Question:
What is Mrs. White’s counsel on leaving the cities?
Answer:
“Get out of the cities as soon as possible and purchase a little piece of land where you can have a garden, where your children can watch the flowers growing and learn from them lessons of simplicity and purity.
“Out of the cities, is my message at this time. Be assured that the call is for our people to locate miles away from the large cities. …
“The Lord calls for His people to locate away from the cities, for in such an hour as ye think not, fire and brimstone will be rained from heaven upon these cities. …
“As God’s commandment-keeping people we must leave the cities. As did Enoch, we must work in the cities but not dwell in them.
“The cities are to be worked from outposts. …
“For years I have been given special light that we are not to center our work in the cities.” Last Day Events, 95, 96
“Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 141
“It was not God’s purpose that people should be crowded into cities, huddled together in terraces and tenements. In the beginning He placed our first parents in a garden, amid the beautiful sights and sounds of nature, and these sights and sounds He desires men to rejoice in today. The more nearly we can come in harmony with God’s original plan, the more favorable will be our position for the recovery and the preservation of health. …
“He [God] wants them to take their families out of the cities, that they may better prepare for eternal life. In a little while they will have to leave the cities. … Satan is in them, controlling men in their work of destruction. … Every mind is controlled either by the power of Satan or the power of God. … God can fill our lives with His peace and gladness and joy. He wants His joy to be in us, that our joy may be full.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 12, 30, 31
“Your letter tells me, my brother, that there are many who are stirred deeply to move out of Battle Creek. There is need, great need, of this work being done, and now. Those who have felt at last to make a move, let it not be in a rush, in an excitement, or in a rash manner, or in a way that hereafter they will deeply regret that they did move out. …
“Take heed that there shall be no rash movements made in heeding the counsel in moving from Battle Creek. Do nothing without seeking wisdom of God, who hath promised to give liberally to all who ask, and who upbraideth not. All that anyone can do is to advise and counsel, and then leave those who are convicted in regard to duty to move under divine guidance, and with their whole hearts open to learn and obey God.” Country Living, 25