap its little wings, move its tail and fly about and act just as pretty as though the noise came from its tiny little throat.”¹³

Along her journey, she saw many strange and wonderful things, especially for the time she lived in. She made note of seeing a hot air balloon,¹⁴ a goat pulling a carriage,¹⁵ and the beautiful Rocky Mountain range.¹⁶ She even had a chance to visit Hawaii while on her way to Australia.

Here’s a list of the many states she visited (in no particular order):

• California:¹⁷ Ellen White spent many years in this state during the 1870s-80s, helping the church advance in its educational and medical outreach. In 1901, after her time in Australia, she settled at “Elmshaven” in St. Helena, where she spent the rest of her life.

• Michigan: The White family lived in this state from 1855 until moving to California in the 1870s. But in later years, she would often return to Battle Creek, where the church was headquartered, for meetings with church leaders.

• Texas:¹⁸ Her travels took her to this state in 1878 and 1879 to speak at camp meetings and several other events or gatherings.

• Colorado:¹⁹ Ellen White enjoyed vacations here in the late 1870s and early 80s. While there, she supported her husband in writing several manuscripts that encouraged the church to translate Adventist literature into other languages and urged the Adventists of Battle Creek, Michigan, to start a school and further expand their health institute.

• Maine:²⁰ Ellen White was born in Portland, Maine, and raised in the state when she was still known by her maiden name, Ellen Harmon. She spent a portion of her early adulthood there and returned for speaking engagements as late as 1909.

She also went to the following states, mainly for the sake of attending camp meetings and speaking at local churches:²¹

• Kansas
• Missouri
• Wisconsin
• Ohio
• Vermont
• Massachusetts
• New York
• Indiana
• Illinois

As she continued to travel, she brought companions with her—often her husband, older family members, or friends. And when James White passed away in 1881, Ellen White’s son Willie became her full-time travel companion and assistant.²²

While living at “Elmshaven” in California, Ellen White led the effort to establish a sanitarium in Southern California. This sanitarium later became Loma Linda University Health and Loma Linda University.

Here’s the story:

At Ellen White’s urging, a church member named John Burden had purchased the property, which she then came to see. When she arrived, she felt she must have seen the land before. Her son reminded her she had never been there, and she realized the land was familiar because she had seen it in a prophetic dream.²³

Her realization cemented the church’s decision to use the land. And it paid off. Today, Loma Linda is one of the only faith-based university hospitals in the US.

But her journey didn’t stop there.

God was about to send her on an even farther journey—an overseas journey to the sprawling cities of Europe.

Travels in Europe

Ellen G white at the Swiss conference Meeting, Sept 1885.
“Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.”

The Adventist Central European Mission invited Ellen White to come to Europe and speak at different European conferences and churches. The leaders also wanted her guidance in their publishing ministries.²⁴

This was only a few years after her husband, James, had died. So at first, she wasn’t sure she would be able to go because traveling would be difficult for her health at her age. But God strengthened her until she was able to safely travel overseas.²⁵

She left America for Europe in 1885 with her son Willie. By the time she boarded the ship, she felt confident that God would lead her, saying:

“The Lord seems very near and I feel peaceful and restful.”²⁶

Even so, the travels were just as harsh as those in America. Ellen White and her family continued to suffer from periodic sickness and harsh weather.²⁷

But despite her circumstances, she was still determined to help. She went from church to church, preaching the Bible and speaking about its truths both to Adventists and the general public.

During her time in Europe, she traveled to:

• England:²⁸ This was the country she arrived in. She spoke at many gatherings about the gospel and about how and why the Adventist Church began.

• Switzerland:²⁹ Switzerland became Ellen White’s home base while she was in Europe, and the place where she focused on her publishing work.

• France:³⁰ She spoke at tent meetings and encouraged a young man she had seen in her visions to accept Christ.

• Italy:³¹ She offered counsel to several evangelists and encouraged them to be honest and humble in their mission to reach others.

• Germany:³² She preached several sermons to German congregations. One particular congregation was struggling with unity, so she suggested a social meeting to help build connections among the members and bring them into harmony.

