Care Required in Answering Questions and Charges

Through June and the early part of July, Ellen White devoted much of her time to answering the many questions. Scores of letters totaling hundreds of pages were written. Many of these carried warnings concerning the perils of cherishing doubts in the face of the strong evidences God had given of the integrity of the Spirit of Prophecy.6BIO 102.7

What care Ellen White had to exercise as she dealt with these questions from the physicians in Battle Creek! She found that she must measure her words very precisely.6BIO 102.8

She wrote:6BIO 103.1

When I am meeting with evidences that these communications will be treated by some in accordance with the human judgment of those who shall receive them; when I realize that some are watching keenly for some words which have been traced by my pen and upon which they can place their human interpretations in order to sustain their positions and to justify a wrong course of action—when I think of these things, it is not very encouraging to continue writing....

The twistings and connivings and misrepresentations and misapplications of the Word are marvelous.... What one does not think of, another mind supplies.—Letter 172, 1906.

The time came when “the most frivolous questions” were being asked (Letter 180, 1906). She wrote:6BIO 103.2

I am to sow the good seed. When questions suggested by Satan arise, I will remove them if I can. But those who are picking at straws had better be educating mind and heart to take hold of the grand and soul-saving truths that God has given through the humble messenger, in the place of becoming channels through whom Satan can communicate doubt and questioning.—Letter 200, 1906.6BIO 103.3

Instruction began to come to her that she need not pick up and answer “all the sayings and doubts that are being put into many minds” (Manuscript 61, 1906). She and her staff, after providing answers to the principal questions, considered their work quite well finished in this line of defense.6BIO 103.4

It was now mid-July. Ellen White felt relieved as she turned her attention to other interests. Camp meeting would soon open in Oakland, and she would attend.6BIO 103.5