Chapter 1—(1863) A Year to Be Remembered

Of the visions given to Ellen White, one of the ones most remembered by Seventh-day Adventists was that of June 6, 1863—the health reform vision. But this was but one of the significant events of the year. As the year opened, the Civil War—the war between the States of the United States, sparked by the issues of slavery—had reached a point of vital concern to Seventh-day Adventists. Testimony No. 9, with its lead article, “The Rebellion,” came from the press in early January. In May the structure of church organization was completed in a one-day session at which the several State conferences were linked together into a General Conference. Moses Hull, one of the few ministers of the church, left its ranks to join the spiritualists. In the autumn James and Ellen White took their family to the East to get their children away from distracting war influences in Battle Creek, but before the year ended they had lost their eldest son in death. It was truly a momentous year. We will begin its story with the health reform vision.2BIO 11.1