Q: Which books of Ellen G. White have been recalled and burned?
A: No Ellen White book has ever been recalled, nor destroyed. Any rumors to this effect are entirely without foundation in fact. However, certain books have gone-out of print as later, fuller printings have taken the place of earlier books. For instance, the Conflict of Ages Series took the place of the earlier four volumes of The Spirit of Prophecy. Out of print books may be accessed through the Research Centre.
 

Q: Who were Ellen G. White's "literary assistants"?
A: Among those who helped Ellen White in preparing her writings for publication over the years were James White, Mary Kelsey-White, Lucinda Abbey-Hall, Adelia Pattern-Van Horn, Anna Driscol-Loughborough, Addie Clough-Watson, Mrs. J.I. Lngs, Mrs.B.L. Whitney, Eliza Burnham, Fannie Bolton, Marian Davis, C.C. Crisler, Minnie Hawkins-Crisler, Maggie Hare, Sarah Peck, and D.E. Robinson. Some bible writers also had secretaries (Jer.36:4)
 

Q: Can Satan read our thoughts?
A: Regarding this question, Ellen White expressed that "The adversary of souls is not permitted to read the thoughts of men; but he is a keen observer, and he marks the words; he takes account of actions, and skillfully adapts his temptations to meet the cases of those who place themselves in his power. If we would labor to repress sinful thoughts and feelings, giving them no expression in words or actions, Satan would be defeated; for he could not prepare his specious temptations to meet the case" (Selected Messages, Book 1, pp. 122, 123)
 

Q: I would like to know what types of recreation are suitable for Adventist young people?
A: According to Ellen White, "Recreation, when true to its name, re-creation, tends to strengthen and build up. Calling us aside from our ordinary cares and occupations, it affords refreshment for mind and body, and thus enables us to return with new vigor to the earnest work of life." Education, 207.

Applying these principles we recommend that those whose work is largely physical may find recreation in reading, or developing a new skill, such as music, sewing, woodwork, amateur radio, photography, arts or crafts. The study of the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy writings, and missionary works should be given high priority.

We also recommend that, those whose work is largely mental will need physical recreation. Some suitable recreational activities include: simple outdoor games and sports that give physical exercise. Undue emphasis on competition should be avoided. Ellen G. White Estate, Question & Answer File 10-F.

Ellen White stated "I do not condemn the simple exercise of playing ball." Adventist Home (Hagerstown, MD: review and Herald, 1952, 1980, 2001), 499. "It is the privilege and duty of Christians to seek to refresh their spirits and invigorate their bodies by innocent recreation, with the purpose of using their physical and mental powers to the glory of God." Adventist Home, 493.
 

Q: Should I pay my tithe to the church even if I am not in agreement with the Church's current management?
A: Ellen G. White writes that "some have been dissatisfied and have said: 'I will not longer pay my tithe, for I have no confidence in the way things are managed at the heart of the work.' But will you rob God because you think the management of the work is not right? Make your complaint, plainly, and openly, in the right spirit, to the proper ones. Send in your petitions for things to be adjusted and set in order, but do not withdraw from the work of God, and prove unfaithful, because others are not doing right." Testimonies to the Church, (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press, 1948), 9: 247-249.
 

Q: Was Ellen G. White Rich?
A: She answered the question thus: "Sometimes it has been reported that I am trying to get rich. Some have written to us inquiring, 'Is not Mrs. White worth millions of dollars? I am glad that I can say, 'No."..Why?.. Because I see so much missionary work to be done. Under such circumstances, could I hoard money? No indeed. I receive royalties from the sale of my books; but nearly all is spent in missionary work." Manuscript No. 8, 1904. Years earlier, she wrote, "I do not profess to be the owner of any money that comes into my hands. I regard it as the Lord's money, for which I must render an account." Letter 41, 1895.
 

Q: Did Ellen White write that SDAs should never engage in debates?
A: Ellen White stated that "We should guard against the influence of men who have trained themselves as debaters; for they are in continual danger of handling the word of God deceitfully." Manuscript 15, 1888. The setting was the General Conference of 1888 at which  time the brethren came no with open minds to study the word of God but with fixed positions on certain points. Ellen White's counsel was against debate, for it led men to depend upon their skill rather than the Spirit of God to touch the hearts of men and women. Arthur L. White, Ellen White Estate, 1956.

