James, I am very much like Matt Goodro in that I have sincerely, thoroughly investigated my beliefs. I am different in that I came to the conclusion Jesus is everything He claims to be. I am saddened Matt and Christina concluded otherwise.

I agree. That is, emphasis on should absolutely be no need.
And so does Ellen White:

But there are not many of you that really know what is contained in the Testimonies. You are not familiar with the Scriptures. If you had made God's Word your study, with a desire to reach the Bible standard and attain to Christian perfection, you would not have needed the Testimonies. It is because you have neglected to acquaint yourselves with God's inspired Book that He has sought to reach you by simple, direct testimonies, calling your attention to the words of inspiration which you had neglected to obey, and urging you to fashion your lives in accordance with its pure and elevated teachings. 119 {CCh 92.5}

I am not fond of the Testimonies that rebuke and reprimand people who are living in violation of God's will. I find them unsettling. I also cringe when I read similar messages in the Bible. God often rebuked the Jews for refusing to live in harmony with His will, promising to punish them, discipline them - knowing it was necessary to lead them to repentance and revival. Unfortunately, very rarely did it end well for God and the Jews. Super sad. Breaks my heart to read about it. Feel so sorry for God. He endures much grief because of our unwillingness to love and obey Him.

It's rather interesting that ONLY SDA need Ellen White. Why? I wonder. Out of all the Christians in this world, about 3 billion people, ONLY SDA need Ellen White. Have you ever thought of that?

Everyone else can come to know God and enter through the gates into Paradise by simply reading the Testimony of his disciples, as John testifies, "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30-31

Consider the experience of the Ethiopian eunuch with the disciple Philip in Acts 8:26-39. See how it ended? He went on his way rejoicing.

As simple as that.

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Were you aware that many of the prophets in what is now the Old Testament were also rejected by the people of their era?

Some good examples are Elijah. and Jeremiah and this was when they were not a part of the Old Testament, as that became a part of the Bible much later. In fact, I would be curious to know how much later.

Will need to see what I can find out about that.

Yes, you're right: Elijah and Jeremiah and Ezekiel among others; and even Jesus, who said, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." Mark 6:4.

But the age of the prophets passed with the death of John the Baptist according to Jesus, "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it." Luke 16:16. In the Christian era, we do not rely on prophets, seers (as it were) of the invisible realm, but on the Testimony of those who have seen, moreover walked and talked with God (i.e. Jesus Christ) face to face and lived. The disciples bore witness of what the angels told them, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11

The pure, simple, unadulterated gospel of salvation, of life in Christ has been preached since then. There is hope of life after death. All who believe will not perish. Do you believe, Daryl? That's all there is to it. As God sent His Son, so we have been sent into the world to preach the glad tidings, to heal the broken and to help the downtrodden. Mat. 25:31-46

But the RCC, SDA, JW and LDS have taken the GOSPEL and made it a Pharisaical burden, a bloated thing of a thousand doctrines on paper to sign on pain of excommunication and needful things to do and not do. Mat. 23:15

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Wasn't John the Apostle, who eventually wrote the book of Revelation considered a prophet?

EGW and her writings have often been "compared" to Biblical writers as constituting some sort of "proof" of her prophetic office. Though some people may consider this sound evidence, I do not.

• Yes, he is considered to be; but his was not an office, occupation or profession (like that of the Old Testament prophet-hoods). He received a message which he delivered. "I, John, ... was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 1:9 And having received the Testimony of Jesus Christ, he "bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw." Rev. 1:2
  
  Notice it is called the Testimony of Jesus Christ, the Revelation which God gave to Him to show to us. The introduction is careful to point out who is the prophet: not John but Jesus Christ. John also says, "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." John 1:18.
   
• In other words, in Jesus Christ, we have a man who has revealed the fullness of the revelation of God. The book of Hebrews states this well, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son ..." Heb. 1:1-2 And at the end of the Revelation, there is that solemn warning:
  
  "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Rev. 22:18-21
   
• Why then, in spite of that dire warning, did Joseph Smith and Ellen White purport to be some new testimony of jesus christ and a sop? And why are millions today mesmerized by their claim like moths to the flame? 2 Corinthians 3:15-18

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James, People needed Ellen White before there were such thing as SDAs. Ellen White gave writings before there were SDAs. You knew that. There was a need before SDAs. Those who recognized that need came together to search it out. Eventually they organized as SDAs.