Another pioneer of the Seventh-day Adventist Church was a young man named James White, who joined the Millerite movement in 1842. In two years his preaching led at least 1,000 people to join the Millerites.

In the spring of 1843, while attending a meeting in Portland, Maine, James was deeply impressed by the testimony of a young woman named Ellen Harmon. They married August 30, 1846, and became two of the most influential leaders in the Seventh-day Adventist movement.

James was gifted as a writer, editor, preacher, business manager, and administrator. He printed the first Adventist publication, Present Truth, in 1849. Later renamed The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, it continues as the Adventist Review—the most widely read journal in Adventism today. James founded both the Review and Herald Publishing Association and the Pacific Press Publishing Association which still serve the publishing needs of the church today.

In the 1850s, James began to urge Sabbath-keeping Adventists to develop an organization that could carry the burdens of the publishing work, which up to that time he had personally managed under his own name. At a conference in 1860, the church's name Seventh-day Adventist was chosen and a publishing association was formed.

As churches and state conferences were organized, the need for formal administration became evident. The General Conference (G.C.) of Seventh-day Adventists was officially organized in May 1863, and James was elected as its first president. However, he refused the position and John Byington became the first president. James later served three different terms as G.C. president.

Ellen White

During 35 years of marriage to James, Ellen worked by his side and traveled with him. She was raised in a branch of Methodism that emphasized the importance of holiness and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Although her childhood was plagued by a serious facial injury and recurring illness, Ellen was deeply spiritual and spent much time in Bible study, prayer, and spiritual reflection. Deeply effected when Christ did not return in 1844, Ellen sought God for light and guidance.

One morning, in December 1844, 17-year-old Ellen joined four women to pray at the home of a close friend. As they were praying, she experienced her first vision1 which brought comfort to the little group in Portland, Maine.

Ellen was seen by Adventists as the instrument used by the Holy Spirit to communicate God’s counsel to the growing Advent movement, but she directed others to the Bible as our only rule of faith and practice. She always pointed to Christ, the true leader of the church. Her prophetic role was often difficult and discouraging but, on more than one occasion, she changed the course of Adventist history through her courage and faith.

Her visions continued until the year of her death, 1915. With the help of literary assistants she authored scores of books and more than 4,000 articles during her lifetime, which continue to guide the church today.

Portions of this article were adapted by Ann Fisher from Welcome to the Family, an out-of-print book published jointly by Home Study International and the North American Division, and used with permission. Ann writes from Walla Walla, Washington.

1 Ellen G. White, Early Writings, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1945), 13-19.