bates was a strong supporter of james white and the prophetic gift, which he believed was manifested in visions received by the young ellen g. white. he contributed to early publications such as "a word to the "little flock."" bates was active with the whites in participating in a series of bible conferences held in 1848 to 1850 that have become known as the sabbath and sanctuary conferences. during the 1850s bates supported the development of more formal church organization that culminated in 1863 with the formation of the seventh-day adventist church.