Books and Other Publications

Some say that a religious movement is measured by its preachers. We do not belittle the ministry, but we claim that the most exact measure of a church is the literature it brings forth. Books are mighty things. In many ways a godly book is stronger than a godly preacher, and lasts longer. We are often influenced more by what we read than by what we hear. Sermons are good, and an inspiring example is helpful, but the experience of many Christians and churches is molded most of all by their choice of literature. In saying this we are repeating what the Spirit of prophecy writings have taught again and again. Then, in missionary work, books are indeed 1ike an army with banners. Some speak of gospel literature as weapons of war. They are that, to be sure, but we prefer to think of them and use them as seeds for the Lord in His vineyard of truth.FSG 349.2

Adventists are literature conscious. A member who has not developed a love for books is out of step. The Spirit of prophecy messages make us book-minded. In season and out we are urged to read and to circulate reading matter.FSG 350.1

“Form a home reading circle, in which every member of the family shall lay aside the busy cares of the day and unite in study.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:64. “Publications teaching the truth are to be circulated everywhere.”—Testimonies for the Church 8:162.FSG 350.2

We would not minimize the books and papers of the various churches—some of them are strong in theological and historical books—but we know of no Christian body anywhere in the world that produces a literature so rich in spiritual light and doctrinal truths as the Adventist Church. One reason for this superior excellence is prophetic light from heaven. Not only has Mrs. White given us an extensive literature in her own name, but her messages have inspired scores of others to write. There is one thing we have which others lack—our publications are a literature with a message.FSG 350.3

Our best books have usually been matters of slow development: an article or a series of articles that grew into a pamphlet, and two or three pamphlets into a book. The first twenty-five years nearly our entire literature consisted of pamphlets, some of them of great value. Our early “books” were not much more than pocket-size leaflets. The servant of the Lord gave a name to her books that is most characteristic: Testimonies for the Church. The first of these, printed in 1855, was only a booklet of twenty-eight pages. Thirty-seven volumes of these and her other Testimonies have been printed, not to mention many others, such as Series A and B. The first eleven of these had but 535 pages together. The earliest book by Mrs. White was called A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White, printed in 1851, and having only sixty-four pages. Her next book, Spiritual Gifts, The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels, printed in 1858, had 219 pages. Twenty-four years later these two small books, being entirely sold out, were republished in one volume with the name Early Writings. There is perhaps no book in our church that has had the influence among our people as has this book, and it has been translated into many languages and printed many times. Later publications are really to a large extent only a fuller presentation of the visions and views of Early Writings. Other series and books, however, have come out, such as Spiritual Gifts, The Spirit of Prophecy, and The Conflict of the Ages, not to mention several works printed from remaining manuscripts after the servant of the Lord passed to her rest. All these works taken together constitute a spiritual treasure of inestimable worth. More than thirty years of our history as a church went by before we published a really large book. The first such work printed was Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, by Uriah Smith. Almost at the same time we got out The Bible-Reading Gazette, or as it was later called, Bible Readings for the Home Circle.FSG 350.4