No Claim to Be the Leader

Mrs. White’s position and work were unique. It would be but natural that one called to the responsibilities placed upon her might be inclined to assume the position of leader, and might even become somewhat of a dictator. This was not true of Mrs. White. In 1903 when the public press issued statements that there was a controversy between Dr. J. H. Kellogg and Mrs. E. G. White over the question of leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist people, the messenger of the Lord declared:EGWMR 125.18

“No one has ever heard me claim the position of leader of the denomination. I have a work of great responsibility to do,—to impart by pen and voice the instruction given me, not alone to Seventh-day Adventists, but to the world. I have published many books, large and small, and some of these have been translated into several languages. This is my work, to open the Scriptures to others, as God has opened them to me.”—Testimonies for the Church 8:236.EGWMR 125.19

We have already noted Mrs. White’s clear perception of the place of organization in the work of the denomination, and the authority of the General Conference in planning for the advancement of the work. Speaking of her trip to Australia, she testified:EGWMR 125.20

“I had not one ray of light that He [the Lord] would have me come to this country [Australia]. I came in submission to the voice of the General Conference, which I have ever maintained to be authority,“—Letter 124, 1896.EGWMR 126.1

This is in full harmony with the utterance recorded during her illness in Australia when she asked herself: “Have you not come to Australia because you felt that it was your duty to go where the conference judged it best for you to go? Has not this been your practice?”—Letter 18a, 1892.EGWMR 126.2

Although she stood as the Lord’s messenger, with instruction for the leaders of the work, she ever gave full recognition to the rightful place of organization.EGWMR 126.3