The Desire of Ages and Its Sources: Condensed Edition of “Life of Christ Research Project Report” by Fred Veltman

The book Desire of Ages is a classic and has blessed many. It's author had dreams and heard angels talking during these experiences. So when she wrote these commentaries on the life of Christ, Adventists excited by the details and explanations have understood they came directly from Heaven to the good lady. Religion professor Fred Veltman from Pacific Union College was asked by the church to see how much of this book came from published books available to Ellen White. The short answer is most of it. So the church did not share his findings. Shame on them. How can we fear truth, if we are followers of "the Truth." This doesn't say anything about the subject of the book, Jesus Christ. But it does say a lot about what Inspiration means. Ellen produced a wonderful book. But originality or Heavenly secrets have no part of it. Inspired or inspiring authors may indeed be motivated or "inspired" by God, but clearly their sermons, books, opinions, doctrines are as much perspiration--the work of reading and retelling--as inspiration and not a basis for claiming the ideas or details are truer than study and imagination can make them. Can holy fiction be holy? Did inspired Old Testament and New Testament have any different "inspiration" than the Testimonies? It might make us better believers if we could settle these ideas. Truth does not come from authority. Love Desire of Ages. Do not bow down to it or it's author.

Those who have reason to be interested in Fred Veltman's massive study, all but a handful of whom almost certainly have read only portions or snippets of it, will find Trenchard's book takes that study and makes it accessible. If you are interested in Ellen White's use of sources, no matter your presuppositions, you need to read this book!