{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_49434/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_49434","id":"gutenberg_49434","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49434","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Religion/Spirituality","Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines"],"text":"A COMPENDIUM OF THE DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL.\n\nFRANKLIN D. RICHARDS,\n\nOne of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day\nSaints, and\n\nELDER JAMES A. LITTLE,\n\nCOMPILERS AND PUBLISHERS.\n\nSecond Stereotype Edition.\n\nSALT LAKE CITY, UTAH:\n\n1884\n\nEntered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882, by JAMES A.\nLITTLE AND FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS, In the office of the Librarian of\nCongress at Washington, D.C.\n\n\n\nPREFACE.\n\nWe consider the Bible, Book of Mormon, Book of Doctrine and Covenants,\nPearl of Great Price and sayings of Joseph, the Seer, our guides in\nfaith and doctrine. The first four have been adopted as such by a vote\nof the Saints in General Conference. Reference to other writings are\nonly for illustration of the subject.\n\nWe have sought to furnish the best available material for the use of\nthe Elders. It is for them to seek for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to\nenable them to use it with discretion.\n\nOn most of the subjects treated, only a portion of the passages that\nrefer to them have been cited, but we have endeavored to use the best.\nWe designed to make the Compendium sufficiently elaborate to give it a\nwide range of usefulness, and, at the same time, not make it so large\nas to be burdensome to the Elders who travel and preach the Gospel.\nPractically, we have aimed to get up a book that would contain a great\namount of information for its bulk.\n\nThe arguments on each subject are so plain and direct, that, we trust,\nthey may be made available by the most inexperienced Elders. At the\nsame time, the references and citations are considered sufficient\nfor the more advanced student to acquire a thorough knowledge of the\nsubjects treated on.\n\nThe references in small type are not designed to be verbatim, but\nonly to embody, as near as may be, the leading idea of the passage\nreferred lo. They should be studied before being used. The passages\nincluded within the usual quotation marks, thus, \" \", are designed to\nbe correctly quoted, and may be used without referring to the original.\n\nWe are indebted to Elder George Reynolds for the carefully prepared\nChronology of the Book of Mormon. It is evidently the result of much\nstudy and thought, and as such is entitled to credence.\n\nWhile we have aimed at accuracy, we should be pleased to have our\nfriends inform us of any material error they may discover.\n\nWe expect our labors will elicit some criticism, but we trust the\nthoughtful and experienced will allow much for the complicated\ncharacter of the work.\n\nTHE COMPILERS.\n\n\n\nINDEX.\n\nArticles of Faith\n\nAtonement, The\n\nApostacy of the Primitive Church\n\nAngels\n\nAngel of the Lord\n\nAngels, Ministering\n\nAngels, Fallen\n\nApostles--The First Presidency and Twelve\n\nApostles, The Twelve\n\nBaptism, Necessity of\n\nBaptism, Mode of\n\nBaptism, Object of\n\nBaptism for the Dead\n\nBook of Mormon--Evidences of its Divine Authenticity\n\nBook of Mormon Chronology\n\nChrist's Second Coming\n\nChrist's Church, Name of\n\nConsecration, Stewardship, United Order\n\nChurch Chronology\n\nDispensation of the Fulness of Times\n\nDestruction of the Wicked\n\nEvangelists, or Patriarchs\n\nFall of Adam, The\n\nFree Agency of Man\n\nFaith Faith in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost\n\nFaith in the Holy Priesthood, Necessity of\n\nFaith in Continual Revelation\n\nForeordination--Election\n\nGathering of Israel\n\nGods, Plurality of\n\nGod a Personage\n\nGod, The True and Living\n\nGems from History of Joseph Smith\n\nIsrael a chosen people\n\nJoseph Smith, as a Fulfiller of Bible Prophecies\n\nJoseph Smith, as a Fulfiller of Book of Mormon Prophecies\n\nJoseph Smith, as a Fulfiller of His Own Prophecies\n\nJerusalem of the Eastern Hemisphere, The\n\nJerusalem, New\n\nLaying on of Hands for Ordination\n\nLaying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost\n\nLaying on of Hands for Healing the Sick\n\nLatter-day Saints' Emigration\n\nMarriage--A Divine Institution, and designed to be Eternal\n\nMarriage--Plurality of Wives\n\nMarriage--Concubines\n\nMillennial Reign\n\nMiracles\n\nOrdinances, Covenants, etc., Eternal\n\nPriesthood, The Holy\n\nPriesthood, Aaronic\n\nPriesthood, Patriarchal\n\nPre-existence of Spirits\n\nPassover, or Sacrament\n\nRepentance\n\nRemission of Sins\n\nResurrection, The\n\nResurrection at Christ's Resurrection\n\nResurrection at the Second Coming of Christ\n\nResurrection at the End of the World\n\nResurrection of the Body that is Laid Down\n\nRecords of the Jaredites\n\nRecords mentioned in the Bible and not in it\n\nRecords of the Nephites\n\nScattering of Israel, The\n\nSpirit of God, or Holy Ghost\n\nSpiritual Gifts\n\nSigns and Tokens\n\nSabbath Day, The\n\nSpirits in prison\n\nTithing\n\nTemples and Sacred Places\n\nThe Book of Mormon\n\nVisions and Dreams\n\nA COMPENDIUM OF THE DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL.\n\n\n\nARTICLES OF FAITH.\n\n1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ,\nand in the Holy Ghost.\n\n2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for\nAdam's transgression.\n\n3. We believe that, through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be\nsaved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.\n\n4. We believe that these ordinances are: First, Faith in the Lord\nJesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the\nremission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy\nGhost.\n\n5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by \"prophecy, and by\nthe laying on of hands,\" by those who are in authority, to preach the\nGospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.\n\n6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive\nchurch, viz: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.\n\n7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions,\nhealing, interpretation of tongues, etc.\n\n8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is\ntranslated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word\nof God.\n\n9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal,\nand we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things\npertaining to the Kingdom of God.\n\n10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the\nrestoration of the ten tribes. That Zion will be built upon this\ncontinent. That Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that\nthe earth will be renewed and receive its paradisic glory.\n\n11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the\ndictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let\nthem worship how, where, or what they may.\n\n12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and\nmagistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.\n\n13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous,\nand in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the\nadmonition of Paul, \"We believe all things, we hope all things;\" we\nhave endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If\nthere is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy,\nwe seek after these things.--JOSEPH SMITH.\n\n\n\nTHE FALL OF ADAM.\n\n\"Honor thy Father and thy Mother.\" This was one of the ten special\ncommandments given to Israel, during a grand display of God's power and\nglory on Mount Sinai.\n\nIn the past centuries of darkness it appears to have lost its\nsignificance with the Christian world. They do not appear to realize\nthat honor is due to the first parents of the human race. They have\nbeen long taught that Adam and Eve were great transgressors, and have\nmourned over the fact that they partook of the forbidden fruit and\nbrought death into the world.\n\nThere is no possibility that the fall of man was an accident or chance,\nany more than was his creation. If an accident, then why was Christ\nprepared from before the foundation of the world as a propitiation for\nsin, and to open up the way for man to immortality?\n\nChrist's mediation was a sequence of the fall. \"Him hath God exalted\nwith his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance\nto Israel, and forgiveness of sins;\" Acts 5. 31. Without the fall\nthere would have been no broken law, and therefore nothing to repent\nof; and there could be no forgiveness of sin without the atonement of\nChrist.\n\nThe Book of Mormon makes this subject very plain: \"And now, behold,\nif Adam had not transgressed, he would not have fallen; but he would\nhave remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created,\nmust have remained in the same state which they were, after they were\ncreated; and they must have remained for ever, and had no end. And they\nwould have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a\nstate of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no\ngood, for they knew no sin;\" 2 Nephi 2. 22, 23.\n\nIt is evident, not only from this passage, but from all that is\nrecorded on this subject, that, if Adam and Eve had not attained to a\nknowledge of evil, by partaking of the forbidden fruit, the human race\ncould not have existed under present conditions. It is also evident,\nthat without a knowledge of both good and evil, man would be incapable\nof exercising a free agency, and therefore not capable of independent,\nself-reliant action--a necessary condition for development and progress.\n\nWe, the children of Adam, have no right to bring accusations against\nthe Patriarch of the race. But father, we should rejoice with them,\nthat through their fall and the atonement of Jesus Christ, the way\nof eternal life has been opened up to us. It was after an angel had\nadministered to Adam, and made known to him the atonement through the\nOnly Begotten Son of the Father, that he and Eve gave expression to\ntheir joy, in view of the glorious future of the race.\n\n\"And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy\nconcerning all the families of the earth, saying, Blessed be the name\nof God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this\nlife I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God. And Eve,\nhis wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying, Were it not for\nour transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have\nknown good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal\nlife which God giveth unto all the obedient;\" Pearl of Great Price,\npage 10.\n\nThe principle of obedience could only be developed in man through the\nfall, and only through that can they realize the joys of redemption\nand eternal life. The woman fell first, and led Adam out of Eden and\nthe presence of the Lord. \"Adam was not deceived, but the woman being\ndeceived was in transgression;\" 1 _Tim_. 2. 14.\n\nWhen the Lord asked Adam if he had eaten of the fruit of the tree, of\nwhich he had commanded him that he should not eat, he replied, \"The\nwoman whom thou gavest _to be_ with me, she gave me of the tree, and\nI did eat;\" _Gen_. iii, 12. Adam had been previously commanded to\nmultiply and replenish the earth, and he could not do so unless he\nremained with Eve. She, being deceived, forced upon him the necessity\nof partaking of the forbidden fruit with her, or of remaining in a\ncondition where it would have been impossible to fulfil the first great\ncommandment of the Father.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 3. gives a general account of the fall of man.\n\n15 enmity between the seed of the woman and that of the serpent.\n\n16 woman to bring forth children in sorrow, and be subject to her\nhusband.\n\n19 man to labor for his bread, and to return to the ground.\n\n22 man became as the Gods, knowing good and evil.\n\n_Rom_. 5. 12 by one man sin came into the world and death by sin.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n_Alma_ 12. 22, 23 by the fall all mankind became lost.\n\n_Chap_. 42 explains the plan for the exaltation of man through the fall\nof Adam, and the atonement of Jesus Christ.\n\n_Mormon_ 9. 12 by Adam came the fall of man, because of the fall came\nJesus Christ and the redemption.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 29. 36 Adam being tempted of the devil, for the devil was before\nAdam.\n\n40 Adam partook of the forbidden fruit, and became subject to the devil.\n\n41 through the fall Adam became spiritually dead.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\nPages 7, 8. a general account of the fall of man.\n\n_See our Article on Atonement, and also an examination and elucidation\nof the mediation and atonement of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: by\nPrest. John Taylor_.\n\n_Article, by O. Pratt, Mil. Star. Vol. 28. pages 577, 593 and 609_.\n\n_Article by C. W. Penrose, Mil. Star, Vol. 29, page 645. Sermon by O.\nPratt, Journal of Discourses Vol. I, page 328_.\n\n\n\nFREE AGENCY OF MAN.\n\nThe doctrine of free agency is plainly elucidated in the written\nrevelations from God. The plan for man's redemption was predicated on\nhis fall.\n\nNo law could have been given to our first parents, and no penalty\naffixed for the breaking of a law, unless they had been free to act\nwithout constraint. The liberty to choose was given by the Creator to\nthe progenitors of the race, and that liberty has been fully recognized\nin all his dealings with their posterity.