• Norway:³³ She came here to offer guidance to the church at Christiania. It had been struggling with fanaticism (religious extremism), which resulted in many of its members becoming strict and judgmental. In response, she encouraged them to adopt Christ’s attitude of mercy and humility.

• Denmark:³⁴ While making the rounds to speak at several different churches, she also encouraged young people to get involved in ministry.

• Sweden:³⁵ She toured the Swedish churches and attended a large gathering of Swedish Adventists in 1886.

Throughout Ellen White’s time in Europe, she was also able to work on her books. The one she spent the most time on was The Great Controversy, a book that discusses the backdrop of the whole Bible—the spiritual conflict between Satan and Jesus.

Europe was the perfect place for her to work on this book, which covered a lot of the history of the Christian Church through the Dark Ages and the Protestant Reformation.

She was able to visit the places she mentioned in her book and get a deeper glimpse into the history beyond what she had read about or learned about through the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

She left Europe in 1887, but as it turns out, her overseas work was still not complete. She would be called to service in yet another continent—this time to Australia.

Travels in Australia

Ellen G. White with Australian workers, 1909.
“Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.”

Church leaders asked Ellen White to go to Australia to help guide the developing Adventist churches there, and to assist in furthering education and health care efforts.

She left for Australia in 1891 with her son, Willie.

At first, she was hesitant to go because she didn’t feel convicted that God was the one telling her to go.³⁶ She was also aware that it could be risky to attempt so much travel at her age, and with her health concerns. She would turn 64 that year.

But eventually, she concluded that the people in Australia needed her. And since God hadn’t impressed her not to go to Australia, she stepped forward in faith and accepted the General Conference’s suggestion to spend two years there.³⁷

Once she stepped foot in Australia, she came to better understand what God wanted her to do there.

While there, she spoke at many camp meetings and published several books, including her classic on the life of Christ, The Desire of Ages.³⁸

One of the most notable things she did was to help establish Avondale College.

The Adventist leaders had wanted to begin a school in Australia but struggled to find a location. This was partly because they were looking for land during an economic depression,³⁹ and partly because they had a hard time finding land that could sustain a school-run farm.

So the leaders asked a land surveyor to look at the land they wanted to buy. Unfortunately, he reported that it was too poor to sustain good crops. Ellen White, on the other hand, had a vision telling her that the land was good and should be bought.⁴⁰

The leaders followed her guidance and secured the property. And true to her vision, the land produced a bountiful harvest. The college was successful and still exists today—now known as Avondale University.⁴¹

Ellen White ended up extending her stay in Australia for nearly a decade. The Australian people were sad to see her go back to the US in 1900. She had helped advance the church in many ways, both in the establishment of Adventist institutions and through her personal, humanitarian efforts for the locals.⁴² Her influence lived on even after she left.

The result of Ellen White’s travels

Loma Linda University
“Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.”

Much like leaders in the early Christian church in the Bible, Ellen White was sent by God to spread His message to the world.

According to Tim Poirier, the vice-director of the Ellen G. White Estate, Ellen White’s mission work was important because:

“Her traveling to Europe and Australia helped to get the beginning work of the Church in those areas on a strong footing—this included the launching of new schools, medical institutions, and support for the Church’s publishing houses.”

By the end of her ministry, she had played a role in the prophecy God gave years earlier to travel to different parts of the earth, spreading the gospel message:

“The message will go in power to all parts of the world, to Oregon, to Europe, to Australia, to the islands of the sea, to all nations, tongues, and peoples.”⁴³

In many different ways during her travels, she actively served the communities she met—and she left a legacy of community service by helping start Adventist institutions like schools and health centers. After she left, these organizations continued to reach out in practical ways.

Interested in learning how the Adventist Church serves the community through its schooling system? We’ve got something on that too!

