“We choose all substance - what remains

The mystical sectarian gains;

All that each claims, each shall possess,

Nor grudge each other’s happiness.

An immaterial God they choose,

For such a God we have no use;

An immaterial heaven and hell,

In such a heaven we cannot dwell.

We claim the earth, the air, and sky,

And all the starry worlds on high;

Gold, silver, ore, and precious stones,

And bodies made of flesh and bones.

Such is our hope, our heaven, our all,

When once redeemed from Adam’s fall;

All things are ours, and we shall be,

The Lord’s to all eternity.”

It is important to pay attention to the biblical evidence that brother Loughborough points out in the testimony that God has a body. Brother Loughborough reviews several Bible passages proving that God does have a material body, but it is invisible to our mortal eyes.

“Gather up the rays of divine light that God has given as He has led His people on step by step in the way of truth”

What is the real issue with the reasoning in the Living Temple?

The authority of the fundamental principles is unquestionable. They were the result of deep, earnest study in the time of great disappointment, when “point by point, has been sought out by prayerful study, and testified to by the miracle-working power of the Lord”.

Keeping in mind Sister White’s reply to Dr. Kellogg’s belief on the Trinity doctrine, let us review the characteristics of the theories she described in the chapter “The Foundation of our Faith”.

Taken in its context, this letter sheds new light on Kellogg’s controversy and demonstrates how we should deal with the Trinity doctrine. The first thing we question is why Sister White never used the word ‘Trinity’ in her writings, even when she was directly dealing with this doctrine?

The broader and deeper meaning of these quotations can be understood when we are familiar with their historical context. Let us first take a brief look at the historical context of Kellogg’s book, “The Living Temple”.

“This foundation was built by the Masterworker, and will stand storm and tempest. Will they permit this man to present doctrines that deny the past experience of the people of God? The time has come to take decided action.” {EGW, SpTB02 54.2; 1904}

This foundation was built by the Masterworker, and will stand storm and tempest.