Back Home at Battle Creek

With Sara, Ellen White arrived back in Battle Creek on Tuesday afternoon, December 30, 1890, at three o'clock. Soon she was introduced to encouraging news. The Week of Prayer reading she had written had been read in the Tabernacle on Sabbath, December 27, the closing day of the special event. With joy she recorded in her diary the reports that came to her:3BIO 470.1

The article I had written, published in the Extra, was read, and the power of the Spirit of the Lord sent the truth home to many hearts. No one could doubt that the Lord witnessed to the words written for the benefit of the church. Hearts were deeply stirred and remarks were made by Elder Prescott and others.3BIO 470.2

Elder Prescott confessed that he had not taken the course he should have taken in Battle Creek. He went far back to Minneapolis and acknowledged he did not have the true discernment there, and since that time he had not said much, but he had talked with Elder Smith and a few others. He made thorough work. Elder Smith stated that the testimony in the Extra was meant for him. He accepted it as reproof to him.—Manuscript 54, 1890.3BIO 470.3

In gratifying response Prescott linked his arm in Smith's and they identified themselves as seeking the Lord most earnestly. The night after the encouraging word came to Ellen White she could not sleep. She wrote: “Elder Smith was before me, and my supplications went up to heaven in his behalf all night. I was in a spirit of agony wrestling with God, and great hope took possession of my soul for him. He is one of our old hands, one of our reliable men, and the Lord will give him His keeping power.”—Ibid.3BIO 470.4

The next day she wrote a twelve-page letter to Smith, appealing to him most earnestly to come fully into the light (Letter 40, 1890).3BIO 471.1