Thoughts, Not Words, Inspired

In speaking of the words chosen in recording what had been revealed to her, she stated in the Review and Herald of October 8, 1867:EGWMR 79.8

“Although I am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing my views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen are my own, unless they be those spoken to me by an angel, which I always enclose in marks of quotation.”EGWMR 79.9

Mrs. White, in telling of the work of those who were employed as her secretaries in handling her writings, and of erroneous ideas of their work, made the following statement in 1906:EGWMR 79.10

“While my husband lived, he acted as a helper and counselor in the sending out of the messages that were given to me. We traveled extensively. Sometimes light would be given to me in the night season, sometimes in the daytime before large congregations. The instruction I received in vision was faithfully written out by me, as I had time and strength for the work. Afterward, we examined the matter together, my husband correcting grammatical errors and eliminating needless repetition. Then it was carefully copied for the persons addressed, or for the printer.EGWMR 79.11

“As the work grew, others assisted me in the preparation of matter for publication. After my husband’s death, faithful helpers joined me who labored untiringly in the work of copying the testimonies, and preparing articles for publication. But the reports that are circulated, that any of my helpers are permitted to add matter or change the meaning of the messages I write out, are not true.”—The Writing and Sending Out of the Testimonies to the Church, 4.EGWMR 79.12

All through the years the denomination has recognized that the messages which were imparted to Mrs. White came through an enlightenment of the mind, and not through mechanical, verbal inspiration. In 1883, when considering the reprinting of the early published testimonies, the General Conference set forth these principles, and went on record as favoring the republication of the Testimonies with such grammatical and verbal corrections as seemed necessary. We quote its actions as published in the Review and Herald for November 27, 1883:EGWMR 80.1

“32. Whereas, Some of the bound volumes of the ‘Testimonies to the Church’ are out of print, so that full sets cannot be obtained at the office; and,EGWMR 80.2

“Whereas, There is a constant and urgent call for the reprinting of these volumes; therefore,EGWMR 80.3

“Resolved, That we recommend their republication in such a form as to make four volumes of seven or eight hundred pages each.EGWMR 80.4

“33. Whereas, Many of these testimonies were written under the most unfavorable circumstances, the writer being too heavily pressed with anxiety and labor to devote critical thought to the grammatical perfection of the writings, and they were printed in such haste as to allow these imperfections to pass uncorrected; and,EGWMR 80.5

“Whereas, We believe the light given by God to His servants is by the enlightenment of the mind, thus imparting the thoughts, and not (except in rare cases) the very words in which the ideas should be expressed; therefore,EGWMR 80.6

“Resolved, That in the republication of these volumes, such verbal changes be made as to remove the above-named imperfections, as far as possible, without in any measure changing the thought.”EGWMR 80.7

With this brief discussion of the editorial work on the E. G. White writings, ^{*For a fuller discussion of these matters, we would refer the reader to the excellent presentation made by Elder F. M. Wilcox, in the chapter, “Verbal Inspiration,” found on pages 84-89 of the book, The Testimony of Jesus, 1944 Edition.} let us return to our consideration of the Ellen G. White manuscript file.EGWMR 80.8