01A question of origin
Judge the testimonies by their fruits
“The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil.”
— Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 671.2
Read the passage in its chapterThe first 31 testimonies, brought together in their original pamphlet form.
Download imageRead Testimonies for the Church Nos. 1–31
Read each of Ellen G. White’s first 31 individual testimonies in one responsive online reader. Choose a number to open its PDF, turn pages, adjust the view, or download the source file.
Online PDF reader
Open a testimony
Testimony for the Church No. 1 · Ellen G. White
Scroll through each page to read. At a page edge, scrolling advances to the next or previous page. You can also use the page controls, drag to pan, or zoom with Ctrl+scroll.
What did Ellen White say about the Testimonies?
She described them as warnings, reproofs, and counsel meant to impress the truths of Scripture upon the heart. Read these brief excerpts, then follow each citation to the original passage and its surrounding context.
02Receiving reproof
When warning is dismissed as opinion
“Yet now when I send you a testimony of warning and reproof, many of you declare it to be merely the opinion of Sister White. You have thereby insulted the Spirit of God.”
— Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 64.3; letter dated June 20, 1882
Read the letter and surrounding appeal03Confidence and Scripture
A warning against drifting from Bible truth
“If you lose confidence in the Testimonies you will drift away from Bible truth.”
— Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 98
Read the surrounding chapter04A call to read
Books owned, but left unread
“The testimonies are unread and unappreciated.”
— Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 217.2
Read the appeal in context05Study in the home
Read them again and again
“They should be in the library of every family and be read again and again.”
— Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 681.2
Read the paragraph in context06Their purpose
To press Bible truth upon the heart
“The written testimonies are not to give new light, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already revealed.”
— Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 665; reprinted in Testimonies to Ministers, vol. 2, p. 280.2
Read the complete paragraph07Opposition to reproof
A hatred kindled against the testimonies
“There will be a hatred kindled against the testimonies which is satanic.”
— Ellen G. White, Letter 40, 1890; reproduced in Selected Messages, book 1, p. 48
Read the published passage08A final deception
Making the testimony of God of none effect
“The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God.”
— Ellen G. White, Letter 12, 1890; reproduced in Selected Messages, book 1, p. 48
Read the published passage09Compare testimony with testimony
Let the testimonies explain the messages
“The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the messages given, as Scripture is explained by Scripture.”
— Ellen G. White, Letter 73, 1903; reproduced in Selected Messages, book 1, p. 42
Read Letter 73 in contextHow can I read each testimony?
Choose any number from the selector to load that testimony in the reader. The original PDF can also be opened in a separate tab or downloaded directly.
Keep the old landmarks
Let the pioneers speak again
These testimonies belong to a living record of faith. Explore Ellen White’s call to repeat the words of those who laid the foundation, return to the old landmarks, and study the original writings for yourself.