Related Articles

1. Douglass, Herbert, Messenger of the Lord, p. 108 [↵]
2. Delafield, A. D, Ellen G. White in Europe, p. 5 [↵]
3. Pfandl, Gerhard, “Ellen G. White’s Contributions to the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” Ministry Magazine, June 2015. [↵]
4. Ibid. [↵]
5. White, Ellen G., Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 208 [↵]
6. Ibid., p. 196 [↵]
7.  “Quick Statistics on the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research. [↵]
8. White, Arthur, Ellen G. White: The Lonely Years: 1876–1891, p. 39 [↵]
9. White, Ellen G., I’d Like to Ask Sister White, p. 113 [↵]
10. Ibid., p. 74 [↵]
11. Ibid., p. 75 [↵]
12. White, Arthur, Ellen G. White: The Early Years: 1827–1862, pp. 295–296 [↵]
13. White, Ellen G., I’d Like to Ask, p. 105 [↵]
14. Ibid., p. 104 [↵]
15. Ibid., p. 105 [↵]
16. White, Arthur, Ellen G. White: The Progressive Years: 1862–1876, p. 347 [↵]
17. Ibid., p. 357 [↵]
18. White, Arthur, The Lonely Years, p. 98 [↵]
19. White, Arthur, The Progressive Years, pp. 389–393 [↵]
20. White, Arthur, The Lonely Years, p. 38 [↵]
21. Ibid. [↵]
22. “James S. White,” Adventist Pioneer Library. [↵]
23. Molivarez, “This is the Very Place,” Loma Linda University Library News. May 27, 2014. [↵]
24. White, Arthur, The Lonely Years, p. 287 [↵]
25. Ibid. [↵]
26. Delafield, Ellen G. White in Europe, p. 23 [↵]
27. Ibid., p. 188 [↵]
28. Ibid., pp. 40–42 [↵]
29. Ibid., pp. 211–212 [↵]
30. Ibid., pp. 232–234 [↵]
31. Ibid., pp. 135–136 [↵]
32. Ibid., p. 279 [↵]
33. Ibid., pp. 199–201 [↵]
34. Ibid., pp. 95–96 [↵]
35. Ibid., pp.192–193 [↵]
36. White, Arthur, Ellen G. White: The Australian Years: 1891–1900, pp. 15–16 [↵]
37. Ibid. [↵]
38. Skrzypaszek, John, “Ellen G. White’s Ministry in the South Pacific,” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
39. “Avondale College,” Lineage Journey. [↵]
40. Ibid. [↵]
41. Ibid. [↵]
42. Skrzypaszek, “Ellen G. White’s Ministry in the South Pacific,” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
43. White, Ellen G., Life Sketches, p. 209 [↵]

More Answers

Ellen G. (Harmon) White, a significant co-founder of Adventism, is often known for her practical and spiritual guidance for proper childhood education. But she was also significantly involved in the development of Seventh-day Adventist higher education.

Her prayerful counsel even contributed toward the establishment of some of the first Adventist colleges and universities.

So what was it that she had to say about Christian education for young adults about to start their careers? How did her contributions bring about the extensive network of Adventist higher learning institutions we have today?

We’re going to look at:

• The meaning of “true education”
• Ellen White’s writings about higher education
• Colleges she helped to start
• The difference between Adventist colleges and secular colleges
• Prominent Adventist higher learning institutions

Before we get into the specifics about colleges and universities, here’s a refresher of why education was such a priority subject for her.

What is “true education”?

Ellen White saw schools as supplementary to the training children received at home. Ideally, parents would train their children to be followers of Christ and good moral citizens of the community.

Schools were to support those efforts and build upon them, which would help the academic concepts be all the more memorable and applicable. And this all-encompassing approach is what she called “true education.”

“True education means more than the pursuit of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come.”¹

Through this perspective, education can do so much more than provide children with memorized information. It can build the foundation for who they become as they apply what they learn to their own lives.

And this principle of learning doesn’t only apply to elementary and secondary education. Higher education has an important role in the process of true education as well.

