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Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
bestowing upon the remnant church the precious gift of the spirit of
prophecy.
Regarding Mrs. White’s call early in life to special ministry for
God, and the fruits that have characterized this ministry, Elder Daniells
said:
“Taking the Bible as the supreme guide of her life, she became
fully convinced, by its teaching, that the second coming of Christ
was near at hand. On this point she never wavered, and, believing it
with her whole soul, she felt that the one supreme purpose of every
individual at this time should be to live a blameless life in Christ, and
to devote every resource at command to the salvation of the lost.
“This view led her to unceasing prayer for the indwelling presence
of the Holy Spirit. Her yearning for this divine presence was answered
beyond all that she had conceived.... Her life of full surrender, obedi-
ence, and prayer for divine help was rewarded by the bestowal of the
gift of prophecy, one of the choicest of all the gifts of the Spirit.
“In December, 1844, the Holy Spirit gave her a revelation of the
second coming of Christ. In this vision of the future there was given a
view of the glorious reward that awaits the redeemed and the terrible
fate that will come to all who refuse to serve their Lord and Master.
This view of the destiny of the human family made a profound impres-
sion upon her heart. Here she received her appointment as a messenger
of God. She felt that God was commanding her to give this message
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of light and salvation to others.
“This was a great trial to her. She was but seventeen years old,
small, frail, and retiring; but after a long, severe struggle, she surren-
dered to the call of her Lord, and then courage and strength were given
her to enter upon her life work.
“Following this surrender and victory there came to her a series of
remarkable spiritual experiences, unmistakably genuine, and regarded
by her associate workers of that day as a manifestation of the gift of
prophecy promised by Christ to the remnant church. Those who have
been associated with her through all the years that have passed since
that time have never had occasion to alter their conviction that the
revelations which have come to her through the years have come from
God.