Ellen's Developing Christian Experience

In the autobiographical accounts as found in the 1880, 1888, and 1915 editions of Life Sketches (designated in this account as 1LS, 2LS, and 3LS) Ellen White presents in detail her struggles in her developing Christian experience. Much is omitted here in order to allow a quick running account touching essential points. With her parents, she had been very faithful in attending the Methodist meetings. She and her brother Robert also attended rather faithfully the Millerite meetings on Casco Street. In the summer of 1842 she and her parents attended the Methodist camp meeting at Buxton, Maine. She went hoping that she would find an experience that would bring her peace of mind. One sermon in particular led her to an understanding of justification by faith. Of this she wrote:1BIO 36.6

At length I was greatly relieved while listening to a discourse from the words: “I will go in unto the king,” “and if I perish, I perish.” In his remarks the speaker referred to those who were wavering between hope and fear, longing to be saved from their sins and receive the pardoning love of Christ, yet held in doubt and bondage by timidity and fear of failure. He counseled such ones to surrender themselves to God and venture upon His mercy without delay.... All that was required of the sinner, trembling in the presence of his Lord, was to put forth the hand of faith and touch the scepter of His grace. That touch insured pardon and peace.... These words comforted me and gave me views of what I must do to be saved.—Ibid., 140, 141.1BIO 37.1

But the lessons in the simplicity of faith and the importance of implicit trust came to Ellen slowly. Soon after her return to Portland from the camp meeting, she was taken into the Methodist Church on probation, with baptism to follow in due time. At that period baptism as a means of full acceptance into the Methodist Church was performed either by sprinkling or immersion. Ellen chose immersion; on Sunday afternoon, June 26, 1842, she and eleven others were baptized in the rather rough waters of Casco Bay. She described the important event:1BIO 37.2

The waves ran high, and dashed upon the shore; but my peace was like a river. When I arose out of the water, my strength was nearly gone, for the power of God rested upon me. Such a rich blessing I never experienced before. I felt dead to the world, and that my sins were all washed away. The same day a sister and myself were taken into the church.—Spiritual Gifts, 2:13.1BIO 37.3