Ellen White's father, Robert, was an active leader in the Methodist congregation in Portland, Maine. Methodists believed sanctification was an instantaneous work of grace that progressed through the rest of one's life. It was sometimes called the “second blessing,” or the “second work of grace.” Sanctification was not a state of sinless perfection but rather the presence of perfect love and right intentions, or an “entire conformity to the will of God.” This “blessing” was something that the young Ellen earnestly coveted. She wrote: “The belief that Christ's coming was near stirred my soul to seek more earnestly for the sanctification of the Spirit of God.”9 Ellen G. White, “Life Sketches” manuscript, p. 52. Ibid., pp. 41, 42.
Ellen White recalled that when she was “first struck down, some of those present were greatly alarmed, and were about to run for a physician,” but Ellen's mother, Eunice, who was familiar with the “wonderful power of God,” told them not to be concerned.11 Ibid., p. 42.
For six months following this blessing not a shadow clouded the teenager's mind, nor did she, to her knowledge, “neglect one known duty.”12 Ellen G. White, Life Sketches, p. 39. Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 35.
During the six-month period following her “blessing,” Ellen gave her testimony whenever she could. The night after receiving her great blessing at her uncle's home, she bore public testimony in an Adventist meeting, probably held in Portland's Beethoven Hall: “The simple story of Jesus’ love to me fell from my lips with perfect freedom, and my heart was so happy to be liberated from its bondage of dark despair that I lost sight of the people around me and seemed to be alone with God. I found no difficulty in expressing my peace and happiness, except for the tears of gratitude that choked my utterance as I told of the wondrous love that Jesus had shown me.”14 Ellen G. White, “Life Sketches” manuscript, p. 44.
Levi Stockman, a Methodist turned Millerite preacher, was so affected by Ellen's testimony that he “wept aloud,” praising God for the blessing given to the girl so recently overcome with discouragement and fear. 1EGWLM 922.2
On the occasions that Ellen shared her testimony, she was “greatly blessed.” She wrote, “At times the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me with such power that my strength was taken from me. This was a trial to some. … Many could not believe that one could be so overpowered by the Spirit of God as to lose all strength.”15 Ellen G. White, “Mrs. Ellen G. White: Her Life, Christian Experience, and Labors,” Signs of the Times, Mar. 16, 1876, p. 116.