Impervious to Influences

As one man read what Mrs. White had written regarding a certain experience in our denominational work, he felt that she had been misinformed, and so wrote to her, pointing out that she had not received correct information on these points, and attempting to set her straight. A sentence from her reply is significant: “You think individuals have prejudiced my mind. If I am in this state, I am not fitted to be entrusted with the work of God.”—E. G. White Letter 16, 1893.EGWMR 16.7

Writing many years earlier to a sister who felt that the testimony borne by Mrs. White had been based upon reports she had carried, she said:EGWMR 16.8

“What if you had said ever so much, would that affect the visions that God gives me? If so, then the visions are nothing. What you or anyone else has said is nothing at all. God has taken the matter in hand.... What you have said, Sister, influenced me not at all. My opinion has nothing to do with what God has shown me in vision.”—E. G. White Letter 1, 1851.EGWMR 16.9

Of course there were times in Ellen White’s experience when reports which came to her indicated the need of certain counsel being given. Paul wrote counsel and instruction to the churches when reports coming to him indicated that it was needful. Such reports did not originate the message, but only called it forth.EGWMR 16.10

On this topic an earnest worker of earlier years wrote to Mrs. White in 1892, telling her of his observations:EGWMR 16.11

“There are so many who are ready to say that Sister White has been influenced to do or to say this or that, I often hesitate about writing you concerning things which I would like to write to you about, so that in case remarks of that sort are made, I can say with the utmost confidence that there had been no possible opportunity for you to be influenced, by me at any rate. It has been to me a source of more confidence and satisfaction than I can express to you, that I have often seen, in my acquaintance with you and your work, wrongs set right through the special leading of your mind by the Lord.EGWMR 16.12

“I used often to make a test in my mind, saying nothing to anybody. I would say to myself, Now here is an evident wrong. Sister White knows nothing about it, or if she knows anything about it, the circumstances are such as would produce a personal prejudice in favor of the wrong rather than against it. If the Lord leads her to denounce and correct this evil, I shall know that she is being specially led. In not a single instance did the test fail, and so my confidence grew. I mention these facts very often to those whom I find doubting.”—Letter from —— to Mrs. E. G. White, Sept. 9, 1892.EGWMR 17.1