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Messenger of the Lord

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    Early Life Prior to 1845 33The most complete review of Ellen Harmon’s early years is found in Arthur L. White’s Ellen G. White: The Early Years, the first volume of his six-volume biography, Vol. 1: 1827-1862 (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1985), pp. 15-71.

    Three major events or circumstances occurred in Ellen White’s early years that directly affected and focused the rest of her life—her physical trauma at age nine; the preaching of William Miller; and her profound religious experience.MOL 48.9

    In 1836 while young Ellen was walking with a group of schoolmates, an older girl followed them with threats. Just as Ellen turned, the older girl threw a rock that smashed her face, knocking her unconscious. For three weeks she lay in a virtual coma.MOL 48.10

    Some days later, when her father returned home from a business trip, Ellen was crushed further—her father did not recognize her. “Every feature” of her face was changed. More than that, the loss of blood had severely affected her respiratory system—a weakness she bore for the rest of her life. In addition, because her hand “trembled,” Ellen could make “no progress in writing.” 34Ellen White, Spiritual Gifts 2:7-11, cited in Bio., vol. 1, pp. 28-31. Looking back after nearly fifty years, she wrote, “The cruel blow which blighted the joys of earth, was the means of turning my eyes to heaven. I might never have known Jesus, had not the sorrow that clouded my early years led me to seek comfort in Him.” 35The Review and Herald, November 25, 1884.MOL 48.11

    Schooling became impossible. The letters of the alphabet in her books would run together, her eyes could not focus properly, perspiration flowed, and she would become dizzy and faint. And so, at the age of nine, this bright student left her academic preparation in great disappointment, never to return to formal schooling—the first of two great disappointments in her early life. Her mother became her teacher, and the fields around Portland, her laboratory. 36Charles Dickens and Mark Twain, among other authors, did not reach the equivalent of secondary school.—Anthony Smith, The Mind (New York: The Viking Press, 1984), p. 208.MOL 48.12

    But fresh hope came to Ellen in 1840 when William Miller held his Portland, Maine, audience spellbound as he traced the prophecies that seemed to indicate that the return of Jesus was near. This new understanding, fresh (and thus controversial) to most of her religious contemporaries, profoundly affected the rest of her life.MOL 49.1

    Spiritual matters were always important to young Ellen. But her primary motivation was fear—fear of not being ready when Jesus would come, fear of failure because of her limited schooling and weakened body, and fear that in some way God had afflicted her with her horrid, physical burden. All this became her “secret agony” that she locked in her lonely heart. Years of listening to “hell-fire” sermons had etched a false picture of God into her soul. God was Ellen’s heavenly Ruler, but was He her Friend?MOL 49.2

    Two dreams and some timely pastoral counseling became the third of those turning points in young Ellen’s life that set the course for the rest of her life. For the next 75 years, her most compelling mission was to tell the truth about the character of God.MOL 49.3

    One of the two dreams portrayed a visit to the heavenly temple; the other, a meeting with Jesus. With a smile, Jesus seemed to touch her head, saying, “Fear not.” He gave her a green cord, representing faith, leading her to declare: “The beauty and simplicity of trusting in God began to dawn upon my soul.” Ellen now felt free to discuss her fears with her mother. With quick insight and encouragement, her mother suggested a visit with young Levi Stockman, in his late thirties.MOL 49.4

    After Elder Stockman heard her story of the two dreams as well as her deep fears, he said: “Ellen, you are only a child. Yours is a most singular experience for one of your tender age. Jesus must be preparing you for some special work.”MOL 49.5

    Then the perceptive pastor gave her a clearer picture of God as seen in Jesus. Writing later, Ellen wrote: “During the few minutes in which I received instruction from Elder Stockman, I had obtained more knowledge on the subject of God’s love and pitying tenderness, than from all the sermons and exhortations to which I had ever listened.” 37Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 37; Maxwell, Tell It to the World, p. 56; see also Bio., vol. 1, pp. 38-49.MOL 49.6

    Her new-found understanding—that God is like Jesus, her best Friend—prompted her to share her insights and gratitude with others: “While relating my experience, I felt that no one could resist the evidence of God’s pardoning love that had wrought so wonderful a change in me. The reality of true conversion seemed so plain to me that I felt like helping my young friends into the light, and at every opportunity exerted my influence toward this end.” 38Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 41.MOL 49.7

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