Ellen G. White clearly taught that God can use suffering, including sickness and affliction, for character development and spiritual growth. Here are several of her statements on this topic: 1. "Many of your afflictions have been visited upon you, in the wisdom of God, to bring you closer to the throne of grace. He softens and subdues His children by sorrows and trials. This world is God's workshop, where He fashions us for the courts of heaven. He uses the planing knife upon our quivering hearts until the roughness and irregularities are removed and we are fitted for our proper places in the heavenly building. Through tribulation and distress the Christian becomes purified and strengthened, and develops a character after the model that Christ has given." (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 143.2) 2. "The Lord permits trials in order that we may be cleansed from earthliness, from selfishness, from harsh, unchristlike traits of character. He suffers the deep waters of affliction to go over our souls in order that we may know Him and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, in order that we may have deep heart longings to be cleansed from defilement, and may come forth from the trial purer, holier, happier... if patient under the crucial test, we shall come forth reflecting the divine character." (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 174.3) 3. "God in His great love is seeking to develop in us the precious graces of His Spirit. He permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardships, not as a curse, but as the greatest blessing of our lives. Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience and advances us in the work of character building." (Mount of Blessing, p. 117.1) 4. "The Lord suffered you to be schooled in adversity and affliction, that you might obtain an experience which would be valuable to yourself and others... for the apostle Paul declares: 'Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.'" (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 275.2) 5. "Not in freedom from trial, but in the midst of it, is Christian character developed. Exposure to rebuffs and opposition leads the follower of Christ to greater watchfulness and more earnest prayer to the mighty Helper. Severe trial endured by the grace of God develops patience, vigilance, fortitude, and a deep and abiding trust in God." (Acts of the Apostles, p. 467.3) 6. "Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults... When brought into trial, we are not to fret and complain. We should not rebel, or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ. We are to humble the soul before God." (Desire of Ages, p. 301.1) 7. "It is because God is leading them that these things come upon them. Trials and obstacles are the Lord's chosen methods of discipline and His appointed conditions of success... Often He permits the fires of affliction to assail them that they may be purified." (Ministry of Healing, p. 471.1) 8. "The purification of the people of God cannot be accomplished without their suffering. God permits the fires of affliction to consume the dross, to separate the worthless from the valuable, that the pure metal may shine forth. He passes us from one fire to another, testing our true worth." (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 85.1) These statements show that Ellen White taught God allows suffering, including sickness and affliction, as a means to refine character, develop spiritual graces, and draw His children closer to Himself. References: - White, E. G. (1876). Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, pp. 85.1, 143.2. - White, E. G. (1900). Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 174.3. - White, E. G. (1896). Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 117.1. - White, E. G. (1870). Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 275.2. - White, E. G. (1911). The Acts of the Apostles, p. 467.3. - White, E. G. (1898). The Desire of Ages, p. 301.1. - White, E. G. (1905). The Ministry of Healing, p. 471.1.

Ellen G. White does not directly state that "sickness brings sanctification" as a universal principle. However, she does connect sickness and affliction with opportunities for spiritual growth, heart searching, and character refinement, which are elements of sanctification. Here are some relevant statements: - “Brother B came up from his sickness, but how little did he or his family feel humbled under the hand of God. ... How much better would it have been for this brother if his affliction had prompted to faithful searching of heart, to discover the imperfections in his character, that he might put them away, and with humble spirit come forth from the furnace as gold purified, reflecting the image of Christ.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 28.1) - “In our sanitariums the sick and suffering are to be led to realize that they need spiritual help as well as physical restoration. ... They are to be led to see that the grace of Christ in the soul uplifts the whole being.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 68.2) - “One of the great objects of our Health Institute is to direct sin-sick souls to the Great Physician, the true healing Fountain, and call their attention to the necessity of reform from a religious standpoint, that they no longer violate the law of God by sinful indulgences. ... If the moral sensibilities of invalids can be aroused and they see that they are sinning against their Creator by bringing sickness upon themselves ... they will have true, noble independence to practice the truths to which they assent. And if the mind is at peace with God, the bodily conditions will be more favorable.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 170.2) - “Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults...” (The Desire of Ages, p. 301.1) Ellen White often emphasizes that sickness is usually the result of violating natural law, but she also teaches that God can use the experience of sickness to prompt self-examination, repentance, and spiritual growth—key aspects of sanctification. She does not say that sickness itself sanctifies, but that the experience can be used by God for sanctifying purposes if the individual responds in faith and humility. References: - White, E. G. (1872). Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, pp. 28.1, 170.2. - White, E. G. (1902). Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 68.2. - White, E. G. (1898). The Desire of Ages, p. 301.1.