Chapter 25—Love and Sexuality in the Human
Experience
Note: Ellen White lived and worked in a day when great restraint
was exercised in speaking publicly or writing about sex and the sexual
relationship between husbands and wives.
She was married to James White on August 30, 1846, after assuring
herself through prayer that this was a proper step. It should be noted
that she was well into her ministry, for she had for twenty months been
the recipient of visions from the Lord. As a result of this union with
James White she gave birth to four sons, born in 1847, 1849, 1854,
and 1860.
It was in the 1860’s—the decade of two basic health-reform visions
(June 6, 1863, and December 25, 1865)—that Ellen G. White began
to discuss matters relating to sex. Statements in later years provided
some elaboration. In referring to sexual intercourse in marriage she
employed such terms as “privilege of the marriage relation,” “privilege
of the family relation,” “sexual privileges.”
To gain an accurate and balanced concept of Ellen White’s teaching
in this delicate field, statement should be placed with statement. The
balance revealed in many of the statements should be observed. Careful
note should be taken of the meaning of the words employed.
Terms such as “passion” and “propensities” are at times used.
These are often qualified by such words as baser, animal, lustful,
depraved, corrupt. This strong language could lead some readers to
assume that all passion is condemned and all sexual activity is evil.
The following quotations would hardly sustain this:
Not only does God require you to control your thoughts, but also
your passions and affections.... Passion and affection are powerful
agents....Positively guard your thoughts, your passions, and your affec-
tions. Do not degrade these to minister to lust. Elevate them [passions
[219]
and affections] to purity, devote them to God.—
Testimonies for the
Church 2:561, 564
(1870).
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