Her Husband’s Death

Her husband’s health, which in the late 1860’s had necessitated his dropping out of regular service for a few years, worsened again. He died in August, 1881, at Battle Creek. At the time, Ellen White was lying ill at the Battle Creek Sanitarium. A few days later she was carried to the church, a short block away, to attend the funeral service. We will let her describe in her own words what happened:WBEGW 78.1

“At the close of the sermon I felt it a duty to testify to the value of the Christian’s hope in the hour of sorrow and bereavement. As I arose, strength was given me, and I spoke about ten minutes, exalting the mercy and love of God in the presence of that crowded assembly. At the close of the services I followed my husband to Oak Hill Cemetery, where he was laid to rest until the morning of the resurrection.WBEGW 78.2

“My physical strength had been prostrated by the blow, yet the power of divine grace sustained me in my great bereavement. When I saw my husband breathe his last, I felt that Jesus was more precious to me than He ever had been in any previous hour of my life. When I stood by my firstborn, and closed his eyes in death, I could say, ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ And I felt then that I had a comforter in Jesus. And when my latest born was torn from my arms, and I could no longer see its little head upon the pillow by my side, then I could say, ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ And when he upon whose large affections I had leaned, with whom I had labored for thirty-five years, was taken away, I could lay my hands upon his eyes, and say, ‘I commit my treasure to Thee until the morning of the resurrection.’ ...WBEGW 78.3

“At times I felt that I could not have my husband die. But these words seemed to be impressed on my mind: ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ Psalm 46:10. I keenly feel my loss, but dare not give myself up to useless grief. This would not bring back the dead. And I am not so selfish as to wish, if I could, to bring him from his peaceful slumber to engage again in the battles of life.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 252, 253.WBEGW 79.1

And then she added calmly: “I take up my life work alone, in full confidence that my Redeemer will be with me.”WBEGW 79.2

Could anything more clearly picture her innermost character and very nature than these words? How calm the resignation to the will of God. How quiet the composure that is sustained by faith. In the light of this, how senseless sound the words of those who would seek to explain away the life of this remarkable woman by declaring that she was simply an emotionally unstable person, troubled with hallucinations, or perhaps worse, afflicted by some mental malady such as schizophrenia. One is almost tempted to feel that those who bring such charges are either grossly ignorant of her life or are themselves troubled with emotional instability.WBEGW 79.3

From 1885 to 1887 Mrs. White traveled in Europe, encouraging and strengthening the newly started Adventist churches there.WBEGW 79.4