Chapter 3—A Treasured Contribution to My Life

When I was a child in South Dakota I heard my mother speak the name of Ellen White with reverence. But I don’t remember seeing mother read any of Mrs. White’s books. We did not have family worship at home; my parents were incompatible and were separated when I was about 10 years of age. Health principles had not been practiced or taught at home. As a result, I developed certain chronic physical ailments which, though not disabling, caused marked frustration and insecurity.WEWMM 29.1

About the age of 11 I went to northern Illinois, where I attended church school and academy. Although I studied a formal course, “Outline Studies From the Testimonies,” childhood habits were still strong and I never took Ellen G. White seriously.WEWMM 29.2

In my freshman year at medical school in Loma Linda, Dr. Risley taught a class in health principles based somewhat, as I recall, on the Ellen White writings. This was a definite help. But it was not until I had been practicing medicine for about eight years, and was in my early thirties, that I became interested in reading Ellen White’s books for myself.WEWMM 29.3

Two men from the Oregon Book and Bible House came to the church I attended at Longview, Washington, and talked about the White books. They said that anyone could find much personal help from reading the books Patriarchs and Prophets and The Desire of Ages. They advised the church members to read these books. They spoke in such a wise and loving manner that I was impressed.WEWMM 29.4

I had been having personal problems and needed some answers that God alone could provide. I began to read Patriarchs and Prophets. Answers and unexpected benefits began to come. We began to have family worship. This book prepared me for some of the rough experiences my family endured during several trying years in the postwar period. I went through an experience of spiritual renewal.WEWMM 30.1

I realized that God wanted me to make changes in my diet. My wife and I made the changes. I kept on reading other White books. During the next twenty years I read, cover to cover, about thirty volumes. I read them slowly, studiously, and expectantly. “The proof of a pudding is in the eating.” If anyone wants to develop confidence and interest in Ellen G. White, he should start systematically to read her writings for immediate personal enlightenment.WEWMM 30.2

A few years ago I took Patriarchs and Prophets and read it through again, because of my pleasant memories of how, back in the forties, it had been of great help. I study these books prayerfully, as I would the Bible, for they discuss Bible principles and apply those principles to modern life. I ask that the Holy Spirit will make the truths I read seem “clear, lovely, new, and precious.” This prayer has been answered repeatedly.WEWMM 30.3

The Ellen White books were written in English, my mother tongue. They did not have to be translated out of Greek or Hebrew. I can get the meaning on some things better from them than from the Bible directly. She makes the historical and contextual background more interesting and clear. She knew how to emphasize a point.WEWMM 30.4

Mrs. White has helped me to develop my love for books. When I finished medical school I was so tired of reading books and preparing for written exams that I deliberately quit reading nearly all books and magazines for several years. I gradually came to see again the need to study. Now reading is great pleasure. I have read thoroughly many books that others decorate their shelves with. I have a Bible collection of sixty-five different translations and paraphrases. I made an intensive study of the book of Psalm over a period of about two years. All of this has been unexpected pleasure of the impetus given me by the writings of Ellen G. White.WEWMM 30.5

When the Prophetic Guidance course was first introduced, I enrolled. This course further enhanced my knowledge of the Spirit of Prophecy and how to use it. It also encouraged me to continue reading the White books, and to set new personal goals. More recently I participated in Testimony Countdown.WEWMM 31.1

The White books helped me to catch up on things my parents neglected to teach me.WEWMM 31.2

Ellen White has helped me to be more happy and secure, knowing that my salvation has been provided by Jesus. She gives the antidotes for both legalism and indifference. I am much more spiritual than I was before. I have been able to suffer frustrations and misfortune without losing my faith and trust in God’s providential care. Specifically, her writings taught me how to pray.WEWMM 31.3

Giving up the use of flesh food in my diet was a great hurdle for me. To this end Patriarchs and Prophets, in the chapters describing the Exodus, gave me incentive and perspective.WEWMM 31.4

I am more healthy since adopting the principles of fresh air, nature study, abstemiousness, relaxation, exercise, hydrotherapy, proper habits of eating and drinking, singing and praying, prescribed by Mrs. White in the Testimonies, Counsels on Health, and The Ministry of Healing. My medical practice is more balanced because I use less drugs.WEWMM 31.5

Considering my age, I am now in better physical, mental, and spiritual health by far than in my youth. I can work faster and keep it up for longer hours now than when I was a young doctor.WEWMM 31.6

If I had kept on living as I did before the men from Oregon came and told me about Patriarchs and Prophets, I would probably be disabled from sickness by now, or possibly dead! My personal heredity is not the best, but by having the truth in my heart, and wisdom on how to live in a troubled world, I am still active and can capitalize on the reserves I do have.WEWMM 31.7

I give credit, of course, to other people in addition to Ellen G. White. A number of ministers, counselors, physicians, teachers, and relatives have given valuable help along the way. One of these was a Week of Prayer article by J. L. McElhany in 1945, but he quoted from Ellen White’s writings! Many people will share the credit for my soul’s success and salvation, but one of the brightest stars will be in Mrs. White’s crown.WEWMM 32.1

Even though in 1949 we had three children, we adopted two more as a missionary project because of Mrs. White’s counsel on helping orphans. I learned how to be a better father, and about the problems of neglected children and modern youth.WEWMM 32.2

A good example of how the Testimonies have brought me peace of mind is my experience with the last paragraph of a chapter in volume 2, on “True Conversion.” There is an advantage in reading the White books by the “cover to cover” method, for I would never have discovered this paragraph otherwise.WEWMM 32.3

I have had a tendency to be overconscientious in certain areas of interpersonal relationships. If I had hurt someone, I thought—according to James 5:16—I should go to that person and admit it, ask forgiveness, and express my friendship and desire to do better. But this sometimes brought more harm than good. I found that there are exceptions to the general rule. Mrs. White stated, “It is not your duty to publish a confession which will lead unbelievers to triumph; but to those to whom it is proper, who will take no advantage of your wrong, confess according to the word of God, and let them pray for you, and God will accept your work, and will heal you.”—Page 296.WEWMM 32.4

This definitely implies that there are some people to whom it is not proper to confess. There are some who will take advantage of your weakness if you admit it! They will use your confession as ammunition against you, and what you stand for. They will cause disunity. They will not forgive you nor pray for you. They may be unfriendly, basically unchristian, even your personal enemy at heart. With certain people it is impossible to reconcile a difference.WEWMM 32.5

If Ellen White had not written, I would wonder why God had not communicated through a human messenger in modern times. The Holy Scriptures were based on a society different from ours. It is sometimes difficult to find the principles involved in an ancient situation, and even more difficult to apply those principles in our day. Without the White writings, I would be tempted to think that God had not fulfilled His promises to His church—promises that the church should not be lacking in any gift. I would wonder why we had to forgo the privilege of having God speak to us in our generation. As it is, none of these perplexities arise.WEWMM 32.6

These are turbulent times, and the church could not have survived without the special contemporary prophetic guidance God sent us in the writings of Ellen White. But what seems even more certain, I, as a practicing physician, a father and husband, could not have survived with peace and hope in my heart without her treasured contribution to my life.WEWMM 33.1

London, Kentucky
July 1972