Launched By The Spirit Of Prophecy

The answer given the lady is sufficient as a general outline. But any one going into the history of this development would find the definite beginnings of it in the year 1863. The inspiration to enter this health field as a definite program of work came at that time—and by the gift of the Spirit of prophecy. A few years later, in 1867, Mrs. White wrote: “It was at the house of A. Hilliard, at Otsego, Michigan, June 6, 1863, that the great subject of health reform was opened before me in vision.”—The Review and Herald, October 8, 1867.SPIAM 85.2

Visiting a small village church, and stopping in the home of a farmer brother, “the great subject of health” was brought before her mind by the Spirit. At once she began to write message after message, telling the things her heart was burdened to give to the people. By 1866 pioneer leaders were prepared to launch the first institutional effort, the Health Reform Institute, at Battle Creek, Michigan. From that beginning, sanitariums, clinics, treatment rooms, have spread over the earth with the progress of the movement. And, greater still, a whole people have been made “health-conscious,” and encouraged to engage in ministry to the sick and suffering in neighborhood service.SPIAM 85.3