Ellen White on Disease Prevention and Smallpox

While there are no specific mentions of the word "vaccination" in her own written books or manuscripts, she lived and worked during a time when smallpox was a "dreadful scourge," and she frequently used the disease as a literal illustration of a curse to be avoided at all costsAH 393.4+1. She viewed health reform as a "great enterprise" to fit a people for the coming of the Lord, emphasizing that we must place ourselves in a right relation to the laws of life to prevent diseaseCCh 214.2+2. Although she primarily promoted the use of nature's own remedies—pure air, sunlight, and water—she also warned that in the last days, pestilences would multiply, and life would be unsafe anywhere unless hid with Christ in GodPC 22.1+2.

The Gravity of Infectious Disease 🦠

• The Smallpox Illustration: The danger and "curse" of smallpox were so well understood that the people were told to avoid getting into debt as they would avoid the smallpox itselfCCh 155.7+1.

• A Dreadful Scourge: Families of faith were seen coming out of the "furnace of affliction" after being visited by the "dreadful scourge" of smallpox, showing it was recognized as a severe and literal threat1EGWLM 644.1+1.

• Protection of Others: It is a sin to lightly regard health and life, and those who ignore the laws of health may transmit disease to others and to future generationsSA 107.3.

• Isolation and Cleansing: In cases of contagious or contaminating diseases, the biblical principle of isolation from the community and thorough cleansing of person and clothing was upheld to prevent spreadMH 277.2.

Prevention and Divine Remedies 🌿

• Higher Standard of Prevention: The first labor of a physician is to educate the suffering on how to pursue a course that prevents disease and premature deathTe 86.1.

• Nature's Agencies: We are to depend on the Lord's remedies, which include pure air, pure water, cleanliness, and a healthful diet, to give nature a chance to resist disease13MR 177.2+2.

• Simple Remedies Over Drugs: While poisonous drugs like quinine and morphine paralyze nature's efforts, the use of simple treatments and nature’s furnished remedies is powerful in efficiencyPC 22.1+2.

• The Great Physician: When we do all we can on our part to prevent disease, we may then ask God in faith to bless our efforts for the preservation of healthTSDF 185.9+1.

The Call to Intelligence and Reason 💡

• Sanctified Judgment: Health reform is intended to give physical and mental clearness so that with a sanctified judgment, we can discern truth and reform our characters1LtMs, Lt 8, 1867, par. 2.

• Reason Over Impulse: We must allow reason to take the place of impulse and selfish indulgence in all matters concerning our healthKC 69.4+1.

• Knowledge is Essential: God requires us to be intelligent in regard to disease and its causes, understanding how to keep the human habitation in a healthful conditionWM 130.2+2.

• Closing Perils: As we are amid the perils of the last days, we must seek the Lord earnestly while the angels are holding the four winds of disaster and pestilence20MR 285.3+1.

It is a solemn responsibility to follow the pattern given to us in all things, for the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now Romans 8:227LtMs, Lt 52, 1892, par. 5. Regardless of the specific medical intervention, our first work is to train the body and educate the taste to obey natural law, which is the road God has marked out for our protectionCD 72.3+1.