part 4.

[Footnote B: Roberts' Gospel (1893) p. 290.]

The beauty of this doctrine is that it very clearly indicates that there cannot be a never-ending punishment for those who die unconverted, as taught in the churches of Christendom. On the contrary, after they have been judged according to their works in the body, and have undergone such punishment as the perfectly righteous God adjudges, there will be a salvation for all, except the sons of perdition; and eventually Jesus Christ will present to His Father His completed work of redemption. Else what are the meanings of such texts as the following? "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and _now_ is when the dead shall hear the voice of God: and they that hear shall live."[C] "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."[D] Isaiah also, after he had described the judgments that would attend the coming in glory of Jesus Christ, and the punishments that should overtake the ungodly, wrote as follows: "And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited."[E]

[Footnote C: John 5: 25.]

[Footnote D: Isaiah 42: 6, 7.]

[Footnote E: Isaiah 24: 21, 22.]

Thus the Gospel has to be preached to the spirit world, and those who then hear it in its purity for the first time, as it was preached in the first days of the church of Christ, will look anxiously to their living descendants to perform for them the outward ordinances of baptism, or the birth of water, without which one of the three earthly witnesses to {472} adoption into God's kingdom (water) will be wanting in their case. For one of the requisite ordinances of the Gospel will not have been complied with by them while on earth, namely, baptism by immersion for the remission of their sins.

That this doctrine of baptism for the dead, which of itself is clear evidence of the loving, merciful, and long suffering character of our Heavenly Father, was forbidden at the Council of Carthage, is scarcely to be wondered at when we study the history of the church and the character of her ministers in the fourth century. For it was a time when the priesthood was steeped in iniquity, and the church dreadfully tainted with Arianism and Pelagianism, while the corrupt doctrines of the Nestorians and Eutychians infected both the priests and the people of the Christian world. Indeed, when we look into the early history of the mother church of Rome from the third century, we can see how, even in those early times, the church had become practically a motley mass of heathens. From A.D. 66 to A.D. 312 the primitive church was repeatedly under general persecutions, which almost destroyed it, and during this time many who had professed Christianity apostatized. At the same time gross errors began to creep into the church, particularly the teachings of the gnostics, who formed abominable tenets by mixing heathen philosophy with the Gospel of Christ. In the fourth century, however, with the accession of Constantine to the imperial throne of Rome in A.D. 323, all persecutions ceased, and peace was assured to the church, and even more than peace, for Constantine favored the Christian cause, and did what he could to suppress the pagan religion. The ministers of the Christian church were honored in every way, and wealth and position conferred upon them, so that it is not a matter of wonder that thousands of converts immediately afterwards joined the church and Christianity soon became the national religion. All this, however, instead of being fortunate for the church was disastrous to the purity of Christ's religion. In the fourth century lordly bishops, archdeacons, canonical singers, etc., were introduced; candles were lighted by day; incense burnt; abstinence from marriage was esteemed a high degree of sanctity; prayers were made to departed saints; pretended relics were held in high estimation; images of Christ and of saints were set up; the clergy commenced to officiate in canonical robes which they held to be sacred; prayers were made for the mitigation of torments to the damned; pilgrimages were started to certain shrines; and a monkish retirement from fellowship with mankind {473} was considered a devotion. By the end of the sixth century the doctrines of the church were deeply infected with Pelagianism (the Pelagians denied the necessity of Christ's righteousness for our justification or of His Spirit's influence to regenerate the heart), and discipline had become corrupt, remiss, and partial, while the principal concern of the leading clergy was who should be the greatest. Then followed the notion of purgatory, and the worship of the Virgin Mary and of the martyrs, while Gregory the Great, bishop of Rome, added new canons of mass, his canticles and antiphons and many new ordinances concerning litanies, processions, lent oblations for the dead, pontifical robes, consecrations, and relics. About the year A. D. 606 or 608, Phocas, a monster of cruelty and treachery, who had murdered his worthy master Mauritius and family, became emperor of the East, and Boniface III, the bishop of Rome, by fulsome flatteries, obtained his imperial appointment to be the universal bishop of the Christian church,[A] and thus became the so-called vicar of Christ on earth.

[Footnote A: The above has been taken from a short view of the Geography and History of Nations by the Rev. John Brown.]

In the face of this condition of the church, it is not a matter for astonishment that the pure and unadulterated Gospel became lost to the world, and that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, which the primitive church so freely enjoyed, were no longer to be seen.

Later on, in A. D. 1517, Zuinglius in Switzerland, and Luther in Germany, shocked with the blasphemous manner in which papal pardons of, and indulgences in, sin were exposed for sale, openly declared their detestation of them. The result was the rebellion against the Romish church, commonly known as the Reformation, which brought in its train persecutions, massacres, wars, blasphemies, scandals, and the prohibition of certain books. That the reformers in separating themselves from the Church of Rome did immense good, there can be no question; and this good has been going on ever since in the way of preparing men's hearts to accept the simple truths of the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. But they could not have brought out of that church what I believe it could not possibly have possessed at the time, having lost it through the infidelity which has been so clearly described by Wesley, and also in the second homily of the Church of England;--namely, divine authority to administer in the holy ordinances, and to {474} confer the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. For, as I have before said, the Holy Ghost had for some centuries ceased to manifest His presence as in the first days Christ's church, while the Bible very distinctly shows us that where God's Spirit has been given to His church and people, He has invariably manifested Himself in many miraculous ways. Thus it seems to me that these reformers, good men as they were, had not the authority to introduce into the world a gospel that had been practically lost, the only gospel on earth at the time being one in a very mutilated and changed form indeed. The true Gospel, with its organization and all its mighty powers of prophecy, healing, and other miracles, could not be brought again to the earth except by the hand of an angel of God. That this was to be the case we read in the writing of John the Revelator,[A] where it is distinctly shown that the Gospel once delivered to the saints was to be taken away from the earth. Otherwise there would apparently have been no object in the Gospel being sent again from heaven in the last days, when the hour of His judgment would come, with the object that it might be preached, not to a few people only, but to them that dwell on the earth; to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. No one is excepted, for in God's plan of life and salvation for mankind all on the earth are to hear and receive or reject this pure Gospel. Direct communication from heaven to earth had ceased for many centuries, resulting in the numerous schisms, the various doctrines, and the many unhappy dissensions and quarrels which have broken up the church and led so greatly to the increase of that atheism and materialism which are now everywhere apparent in the world. The result of the falling away, of which the churches of Christendom have been guilty so long, is appalling, and God's judgments in wars, pestilence, and famines, have been continued, in order to warn and to bring men to repentance and to draw them back to the true faith.

[Footnote A: Rev. 14: 6.]

The remarks of John Wesley will give some idea of the dreadful condition into which the churches of Christendom had fallen. He said that the reason why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were no longer to be seen was because the love of many had waxed cold, and Christians had turned heathens again, and had only a dead form left.[B]

[Footnote B: Wesley's Works, vol. 7, sermon 89, pp. 26, 27.]

Read also what the Church of England herself admits in her homily against perils of idolatry:

{475} "Laity and clergy, learned and unlearned, all ages, sects, and degrees, have been drowned in abominable idolatry most detested by God, and damnable to man, for eight hundred years or more."[A] Such being the case, how can anyone suppose for a moment that divine authority could possibly have been conferred on the priesthood by the laying on of hands of men who, in this homily, are included among idolaters. On the contrary, it would be more probable that this fallen condition of the church would have closed the heaven to all direct communication with the earth. And this seems to have occurred, for, for centuries past, prophecy has ceased, God no longer calls men directly by His voice as He did Moses, Samuel, and Paul; angels do not now deliver heavenly messages to men, and miracles and signs are no longer made manifest through the power of God as of old. And what is the result? It is, so it seems to me, that, for lack of the spirit of revelation and prophecy, which alone could declare God's will to His church, and which could predict with certainty coming events, and so warn the church of impending dangers and guide her into all truth, the ministers of the churches of Christendom have been thrown back upon their own ingenuity to teach men the fear of the Lord by human precepts. Thus is fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy regarding the latter days of the earth, "Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men," etc.[B] It is evidently altogether due to the precepts of men that there are so many and different doctrines taught, and that so much uncertainty and doubt, coupled with dissensions, disputes, and ill will, are rampant in the churches of Christendom, instead of unity, love, brotherly kindness, sympathy, and peace. The Church of England, too, is divided against herself, and has split up into High, Broad, and Low church, all more or less in discord, and each teaching doctrines with which the rest have no sympathy; some teachers urging the necessity of confession, and of prayer for the dead, while others view all such doctrines as "popish," and as emanating from the evil one; some believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation, while others altogether reject it; and some again consider it necessary to introduce into their worship much pomp and ceremony, with genuflections and incense, while others will permit of only {476} the simplest forms of worship possible, viewing with distaste the gorgeous displays and robes used by the ritualistic members of the church.

[Footnote A: Church of England homily against perils of idolatry.]

[Footnote B: Isaiah 29: 13.]

In the midst of all this confusion one could only ask, Which is right and which is wrong? or are they all wrong together? I looked for the fruits of the spirit in the different parts of the church, but found the laws transgressed and the ordinances changed, and I could see only dissension in place of unity, and disputes instead of peace. Thus it became impossible for me to continue to give my adherence and support to any branch of the church in which I had been brought up. It was difficult to break away from all old associations and from a church in which I had long reposed the fullest faith and confidence, but it was impossible for me to continue one of the members, as soon as it had become quite patent to my mind that she was advocating and teaching a perverted gospel; and when I clearly saw that she was in error in denying the necessity of Apostles and Prophets, and the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, as essential portions and adjuncts of the church of Christ on earth in these days.

While pondering over these matters the meaning of the following prophetic words of Jeremiah became clear to me, words, be it remembered, which the Gentiles were to say in the latter days of the earth, at the time when God had commenced to take in hand His work of gathering together the dispersed children of Israel: "Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit."[A] This prophecy is being fulfilled, for thousands of converts have already said these words in their hearts, if not actually with the lips, and I among them, and thousands yet will say them before the end comes. In this connection another scripture has greatly impressed itself upon my mind, namely, the words addressed by St. Paul to the Galatians, when warning them against some who had perverted the Gospel of Christ even in those early days of the church. He said, "But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."[B]

[Footnote A: Jer. 16: 19.]

[Footnote B: Gal. 1: 8, 9.]

Thus I lost all confidence in the Church of England, and as I fully realized that I had a soul to be saved, regarding which I was naturally anxious, and as I was at the same {477} time well assured in my mind that there could not possibly be more than one true plan of life and salvation, and that one the pure Gospel as had been taught by Jesus Christ and His Apostles, I turned about to find a church that taught that Gospel, as laid down in its simplicity in the good old book. A church organized as was the primitive church, with Apostles, Prophets, etc., which the inspired writers of old taught as being absolutely necessary, and a church which enjoyed the promised gifts and powers of the Holy Spirit. Such a church I found among the Latter-day Saints, one similar in all ways to the primitive church, with her divine authority, and the marvelous manifestations of the Holy Spirit as promised by Messiah to all true believers, manifestations to which thousands of good, earnest Christian men and women can bear the most direct and truthful testimony.

On studying the history of this church, I was greatly struck with the wonderful faith displayed by the Latter-day Saints, during the dreadful persecutions through which they have had to pass, and the trials, and hopes, and sufferings which they have had to endure; with the beautiful spirit which manifested itself in the martyrs, and with the marvelous manner in which God sustained the Saints in their ejection from the circle of all civilization, and throughout their march of fifteen hundred miles through the wilderness into the wilds of the Rocky Mountains, to a place of which they had absolutely no previous knowledge, but to which He led them in safety. The truth, for which this people suffered, and even accepted martyrdom, now floats over the world, and converts are multiplying rapidly. No one who will read the whole history of the Latter-day Saints with a truly honest and unprejudiced heart, and look upon the blessings of prosperity which they at present enjoy, can for a moment doubt that they are members of a church which is under the direct guidance of God through new revelation. The only religion as taught in the Bible [but which churches that profess to believe in that Bible seem to deny] is the faith of visions, miracles, angels, revelations, and prophets. The ancient saints believed such a religion, as all their teachings very clearly show us, and looked for and expected to enjoy immediate intercourse with God and angels. The Latter-day Saints believe in such a religion too, and are greatly blessed with such intercourse so long as they are faithful and live up to their glorious privileges, and endure as seeing Him who is invisible. Thus they are in direct enjoyment of that pure Gospel which was to be brought down again to earth by the hands of an angel as seen by St. John in his vision in the {478} Isle of Patmos.[A] This vision had reference to the bringing again to earth of the Gospel long after the days of our Lord, for St. John saw it many years after Christ had died, risen from the grave, and ascended into heaven, that is to say long after Jesus had Himself brought the Gospel to the earth; and this restoration of the true Gospel to every nation and kindred and tongue and people would not have been necessary if the Gospel in its perfection had not been lost. St. John also clearly tells us that this restoration was to be in the last days of this world, for he writes that the angel, in bringing down this Gospel, would point out that the hour of God's judgment had come, and he adds that another angel would immediately follow saying, "Babylon is fallen."[B] Thus he refers clearly to the last days of this probationary time on earth, and there are many things which indicate to believers that we are living in these latter days, when the hour of God's judgment has come, and when we may expect soon to see Christ making His promised appearance in glory. We ought not therefore to be astonished to find that God, in His mercy and goodness towards the children of men, has at last sent that very Gospel to the earth as He had revealed His purpose to St. John the Revelator.

[Footnote A: Rev. 14: 6.]

[Footnote B: Rev. 14: 7, 8.]

This Gospel would naturally have to be committed to some chosen human being, for it is always through some selected one of His creatures that God has sent to the people of the earth His warnings, reproofs, instructions, threatenings for evil, and promises for righteousness, and why should He not have chosen young Joseph Smith to receive the restored Gospel as well as any other individual? He at least is the only one who claims to have received it as it was to come from the hands of an angel, and I am quite sure that any one who will read with a fair and unprejudiced mind the teachings of Joseph Smith cannot but conclude that he must have been inspired. Especially will this appear when they consider the fact that all the great and marvelous work which he performed before his martyrdom was accomplished while he was still a young man, and that he, like the Apostles of old, had never enjoyed the privileges of education or experience. I think, too, that those who will, with honest hearts, ponder over the present dark condition of the world, where anarchism, materialism, and atheism are spreading themselves as a pall over the earth, and hiding the light as a cloud hides the sun, will admit that it is quite time that the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ should again be restored to the earth, especially when they compare {479} the true doctrines and ordinances of that Gospel with the varied and contradictory doctrines and ordinances of the numerous churches and sects of Christendom, so patent in the present day. The history and the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ought to forcibly impress any and all earnest inquiring souls, who study them without bias, and I would strongly recommend to the attention of such persons a book called "A New Witness for God," by Elder B. H. Roberts.[A] There are other publications of the Latter-day Saints, too, which explain their teachings much more fully and lucidly than I have been able to do in this short exposition of my reasons for leaving the Church of England and joining their church. I shall be glad to lend these books to or to procure new ones for, those of my relatives or friends who may desire, in their anxiety for their souls welfare, to investigate the doctrines further. I can only say that there is that now within me which enables me to add that I know that the establishment of this church is of divine origin, and that it will extend its borders and stand forever.

[Footnote A: "A new Witness for God," by Elder B. H. Roberts.]

Before concluding, I would wish to add a few lines pointing out the manner in which the pure Gospel has been brought again to the earth, and to refer to a few texts in scripture which appear to me to bear directly on the establishment of this great work that has been accomplished On the earth in these latter days. I do not purpose lengthening out my remarks by giving a history of the youth of Joseph Smith and the revelations enjoyed by him, inasmuch as there are several books and pamphlets which deal fully with these matters. I will content myself with saying that an angel of God, Moroni by name, appeared to Joseph Smith and showed him a place up in a hill called "Cumorah," in which he would discover certain plates of gold with inscriptions upon them. Joseph Smith went to the hill and found these plates, but did not remove them, as the angel Moroni again appeared and told him that it was not yet time to do so; but on the 22nd of September, 1827, the angel again met Joseph Smith at the hill of Cumorah, and delivered into his hands all the plates, and a curious instrument called the Urim and Thummim,[A] which was also found in the stone box together with the plates. Joseph Smith subsequently {480} translated through this instrument such portions of the plates as were not sealed, and this translation is now known as the Book of Mormon. This book contains the history of a colony of Israelites of the tribe of Joseph (Ephraim), who left Jerusalem 600 years B.C., and came to America, and who afterwards multiplied very rapidly, and grew into two great nations called the Nephites and the Lamanites. The latter, after many years of warfare, eventually exterminated the former, owing to the fact that the Nephites had departed from the commandments of God, but the Lamanites had themselves become, even before they had destroyed the Nephites, a dark and benighted people under a curse from God on account of their gross iniquities and infidelity.[B] This destruction of the Nephites took place about 400 years after Christ, so that the Book of Mormon gives the history of the tribe of Joseph (Ephraim) for just 1,000 years, written from time to time by their prophets and seers. It also contains the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its simplicity and purity, and makes plain some portions of the Bible which, owing to the originals having been lost, and to the numerous translations made from time to time, are now interpreted in different ways by the different denominations in Christendom. Thus it is that the Gospel, as it was in the days of Jesus Christ and His Apostles, and before its doctrines had been tampered with by man, has again been brought to the inhabitants of the earth, as shown in the vision of John the Revelator.[C] The scriptures, too, speak of a sealed book [D] which would be delivered to one "that is not learned," and of a nation which should speak out of the ground with a voice as of one that had a familiar spirit.[E] We who have read the Old and New Testaments seem to be quite familiar with the teachings contained in the Book of Mormon, and the voice speaks to us as one that hath a familiar spirit. Daniel clearly pointed to the setting up of God's Kingdom in the last days, when he made known and interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar regarding the image which the king had seen in his sleep. For he explained that a stone, cut out of the mountain without hands, would destroy the iron and clay feet of the said image,[F] and he further interpreted this stone as being a kingdom, which God would set up on the earth in the days of the ten kings, which kingdom should never be destroyed, but which should break and consume all the {481} other kingdoms, and would itself stand forever.[G] This kingdom God has now set up upon the earth, for these are the days of the kings referred to, and it will and must grow, and do what God said it would do, for Daniel was inspired when he interpreted the dream, and so he was able to add, "The dream is certain and the interpretation thereof sure."[H]

[Footnote A: This instrument consists of two transparent stones, clear as crystal, set in the two rims of a bow, and was always used in ancient times by persons called seers, and through it, they received revelations of things past and to come. See also Glossary of Antiquities, etc., at pp. 386 and 387 of Helps to the Study of the Bible.--Oxford press.]

[Footnote B: These Lamanites are the American Indians, and belong to the tribe of Ephraim, and are therefore Israelites.]

