Perfect! I found the exact passage you're referencing. This is indeed from page 423 of The Great Controversy, and it's one of the most significant statements Ellen White made about the sanctuary doctrine and the 1844 disappointment.
Here's the complete passage from The Great Controversy, page 423:
"The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God's hand had directed the great advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people" (GC 423).
This passage appears in Chapter 24, "In the Holy of Holies," where Ellen White explains how the understanding of Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary provided the theological framework that made sense of what had happened in 1844.
The context continues with a beautiful comparison to the disciples after Christ's resurrection - just as they were initially disappointed and confused but then "glad when they saw the Lord," so the Adventist believers found their hope restored when they understood that Christ had moved from the holy place to the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to begin His final work of judgment.
This doctrine became foundational to Seventh-day Adventist theology, explaining not only the 1844 disappointment but also providing the theological basis for understanding the investigative judgment, the three angels' messages, and the church's prophetic mission.
Is there a particular aspect of this sanctuary teaching or its connection to 1844 that you'd like me to explore further?