Ellen Gould White
What does Ellen White write about...
Ellen Gould White über: "Should unmarried people completely refrain from dealing with “their” sexuality?"
Answer
According to the available writings, unmarried people are called to keep their thoughts, feelings, and passions strictly guarded and to in no way give in to sensual pleasure or impure actions. Instead of indulging in selfish desire satisfaction or sexual cravings, the spirit and body are to be maintained in moral purity and consecrated to God. Complete self‑control over fleshly impulses and the avoidance of impurity are regarded as essential Christian responsibilities.
Preserving Thoughts and the Body in Purity
»Guard your thoughts, your passions, and your affections resolutely. Do not debase them to serve lust. Elevate them to purity, consecrate them to God. You can become a wise, modest, and virtuous girl, but not without serious effort. You must watch, you must pray, you must reflect, you must examine your motives and your actions. Analyze your feelings and deeds carefully. Would you commit an impure act in the presence of your earthly Father? Certainly not. Yet you do so in the presence of your heavenly Father, who is far more exalted, holy, and pure. Yes; you corrupt your own body in the presence of the pure, sinless angels and in the presence of Christ.«
The Commandment of Purity of Spirit, Soul, and Body
»Knowing what constitutes purity of spirit, soul, and body is an important part of education. Paul summed up the achievements attainable for Timothy by saying, “Keep yourself pure.” Impurity in thoughts, words, or deeds is not tolerated by the child of God. Every encouragement and the richest blessings are presented to those who overcome evil habits; but the most terrible punishments befall those who desecrate the body and defile the soul. ... “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not tend the flesh so that desires arise.”«
Danger of Impure Practices and Lack of Virtue
»If the minds and bodies of men and women were in a healthy state, the animal passions would be subordinate to the higher powers of the spirit, and it could be relatively safe to teach that boys and girls ... could spend much in each other's company. ... But it is a painful fact that not a single girl out of a hundred is of pure sense, nor a boy out of a hundred whose morality is unblemished. Many who are older have gone so far in self‑defilement that they are polluted in soul and body ... The curse of this depraved age is the lack of modesty and true virtue.«
Directing Inclinations Away from Carnal Desires
»Our feelings, drives, and affections must be directed heavenward, not earthward, not into the lower, base path of sensual thinking and yielding. It is now time for every soul to stand before the eyes of the God who searches the heart.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