\n\nAs the Patriarch of the race entailed on it an experimental knowledge\nof good and evil, through sufferings and death, so, through the\nsufferings and death of the Only Begotten Son, they are redeemed from\nthe effects of his transgression, independent of any act of theirs.\n\nMan was created in the image of God, with the possibility of becoming\nlike him. But he cannot attain to that position without a knowledge of\ngood and evil. Through the act of the Father he has attained to that\nknowledge; through the act of the Son he is delivered from the effects\nof original transgression.\n\nThus, with the privilege of exercising his free agency, he is placed on\nan equality with the parents of the race, and has the choice of good or\nevil for himself, with the results of that choice. If he chooses evil,\na second death will be the result. If the good, it will prove to be the\nway to all the powers, glories and exaltations that the Gods enjoy, in\nwhose image man is created.\n\nThe Book of Mormon is very plain on this subject: \"Wherefore, men are\nfree according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are\nexpedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal\nlife, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity\nand death, according to the captivity and power of the devil;\" 2 _Nephi_\n2. 27.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 2. 17 in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.\n\n3, 6 Eve eat of the fruit of the tree and gave to her husband and he\ndid eat. 12, 17.\n\n4. 7 if thou doest well thou shalt be accepted.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 6. 4 that I may persuade men to come to God.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 2. 16 Lord gave unto man that he should act for himself.\n\n10. 23 ye are free to act for yourselves.\n\n_Mos_. 2, 33 if he listeth to obey him, the same drinketh damnation.\n\n_Alma_ 3. 26 reap eternal happiness or misery, according to the spirit\nthey obey.\n\n12. 31 in a state to act according to their will.\n\n13. 3 being left to choose good or evil.\n\n29. 4, 5 he allotteth to man according to their wills.\n\n30. 9 a man's privilege to believe in God or not.\n\n41. 3, 4 evil or good is restored to men, as they have chosen.\n\n_Hel_. 14. 30 ye are permitted to act for yourselves.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 10. 66 may come and partake of the waters of life freely.\n\n29. 35 Adam to be an agent to himself. 36.\n\n39 men must needs be tempted, or they could not be agents to\nthemselves. _Sec_. 58. 27, 28.\n\n98. 8 I, the Lord, make you free.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 7. thou mayest choose for thyself. Satan sought to destroy the\nagency of man.\n\n16. given to men to know good and evil; they are agents to themselves.\n\n17. many have believed and become sons of God; many have not believed\nand perished.\n\n_See a sermon by B, Young, J. of D., Vol. I., page I_.\n\n_Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. 3, page 80_.\n\n,, _by O. Pratt, J. of D. Vol. I, page 328_.\n\n,, _by D. H. Wells, J. of D. Vol. 9, page 259_.\n\n\n\nTHE ATONEMENT.\n\nThe word atonement signifies deliverance, through the offering of a\nransom, from the penalty of a broken law. The sense is expressed in\n_Job_ 33. 24: \"Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a\nransom.\"\n\nAs effected by Jesus Christ, it signifies the deliverance, through\nhis death and resurrection, of the earth and everything pertaining\nto it, from the power which death has obtained over them through the\ntransgression of Adam.\n\nThe following passage is very comprehensive on the atonement of Christ:\n\"And the end shall come, and the heaven and the earth shall be consumed\nand pass away, and there shall be a new heaven and a new earth, for all\nold things shall pass away, and all things shall become new, even the\nheaven and the earth, and all the fulness thereof, both men and beasts,\nthe fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea; and not one hair,\nneither mote, shall be lost, for it is the workmanship of mine hand;\"\n_Doc. & Cov_. 29. 23-25. In the revelations of St. John we read, \"And\nhe that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new;\" 21. 5.\n\nThe righteous could not inherit all things in their immortal, exalted\ncondition, if all things were not resurrected to immortality as well as\nthemselves.\n\nThe Apostle Paul quite comprehensively sums up the results of Christ's\ndeath and resurrection: \"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and\nbecome the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man _came_\ndeath, by man _came_ also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam\nall die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive;\" I _Cor_. 15. 21,\n22. That is, death having come on all men through the disobedience of\nAdam, so must all be raised to immortality and eternal life through the\ndeath and resurrection of Christ.\n\nPaul also asserted that \"the last enemy _that_ shall be destroyed _is_\ndeath;\" _Verse_ 26. John the Revelator declares that he saw death and\nhell cast into the lake of fire; _Rev_. 20. 14.\n\nThe atonement, as wrought out by Jesus Christ, further signifies that\nhe has opened up the way for man's redemption from his own sins,\nthrough faith in Christ's sufferings, death and resurrection. The\nApostle Paul well expresses this, \"For all have sinned, and come short\nof the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the\nredemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth _to be_ a\npropitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness\nfor the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of\nGod; to declare, _I say_, at this time his righteousness: that he might\nbe just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus;\" _Rom_. 3.\n23-26.\n\nThese passages evidence that redemption from death, through the\nsufferings of Christ, is for all men, both the righteous and the\nwicked; for this earth, and for all things created upon it. The\nwhole tenor of the Scriptures assure us, that while they may be sure\nof resurrection from death, regardless of their personal acts, yet\nthey will be rewarded for their works, whether they be good or evil,\nand that redemption from personal sins can only be obtained through\nobedience to the requirements of the Gospel, and a life of good works.\n\nThe transgression of Adam being infinite in its consequences, those\nconsequences cannot be averted, except through an infinite atonement.\nThe Prophet Nephi makes this very plain: \"Wherefore it must needs be\nan infinite atonement; save it should be an infinite atonement, this\ncorruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment\nwhich came upon man, must needs have remained to an endless duration.\nAnd if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to\nits mother earth, to rise no more. O the wisdom of God! his mercy and\ngrace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more, our spirits must\nbecome subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the\neternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more.\n\nO how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape\nfrom the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and\nhell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the\nspirit;\" 2. _Nephi_ 7, 8, 10. \"There is one thing, however, which the\natonement does for us, immediately upon our entrance into this mortal\nlife; it sets us free from the first spiritual death.\"\n\n\"As in Adam all died spiritually, even so in Christ all, in their\ninfancy, are made alive spiritually. Christ, by the atonement, became\nthe life and the light of men; he is the true light by which all are\nlighted who come into the world. Without this light all would have\nsuffered in the eternal night of darkness, from which there would\nhave been no return. But little children, by the atonement, are made\nalive, and are all subjects of salvation, being redeemed by the blood\nof Christ from the fall, being pure, and spotless, and innocent, and\nthus are made heirs of the kingdom of heaven. This redemption from the\nspiritual death upon all mankind in their infant state, is brought\nabout without any conditions on the part of the creature; it is wrought\nout by the free grace of Christ alone, without works;\" _O. Pratt_.\n\n\"I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation\nof the world through mine Only Begotten: wherefore, they cannot sin,\nfor power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they\nbegin to become accountable before me;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 29. 46, 47.\n\n\"Wherefore, it came to pass that the devil tempted Adam, and he partook\nthe forbidden fruit and transgressed the commandment, wherein he became\nsubject to the will of the devil, because he yielded unto temptation.\nWherefore I the Lord God caused that he should be cast out from the\nGarden of Eden, from my presence, because of his transgression, wherein\nhe became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same\ndeath, which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be\npronounced upon the wicked when I shall say--Depart, ye cursed. But,\nbehold, I say unto you, that I the Lord God gave unto Adam and unto his\nseed that they should not die as to the temporal death, until I the\nLord God should send forth angels to declare unto them repentance and\nredemption, through faith on the name of mine Only Begotten Son. And\nthus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation\nthat by his natural death he might be raised in immortality unto\neternal life, even as many as would believe; and they that believe\nnot unto eternal damnation, for they cannot be redeemed from their\nspiritual fall, because they repent not; for they will love darkness\nrather than light, and their deeds are evil, and they receive their\nwages of whom they list to obey;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 29. 40-45.\n\nBible.\n\n_Isa_. 45. 22 look unto me and be ye saved.\n\n53. 10 when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin.\n\n63. 9 he, redeemed them and carried them all the days of old.\n\n_Matt_. 1. 21 Jesus shall save his people from their sins.\n\n18. 11 the Son of Man hath come to save that which was lost.\n\n_John_ 1. 29 the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.\n\n3. 14, 15 even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. 16.\n\n4. 42 this is Christ the Savior of the world.\n\n12. 32 if I be lifted up I will draw all men to me.\n\n_Acts_ 5. 31 him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Savior.\n\n_Chap_. 13. 23.\n\n_Rom_. 3. 24 being justified through the redemption that is in Christ\nJesus.\n\n25 whom God hath sent forth to be a propitiation. 26\n\n5. 6 in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 8-11.\n\n15 if through the offence of one many be dead, the gift of grace by one\nman, Christ Jesus, hath abounded to many. 18.\n\n6. 23 the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.\n\n8. 32 spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all.\n\n11. 26 there shall come out of Zion a deliverer.\n\n1 _Cor_. 1. 30 Christ Jesus who is made to us sanctification and\nredemption.\n\n5. 7 for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.\n\n2 _Cor_. 5. 18 who hath reconciled us to himself, by Jesus Christ.\n\n_Gal_. 3. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.\n\n4. 4, 5 God sent his Son to redeem them that were under the law. 7.\n\n_Eph_. 1. 7 in whom we have redemption through his blood. _Col_. 1. 14.\n\n5. 2 as Christ also hath loved us, and given himself for us.\n\n1 _Tim_. 1. 15 faithful saying, that Christ came into the world to save\nsinners.\n\n2. 5 one God, one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.\n\n4. 10 we trust in the living God who is the Savior of all men.\n\n_Titus_ 2. 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us.\n\n_Heb_. 5. 9 being made perfect, he became the author of eternal\nsalvation.\n\n7. 25 able to save them that come to God by him.\n\n9. 26, 28 so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of the world.\n\n1 _Peter_ 1. 19 with the blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish.\n\n3. 18 Christ hath once suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust.\n\n1 _John_ 1. 7 the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin.\n\n2. 2 he is the propitiation for the sins of the world.\n\n4. 9 God sent his son into the world that we might live through him. 14.\n\n_Rev_. 5. 9 and hath redeemed us by his blood, out of every nation.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 11. 27 I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world 33.\n\n12. 11 made white in the blood of the Lamb.\n\n15. 14 the very points of his doctrine, that they may come to him and\nbe saved.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 1. 10 if the day come, they reject the Messiah. 15.\n\n2. 3 thou art redeemed, for thou hast beheld, that, in the fulness of\ntime he cometh to bring salvation to men.\n\n9. 21, 22 he suffereth the pains of all men.\n\n25, 26 the atonement satisfies the demands of justice, on those without\nlaw.\n\n10. 25 may God raise you from everlasting death by the power of the\natonement.\n\n26. 24 layeth down his own life, that he may draw all men to him.\n\n31. 21 no other name given whereby men can be saved.\n\n_Jacob_ 4. 15-17 Jews will reject the only foundation on which they can\nbuild.\n\n_Omni_ 1. 26 come to Christ and partake of the power of his redemption.\n\n_Mos_. 4. 6-9 the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation\nof the world for all who have been, or will be.