[Footnote C: Rev. 14: 6.]

[Footnote D: Isaiah 29:11.]

[Footnote E: Isaiah 29: 4.]

[Footnote F: Daniel 2: 34, 35, 45.]

[Footnote G: Daniel certainly speaks of the latter days, for the ten kings he alludes to represent the ten toes of the image which were to come after the falling to pieces of the fourth kingdom, or Roman Empire. Christ was on the earth during the time of the kings mentioned by Daniel as representing the ten toes of the image, so this kingdom, which God was to set up, and which was to grow and stand for ever, was a kingdom subsequent to the days of Christ upon earth--Read carefully Daniel 2: 31 to 45.]

[Footnote H: Daniel 2: end of verse 45.]

God moves, we are told, in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform, and so when He brings to pass His strange act,[C] all are solemnly warned not to make a mock of His wonderful work "lest your bands be made strong,"[D] (band means affliction and troubles, a metaphor taken from the fetters or bands put upon prisoners). We should always remember that God's course is usually very different from that which the wisdom of the world would mark out for Him, and that He, by His acts, destroys the wisdom of the wise, and brings to nothing the understanding of the prudent.[E] So we should be very careful indeed before we reject that which we do not understand, or which does not exactly fit in with our views of what things ought to be. The voice of the ancient prophets and seers of the tribe of Ephraim (the Lamanites or American Indians) has now at last spoken out of the dust,[F] in the discovery of their writings on the plates of gold, which had been buried in the hill Cumorah, and they testify to Christ and His pure Gospel plan of life and salvation. They also inform us that Christ visited the Nephites after His resurrection in Jerusalem and His ascension into heaven, and thus were fulfilled His words to the Jews that He had other sheep which were not of that fold with which He then was, and that they also were to hear His voice.[G] Some of the prophets of the Bible speak of Ephraim also, and I think that their words have been fulfilled in the discovery of the Book of Mormon as written on the plates of gold. For instance the prophet Hosea, speaking under divine inspiration, says, "I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing."[H] Here is a clear statement that God's laws were given in writing to the {482} tribe of Ephraim, and that they would be considered a strange thing. There is also a prophecy of Ezekiel, referring clearly to the latter days, when the time of the gathering together of Israel was to arrive, and when they were soon to become one nation again under one king. He speaks therein of the stick of Judah (the Bible) and the stick of Ephraim (Book of Mormon), being joined together and made one stick.[A] It should be understood that ancient writings used to be rolled on sticks, and that they are consequently frequently termed sticks in the Bible. It was when this Book of Mormon (so called because the last of the ancient prophets of the Nephites named Mormon compiled it, 400 years after Christ, from the writings of the former prophets and leaders of the people), was to be discovered engraved on plates, and was to be translated; that it and the Bible were to become one in their testimony. And it seems evident to me that some passages in the Bible, not very easy to understand, are now made plain by the Book of Mormon. Thus truth has sprung out of the earth, and righteousness has looked down from heaven.[B]

[Footnote C: Isaiah 28: 21.]

[Footnote D: Isaiah 28: 22.]

[Footnote E: I Cor. 1: 19.]

[Footnote F: Isaiah 29: 4.]

[Footnote G: John 10: 16.]

[Footnote H: Hosea 8: 12.]

[Footnote A: Ezek. 37: 15 to 28.]

[Footnote B: Psalm 85: 11.]

If more evidence is necessary to show that the Book of Mormon is of divine origin, one has only to read its account of the destruction and burial of old cities, and to compare these with the great discoveries made on the continent of America by travelers and antiquarians, that have excited the curiosity and wonder of the world.[C] These discoveries, I need scarcely add, were made long after the Book of Mormon had been translated and published to the world, and relate to the destroyed cities spoken of therein. There can, I consider, be no doubt whatever that the Book of Mormon is equally as much of divine origin as is the Bible, and I believe that all unprejudiced minds, after a careful study of it, will readily arrive at the same conclusion. Does any one suppose for a moment that an individual, not divinely inspired, could possibly sit down and write the Old and New Testaments exactly as they are, in full harmony with each other and dealing so minutely, as they do, with all matters necessary for the salvation, justification, and sanctification of mankind? Neither is it possible for an uninspired person, however good, earnest, and God-fearing such person may be, to write such a book as the Book of Mormon. I bear this testimony that that book came from God (just as I know that the Bible did), and that, in this last dispensation of time, He has committed to the Prophet Joseph Smith the pure Gospel, {483} as it once had been delivered to the saints in the primitive church, and that Christ's kingdom, the same kingdom as that of which Daniel wrote,[A] has been set up upon the earth for the last time.

[Footnote C: Spencer's Letters, Letter 7: p. 81.]

[Footnote A: Daniel 2: 44.]

I think I have now sufficiently explained my reasons for leaving the Church of England and joining what I know to be the only true church of Christ on earth. I willingly admit that in the Church of England, and also in the other churches and sects of Christendom, there are thousands of good, earnest souls seeking after God, and living up to what they believe to be the truth, and God is always faithful to remember all such, and to lift them up. Indeed Christ will, I believe, eventually redeem mankind (except the few sons of perdition who commit the unpardonable sin), but I would add that there is but one plan of life and salvation that will exalt us into the highest or celestial kingdom of the Father, and that plan includes true faith and repentance, followed (as taught by Christ and His Apostles) by baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and by the laying on of hands of those in authority from God, for the reception of the Holy Ghost. I need scarcely add that we have after this to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling," as St. Paul wisely warns us,[B] and also to "purify ourselves even as God is pure,"[C] and further to remember Christ's own words, "But he that endureth to the end shall be saved."[D]

[Footnote B: Philippians 2: 12.]

[Footnote C: I John 3: 3.]

[Footnote D: Matt. 10: 22.]

The Bible teaches us that there are different degrees of glory hereafter, and also different resurrections (see notes below)[E] and we should therefore all strive to be among those who will take part in the first resurrection, and be exalted into the highest or the celestial glory, which is much greater than the terrestrial one, as much so as the terrestrial glory is greater than the telestial. God's plan is plain, and is recorded in the Bible, so that all can run and read, therefore there cannot possibly be any excuse for those who have the opportunity placed before them of enquiring into and studying the Gospel for themselves, if they fail so to do.

[Footnote E: John 14: 2. I Cor. 15: 22, 23; I Cor. 15: 40 to 44; II Cor. 12: 2; I Thess. 4: 16, 17; Rev. 20: 5, 6.]

I have written this article, if I may so term these explanatory remarks, for the information of my family, and of those who may in any way be interested in me, because I have been asked many questions on the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and some have doubtless wondered {484} what there was in that church which could have influenced me to desert the Church of England and throw in my lot with the Saints. To all such I would reply in all humility, that the teachings of the Latter-day Saints, and their ordinances, are in all respects thoroughly scriptural, and strictly in accordance with those of the primitive church established by Jesus Christ Himself, while the Church of England does not appear to me to be correct or scriptural in many of her teachings and ordinances. I have taken the Bible, and the Bible alone, as my guide, and I most assuredly would not have become a Latter-day Saint had I not found the doctrines and practices of this people to accord with those of the New Testament, or had I found the church to be wanting in any of these principles which the Bible tells us are absolutely necessary to make up the true Church of Jesus Christ on earth. What some of these essentials are I have already endeavored to show, to the best of my ability, in these pages, and I am convinced that without them there can be no true Church of Christ anywhere, otherwise I altogether fail to see the use of our taking the word of God, as the Bible admittedly is, as a guide to the truth. If we admit that God's word is inspired, then it is not within the authority of any mortal man to alter any part of it, or to spiritualize or explain away any of the many plain commandments that are in the book. There is but one Gospel for our salvation, with its ordinances, its commandments, and its marvelous and powerful gifts, very clearly laid down in the Bible, and no church, which does not practice and teach the same plan of life and salvation, can possibly be right. Indeed, we know that in the very early days of the Christian church, when false teachers had commenced to pervert the true Gospel, and to teach a gospel which contained some errors, St. Paul denounced them in his letter to the Galatian Christians in the strongest terms of condemnation, saying: "But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."[A] This ought to be to us a very great warning, coming as it does from the pen of an inspired writer and apostle, and we would do well, believe me, to take it to heart and consider it.

[Footnote A: Galatians 1: 8.]

In conclusion I would advise those who may read these pages to think well over their contents, and to ask God to show them how far there is His truth in the doctrines and ordinances of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, doctrines {485} and ordinances which I have tried to show are in strict accordance with the Gospel of Jesus Christ Himself. The Apostle James tells us that God will always give wisdom to all that ask Him for it in true and in faithful prayer, for he writes as follows: "If any of you lack wisdom, let Him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him; but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like the wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."[A] This scripture shows us that we should pray in the fullest confidence that God is only waiting to be gracious to us, and that He does not make a promise that He cannot or will not perform, but His ears will ever be open to true and faithful prayer; and we know that He is always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and to give us more than we are at any time deserving of.

[Footnote A: James 1: 5, 6, 7.]

_"I will give unto you one of the keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent will apostatize as God lives."_

--_Joseph Smith_.

{486}

THE EARLY CHRISTIANS

LETTER WRITTEN TO THE EMPEROR TRAJAN BY PLINY THE YOUNGER WHILE HE WAS GOVERNOR OF BITHYNIA. It IS THE FIRST CONNECTED ACCOUNT OF CHRIST'S FOLLOWERS THAT HAS COME TO US FROM A PAGAN SOURCE.

(From December, 1907, _Scrap Book_.)

Pliny the Younger was a typically cultivated Roman of the first and second centuries, Anno Domini. Overeducated, self-conscious, and very firmly convinced of his own importance, he was none the less an amiable and well-meaning man. Whenever he wrote a letter, he wrote it with the intention of publishing it at some future time; so that the collection which we now have of his epistles is an amusing example of literary pose. Nevertheless, the letters are full of interesting sidelights upon the times in which Pliny lived. As a boy, he witnessed from a distance the destruction of Pompeii, in which his uncle perished. He beheld the awful excesses of some of the Roman emperors. He observed much of human life, and he tells many an interesting tale, ranging from ghost-stories to narratives of historical value.

The Emperor Trajan gave Pliny an official appointment as governor of the province of Bithynia. In that office Pliny first heard of the new sect called Christians. He was told that the Christians in reality formed a political organization, masking treason to the emperor under the guise of religion. This was, in fact, the prevalent belief in official circles; and the meetings of the Christians were viewed very much as a Russian bureaucrat views any private gathering of men and women for an unknown purpose. Having made an investigation, however, Pliny discovered nothing to justify this feeling; and he wrote a letter to the emperor asking how the Christians should be treated. This letter, which is given here, is interesting because it is the first connected account of the Christians which we now possess from a pagan source.

It is my habit, your majesty, to refer to you all matters concerning which I am in doubt. For who can better direct my hesitation or inform my ignorance? I have never been present at any trials of Christians; therefore I do not know in what way and to what extent it is customary to question or punish them. And I have felt no little hesitation as to whether some allowance should be made for age or whether the weak and delicate should be treated exactly like the more robust, whether pardon should follow retraction, or whether {487} the renunciation of Christianity should be of no avail to him who has once professed it; and whether the name of Christian itself, without any violation of the law, should be punished or whether violation of the law is considered as inhering in the name. Meanwhile, in the case of those who have been accused to me as Christians, I have pursued the following plan. I have asked them personally whether they were Christians. If they confessed it, I asked them a second and a third time, with the threat of punishment. If they still persisted, I ordered them to suffer the penalty, since I am very sure that whatever it was that they were confessing, stubbornness and unyielding obstinacy ought to be punished. There were some afflicted by this madness who, because they were Roman citizens, I remanded to Rome.

Presently, under this treatment, as is generally the case, the charge began to spread and they were led into more overt acts. Anonymous accusations containing many names were sent me. As for those who denied that they either were or had been Christians, when at my instigation they called upon the names of the gods and offered wine and frankincense to your statue (which, anticipating this emergency, I had caused to be set up with the images of the deities), and in addition to that had abjured Christ--none of which things, they say, those who are really Christians can be made to do--I thought that they ought to be let off.

Some, whose names had been given to me by informers, said that they were Christians and then denied it; that they had once been, but had ceased to be. Certain of them said that they had ceased to be Christians three years before, others more than that, a few even as long as twenty years ago. All these, too, worshiped both your statue and the images of the gods, and abjured Christ.

They declared moreover that this was the sum of their fault or error; that they had been accustomed to meet on a stated day before dawn, and to sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by a solemn sacrament--not to any crime, but that they should commit no theft, nor adultery, that they should not bear false witness or refuse to give up a trust when it was demanded. When this ceremony was over they said that it had been their custom to depart and to assemble again for the breaking of bread, a common and harmless practice among them.

They further said they had ceased to do even this after my edict, by which, following your commands, I had forbidden all formal assemblies. Wherefore I considered it the {488} more necessary to try to get at the truth by torture from two women who were called deaconesses. I found nothing further than a perverse, widespread superstition.

Having postponed action, I hastened to seek counsel from you, for it seemed to me that the matter was worthy of consideration, especially on account of the number of persons involved. For many of all ages, of all ranks, and of both sexes even, are under suspicion and will hereafter be under suspicion. The contagion of this superstition has spread, not only in cities but to villages even and farms, though I think that it can be checked and prevented. At any rate, it is pretty evident that the temples of the gods, which were deserted up to a short time ago, have begun to be thronged, the customary sacrifices, long interrupted, to be renewed, and also the pasturing of victims for these sacrifices which had been almost discontinued. From all of which it is my opinion that this body of men can be made to see the error of their ways, if only a chance is given them.

_"The Lord has sent angels to men at different times since the creation of the world, but always with a message, or with something to perform that could not be performed without."_

--_Wilford Woodruff_.

_"Earthly riches are only little things, in comparison to the great principles of eternal lives and exaltation in the Kingdom of God; these are the riches of eternity."_

--_John Taylor_.

{489}

REORGANIZATION WEIGHED.

PRESIDENCY PERMANENCY.

"If any man thinks he has influence among this people to lead away a party, let him try it, and he will find out that there is power with the Apostles which will carry them off victorious through all the world and build up and defend the church and the Kingdom of God."

There is in existence, with headquarters at Lamoni, Iowa, an organization known as "The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." Joseph Smith, the eldest son of the Prophet Joseph Smith, is the president of this organization (1909). One of the main reasons for its existence lies in the belief of its adherents; that "young Joseph" should have succeeded to the presidency of the church. They claim:

I.--That it is his right by appointment of his father.

II.--That it is his by lineage; that is, that the office of president of the church should descend from father to son.

III.--That he was properly ordained by those holding the authority.

In this little tract we can but briefly state the facts in the premises, that the reader may draw a reasonable and intelligent conclusion. We do not hope to silence those who have schooled themselves "even though vanquished, to argue still," but for the general information of the honest in heart.

I. APPOINTMENTS.

LOCAL REVELATIONS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS.

It is claimed that according to the revelations, the prophet Joseph was to choose his successor. First let us examine the ground upon which this claim is made. A number of revelations concerning the perpetuation of the prophetic office were received in the early history of the church. The first one was to Oliver Cowdery, September, 1830 (Doc.& Cov., D&C 28:2-7; Reorganized edition, sec. 27:2.) The second came in December, 1830 (Doc. & Cov., sec. 35:17-19, Reorganized Edition, {490} sec. 34:4.) The third in February, 1831 (Doc. & Cov., sec. 43:1-4; Reorganized Edition, sec. 43:1-2.) The conditions which brought forth the above revelations were as follows:

While the prophet was in Fayette, N.Y., with the Whitmer family, he discovered "that Satan had been lying in wait to deceive and seeking whom he might devour." Brother Hiram Page had in his possession a certain stone, by which he claimed to have obtained certain "revelations" concerning the upbuilding of Zion, the order of the Church, etc., all of which were entirely at variance with the plan of our Father in Heaven. Many believed in these spurious revelations, especially the Whitmer family and Oliver Cowdery. Under these circumstances the Prophet received the following revelation to Oliver Cowdery:

"And if thou art led at any time by the Comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the church, thou mayest do it. But thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom; and thou shalt not command him who is at thy head and at the head of the church, for I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead."

Again in December, 1830, Sidney Rigdon came to visit the Prophet at Fayette, N.Y., to inquire of the Lord concerning his duties, and possibly for instruction and encouragement from the Prophet. Shortly after his arrival the following revelation was received:

"And I have sent forth the fullness of my Gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph; and in weakness have I blessed him, and I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the foundation of the world and the things which shall come forth from this time unto the time of my coming, IF HE ABIDE IN ME, AND IF NOT, ANOTHER WILL I PLANT IN HIS STEAD. Wherefore, watch over him that his faith fail not, and it shall be given by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, that knoweth all things."

Also, in February, 1831, a woman by the name of Hubble made great pretensions of receiving revelations. She professed to be a prophetess of the Lord and claimed that she should become a teacher in the church. She deceived some who were not able to detect her in her hypocrisy. That the saints might not be deceived, the Lord gave the following revelation:

"O harken, ye elders of my church, and give an ear to the word which I shall speak unto you; for behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a {491} law, unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you, to receive commandments and revelations from my hand. And this ye shall know assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me. But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, FOR IF IT BE TAKEN FROM HIM, he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead; and this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments; and this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me."

From a careful reading of these revelations and in the light of the circumstances arising, we draw self-evident conclusions as follows:

lst.--Some of the saints were being deceived by spurious revelations.

2nd.--It was necessary that the saints know that the Prophetic office and the keys of the priesthood could be held and perpetuated only through him who had received that power.

3rd.--That in case of transgression or unfaithfulness he would retain the power to appoint his successor.

Thus the wisdom of the Lord in providing against the weakness of men.

All of these revelations were given before the quorums of the priesthood were organized and before the Prophet had proven himself faithful or in the days of his "preparation and qualification." During all the trying scenes of life the Prophet did not transgress, but proved his worthiness before God; therefore, there was no necessity for him to confer upon his successor the Keys and Authority of his office on account of any transgression during this early period before the various quorums of the Priesthood were organized as we have them today. Our Reorganization friends admit this to be the fact. We read in the Saints Herald of August 18, 1888 (this being the official organ of the Reorganized Church), the following:

"Joseph Smith was taken away, dying a martyr, of which death he was conscious, and made preparations before it occurred. HE WAS NOT ACCUSED BY THE LORD OF TRANSGRESSIONS, AND THE GIFT THAT HAD BEEN CONFERRED UPON HIM TAKEN FROM HIM; NOR WAS THERE A COMMAND GIVEN HIM TO APPOINT ANOTHER IN HIS STEAD, BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN {492} UNWORTHY, AND THE LORD PROPOSED TO DEPOSE HIM FROM HIS OFFICE. IT WAS ONLY IN THE EVENT OF THE GIFT BEING TAKEN FROM HIM, THAT HE WAS TO SO APPOINT ANOTHER. THIS EVENT DID NOT OCCUR." (Volume 35, No. 33.)

