Chapter 6—Testing the Prophets
On the basis of Scripture and the evidence of supernatural interventions, as long as the Seventh-day Adventist Church has existed, it has officially recognized the presence of the prophetic gift in the life and ministry of Mrs. Ellen G. White. Fundamental Belief number 18, voted in 1980 at the General Conference in Dallas, states, “One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen. G. White. As the Lord’s messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10).” GP 58.1
Ellen White never called herself a prophetess. In 1905 she wrote, “Others have called me a prophetess, but I have never assumed that title. I have not felt that it was my duty thus to designate myself” (1SM 36). And a year later she said, “To claim to be a prophetess is something that I have never done. If others call me by that name, I have no controversy with them” (1SM 34). The reason she said this was twofold: (1) “Those who boldly assume that they are prophets in this our day are often a reproach to the cause of Christ,” and (2) “My work includes much more than this name signifies. I regard myself as a messenger, entrusted by the Lord with messages for His people” (1SM 36).GP 58.2
Elder A. G. Daniells, who worked for many years side by side with Ellen White, stated, “In recognizing an organized, orderly church as Christ’s body on earth, and in arousing that church to world-wide missionary activity, and in setting in operation efficient methods of labor, Mrs. White has made a record in harmony with the prophets of God whose lives are recorded and whose works are preserved in the Scriptures for our guidance.” GP 59.1