Of the eight Harmon children, two became active Seventh-day Adventists:
Ellen and her older sister Sarah, whose son was hymn-writer F. E. Belden. Both
of Ellen White's parents died Sabbathkeepers and believers in the Advent
message, as did her brother Robert, who died a little more than 10 years before
the church officially organized in 1863. Mary, six years older than Ellen,
considered herself a Seventh-day Adventist, although there is no record of her
formally joining the church.
Ellen White maintained close relationships with her remaining three sisters
and older brother, John, corresponding and visiting with them, and sending them
copies of her books and subscriptions to Adventist journals. At one time she
wrote of her sisters, "Although we were not practically agreed on all points
of religious duty, yet our hearts were one" (Review and Herald, Apr.
21, 1868).
Thought for the Day
As our physical life is sustained by food, so our spiritual life is sustained by the word of God. And every soul is to receive life from God's word for himself. As we must eat for ourselves in order to receive nourishment, so we must receive the word for ourselves. We are not to obtain it merely through the medium of another's mind. Desire of Ages, p. 390