What Ellen White said about college

Among her many guiding principles for Seventh-day Adventist colleges, here are the most prominent areas she wrote about:

• Well-rounded education
• Physical work
• Spiritual emphasis
• Location
• The purpose of Adventist colleges

Well-rounded education

First and foremost, the concept of true education must be maintained throughout the highest levels of instruction. She made sure to emphasize how colleges must also offer a well-rounded education:

“A more comprehensive education is needed… The character must receive proper discipline for its fullest and noblest development. The students should receive at college such training as will enable them to maintain a respectable, honest, virtuous standing in society.”²

Colleges were to guide the moral compasses of students, as well teach them book knowledge.

Physical work

Photo by Anaya Katlego on Unsplash

As part of that well-rounded education, Ellen White encouraged students to work while attending college.

“It would be well could there be connected with our College, land for cultivation, and also workshops, under the charge of men competent to instruct the students in the various departments of physical labor. Much is lost by a neglect to unite physical with mental taxation.”³

Not only does it benefit students to stay active, but Ellen White wanted to make sure that learning trades, such as farming, manufacturing, or household maintenance was communicated to be just as valuable or as worthy as doctoral degrees.⁴

Times are different since the days of Ellen White, when the rural population of the United States was more widespread. While many Adventist campuses used to also operate farms, that form of campus industry is much less common today.

But the principle of physical work remains. Adventist colleges make sure students are aware of the benefits of spending time outside of class in active work. This could be exercise, household chores, gardening, woodworking…anything to keep other parts of our brains active while also allowing rest from the rigor of schoolwork.

“The exercise of the muscles as well as the brain will encourage taste for the homely duties of practical life.”⁵

Physical work is good for more reasons than relief from mental work. Ellen White also attributed having jobs to building up a strong character in students.

“[U]seful occupations…would give legitimate scope for the exuberance of youthful life, and would promote sobriety and stability of character.”⁶

Occupying learning students with positive, beneficial work helps them form lasting good habits.

Spiritual emphasis

Another element Ellen White wanted to make sure Adventist colleges included was a continuing study of the Bible. By including an emphasis on spiritual matters, students can be more prepared for the complex spiritual questions that inevitably await them as they become more independent.

“No other book [than the Bible] can satisfy the questionings of the mind, and the craving of the heart.”⁷

Because of this power, the Bible was to be consulted and included in the collegiate curriculum, because “as an educating power, the Bible is without a rival.”⁸

Location

Ellen White also provided counsel about where Adventist colleges should be located. Ideally, she advised that colleges could best operate in the country. Here, they would have plenty of space to incorporate agriculture and other important trades in their curriculum. They could also start manufacturing shops for sustainability.

She didn’t rule out cities, though. “[I]n the cities there are many children who could not attend school away from the cities; and for the benefit of these, school should be opened in the cities as well as in the country.”⁹

Additionally, proximity to health clinics, hospitals, or sanitariums is ideal for providing training and exposure to working in the health care industry. Health reform has been an integral part of Adventism from our earliest days, and it was common for colleges to train medical missionaries to serve the underserved in various parts of the world.

The purpose of Adventist colleges

Adventist colleges were originally started to meet the needs of the growing Adventist Church. Already, Adventists had started to establish schools for children’s basic education, beginning with Martha Byington’s home school in 1853.¹⁰

But in the 1870s, many began to feel that they needed an institution to instruct young adults to be dedicated workers in the Adventist cause.

Ultimately, these schools would be preparatory for the mission field, whether it be abroad or day-to-day interaction in one’s own community.

And that is what fueled the beginning of Adventist colleges. Being passionate about education, Ellen White was deeply involved in establishing some colleges. Let’s take a look at some of those she helped bring into existence.

Colleges Ellen White helped start

Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California

Adventist colleges emerged from a variety of situations, but here are a few in which Ellen White played an instrumental role in their establishment.

Andrews University

As the first college in Adventist history, Andrews University had its humble beginnings in 1874 in Battle Creek, Michigan. Adventist leaders felt the need to train people to take the three angels’ message to the world.¹¹ Practical programs were also developed for agriculture and trade work.