\n\n27. 25 becoming his sons and daughters. 30.\n\n_Alma_ 7. 12 take upon him death that he may loose the bands of death.\n\n11. 39, 40 the eternal Father shall come into the world to redeem his\npeople.\n\n34. 11-16 the law of Moses fulfilled in the infinite atonement of\nChrist.\n\n39. 18 as necessary that the plan of salvation should be made known to\nthis people, as to their children?\n\n_Hel_. 5. 9-12 will not redeem his people in their sins, but from their\nsins.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 12. 17 in Christ is the law of Moses fulfilled. 21, 22.\n\n_Ether_ 3. 14 was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem\nmy people.\n\n12. 33 to the laying down of thy life, that thou mightest take it again.\n\n_Moroni_ 8 he that says little children need baptism setteth at naught\nthe atonement of Christ.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 18. 11 Lord suffered the pain of all men that they might come to\nhim.\n\n23. 25 Jesus Christ, the only name given under heaven whereby men can\nbe saved.\n\n19. 16 I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not\nsuffer.\n\n20. 26, 27 not only those who believed after he came in the meridian of\ntime.\n\n29. 42 Lord gave to Adam and his seed that they should not die until\nthe plan of redemption was declared to them.\n\n46 little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world.\n_Sec_. 74. 6, 7. _Sec_. 93. 38.\n\n76. 41-44 Jesus was crucified that all might be saved, except the sons\nof Perdition.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 1. My Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior.\n\n3. For this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality\nand eternal life of man.\n\n9. Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son,\nand thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son evermore.\n\n16. Jesus Christ the only name given whereby salvation shall come.\n\n17. Plan of salvation to all men through the blood of mine Only\nBegotten.\n\n_See An examination and elucidation of the mediation and atonement of\nJesus Christ; by Prest. J. Taylor_.\n\n_Articles on the fall and atonement, by O. Pratt, Mil. Star, Vol. 28,\npages 577, 593 and 609_.\n\n_Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 1, page 280_.\n\n_\" \" \" \" 2, Page 328_.\n\n_\" \" \" \" 2, page 368_.\n\n_\" B. Young, J. of D. Vol. 3, page 80_.\n\n_Article by W. Woodruff, Mil. Star, Vol. 6, page 113_.\n\n_Article by C. W. Penrose, Contributor, Vol. 2, page 362_.\n\n\n\nFAITH.\n\n\"Faith is the first principle of revealed religion and the foundation\nof all righteousness.\" \"Now faith is the substance (assurance) of\nthings hoped for, the evidence of things not seen;\" _Heb_. 11. 1, _Doc.\nand Cov., Lecture on Faith_, 1. 1-8. That to use the word assurance,\ninstead of substance, would be the proper rendering of the above\npassage, is evident from the 22d verse of the previous chapter: \"Let us\ndraw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.\"\n\nFaith begets trust and confidence. \"In whom we have boldness and access\nwith _confidence_ by the faith of him;\" (Jesus Christ.) _Eph_. 3.\n12. Faith is the gift of God. \"Saved through faith; and that not of\nyourselves: _it is_ the gift of God;\" 2. 8. \"To another faith by the\nsame Spirit;\" 1 _Cor_. 12. 9. \"But to think soberly, according as God\nhath dealt to every man the measure of faith;\" _Rom_. 12. 3. _Moroni_\n10. 11.\n\nThrough repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands man may receive\nthe Holy Ghost. It will open his spiritual vision and he will begin to\ncomprehend himself, the object of his creation, and his affinity to\nhis Heavenly Father. Then through the further observance of all the\nordinances of the Gospel, will the righteousness of God be revealed to\nhim, from faith to faith, until by keeping the commandments and seeking\nafter knowledge through the inspirations of the Holy Ghost, in time, he\nwill reach that assurance of faith which is unto eternal life.\n\nThe _Lectures on Faith_, by Joseph Smith, Jun., in _Doc. and Cov_.,\nmay justly be considered the most elaborate treatise on the subject\nin the sacred writings. They are written in such simplicity, that\nthey can be easily understood by all who will honestly study them,\nto obtain a knowledge of the nature of faith. Their fulness, their\ncomprehensiveness, is one of the many evidences of the Divine\ninspiration of the Prophet Joseph.\n\nThe first lecture shows that faith is an assurance that men have of the\nexistence of things that they have not seen, and that it is an element\nof power. \"It is the principle by which Jehovah works, and through\nwhich he exercises power over all temporal as well as eternal things.\"\n\nThe second lecture informs us how faith, in the beginning was based\non a knowledge of God and his attributes, and that faith in God has\nexisted in man in proportion to that knowledge.\n\nThe third lecture teaches us that to exercise faith in God, man must\nhave an idea that he exists, and also of his character and attributes.\nHe must, as well, feel an assurance that he is living in accordance\nwith the will of God. Consequently, those who fail to obtain this\nknowledge by living in the spirit and power of the Gospel, cannot\nexercise a true and understanding faith in God, no matter what their\npretentions.\n\nLecture fourth treats of the connection between correct ideas of God's\nattributes, of his Knowledge, Faith or Power, Justice, Judgment, Mercy\nand Truth; and the exercise of faith unto salvation, in a rational\nbeing.\n\nThe fifth lecture shows the necessity of faith in God the Father, and\nin his Son Jesus Christ.\n\nLecture sixth evidences the necessity of men knowing that their course\nof life is in accordance with the will of God, in order to exercise\nfaith in him unto salvation. \"It was this that enabled the ancient\nSaints to endure all their afflictions and persecutions, and to take\njoyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing (not believing merely)\nthat they had a more enduring substance. _Heb_. 10. 34.\n\nThe seventh lecture treats of the effects of faith. That working\nby faith is working by mental exertion instead of physical force;\nillustrating the fact by numerous examples. It also elucidates the\nprinciple that the mental powers are far superior to the physical\nforces of nature, and that through them the power of faith is\nmanifested.\n\nFAITH IN GOD THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 15. 6 Abraham believed in God and he counted it to him for\nrighteousness. _Rom_. 4. 3; _Gal_. 3. 6.\n\n_Exod_. 4. 5 that they may believe that the God of their fathers hath\nappeared unto thee.\n\n_Num_. 20. 12 ye believed me not; ye shall not bring this congregation\ninto the land.\n\n_Psalm_ 119. 66 teach me judgment and knowledge, for I have believed\nthy commandments.\n\n_Prov_. 16. 20 whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.\n\n_Jonah_ 3. 5 so the people of Nineveh believed God.\n\n_John_ 1. 12 to as many as believed on him he gave power to become the\nsons of God.\n\n3. 15 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish.\n\n4. 42 know that this is the Christ, the Savior of the world.\n\n5. 24 he that believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life.\n\n8. 24 if ye believe not I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 31.\n\n11. 25 he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.\n26, 27, 40-48.\n\n13. 19 when it comes to pass ye may believe I am he. _Chap_. 14. 29.\n\n14. 1 ye believe in God believe also in me. _Chap_. 10. 11.\n\n16. 9 of sin because they believe not on me. 27, 30, 31.\n\n17. 8 they have believed thou didst send me.\n\n20. 29 blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed. 31.\n\n_Acts_ 8. 29 the Spirit said to Philip, go near and join thyself to him.\n\n37 eunuch answered, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.\n\n10. 43 all the prophets witness that whosoever believe in him shall\nreceive remission of sins.\n\n13. 39 by him all that believe are justified from all things, &c.\n\n14. 23 they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed.\n\n16. 31 believe on Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.\n\n19. 4 should believe on him who should come after him.\n\n20. 21 testifying to Jews and Greeks faith towards Jesus Christ.\n\n27. 25 Paul said, I believe God; that it shall be as was told me.\n\n_Rom_. 1. 16 Gospel of Christ the power of God unto salvation.\n\n17 therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith.\nThe just shall live by faith.\n\n3. 26 the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus. _Chap_. 4, 5.\n\n4. 24 if we believe in him that raised Jesus from the dead.\n\n6. 8 if we be dead with Christ, we believe we shall live with him.\n\n8. 26, 27 the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, according to\nthe will of God.\n\n9. 33 a rock of offence, they that believe on him shall not be ashamed.\n_Chap_. 10. 4, 11.\n\n10. 9 believe God has raised Christ from the dead, thou shalt be saved.\n\n14 how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?\n\n2 _Cor_. 1. 9 not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.\n\n_Gal_. 2. 20 I live by the faith of the Son of God, who gave himself\nfor me.\n\n_Col_. 1. 4 faith in Christ and love for all the Saints.\n\n1 _Tim_. 1. 16 for a pattern for those who should hereafter believe on\nhim.\n\n3. 16 God manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, believed on\nin the world, received up into glory.\n\n4. 10 who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.\n\n_Titus_ 3. 8 they who believe in God might maintain good works.\n\n_Heb_. 3. 18 they that believe not should not enter into his rest.\n\n_James_ 2. 19 thou believest there is one God; devils believe and\ntremble.\n\n1 _Peter_ 1. 21 by him believe in God that raised him from the dead, &c.\n\n1 _John_ 4. 16 we have believed the love God hath for us.\n\n5. 10 he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 6, 17 which power he received by faith on the Son of God.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 11. 6, 7 my soul delighteth in proving to my people, that,\nsave Christ should come, all men must perish.\n\n25. 25 because of our faith we are made alive in Christ. 26.\n\n26. 8 forward to Christ with steadfastness, they are they who shall not\nperish.\n\n31. 19 ye have not come thus far except by unshaken faith in Christ.\n\n32. 5 receive the Holy Ghost, it will show you what ye shall do.\n\n33. 4 my words persuade them to believe in Jesus. 7, 10.\n\n_Jacob_ 3. 1 pray to God with great faith.\n\n7. 3 Sherem, knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ, who should\ncome.\n\n_Enos_ 1. 8 he said to me, because of thy faith in Christ.\n\n_Jarom_ 1. 11 persuading them to believe in the Messiah to come.\n\n_Mos_. 4. 2 for we believe in Christ who shall come.\n\n8. 18 God has provided means that man through faith might work mighty\nmiracles.\n\n_Alma_ 5. 15 do you exercise faith in the redemption of him who created\nyou? 48.\n\n13. 10-31 an exhortation to repentance and faith in Christ. _Chap._ 22.\n14.\n\n25. 15 they looked forward to the coming of Christ.\n\n27. 27 the Lamanites were firm in the faith of Christ.\n\n44. 3 is done to us because of our religion and faith in Christ.\n\n46. 41 those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him.\n\n48. 13 Moroni was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ.\n\n_Hel_. 3. 35 they grew firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ.\n\n5. 9 no way a man can be saved, only through Christ who shall come. 47.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 11. 32 the Holy Ghost bears record of the Father and Son. 34,\n35, 36.\n\n12. 19 that ye shall believe in me and repent of your sins.\n\n17. 8 I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you. 20.\n\n19. 9 they desired that the Holy Ghost be given unto them.\n\n28 thou hast purified these whom I have chosen because of their faith.\n29, 35.\n\n27. 19 none can enter the kingdom unless they wash their garments in\nthe blood of Christ, by faith. 20.\n\n_Chap_. 28. The three Nephite disciples of Jesus had the faith that\nenabled them to receive a change in their bodies, that they might\nremain on the earth until his coming.\n\n4 _Nephi_ 1. 48 being constrained by the Holy Ghost, Ammaron hid up the\nrecords.\n\n_Mormon_ 7. 7 Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one God. 10.\n\n_Ether_ 5. 4 the Father, Son and Holy Ghost beareth record. _Chap_. 12.\n41.\n\n12. 10 by faith they of old were called after the holy order of God.\n\n_Moroni_ 6. 4 were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy\nGhost. _Chap_. 7. 32.\n\n8. 7-9 the word of the Lord came by the power of the Holy Ghost. 26.\n\n10. 4-7 the truth will be manifested by the power of the Holy Ghost.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 18. 18 ask the Father in faith and you shall receive the Holy\nGhost. 19.\n\n41. 3 by prayer of faith ye shall receive my law.\n\n44. 2 if they exercise faith in me I will pour my Spirit on them.\n\n45. 8 to those that believe on my name, gave I power to obtain eternal\nlife.\n\n136. 42 Be diligent in keeping all my commandments lest your faith fail\nyou.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 2. Moses declared to Satan that he would worship only the God of\nglory. God blessed Moses for his faith in him.\n\n9. Adam and Eve called on the name of the Lord and offered sacrifice.\n\nThou shalt call upon God in the name of the Son for evermore.\n\n13. Adam hearkened to the voice of God and glorified his name.