Did Ellen White Bear Good Fruit?

Ellen White’s life and work was dedicated to the service of God. In each of her 55 published volumes, there is the fruit of one who has known and loved Jesus. In her thousands of letters to individuals she always spoke the truth in love even if the message was one of reproof.

Ellen G. White in a carriage with Sara McEnterfer circa 1910.
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She went out of her way to uplift others and practiced what she preached, as we see in her book Education:

Through sin the divine likeness was marred, and well-nigh obliterated. Man’s physical powers were weakened, his mental capacity was lessened, his spiritual vision dimmed. He had become subject to death. Yet the race was not left without hope. By infinite love and mercy the plan of salvation had been devised, and a life of probation was granted. To restore in man the image of his Maker, to bring him back to the perfection in which he was created, to promote the development of body, mind and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation might be realized—this was to be the work of redemption. This is the object of education, the great object of life (Education, 15-16).

Ellen White was not only a messenger, but worked as a missionary. She helped establish missions in several places in the world and encouraged everyone to take part in the great work of spreading the Gospel:

Today the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the single most widespread Protestant denomination in the world. It sponsors over 5000 schools and 350 academies and colleges, and has established a worldwide health ministry that supplies healthy foods to millions of people and sponsors over 200 hospitals in cities and areas that are often inaccessible. In addition, the Church runs a worldwide relief organisation—ADRA—which has played a major role in bringing relief to areas stricken by natural disasters and wars.

These great achievements in such a short time would have been impossible without Ellen White's council and labor. These are the fruits of her labors. Ellen White died at 87 on July 16, 1915. She was buried next to her husband in Oak Hill Cemetery at Battle Creek, Michigan. Shortly after her death, the New York Independent carried an article stating this:

She showed no spiritual pride and she sought no filthy lucre. She lived the life and did the work of a worthy prophetess, the most admirable of the American succession.ⁱ

The press made these statements on the life and death of Ellen White:

The life of Mrs. White is an example worthy of emulation by all... She was a humble, devout disciple of Christ and ever went about doing good... She was honoured and respected by all who appreciate noble womanhood, consecrated to unselfish labour for the uplifting and betterment of mankind. Her death marks the calling of another noted leader of the religious thought and one whose almost 90 years were full to overflowing with good deeds, kind words, and earnest prayers for all mankind.ⁱⁱ

In spite of the fact that the works of Mrs. White were written long before the advent of modern scientific nutrition, no better overall guide is available today.ⁱⁱⁱ

Did Ellen White exhibit the physical signs of a prophet in vision?

i. New York Independent (August 23, 1915).

ii. Star (St. Helena, CA: July 23, 1915).

iii. Clive M. McCay, "A Nutrition Authority Discusses Mrs. E.G. White," Review and Herald (Feb 26, 1959): 10.