Perhaps somebody should summarize EGW's suggestions.

1. In several passages EGW makes it clear that it is not the words in Scripture that are inspired but the writer who usees his own vocabulary to express what God has shown him.

2. No now doctrine is to be pronounced on the basis of a single passage of Scripture, but the general view of Scripture should be taken into consideration. Frequently she uses the text, here a little and there a little.

3. Circumstances must be taken into consideration when you use a passage from the Testimonies, therefore it is not proper to use a passage to fit all circumstances.

4. If you discover a new truth you should not be proclaiming it before you have consulted with other serious Bible students and then arriving at a consensus.

Have to hurry driving through winter snowdrifts on the mountain to get to a church meeting. I challenge you to take these principles into serious consideration and find several quotations for them yourself.

I don't recall having come across that before, Could you give a reference please?

This is not what I am looking for, but it has some of the idea:

Our college is designed of God to meet the advancing wants for this time of peril and demoralization. The study of books only cannot give students the discipline they need. A broader foundation must be laid. The college was not brought into existence to bear the stamp of any one man’s mind. Teachers and principal should work together as brethren. They should consult together, and also counsel with ministers and responsible men, and, above all else, seek wisdom from above, that all their decisions in reference to the school may be such as will be approved of God.... {CT 87.2}

I do not recall the exact words because I do not have a photographic memory. It could be 50 or 60 years since I read this in her writings, and it made quite an impression on my young mind then.

Would it be something similar to the quote below?

Submit New Light to Experienced Brethren. --There are a thousand temptations in disguise prepared for those who have the light of truth; and the only safety for any of us is in receiving no new doctrine, no new interpretation of the Scriptures, without first submitting it to brethren of experience. Lay it before them in a humble, teachable spirit, with earnest prayer; and if they see no light in it, yield to their judgment; for "in the multitude of counselors there is safety."--Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 291-293. (1885.) {CW 47.1}

Yes, this is it. The problem is if you do not remember the exact wording it is difficult to find it in the index.

Thank you, Rosangela!

The reason scriptures were withheld from the common people for hundreds of years is precisely because the religious leaders felt they would only distort truth by reading scripture. So the Bible was "locked up" in Latin or Greek and only the priests and religious orders were to teach about its contents.

When the people received the WORD for themselves they found these teachers were not teaching what they were reading! Thus the reformation became widespread as the BIBLE became widespread.

The problem is -- the Catholic church is now sitting back smiling as they see (and a lot of it was interjected by their counter-reformation aimed at Protestants that introduced diverse interpretations) the absolute BABEL of confusion in understanding scripture.
See-- they say, people cannot interprete scripture for themselves, they need a spiritual shepherd (pope and his enforcement of supposed "true" doctrine) to guide them to heaven.


The question is --

WHY, since the promise is that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth, is there this confusion?

If it were only between committed and non committed students of scripture we could understand why, but so often we hear people claim much prayer and spirit guidance behind their new light, yet it is opposition of that which was established by much prayer and bible study and spiritual guidance.

To be a Seventh-day Adventist means one holds to certain established "truths".
Sabbath
Sanctuary ministry of Christ
State of the Dead
Second Coming as visible "end of world" event.
As well as the foundational truths of Christ our Savior.

The conference should have the authority to scripturally uphold those truths against any "new light" that brings confusion on those truths.

But God also made each individual with a mind and free will of their own. There will always be differences in the finer points of our doctrine.
As in "the 24 elders" -- does it really matter if one believes they are angels, or the first created on each inhabited world, or resurrected saints with Christ at His resurrection?
No -- not really, so it should not be a matter of division.

You are welcome, Pastor Johann!