The Spirit In Which The Work Was Done

It is a marvel how Mrs. White was able to bring out this great book, “The Desire of Ages,” while in those busy years in Australia. Everything in the upbuilding of a new work in a great field drew upon her sympathies and her time. And in those years, at least from 1892 to 1895, there came to the General Conference headquarters in America the finest instruction for ministers and workers that we ever had given to us in a short series of years. Older workers will recall the envelope-size booklets in which the late beloved O. A. Olsen, then president of the General Conference, passed these counsels on to us. It was in itself a vast volume of instruction, much of which was probably included in larger books at a later time. And all the time workers at the headquarters in America knew that Mrs. White was struggling to find time to work on “The Desire of Ages.” Of her feeling toward this task she wrote to O. A. Olsen in 1892:SPIAM 43.7

“I walk with trembling before God. I know not how to speak or trace with pen the large subjects of the atoning sacrifice. I know not how to present subjects in the living power in which they stand before me. I tremble for fear lest I shall belittle the great plan of salvation by cheap words. I bow my soul in awe and reverence before God, and say, ‘Who is sufficient for these things? ’”—“Elmshaven Leaflets,” “The Writing of the Ellen G. White Books,” p. 7.SPIAM 44.1

It was in that spirit that Mrs. White walked all the way in making more real to us the gospel narrative. Let us quote two portions,—a view of the world when the Saviour came in the flesh, and a view of the triumphant return to heaven after the atoning sacrifice had been made. Those who have read the book the most, will read these scenes again with greatest pleasure.SPIAM 44.2