\n\n17. many believed and became the sons of God, many believed not and\nperished.\n\n21. Enoch asked the Lord that he would have mercy on Noah and his seed,\ninasmuch as he was God and he knew him.\n\n24. Noah walked with God, and all his three sons, also.\n\n29. through faith in the Lord, Abraham left Ur to go into the land of\nCanaan.\n\n\n\nNECESSITY OF FAITH IN THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD.\n\nIn every dispensation in which God has made known his will to man, it\nhas been done through a living, inspired Priesthood. Passages from the\nsacred writings might be multiplied, indefinitely, on this subject. But\nthis is not necessary, inasmuch as all the sacred records attest the\nnecessity of an inspired Priesthood, and obedience to it on the part of\nthe people, if they would understand the will of the Lord concerning\nthem.\n\nFifteen centuries of the history of Israel, from the Exodus to the\ndestruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, is a record of adversity\nthrough disobedience to seers and prophets, and of prosperity, the\nresult of listening to their teachings.\n\nMankind, with a wide range of religious tenets, are instinctively\nimbued with a sentiment of reverence and obedience to those who\nminister in the ordinances of religion. After the apostacy of the early\napostolic church, it had a strong hold on the minds of the people\nduring the supremacy of the Romish church.\n\nWe may consider that this doctrine began to lose its hold on the masses\nof the people, professing Christianity, after the Reformation and the\nsplitting up of the Christian world into a great multiplicity of sects.\n\nWith the introduction of the Gospel and the Holy Priesthood, through\nJoseph Smith, Jun., the necessity of faith in a living Priesthood is\ndaily being made more apparent to the Latter-day Saints.\n\nBible.\n\n_Exod_. 4. 1 Moses answered, they will not believe. 8, 9, 30, 31.\n\n14. 31 Israel believed the Lord and his servant Moses.\n\n19. 9 that the people hear when I speak to thee, and believe thee for\never.\n\n32. 19-34 the golden calf, and the intercession of Moses for the people.\n\n_Num_. 12. 2 hath the Lord, indeed, spoken only by Moses?\n\n_Deut_. 9. 19, 20 the Lord hearkened to me; I prayed for Aaron also.\n\n_Josh_. 1. 5 as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.\n\n2 _Chron_. 20. 20 believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.\n\n_Amos_ 3. 7 but he revealeth his secrets to his servants the prophets.\n\n_Jonah, Chap_. 3. the Ninevites saved by the preaching of Jonah.\n\n_Matt_. 10. 14, 15 more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, than for\nthose who will not hear your words.\n\n40 he that receiveth you receiveth me.\n\n_Luke_ 1. 19 sent to speak to thee, and shew thee these glad tidings.\n45.\n\n10. 16 he that heareth you heareth me. 29.\n\n24. 25 O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have\nspoken.\n\n_John_ 5. 46 had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me.\n\n13. 20 he that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth me.\n\n17. 20 but for them, also, which shall believe on me through their word.\n\n1 _Thess_. 2. 13 when ye received from us, ye received it as the word\nof God.\n\n_Heb_. 2. 2 for if the word spoken by angels was steadfast?\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n_Jacob_ 1. 19 taking the responsibility of answering the sins of\nthe people, if we did not teach them the word of the Lord with all\ndiligence.\n\n2. 2 responsibility of magnifying my office, to rid my garments of your\nsins.\n\n_Mos_. 2. 28 to assemble together, that I might rid my garments of your\nblood.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 12. 1, 2 blessed are ye if ye give heed to the words of these\ntwelve, whom I have chosen.\n\n13. 25 ye are they whom I have chosen to minister to this people.\n\n15. 12 ye are my disciples, and a light to this people.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 4 voice of warning to all people, by the mouth of my\ndisciples.\n\n8, 9 to them is given power to seal, both on earth and in heaven.\n\n14 they who will not hear prophets and apostles shall be cut off. 17,\n30.\n\n2. 1 I will reveal to you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah.\n\n3. 9 thou art Joseph, and wast chosen to do the work of the Lord.\n_Sec_. 5. 2, 10, 11-18.\n\n10. 33 Satan thinks to overpower your testimony.\n\n19. 13 keep my commandments which you have received by J. Smith, Jun.\n\n24. 4 if they receive them not, I will curse instead of blessing them.\n\n28. 2 no one to receive revelations for the church but J. Smith, Jun. 3.\n\n7 J. Smith, Jun., has the keys of the revelations which are sealed,\nuntil I shall appoint another in his stead.\n\n29. 4 ye are chosen out of the world to declare my Gospel. 7, 10, 12.\n\n42. 61 J. Smith. Jun., to receive revelation, and know the mysteries.\n69.\n\n43. 3-5 none but Joseph Smith, Jun., appointed to receive revelation.\n12.\n\n52. 9 saying none other things than those which the prophets and\napostles have written.\n\n58. 45 behold they shall push the people together from the ends of the\nearth.\n\n64. 5 the keys of the mysteries shall not be taken from J. Smith, Jun.\n\n65. 2 the keys of the kingdom are committed to man on the earth.\n\n68. 4 whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost\nshall be scripture and the power of God unto salvation.\n\n75. 20 and they receive you not, shake off the dust of your feet.\n\n81. 2 to J. Smith, Jun., I have given the keys belonging to the\nPresidency.\n\n84. 64 every soul that believes on your words shall receive the Holy\nGhost. 74.\n\n89 whoso receiveth you receiveth me. 90-95. _Sec_. 99. 2-4.\n\n90. 3, 4 the keys of the kingdom never to be taken from J. Smith, Jun.\nThrough him the oracles to be given to the church. 6, 14-16.\n\n103. 25 whomsoever ye curse I will curse.\n\n35 J. Smith, Jun., to organize the kingdom, and establish the children\nof Zion.\n\n110. 16 the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands.\n\n112. 15 the keys which I have given unto him, and also to youward,\nshall not be taken from him till I come. 16-21, 30-32.\n\n121. 36 the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the\npowers of heaven.\n\n124. 58 my servant, Joseph, in thee shall the kingdoms of the earth be\nblessed.\n\n128 the Twelve hold the keys of the kingdom upon the four corners of\nthe earth.\n\n133. 26 the prophets of the north countries shall hear his voice, and\nshall no longer stay themselves.\n\n136. 37 ye shall behold it if ye are faithful in keeping all my words,\nfrom the days of Adam to Joseph Smith, Jun., whom I called on by my\nangels.\n\nMiscellaneous Passages.\n\n_Hab_. 2. 4 the just shall live by faith. _Rom_. 1. 17. _Gal_. 3. 11.\n_Heb_. 10. 38.\n\n_Matt_. 6. 30 shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?\n_Luke_ 12. 28.\n\n8. 10 not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. _Luke_ 7. 9.\n\n17. 20 if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed.\n\n21. 21 if ye have faith, not only do this, but say to this mountain.\n\n_Mark_ 4. 40 how is it that ye have no faith?\n\n_Luke_ 18. 8 when the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the\nearth?\n\n_Acts_ 15. 9 purifying their hearts by faith.\n\n26. 18 inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith.\n\n_Rom_. 3. 3 shall unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 27.\n\n4. 5 his faith is counted to him for righteousness. 9-16.\n\n10. 17 so then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.\n\n14. 22 hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. 23.\n\n1 _Cor_. 2. 5 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men.\n\n16. 13 watch ye, stand fast in the faith, be strong.\n\n2 _Cor_. 4. 13 we having the same spirit of faith.\n\n5. 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.\n\n_Gal_. 3. 2 received ye the spirit by works of the law, or by faith?\n5-25.\n\n5. 5 we wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6, 22.\n\n_Eph_. 6. 16 above all taking the shield of faith. 23.\n\n_Phil_. 3. 9 the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by\nfaith.\n\n1 _Thess_. 1. 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith.\n\n5. 8 putting on the breastplate of faith and love.\n\n2 _Thess_. 1. 4 we glory for your patience and faith in your\npersecutions. 11.\n\n1 _Tim_. 1. 5 of a good conscience and faith unfeigned. 14, 19. _Chap_.\n3. 9.\n\n2 _Tim_. 3. 8 men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith. 10.\n\n4. 7 I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.\n\n_Titus_ 1. 13 rebuke sharply that they may be sound in the faith.\n\n_Heb_. 4. 2 the word did not profit, not being mixed with faith.\n\n6. 1 not laying again the foundation of repentance and faith.\n\n_Chap_. 11. by faith the worlds were created, the violence of fire\nquenched, the armies of the aliens put to flight, kingdoms subdued, &c.\n\n12. 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.\n\n_James_ 1. 6 let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.\n\n2. 5 hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith.\n\n5. 15 the prayer of faith shall save the sick.\n\n1 _Peter_ 1. 5 kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.\n7, 9, 21.\n\n5. 9 whom resist steadfast in the faith.\n\n2 _Peter_ 1. 5 add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge.\n\n1 _John_ 5. 4 this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our\nfaith.\n\n_Jude_ 3. Earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints.\n\n_Rev_. 13. 10 here is the patience and faith of the Saints. _Chap_. 14.\n12.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 7. 12 the Lord can do all things for men through their faith.\n\n16. 28 the pointers on the ball worked according to their faith. 29.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 1. 10 having power given them to do all things by faith.\n\n27. 23 God works not among the children of men save it be according to\ntheir faith.\n\n_Jacob_ 1. 5 manifest to us by faith, what should happen to our people.\n\n_Enos_ 1. 12-18 through faith Enos obtained a promise that the records\nshould be preserved to come forth to the Lamanites.\n\n_Mos_. 4. 6 that salvation might come to him who continues in faith to\nthe end. 21, 30.\n\n_Alma_ 7. 6 look forward for the remission of sins, with an everlasting\nfaith.\n\n12. 30 plan of salvation made known according to men's faith. 33, 34,\n37.\n\n13. 2, 3, 4 men called to the Holy Priesthood according to their faith.\n\n18. 35 the Spirit gives knowledge and power according to faith.\n\n32. 18 I ask, Is this faith? if a man knoweth a thing, he has no cause\nto believe. 21, 26, 27.\n\n28-43 faith illustrated by a parable of a seed.\n\n57. 21-27 through faith the young Ammonites were preserved in battle.\n\n_Hel_. 5. 20-52 deliverance of Nephi and Lehi from prison through their\ngreat faith.\n\n6. 1 the Lamanites exceeded the Nephites in righteousness on account of\ntheir great faith.\n\n_Mormon_ 3. 12 it was without faith because of the hardness of their\nhearts.\n\n8. 24 he knoweth their faith, for in his name could they remove\nmountains.\n\n_Ether_ 3. This chapter gives an account of great manifestations to the\nbrother of Jared, on account of his great faith.\n\n12. 4-33 many examples given of the power of faith.\n\n_Moroni_ 7. 21-44 instructions on faith.\n\n8. 3 will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name.\n\n10. 4 if ye ask, having faith, he will manifest the truth to you. 7, 11.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 21 that faith might also increase in the earth.\n\n4. 5 faith, hope, charity, love, &c., qualify him for the work _Sec_.\n6. 19, and 12. 8.\n\n8. 10 without faith you can do nothing; ask in faith. 11.\n\n26. 2 all things to be done by common consent, by much prayer and faith.\n\n27. 17 taking the shield of faith, wherewith to quench the fiery darts\nof the wicked.\n\n41. 3 by prayer of faith ye shall receive my law.\n\n52. 20 the days have come when according to men's faith it shall be\ndone unto them.\n\n103. 36 all victory is brought to pass through your diligence and\nprayers of faith.\n\n\n\nFAITH IN CONTINUAL REVELATION.\n\nBible.\n\n_Num_. 11. 29 Moses said, would that all the Lord's people were\nprophets.\n\n_Prov_. 29. 18 where there is no vision the people perish.\n\n_Mark_ 16. 17 and these signs shall follow them that believe.\n\n_John_ 14. 12 he that believeth on me shall do the works that I do, and\ngreater.\n\n16. 13 Spirit of truth will teach you all things.\n\n_Acts_ 2. 39 the promise is to as many as the Lord our God shall call.\n\n_Rom_. 1. 17 for therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from\nfaith to faith.\n\n3. 22 the righteousness of God is unto all, and upon all that believe.\n\n_Eph_. 3. 19 that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.\n\n_James_ 1. 5 if any lack wisdom let him ask of God.\n\n1 _John_ 2. 27 the anointing which you have received teacheth you all\nthings.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 17-19 the gifts and mysteries of God to be unfolded to\nall men and in all times, to those who diligently seek them.\n\n12. 18 the Messiah of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record from the\nbeginning until this time, henceforth and forever.\n\n22. 2 by the Spirit are all things made known to the prophets.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 4. 35 God will give liberally to him that asketh.\n\n26. 13 Christ manifesteth himself by the power of the Holy Ghost, to\nall who believe on him.\n\n27. 23 that I am the same yesterday, to-day and forever. _Chap_. 29. 9.\n\n28. 