CHAPTER 5 HEALTH REFORMS AMONG SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

NEARLY every religious denomination may trace its origin to the work of a single outstanding leader as its founder. Some individual—guided by study, conviction, and varied influences—reached certain conclusions and with earnest appeal or facile pen won converts to his views. About his personality the new group of doctrines was centered.SHM 60.1

In contrast to this, Seventh-day Adventists did not receive the doctrines they hold through the study or teachings of a single man who may be pointed out as the founder of the church. Various individuals made their contributions and at length came into unity of belief only after earnest, prayerful study together in groups, aided and sometimes corrected by manifestation of the gift of prophecy. The full development of the system of doctrine covered a period of years.SHM 60.2