Sister Stansell’s Search for Truth
By Mrs. A. F. Stansell
ELDER WHITE : I am a stranger to most of the readers of the Review, but as I am striving with them to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, with no one here to join me, I thought perhaps my experience might encourage others similarly situated. I have never heard the present truth preached, but I think I have seen it lived; and it agreed so well with my convictions and ideas of right, that I thought I would look into it, and see if the doctrinal part was in accordance with my views of the Bible. My attention was first called to the Sabbath question. I was at my father's, David Richmond's, in Green Bush, Mich. My dear eldest sister, who is living there, together with my mother, helped me trace the subject; and, my dear friends, I was greatly surprised not to find something somewhere in the Bible commanding us to keep Sunday as the Lord's Sabbath. I have studied the subject more thoroughly since I came home, and find nothing but what corroborates the first proofs. I thought that if the greater mass of people were keeping a wrong day for the Sabbath, perhaps they held other views just as inconsistent with the word of God. I traced out other subjects and found them so different from what the orthodox churches teach, yet so easy to understand, that I wondered why I had been blind so long. Oh, I was ready to receive the truth; for had I not hungered and thirsted after the right, but found it not? Had I not been disgusted with vain pretenders on every side? Oh, such mockery! I think I can with truth say that it is not a great cross for me to give up my friends, if I mean those in the church from which I have just withdrawn. My cross will be to make myself worthy to be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. I am, as others have been, derided and scoffed at for daring to differ from the old way marked out for me by others; yet I rejoice, and do not waver. I feel that God smiles upon and strengthens me. I was fast sinking in the slough of despond, but his arm of mercy was underneath. He has led me to the light, for which I will praise him forever. I desire to be a faithful follower of Christ. Pray for me. If one of the ministers of this beautiful faith should see it his duty to come here and give a course of lectures, I am confident much good might be done.