Part 2—More Than “One More Book”

Originally published in Adventist Review, June 18, 1981

Ellen White felt that her waning time and strength should be devoted to producing her books as they would speak to large congregations over and over again.

When the year 1912 dawned, Ellen White was in her eighty-fifth year. The marvel to acquaintances, church leaders, and her family, was her ability to continue to produce. In early January she wrote:EWLFB 6.1

“There will be one more book—that dealing with the Old Testament history from the time of David to the time of Christ. The material for this book is written, and is on file, but is not yet put into shape. When this book is completed, I shall feel that my work is finished. Yet I can hold my pen as firmly today as I have done in years past.”—Letter 4, 1912.

Book production was pressed hard because she and her associates knew well that her years were running out. That her physical strength was declining was clear to those about her, but she kept steadily at her book work. W. C. White wrote to her other son, James Edson White, on May 13, 1912:EWLFB 6.2

“Mother’s health is quite changeable. Some days she reads a little too much, then does not sleep at night and the next day is very feeble. Perhaps the next night she will rest well and feel of good courage and ambitious the next day.” ... “Instead of writing several letters a day as in the olden time, Mother writes only two or three a month nowadays.”

But the next day he could write to A. G. Daniells, the president of the General Conference:EWLFB 6.3

“We are making excellent progress with the work on Mother’s book .... We hope that the heaviest part of this work will be completed in July.”—WCW to AGD, May 14, 1912.

A few weeks later, she herself wrote to her old friends the S. N. Haskells:EWLFB 6.4

“I must write you a short letter today. I have begun several letters to you, but have not succeeded in finishing any. I hope you will not cease to write to me, even though I do not write often. I am always interested in your work, and always glad to hear from you.

“We are all very busy, doing our best to prepare the new book for publication. I want the light of truth to go to every place, that it may enlighten those who are now ignorant of the reasons for our faith.”—Letter 28, June 11, 1912.