While Ellen claimed God was the author of her books instead of herself, she was highly concerned with her own financial gain from the books and demanded increases on her personal royalties. She made personal profit off of “God's words”, and used the money for her own living expenses, homes, staff, and personal mission interests. Ellen also claimed that her “Counselor” gave her instruction to do everything possible to prevent financial loss for SDA institutions, thus giving the church permission to put a strong focus on its financial standing. 

• "I have been shown that some men worked with Elder Smith, in an underhanded manner, in order to lead him to place the lowest possible royalties on his books. Elder Smith was deceived in the object of these men; he thought that they were really trying to advance the cause of God; and they obtained their desire. Then they came to me and to others, telling us that Brother Smith received only so much for his books, and urging that the canvassers would rather handle books that would sell rapidly. But the night after this plea was made, the matter was opened before me. I saw that they had visited Brother Smith and obtained his consent to a low royalty in order that they might present this as that which I and others should do. This was obtaining terms of royalty by fraud. I was shown the spirit that prompted these men to action.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 17,  p.191

 

• “The volumes of Spirit of Prophecy, [The Great Controversy] and also the Testimonies, should be introduced into every Sabbathkeeping family, and the brethren should know their value and be urged to read them. It was not the wisest plan to place these books at a low figure and have only one set in a church. They should be in the library of every family and be read again and again.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 681

 

• "With reference to my book, I desire to say that I am not complaining because I think the office has been receiving too much for publishing it, but because I am not satisfied with the income it brings to me. Some plan should have been devised whereby more than fifteen cents royalty per copy would come to me. I do not remember that I was ever consulted regarding this matter. I thought that my brethren would guard my interests as sacredly as they would their own interests or the interests of the office. I know where to apply means to help the cause fully as well as my brethren know where to apply my means for me. My brethren of wise judgment could have managed my book—Volume IV [Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, the predecessor of The Great Controversy.]—in such a way that relief would have been brought to me. They could have published a statement to the effect that this book had cost me much time and money to prepare and put on the market; and that, as I had pledged largely for the support of missions—no less than three thousand dollars—in addition to meeting other heavy expenses, the profits on the first edition of this book would go to the author (though she claimed God was the author and not her) to reimburse her for a portion of the heavy expense incurred; that the profits on the second edition would be divided between the canvassers and the author. Thus you could have helped me, but you did not...I will not trust my book interests with my good brethren who plan in such a way that a certain portion of the profit is taken off by this one and by that one, and only a very small portion is left for me. All your explanations and figures do not help me at all. My books are selling well, and yet I have scarcely enough money to procure the necessary things of life; and when I send to the office for funds, there comes to me the oft-repeated reply, “You have overdrawn your account.” My helpers are not paid for the work they have done. I am carrying a heavy burden of debt, on which I pay interest. My books are constantly sold in large numbers, and yet the profits bring me but little relief. Matters are so arranged that those who write books cannot receive proper compensation, because the books go through so many hands that the profits are consumed in this way. Whether canvassers, or tract and missionary societies, or whatever it may be that brings about this result, I protest against such an arrangement. If we should revive the old plan of our ministers disposing of the books and receiving part of the profits themselves, I believe there would be a better state of things than exists today. Under present arrangements, it seems as if almost everything is absorbed by the tract and missionary societies, leaving very little profit for the author… Only the expense of publishing and selling my book, Vol. IV, should have been taken from the profits. The rest should have been saved for the author. No canvassers were needed for Vol. IV. It could have been sold without going to all this expense. I am not satisfied with the result. Those who have felt that they were doing me justice by awarding me fifteen cents for each copy sold have erred in judgment… I cannot submit to the arrangements made. They are unjust. The money used in paying canvassers for selling the first edition was misspent, for I should have received the profits on that addition. I know where to use this means to the very best advantage, and yet I have nothing to use in any way. I economize in every way possible, and still do not have sufficient to meet running expenses. I am sick at heart and discouraged over the present state of affairs. If the notice of the advance in price had been published before the first ten thousand books were sold, it would have been far better. I have trusted too much in my brethren. I regret making this mistake. In the future I must look after my own interests more closely.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, Letter 15 (1885)
  • Ellen states that although her books are selling well, she has “scarcely enough money to procure the necessary things of life”. She was expecting her work as God’s messenger to provide her with life’s comforts. This was not a reality for numerous prophets in the Bible, and should not be expected from anyone who God calls to speak for Him.

 

• “Steps to Christ was given to Revell. I have received quite a sum of money... more than has come to me from some books; and I think more would come to me if he had more of my books to handle. ... I shall place more books in his hand...for I can receive better satisfaction than I have received from the Battle Creek publishing house." Manuscript 80 (1897)

 

• “With the increased demand for our writings...there will be an income of several thousand dollars annually, besides the immense amount of good our writings will do.” James White, Letter to Ellen White, Apr. 18 (1880)

 

• “Our financial matters stand well, and there is wealth yet in our pens.” James White, Letter to Ellen White, Feb. 18 (1881)

 

• "In the night season matters have been presented to me regarding the books Patriarchs and Prophets and Great Controversy. It has been my prayer that we might receive light and counsel from the Lord and be led and guided by Him as to how far we should go in making changes for a new and improved edition of these books…Prayer was offered, Our Counselor was with us and spoke in reference to the right way of conducting our book work. He said that at this stage of the work great care must be taken to avoid friction. A new edition produced by resetting the whole book and bringing it out in a more attractive style would mean loss to the Review and Herald and Pacific Press, because when the new edition is introduced, the books that are already prepared will be difficult of disposal. We must be careful not to place a stumbling block before those who have a stock of these books on hand. Our institutions must be carefully guarded against unnecessary losses…When several parties have on hand large stock of certain books, nothing should be done in bringing out new editions by one office, without consulting with those who already have quantities of the old edition on hand. In every action care must be exercised not to take a course that will bring loss upon our institutions…Even though theses books do not sell as readily as they would if thoroughly revised, yet the resetting of them will place upon me a heavier burden than I am able to bear…I might have consented to a considerable outlay of means, had not the Lord instructed me that there would be dissatisfaction created, because a new edition would render the old editions unsaleable." Letter 229 (1903) 
  • Ellen's claim here is that God is more concerned about the profits to be gained from old book renditions over his intent for every person to acquire the most accurate version of his words which He was speaking through Ellen.