REVELATIONS ON PERMANENT ORDER OF PRIESTHOOD.

Subsequently, when the Prophet had proved his faithfulness, the Lord revealed to him, March 8, 1833, the following revelation declaring that the keys of the kingdom would never be taken from him:

"Thus saith the Lord, verily, verily, I say unto you my son, thy sins are forgiven thee, according to thy petition, for thy prayers and the prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears; Therefore thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you; which kingdom is coming forth for the last time. Verily, I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come; Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another; yea, even unto the church." (Doc. & Cov., sec. 90:1-4; Reorganized edition, D&C 87:1-2.)

In the year 1835 the twelve apostles were chosen according to the revelation of June, 1829, and received a commission equal in power and authority to that of the First Presidency. Following is the language of the revelation:

"And they (the Twelve) form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned." (Doc. & Cov. sec. 107:24; Reorganized edition, sec. 104:11.)

Thus it is seen that these early revelations which were local in their application, given for special needs, were superseded by later ones. In the former we learn "that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead." In the latter we are told that Joseph has proved his faithfulness and that "Verily, I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come, Nevertheless through you shall the oracles be given to another, yea even to the church." In accordance with these later revelations there was soon after given THROUGH THE PROPHET to {493} the church the order of the Priesthood, with all its offices and their authority and power. One of these quorums (the quorum of the twelve apostles) was authorized to "ordain and set in order all the other officers in the church," which of course includes the First Presidency. (Doc.& Cov., sec. 107:58; Reorganized Edition, sec. 104:30.)

These superseding revelations are so plain on this matter that one has but to have an ordinary knowledge of English to understand them. It is not to be wondered at that the church unitedly so interpreted them at the Prophet's death.

And so, under the Twelve, was the temple work prosecuted to completion, and preparations made for the journey west.

II. LAW OF LINEAGE.

The second claim of the "Reorganization" is that the office of president of the church belongs to "young Joseph" by right of the law of lineage, that it is his by birthright.

To begin with, we will say that there are ONLY TWO offices in the church which descend by lineage from father to son--the office of Patriarch and the office of Bishop. It is evident that the Lord recognizes the family unit and makes provision for it in the priesthood, but to attempt to stretch the law to include all the offices of the Priesthood and thus create royal families is unjust and carries us back to the feudal state of the Dark Ages. Here in America, where so great an advance has been made in this line, one cannot but stand amazed at seeing men hunt about in crevices and nooks for some reason which will make the Lord an upholder of special privileges to the exclusion of equality in his work. Of the office of patriarch or evangelist, concerning which the misinterpretation arises (Reorganized Edition, sec. 125:3), we read the following:

"It is the duty of the Twelve, in all large branches of the church, to ordain evangelical ministers (i.e., Patriarchs), as they shall be designated unto them by revelation. The order of this Priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made. This order was instituted in the days of Adam and came down by lineage in the following manner:--" (Doc. & Cov., sec. 107:39-41; Reorganized edition, sec. 104:17-18.)

These passages refer solely to the patriarchal or evangelical office, but our Reorganization friends would have you believe {494} that they apply to the Presidency of the Church or the Melchisedek Priesthood. That a proper comparison may be made we quote from The Saints Herald, vol. 39, p. 337, the above passage with the words they insert in parentheses to bolster up their claims:

"The order (including offices) of this Priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made. This order (not the Priesthood, but the offices therein) was instituted in the days of Adam, and came by lineage in the following manner:--From Adam to Seth" (Abel having been slain).

It can readily be observed that the Reorganization is not only guilty of misapplication of this passage, but also of perverting scripture by inserting words in a revelation of God to gain their stranded point. The revelation plainly states that the Patriarchal order of the priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, etc., and NOT THE OFFICES IN THE PRIESTHOOD, as asserted and assumed by the "Reorganization," and has nothing to do with the office of the President of the Church, which presidency according to Doctrine and Covenants, is chosen in the following manner: "Of the Melchisedek Priesthood, three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayers of the Church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church." Secs. 107-122, Reorganized Edition, 104-111. The fact that the office of the Patriarch and the office of Bishop are the only ones named in the revelations which go by lineage from father to son, is reason enough to any fair minded person that the other offices (including President of the Church) do NOT so descend. If not, why does the Lord make this specification and name the two exceptions?

Again, they contend that the Prophet Joseph received by blessing from his father the birthright, and that "his blessing (the Prophet's) shall also be put upon the head of his posterity after him." (True Succession, p. 44.)

Therefore, they reason that "young Joseph" should be President of the Church. Let us see--the fact of the matter is: Hyrum Smith, the oldest living brother of the Prophet, obtained the birthright from his father. Joseph acknowledged that his brother Hyrum should receive the birthright, for "it was the right of patriarchal priesthood, even the evangelical priesthood, that was conferred upon the first born, and not the presidency of the church." Furthermore, in proof that {495} Hyrum Smith received the birthright, we quote the following revelation:

"And again, verily I say unto you, Let my servant William be appointed, ordained, and anointed, as a counselor unto my servant Joseph, in the room of my servant Hyrum, that my servant Hyrum may take the office of Priesthood and Patriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father, by blessing and also BY RIGHT." (Doc. & Cov., sec. 124: 91; Reorganized edition, sec. 107:29.)

Furthermore, in Hyrum Smith's patriarchal blessing given by his father, we read: "I now ask my Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ to bless thee with the same blessings with which Jacob blessed his son Joseph," etc. In I Chronicles, chapter 5, we are told that Joseph (son of Jacob) received the birthright.

However, the fact that Hyrum Smith received the birthright from his father would in no wise make him president of the church; for the patriarchal priesthood and the presidency of the church are two different things, and further, the descendants of Joseph Smith and those of Hyrum Smith "stand before God, as do all other men, assured of honor or dishonor, exaltation or degradation, according to their individual works."

It is further claimed that the president of this organization was called to be president of the church by revelation in 1841, which reads as follows:

"And now I say unto you as pertaining to my boarding house which I have commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers, let it be built unto my name, and let my name be named upon it, and let my servant Joseph, and his house have place therein, from generation to generation; For this anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the head of his posterity after him, And as I said unto Abraham concerning the kindreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph, in thee and in thy seed shall the kindred of the earth be blessed." (Doc. & Cov., sec.125:56-59; Reorganized edition, sec. 107:18.)

It seems almost unnecessary for comment or explanation as to the meaning of this passage. The Lord gives commandment to build a house in which the Prophet and his family are to have a home, and his posterity after him from generation to generation. It was this anointing that the Lord put upon the Prophet's head, that he and his posterity should enjoy the blessing of a home in this house, known as the "Nauvoo House." An inheritance in this house is the subject of this passage, and not one word to indicate that the posterity of the {496} Prophet should have the right to the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

As a conclusion in respect to the law of lineage, we quote the following words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, which should silence all controversy on this subject:

"The Melchisedek Priesthood holds the right from Eternal God, and NOT BY DESCENT FROM FATHER AND MOTHER, and that Priesthood is eternal as God himself, having neither beginning of days or end of life." (Mil. Star, vol. 22, p. 55.)

Thinking, perhaps the Reorganization officials may question the authority of our quotation from the Millennial Star in 1860, we will verify the same by quoting the following passage from the inspired translation of "The Holy Scriptures" published by the Reorganized Church:

"For this Melchisedek was ordained a Priest after the order of the Son of God, which Order was without FATHER, without MOTHER, without DESCENT, having neither beginning of days or end of life. And ALL THOSE who are ordained unto this Priesthood are like unto the Son of God, abiding a Priest continually." (Heb. 7:3.)

There is only ONE way men receive the priesthood of God, and that is by the laying on of hands by one who had already the authority, therefore, "ALL THOSE who are ORDAINED UNTO this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually." It thus becomes evident that even had the son of the Prophet been promised in the revelations that he should become President of the Church, he could not become such until he was ordained by one possessing the authority to ordain him.

Should we admit that he had the promise from his father of being president, would men who had joined one church after another and become divested of all authority, have priesthood enough to so ordain him? (See Corner-Stone tract.)

III. Ordination

This leads us to the third claim, i.e., that "young Joseph" was ordained by proper authority.

Those who ordained him to the priesthood and set him apart to be president of the Reorganized Church were William Marks, Zenas H. Gurley, W. W. Blair, and Samuel Powers. {497} The two latter never did belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. William Marks, at the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet, followed Sidney Rigdon, evidently forgetting the claim which he later advocated, that "young Joseph" should succeed his father. Later he left the church and joined James J. Strang's Organization, acknowledging Strang as the prophet of the Lord and the one who should succeed Joseph. (Reorganized History, vol. 3, p. 723.) He so far departed from the true path as to be ordained and anointed to one position after another under Strang's hands, thus vitiating any priesthood he formerly received had he not been excommunicated. (See Corner Stones.) BECOMING DISSATISFIED he left Strang and joined Charles B. Thompson's Church. (Reorganized History, vol. 3, p. 724,) STILL LATER he left Thompson and joined John E. Page's Church. (Reorganized History, vol. 3, p. 724.) On June 11th, 1859, he entered the New Organization, subsequently the "Reorganization," on his original baptism. NOW WHERE WAS HIS AUTHORITY TO ORDAIN YOUNG JOSEPH?

On the verge of the great exodus from Nauvoo, Zenas H. Gurley fell away from the church. He was a Seventy at the time, but not a member of any general presiding quorum. One cannot but be struck with the coincident fact that just at this time the saints faced their greatest ordeal. Everything looked black. Only stout hearts survive. The question persists in recurring to the mind, did Zenas H. Gurley forsake the church in its need because of disbelief in it, or because he paled before the hardships and suffering ahead? At any rate, he left the church and joined J. J. Strang's Organization, in which he remained for a number of years. He became a leading factor in bringing about "The New Organization," and in 1860 assisted in ordaining young Joseph to the priesthood, and also in setting him apart. How about his authority? If the whole church went wrong and he was one of these few pillars, sent of God, to steady the ark, why did he grope about in uncertainty and join a man-made church? In an earlier case we know of, the Lord was very particular that his chosen vessel should "join none of them."

Reader, have you ever stopped to consider this fact, that a man who holds the priesthood of God cannot debase that priesthood by joining a church which is not of God and still retain that priesthood?

The only answer there is to this query makes plain the fact that these men had no authority to ordain any one to any {498} office in the priesthood, and as proof that "young Joseph" was not ordained by his father we quote his own words:

"No, sir, I did NOT state that I was ordained by my father; I did not make the statement. I was NOT ordained by my father as his successor,--according to my understanding of the word 'ordained' I was not." (Plaintiff's Abstract, in temple lot suit, page 79, paragraph 162.)

The Lord never left his church in uncertainty, but the power bestowed upon Joseph Smith was bestowed upon the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which quorum constituted the second quorum in the church. THEY were sustained in their calling as the first Presidency of the Church after the martyrdom by the vote and common consent of the people, August 8th, 1844, and again in October, 1844, and it was their duty to set in order the first presidency and all other officers of the church in accordance with the revelations of the Lord.

But let us turn to another side of the question: The Reorganization claims that there was an apostasy and a rejection of the church soon after the Prophet's death. If such was the case, then is there some reason for a Reorganization; if not, there is no excuse for it and a church carrying that name brands itself false.

In contrast with their fundamental view of the Reorganization; that is, the apostasy or rejection of the church at Joseph Smith's death, let us consider the sayings of some of the ancient prophets, and by the aid of their stronger vision learn the lesson before us.

Gloomy indeed must have been the immediate outlook to many of these ancient message-bearers of Jehovah. Rejected again and again they found little prospect of accomplishing more than but a meagre part of the mission of the priesthood. Full well they knew that if ever the world were cleansed from sin it would be through the efforts of God's servants, joined with the efforts of the people. They could look back to the days of Enoch and rejoice in the success of his ministry, for in Zion was the full mission of the priesthood achieved, but as for their labors, most of the seed fell upon stony ground. What was it, then, that gave to these unrewarded men, these outcasts, the tone of optimism we find in their writings? The answer becomes plain by a reading of them. Into their inspired vision was sent a glimpse of the future, and in the picture thus before them they saw a time, albeit afar off, when the Kingdom of Heaven, restored to the earth for the last {499} time, would gradually establish peace and righteousness among men. And so we read such passages as these:

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and shall consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever." (Dan. 2:44.)

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. * * * And then followed another angel saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." (Rev. 14:6-8.)

"But in the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills and people shall flow into it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people and rebuke strong nations afar off, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Micah 4:1-3.)

In all these passages it is clearly evident that PERMANENCY was to be one characteristic of the latter-day kingdom, and that RESULTS were to follow it from the beginning without a break.

Finally the set time arrives, and the Father and the Son visit the earth. Men of old-time in an angelistic state come and deliver their messages. Peter, James, and John restore the priesthood. Elijah brings back the "key of the binding power," and under direct guidance from on High the KINGDOM becomes established once more.

What, we may now ask, is this latter-day kingdom like? Where are the evidences of its permanency? If that feature be so distinguishing a one that the ancient seers eagerly noted it and gave it so prominent a place in their descriptions, surely there will be some evidences of it, in the kingdom's make-up; in other words, in the light of these passages, we would expect that the Lord, in establishing His work for the last time, would place within it the power to overcome all obstacles and perpetuate itself. Let us examine the "Revelations."

In March, 1835, the Lord revelated to the Prophet the {500} authority of the different offices in the priesthood. Throughout, all men are counted equally worthy; NO SPECIAL son is named and no royal family indicated. We read, as quoted above:

"Of the Melchisedek Priesthood, three presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church." (Doc. & Cov., sec. 107:22; Reorganized edition, sec. 104:11.)

Again:

"The Twelve traveling counselors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world; thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling. And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned." (Doc. & Cov., sec. 107:23-24; Reorganized edition, sec. 104:11.)

Further:

"The seventy are called to preach the gospel and be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles in all the world, etc. And they form a quorum equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or apostles just named." (Doc. & Cov., sec. 107:25-26; Reorganized edition, sec. 104:11.)

Ah! the important provision has been made. Not in one man's hands alone does full authority reside. Three great quorums possess it; the First Presidency, the Twelve Apostles, and the First Quorum of Seventy. In the latter two it is but latent during the life of the Presidency, for there is order in God's house, but being latent makes it none the less real. The result is obvious. Evil may abound in man's heart. The emissaries of Satan may incite them to bloodshed and drivings. They may martyr the Prophet, but we have the Twelve left. They may destroy the Twelve, but the Seventies remain. Surely, a blind man can perceive a strength from within which sets destruction at defiance. But this is not all. Not only is the power and authority in safe keeping, but the Lord has designated a special quorum to build up the Church whenever any of its offices become vacant, through death or otherwise. The revelation of March, 1835, says:

"It is the duty of the Twelve, also, to ordain and set in order ALL THE OTHER OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH, etc." (Doc.& Cov., sec. 107:58; Reorganized edition, sec. 104:30-31.)

Twice blind is he who cannot see that so long as such a quorum is in existence the Church will continue to live.

Now, then, what have we before us? A tottering edifice {501} of a day! Surely, NO, but an organization the equal of which the world has never seen; one which required a visit from the Father and the Son and the assistance of Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James and John, Moses, Elias, Elijah, and others, to bring about. It was not Joseph Smith's church. He was but an instrument through which a great divine institution began to take root in the earth. And yet, in view of all this, we are told by the Reorganization that the Kingdom thus founded was so frail, so weak, that it collapsed at the death of one man. Without strength, without stability, it fell in its beginning to rise no more for sixteen years.

We do not so understand this great latter-day work. Nay, nothing could be further removed from our conception of it. To that man whose mind has been lit up by its spirit and who understands its mission in the world, such a view is impossible. If we examine ancient prophets, they contradict it. If we go to modern revelation, the answer is no less plain. If we consult common sense, it likewise says no. For divinely founded it was; and for the last time was it restored. Neither again to be taken away nor given to another people.

Not only has there been no rejection of the Church, but there has been no cause for one. From the beginning, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has always stood for that which is true and good. No people on earth can point to a better record. The bleak plains, the silent graves, the barren desert, the magnificent temples, the self-sacrificing elders, all bear testimony to its integrity and stability. What would the Lord reject them for? Has he ever had as loyal or as firm a people? Examine their history. Feel of the spirit they carry with them. Follow their tracts. Notice the solid ruins of their forsaken cities. Wherever they have planted their feet, there have they builded to remain. The spirit of permanency has surely rested upon them. The old Mormon homes in Nauvoo are among the most substantial in the place to-day. The temple there would have been a credit to the nation now had it remained unmolested. This same spirit they carried with them into the barren desert, and there on its thirsty soil, amid untold difficulties and hardships, reared yet more beautiful and substantial commonwealths. Magnificent temples towering in the now fruitful valleys proclaim the people busily engaged in preparing themselves for yet greater things to come. Truly,

"God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform."

{502} To unaided man everything looked black sixty years ago. Today the severe experiences of those years are seen to be but a necessary preparation for the greater work of building up the New Jerusalem. Hardly necessary is it to add that they are fully prepared for this work when the time comes to begin it, and no less evident is it that a people who have been for half a century building temporary homes, with the expectation of being called at any time to build up the center stake, will hardly have had the experience necessary to build the greatest and most permanent of all cities and the most glorious of all temples.

Evidences are abundant on all sides that not only has God set up his work for the last time, but also that this work is accomplishing its mission. More clear, as time goes by, becomes the truth of Brigham Young's words:

"If any man thinks he has influence among this people to lead away a party, let him try it, and he will find out that there is power with the Apostles which will carry them off victorious through all the world and build up and defend the Church and Kingdom of God."

Having obtained a glimpse of the glorious light which this Latter-Day Kingdom has shed upon the world, we are assured that He who founded it, He who has guided it until now, will work out its future path.

_"We do not believe it is just to mingle religious influences with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered, and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members as citizens, denied."--Joseph Smith_.

{503}

A GOSPEL OUTLINE.

A FEW OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES BEARING ON THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ARRANGED IN LOGICAL ORDER, AND DESIGNED TO GIVE TO MISSIONARIES--AND ALL OTHER STUDENTS OF THE GOSPEL--A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH SCRIPTURAL QUOTATIONS AS MAY BE REQUIRED FROM THE FIRST.

BY ELDER NEPHI ANDERSON, EDITOR LIAHONA THE ELDERS' JOURNAL.

