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3.1 A little less than a decade is spanned by Testimonies Nos. 31 to 33, which comprise volume 5. The first was published in 1882, but includes messages given in 1881 and onward. No. 32 was published in 1885, and No. 33 came from the press in 1889. That same year the three were united in one book—volume 5.

3.2 This was an intensely interesting period in the rapidly developing work of Seventh-day Adventists. In North America two new advanced schools were started in the year 1882, one at South Lancaster, Massachusetts, and the other at Healdsburg, California. Thus, from our denominational center at Battle Creek, the educational work was beginning to reach out toward the ends of the earth. Ten years earlier our first school had been opened at Battle Creek, and two years later its new buildings had been dedicated. During these ten years many problems incident to the pioneering of this new and important line of endeavor were met. Sometimes the issues were large, and in not a few instances special counsel was given through the spirit of prophecy to guide and guard this work. These messages dealing with problems, from discipline to curriculum, form a part of this book.

3.3 The nine-year period of this volume was also a time of extensive writing and publishing on the part of Ellen White. In 1882 arrangements were made to reprint A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White and Spiritual Gifts Volume One. The same year these two books were united in one volume and entitled Early Writings. To meet the constant demand for the Testimonies, The first thirty numbers were reprinted in 1885 in four books—Volumes 1 to 4, as they appear today. Sketches from the Life of Paul, The forerunner of The Acts of the Apostles, was published in 1883. In 1884, Mrs. White completed her work on Spirit of Prophecy Volume Four—The Great Controversy, and it was published immediately. It soon found its way through colporteur channels to many thousands of homes, and ten editions were rolled from the presses in three short years of time. In 1888 the enlarged Great Controversy, the book we know so well today, was published, taking the place of the earlier, briefer volume.