29 wo be to him that shall say, we have received the word of God\nand need no more. 30.\n\n29. 6 thou fool that shall say, we have a Bible and need no more. 7-12.\n\n_Alma_ 39. 19 is it not as easy for the Lord to declare these things to\nus as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?\n\n3 _Nephi_ 27. 29 for he that asketh receiveth; and to him that knocketh\nit shall be opened.\n\n_Mormon_ 9. 7-11 God, a God of miracles, revelations and prophecy, the\nsame yesterday, to-day and for ever. 15-19. _Moroni_ 10. 19.\n\n_Moroni_ 7. 29 have miracles ceased, or have angels ceased to minister\nto men because Christ has ascended to heaven? 37, 38.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 11 the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth. 20.\n\n11. 25 wo to him that denieth the Spirit of revelation and prophecy.\n\n20. 11 that God inspires men to do his work in this generation, as well\nas in generations of old. 12-17.\n\n26-28 not only those who are but who have been and who shall be, who\nbelieve in the gifts and callings of God, shall be saved.\n\n35 diminishing nothing from the revelations of John, or from the\nrevelations of God which shall come hereafter, by the power of the Holy\nGhost.\n\n35. 8 will show miracles and wonders unto all who believe on my name.\n\n42. 61 if thou shalt ask thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation.\n67, 68.\n\n50. 35 by giving heed to what you have received, and shall hereafter\nreceive.\n\n59. 4 with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time.\n\n70. 3 revelations which I have given them, and which I shall hereafter\ngive.\n\n_See sermon by H. C. Kimball, J. of D., Vol. 2, page 220_.\n\n\" \" \" \" _3, \" 197_.\n\n_O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. W. Crowell, No. 3_.\n\n_A Pamphlet, by O. Pratt, on Faith_.\n\n_Article by F. D. Richards, Mil. Star, Vol. 29, page 681_.\n\n\n\nREPENTANCE.\n\nThe Nephite prophet, Alma, gives a very comprehensive idea of the\nimportance of repentance. \"Yea, I would that ye would come forth and\nharden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time, and\nthe day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden\nnot your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be\nbrought about unto you. For behold, this life is the time for men to\nprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for\nmen to perform their labors. And now as I said unto you before, as ye\nhave had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not\nprocrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this\nday of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we\ndo not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of\ndarkness, wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when\nye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will\nreturn to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which\ndoth possess your bodies at the time ye go out of this life, that same\nspirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.\nFor behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance,\neven until death, behold, ye have become subject to the spirit of the\ndevil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath\nwithdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all\npower over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.\" _Alma_ 34.\n31-35.\n\n\"For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented\nof: but the sorrow of the world worketh death;\" 2 _Cor_. 7. 10. Of the\nsorrow that worketh death was that of Judas; _Matt_. 27. 3-5 In some\npassages of the Scriptures repentance signifies a change of purpose\nin man, as in the case of the son who refused to work in his father's\nvineyard, but afterwards repented and went; 21. 28, 29.\n\nAgain, it expresses the sympathy of the Lord for the sufferings of his\npeople: \"For the Lord hearkened because of their groanings by reason\nof them that oppressed them;\" _Judges_ 2. 18. It sometimes expresses\nsympathy in man for the sufferings of others: \"And the people repented\nthem for Benjamin, because that the Lord had made a breach in the\ntribes of Israel;\" 21. 15.\n\nIn the history of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, we are informed\nthat Pharaoh's heart was hardened, so that he would not let the people\ngo. We are evidently to understand by this, that on account of the\ngreat wickedness of the Egyptians, the Lord did not soften their hearts\nby the gentle influences of his Spirit, but permitted them to pursue\ntheir own chosen way and suffer the consequences.\n\nWe read in the Revelations of St. John: \"And the rest of the men which\nwere not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their\nhands;\" 9. 20. \"And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains\nand their sores, and repented not of their deeds;\" 16. 11. These, like\nthe Egyptians, had passed the day of repentance, and were left to reap\nthe reward of their wickedness.\n\nOn account of their former wickedness, it was all the converted\nLamanites could do to repent; _Alma_ 24. 11.\n\nRepentance is a gift of God: \"Then hath God also to the Gentiles\ngranted repentance unto life;\" _Acts_ 11. 18. \"If God peradventure will\ngive them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;\" 2 _Tim_. 2.\n25. \"Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth them to repentance;\"\n_Rom_. 2. 4. That is, the Lord grants to men of his Holy Spirit to\nsoften their hearts and enlighten their understandings, that they may\nsee and receive the truth, if they will; but his Spirit will not always\nstrive with man. Confession of sin, and restitution to the injured\nparty, was early made a standing law in Israel; _Num_. 5. 6, 7.\n\nConfession is one of the outward evidences of a godly sorrow for sin:\n\"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the\nmouth confession is made unto salvation;\" _Rom_. 10. 10. \"Confess\nyour faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be\nhealed;\" _James_ 5. 16.\n\nOn account of the magnitude of sins committed, repentance is not always\nfollowed by forgiveness and restoration. For instance, when Peter was\npreaching to the Jews, who had slain Jesus and taken his blood on\nthemselves and their children, he did not say, repent and be baptized\nfor the remission of sins; but \"Repent ye therefore, and be converted,\nthat your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall\ncome from the presence of the Lord; and (when) he shall send Jesus\nChrist, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must\nreceive until the times of the restitution of all things;\" _Acts_ 3.\n19-21. That is, repent now, and believe in Jesus Christ, that you may\nbe forgiven when he whom you have slain shall come again in the days of\nthe restitution of all things; and prescribe to you the terms on which\nyou may be saved.\n\nBible.\n\n1 _Kings_ 8. 47 if they repent in the land of their captivity.\n\n_Job_ 42. 6 I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.\n\n_Psalm_ 106. 45 repented according to the multitude of his mercies.\n\n110. 4 the Lord hath sworn and will not repent. _Heb_. 7. 21.\n\n_Ezk_. 14. 6 repent and turn from your idols. _Chap_. 18. 30,\n\n24. 14 neither will I spare, neither will I repent.\n\n_Matt._ 3. 2 repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. _Chap_.\n4. 17.\n\n8 bring forth fruit meet for repentance. _Luke_ 3. 8.\n\n9. 13 not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. _Luke_ 5. 32.\n\n11. 20 because they repented not. 21. _Luke_ 10. 13.\n\n12. 41 the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation.\n_Luke_ 11. 32.\n\n_Mark_ 1. 15 repent ye and believe the Gospel.\n\n6. 12 they went and preached that men should repent.\n\n_Luke_ 13. 3 except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish. 5.\n\n15. 7 over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety-nine that need\nno repentance.\n\n16. 30 if one went unto them from the dead they will repent.\n\n17. 3 if thy brother trespass against thee, and repent, forgive him. 4.\n\n_Acts_ 17. 30 times of ignorance God winked at but now commands men to\nrepent.\n\n26. 20 to the Gentiles that they should do works meet for repentance.\n\n_Rom_. 2. 4 not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to\nrepentance.\n\n2 _Cor_. 7. 9 but that ye sorrowed to repentance.\n\n10 Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of.\n\n_Heb_. 6. 1 not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead\nworks. 6.\n\n12. 17 he found no place of repentance though he sought it.\n\n2 _Peter_ 3. 9 that any should perish, but all should come to\nrepentance.\n\n_Rev_. 3. 8 remember how thou hast received; hold fast and repent.\n\n19 those I love I chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 18 the way is prepared for all men if they will repent.\n\n22. 28 shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel, if they will\nrepent.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 2. 21 he gave commandment that all men should repent.\n\n9. 24 if they will not repent and be baptized they must be damned.\n\n30. 2 the Gentiles that will repent are the covenant people of the Lord.\n\n_Jacob_ 3. 3 except ye repent the land is cursed for your sakes.\n\n_Mos_. 4. 10 believe that you must repent of your sins, and forsake\nthem. 18.\n\n12. 8 unless they repent I will utterly destroy them. 12.\n\n18. 7 Alma preached repentance at the waters of Mormon.\n\n20 he commanded they should preach nothing but repentance and faith.\n\n26. 22 shall be baptized unto repentance.\n\n27. 24 Alma said I have repented of my sins and been redeemed.\n\n29. 19 were it not for the interposition of the Creator because of\ntheir repentance.\n\n_Alma_ 5. 31-33 repentance necessary to salvation. 49-56.\n\n7. 9 the Spirit saith repent, prepare the way of the Lord.\n\n9. 12 except ye repent ye can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God.\n\n12. 15 power to save all that bring forth fruit meet for repentance.\n\n24 this life a probationary state for repentance.\n\n22. 6 will repent ye shall be saved.\n\n26. 22 to him that repenteth is given to know the mysteries of God.\n\n27. 23 because of their sore repentance on account of their many\nmurders.\n\n29. 1, 2 that I were an angel to cry repentance to all people.\n\n34. 31-35 to delay repentance until death is to become subject to the\ndevil.\n\n42. 4 there was a probationary time granted to man for repentance. 5,\n13.\n\n16 repentance could not come unto men except there was a punishment.\n\n_Hel_. 5. 11 he hath power to redeem them from their sins because of\nrepentance.\n\n7. 17 O repent ye! why will ye die?\n\n19-24, 28 the Nephites warned of great destruction, unless they would\nrepent.\n\n8. 7 the things he saith will come to pass unless we repent. 26\n\n10. 11 Nephites to be smitten unless they would repent. 17.\n\n11. 8-17 the Lord turned away the famine from the Nephites because of\nrepentance.\n\n12. 22-24 that men might be saved, hath repentance been declared.\n\n13. 2 Samuel preached repentance to the people of Zarahemla. 6.\n\n14. 17, 18 the resurrection of Christ brings to pass the conditions of\nrepentance.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 9. 2 wo to the inhabitants of the earth unless they repent.\n13, 22.\n\n10. 6 how oft will I gather you if ye will repent. _Matt_. 23. 37.\n\n16. 13 if the Gentiles will repent they shall be numbered with my\npeople.\n\n18. 16 as I pray, ye shall pray among those who repent and are\nbaptized. 30-32.\n\n23. 5 he who repents and is baptized shall be saved.\n\n26. 17 whoso repents and is baptized shall be filled.\n\n_Mormon_ 2. 8 although destruction hung over the Nephites they would\nnot repent. 10-13.\n\n3. 22 I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent.\n\n5. 22 how can ye stand before the power of God except ye repent? 24.\n\n7. 3 ye must come to repentance or ye cannot be saved. 5, 7, 8\n\n_Ether_ 2. 11 may repent and not continue in your iniquities, until the\nfulness come.\n\n5. 5 if so be they repent and come unto the Father.\n\n7. 23 there came prophets warning the people to repent. 25, 26\n\n8. 23 that things may be shown to you that ye may repent.\n\n11. 1 many prophecies of the destruction of the people, unless they\nshould repent. 6, 8, 12, 20.\n\n12. 3 Ether exhorted the people to believe in God unto repentance.\n\n_Moroni_ 6. 7 if they repented not their names were blotted out. 8.\n\n8. 24 repentance is unto those who are under the curse of a broken law.\n25.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 32, 33 from him that repents not shall be taken the light he\nhas received. _Sec_. 5. 21.\n\n3. 10 God commanded Joseph Smith, Jun., to repent.\n\n5. 19 a desolating scourge shall go forth if they repent not.\n\n19. 4 every one must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless. 3, 15.\n\n20. 29 all men must repent and endure in faith, or they cannot be saved.\n\n29. 17 1 will take vengeance on the wicked for they will not repent.\n\n44 they cannot be redeemed because they repented not. 49.\n\n33. 10 repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\n\n39. 18 inasmuch as they repent, I will stay mine hand in judgment.\n\n42. 77 if not married, they shall repent and ye shall receive them.\n\n43. 20 call on the nations to repent. Prepare, for the great day of the\nLord. 21, 22.\n\n54. 3 if your brethren desire to escape their enemies let them repent.\n\n63. 15 repent speedily, lest judgment come on them as a snare.\n\n68. 24 if he repent he shall be forgiven, according to the covenants.\n\n75. 29 the idler shall not have place in the church, except he repent.\n\n84. 57 to remain under condemnation, until they repent. 