Central States Mission:

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS,

302 South Pleasant Street, Independence, Missouri.

1910

NOTE--The elder, in the beginning of his studies and his presentation of the gospel, does not need a multitude of texts, which often lead to confusion, but a few strong, appropriate quotations under each topic, the references having as much as possible, a logical relationship to each other. It is earnestly suggested that the Scriptures in their fullness be carefully studied, for in no other way can the full meaning and true spirit of isolated texts be obtained. Missionaries, especially, should compile their own ready reference from their study of the Scriptures, for by so doing the texts and their arrangement become fixed in the mind. It is hoped that this outline will be a valuable help in this direction.

_THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD._

_1. A Knowledge of God Is Essential,_ for

JOHN 17:3.--"This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

_2. Personality of the Godhead_--In the Godhead there are three personages--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. These are separate individuals, proved by

{504} MATT. 3:16, 17.--The baptism of Jesus; the Father speaking from heaven; the sign of the Holy Ghost descending from above.

ACTS 7:55, 56.--Stephen sees Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

JOHN 16:28.--Jesus came from the Father, and went back to Him.

JOHN, CHAP. 17.--Jesus prays to His Father.

DOC. & COV. 130:22.--The Father and the Son have bodies of flesh and bone; the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.

PEARL OF GREAT PRICE; WRITINGS OF JOSEPH SMITH.--The Father and the Son visit Joseph Smith.

_3. The Unity of the Godhead_--consists in a oneness of powers, attributes, purpose, etc.

JOHN 10:30-38.--Jesus and the Father are one.

JOHN 17:20-22.--Jesus prays that His disciples may be one, even as He and the Father are one.

_4. The Father is Revealed through the Son;_ for

JOHN 14:6.--"No man cometh to the Father, but by me" (the Son).

MATT. 11:27.--No man knows the Father save he to whom the Son will reveal Him.

JOHN 5:37.--The Jews had not seen God the Father's shape, nor heard His voice; but

JOHN 1:18.--The Son hath declared Him. Therefore, we receive our knowledge of the Father, not directly, but through a study of the Son. "As the Father, so the Son."

_5. Jesus Christ the Son_

JOHN 1:2.--He was in the beginning with God.

JOHN 1:3; COL. 1:16; DOC. & COV., 38:1-4.--All things were created by Him.

P. of G. P. MOSES, 1:33.--God has created worlds without number by the Son.

P. of G. P. MOSES, 4:1-4; ABR. 3:22-28.--Jesus in the council and the rebellion in heaven.

I NEPHI 19:10.--He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I COR. 10:4.--He is the Spiritual Rock that was with the children of Israel.

III NEPHI 15:5.--Jesus gave the law of Moses.

ETHER 3:4-16.--Jesus shows His spiritual body to the brother of Jared. Jesus is born into the world, and lives as a man, this earth life. In His personal form and appearance He is

HEB. 1:3.--"In the express image of His (the Father) person."

PHIL. 2:6.--He is in "the form of God."

COL. 1:15.--He is "the image of the invisible God."

After His resurrection, Jesus is still in human form; for

LUKE 24:39-43.--He said, "Behold, my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me and see; for a spirit hath not {505} flesh and bones, as ye see me have." He also eats with His disciples.

JOHN 20:20-27.--He shows His body with its marks to His disciples.

B. of M. III NEPHI 11.--He visits the Nephites.

ACTS 1:11.--As He went to heaven, in like manner will He return.

JOHN 4:24.--"God is a spirit." As the Father is like the Son, the Father's spirit must also dwell in a glorified body of flesh and bones.

JOHN 5:19.--"The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."

_ANGELS._

_1. Angels are the Same Class of Beings as Men_--differing only in the scale of progressive being. In heaven there are two kinds:

DOC. & COV. 129.--Spirits of just men made perfect, and angels who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones. Of the latter class we have examples in

LUKE 24:39-43.--The resurrected Jesus.

ACTS 10:30-32.--The angel who taught Cornelius.

ACTS 5:19.--Who released Peter from prison.

REV. 19:10.--Who visited John on the Island of Patmos.

_2. Evil Spirits_ are those who

JUDE 6th verse.--"Kept not their first estate," but

Isaiah 14:12; 1 PETER 2:4.--Were with Lucifer, cast out of heaven.

ACTS 5:3.--These spirits tempt men to do evil.

MATT. 8:28-32.--They so desire bodies that they strive for the possession of man's--sometimes, even the bodies of swine.

_MAN._

_1. Man is a Child of God_--his spirit having been born of heavenly parents before it was clothed upon with flesh.

ACTS 17:28.--We are God's offspring.

HEB. 12:9.--God is the "Father of spirits."

HEB. 2:17.--We are brethren to Jesus--and He was a Son of God.

ROM. 8:29.--Jesus is the first-born of many brethren.

JOHN 20:17.--God is the Father of Jesus and of Mary. This relationship between the Father, Jesus and mankind presumes

_2. The Preexistence of Man_--for Jesus and mankind are children of the same Father; Jesus existed with the Father before this world was; (John 1:2) therefore, it is reasonable to suppose that we, "the many brethren" also lived with our common Father.

JER. 1:5,--The Lord and ordained Jeremiah before he was born.

{506} JOB 38:4-7.--Sons of God shouted for joy when the foundations of the earth were laid.

JOHN 9:l.--There is a possibility of a man's sinning before birth.

DOC. & COV. 93:23-29.--Man as in the beginning with God.

GEN. l:26.--Man was created spiritually first; for

GEN. 2:5.--There was not a man to till the ground.

P. of G. P. Moses 3:5.--All things, man included, were created spiritually before they were in the earth.

_3. Man is in the Physical Image of God_--for man is in the same form as Jesus, and Jesus is in the "express image" of the Father.

GEN. 1:26.--Adam was created in the image of God.

GEN. 5:3.--Adam begat a son, Seth, "after his image."

MOSIAH 7:27.--Man was created after the image of God.

_4. God's Purpose in Giving Man this Earth-life,_ is

P. of G. P. Moses 1:39.--To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

II NEPHI 2:25.--"That he might have joy." To this end

DOC. & COV. 93:33, 34.--A combination of spirit and body was necessary; also

II TIM. 1:9; TITUS l:2.--Salvation and eternal life was planned and promised "before the world began." For this purpose--

_5. Man May Become Perfect;_ for Jesus said

MATT. 5:48.--Be ye perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.

HEB. 12:23.--Just men may become perfect.

I JOHN 3:2.-The Saints shall be like Jesus.

_6. Man's Spirit is Immortal;_ for it existed before coming to earth (see Preexistence under 2) and it will exist after the body is lain down.

LUKE 16: 19-31.--Jesus teaches this in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

I PETER 3:18-20.--Christ, while His body lay in the tomb, visited the spirits in prison. The spirit of the thief went with Him.

LUKE 24:37-39.--There are spirits: "A spirit has not flesh and bones," said Jesus.

DEUT. 34:5; JOSH. 1:1, 2.--Moses died and was buried; yet

MATT. 17:3, 4.--He appeared to Peter, James, and John. This must have been in the spirit; for

I COR. 15:20.--Jesus was the first person resurrected, He being, "the first fruits of them that slept."

_7. The Resurrection of Man's Body is assured;_ for

LUKE 24:36-42.--Jesus received again His body of flesh and bones.

MATT. 27:52, 53.--Many Saints received their bodies at Christ's resurrection.

JOB 19:25-27.--Job said that he would yet in his flesh see God.

{507} I THESS. 4:13-16; REV. 20:4-6; DOC AND COV. 88:97, 98.--The righteous will come forth in the first resurrection.

REV. 20:5.--"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished."

II NEPHI 9:12-14; ALMA 11:42-45.--The resurrection is to be literal.

_OUR FIRST PARENTS' FALL._

GEN. CHAP. 3; Rom. 5:12.--Our first parents brought sin and death into the world.

I TIM. 2:14.--Adam knowingly transgressed the lesser law that he might obey the greater law to "multiply and replenish the earth."

DOC. & COV. 29:41.--By the fall, man became spiritually dead--which is to be banished from the presence of God; he also became subject to the temporal death--a separation of the spirit from the body.

_THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST._

In order to attain to the perfection spoken about, man must be released from the effects of Adam's transgression.

REV. 13:8; P. of G. P. Moses 4:1-4.--This was provided for from the "foundation of the world" by Christ, the Savior, who has brought salvation to all men.

_1. General Salvation_ ROM. 5:12.--What was lost to the race through the fall was restored through Christ.

I COR. 15:21, 22.--"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

I PETER 1:18-20.--We are redeemed through the blood of Christ.

II NEPHI 2:26, 27.--Men are redeemed from the fall. Although thus redeemed, unconditionally, from eternal spiritual and temporal death, man, exercising his free agency, commits personal sins; therefore, he needs also--

_2. Personal Salvation_ ROM. 3:23; I JOHN 1:8-10.--All men are sinful. Christ atoned for personal sins also, but to obtain forgiveness for them, man must do something himself.

HEB. 5:9.--Christ is the Author of salvation unto all those that obey Him.

I JOHN 1:7.--The blood of Christ cleanses us from sin, if we walk in the light.

I TIM. 4:10.--God is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

MOSIAH 3:11, 12.--Those who knowingly sin must repent.

_FAITH._

Faith is the first requirement to obtain forgiveness of personal sins.

{508} JOHN 3: 16; ACTS 16:31.--Belief in Christ is necessary to salvation.

HEB. 11:l.--Definition of faith.

ROM. 10:14, 15.--How faith comes.

ALMA 32:21-43.--How faith is developed.

JOHN 7:17.--How faith is perfected; they that do shall know.

DOC. AND COV. LECTURES ON FAITH--contain an exhaustive treatment of faith.

_FAITH AND WORKS._

JAMES 2:14-26.--Faith without works is dead.

MATT. 7:21.--Not he that sayeth, Lord, Lord, shall enter heaven, but he that doeth the will of God.

I JOHN l:3-6.--We know that we know the Lord, if we keep His commandments; and to know Him is eternal life. (John 17:3.)

Some religionists claim that the saving works come only after salvation is obtained, but Jesus said, "He that doeth shall enter."

HEB. 5:9.--Obedience must come before salvation.

REV. 22:14.--They who do the Lord's commandments shall enter the holy city.

DOC. & COV. 76: 111; MATT. 16:27.--Man rewarded according to his works.

GAL. 2:16.--"Man is not justified by the works of the law." What law?

GAL. 6:12-15; ROM. 3:28-31.--The law of Moses, especially circumcision.

_REPENTANCE._

ISAIAH 55:7.--The Lord will forgive those who repent.

LUKE 13:3.--Necessity of repentance.

II COR. 7:8-10.--"Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation . . . . but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

The process of true repentance may be stated thus: (1) Consciousness of sin; (2) Sorrow for sin; (3) Ceasing to sin, illustrated in

JONAH 3:5-10.--Case of Nineveh.

ALMA 15:3-12.--The conversion of Zeezrom.

_BAPTISM._

_1. History of_

P. of G. P. MOSES 6:63, 64.--The baptism of Adam.

I COR. 10:l, 2.--Israel was baptized in the cloud and in the

MARK 1:4, 5.--Baptism was well known among the Jews.

MOSIAH 18:5-17.--Alma baptizes in the waters of Mormon.

_2. Necessity and Object of_

MATT. 3:15.--In the case of Jesus, "to fulfill all righteousness."

{509} MARK 1:4; LUKE 3:3; ACTS 2:38.--For the remission of sins.

GAL. 3:27.--To "put on Christ."

JOHN 3:3, 5.--To permit a person to enter the kingdom of heaven.

ACTS 2:38; ACTS 19:1-6.--As a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Ghost.

ACTS 10:6, 48.--To obtain salvation: case of Cornelius.

ACTS 22:16.--To wash away sins: case of Paul.

_3. Mode of_

MATT. 3:16.--The baptism of Jesus: He came up out of the water.

MARK l:5.--John baptizes in the river Jordan.

ACTS 8:38.--Philip and the eunuch went down into the water.

ROM. 6:3-5; COL. 2:12.--We are buried with Christ in baptism. JOHN 3:5.--It is likened to a birth.

III NEPHI 11:22-27.--Christ instructs Nephites on baptism.

DOC. AND COV. 20:72-74.--Words to be used in baptizing.

_4. Proper Subjects For; Infant Baptism_

MATT. 28:19, 20.--Candidates must be capable of being taught.

ACTS 2:38; ACTS 8:36, 37.--It must be preceded by faith and repentance.

Infant baptism is contrary to the plan of salvation. Those who practice it theoretically annul the atonement of Christ; for

I JOHN 3:4.--"Sin is the transgression of the law."

JOHN 9:41.--Knowledge must come before sin.

ROM. 4:15.--Where there is no law, there is no condemnation.

LUKE 18:16.--"Of such (little children) is the kingdom of heaven."

I COR. 15:22; DOC. AND COV. 29:46.--"As in Adam all die," etc. All persons that are incapable of sinning are unconditionally redeemed in Christ.

MORONI CHAP. 8.--The sinfulness of baptizing little children.

DOC AND COV. 68:27.--Children should be baptized at eight years of age.

Infant baptism has no scriptural authority; it is never mentioned in the Bible. Some supposed cases are:

I COR. 1:16.--Paul baptizes the household of Stephanas; but

I COR. 16:15.--The household contained no infants.

ACTS 16:33.--Paul baptized the household of the jailer; but they were capable of being preached to and of believing.

There is no connection between baptism and circumcision. Baptism is for the remission of sins--circumcision is not; baptism is administered to both sexes--circumcision is not; faith and repentance must precede baptism--unbelievers may be circumcised.

{510} _THE HOLY GHOST._

_1. The Nature of the Holy Ghost_

DOC. AND COV. 130:22.--The Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit, and

I JOHN 5:7; DOC. & COV. 20:28.--Is a member of the Godhead.

"The Holy Spirit, or Spirit of God," both of which terms are sometimes used interchangeably with the Holy Ghost, "is the influence of Deity, the light of Christ, or of Truth which proceeds forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space and to quicken the understanding of men." (Doc. and Cov. 88:6-13.)--Prest. Jos. F. Smith. Care should therefore be taken to discriminate between the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of the Lord.

_2. As Essential as Water Baptism_

MATT. 3:11; ACTS 1:5; DOC. AND COV. 39:6.--The baptism of the Holy Ghost completes the baptism of water.

JOHN 3:5.--A man must be "born of the Spirit."

_3. Preparations for His Reception_

ACTS 2:38; II NEPHI 31:12.--Faith, repentance, and baptism of water are required.

ACTS 19:1-6.--The baptism of water must be authorized.

ACTS 10:44-48.--The Holy Ghost falls on Cornelius and his company before they were baptized. This, the only exception to the general rule, was to show to Peter that the gospel was for the Gentiles, as well as for the Jews.

_4. Manner of Bestowing_

ACTS 8:17.--The apostles bestow the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.

ACTS 19:6; II TIMOTHY 1:6.--Paul bestows the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands. Undoubtedly, Jesus did not depart from the general law governing the bestowal of the Holy Ghost, for

LUKE 24:50.--Prior to His final departure He "lifted up his hands and blessed" the twelve; also

JOHN 20:22.--He breathed on them and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost."

ACTS 2:2.--After the space of a few days, the Holy Ghost came. This interval is explained by the fact that it was necessary that Jesus should depart before the Holy Ghost could come. (John 16:7.)

DOC. AND COV. 33:11, 15.--Holy Ghost to be bestowed by laying on of hands.

_5. Gifts and Operations of_

JOHN 14:26.--He was to teach all things, and to bring to remembrance the teachings of Christ.

GAL. 5:22, 23.--The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, etc.

I COR. CHAP. 12.--The divers gifts of the Spirit are wisdom, knowledge, healing, etc. {511} DOC. AND COV. 20:35.--Revelations may be given by the Holy Ghost.

_DIVINE AUTHORITY._

The saving ordinances of the gospel must be administered by men holding the Priesthood, which is the authority of God delegated to man.

JOHN 15:16.--"Ye (the disciples) have not chosen me (Christ), but I have chosen you and ordained you."

MATT. 10:40.--"He that receiveth you (the disciples), receiveth me."

MATT. 16:19.--Divine authority is given to Peter.

This authority is in the beginning given directly from the Lord to men, who bestow it by ordination on others. (John 15:16.)

NUM. 27:18-23.--Moses ordains Joshua.

ACTS 6:5, 6.--Seven men are called to assist the twelve.

ACTS 14:23.--Paul and Barnabas ordain elders.

HEB. 5:1-4; DOC. AND COV. 42:11.--No man takes the honor of the Priesthood upon himself.

ACTS 8:12-15.--There are degrees of authority: Philip had authority to baptize, but not to bestow the Holy Ghost.

ACTS, CHAPS. 9 AND 10.--Saul and Cornelius are sent to men having authority.

ACTS 19:13-16.--The seven sons of Sceva try to exercise authority which they did not hold, with dire results.

DOC. AND COV. 124:128.--Twelve apostles have authority to preach the gospel to all nations.

DOC. AND COV. 121:36-46.--Powers of the Priesthood to be exercised only on the principles of righteousness.

_THE CHURCH._

For the purpose of better bringing the gospel to all men, and to help to faithfulness those who have received it, an organization is effected called the Church. At the head of the Church are men who have divine authority, some of which are

I COR. 12:28; EPH. 2:20.--Apostles, prophets, and teachers.

DOC. AND COV. 107.--Orders and callings in Priesthood.

EPH. 4:11, 12.--These are for the perfecting of the Saints.

EPH. 4:13.--Until they come to a unity of the faith.

EPH. 4:14.--That they "be no more children . . . . carried about by every wind of doctrine."

HEB. 13:17.--These officers should be respected and obeyed.

ACTS 4:10-12.--Because Christ is the head of the Church, it should bear His name.

ACTS 9:13; ROM. 1:7.--The members of the Church are called Saints.

DOC. AND COV. 115:4.--The name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints given by revelation.

_REVELATION._

The Church, being led by apostles and prophets, receives the immediate mind and will of the Lord from time to time {512} as occasion requires. This has been true in all ages; Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and the former-day apostles are examples.

PROV. 29:18.--"Where there is no vision, the people perish."

AMOS 3:7.--"The Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants, the prophets."

I COR. 2:10-13.--Those who possess the Spirit of God receive revelation. (See also passages under "Holy Ghost, Gifts and Operations.")

EPH. 3:3.--Paul receives revelation.

PHIL. 3:15.--The Lord will reveal more if necessary.

MATT. 16:13-18.--"The gates of hell shall not prevail against it"--the rock of revelation.

DOC. AND COV. 42:61.--Elders of Church may receive revelation.

DOC. AND COV. 43:2-6; 107:91, 92.--President only receives revelations for the Church.

