DENOMINATIONAL PERSPECTIVE QUIZ

Test your knowledge of Seventh-day Adventist history and organization with these questions.

1. When was the earliest time set by William Miller for the return of Christ?

2. When was Ellen Harmon born?

3. Are infallibility and inspiration sy¬nonymous, and did Ellen Harmon ever claim infallibility?

4. Which of the early pioneers seems to have been most anxious to avoid making Ellen G. White’s visions a norm for the development of Ad¬ventist theology?

5. Has acceptance of Ellen G. White’s prophetic gift ever been a test of fellowship among Seventh-day Ad¬ventists?

6. In 1883, what three reasons did the General Conference give for refusing to adopt a church manual?

7. In order to assure adequate General Conference representation in local conference matters, how many of¬ficers from higher levels in the church may be called in to vote?


1. March 21, 1843

2. November 26, 1827

3. No and no. See Captains of the Host, Spaulding, p. 75.

4. James White. In the Review and Herald, October 16, 1885, he vigorously asserts that Adventist doctrines have been developed without reference to her visions. Instead, "We choose to believe Mrs. W's views which harmonize with the Word . . ."

5. No. In the Review and Herald, August 14, 1883, G. I. Butler offers evidence that her visions were not a test of fellowship. New members were accepted who had never heard of E. G. White, and some prominent ministers in the denomination did not accept the visions.

6. (1) A work issued under the auspices of the General Conference would once carry with it much weight of authority, and would be consulted by most of our younger ministers. (2) It would gradually shape and mold of the whole body, and those who did not follow it would be considered out of harmony with established principles of church order. (3) Minute, specific directions tend to weakness, rather than power. They lead to dependence, rather than self-reliance. Better make some mistakes and learn profitable lessons thereby, than to have our way all marked out for us by others, and the judgment have but a small field in which to reason and consider. 1883 Review and Harold article by G. I. Butler (then General Conference President).

7. All of them