Life sketches of ellen g. white

with my husband, a meeting at Topsham, Maine, at which
Elder Joseph Bates was present. He did not then fully
believe that my visions were of God. That meeting was a
season of much interest. The Spirit of God rested upon me;
I was wrapped in a vision of God's glory, and for the first
time had a view of other planets. After I came out of
vision, I related what I had seen. Elder Bates then asked
if I had studied astronomy. I told him I had no
recollection of ever looking into an astronomy. Then he
said, "This is of the Lord." His countenance shone with the
light of heaven, and he exhorted the church with power. p.
97, Para. 2, [LS15].
Regarding his attitude toward the visions, Elder Bates
made the following statement: p. 97, Para. 3, [LS15].
"Although I could see nothing in them that militated
against the Word, yet I felt alarmed and tried exceedingly,
and for a long time unwilling to believe that it was
anything more than what was produced by a protracted
debilitated state of her body. p. 97, Para. 4, [LS15].
"I therefore sought opportunities in the presence of
others, when her mind seemed freed from excitement (out of
meeting), to question and cross-question her, and her
friends which accompanied her, especially her elder sister,
to get if possible at the truth. During the number of
visits she has made to New Bedford and Fairhaven since,
while at our meetings, I have seen her in vision a number
of times, and also in Topsham, Maine; and those who were
present during some of those exciting scenes know well with
what interest and intensity I listened to every word, and
watched every move to detect deception or mesmeric
influence. And I thank God for the opportunity I have had
with others to witness these things. I can now confidently
speak for myself. I believe the work is of God, and is
given to comfort and strengthen His 'scattered, torn, and
peeled people,' since the closing up of our work for the
world in October, 1844." p. 97, Para. 5, [LS15].
Fervent, Effectual Prayer -- During the meeting at
Topsham, I was shown that I would be much affected, and
that we would have a trial of our faith after our return to
Gorham, where my parents were then living. p. 98, Para. 1,
[LS15].
On our return, I was taken very sick, and suffered