Opponents to modern revelation quote:

REV. 22:18, 19.--Which forbids man to take from or add to the words of the Book. The reply to this is that the passage does not say the Lord might not do this; besides, reference is made only to the Book of Revelations. John wrote his Gospel afterwards. A similar admonition is found in Deut. 4:2.

_THE APOSTASY._

It is a self-evident fact that the Gospel as preached and practiced by Christ and His first disciples was corrupted, and at last, lost altogether during the Dark Ages. This is shown if we put the so-called Christian sects to the test which Christ gave. JOHN 13:35.--"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another," also

MATT. 7:15-20.--By their fruits ye shall know them.

II TIM. 3: 1-5.--The wickedness of the last days is described.

II PETER 2:1-3.--Many shall follow false teachers.

II THESS. 2: 1-4.--There shall be a falling away before Christ's second coming.

REV. 13:6-8.--The Saints are overcome.

II NEPHI 28 AND 29.--Give a description of the apostate world.

DOC. AND COV. 1:15, 16.--The present apostate condition described.

_THE RESTORATION OF THE GOSPEL._

The falling away makes necessary a restoration; for the purposes of God in the final redemption of the race requires it.

MATT. 24:14.--"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world," before the end.

REV. 14:6.--An angel restores the gospel in the latter days.

DAN. 2:28-45.--Daniel saw the kingdom of God established in the last days. {513} The Aaronic Priesthood was restored by John the Baptist to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, May 15, 1829; shortly after this date, the Melchisedek Priesthood was restored by Peter, James and John.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized April 6, 1830, at Fayette, N.Y.

DOC. & COV. 65:2.--Daniel's vision fulfilled in the Latter-day Kingdom.

_THE NECESSITY OF CHURCH UNITY._

JOHN 17:20.--Jesus prays that His disciples may be one as He and the Father are one.

I COR. l:10.--The Saints are told to "speak the same thing," to be "perfectly joined together in the same mind."

EPH. 4:4-6.--"There is one body, one Spirit * * * one Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Read the whole chapter.)

DOC. & COV. 38:27.--"If ye are not one, ye are not mine."

_THE GATHERING._

MATT. 12:30.--Jesus said, "He that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad."

EPH. l:10.--In the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, all things in Christ shall be gathered together in one.

DEUT. 28:64.--Israel is to be scattered among all nations; but

JER. 31:10.--The Lord shall gather Israel again.

GEN. 49:22-26; DEUT. 33:13-16.--Joseph's inheritance extends beyond the land of Canaan--to America.

B. of M. ETHER 13:6-8.--Where He will gather and build up Zion.

DOC. & COV. 133:26-34.--The Ten Tribes shall come from the north and be blessed in Zion by Ephraim--the Latter-day Saints.

JER. 32:36-44; ZACH. 2:12.--The Jews shall return to Jerusalem.

_THE BOOK OF MORMON._

ACTS 17:26, 27.--The Lord has fixed the bounds of the earth's inhabitants: He desires all people to feel after Him that they might find Him.

GEN. 11:7-9.--At the confusion of tongues, the people were scattered over the whole earth.

JOHN 10:16.--Jesus said He had other sheep not of the fold at Jerusalem which He must also visit.

EZEK. 37:15-19.--The stick, or book, of Judah (the Bible) and the stick of Joseph (the Book of Mormon) shall come together in the last days.

IS. 29:11-14.--The words of a sealed book should be delivered to one who is learned, who shall say, "I cannot read a sealed book." Fulfilled in Martin Harris' visit to Prof. Anthon. (See the Writings of Joseph Smith in P. of G. P.)

{514} MORONI 10:3-5.--How to obtain a testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon.

_SALVATION FOR THE DEAD._

I TIM. 2:3, 4; II PETER 3:9.--The Lord desires all men to be saved.

ACTS 4:12.--Jesus Christ is the only name given whereby man can be saved.

JOHN 3:5-7.--A man must be born of the water and of the Spirit before he can enter the Kingdom of God.

This birth of the water (baptism) presupposes faith and repentance. As the vast majority of the race have never heard of Christ or His gospel in this life, it follows that they must hear of them in the spirit world.

This is true, for

I PETER 3:18-20.--Christ, after His death, went and preached to the spirits of those who had been destroyed in the Flood; and--

I PETER 4:6.--What He preached was the gospel. As these spirits, as well as all who are in the spirit world, cannot receive water baptism, it will have to be performed vicariously on the earth for those who repent. I COR. 15:29.--Paul refers to baptism for the dead.

DOC. & COV. 127:6-10; Sec. 128.--Joseph Smith explains the doctrine of baptism for the dead.

Note:--Farrar, in his "Early Days of Christianity," Chaps. VII and VIII, makes some interesting comments on these passages, upholding the view taken by the Latter-day Saints on the subject of salvation for the dead.

LUKE 23:42, 43.--The thief on the cross went with Jesus to Paradise--the spirit world.

JOHN 20:17.--The thief did not go to the Father, or to heaven, for Jesus declared to Mary three days later that He Himself had not been there.

_THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER._

LUKE 22:7-20.--It was instituted by the Lord.

ACTS 20:7.--And practiced by His disciples.

I COR. 11:23-34.--It should be partaken of worthily, and in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

DOC. & COV. 27:2-4.--The Saints are commanded not to use wine or strong drinks in partaking of the sacrament.

DOC. & COV. 20:77-79.--Form of blessing on the bread and water.

_TITHING._

GEN. 14:18-20.--Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.

LEV. 27:30.--It was a law unto Israel.

MAL. 3:7-12.--Blessings promised the tithe payer.

LUKE 11:42.--Jesus commends tithe paying.

DOC. & COV. 119.--The law of tithing as given to the Latter-day Saints.

{515} _THE SABBATH, OR LORD'S DAY._

MARK 2:27, 28.--"The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath."

ACTS 20:7; I COR. 16:1, 2.--Former-day Saints met for worship on the first day of the week-the day on which Christ arose from the dead.

DOC. & COV. 59:9-13.--The Latter-day Saints' authority for observing the first day of the week--the Lord's day--as a Sabbath.

Some religionists base their salvation on the observance of the seventh day, or Jewish Sabbath. To be consistent such people ought also to observe the Sabbath of Years and the year of Jubilee, both being part of the Jewish law. (Lev. 25:1-22.) The penalty for breaking the Jewish Sabbath was death. If the penalty is abolished, how can the law remain?

_PERSECUTION._

MATT. 5:10.--"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake."

MATT. 24:9.--In the latter days, the followers of Christ shall be hated of all nations.

ACTS 28:22.--"This sect"--the Church of Christ--was everywhere spoken against.

II TIM. 3:12.--"All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

DOC. & COV. 101:35-38.--Glory for the faithful persecuted.

_MINISTRATIONS TO THE SICK._

MARK 6:5.--Jesus "laid his hands on a few sick, and healed them."

MARK 6:13.--The disciples anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

JAMES 5:14, 15.--Anointing with oil and prayer shall save the sick.

MATT. 17:16-20; II TIM. 4:20.--The sick were not always healed.

DOC. & COV. 42:43, 44, 48.--How the sick are to be treated.

_SALVATION IS NOT INSTANTANEOUS._

PROV. 4:18.--"The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

MATT. 24:13; DOC. & COV. 53:7.--"He that endures to the end shall be saved."

HEB. 3; 4:9-11. The rest of God is for those who are "steadfast unto the end."

REV. 21:7.--"He that overcometh shall inherit all things."

_THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST._

ACTS l:11.--As Jesus went, so shall He come again.

MATT. 16:27.--"The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father." {516} I THESS. 4:15, 16.--"The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven."

ZACH. 14:4, 5.--Christ's second coming to Jerusalem.

DOC. & COV. 49:6, 7, 22-24.--Signs of Christ's coming.

_THE "THOUSAND YEARS" OR "MILLENNIUM."_

REV. 20:5, 6.--The Saints shall reign on the earth with Christ a thousand years.

IS. 11:6, 9; 65:20; DOC. & COV. 45:58, 59.--Conditions during the thousand years.

DOC. & COV. 63:49-51.--The righteous shall be changed "in the twinkling of an eye."

_THE RENEWED OR CELESTIALIZED EARTH._

DOC. & COV. 88:25-28.--"The earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom."

DOC. & COV. 29:22-25.--All things shall become new.

DOC. & COV. 130:9.--The earth to become like a Urim and Thummin.

REV. 21 and 22.--A description of the new earth.

_DEGREES OF SALVATION._

DOC. & COV. 88:34-44.--All things are governed and sanctified by law.

I COR. 15:40-42.--There are different degrees of glory in the resurrection.

MATT. 16:27.--Jesus shall reward every man according to his works.

DOC. & COV. 76.--Description of the three degrees of glory.

_ETERNITY OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT._

ECCL. 3:14.--"Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever."

GEN. CHAPS. 2 & 3.--Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were immortal, therefore their marriage was eternal in its nature.

MATT. 16:19.--Peter received divine authority, so that whatsoever he bound on earth was bound in heaven.

MATT. 22:23-33.--As in baptism, marriage is performed on earth--not after the resurrection. The ordinance must be performed by one having authority, such as Peter; and the married must be believers, not such as the Sadducees who denied the resurrection and knew not the scriptures nor the power of God.

DOC. & COV. 132:19-24.--Marriage for eternity explained.

{517} A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST AND THE FALSE DOCTRINES OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

BY PARLEY P. PRATT

Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.--2 John, verse 9.

THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

And these signs shall follow And these signs shall not follow them that believe; In my name them that believe, for they are shall they cast out devils they done away and no longer needed. shall speak with new tongues; In His name they shall not cast They shall take up serpents; out devils. and if they drink any deadly The gift of tongues is no longer thing, it shall not hurt them; they needed. shall lay hands on the sick, and If they take up serpents they they shall recover.--_Mark xvi.,_ will bite them; if they drink any 17-18. deadly thing, it will kill them. They shall not lay hands on the sick, and if they do they shall not recover; for such things are done away.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Christ He the believeth on me, the works shall not do any of the miracles that I do shall he do also; and and mighty works that He did, greater works than these shall he for such things have ceased. do; because I go unto my Father. --_John xiv.,_ 12.

Fear them not therefore; there There is to be no more revelation, is nothing covered, that shall not for all things necessary are be revealed; and hid that shall already revealed. not be known.--_Matt. x.,_ 26.

And he shall send his angels And there is to be no more ministering with a great sound of a trumpet, of angels, for such things and they shall gather together his are done away. elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.--_Matt. xxiv., _31.

{518} THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

And I saw another angel fly Angels do not appear in this in the midst of heaven, having enlightened age, because they are the everlasting gospel to preach no longer needed. unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and kindred, and tongue and people.--_Rev. xiv.,_ 6.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit Inspiration is no longer needed of truth, is come, he will guide in this age of learning and refinement. you into all truth; for he shall Again, it shall not not speak of himself; but whatsoever show you things to come; for he shall hear, that shall then you would be a Prophet, and he speak; and he will shew you there are to be no Prophets in things to come.--_John xvi.,_ 13. these days. If ye abide in me, and my words It is not so in these days, we abide in you, ye shall ask what must not expect to heal the sick ye will, and it shall be done unto and work miracles, consequently you.--_John xv.,_ 7. we must not expect to receive what we ask for.

Neither pray I for these alone, And we are all good Christians, but for them also which shall believe and we all believe on him through on me through their word; the Apostle's words, although divided That they all may be one; as into several hundred different Thou, Father, art in me, and I sects. in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.-- _John xvii._, 20-21.

One Lord, one faith, one Many Lords, many faiths, and baptism.--_Eph. iv._, 5. three or four kinds of baptism.

For by one Spirit are we all And by many spirits are we all baptized into one body, whether torn asunder into different bodies. we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.--_I. Cor. xii._, 13.

And he gave some, apostles; And there are to be no more and some, prophets; and some, Apostles, and no more Prophets. evangelists; and some, pastors But the work of the ministry, the and teachers; perfecting of the Saints, and the For the perfecting of the saints, edifying of the different bodies of for the work of the ministry, for Christ, can all be done very well the edifying of the body of Christ. without these gifts of God, only Till we all come in the unity give us money enough to educate of the faith and of the knowledge and employ the wisdom of men. of the Son of God, unto a perfect Apostles, miracles, and gifts man, unto the measure of were to continue during the first

THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

{519} the stature of the fullness of age of Christianity, and then were Christ; to cease, because no longer needed, That we henceforth be no more having accomplished their purpose. children, tossed to and fro, and Tracts, creeds, sermons, and carried about with every wind of commentaries of uninspired men, doctrine, by the sleight of men, together with a hireling priesthood, and cunning craftiness, whereby are now necessary in order they lie in wait to deceive.--_Eph. to keep men from being carried iv._, 11-14. about with every wind of doctrine, &c.

And no man taketh this honour For no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called upon himself, but one who has of God, as was Aaron.--_Heb. been educated for the purpose, v._, 4. and commissioned by men.

And how shall they preach, except But how shall the preach except they be sent? (of God.)--_Rom. they be well educated for the x._, 15. purpose and sent (by the board of officers)?

Is any sick among you? let him If any are sick among you do call for the elders of the church; not send for the Elders of the and let them pray over him, Church; or if the Elders, come anointing him with oil in the name do not let them lay hands on of the Lord; them, neither let them anoint them And the prayer of faith shall in the name of the Lord, for this save the sick, and the Lord shall is all Mormon delusion; but send raise him up; and if he have committed for a good physician, and perhaps sins, they shall be forgiven they may get well. him.--_James v._, 14-15.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent Repent and come to the anxious and be baptized every one seat (penitent form) every one of of you in the name of Jesus you, and cry, "Lord, Lord," and Christ for the remission of sins, may be you will get forgiveness and ye shall receive the gift of of sins; and you may be baptized the Holy Ghost. or not; but if you do you will For the promise is unto you, not get the Holy Ghost as they and to your children, and to all did anciently, for such things are that are afar off, even as many done away. as the Lord our God shall call.--_Acts ii._, 38-39.

And it shall come to pass afterward, And in these last days the Lord that I will pour out my will not pour out His Spirit so spirit upon all flesh; and your as to cause our sons and daughters sons and your daughter shall to prophesy, our old men to prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and our young men dream dreams, your young men to see visions; for such things are shall see visions.--_Joel ii._, 28. no longer needed, and it is all delusion, and none but the ignorant believe such things.

{520} THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

Follow after charity, and desire Do not covet any of the supernatural spiritual gifts, but rather that ye gifts, but especially beware may prophesy.--_I. Cor. xiv._, 1. of Prophesying, for such things are done away.

Wherefore, brethren, covet to Do not prophesy, and it is all prophesy, and forbid not to speak a delusion to speak in tongues. with tongues.--_I. Cor. xiv._, 39.

But in vain they do worship me, It matters not what kind of doctrine, teaching for doctrines the commandments or what system, a man embraces, of men.--_Matt. xv._, 9. if he is only sincere and worships Jesus Christ.

At that time Jesus answered We thank God that He has revealed and said, I thank thee, O Father, nothing to any person, wise Lord of heaven and earth, because or simple, for many hundred thou hast hid these things from years, but that our wise and the wise and prudent, and hast learned men have been able to revealed them unto babes. know God without a revelation, Even so, Father; for so it seemed and that we shall never be favored good in thy sight.--_Matt. xi._, with any more. 25-26.

All things are delivered unto We all know God in this enlightened me of my Father; and no man age, and yet neither the knoweth the Son, but the Father; Father nor the Son has revealed neither knoweth any man the anything to any of us, for we Father, save the Son, and he to do not believe revelations are necessary whomsoever the Son will reveal now. him.--_Matt. xi._, 27.

And this is life eternal, that And we cannot know for ourselves, that they might know Thee the only by any positive manifestation true God, and Jesus Christ, whom in these days, but must depend Thou hast sent.--_John xvii._, 3. on the wisdom and learning of men.

I thank my God always on your We thank the Lord always in behalf, for the grace of God behalf of the Church in these which is given you by Jesus days, that she has no supernatural Christ; gifts given unto her, and That in everything ye are enriched that she is not enriched by Christ, by him, in all utterance, neither in the gift of utterance and in all knowledge; nor in the gift of knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ neither has she the testimony of was confirmed in you; Jesus (the spirit of prophecy) So that ye come behind in no confirmed in her, and she comes gift; waiting for the coming of behind in all the gifts; nor is she our Lord Jesus Christ.--_I. Cor. waiting for, or expecting the coming i._, 4-7. of the Lord; for He has come once, and never will come again till the great and last day, the end of the earth.

{521} THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

Because the foolishness of God The wisdom of men, and the is wiser than men; and the weakness learning of men, are better than of God is stronger than men. the inspiration of the Almighty, For ye see your calling, brethren, for that is not needed any longer; now that not many wise men for you see your calling, brethren, after the flesh, not many mighty, how that the wise, and learned, not many noble, are called; and noble, and mighty are But God has chosen the foolish called in these days; for we have things of the world to confound chosen such to confound the foolish; the wise; and God hath the unlearned, and the ignorant; chosen the weak things of the yea, to confound the base world to confound the things things of the world which are which are mighty; despised, that flesh might glory in And base things of the world, His presence. and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.--_I. Cor. i._, 25-29.

And I, brethren, when I came And we, brethren, when we to you, came not with excellency came unto you, came with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring of speech, and with the wisdom unto you the testimony of and learning of man; and God. our speech and our preaching were For I determined not to know with enticing words of man's wisdom; any thing among you, save Jesus not in demonstration of the Christ, and Him crucified. spirit and power, for that is done And I was with you in weakness, away; that your faith should not and in fear, and in much stand in the power of God, but in trembling. the wisdom of man. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom. but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.--_I. Cor. ii._, 1-5.

But we speak the wisdom of But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden man in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained wisdom, which none but the before the world unto our glory; learned knew; for had others Which none of the princes of known it, they would never have this world knew; for had they been under the necessity of employing known it, they would not have us to tell it to them. crucified the Lord of glory.--_I. Cor. ii._, 7-8.

{522} THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

But God hath revealed them But God hath revealed nothing unto us by His Spirit; for the unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, wisdom and learning of man the deep things of God. search all things; yea, all the deep For what man knoweth the things which are necessary for things of a man, save the spirit us to know. of man which is in him? even For what man knoweth the so the things of God knoweth no things of man, save the spirit of man, but the Spirit of God. man, which is in him? Even so Now we have received not the the things of God knoweth no spirit of the world, but the spirit man by the Spirit of God in these which is of God; that we might days, for it is done away, or it know the things that are freely reveals nothing. given to us of God. Now, we have not received the Which things also we speak, Spirit of God, but the spirit of not in the words which man's wisdom the world, that we might not know teacheth; comparing spiritual for a certainty, but that we might things with spiritual. guess at, or give our opinion of But the natural man receiveth the things of God. not the things of the Spirit of Which things also we speak, not God, for they are foolishness unto in the words which the Holy him, neither can he know them, Ghost teacheth, but which man's because they are spiritually wisdom teacheth, for the inspiration discerned.--_I. Cor. ii._, 10-14. of the Holy Ghost is done away. But the learned man may receive and understand the things of God by his own wisdom, without the inspiration of the Spirit; for will be so foolish as to believe in visions and revelations in this religious age?

