Established by the Lord God of Heaven

As Ellen White had occasion to look back to the laying of the foundations of doctrinal positions held by the church, she was led to write:1BIO 148.5

Those who passed over the ground step by step in the past history of our experience, seeing the chain of truth in the prophecies, were prepared to accept and obey every ray of light. They were praying, fasting, searching, digging for the truth as for hidden treasures, and the Holy Spirit, we know, was teaching and guiding us.1BIO 148.6

Many theories were advanced, bearing a semblance of truth, but so mingled with misinterpreted and misapplied scriptures, that they led to dangerous errors. Very well do we know how every point of truth was established, and the seal set upon it by the Holy Spirit of God. And all the time voices were heard, “Here is the truth,” “I have the truth; follow me.” But the warnings came, “Go not ye after them. I have not sent them, but they ran.” (See Jeremiah 23:21.)1BIO 149.1

The leadings of the Lord were marked, and most wonderful were His revelations of what is truth. Point after point was established by the Lord God of heaven. That which was truth then, is truth today.—Manuscript 31, 1896 (see also Selected Messages 2:103, 104).1BIO 149.2

In 1896 she reinforced this concept of God's definite leadings in the establishment of the distinctive truths dug out in those early days:1BIO 149.3

The great waymarks of truth, showing us our bearings in prophetic history, are to be carefully guarded, lest they be torn down, and replaced with theories that would bring confusion rather than genuine light....1BIO 149.4

The burden of the warning now to come to the people of God, nigh and afar off, is the third angel's message. And those who are seeking to understand this message will not be led by the Lord to make an application of the Word that will undermine the foundation and remove the pillars of the faith that has made Seventh-day Adventists what they are today. The truths that have been unfolding in their order, as we have advanced along the line of prophecy revealed in the Word of God, are truth, sacred, eternal truth today.— Ibid. (see also Ibid., 2:101-103).1BIO 149.5

Nine years later, when the sanctuary truth was being undermined through a misapplication of Scripture by a Seventh-day Adventist minister, Ellen White declared:1BIO 149.6

This poor man has been working decidedly against the truth that the Holy Spirit has confirmed. When the power of God testifies as to what is truth, that truth is to stand forever as the truth.—Letter 329, 1905 (see also Selected Messages 1:160, 161).1BIO 149.7

At the Sabbath Conference held at Topsham at the Howland home over the weekend of October 20-22, 1848, the subject of publishing the truths thus far studied out, particularly the Sabbath message, was prayerfully considered. But the way did not seem clear (GSAM, p. 273).1BIO 149.8