76.\n\n90. 34 your brethren in Zion begin to repent and the angels rejoice. 35.\n\n98. 21 will chasten them if they do not repent and observe all things.\n\n109. 21 when thy people transgress, they may speedily repent and return\nunto thee. 29.\n\n50 that wicked mob may repent, if repentance can be found. 53.\n\n124. 50 visit on the heads of those who hindered my work, if they\nrepent not. 52, 116.\n\n133. 16 he commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent.\n\n136. 35 their sorrow shall be great unless they repent speedily.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 9. said to Adam, thou shalt repent and call upon God.\n\n13. Adam called on his sons to repent.\n\n14. the sons of Adam called on all men to repent.\n\n16. God hath made known to our fathers that all men must repent. Teach\nit to your children that all men must repent.\n\n18. the Lord said to Enoch, say to this people repent, lest I smite\nthem with a curse. He called on all but the people of Cainaan to repent.\n\n23. if men do not repent I will send in the floods upon them For it\nrepenteth Noah that I have created them.\n\n_History of Joseph Smith, Sept. 1, 1835_.\n\n_A Pamphlet by O. Pratt, on Repentance_.\n\n\n\nBAPTISM.\n\nNECESSITY OF BAPTISM.\n\nThat Gospel baptism is necessary to salvation, is abundantly evidenced\nin the sacred writings. Christ, the highest authority known to man,\nasserted this most emphatically when he said to Nicodemus, \"Verily,\nverily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the\nSpirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God;\" _John_ 3. 5.\n\nSo important did the Savior consider baptism, that when he went to John\nto be baptized, and John forbade him, he replied to him, \"Suffer _it\nto be so_ now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness;\"\n_Matt_. 3. 13-15. In this he taught John the doctrine that a fulness of\nrighteousness or salvation, could not be received without it.\n\nThe prophet Nephi, who lived nearly 600 years before the birth of our\nSavior, clearly understood the necessity of baptism. Said he, \"And now,\nif the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by\nwater, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we,\nbeing unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water;\" 2 _Nephi_ 31. 5.\n\nThe prophet Mormon, who lived nearly 1,000 years after Nephi, also\ntaught the necessity of following the example of our Savior in being\nbaptized, first, by water; _Mormon_ 7. 10.\n\nIn the opening up of the latter-day dispensation, the Lord said to his\nprophet Joseph, \"Whosoever believeth on my words them will I visit with\nthe manifestation of my Spirit, and they shall be born of me, even of\nwater and of the Spirit;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 5. 16.\n\nThe Lord, in a revelation to Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon,\nspeaking of those who should be worthy to come forth in the\nresurrection of the just, says, \"They are they who received the\ntestimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after\nthe manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name;\" 76.\n51.\n\nBible.\n\n_Matt_. 28. 19 go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them.\n\n_Mark_ 16. 16 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.\n\n_John_ 1. 33 he that sent me to baptize with water.\n\n_Acts_ 2. 41 then they that gladly received his word were baptized.\n\n1 _Cor_. 12. 13 for by one spirit are we all baptized into one body.\n\n_Gal_. 3. 27 as many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on\nChrist.\n\n_Eph_. 4. 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism.\n\n1 _Peter_ 3. 21 the like figure whereunto even baptism doth now save us.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 31. 11 the Father said, repent, and be baptized.\n\n17 the gate by which ye shall enter is repentance and baptism.\n\n_Alma_ 5. 62 be baptized unto repentance.\n\n9. 27 cometh to redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 18. 5 one shall be ordained to break bread, and give to those\nwho are baptized in my name.\n\n28. 18 uniting to the church those who believe on their preaching,\nbaptizing them.\n\n_Mormon_ 9. 29 see that ye are not baptized unworthily.\n\n_Moroni_ 6. 1-4 explains who are fit subjects for baptism.\n\n8. 4-22 the reasons given why little children are not fit subjects for\nbaptism.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 68. 8 preach the Gospel to every creature, baptizing in the name\nof the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.\n\n112. 29 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that\nbelieveth not and is not baptized shall be damned.\n\n128. 12 baptism by immersion necessary to answer to the likeness of the\ndead, that one principle might accord with the other. Also in likeness\nof the resurrection of the dead, in coming forth out of their graves.\nThis passage explains and beautifully accords with _Rom_. 6. 4, and\n_Col_. 2. 12.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 16. the Holy Spirit promised to Adam, if he would repent and be\nbaptized. Explanation of the necessity of being born of water and of\nthe Spirit.\n\n17. gives an account of the baptism of Adam.\n\nMODE OF BAPTISM.\n\nNot only is the necessity of baptism taught us by the highest possible\nauthority, but, as well, the manner in which that ordinance is to be\nadministered.\n\nAdam, the Father of the race, set an example for all his children to\nfollow. \"And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our\nfather, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the\nSpirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid\nunder the water, and was brought forth out of the water. And thus he\nwas baptized; and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was\nborn of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man;\" _P. of G.\nP_., p. 17.\n\nChrist went where John was baptizing in the river Jordan, to be\nbaptized of him, and \"when he was baptized, went up straightway out\nof the water;\" _Matt_. 3. 16. That he was immersed, or buried in the\nwater, is evident from the sayings of the Apostle Paul, \"Therefore we\nare buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was\nraised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also\nshould walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together\nin the likeness of his death, we shall be also _in the likeness of his\nresurrection_;\" Rom_. 6. 4, 5. \"Buried with him in baptism, wherein\nalso ye are risen with _him_ through the faith of the operation of\nGod;\" _Col_. 2. 12.\n\nThe meaning of these passages is evident. If we would come forth in the\nresurrection in the likeness of Christ, we must, like him, be buried\nin the water, and come forth out of the water, in the likeness of his\nburial and resurrection.\n\nThe Nephites knew no other mode of Gospel baptism than immersion. Said\nJesus to his Nephite disciples, \"And then shall ye immerse them in the\nwater, and come forth again out of the water;\" 3 _Nephi_ 11. 26.\n\nWhen our Savior sent forth his Jewish disciples to preach the Gospel,\nhe authorized them to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and\nthe Holy Ghost; _Matt_. 28. 19. He instructed his Nephite disciples to\nuse the following words, \"Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I\nbaptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy\nGhost. Amen;\" 3 _Nephi_ 11. 25.\n\nQuite explicit instructions on this subject are given to the Latter-day\nSaints in the _Doc. & Cov_.: \"The person who is called of God, and has\nauthority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water\nwith the person who has presented him or herself for baptism, and shall\nsay, calling him or her by name--Having been commissioned of Jesus\nChrist, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of\nthe Holy Ghost. Amen. Then shall he immerse him or her in the water,\nand come forth again out of the water;\" 20. 73, 74.\n\nUnder date of May, 1829, we find the following account of the baptism\nof J. Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery, being the first baptisms in the\nChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: \"Accordingly we went and\nwere baptized, I baptized him first, and afterwards he baptized me,\nafter which I laid my hands upon his head and ordained him to the\nAaronic Priesthood, afterwards he laid his hands on me and ordained me\nto the same Priesthood--for so were we commanded. * * * It was on the\nfifteenth day of May, 1829, that we were ordained under the hand of\nthe Messenger, and baptized. Immediately on our coming up out of the\nwater, after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious\nblessings.\"\n\nBible.\n\n_Matt_. 3. 6 all baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.\n\n3. 13 then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John.\n\n_John_ 3. 23 John was baptizing in Enon near Salem, because there was\nmuch water there.\n\n_Acts_ 8. 38, 39 Philip went down into the water with the eunuch.\n\n22. 16 arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins.\n\n1 _Cor_. 10. 2 all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.\n\n_Titus_ 3. 5 by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy\nGhost.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n_Mos_. 18. 12-17 a description of the manner in which Alma baptized the\nLamanites in the waters of Mormon.\n\n26. 15 blessed are they who were baptized in the waters of Mormon.\n\n_Alma_ 4. 4 many were baptized by Alma in the river Sidon.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 11. 23-28 conditions for and form of baptism.\n\n19. 11-13 Nephi, and his brethren, went down into the water, and came\nup out of the water.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 17. Adam was laid under the water, and brought forth out of the\nwater.\n\n18. Enoch was commanded to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and\nHoly Ghost.\n\nOBJECT OF BAPTISM.\n\nThe primary aim and end of baptism is the remission of sins. This\nsubject is fully explained by the Lord to our Father Adam. \"Therefore\nI give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your\nchildren, saying, That by reason of transgression cometh the fall,\nwhich fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world\nby water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became\nof dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom\nof heaven, of water, and of the spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even\nthe blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all\nsin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal\nlife in the world to come, even immortal glory: For by the water ye\nkeep the commandment; by the spirit ye are justified, and by the blood\nye are sanctified; therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of\nheaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory;\" _P. of\nG. P_., p. 16.\n\nThe above quotation is full of meaning, but it is evident, at once,\nthat the object of baptism is to open the way through which, alone, men\nmay attain to all the blessings of salvation and eternal life. It was\nespecially the mission of John the Baptist to preach the baptism of\nrepentance for the remission of sins; _Mark_ 1. 4.\n\nOn the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter very earnestly exhorted the\nmultitude, \"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of\nJesus Christ for the remission of sins;\" _Acts_ 2. 38.\n\nThe Apostle Paul says, \"Without shedding of blood is no remission;\"\n_Heb_. 9. 22. John the Apostle also asserts the same doctrine: \"The\nblood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin;\" 1 _John_ 1.\n7. It is evident, from the tenor of the sacred writings, that only by\nbeing buried with Christ in water, by baptism, is the shedding of his\nblood available to man for the remission of sins.\n\nBible.\n\n_Luke_ 3. 3 John preached the baptism of repentance, for the remission\nof sins.\n\n_Acts_ 22. 16 arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.\n\n_Eph_. 5. 26 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of\nwater.\n\n_Titus_ 3. 5 by the washing of regeneration.\n\n1 _Peter_ 3. 21 the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now\nsave us.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 31. 17 after baptism by water, cometh the remission of sins.\n\n_Alma_ 7. 14 be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from\nyour sins.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 1. 23 baptism unto repentance, in which there was a remission\nof sins.\n\n7. 25 baptism by water, a witness of repentance and a remission of sins.\n\n18. 30 the sacrament to be administered only to those who have been\nbaptized.\n\n30. 2 come to me and be baptized, for the remission of sins.\n\n_Moroni_ 8. 11 baptism and fulfilling the commandments bringeth\nremission of sins.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 19. 31 Shalt declare repentance and remission of sins by baptism\nand by fire.\n\n55. 2 repentance and remission of sins by way of baptism.\n\n68. 27 children to be baptized for remission of sins when eight years\nold.\n\n76. 51, 52 baptism and remission of sins necessary, in order to come\nforth in the resurrection of the just.\n\n84. 27 the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism, and remission of sins.\n\n74 those not baptized for the remission of sins shall be damned.\n\nMiscellaneous Passages.\n\n_Matt_. 3. 7 when he saw Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism.\n\n20. 22 are ye able to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?