Let no man deceive himself. If Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to any man among you seemeth to be wise in the world, let him become be wise in the things of God, let a fool, that he may be wise. him get the wisdom of men, that he may be wise.

For the wisdom of this world For the wisdom of God is foolishness is foolishness with God. For it with the world, for it is is written, he taketh the wise in written, Let us educate young men their own craftiness. for the ministry; and again, Let And again, the Lord knoweth no man preach who has not been the thoughts of the wise, that educated for the purpose; and especially, they are vain. receive no man who Therefore let no man glory in professes to be inspired. men. For all things are yours.--_I. Cor. iii._, 18-21.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, Now, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you brethren, we would have you entire ignorant.--_I. Cor. xii._, 1. ignorant, for they are not needed at all in this generation.

{523}THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

But the manifestation of the But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to Spirit is given to no man to profit profit withal. at all. For to one is given by the Spirit But to one is given, by the learning the word of wisdom; to another of men, the word of wisdom; the word of knowledge by the and to another the word of knowledge same Spirit. by human learning. To another faith by the same And to another faith, by the Spirit; to another the gift of healing same spirit; but to none the gift by the same Spirit. of healing by the same Spirit. To another the working of miracles; And to none the working of to another prophecy; to miracles, and to none to prophesy, another discerning of spirits; to and to none discerning of spirits, another divers kinds of tongues; and to none to speak with divers to another the interpretation of kinds of tongues, and to none to tongues.--_I. Cor. xii._, 7-10. interpret tongues.

For as the body is one, and For as the body is composed of hath many members, and all the many sects and parties who are members of that one body, so also is opposed to each other, and have Christ. no gifts, and, being many sects, For by one Spirit are we all are but one body, so also is Antichrist. baptized into one body, whether For by many spirits are we all we are Jews or Gentiles, whether baptized into many bodies, whether we be bond or free; and have we be Catholics or Protestants, been all made to drink into one Presbyterians or Methodists, but Spirit. have all drunk into one spirit, For the body is not one member, even the spirit of the world. but many.--_I. Cor., xii._, 12-14. For the body is not one sect, but many.

But now hath God set the members But now hath the god (of this every one of them in the world) set the sects and parties body, as it hath pleased him. in the body (of Antichrist) as it And if they were all one member, hath pleased him. where were the body? And if they were all one sect, But now are they many members where were the body? yet but one body.--_I. Cor., But now are they many sects, xii._, 18-20. yet but one body (even Babylon). Now ye are the body of Christ, Now, ye are the body of Antichrist, and members in particular. and members in particular. And God hath set some in the And man hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily Church; first, a hireling Priest; prophets, thirdly teachers, after secondly, a board of officers; that miracles, then gifts of healings, thirdly, tracts; then commentaries, helps, governments, diversities creeds and diversities of opinions; of tongues.--_I. Cor., xii._, hence societies, and wondrous 27-28. helps.

Blessed are ye, when men shall Woe unto you when men reviled revile you and persecute you, and you, and persecute you, and say

{524}THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

shall say all manner of evil against all manner of evil against you you falsely, for my sake. falsely for Christ's sake. Lament Rejoice and be exceeding glad, ye, and be exceedingly sorrowful for great is your reward in in that hour, for little is your reward heaven; for so persecuted they among men; for so persecute the prophets which were before they the Latter-day Saints. you.--_Matt. v._, 11-12.

Give to him that asketh thee, Give to him that asketh of thee, and from him that would borrow if he be able to make thee a similar of thee turn not thou away.--_Matt. present; and from him that v._, 42. would borrow of thee turn not thou away, if he be able to pay thee again with good interest.

Be ye therefore, perfect, even Do not think to be perfect, for as your Father which is in heaven it is impossible to live without sin. is perfect.--_Matt. v._, 48.

Take heed that ye do not your Take heed that you do your alms before men, to be seen of alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward them; otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in nor praise from the children heaven. of men. Therefore when thou doest Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet thine alms, publish it in the Missionary before thee, as the hypocrites Herald, or some other do in the synagogues and in the paper, that you may get praise of streets, that they may have glory the world. Verily I say unto you, of men. Verily I say unto you, You shall have your reward. They have their reward.--_Matt. vi._, 1-2.

And when thou prayest thou And when thou prayest, be like shall not be as the hypocrites are, the hypocrites in days of old; go for they love to pray standing in before the public and cry mightily, the synagogues and in the corners not expecting to be heard and answered, of the streets, that they may be for that would be miraculous, seen of men. Verily I say unto and miracles have ceased. you, They have their reward.--_Matt. vi._, 5.

And when thou prayest thou And when thou prayest, be like shall not be as the hypocrites are, the hypocrites in days of old; go for they love to pray standing in before the public and cry mightily, the synagogues and in the corners not expecting to be heard and answered, of the streets, that they may be for that would be miraculous, seen of men. Verily I say unto and miracles have ceased. you, They have their reward.--_Matt. vi._, 5.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, Moreover, when ye fast, be like as the hypocrites, of a sad the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, countenance; for they disfigure their that ye may appear unto faces that they may appear unto men to fast; so that you may get men to fast. Verily I say unto your reward. you, They have their reward,--_Matt. vi._, 16.

Lay not up for yourselves Lay up for yourselves abundance treasures upon earth, where moth of treasures on the earth, and rust doth corrupt, and where where moth and rust doth corrupt, thieves break through and steal. and where thieves break

{525}THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN.

But lay up for yourselves treasures through and steal; for if your in heaven, where neither heart is only in heaven, it is no moth nor rust doth corrupt, and matter how rich you are in this where thieves do not break world; for now it is come to pass through nor steal. that ye cannot serve God and mammon. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.--_Matt. vi._, 19-21.

Therefore all things whatsoever Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to men do to you do you even you, do ye even so to them; for so to them; for this is the law and this is the law and the prophets. the practice. Enter ye in at the strait gate; Enter ye in at the wide gate, for wide is the gate and broad is where the multitude go; for it the way that leadeth to destruction, cannot be that all our great and and many there be which learned men are wrong, and nobody go in thereat. right but a few obscure individuals. Because strait is the gate and For the narrow way is not altogether narrow is the way, which leadeth too straight, but only a unto life, and few there be very few travel in it. that find it. Beware of false prophets, which Beware of prophets who come come to you in sheep's clothing, to you with the Word of God; but inwardly they are ravening you may know at once they are wolves. false, without hearing them or Ye shall know them by their examining their fruits; popular fruits. Do men gather grapes of opinion is against them; whereas, thorns, or figs of thistles?--_Matt. if they were men of God, vii._, 12-16. the people would speak well of Wherefore by their fruits ye them. shall know them. If we are only sure that we Not every one that saith unto have experienced religion, and we me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into pray often, we shall be saved, the kingdom of heaven; but he whether we do the Lord's will or that doeth the will of my Father not; for it mattereth not what which is in heaven.--_Matt. vii._, system we embrace, whether it 20-21. be right or wrong, if we are only sincere.

And it came to pass, when Jesus And it came to pass that when had ended these sayings, the men had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His people were pleased with their doctrine. doctrines, for they taught them For he taught them as one having not as men having authority, but authority, and not as the as the scribes. scribes.--_Matt. vii._, 28-29.

{526}

BAPTISM FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS

The remission of sins is what every sinner desires when he truly believes in God and has repented of every transgression. Faith and repentence do not bring remission, but they must be had before it can be obtained, for they prepare the sinner for this ordinance. But baptism brings remission, or, in other words, it is through baptism that sins are remitted. To prove this, we may turn to the word of God.

John the Baptist was a servant of God, acting under divine revelation, and we read(_Mark i_. 4, and _Luke iii_. 3) that he preached "the baptism of repentence for the _remission of sins_," in the wilderness and all the country about Jordan. While he was preaching this doctrine, Jesus considering it necessary to fulfil all righteousness, came to him and was baptized, thus acknowledging that John was preaching a correct doctrine and baptizing for the right purpose. Now this has been a matter of sacred history for some eighteen hundred years and who is so blind to truth and lost to reason as to assert that baptism is for anything else than for the remission of sins? The passages quoted are a standing rebuke to all such persons.

Jesus called and ordained men to preach His gospel, but just before He left them He commanded them to tarry at Jerusalem till they were endowed with power from on high. They did so, and when they received this power, they convinced a large multitude that Jesus was the Christ, and when their hearers inquired of them what they should do, Peter replied: "Repent, and be _baptized_ every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (_Acts ii_. 38). According to this, the inspired apostles taught that baptism was for the remission of sins, after Christ's ascension into heaven.

Paul saw a vision in which he was told to go to a certain place where it should be told him what to do. He went, and there fasted and prayed three days. Then the Lord sent Ananias to him, who said, "Arise, and be _baptized_ and _wash away_ thy sins" (_Acts xxii_. 16).

Why did not the Lord remit Paul's sins through his fasting and prayer? Because He had established baptism for that {527} purpose, and both small and great must comply if they desire the blessing.

"But," says one, "you astonish me; I was always taught that baptism was an outward sign of an inward grace." That may be, but a true servant of God never taught you so, neither did you learn it from the Bible. You must be baptized and have your sins washed away before you are even prepared for the reception of an "inward grace."

"But," continues the objector, "Peter tells us that baptism 'is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God.'"

Very good! Ananias did not tell Paul to be baptized and wash away the "filth of the flesh," but to "be baptized and wash away his sins." Peter and John, with the rest of God's servants, did not preach baptism for the "putting away of the filth of the flesh," but for the "_remission of sins_." When a man is baptized according to the Lord's will, he receives a remission of sins and his conscience is void of offense towards God.

Some object to baptism for the remission of sins because infants are "born in sin" and that would include infant baptism. True, the sin of Adam passed upon all mankind; but Christ took away the sin of the world by taking it upon Himself and atoning for the same upon the cross. Therefore, infants are without sin, and "of such are the kingdom of heaven" (_Mark x_. 14).

The sins which men should be baptized for are their own individual sins, and not the sin they were born in, for the Savior atoned for that.

Nor is it proper to say that baptism remits a man's sins, for that is the work of the Lord. The "laying on of hands" does not give the Holy Ghost, for it is the "gift of God." The blowing of rams' horns did not throw down the walls of Jericho, it was the power of Jehovah. "Simon saw that _through_ the laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given" (_Acts viii_. 18). God works _by_ means, _through_ instruments, and it is _through_ baptism that sins are remitted.

It is repeatedly stated in the scriptures that those only who do the will of God can obtain salvation. That it is the will of God for people to receive the remission of sin, none will deny. That remission of sins is obtained through baptism has been clearly proven. Therefore all who will be saved will have to be baptized for this purpose.

Again, the Bible says, "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking {528} vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (_II Thess. i_. 7-9). From this we learn that the Lord will take vengeance on those who obey not the gospel, and punish them with everlasting destruction.

Baptism for the remission of sins is a principle of the gospel, and those who fail to obey it will surely be partakers of the vengeance and punishment mentioned in the foregoing quotation.

The Prophet Elisha pointed out the way for the Syrian leper to be cleansed, namely, to be washed or dipped seven times in Jordan. But he went away in a rage, thinking that the waters of Syria were just as good as those of Jordan; but afterwards, being persuaded by his servants, he obeyed the requirement, and was cleansed. Now, if he had been dipped in any other river, it would have done him no good; or if he had been dipped less than seven times, it would have availed nothing. God had prescribed the means, and they must be complied with to the very letter, or the blessing would not follow. So it is with regard to baptism.

"When Israel were bitten by poisonous serpents, God commanded a brazen serpent to be raised, that whosoever should look upon it should be healed. All the poisoned ones who would not look, considering it non-essential, died in their poison. So likewise, all sinners who will not be baptized, considering it non-essential, will die in their sins, and be damned."[A]

[Footnote A: Apostle Orson Pratt, on "Water Baptism."]

Sufficient has been said to satisfy any reasonable mind on this subject. Every point of scripture touching the _object_ of baptism has been examined, and found that each one proves it to be for the remission of sins. The arguments against this doctrine have also been examined and found utterly groundless.

Let every unbaptized person waste no time, but prepare himself for this ordinance, by repenting of every sin. Then he may seek a properly authorized person to baptize him for the remission of his sins, that they may be remitted, that he may be a fit subject for the Holy Spirit to rest upon, that he may be saved with the redeemed and sanctified of all generations in the Kingdom of God forever--

"While time, or thought, or being lasts, Or immortality endures."

{529}

"GOOD TIDINGS."

OR THE "NEW AND EVERLASTING GOSPEL."

QUESTION.--What is the Gospel?

ANSWER.--There is only one true system of doctrine that can properly be called the Gospel; and that one system is so definite in every point, and so exactly adapted to the situation of sinners, that every person may immediately embrace it wherever it is preached, and by so doing they become saints, or Christians.

The first principle of action required in the Gospel is belief in the name of Jesus Christ, the once crucified and now risen Redeemer.

The second is repentance; which signifies nothing more nor less than the putting away of sins, with humility and meekness before God--feeling sorry for our sins, and a determination to forsake them.

The third is baptism, by immersion in water, in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.

The fourth is the laying on of hands, in the name of Jesus, for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. All who do these things in a proper manner, and under proper authority, are saints; and if they endure to the end they will be saved in the Kingdom of God.

Q.--Are there any conditions in this system which the sinner cannot immediately fulfil, as soon as he understands them?

A.--The sinner can believe that Jesus is the Christ on good testimony. He can turn from his sins, and put them away. He can also go forth, and be immersed in water, in the name of the Lord Jesus.

God will not believe for us; He will not repent for us; He will not be baptized for us; but these things are for us to do; and if we do them, then God has promised to forgive us our sins, and to baptize us with the Holy Ghost; then, certainly we should be the children of God, in the enjoyment of religion.

Q.--Is it of any use for men to pray to the Lord to convert them and give them religion, while they neglect to obey the Gospel?

A.--No. In _vain_ they call Him Lord, Lord, and do not perform the things which He has commanded them. In _vain_ they worship Him, teaching for _doctrines_ the COMMANDMENTS OF MEN. The Lord is praying us to be converted, and we will not, while at the same time we are praying Him to convert us.

Q.--But must not the Lord perform some special work, on His part, more than He has done, in order to convert our souls and make us Christians?

A.--No. The Lord has died for us; He has risen again for us; He has sent His word to us, with servants to administer it; and now He requires us to obey it, and then He has promised to forgive our sins, and to grant us the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Q.--But what! Can every sinner come immediately forward and obey the Gospel when it is {530} preached, and thus become a child of God?

A.--Yes.

Q.--What! All the sinners in this town?

A.--Yes; and all the sinners in England, nay, in all the world. The very moment they obey the Gospel they are free from sin, and are made partakers of the Holy Ghost. If this is not the case, then the word of God is of none effect, and the Gospel never saved a man since the world began, nor ever will; for, if God has sent a message or Gospel into the world which is insufficient to save sinners, and is under the necessity of saving them some other way, independent of that Gospel, then surely He has sent it in vain. But, on the other hand, if He has sent a Gospel which would save one man by obeying its precepts, then surely it would be the power of God unto salvation to all who would believe and obey it.

Q.--If these things are so, what would a minister of the Gospel say if he were to be present at some of the religious excitements which are got up in modern times, and were to see persons bowed down at the penitent forms, trying to "get religion" in that?

A.--He would say, as Ananias said to Saul of Tarsus, "Why tarryest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the name of the Lord."

Q.--But what would he say if they should refuse to comply with the requisition, and should continue praying?

A.--He would say, "Why do you call Lord, Lord, and do not perform the things he has said?" "In vain you worship him, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

Q.--But would they not "get religion in that way?"

A.--No. They might pray as long and as loud as the four hundred prophets of Baal did, but with as little effect.

Q.--But did not the Apostle say to the jailer and his household, that they should be saved if they would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, without obeying the Gospel?

A.--No. He spake unto them the word of the Lord.

Q.--What word of the Lord did he speak unto them?

A.--The word of repentance and baptism for remission of sins; as is evident from the fact of their attending to baptism the same hour.

Q.--What would have been the situation of the jailer and his household if they had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and had not obeyed the Gospel?

A.--They would have been under much more condemnation than they were before.

Q.--But was not Saul of Tarsus, while on his way to Damascus, converted and made a Christian by a special work of God?

A.--No. He was only convinced or convicted that Jesus was the Christ; but his being a saint (or Christian) depended on his going to Damascus, and obeying the Gospel baptism.

Q.--What would have been his situation if he had continued to believe in Christ, and had not gone to Damascus and obeyed the Gospel?

A.--He would never have "got religion" to this day, but would have been worse than he was before.

-Q.-Did not the Apostle say to the people of old, that, if they would confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and would believe in their hearts that God had raised him from the dead, they should be saved?

A.--Yes. But he was writing to the Church of God, whose members had already obeyed the Gospel, and had been planted together {531} in the likeness of his death; being buried with him by baptism, and having risen again to newness of life, he was encouraging them to continue in the belief and confession of his name.

Q.--But did not the Apostle thank God that he had not baptized many of the Corinthians?

A.--Yes. But the reason was, lest they should say he had baptized in his own name.

Q.--But did he not say, that he was not sent to baptize, but to preach the Gospel?

A.--Yes. But others were sent to water those whom he planted. He, as a wise master-builder, laid the foundation by preaching the word, and others attended to the other part of the work, and thus builded thereon.

Q.--Did not Cornelius and his friends receive the Holy Ghost before they were baptized?

A.--Yes. But it was to convince the Jews that they (the Gentiles) had part in the Gospel as well as the Israelites.

Q.--Would Cornelius and his friends have been saved, after all they had received, if they had refused baptism?

A.--No. For Peter was sent to tell them words whereby they should be saved, and part of these words were, that they should be baptized; and, if they had refused to comply with this message, they would have been worse than those who had never known the way of truth.

Q.--Was not the thief on the cross saved without baptism?

A.--If he was, it was because he had no opportunity to obey; and, therefore, was not saved through a Gospel ministration, but was included in the same mercy as the heathens, who have never had the offer of the Gospel, and therefore, are under no condemnation for not obeying it.

Q.--Would the thief on the cross have been saved if he had lived to hear the Gospel, and had opportunity to obey it, and refused?

A.--No. The Gospel condemns all who do not obey it. It is a savior of life unto life, or of death unto death, to all who are privileged to hear it.

