About the time that Edson gained this new view of the sanctuary cleansing, an important theological change was taking place in a company of Adventists in Washington, New Hampshire. A number of them, under the endeavors of Rachel Oakes, a Seventh Day Baptist, began to keep the seventh-day Sabbath. †Some sources say that the group began the observance of the Sabbath in the spring of 1844, others say, in the autumn. EGWC 172.4
In 1844 there lived in Portland, Maine, a frail young woman, Ellen Harmon, who with her parents had been disfellowshiped from the Methodist Church because of espousing Millerism. She soon began to display singular spiritual activity. She declared that God gave to her visions, in which visions spiritual light and guidance for herself and for others were received. EGWC 173.1