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Ellen G. White Harmon) (November 26, 1827 – July 16, 1915) was a prolific writer and a founding member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Most of her life she lived and worked in the United States, except for a period of 1890-1900 in Australia and some short visits to Europe.

With the sole exception of Agatha Christie, Ellen White is said to be the most translated female writer in the history of literature sup, education and health (she also advocated vegetarianism). She was a leader who emphasized education and health and promoted establishment of schools and medical centers.

During her lifetime she wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books; but today, including compilations from her 50,000 pages of manu.

Believed by Seventh-day Adventists to be inspired by God, her books have influenced many.

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church states in its 28 Fundamental Beliefs:

"#18. The Gift of Prophecy: One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White . As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)" (see http:)

Several of her homes are historic sites. The first home that she and her husband owned is now part of the Historic Adventist Village in Battle Creek, Michigan.[1] Other homes they owned are privately owned with the exception of her home in Cooranbong, Australia, which she named "Sunnyside," and her last home in Saint Helena, California, which she named "Elmshaven"[2]. These latter two homes are owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the "Elmshaven" home is also a National Historic Landmark.

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On her way home from school at the age of 9 years, Ellen Harmon was struck in the face with a rock thrown by another school girl. The trauma put her in a coma for three weeks, and gave her health problems from which she never fully recovered. In her weakened state, she was unable to return to school, and never completed any further formal education.

In 1840, at age 12, her family became involved with the Millerite movement, a movement that created emotional turbulence for her. Through attending William Miller lectures, she felt that she was a guilty sinner and was filled with terror about being eternally lost. She describes herself as spending nights in tears and prayer, and being in this condition for several months. She also describes moments of pure bliss while having positive religious experiences. Eventually, the association with the Millerites caused her Methodist church to disfellowship her and her family.

It was shortly after experiencing the Great Disappointment of 1844 that Ellen started having her first visions. At random times, often when in church or prayer meetings, Ellen would be taken into vision. The visions would last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

She described the vision experience as being surrounded in bright light. In these visions she would be in the presence of Jesus or angels, who would show her events (historical and future), show her places (on earth, in heaven, other planets), or tell her information. When the vision was over she described returning to the darkness of the earth.

The first vision was a depiction of the Adventist people following Jesus, marching to the city (heaven). This vision was taken by those around her as an encouraging sign considering the devastation of the Great Disappointment. She was encouraged both in visions and by fellow church members to more broadly share her visions, which she did by a mix of public speaking, magazine articles, and books.

The writings of her visions are generally either reproof or encouragement to individual people or the Adventist church collectively, theology, and prophecy. Her series of books "Testimonies for the Church" contain a large amount of this material. The speaking and writings of her visions played a significant part in establishing and shaping the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Her visions and writings were used, and are still used in church policy and as a resource of devotional material.

One of the first and most prominent critics of Ellen White was D.M. Canright. The criticisms he makes in his 1919 book, supposed failed prophecy (Although her prophecy revolves around the end of time — which has not yet come — she also wrote of tall buildings in New York brought down by fire in the sky during a 1906 visit to the city. This prophecy is strikingly similar to the attacks on September 11, 2001 in New York)suppression of damaging writings (As of 2005, those writings have been released. They center around the supposed infallability of the Pope.)progression of maturity in vision as she ages (attributed by Adventists to a closer relationship with God — such as Enoch was alleged to have had)

Many of her critics attribute her visions to her head injury, arguing that her symptoms match disorders such as temporal lobe epilepsy.