Q.--Is there, then, no other Gospel but faith in Jesus Christ, repentance towards God, and immersion in water FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, with the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus for the baptism of the Holy Ghost?

A.--No. The people who are without this order of things are strangers to the GOSPEL, notwithstanding all the morality, sincerity, and piety they may possess.

Q.--What! Are all the professed ministers of the Gospel, who have not obeyed and taught that particular form of doctrine without the Gospel, the same as the heathen--and all their hearers, too?

A.--Yes. Unless we make this difference, that, having the Bible and some idea of Jesus Christ, they have been benefited in a moral point of view, although they have not understood the Gospel.

Q.--Are all the ministers and professors of religion, in this age of the world, under obligation to obey that Gospel, in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God?

A.--Yes. "Except a man be born of WATER and of the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." How then can he be saved in it?

Q.--What has Christ said of those who would come into the sheep-fold by climbing up some other way besides the door?

A.--He has pronounced them thieves and robbers.

Q.--At Christ's second coming, what will become of all those ministers and professors, and others who do not obey the Gospel?

A.--"He will come in flaming {532} fire, taking vengeance on all those who know not God, AND OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."

Q.--How comes it that the Christian world (so called) have been so long without the Gospel in its fulness?

A.--In fulfilment of the word of prophecy, spoken by the prophet Daniel and by the revelator John, "THEY HAVE MADE WAR WITH THE SAINTS, AND OVERCOME THEM;" and in fulfilment of Paul to Timothy, "They have HEAPED TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS, having ITCHING ears; and these have turned their ears from the TRUTH, and they are turned unto fables, and they will not endure SOUND DOCTRINE."

Q.-How came the Latter-day Saints to understand this Gospel, and to be instruments in restoring it among mankind?

A.--Not for any worth or wisdom that was in them more than others; but because the time had come for this Gospel of the Kingdom to be again restored to the inhabitants of the earth, and to be preached to all nations preparatory to the second coming of Messiah. Therefore the Lord sent forth an Holy Angel to commit the authority of this ministry again unto man, and this in fulfilment of the promises recorded by the ancient prophets and apostles.

Q.--Is it not uncharitable to consider the Christian world all wrong, except such as obey the fulness of the Gospel? and still more so to tell them of it?

A.--No. The man who tells his generation the truth, according to the "law and the testimony," is more charitable to them than ten thousand men who cry, Peace and safety, and prophesy smooth things, when sudden destruction is near at hand.

Q.--But, what will become of all the people who have lived and died since the Gospel was perverted and before it was restored again?

A.--They will be judged according to their works, and according to the light which they enjoyed in their day; and, no doubt many of them will rise up in judgment against this generation, and condemn it; for, had they enjoyed the privileges which we enjoy, they would, no doubt, have gladly embraced the truth in all its fulness. They desired to see the latter-day glory, but died without the sight.--_P. P. Pratt_.

_"Attempts to promote universal peace have failed. The world has had a fair trial for six thousands years; the Lord will try the seventh thousand Himself."_

--_Joseph Smith, The Prophet_.

{533}

A PLEA FOR MODERN REVELATION.

BY ORSON PRATT.

We now appeal to the honesty, good sense and learning of all good moral men, to testify their convictions in regard to the insufficiency of their rules of faith. Is there a man among you who has candidly examined the present confused, divided, distracted state of all Christendom, who is not thoroughly convinced that something is radically wrong? Many of you, no doubt, have in your serious reflecting moments, looked upon the bewildered, blind, cold, formal, powerless systems with which you were surrounded with feelings of sorrow and disgust. You have wished to know the truth, but, alas, wherever you have turned your investigations, darkness and uncertainty have stared you in the face. The voices of several hundred jarring, contending, soul-sickening sects were constantly sounding in your ears; each one professing to be built upon the Bible, and yet each one differing from all the rest. Under this confused state of things you have, peradventure, involuntarily exclaimed: can the Bible be the word of God! Would God reveal a system of religion expressed in such _indefinite terms_ that a thousand different religions should grow out of it? Has God revealed the great system of salvation in such vague, uncertain language on purpose to delight Himself with the quarrels and contentions of His creatures in relation to it? Would God think so much of fallen men, that He would give His only Begotten Son to die for them, and then reveal His doctrine to them in language altogether ambiguous and uncertain? Such questions, doubtless, have passed through the mind of many a religiously-inclined person. Millions have been sensible of the midnight darkness, but have not known the true cause; they have acknowledged that they could not understand a very great proportion of the Bible, yet they have believed it to be the word of God; they have wondered that the Bible should be their only rule of faith, and yet so few be able to understand it alike. Many seeing the contradiction, and vagueness, and the uncertainty {534} of all modern religions, professing to have emanated from the same God, have been so disgusted that they have renounced the Bible as a fable invented by priestcraft; others fearing to do this, have poured over the whole libraries of uninspired commentaries, seeking after the true meaning of that which they believe God has revealed; and at last, finding the learned commentators as widely disagreed as the sects themselves, they have concluded that the Bible is a great mystery and that God did not intend to have it understood when He revealed it. Others, still, have a little more perseverance, and believing that God would not send a revelation which He did not wish the people to understand, have with great diligence collected vast numbers of the most ancient Greek and Hebrew manuscripts of the sacred books, but here they find themselves utterly confounded; these ancient manuscripts, which they had hoped would reveal the truth, are perverted and corrupted in almost every text, so that they find "an incredible number of different readings" on every page and almost every sentence. From this heterogeneous mass of contradictory manuscripts they give an English translation, and call it the Bible; thus leaving millions to guess out the true meaning, and quarrel and contend with each other because they do not guess alike.

The true cause of all the divisions which distract modern Christendom is the want of inspired apostles and prophets: they, through wickedness and apostasy, lost the key of revelation some seventeen centuries ago, since which time they have been altogether unable to open the _door of knowledge_. Satan has taken the advantage of their dark and benighted condition, and robbed the world of a great number of sacred books, corrupting those few that remained to such a degree that he has got the whole of Christendom quarreling about their true meaning. This pleases him: he cares not how much they contend and fight about religion, as long as he knows that their religion is false; neither does he care how much they are united about religion, as long as he knows that it is not of the right kind. He can tolerate, and, indeed, help his reverend ministers to promulgate all kinds of religion, except that which has true revelators and prophets in it: no other kind of religion displeases him. But for a prophet or revelator to establish a religion on the earth, is more than he can quietly put up with; it strikes a death blow to all that he has been doing since the great apostasy. He is exceedingly frightened, lest some of the old lost books of the ancient prophets {535} and apostles should be again revealed. He is also raving mad, lest the books of the Old and New Testaments should be revealed again anew in their purity as at first--lest every point of Christ's doctrine should be again revealed in such plain, definite and positive language, that no two persons could possibly disagree upon it. This would be exceedingly dangerous to his kingdom; no wonder, then, that he should be full of wrath. But the sincere, honest, humble seeker after truth must have the privilege of finding it, and that, too, in the greatest of plainness, before the overthrow of all nations, that they, by embracing it, may escape the judgments of great Babylon. Yes! the day is come and the time is at hand when all nations are to hear the word of the Lord by the mouth of His chosen apostles and prophets to whom He hath restored the key of revelation for the last time, and for the dispensation of the fullness of times, that all things may be prepared and sealed unto the end of all things, against the day of rest for the meek of the earth.

_"Nothing but a sterling desire to do the will of God will cause men to endure the contumely and reproach of their fellowmen and associate themselves with the people denominated Latter-day Saints or 'Mormons.'"_

--_John Taylor._

_"The Lord never did and never will send an angel to anybody merely to gratify the desire of that individual to see an angel."_

--_Wilford Woodruff_.

{536}

THE "UNKNOWN GOD" REVEALED.

A REPLY TO A GEORGIA EDITOR'S URGENT APPEAL FOR A Restoration OF THE "OLD TIME" FAITH IN A PERSONAL AND KNOWN GOD.

BEN E. RICH.

_To the Editor of the Atlanta News_:

DEAR SIR:--In a recent edition of your publication we observed the following able editorial, which we copy verbatim:

OUR MODERN ALTARS "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD."

_"As I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD."--St. Paul at Athens_.

It is a painful and confusing thing to the Christian investigator to be convinced, as he must be, by the fact that millions of conventionally good people in our land, as in all civilized countries, are kneeling "To the Unknown God."

One cannot say how many professed Christians really have a conscious knowledge of the God whom they reverence and whose Son they believe Jesus, the Christ, to be. But one may know without much inquiry that very few of our Christian churchmen have what we may be allowed to call "a working knowledge of God." In other words, they have no definite mental or spiritual conception of the Personality of God. They attribute to Him in a somewhat nebulous way certain characteristics in perfection, such as eternity, holiness, truth, love, mercy, patience, wisdom and power. But why and how these things constitute Personality and obtain manifestation in human affairs, is a riddle more profound that a Delphian oracle or a shadow interrogation point on the face of the Sphinx.

They have simply apprehended that "there must be a God," somewhat as the French cynic said, if none had ever been revealed Man would have invented one from necessity. They have been trained from infancy to think of an awful God and finally, by the religious impulse that always comes to a man strongly at some point in his sentient career, they have professed a binding faith in that God--but still He remains practically and consciously "The Unknown God."

It is one of the most strenuous tasks of modern preaching to secure the serious, studious attention of men and women to the plain {537} correspondence between the Scriptural revelations of God the Father with the known attributes and actions of Christ the Son.

Preachers themselves preach "The Unknown God" because they have not acquired the spiritual discernment to be satisfied that if Christ was "the express image of the Father," then, logically and indisputably "God was in Christ revealing Himself to the world." All through the labors of the apostles in the first age of the church runs the ceaseless insistence that men should not differentiate between the characters of God and Christ, but believe in Christ as an absolute manifestation of God in the flesh. If modern preachers would dwell upon that mighty truth with the same persistence the earth would soon be aflame with the knowledge and the love of God, and Christ would become the true Lord of millions who now do Him only lip service and of millions more who would suddenly see in Him "the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

It is scarcely to be wondered over that gold, society, pleasure, pride and gilded sin in myriad forms can so easily persuade and pervert so many in the modern Christian world, when we realize that they live in so great a fog of ignorance concerning the God whom they perfunctorily profess to believe in and acknowledge they ought to obey in all truth, righteousness and holy conversation.

_We need in Atlanta--we need in Georgia--we need in America--the old time faith in a personal and known God, who is our Father in heaven, who has given us His Son for a Savior. A revival of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus will level forever, in and out of the churches, countless thousands of altars "To the Unknown God_."

Your appeal for the restoration of "the old time faith in a personal and known God" impels us to respond to your editorial by offering you the very faith for which you so earnestly contend. Your exposition of the personalities, character and attributes of God is true, and your evidence is conclusive and invulnerable. There is no argument to offer in rebuttal, and preachers of so-called Christendom will look in vain for one iota of proof to support the contrary. Their inconsistent, not to say ridiculous, doctrine that God is "incomprehensible without body, parts or passions," in the light of all sound reason and prophetic testimony, must stand alone a self-evident fact of the uninspired source from which it sprang. The "unknown God" whom modern Christians do ignorantly worship, in times past revealed His mind and will to His children upon the earth. And, not only did He manifest Himself in revelation, but in actual person did He converse face to face with certain of His chosen representatives. Between Heaven and earth the channel of communication was constantly open, excepting only, when, through disobedience and transgression men cut themselves off from this privilege of divine favor. God's people expected these manifestations of His kindness. To be led by an inspired man--a prophet of the Almighty--and to receive through him counsel and law, with the seal of {538} divine authority "Thus saith the Lord" attached thereto, was as natural to them as it was to live, because to them, their Father in Heaven was a living, active, comprehensive personal Being. This was a part of the "old time" Faith.

In the meridian of time, Jesus Christ the Son of God, established His Church among men; and when His labors were ended and He returned unto His Father, He left His disciples in possession of the Holy Ghost which was "to guide them into all truth," "bring things past to their remembrance," and to reveal unto them the things of the future; in fact, this messenger was, in the absence of Christ in person, the medium through which God made known His will unto His children upon the earth. No argument is needed to convince any one of the fact that the disciples did enjoy the operations of that Spirit, for the whole New Testament is, in and of itself, proof positive and conclusive, of the literal fulfillment of that promise. One of the "gifts" of the Holy Ghost is prophecy, and upon whomsoever the Lord desired, He conferred this gift, and hence prophets were found in His church. And especially did those at the head enjoy this manifestation because they were God's mouthpieces, and it belonged particularly to their office and calling. The enjoyment of the actual companionship of the Holy Ghost then, together with its perceptible workings, were also parts of that "old time" Faith.

Again: At the head of His Church, Jesus placed a quorum of Twelve Apostles, Peter, James and John standing chief among them. "Ye have not chosen me," said He, "but I have chosen you and ordained you." He called and ordained also, Seventies, Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons to fill certain positions in His Church, all of whom Paul says God himself placed therein in order that He, through them, might edify and perfect the Saints and also to protect them from being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine taught by man; and further, that He might accomplish the work of the ministry. These officers, according to the same author's authoritative testimony were to remain in the Church until the world should come to a unity of the Faith and to a perfect knowledge of God. To have in their midsts these divinely called and inspired men bearing authority direct from God, was another part of the "old time" Faith of the Saints. No word from God has ever been recorded that these offices and callings were unnecessary and useless creations in His Church organization, or that they were in time to be done away and destroyed. All Scripture proves the contrary most clearly {539} and most emphatically. Furthermore, such a contention simply reduces the solemn and deliberate acts of Jehovah to mere folly and idle child's play, and destroys the confidence and faith of man in Him as a Being possessed of that infinite intelligence and wisdom attributed to Him. God placed these officers in the Church, and no one but God can legally remove them. But they have been removed. Their offices have been destroyed. Yes, but unauthorized man and not God is responsible! The modern Christian doctrine advocating the uselessness and nonessentiality of the Apostles and Prophets and other inspired men of God as were formerly set in the Church of Christ, is a companion inconsistency with that of a bodiless, passionless God, and also owes its existence to modern unauthorized and uninspired man. Certainly it was not a part of the "old time" Faith.

Another thing: The men whom Jesus called into His ministry, were sent out "two by two" to preach the Gospel, "without purse or scrip." Taxed pews, contribution boxes, and salaried preachers were unknown among them. These things belong to the modern "profession" of the popular Christian ministry and had nothing whatever to do with the "old time" "calling" of God unto His work. To be sure, the Church had a system of revenue by which the poor were supported and the necessary expenses of maintaining the organization were met, but this was known as the "law of tithing," of which not one penny went to pay a preacher. This custom and practice is another invention of man, ingeniously applied in merchandising a man-made gospel by a self-called clergy, and that, too, in bold contradiction of Holy Writ, which unmistakably declares it to be entirely foreign to the "old time" Faith.

Furthermore: The Gospel, as Jesus and His disciples taught it, embraced four fundamental principles, namely: faith, repentance, baptism by immersion "for the remission of sins," and "the laying on of hands" for the "gift of the Holy Ghost." The faith here spoken of constituted more than a dormant or passive belief. It went further than mere mental assent, and embodied deeds of righteousness. He that had faith was stirred to repentance from his evil ways. That is, he ceased to commit forbidden practices, and instead performed such acts of righteousness as the Gospel required. One of these requirements was to be baptized in water for the remission of sin. The claim that this ordinance was not essential is disproved, not only by the teachings of the Savior and His disciples, but also by their practices. Jesus Himself {540} set the example, and afterwards commanded His disciples to preach in all the world the Gospel, "baptizing them (who believed) in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost," and also declaring that those who would not believe and be baptized "should be dammed." This is not strange at all, when we fully realize that baptism is "the counsel of God," and that it was the preceding step requisite to the companionship of the Holy Ghost which was given "by the laying on of hands."

Paul declared to the Hebrew Saints that these four principles and ordinances were "the doctrine of Christ," and John writes that "whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son." To the consistent mind there should be not the least shadow of doubt as to the fact that the doctrines here laid down belonged to and were an essential part of the "old time" Faith.

But this is not all. There was a power, an active perceptible force of divine origin, which, through the faith of the Saints, manifested itself in speaking in and interpretation of tongues, prophecy, and healing of the sick. These manifestations were the "gifts of the Holy Ghost." Jesus called them "signs," and promised that they should "follow them that believe," the literal fulfillment of which is attested by one continuous stream of examples running all through the New Testament times. God placed them in the Church anciently; the Saints then enjoyed them; and nowhere has He ordered them to be withdrawn or announced that they should cease. However, they are not to be found in so-called Christian churches today, and what more, without one word of Scriptural support, the preachers of modern times maintain that they are superfluous and are no longer needed. Superfluous? Why? No longer needed? Why? Simply because they are not manifest among them, and that this kind of doctrine in a measure explains away the reason for their absence; besides, it conforms best to their man-conceived idea of a god without body, parts or passions. They get from their god exactly what he is capable of giving them--absolutely nothing. To be sure such a being could not speak. He has no mouth. He could not hear, for he has no ears. He could not hate or love, because he has no passions. Summed right down to the actual thing which the definition conveys, the only conclusion is that such a god is no god at all. And since this is the subject of their worship, it isn't unnatural or unreasonable that he or it, or {541} whatever name by which the nonentity might be designated, bestows no signs or gifts upon its worshipers because it is manifestly powerless to act. But one thing sure and certain, these very "gifts" and "signs" were a part of the "old time" Faith. They were the blessings of a Heavenly Father poured out upon those of His children who obeyed the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ. They came from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the same who conversed with our father Adam in the Garden of Eden; the same whose voice at sundry times was heard, and whose person--but not in His mortal consuming glory--on many occasions was seen by nearly all of the prophets spoken of in Holy Writ; the same whose express image, character and personality were duplicated in the person of His Only Begotten Son in the flesh--Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world!

This, kind sir, sets forth in brief, the component parts of the "old time" Faith of the ancients, only one principle of which was contended for in your able editorial copied above. This very faith, we are pleased to declare unto you, is now upon the earth. That same "personal and known God who is our Father in Heaven," in company with His Son Jesus Christ, together in person, visited this earth and conversed face to face with one whom they chose to represent them among men. They gave him authority to act in their names; revealed unto him every principle of the Gospel necessary to man's salvation, and instructed him how to re-establish their Church in the world; and as a startling and invincible testimony of the truth of these things, that Church stands today just as complete in structure, in doctrine and in practice as was the Church organized on the same principle--revelation--in Jerusalem nearly two thousand years ago. That Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and that man, whom the courts of heaven honored by making him the instrument of restoration, was Joseph Smith, the latter day prophet of the true and the living God!

