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Why are 7th Day Adventists Obsessed with Ellen G. White?
Welcome to today’s discussion of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a Protestant denomination known for its unique practices and strong beliefs. At the heart of their faith is the celebration of Saturday as the Sabbath, a day for rest, worship, and bonding with the community. They’re primarily focused on the imminent return of Jesus Christ, which colors almost everything they do, from how they eat to how they teach.
Ellen G. White emerged as a critical figure in the church after the Millerite movement’s big flop in 1844, famously known as the “Great Disappointment.” Born in 1827 in Maine, White claimed to have had her first vision as a teenager, which supposedly steered the direction of the early Adventist community. She wrote a lot, including titles like “Steps to Christ” and “The Desire of Ages,” covering everything from religion and health to education. Her visions heavily emphasized the Sabbath, health reforms, and Christian education, and she played a massive role in setting up significant institutions like Loma Linda University. Her community sees her as a prophetess, and her influence helped shape the church from a small, scattered group into a significant global denomination.
Who was Ellen G. White, really? Born into a devout Methodist family, she was all-in with the Millerite movement, which was all about the…