A Memorable Vision

At the beginning of the Sabbath the family and visitors assembled for song and prayer. Of this prayer service and the memorable vision given at that time, one who was present has written:SHM 76.3

“Sister White was asked to lead in prayer at family worship. She did so in a most wonderful manner. Elder White was kneeling a short distance from her. While praying, she moved over to him, and laying her hand on his shoulder continued praying for him until she was taken off in vision. She was in vision about forty-five minutes. It was at this time she was given instruction upon the health question which soon after became such a matter of interest to our people. Those present at the time this vision was given will never forget the heavenly influence that filled the room. The cloud passed from the mind of Elder White, and he was full of praise to God.”^{1In the document containing the foregoing statement, Mrs. Martha Amadon, who was present on other occasions when Mrs. White was in vision, has given a description of her condition at such times. From her account the reader may form a more graphic idea of the prayer season at Brother A. Hilliard’s, and of the supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the bestowal of the gift of prophecy. Her testimony regarding this is, in part, as follows:
“Mrs. E. G. White was a woman very gifted in prayer, her voice clear, her words distinct and ringing; and it was almost always during one of these earnest seasons that she was taken off in vision. ...
“Her appearance in vision was heavenly. ... Her eyes were open, there was no breath, but there were gentle movements of the shoulders, arms, and hands by herself in expression of what she saw. And yet it was impossible for anyone else to move hand or arm. She often uttered words singly, and sometimes sentences, which told to those about her the view she was having either of heaven or of earth.
“Her first word in vision, I might say, always was ‘Glory,’ sounding at first close by, and then dying away in the distance, seemingly far, far away, lending enchantment to the view. This was sometimes repeated. ...
“There was never any excitement among those present during a vision; nothing caused fear. It was a solemn, quiet scene, lasting about an hour or less. ... When the vision is ended, and she loses sight of the heavenly light, as it were, coming back to earth once more, she exclaims with a long-drawn sigh, as she takes her first natural breath, ‘D-a-r-k!’ She is limp and strengthless, having experienced the power of God, and has to be assisted to her chair. ...
“These impressive scenes encouraged and strengthened the faith of those present, not only in her work, but in the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”}—Mrs. Martha D. Amadon, Ellen G. White Publications, Document File No. 105.SHM 76.4

During this revelation Mrs. White was given much instruction for the church and also for her husband and herself as concerned their physical welfare. Testimonies for the Church 3:11-13. But the outstanding feature of the vision was the presentation to Mrs. White of the relation between physical welfare and spiritual health, or holiness. Upon her and her husband was placed the responsibility of leading out in educating the people who were preparing for eternal life, regarding the reforms they should make in their daily living. Under date of June 6, 1863, Mrs. White wrote in a document still preserved in the original handwriting:SHM 77.1

“I saw that it was a sacred duty to attend to our health, and arouse others to their duty. ... We have a duty to speak, to come out against intemperance of every kind—intemperance in working, in eating, in drinking, in drugging—and then point them to God’s great medicine: water, pure soft water, for diseases, for health, for cleanliness, for luxury. ... I saw that we should not be silent upon the subject of health, but should wake up minds to the subject.”—E. G. White Letter 4, 1863.SHM 77.2