Work began, and in January of 1875, Battle Creek College was dedicated. Since then, the university has changed locations, and its name has changed to Andrews University. But it still reflects the original goal to train many young people to serve God in a variety of ways.

Avondale University

For several years in the 1880s and 90s, Ellen White lived in Australia doing missionary work. It was soon apparent that Australia needed its own Adventist college.

Acting on her advice, the committee selected a 1500-acre location in a rural setting. After some inspection, however, the committee began to doubt. Numerous consultants said the soil was no good, and the land would have to be drained.¹²

But after much prayer, she remained firm. God had shown her that the land did indeed have fertile soil and would yield a good harvest. Seeing her strong convictions, the board finally agreed to buy the land.¹³

Diligently and tirelessly, they all worked to clear the land and build the school. In 1897, Avondale College opened and has prospered since.¹⁴

Loma Linda University

In 1901, God gave Ellen White a vision. In this vision, she saw a “sanitarium near Los Angeles in running order.” ¹⁵ Since she had already seen the need for a sanitarium in California, this inspiration from the Holy Spirit provided timely confirmation to start the planning.

She told those in charge of looking for suitable property to watch for “cheap, desirable property in healthful places.”¹⁶

Sounds like something too good to be true, right? But after much searching, an ideal location was found.

An abandoned resort hotel 60 miles from Los Angeles, in a place called Loma Linda, had recently been put up for sale. Church leaders examined it and subsequently purchased it.

At the time, Ellen White was living at Elmshaven, in Northern California. When she made the trek to visit Loma Linda, she noticed it was the same place she had seen in her vision. She remarked, “It is one of the most perfect places for a sanitarium that I have ever seen, and I thank our heavenly Father for giving us such a place.”¹⁷

In 1906, the sanitarium opened a training school for nurses.¹⁸ Their facility expanded to what we know today as Loma Linda University, along with Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Madison College

Madison College’s story is a little different than most other Adventist colleges. About the same time as Loma Linda’s plans were underway, staff from the future Andrews University headed south to establish a manual labor training school. They searched Tennessee but without luck.

Coincidentally, Ellen White happened to be visiting her son in Nashville. The men looking for land contacted her, and a group of them set out to find a property. They finally found a farm just 12 miles from Nashville.

Ellen White loved the place and supported the negotiations strongly, even when the deal nearly collapsed. Finally, the land was purchased and a school was begun in 1904.¹⁹

The school was initially called the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute—a “Normal institute” being, in those days, a school that trained teachers. The Nashville school worked with a unique purpose.

The Nashville school was a self-supporting school—it didn’t accept funding from the Seventh-day Adventist Church as an administrative entity. Instead, both students and teachers worked half of each day to help support the school.

Madison College parented several other similar-minded schools over the next few decades before its close in 1964. However, it left a lasting legacy. With its network of schools, Madison gave way to the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Self-Supporting Institutions, or ASI. (Today, ASI is named Adventist-Laymen’s Services and Industries.)

All the schools involved in ASI met at Madison regularly. Today, ASI has expanded to include a variety of mission projects.²⁰

Pacific Union College

Ellen White also had a fundamental role in establishing Pacific Union College.

Already, the Adventists in the western United States, with her husband James’ help, had established the Pacific Press Publishing Association in California. Now, they desired a school closer to them.

She began traveling to help the church members look for a suitable piece of property. Several places appealed to them, but she finally settled on a large piece of land in Napa Valley.

At first, they did not know if they wanted to purchase the entire 1900 acres, or only a small portion needed for the school. But Ellen White felt impressed by the Holy Spirit that they needed the whole piece of land.

She wrote later, “ It seemed to me that if the whole tract of land could be obtained, it would be an ideal place; for here the students could find an abundance of outdoor employment, and thus could combine mental and physical training.”²¹

In the end, the entire piece of land was bought and the school was established. Later, she moved to her house, Elmshaven, in St. Helena, just a few minutes from the college. She loved that she could easily visit the campus to see everything God was doing there.

