In another thread, Will and Ron were curious about a statement I made on the kinds of institutions Ellen White was shown would work. Below is a very small sample of the many statements from Ellen White on some of the kinds of institutions she was shown. She claimed to have direct divine instructions. See the last quote for an example of where she quotes her ‘instructor’ directly.

As always, the context needs to be considered. For example, where she refers to learning the blacksmithing trade we should understand her to mean a modern trade that services the same need – mechanics, engineers etc. Where she talks of typing, we now call it keyboarding. But an unbiased look at her philosophy will show IMO that the advance of technology, the changes in culture and society, etc do not change the principles of this blueprint. It still works today. It is the way to go.

Small Sanitariums:

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The sick are to be reached, not by massive buildings, but by the establishment of many small sanitariums, which are to be as lights shining in a dark place. Those who are engaged in this work are to reflect the sunlight of Christ's face. They are to be as salt that has not lost its savor. By sanitarium work, properly conducted, the influence of true, pure religion will be extended to many souls. {CH 211.4}


From our sanitariums, trained workers are to go forth into places where the truth has never been proclaimed, and do missionary work for the Master, claiming the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20.--Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 8, pp. 13, 14 (1907).


The great medical institutions in our cities, called sanitariums do but a small part of the good they might do were they located where the patients could have the advantages of outdoor life. I have been instructed that sanitariums are to be established in many places in the country, and that the work of these institutions will greatly advance the cause of health and righteousness. {CH 169.1}


The things of nature are God's blessings, provided to give health to body, mind, and soul. They are given to the well to keep them well, and to the sick to make them well. Connected with water treatment, they are more effective in restoring health than all the drug medication in the world. {CH 169.2}


To absorb a large amount of means in a few places is contrary to Christian principles. Every building is to be erected with reference to the need for similar buildings in other places. God calls upon men in positions of trust in His work not to block the way of advance by selfishly using in a few favored places, or in one or two lines of work, all the means that can be secured. {CH 217.1}


The Lord has instructed me to warn those who in the future establish sanitariums in new places, to begin their work in humility, consecrating their abilities to His service. The buildings erected are not to be large or expensive. Small local sanitariums are to be established in connection with our training schools. In these sanitariums young men and young women of ability and consecration are to be gathered--those who will conduct themselves in the love and fear of God, those who, when prepared for graduation, will not feel that they know all that they need to know, but will diligently study and carefully practice the lessons given by Christ. The righteousness of Christ will go before such ones, and the glory of God will be their rearward. {CH 220.2}


In various places, properties are to be purchased to be used for sanitarium purposes. Our people should be looking for opportunities to purchase properties away from the cities, on which are buildings already erected and orchards already in bearing. Land is a valuable possession. Connected with our sanitariums there should be lands, small portions of which can be used for the homes of the helpers and others who are receiving a training for medical missionary work. {CH 227.3}




Small sanitariums are to be established in many places.-- Medical Ministry, p. 327. (1905) {Ev 536.3}

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Small Useful Industries, Especially Health Food Factories

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Attention should be given to the establishment of various industries so that poor families can find employment. Carpenters, blacksmiths, and indeed every one who understands some line of useful labor, should feel a responsibility to teach and help the ignorant and the unemployed.--The Ministry of Healing, p. 194. {ChS 129.2}


Missionary families are needed to settle in the waste places. Let farmers, financiers, builders, and those who are skilled in various arts and crafts, go to neglected fields, to improve the land, to establish industries, to prepare humble homes for themselves, and to help their neighbors. --The Ministry of Healing, p. 194. {ChS 182.3}


It is our wisdom to prepare simple, inexpensive, healthful foods. Many of our people are poor, and healthful foods are to be provided that can be supplied at prices that the poor can afford to pay. It is the Lord's design that the poorest people in every place shall be supplied with inexpensive, healthful foods. In many places industries for the manufacture of these foods are to be established. That which is a blessing to the work in one place will be a blessing in another place where money is very much harder to obtain. {CD 270.3}


Especially in the Southern States of North America many things will be devised and many facilities provided that the poor and needy can sustain themselves by the health-food industries. Under teachers who are laboring for the salvation of their souls, they will be taught how to cultivate and prepare for food those things that grow most readily in their locality.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, pp. 128, 129 (1901).

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Small Educational Institutions Tied to Industry and Agriculture

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To the managers and teachers of that school I was instructed to say: {CT 310.1}
"Various industries should be carried on in our schools. The industrial instruction given should include the keeping of accounts, carpentry, and all that is comprehended in farming. Preparation should be made for the teaching of blacksmithing, painting, shoemaking, and for cooking, baking, washing, mending, typewriting, and printing. Every power at our command is to be brought into this training work, that students may go forth well equipped for the duties of practical life. {CT 310.2}
"Students should be given a practical education in agriculture. This will be of inestimable value to many in their future work. The training to be obtained in felling trees and in tilling the soil, as well as in literary lines, is the education that our youth should seek to obtain. Agriculture will open resources for self-support. Other lines of work, adapted to different students, may also be carried on. But the cultivation of the land will bring a special blessing to the workers. We should so train the youth that they will love to engage in the cultivation of the soil. {CT 311.1}
"There should be opened to the youth means whereby many may, while attending school, learn the trade of carpentry. Under the guidance of experienced workmen, carpenters who are apt to teach, patient, and kind, the youth should be taught how to build substantially and economically. Cottages and other buildings essential to the various lines of schoolwork are to be erected by the students themselves. These buildings should not be crowded close together, or built near the school buildings proper. In the management of the schoolwork, small companies should be formed, who should be taught to carry a full sense of their responsibility. All these things cannot be accomplished at once, but we can begin to work in faith." {CT 311.2}

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Thank you Mark,

I was blessed to read your selections on sanitariums, education and country living. Yes, it is the way for God's people. He has not given another. Have you seen this blueprint fulfilled in this present day?

Gordon

Dear Mark:
We have been given clear instructions as to what we are to do. When Jesus returns and asks us an account of what we have done, some of us are going to be speechless like the man caught without a wedding garmet.

It is interesting when you see what Mrs. White considered central to her ministry and what she considered pereferal. The issues of not giving up believing that God lead the 1844 movement, visions to help in the development of the church, including the framework of education and setting up sanatariums, and the framework of the Great Controversy philosophy.

Other things are what people kept asking her about and what she gave counsel from her perspective as a prophet, but in like dealing with the issues of the daily and other events starting with the events surrounding 1888 through her death in 1915, she would give a different picture of other topics and telling those who wanted to discuss issues such as the daily to focus on her core issues.

Sadly today we have people who compile pages after pages on these side issues, but are ignorant on what she saw as central. And we have critics who are constantly focused only on her side issues (and sadly misquoting her on these issues) but are ignorant of her core issues.


Thank you for shareing with us some of Mrs. White's core, but neglected messages. Now if only we can do the next step and implement them.

But what are we to do with the large medical institutions that are owned currantly?

I'm worried that too many people see a fight between the large medical institutions and the sanitariums, and what is sad is that both tend to be too sepperate from each other preventing God from blessing either the way he wants to. The sanitarium people tend to be too fundamentalist. The large medical centers have their role and Sanitariums have their roles and as we stop making the consepts fight, and we look at the principle of the health message but see how Mrs. White understood what inspiration did and did not do for her, and become less arragant and selfish people, we are going to see amazing medical breakthroughts in both large medical centers and sanitariums.

In summery to RA's question, they both have a role to play.