The Beginnings of Medical Work in Southern California

I have been unable to sleep after half-past eleven at night. Many things, in figures and symbols, are passing before me. There are sanitariums in running order near Los Angeles. At one place there is an occupied building, and there are fruit trees on the sanitarium grounds. In this institution, outside the city, there is much activity.1MR 246.3

As in the vision of the night I saw the grounds, I said, “O ye of little faith! You have lost time.” There were sick in wheel chairs. There were some patients to whom the physicians had given a prescription to spend all their time outdoors during pleasant weather, in order to regain health....1MR 246.4

While speaking, I said: “We must have sanitariums in favored places in different localities. This is God's plan. He has ordained the medical missionary work as a means of saving souls, and that which we see about us is a symbol of the work before us. We are to awaken our churches to engage interestedly in God's work, and to carry forward this branch,—the medical missionary work.”1MR 247.1

Physicians were interested in these words, and one said, as he extended his arms and waved them back and forth, “Is not this better than drugs? Aches and pains have left you without the use of medicine.”1MR 247.2

On the grounds that I saw in this vision of the night, there were shade trees, the boughs of which were hung in such a way that they formed leafy canopies somewhat the shape of tents. The sick were delighted. While some were working for diversion, others were singing. There was no dissatisfaction.—Manuscript 152, 1901, 1, 2. (“A Message to Our Brethren and Sisters in Southern California,” October 10, 1901.)1MR 247.3

We need now to make every dollar count in selecting a site for a sanitarium near Los Angeles, and beginning work. We have been in need of men of sound judgment, men with ability to count the cost and to plan wisely....1MR 247.4

The Lord would have men walk humbly before Him. It would be a mistake for us to purchase or erect large buildings in the cities of Southern California for sanitarium work; and those who see advantages in doing this, are not moving understandingly. A great work is to be done in preparing these cities to hear the gospel message; but this work is not to be done by fitting up in them large buildings for the carrying forward of some wonderful enterprise.—Manuscript 114, 1902, 3, 4. (“Instruction Regarding Sanitarium Work,“ September 1, 1902.)1MR 247.5