Ellen White also recognized that in certain situations debate cannot be avoided. In that case she counsels: "Never should you enter upon a discussion, where so much is at stake, relying upon your aptness to handle strong arguments. If it cannot be well avoided, enter the conflict, but enter upon it with firm trust in God, and in the spirit of humility, in the spirit of Jesus, who has bidden you learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart." Testimonies (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press, 1948) 1:624, 626. Finally, she recommended that "whenever [such] discussions can be avoided, they should be...God is seldom glorified or the truth advanced in these combats." Testimonies, 3:213.
 

Q: How man children did Ellen White have?
A: Four boys were born into the White family. Henry Nichols (1847-1863) was their firstborn. He died of pneumonia at the age of 16. James Edison (1849-1928) became a Seventh-day Adventist minister and is most remembered for his pioneering evangelistic and educational work among African Americans in the Southern United States. William Clarence (1854-1937) also became a Seventh-day Adventist minister. After James's death in 1881, William became his mother's chief editorial assistant and publishing manager. John Herbert (1860) died at the age of three months from erysipelas.
 

Q: Did Ellen G. White say who Melchizedek was?
A: Contrary to many people's opinion, Ellen G. White did not state that Melchizedeck was Christ. She wrote: "God has never left Himself without witness on the earth. At one time Melchizedek represented the Lord Jesus Christ in person, to reveal the truth of heaven, and perpetuate the law of God. Melchizedek was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in the world" (The SDA Bible Commentary, 1092-1093).
 

Q: How many books and articles did Ellen White write?
A: At the time of her death Ellen White's literary productions totaled approximately 100,000 pages: 24 books in current circulation; two book manuscripts ready for publication; 5,000 periodical articles in the journals of the church; more than 200 tracts and pamphlets; approximately 35,000 typewritten pages of manuscript documents and letters; 2,000 handwritten letters and diary materials comprising, when copied, another 15,000 typewritten pages. Compilations made after her death from Ellen White's writings bring the total number of books currently in print to more than 130.
 

Q: What is Ellen White's most popular book?
A: Millions consider Ellen White's classic volume on the life of Christ--The Desire of Ages--to be their favorite Ellen White book. But her most popular book is Steps to Christ, which presents the essentials of basic Christian living. First published in 1892 and since translated into more than 135 languages, tens of millions of copies are in circulation.
 

Q: Did Ellen White believe the earth to be about 6,000 years old?
A: While Ellen White stated that she was shown in vision that creation week consisted of seven literal days (The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 85), she did not claim to have received any special revelation regarding the specific age of the earth. However, she rejected the idea that "the world has existed for tens of thousands of years." She accepted the Biblical record that the creation days were seven literal 24-hour periods, believing that the world "is now only about six thousand years old" (Ibid., p. 87).  
 

Q: What did Ellen White believe regarding the Godhead?
A: Ellen White never used the term "trinity," although she did refer to the "three living persons of the heavenly trio" (Evangelism, 615). She believed in the full deity of Christ, stating that "Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore" (Review and Herald, April 5, 1906). She also referred to the Holy Spirit as "the Third Person of the Godhead" (The Desire of Ages, 671). Her comments, as collected in Evangelism, 613-617, suggest that she believed that the Scriptures taught the existence of three co-eternal divine persons (Ellen G. White Estate Website, January 28, 2004).
 

Q: Did Ellen White suggest that the human nature of the Son of Mary changed into the divine nature of the Son of God?
A: No; Ellen White believed that the two natures–human and divine- were mysteriously blended in one person: Jesus Christ. White writes: “He [Christ] was the divine Son of God. The human and the divine were blended, and those who humbly seek God through Him will be made partakers of the divine nature” (Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, Sept. 2, 1895). In Christ, “divinity and humanity were mysteriously combined, and man and God became one” (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, 7:443).