Consistent Counsel
Consistent with her testimony borne through the years, at this conference Mrs. White urged the unity of the medical and evangelistic work of the denomination. She lamented the failure of some to live in harmony with the health principles, and urged both ministers and physicians to carry forward a dual service. In the opening address, from which we have already quoted, she said: “The principles of health reform have been proclaimed by us as a people for thirty years. And yet there are among us ministers of the gospel and members of the church who have no respect for the light that God has given upon health reform. They eat as they please and work as they please. ... God calls upon His people to put away self-pleasing. When in body, soul, and spirit they will dedicate themselves to God, His power will be revealed in a remarkable manner.”—Ibid.SHM 306.2
A few days later, as Mrs. White arose to address the conference, she prefaced her remarks with the striking statement that during the previous night she had received special instruction regarding the medical missionary work. She said also: “I have been given light all along the way in regard to the workings of the cause, and last night some things in regard to the medical missionary work were brought more especially before me.”—Ibid., April 12, 1901.SHM 306.3
She referred to the time about thirty-five years previous “when health reform was first brought to our notice,” and stated that it had been presented to her as a work to be carried forward such as is described in Isaiah 61:1-4 and in the Saviour’s commission to His disciples when He “sent them forth to preach the gospel,” and gave to them power to “heal all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease.” She spoke of the intemperance that she had then seen would “prevail in the world to an alarming extent,” and how she was shown “that every one of the people of God must take an elevated stand in regard to reformation in habits and practices.” Of the blessings that were to come to His people through this light, she said: “The Lord presented a general plan before me. I was shown that God would give to His commandment-keeping people a reform diet, and that as they received this, their disease and suffering would be greatly lessened. I was shown that this work would progress.”—Ibid.SHM 307.1