The difference an Adventist college can make

Photo by Dr Josiah Sarpong on Unsplash

While Ellen White wholeheartedly supported and advocated for Adventist colleges, this didn’t mean she was totally against secular higher learning institutions.

The idea behind Adventist colleges was originally for the purpose of training interested Adventists for a career in ministry and supporting the church, though it can also be a place where people can trust that the idea of “true education” was indeed being applied throughout all subjects of study.

And while there were and still are many excellent secular college campuses all over the world, there’s always the concern about young people staying safe and holding fast to their Christian values during their college experience. It can be a pivotal and defining time in a person’s life. And that’s why she wrote the following:

“It would be perfectly safe for our youth to enter the colleges of our land if they were converted every day; but if they feel at liberty to be off guard one day, that very day Satan is ready with his snares, and they are overcome and led to walk in false paths—forbidden paths that the Lord has not cast up.”²²

Ellen White realized that many people attend secular colleges for a variety of reasons. Let’s look at a couple differences between secular and Adventist colleges.

The main difference between the two is the emphasis felt throughout the campus. Adventist universities emphasize God and evangelism throughout the daily college experience. It’s easy to find people praying or reading their Bibles, and campus messaging and materials reflect Christian values. There are also lots of opportunities for Bible study and worship.

There are several other key differences between these two types of higher education institutions, and you can find an in-depth review of them in our article on Adventist universities. Here are just a few:

• Adventist universities have closer-knit campuses. This is because their average enrollment is small compared to the vast numbers of public universities.
• Adventist university graduates feel they are more prepared for a virtuous life. They are introduced to a wide range of values and are encouraged to form their own. These include a meaningful philosophy of life, faith, and action-based morals.²³
• Adventist colleges, as stated above, place a strong emphasis on spiritual matters, whereas most public colleges do not.
• Adventist colleges are privately funded, so their tuition tends to be higher than public colleges.

Prominent Adventist colleges

Among the 117 Adventist colleges around the world, these are a few of the most recognized and prominent:

• Loma Linda University (California, United States)
• Newbold College (England)
• Andrews University (Michigan, United States)
• Avondale University (New South Wales, Australia)
• Adventist University of Africa (Kenya)

(See the full list here.)

The broad and stable network of Adventist colleges and universities today is a testament to the prayerful efforts of Ellen White and the early Adventist Church. By following God’s leading, they were able to establish both a spiritual and educational presence in many areas that greatly needed it.

1. White, Ellen G., Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p. 335, White, Ellen G., Education, p. 13 [↵]
2. White, Ellen G., Christian Education (International Tract Society, 1894), p. 36 [↵]
3. Ibid. [↵]
4. Education, p. 218 [↵]
5. Christian Education, p. 44 [↵]
6. Ibid. [↵]
7. Ibid., p. 37 [↵]
8. Ibid. [↵]
9. White, Ellen G., Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 221 [↵]
10. Reynolds, Jill, “Behold, the Stone! John Byington and the Beginnings of SDA Education,” The Journal of Adventist Education, Summer 1986. [↵]
11. “Establishment of Schools,” https://ellenwhite.org/articles/109. [↵]
12. Ibid. [↵]
13. “Slavery, the Civil War, and Ellen White.” [↵]
14. “Avondale College,” https://lineagejourney.com/read/avondale-college. [↵]
15. Ibid. [↵]
16. Ibid. [↵]
17. Ibid., p. 110 [↵]
18. https://sbcsentinel.com/2015/05/ellen-gould-white-mother-of-loma-lindas-medical-legacy/ [↵]
19. Pettibone, Dennis, A Century of Challenge, https://knowledge.e.southern.edu/booksandpamphlets/3/, p. 28 [↵]
20. “Madison College and ASI,” https://lineagejourney.com/read/madison-college-and-asi/. [↵]
21.  White, Ellen G., Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p. 335 [↵]
22. Cork, William J., “Ellen G. White and the Secular Campus,” https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1113&context=cye-pubs.  [↵]
23. “Prepared for Life,” https://adventistcolleges.org/prepared-for-life/. [↵]