Chapter 13—Suppression and the Shut Door

Perhaps one of the most common charges brought against the work of Mrs. E. G. White is that of suppression, the charge that in the later editions of Mrs. White’s writings there have been omissions of thoughts and sentences and even paragraphs. While we freely and frankly admit that in the revisions of her books, Mrs. White sometimes expressed her thoughts in different language and sometimes added or omitted altogether phrases and sentences and even paragraphs, yet we deny the charge of suppression, which carries with it the implication of the purpose to deceive. We shall give illustrations of such revisions later. In our judgment such revisions in no way vitiate or weaken in any degree this gift in the church. Mrs. White never claimed perfect understanding of all that was given her of God, and was far from claiming perfection or inerrancy of expression in communicating to others that which was revealed to her. There were given to her visions and dreams and revelations; there were brought before her mind pictures of conditions that existed, of scenes in this earth and in heaven. In the fear of God she conscientiously described these revelations, but was sometimes misunderstood and even misinterpreted.TOJ 90.1

In later editions she endeavored in certain cases to improve these descriptions, and in doing so made changes in some expressions and omitted others. Every such change was made by her or by her personal authorization. She is to be honored for this earnest effort on her part to express in the best possible form the instruction which she had received. If the authors of ordinary books seek to do this, how much more fitting it is that the one acting as the Lord’s messenger should endeavor to express as clearly, concisely, and accurately as possible the instruction she received. She declared, as stated in a preceding chapter, that the words she employed in describing what she had seen were her own. If, therefore, in her expression of the truth of God, she felt that words other than those she first used could better express the message she had to give, surely it was not only her privilege but her duty to make such changes as her judgment dictated.TOJ 90.2

Uriah Smith, writing in 1887 concerning this charge of suppression of portions of the early visions, likewise advanced by critics in his day, said:TOJ 91.1

“It is an interesting point to inquire when this work [of suppression] was done, and under what circumstances, and what methods were adopted to accomplish it. On the first day of May, 1853, we entered upon a connection with the Review office, which, with the exception of two brief intervals, has continued to the present time. During all these thirty-four years, therefore, we speak from personal knowledge when we say that there has not been the first suggestion, or the least indication of any desire or intention, to conceal or modify or in the least degree change anything revealed through Sister White in vision.”—The Review and Herald, July 19, 1887, p. 456, Battle Creek, Mich.TOJ 91.2

The earliest publications from Mrs. White’s pen may be found in printed form today. When the editions of these earlier volumes were exhausted, they were allowed to go out of print because the writer had additional matter which she wished to present to the church, and these later editions contain the revisions of which we have already spoken. Even as this volume goes to press, arrangements are being made for issuance of facsimile reproductions of these early E. G. White books that all who wish copies may have them.TOJ 91.3