Atlanta, your honor, has not been totally lacking in information upon these matters, because both upon her streets and within several of her humble halls, modern Elders and Seventies, clothed with that same authority possessed by their brethren anciently, have defended the personality of our Father. And this also have they done throughout the whole civilized world. But like their companion missionaries of former times, they have been hated and despised, persecuted and mobbed; and in several instances have they, too, been {542} murdered in cold blood for the Truth, the name of your own fair state sharing this unholy record in common with others in this nation. Modern sanctimonious "High Priests," under the appellation of Christian ministers, like men of their own stripe in olden times, have been the ring leaders in creating this prejudice in the minds of the people, and they are responsible for the war of persecution that has raged and which does now rage relentlessly against the work of God; and should the Master Himself visit the earth today He, beyond all question, would rebuke these modern Scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites in the same language reported by Matthew in his twenty-third chapter.

The religious Jews, in the days of Jesus, ridiculed and hated the religion of God brought unto them, and the so-called religious Christian world of today stands exactly in the same position. It took a brave heart, an independent spirit and a firm reliance in Jehovah to embrace an unpopular truth then and become united with the despised Nazarene, and it requires the same characteristics today to become associated with the Church of God established in this day through the instrumentality of the latter day prophet who received his authority from that same Nazarene.

In conclusion: We offer you the "old time" Faith which has been restored to the earth, with all the principles, gifts, powers and authority of ancient times. It holds out to you the opportunity to be established upon a firm and complete understanding of that "personal and known God who is our Father in Heaven and who has given us His Son for a Savior." And what more, we ask you candidly, and earnestly, to aid us in this revival of the "old time" Faith, that throughout all the universe may be restored a perfect knowledge of God and of His Son Jesus Christ, that henceforth and forever may be lowered, both in and out of the churches, the countless thousands of altars erected to the "unknown God."

{543}

A GOSPEL LETTER.

WRITTEN BY SISTER LUCY MACK SMITH, THE MOTHER OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH.

The following very interesting and earnest gospel letter written by Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the Prophet Joseph, to her brother, Solomon Mack and his wife, was presented to President Joseph F. Smith by Mrs. Candace Mack Barker, of Keene, N. H., a granddaughter of Solomon Mack, to whom the letter is addressed. Mrs. Barker stated that it was her desire to place the letter in the hands of those who would appreciate its contents and preserve it as she felt it properly deserved. Readers will agree that the lady made the very wisest selection in choosing President Smith as the holder of this important relic. It is with untold pleasure that we are privileged to present this beautiful sermon which was written so soon after the organization of the Church by one of the greatest and noblest mothers that ever lived, whose life of continued toil and tribulation was spent so constantly in the humble endeavor to help establish the everlasting Gospel revealed from God through her prophet son. Her brother Solomon became a faithful member of the Church, and remained so until the end of his mortal life:

Waterloo, January 6, 1831.

Dear Brother and Sister:

Although we are at a great distance from each other and have not had the pleasure of seeing each other for many years, yet I feel a great anxiety in your welfare, and especially for the welfare of your souls; and you yourselves must know that it is a thing of greatest importance to be prepared to meet our God in peace, for it is not long before He is to make His appearance on the earth with all the hosts of heaven to take vengeance on the wicked and they that know not God. By searching the prophecies contained in the Old Testament we find it there prophesied that God will set His hand the second time to recover His people the house of Israel. He has now commenced this work; He hath sent forth a revelation in these last days, and this revelation is called the Book of Mormon. It contains the fullness of the Gospel to the Gentiles, and is sent forth to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things God hath done for their fathers that they may know of the covenants of the Lord and that they are not cast off forever; and also of the convincing of both Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God and manifests Himself unto all nations. It also contains the history of a people which were led out of Jerusalem {544} six hundred years before the coming of Christ in the flesh. God seeing the wickedness of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, He sent out a prophet named Lehi and commanded him to declare unto the people that unless they repented of their sins that the city would be destroyed, but they would not hear him, but sought to take away his life, therefore the Lord commanded him to take his family, together with another man named Ishmael, and his family, and flee out of the city, and they were led by the hand of the Lord on to this continent and they became very numerous and were a people highly favored of the Lord; but there arose contentions among them and the more wicked part of them being led by one of the sons of Lehi named Laman, arose up in rebellion against their brethren, and would not keep the commandments of God, therefore He sent a curse upon them, and caused a dark skin to come over them, and from Laman our Indians have descended. The more righteous part of them were led by another of the sons of Lehi named Nephi, he being a prophet of the Lord. I cannot give you much of an insight into these things, but I write this that when you have an opportunity of receiving one of the books that you may not reject (it) for God has pronounced a curse upon all who have a chance to receive it and will not, for by it they will be judged at the last day.

There are many in these parts who profess to know God and to be His humble followers, but when this thing is offered them they say we have Bible enough and want no more; but such are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity and understand not the Bible which they love, for all the holy prophets spoke plainly of the gathering of the house of Israel and of the coming forth of this work, and God says He will give us line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; there are more nations than one, and if God would not reveal Himself alike unto all nations He would be partial. We need not suppose that we have all His words in our Bible, neither need we think that because He has spoken once He cannot speak again.

Perhaps you will inquire how this revelation came forth. It has been hid up in the earth fourteen hundred years, and was placed there by Moroni, one of the Nephites; it was engraven upon plates which have the appearance of gold. He being a prophet of the Lord, and seeing the wickedness of the people and knowing that they must be destroyed, and also knowing that if the plates fell into the hands of the Lamanites that they would destroy them, for they sought to destroy all sacred writings, therefore he hid them up in the earth, having obtained a promise of the Lord that they should come forth in His own due time unto the world; and I feel to thank my God that He hath spared my life to see this day.

Joseph, after repenting of his sins and humbling himself before God, was visited by an holy angel whose countenance was as lightning and whose garments were white above all whiteness, who gave unto him commandments which inspired him from on high; and who gave unto him, by the means of which was before prepared, that he should translate this book. And by reading this our eyes are opened that we can see the situation in which the world now stands; that the eyes of the whole world are blinded; that the churches have all become corrupted, yea every church upon the face of the earth; that the Gospel of Christ is nowhere preached. This is the situation which the world is now in, and you can judge for yourselves if we did not need something more than the wisdom of man to show us the right way.

{545} God, seeing our situation, had compassion upon us, and has sent us this revelation that the stumbling block might be removed, that whosoever would might enter. He now established His Church upon the earth as it was in the days of the Apostles. He has now made a new and everlasting covenant, and all that will hear His voice and enter, He says they shall be gathered together into a land of promise, and He Himself will come and reign on earth with them a thousand years. He is now sending forth His servants to prune His vineyard for the last time, and woe be unto them that will not hear them. There are many who think hard when we tell them that the churches have all become corrupted, but the Lord hath spoken it, and who can deny His words? They are all lifted up in the pride of their hearts and think more of adorning their fine sanctuaries than they do of the poor and needy. The priests are going about preaching for money, and teaching false doctrines and leading men down to destruction by crying peace, peace, when the Lord Himself hath not spoken it.

When our Savior was upon the earth He sent forth His disciples and commanded them to preach His Gospel, and these signs He said should follow them that believed; in My name they shall do many wonderful works; they shall cast out devils; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Now where can we find these signs following them that call themselves preachers of the Gospel, and why do they not follow? It surely must be because they do not believe and do not teach the true doctrine of Christ, for God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and changeth not.

We read that at the day of Pentecost people being pricked in their hearts began to cry, saying, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" and Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost, stood up and said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost." Now this promise was not to them alone for he goes on to say, this "promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call;" therefore the promise extends unto us if we will obey His commands. Peter did not tell them to go away and mourn over their sins weeks and months, and receive a remission of them and then come and be baptized, but he told them first to repent and be baptized, and the promise was that they should receive a remission of their sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost; and this is the Gospel of Christ, and His Church is established in this place and also in Ohio; there have been three hundred added to the Church in Ohio within a few weeks, and there are some added to this Church almost daily. The work is spreading very fast.

I must now close my letter by entreating you as one that feels for your souls to seek an interest in Christ, and when you have an opportunity to receive this work do not reject it, but read it and examine for yourselves. I will now bid you farewell, and I want some of you to come here or write immediately, for we expect to go away to the Ohio early in the spring. If you write this winter you may direct your letters to Waterloo, Seneca county. I want you to think seriously of these things, for they are the truths of the living God.

Please to accept this from your sister, LUCY SMITH.

To Solomon Mack, Gilsum. N. H.

{546}

THE RESTORATION OF THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL.

BY ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE.

WHAT is "Mormonism?" and, What is the object of the "Mormon" Elders preaching in the Indian Territory? are questions that are doubtless asked many times. We propose, with your kind attention, to answer these questions, and we ask your prayerful consideration of the same. In the year 1820 there lived in Manchester, Ontario (now Wayne) County, in the State of New York, a young man named JOSEPH SMITH, who received a remarkable vision. There had been a religious revival in the neighborhood where he resided, which had caused him much reflection to know which of the sects to join, as the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians had all taken part in the revival, and when it was over the different ministers all claimed the converts, which made much confusion and bitter feeling. As Joseph was reading the Bible one day, a passage of Scripture, found in the first chapter and fifth verse of James' epistle, which reads, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him," had a powerful influence over him. To use his own words: "Never did any passage of Scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom I did." At last Joseph determined to ask of God. The principle of Faith was now operating upon his mind, and he determined to ask the Eternal Father which of all the sects was right.

It was the morning of a beautiful clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. He went alone to a retired spot, kneeled down, and began to offer up the desires of his heart. He had scarcely done so, when he was seized {547} upon by some invisible power that seemed to bind his tongue so that he could not speak, and which almost overcame him. He was about to give up, but exercising all his power calling upon God, in his heart, to deliver him, he saw a pillar of light exactly above his head, above the brightness of the sun. When the light rested upon him, he was delivered from the power of his unseen enemy, and he saw two glorious personages, whose brightness and glory it is impossible to describe, standing above him in the air; one of them spake unto him, calling him by name, and pointing to the other said, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, HEAR HIM. Joseph asked this other personage which of all the sects was right and which he should join, and was answered that he should join none of them, for they were all wrong. This personage said, "They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; they teach for doctrine the commandments of man, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof;" and also gave him some other information. When Joseph came to himself again, he was lying on his back, looking up into heaven.

Some few days after he had this remarkable vision, he happened to be in company with one of the Methodist preachers, and he told him the vision he had seen. The preacher became very angry, told Joseph it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that such things had ceased with the Apostles. Joseph soon found that telling the vision excited a great deal of prejudice against him amongst professors of religion, and was the cause of much persecution. Thus commenced the persecutions of the Latter-day Saints, called "Mormons." The men who "taught for doctrine the commandments of man" commenced lying about and misrepresenting an obscure boy, because he had truthfully said he had seen a vision and he knew it. He also had learned that the testimony of the Apostle James was true. This we would also do well to give heed to, for we all lack wisdom and should be encouraged to ask of God, so that we may not be led astray by false teachers, but have the Spirit of Truth to guide and lead us into all truth.

About three years after receiving this remarkable vision he received a visitation from a messenger from heaven. This personage informed him his name was Moroni. He had on a robe of the most exquisite whiteness; his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. He told Joseph God had a work for him to do, and that his name should be had for good and evil amongst {548} all nations. Moroni, the angel, told him there was a book that had been hid up in the earth, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the inhabitants who formerly lived upon this continent, and the source from when they sprang; also, that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in this record, as delivered by Jesus Christ to the ancient inhabitants, the fathers of the American Indians, and the "other sheep" spoken of by the Savior, in the tenth chapter of John and the sixteenth verse, "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice." Moroni quoted several prophecies of the Old Testament Prophets, that were about to be fulfilled, he said, concerning the destruction of the wicked and the second coming of the Messiah, etc.; and also told him that many judgments were coming on the earth with great desolations by famine, sword and pestilence, in this generation. With the plates that were hid up there were two stones in silver bows (and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim), and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted Seers in ancient or former times, and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the record. Following the instructions of this messenger, who was one of the Prophets, and who had hid up this record, Joseph translated the plates by the power of God.

Three men were chosen special witnesses, to whom the angel showed the plates. Their names were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. They declare "that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, and we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon;" they also heard the voice of the Lord declare the record had been translated by the power of God. It is called the Book of Mormon. Mormon, who was the father of Moroni, made an abridgment of the ancient records, and it is that abridgment that we now have in the Book of Mormon. It is from this Prophet's name that the Gentile or unbelieving nations have called the people who believe in this book "Mormons," or anything to do with the people who thus believe, "Mormonism;" and they have very much belied them. But it does not matter what unbelievers say, or how much the people may be misrepresented by wicked men, the facts exist--Mormon made an abridgment of the history of his people on gold plates, and JOSEPH SMITH, the Prophet-martyr of the nineteenth century, translated them by the power of God, and it exists and bears its own truthful {549} evidence. No one has ever read the book with an honest, prayerful heart, but has been convinced of its divine origin. The prophecies or predictions of its own Prophets are being fulfilled to-day. These Prophets were amongst some of the most remarkable men that ever lived.

During the time Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon, a young man named Oliver Cowdery was writing for him. They came to the place where it is recorded that the Lord Jesus visited the people and established His Church upon this continent. Upon translating the mode and object of baptism as the Savior gave instructions, they greatly desired this blessing, but knew not how to obtain it. They went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, which was mentioned in the translation. While they were praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and laid his hands upon their heads as they knelt in prayer, and ordained them to the Aaronic Priesthood, saying, "Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys to the ministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism, by immersion, for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." He said this Aaronic Priesthood had not the power of laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that they would receive this power or authority hereafter. This messenger, or angel, said his name was John, the same that is called John the Baptist, in the New Testament, and that he acted under the direction of Peter, James and John, the ancient Apostles, who held the keys of the Melchisedec Priesthood or authority. Joseph states this same messenger "commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and afterwards that he should baptize me;" accordingly they carried out the instructions which were given unto them by baptizing each other in the order designated by the angel. On coming out of the water, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they stood up and prophesied concerning the rise of the Church of Christ in this generation, and many other things, being filled with the Holy Ghost and rejoicing in their salvation.

As the messenger had promised, in due time, the Melchisedec Priesthood and Apostleship was restored under the hands of Peter, James and John, and the "Gospel of the kingdom" {550} began to be preached, and as the members of the Church of Christ began to multiply it was Organized by divine revelation with Apostles, Prophets, and Teachers, followed by miracles, gifts of healing, helps and governments, until the Church of Christ was fully organized upon the earth. But it has had to pass through the most bitter persecution, and the blood of the martyrs has had to flow. Mobs, led on by ministers of religious societies, have committed acts of violence against the Saints of the Most High, that testify in unspeakable language "they are all wrong," for no member of the Church of Christ could have a persecuting spirit--"By their fruits shall ye know them."

The Prophet Joseph Smith, through false charges, had to endure over forty vexatious lawsuits, in all of which he was honorably acquitted; until at last the mob said, "If the law cannot reach him, powder and ball shall," and he and his brother Hyrum, the Patriarch of the Church, were murdered in cold blood; and this because they were true and faithful to the trust given them by the Eternal Father, and the wicked in their hatred to the principles of righteousness that he preached, being of the same spirit as that possessed by the men who crucified the Messiah, were led on to shed the blood of innocence, by which they exalted the martyrs to a throne and brought upon themselves the damnation of hell. For the shedding of innocent blood there is no forgiveness. (See I John, iii, 15.)

But although the world has been opposed to the establishment of the Kingdom of God upon the earth, the Lord has sustained and protected His people and established their feet in the fastnesses of the Rocky Mountains, as foretold by the Prophets Isaiah and Micah: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isaiah, ii, 2, 3; Micah, iv, 1, 2.) And they are steadily increasing, because they teach correct principles, they tell the truth and offer the TRUTH to the people, for, having authority, they have the power to preach the everlasting Gospel.

God, our Eternal Father, the Father of the spirits of all {551} flesh, requires us all to believe on His only begotten, Jesus Christ, the author of our eternal salvation, the only name given under heaven whereby we can be saved. We must have faith in God, believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Then seek unto Him by faith and prayer, asking Him in the name of Jesus Christ for such things as we treed. Then we are required to repent, "cease to do evil," and "learn to do well," being willing and obedient, putting away from us all our wickedness, worship Him that made the heavens and the earth, the sea and the fountains of waters. Then we are required to be baptized by immersion for the remission of sins (Acts, ii, 38), that we may be prepared to receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands of those who have the authority (see Acts, viii, 17, and xix, 6; Hebrews, vi, 2), then walk in newness of life; for none can assist in this latter-day work unless they are humble, full of love, having faith, hope and charity, being temperate in all things intrusted to their care.

Hear what Jesus Christ said to the disciples upon this continent:

"Behold verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine. And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me, and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men everywhere to repent and believe in me; and whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me, believeth in the Father also, and unto him will the Father bear record of me; for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in no wise receive these things. And again, I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi, xi, 31-38.)

Now the reason why the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are here from Zion, is to tell you these glad tidings of great joy, that light has come into the world and the knowledge of God is restored to the earth. We bear testimony that the angel that John saw on the Isle of Patmos, flying "in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to {552} every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters," (Rev. xiv, 6, 7,) has come, and that the "gospel of the kingdom" is being preached, as foretold by the Messiah. (See Matt., xxiv, 14.) And we are calling upon all men to have FAITH IN GOD, repent of their sins and be baptized; then we promise those who humble themselves like little children, as the Savior has said, that they shall receive the Holy Ghost and know that these things are true. Christ said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall KNOW of the doctrine." (John, vii, 16, 17.)

We are the friends of the people and their servants for Christ's sake, and we entreat them, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God, obey the Gospel and be saved from death, hell and the grave, for there is but "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." (See Ephesians, iv, 4-16.) This TRUE FAITH is restored to the earth, and we know it. In conclusion, we will give you the words of the Prophet Mormon for your consideration, and we pray God, our Eternal Father, that His Spirit and blessing may be upon every honest hearted person unto whom this shall come, or who shall read these words:

"And now behold, I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words, that they may know of the things of their fathers; yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel; and these are the words which I speak. Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel. Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved. Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again, save it be that God shall command you. Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up. And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment seat. And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day, hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises, with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end. Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you. For behold, this is written for the intent {553} that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that, ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this, ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvellous works which were wrought by the power of God among them; and ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen." (Book of Mormon, Mormon, vii chapter.)

Prayerfully consider these things, and when you are converted, and sincerely repent, we are your servants to baptize you for the remission of your sins, and lay hands upon you for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

_"Baptism is a sign of God, to angels and to heaven, that we do the will of God; and there is no other way beneath the heavens whereby God hath ordained for man to come to Him to be saved and enter the Kingdom of God, except faith in Jesus Christ, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and any other course is in vain; then you have the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost."_

--_Joseph Smith_.