Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

order to record in these sketches some of the most stirring incidents in my
busy life, I shall be obliged to pass lightly over, or altogether omit a great
share of that which would no doubt be of great interest to the readers. Many
facts for which there is not room in the columns of this paper will soon
appear in the volume of my life spoken of above.
I related this vision to the believers in Portland, who had full confidence
that these manifestations were of God. A power attended them that could
only emanate from the divine. A solemn sense of eternal interests was
constantly upon me. An unspeakable awe filled me, that I, so young and
feeble, should be chosen as the instrument by which God would give light to
his people. While under the power of the Lord I was so inexpressibly happy,
seeming to be surrounded by radiant angels in the glorious courts of Heaven,
where all is peace and joy, that it was a sad and bitter change to wake up to
the unsatisfying realities of mortal life.
In a second vision, which soon followed the first, I was shown the trials
through which I must pass, and that it was my duty to go and relate to others
the things that God had revealed to me. It was shown me that my labors
would meet with great opposition, and that my heart would be wrought with
anguish, but that the grace of God would be sufficient to sustain me through
all. The teaching of this vision troubled me exceedingly, for it pointed that
my duty was to go out among the people and teach the truth.
My health was so poor that I was in actual bodily suffering, and, to all
appearance, had but a short time to live. I was but seventeen years of age,
small and frail, unused to society, and naturally so timid and retiring that it
was painful for me to meet strangers. I prayed earnestly for several days and
far into the night, that this burden might be removed from me and laid upon
some one else more capable of bearing it. But the light of duty never
changed, and the words of the angel sounded continually in my ears, "Make
known to others what I have revealed to you."
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