Blessings Rick H,

I was raised Roman Catholic. Vatican I, not that that matters much. When I first joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I didn't attend but six of the twenty-four messages given by Elder Kenneth Cox. There was much about what SDA's believed that I didn't know or understand.

Anyway, it took me about a year before I felt comfortable that I understood what SDA's believed that I actually felt I was one with SDA's. That is when someone gave me a book by Ellen White to read. I think it was The Desire of Ages. But, anyway, the book really started to bother me and I couldn't figure out why!?! This went on for a little while until it dawned on me! This is not a novel, this is a serious book!

You see, novels commonly explain the thoughts of those in the novel to captivate the reader. But, Ellen White was doing this and this was not a novel! My first thought was; "Who does she think she is, a prophet or something?"

You see, I heard that she was a great inspiration and other things, but, I was never told she was a prophet! Well, I called one of our elders in the church and he told me that in fact Ellen White is a prophet! When I asked him how he knew this he told me he couldn't explain it and that I would need to search it out for myself.

I was very concerned about my situation.

When I asked at church, I was given a book by Renee' Noorenberg, or something like that, named Prophet of Destiny. No one was able to teach me how to test a prophet! And this book did not satisfy that requirement.

Eventually, as I studied the Scriptures on this point, it all came down to Matthew 7. How could I test the fruits of someone who was long dead?

I wasn't going to ask any Seventh-day Adventists! That wasn't even an option. Then I found a book by Dr. Walter Martin named Kingdom of the Cults. I'm sure many on this board have heard of it. In this book I found what I was looking for.

Dr. Martin referenced a Dudley M. Canright and personally gave Sister White a vote of confidence for lack of a better term. I took this to church one Sabbath and declared to all present that; "If you want to know if Ellen White is a true prophet of God, read this book!" And I was holding up The Kingdom of the Cults.

Almost every jaw in the place hit the floor.

But, because of that experience, I know without a doubt that Sister White is a true prophetess of God! I can and do take her writings at their word.

That same book played a role in my becoming a SDA, however, I didn't realize that he accepted EGW as a prophetess of God. As I should still have that book, I think I will check that part out for myself, as it may become useful in future discussions here and wherever.