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Early Writings
commandment. See pages 32-35 for the account of this vision. The
position previously taken from the study of the word of God was
confirmed. The vision also helped to broaden the believer’s concept
of Sabbath observance. In this revelation, Mrs. White was carried
down to the close of time and saw the Sabbath as the great testing
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truth on which men decide whether to serve God or to serve an
apostate power. Looking back in 1874 to this experience, she wrote:
“I believed the truth upon the Sabbath question before I had
seen anything in vision in reference to the Sabbath. It was months
after I had commenced keeping the Sabbath before I was shown
its importance and its place in the third angel’s message.”—E. G.
White
Letter 2, 1874
.
The Important Sabbath Conferences
In the providence of God the several Sabbathkeeping ministers
who led out in teaching these new-found truths in company with a
number of their followers, came together in 1848 in five Sabbath
conferences. Through periods of fasting and prayer they studied the
word of God. Elder Bates, the apostle of the Sabbath truth, took the
lead in advocating the binding claims of the Sabbath. Hiram Edson
and his associates, who attended some of the conferences, were
strong in their presentation of the sanctuary light. James White, a
careful student of prophecy, focused his attention on events that must
take place before Jesus comes again. At these meetings the lead-
ing doctrines held today by Seventh-day Adventists were brought
together
.
Looking back to this experience, Ellen White wrote:
“Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation
of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father
Pierce, [Older brethren among the pioneers are here thus reminis-
cently referred to. “Father Pierce” was Stephen Pierce, who served
in ministerial and administrative work in the early days.] Elder [Hi-
ram] Edson, and others who were keen, noble, and true, were among
those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for the
truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and
prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and
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sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying