One point is crystal clear. Ellen White understood that the books recounting the great controversy story embodied what the Lord had revealed to her. Repeatedly she spoke and wrote of this fact. Of the Conflict books before Prophets and Kings and The Acts of the Apostles were published she said:

How many have read carefully Patriarchs and Prophets, The Great Controversy, and The Desire of Ages? I wish all to understand that my confidence in the light that God has given stands firm, because know that the Holy Spirit's power magnified the truth, and made it honorable, saying: “This is the way, walk ye in it.” In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a “Thus saith the Lord.” The Holy Spirit traced these truths upon my heart and mind as indelibly as the law was traced by the finger of God, upon the tables of stone.—Colporteur Ministry, p. 126.

Writing specifically of The Great Controversy she declared:

I was moved by the Spirit of the Lord to write that book…. The Lord has set before me matters which are of urgent importance for the present time, and which reach into the future. The words have been spoken in a charge to me, “Write in a book the things which thou hast seen and heard, and let it go to all the people; for the time is at hand when past history will be repeated.” I have been aroused at one, two, or three o'clock in the morning with some point forcibly impressed upon my mind, as if spoken by the voice of God.—Ibid., pp. 127, 128.

“We are to REPEAT THE WORDS of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced”—Ellen White, Review and Herald, May 25, 1905.

“Let the aged men who were pioneers in our work speak plainly, and let those who are dead speak also, by the reprinting of their articles in our periodicals”—Ellen White, Manuscript 62, 1905

The record of the experience through which the people of God passed in the early history of our work must be republished. (Letter 105, 1903)The experience of William Miller and his associates, of Captain Joseph Bates, and of other pioneers in the advent message, should be kept before our people. (Letter 105, 1903).

The standard-bearers who have fallen in death, are to speak through the reprinting of their writings to bear their testimony as to what constitutes truth for this time. (CWE32)

Let those who are dead speak by reprinting their articles. (MS62, 1905)

Rehearse the experience of the men who acted a part in the establishment of our work in the beginning. (MS129, 1905)

The history of the early experiences in the message will be a power to withstand the masterly ingenuity of Satan’s deceptions. (Letter 99, 1905)

Repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. (RH 5/25/05).

"Those who have held the beginning of their confidence firm ("We must point our people to the old landmarks" SpM 339.5.) unto the end will be wide-awake during the time that the third angel’s message is proclaimed with great power" . Ms 122, 1903 (October 9, 1903) par. 7.

We are to believe on "THEIR WORD", the word, the TESTIMONIES, the experiences of the faithful early SDA pioneers in the work from 1830-1894. The testimonies of Elder James S. White, Ellen G. White, Elder Joseph Bates, Elder Stephen N. Haskell, Elder Otis Nichols, Elder J. N. Andrews, Father William Miller, Elder Apollos Hale, Elder Charles Fitch, Elder William Farnsworth, Elder Hiram Edson, Elder Sylvester Bliss and many more listed here.

"those who have not had a personal experience in this work, are to take the Word of God and believe on “their word” who have been led by the Lord in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages". Selected Messages Book 2, p. 111.2 (Ellen G. White).

"Never deviate from the truth under any circumstances" Selected Messages Book 1, p. 32.3 (Ellen G. White).

"firm foundation" EW 258.3.

Ezra 3:11 "They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, "For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever." And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because thefoundation of the house of the LORD was laid".

As the disciple Thomas had to see to believe, and when Jesus gave him the evidence he had desired, Thomas cried out, My Lord and my God. But Jesus reproved Thomas for his unbelief. He said to him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou has believed; blessed are they that have not seen and yet believed.

"So, I saw", Ellen White writes in The Great Controversy, p. 75 in the original 1858 version, "that THOSE who had no experience in the first and second angels' messages [in 1843-1844] must receive them [today] from those who had an experience [early SDA protestant pioneers from 1830-1894: to believe on "their word" (2SM111.2)], and followed down through the messages. As Jesus was crucified, so I saw that these messages [old SDA landmarks] have been crucified. And as the disciples declared that there was salvation in no other name under heaven, given among men; so, also, should the servants of God faithfully and fearlessly declare that those who embrace but a part of the truths connected with the third message must gladly embrace the first, second and third messages as God has given them or have no lot in the matter".