\n_Mark_ 10. 39.\n\n21. 25 the baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men? _Mark_ 11.\n30. _Luke_ 20. 4.\n\n28. 19 go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them.\n\n_Mark_ 1. 8 I, indeed, have baptized you with water.\n\n_Luke_ 3. 7 said he to the multitude that came to be baptized of him.\n12.\n\n16 John answered, I indeed baptize you with water. 21.\n\n7. 29 the publicans justified God, being baptized with the baptism of\nJohn. 30.\n\n12. 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with.\n\n_John_ 1. 25 why baptizest thou, if thou be not the Christ?\n\n26 1 baptize with water, but there standeth one among you. 28.\n\n33 he that sent me to baptize with water, said to me;\n\n3. 22 there he tarried with them and baptized. 23.\n\n4. 1 that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John.\n\n_Acts_ 1. 5 John baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the\nHoly Ghost. 22.\n\n2. 41 then they that gladly received his word were baptized.\n\n8. 12 when they believed Philip they were baptized, both men and women.\n13.\n\n16 as yet he was fallen on none of them, only they were baptized.\n\n36 see, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?\n\n9. 18 Saul received sight and arose and was baptized.\n\n10. 37 that word published throughout all Judea, after the baptism John\npreached. 47.\n\n16. 15 Lydia, when she was baptized, and her household, besought us. 33.\n\n18. 8 many of the Corinthians believed and were baptized. 25.\n\n1 _Cor_. 1. 13 or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14, 16, 17.\n\n12. 13 for by one spirit are we all baptized into one body.\n\n_Gal_. 3. 27 as many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on\nChrist.\n\n_Eph_. 4. 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism.\n\n_Heb_. 6. 2 of the doctrine of baptism and laying on of hands.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 9 my father said, he should baptize in Bethabary beyond\nJordan; also, that he should baptize the Messiah with water. 10.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 31. 4 the prophet the Lord showed me should baptize the Lamb\nof God. 6-10, 13.\n\n14 if ye should deny me after being baptized with water and the Holy\nGhost, better if ye had not known me.\n\n_Mos_. 18. 10 what have you against being baptized in the name of the\nLord?\n\n21. 33 many desirous of being baptized, but there was none having\nauthority. 35.\n\n25. 17, 18 Alma baptized the people of Limhi.\n\n_Alma_ 7. 15 baptism a witness that we covenant with God to keep his\ncommandments.\n\n15. 13 Alma consecrated priests and teachers, to baptize unto the Lord.\n\n19. 35 the Lamanites that believed were baptized, and became a\nrighteous people. 36.\n\n_Hel_. 16. 1 when they found Nephi they desired to be baptized. 3.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 11. 21, 22 the Lord gave Nephi, and others, power to baptize.\n\n12. 1 Jesus called twelve and gave them authority to baptize.\n\n19. 10-13 Nephi, and all those whom Jesus had chosen, were baptized.\n\n26. 17 the disciples whom Jesus had chosen began to baptize as many as\ncame to them.\n\n27. 1 as the disciples were journeying and baptizing in the name of\nJesus.\n\n28. 18 uniting to the church those who believed on their preaching,\nbaptizing them.\n\n_Mormon_ 7. 10 are first baptized with water, following the example of\nour Savior.\n\n9. 29 see that ye are not baptized unworthily.\n\n_Moroni_ 6. 1-4 explains who are fit subjects for baptism.\n\n8. 4-22 why little children are not fit subjects for baptism.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 18. 7 as thou hast been baptized by my servant, J. Smith, Jun.\n\n20. 37 qualifications necessary for baptism and reception into the\nchurch.\n\n38-58 duties of the Priesthood in connection with baptism.\n\n68 duty of members after they receive baptism.\n\n22. 1, 2 old covenants of no avail; necessary to be baptized to enter\nthe new covenant.\n\n39. 20 go forth baptizing with water, preparing the way. 23.\n\n52. 10 let them go, two by two, baptizing by water and laying on hands.\n\n134. 12 not lawful to baptize bond servants, without consent of their\nmasters.\n\n_See Testimonies of ancient and modern authors in relation to baptism,\nMil. Star, Vol. 21, pages 687, 721, 754, 768, 801, 833, and Vol. 22,\npages 44, 142, 491_.\n\n_O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. Wm. Crowel, No 4_.\n\n_A Pamphlet by O. Pratt_.\n\n_History of J. Smith, Mar. 20, 1842_.\n\n_Mil. Star, Vol. 33, pages 65, 82_.\n\n_Article by N. Williams, Mil. Star, Vol. 41, page 84_.\n\nBAPTISM FOR THE DEAD\n\nA prominent feature in the plan of redemption is the vicarious nature\nof the labors of Christ, and his ministers, for the salvation of men.\nIn his death and resurrection, Christ did that for men which they could\nnot do for themselves. In all dispensations of the Priesthood, it has\nbeen the duty of those officiating in its ordinances to act for others,\nwhen they could not act for themselves.\n\nUnder the Mosaic law, the tribe of Levi was set apart, to make it\nthe special business of their lives, in all their generations, to\nunderstand its ordinances and ceremonies that they might be capable\nof acting in behalf of the people, who were engaged in the ordinary\navocations of life. This labor was accepted by the Lord, in behalf of\nthe people, as though they had done it for themselves.\n\nThe ordinances described in the 16th _chap_. of _Lev_., which the High\nPriest was required to perform as an atonement for the sins of the\nhouse of Israel, clearly illustrates this principle. It is said of the\nscapegoat, \"And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the\nlive goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of\nIsrael, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them\nupon the head of the goat, and shall send _him_ away by the hand of a\nfit man into the wilderness;\" 16. 21. This confession of the sins of\nthe people, by the High Priest, was a vicarious work, and was accepted\nby the Lord as though they had confessed their own sins, with their\nhands upon the head of the goat--a work evidently impracticable for\nthem to do.\n\nThe vicarious nature of the sufferings of Christ are clearly foretold\nin the prophetic vision of Isaiah: \"Surely he hath borne our griefs,\nand carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of\nGod, and afflicted. But he _was_ wounded for our transgressions, _he\nwas_ bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace _was_\nupon him; and with his stripes we are healed;\" 53. 4, 5. The same\nprophet speaking further of Christ says, that he should be \"For a\ncovenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;\" 42. 6. Evidently\nreferring to his earthly mission in which this was literally fulfilled.\n\nAt the time when this should take place, there was another labor which\nhe was to perform. He was \"To open the blind eyes, to bring out the\nprisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the\nprison house;\" _verse_ 7. This passage informs us that there was a\nclass of persons who were confined in a dark, benighted prison, who\nwere to be delivered when Christ should be \"For a covenant of the\npeople, for a light of the Gentiles.\"\n\nThe Apostle Peter informs us that Jesus, between his death and\nresurrection, when his spirit was free from his body, went and preached\nto the spirits in prison. \"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,\nthe just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to\ndeath in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went\nand preached unto the spirits in prison;\" 1 _Pet_. 3. 18, 19. In the\ncontext he informs us that these spirits were those, of the people, who\nwere disobedient in the days of Noah.\n\nThe Apostle Peter had no narrow views of the plan of salvation, for\nwhen he speaks of Christ suffering, \"the just for the unjust,\" he makes\nno discrimination in favor of the living. For the assertion is sweeping\nand universal, that Christ died for all; else what profit could there\nbe in Christ's preaching to the spirits in prison, unless the way was\nopened for them to receive the ordinances and blessings of the Gospel,\nin common with the living?\n\nPeter positively informs us that the Gospel was preached to the dead,\nand the reason why, \"For, for this cause was the Gospel preached also\nto them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in\nthe flesh, but live according to God in the spirit;\" 4. 6. If they are\njudged according to men in the flesh, it would evidently be unjust, if\nthey should not have the benefit of all the ordinances and privileges\nthat pertain to the living. To the question, How can the dead receive\nthe ordinances of the Gospel? there can be but one answer--by proxy; by\nthe vicarious works of the living.\n\nNot only did Peter assert that the Gospel was preached to the spirits\nin prison, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but\nthe Apostle Paul informs us that the first Gospel ordinance, of all\ndispensations--baptism, was administered by proxy among the former-day\nSaints.\n\nSpeaking of the resurrection, he asks the Corinthian Saints, \"Else\nwhat shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise\nnot at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?\" 1 _Cor_. 15. 29.\nThat is, of what utility are baptisms for the dead, if there is no\nresurrection? This doctrine was evidently neither strange nor new to\nthose to whom the Apostles were writing.\n\nPaul further says, \"For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and\nrevived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living;\" _Rom_. 14.\n9. If this passage asserts anything, it is that Christ died for the\ndead as well as the living. Again, there is here no discrimination made\nin favor of the living.\n\nJesus gave some light on this subject, when talking with the Jews on\nmarrying and the resurrection: \"Neither can they die any more: for\nthey are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the\nchildren of the resurrection. * * * For he is not a God of the dead,\nbut of the living: for all live unto him;\" _Luke_ 20. 36, 38. The\nfollowing may be inferred from these passages: that notwithstanding\nmen die, they must live unto God through the resurrection, and as\nmyriads have died without a knowledge of the Gospel, they must have an\nopportunity of enjoying its blessings, in order to live unto God, after\nthey have come forth from the dead.\n\nThe prophet Malachi, in vision, saw our day, over 2200 years ago. In\nthe closing chapter of his prophecy and of the Old Testament, he says,\n\"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all\nthe proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the\nday that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it\nshall leave them neither root nor branch;\" 4. 1. But there is another\nimportant event to take place before that day, as we learn in _verses_\n5 & 6: \"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming\nof the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart\nof the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their\nfathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.\"\n\nElijah's coming must evidently be to some one who is prepared to\nreceive him, and to labor in the great work he is sent to inaugurate,\nfor the expression, \"He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the\nchildren, and the heart of the children to their fathers,\" is very\ncomprehensive. It does not discriminate between the living and the\ndead, between the past and the future. It pertains to the whole family\nof Adam.\n\nMoroni, the heavenly messenger who ministered to Joseph Smith, Jun.,\nmakes the universality of the work to be accomplished still plainer:\n\"And he shall plant in the hearts of the children, the promises made\nto the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their\nfathers; if it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at\nhis coming;\" _P. of G. P_., p. 50.\n\n\"It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten\nwith a curse, unless there is a welding link of some kind or other,\nbetween the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other, and\nbehold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we\nwithout them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be\nmade perfect.\n\n\"Neither can they nor we be made perfect, without those who have\ndied in the Gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of\nthe dispensation of the fulness of times; which dispensation is now\nbeginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and\nwelding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories\nshould take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the\npresent time; and not only this, but those things which never have\nbeen kept hid from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid\nfrom the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings\nin this the dispensation of the fulness of times;\" _Doc. & Cov., sec_.\n128. 18.\n\nThe time came for Elijah to appear and fill his great and glorious\nmission. The place was prepared, and the men were there who had the\nfaith to receive him, and the authority and power he was to bring to\nmen in the flesh, to administer in the ordinances of the Gospel for the\ndead.\n\nHe appeared to Joseph, the Seer, and O. Cowdery, in the Kirtland\nTemple, April 3d, 1836, and said, \"Behold, the time has fully come,\nwhich was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi, testifying that he\n(Elijah) should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord\ncome, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the\nchildren to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse.\nTherefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands,\nand by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is\nnear, even at the doors;\" _Doc. & Cov., sec_. 110. 14, 15, 16.\n\nOrdinances for the salvation of the dead require temples, or sacred\nplaces especially constructed for their administration. The former-day\nSaints usually remained in the same scattered condition in which\nthey received the Gospel. For these reasons, it is probable that the\ndoctrines pertaining to the salvation of the dead were imperfectly\ntaught. This may account for so little being said in the New Testament\non this subject.\n\nThe prophet Joseph has given special instructions on this subject in\n_secs_. 127 & 128, _Doc. & Cov_.\n\n_See Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. 3, page 362_.\n\n\" \" _J. Smith_, \" \" _6_, \" _1_.\n\n\" \" _Jos. Young_, \" \" _6_, \" _226_.\n\n\" \" _G. Q. Cannon_, \" \" _14_, \" _310_.\n\n\" \" _J. Taylor_, \" \" _15_, \" _284_.\n\n\" \" _W. Woodruff_, \" \" _16_, \" _263_.\n\n\" \" _O. Pratt_, \" \" _18_, \" _41_.\n\n\" \" _B. Young_, \" \" _18_, \" _235_.\n\n_History of J. Smith, Oct. 18, 1840_.\n\n\" \" \" _31, 1841_.\n\n\" \" _Dec. 13, 1841_.\n\n\" \" _March 27, 1842_.\n\n\" \" _April 15, 1842_.\n\n\" \" _Jan. 21, 1844_.\n\n\" \" _April 8, 1844_.\n\n\" \" _May 12, 1844_.\n\n\n\nREMISSION OF SINS.\n\nThis subject is closely connected with the fall of man and the\natonement of our Savior. The fall was brought about by a law being\ngiven to him, in the Garden of Eden. He broke that law, and the fall\nwas the penalty of transgression.\n\nThe atonement opens up the way for the removal of that penalty; and\nalso for the removal of the effects of men's individual sins through\nrepentance. It is through obedience to certain laws and ordinances,\nderiving their efficacy from the atonement of Christ, that men's sins\nare remitted.\n\nMan, in his weak and fallen state, is ever prone to sin. God, in his\ngreat love and mercy, has provided a way through which his sins may\nbe forgiven. Besides the outward ordinances of the Gospel, there are\nthree general conditions which the sinner must fulfil, in order to have\nhis sins remitted. He must confess them and ask forgiveness; _Doc.\n& Cov_., 64. 7. He must forgive others of their trespasses. Christ\ntaught his disciples, \"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your\nHeavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their\ntrespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses;\"\n_Matt_. 6. 14, 15.\n\nThe Lord said to his prophet Joseph, \"Ye ought to forgive one another,\nfor he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses, standeth\ncondemned before the Lord, for there remaineth in him the greater sin;\"\n_Doc. & Cov_, 64. 9. The third condition is, men must continually\nbear in mind the atonement of Christ. The Nephite Saints continually\nlooked forward to the atonement of Christ, \"Thus retaining a remission\nof their sins;\" _Alma_ 4. 13, 14. We are often taught in the sacred\nwritings to make our supplications to the Father, in the name of his\nSon Jesus Christ, who has become a propitiation for sin. The works\nnecessary to attain to a remission of sins, and the results of that\nremission, are well expressed by the Nephite prophet, Moroni:\n\n\"And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by\nfaith, unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the\ncommandments bringeth remission of sins; and the remission of sins\nbringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart, and because of meekness and\nlowliness of heart, cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which\nComforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by\ndiligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the Saints\nshall dwell with God;\" _Moroni_ 8. 25, 26.\n\nBible.\n\n_Exo_. 23. 21 provoke him not, for he will not pardon your\ntransgressions.\n\n32. 32 Moses said, yet now if thou wilt forgive their sin.\n\n34. 7 forgiving transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear\nthe guilty.\n\n_Josh_. 24. 19 is a holy a jealous God, he will not forgive your sins.\n\n1 _Kings_ 8. 30 hear thou in heaven, and when thou hearest forgive.\n\n2 _Chron_. 7. 14 then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their\nsin.\n\n_Neh_. 9. 17 thou art a God ready to pardon, slow to anger.\n\n_Psalm_ 32. 1 blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin\nis covered _Rom_. 4. 7.\n\n86. 5 for thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive.\n\n103. 3 who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.\n\n130. 4 but there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared.\n\n_Jer_. 31. 34 for I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin\nno more.\n\n_Dan_. 9. 9 to the Lord belong mercies and forgiveness. 19.\n\n_Mic_. 7. 18 who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity.\n\n_Matt_. 6. 12 forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. _Luke_\n11. 4.\n\n9. 2 son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee.\n\n18. 21 how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?\n\n35 if ye forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.\n\n_Mark_ 2. 7 who can forgive sins but God only?\n\n11. 25 forgive, that your Father in heaven may forgive you.\n\n_Luke_ 6. 37 condemn not; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.\n\n17. 3, 4 if thy brother trespass against thee seven times.\n\n23. 34 Jesus said, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.\n\n_John_ 20. 23 whosesoever sins ye remit they are remitted.\n\n_Acts_ 26. 18 turn them from the power of Satan to God, that they may\nreceive forgiveness of sins.\n\n_Eph_. 4. 32 forgiving one another as God hath forgiven you.\n\n_Heb_. 9. 22 without shedding of blood there is no remission.\n\n1 _John_ 2. 12 because your sins are forgiven, for his name's sake\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n_Mos_. 26. 30 as often as my people repent will I forgive them. 31.\n\n_Moroni_ 10. 33 shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the\ncovenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 62. 3 angels rejoice over you and your sins are forgiven.\n\n64. 7 I the Lord forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before\nme.\n\n8 the former-day disciples were afflicted because they forgave not one\nanother. 9.\n\n10 I forgive whom I will, but of you it is required to forgive all men.\n\n82. 1 inasmuch as you have forgiven one another, so I the Lord forgive\nyou.\n\n110. 5 your sins are forgiven you: you are clean before me.\n\n\n\nLAYING ON OF HANDS.\n\nFOR ORDINATION.\n\nOrdinations to offices in the holy Priesthood are sometimes mentioned\nin both the Old and New Testaments, when it is not stated in the\ncontext that it was by the imposition of hands. The apostle Paul\nexhorted Timothy, \"Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was\ngiven thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the\npresbytery;\" 1 _Tim_. 4. 14. The inference is reasonable, that Paul\nhere refers to an ordination to some office in the Priesthood.\n\nPaul again said to Timothy, \"Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee\nby the putting on of my hands;\" 2 _Tim_. 1. 6.\n\nThe Lord revealed to Joseph the prophet, that the Priesthood descended\nfrom Adam to Noah under the HANDS OF THE FATHERS; _Doc & Cov_. 107.\n40-52.\n\nWe are further informed that \"Abraham received the Priesthood from\nMelchisedek, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even\ntill Noah;\" 84. 14. Esaias, who lived in the days of Abraham, \"received\nit under the hands of God;\" from him it descended under the hands of\nthe fathers to Moses; 6-13.\n\nIn this dispensation all the offices and authority of the Priesthood\nare conferred by the laying on of hands. The first ordination to the\nPriesthood, in this dispensation, was under the hands of John the\nBaptist; _Doc. & Cov., sec_. 13. The angel, John the Baptist, commanded\nJoseph Smith and O. Cowdery to baptize each other. The prophet says:\n\"Accordingly we went and were baptized, I baptized him first, and\nafterwards he baptized me, after which I laid my hands upon his head\nand ordained him to the Aaronic Priesthood, afterwards he laid his\nhands on me and ordained me to the same Priesthood--for so were we\ncommanded;\" _His. of J. Smith, May_ 15, 1829.\n\nThe same order as was observed in the ordination to the Aaronic\nPriesthood, was also observed by Joseph Smith and O. Cowdery in their\nordination to the Melchisedek Priesthood; _Doc. & Cov_. 20. 3, 4,\n_sec_. 21. 10-12.\n\nFOR THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.\n\nThe laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost,\ncharacterized the primitive Gospel dispensation, as recorded in the New\nTestament. Peter and John laid their hands on the people of Samaria,\nwho had been baptized, and they received the Holy Ghost; _Acts_ 8. 17.\n\nAnanias laid hands on Saul, by special commandment, before he was\nbaptized, that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy\nGhost; 9. 17.\n\nPaul found some people at Ephesus, that claimed to be disciples of\nJohn the Baptist, who had not even heard of the Holy Ghost. When he\nhad baptized them, \"and when he had laid his hands upon them, the Holy\nGhost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied;\" 19.\n2-6.\n\nThe laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost\ncharacterized both the Mosaic and Gospel dispensations among the\nNephites. \"Now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words,\nthat he clapped his hands upon all them who were with him. And behold,\nas he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy\nSpirit;\" _Alma_ 31. 36. We are informed that the Nephites, at this\ntime, were very strict in observing the ordinances of God according to\nthe law of Moses; 30. 3.\n\nWhen our Savior organized the Council of Twelve Apostles among the\nNephites, he touched them with his hand and gave them power to give\nthe Holy Ghost. \"And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end\nof these sayings, he touched with his hand the disciples whom he had\nchosen, one by one, even until he had touched them all, and spake unto\nthem as he touched them; and the multitude heard not the words which\nhe spake, therefore they did not bear record; but the disciples bear\nrecord that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost;\" 3 _Nephi_ 18.\n36, 37.\n\nThe Apostles of this dispensation are especially instructed to lay\nhands on those who have been baptized into the church, \"For the baptism\nof fire and the Holy Ghost, according to the scriptures;\" _Doc. & Cov_.\n20. 41.\n\nWhen the few who had received the Gospel first met to organize the\nchurch, the prophet Joseph laid his hands on O. Cowdery and ordained\nhim an elder in the church, after which O. Cowdery ordained the prophet\nJoseph to the same office. They then administered the sacrament to the\nSaints. Afterwards they laid their hands \"on each individual member of\nthe church present, that they might receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,\nand be confirmed members of the Church of Christ;\" _His. of J. Smith,\nApril_ 6, 1830. This was the first time in this dispensation that hands\nwere publicly laid on for the bestowal of the Holy Ghost, and for\nconfirmation.\n\nFOR HEALING THE SICK.\n\nJesus Christ has left us his example for laying hands on the sick, that\nthey might be healed. He touched the hand of Peter's wife's mother, and\nthe fever left her; _Matt_. 8. 15. \"He laid his hands upon a few sick\nfolk, and healed them;\" _Mark_ 6. 5.\n\nAbout the close of his earthly mission, Jesus said to his disciples,\n\"Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature;\"\nand promised them that if they would lay hands on the sick, they should\nrecover; 16. 15, 18.\n\n\"By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among\nthe people;\" _Acts_ 5. 12.\n\nThe Lord, through his prophet, Joseph, has commanded his people to\nadminister to the sick by the laying on of hands. \"And whosoever among\nyou are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be\nnursed with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by\nthe hand of an enemy. And the elders of the church, two or more, shall\nbe called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name;\nand if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall\nlive unto me;\" _Doc. & Cov_., 42. 43, 44.\n\nThe ordinance of laying on of hands for the bestowal of authority,\npower and blessing has characterized all the dispensations of the holy\nPriesthood. But it does not necessarily follow that the Creator may not\nbestow these favors in other ways.\n\nBefore the flood, the Lord said to Enoch, \"Anoint thine eyes with clay,\nand wash them, and thou shalt see;\" and the spiritual creations were\nopened to his vision; _P. of G. P., p_. 15.\n\nNaaman, the Syrian, was cleansed of his leprosy by washing seven times\nin Jordan; 2 _Kings_ 5. 10-14.\n\nThe blind man, after Jesus had anointed his eyes with clay, received\nhis sight by washing them in the pool of Siloam; _John_ 9. 7. Contrary\nto the usual custom, Ananias laid hands on Saul, before he was\nbaptized, that he might be filled with the Holy Ghost; _Acts_ 9. 17.\n\nBible.\n\n_Num_. 27. 18 take thee Joshua, the son of Nun, and lay thine hand upon\nhim.\n\n2 _Kings_ 5. 11 I thought he would strike his hand over the place.\n\n_Mark_ 7. 33 put his finger into his ears, and touched his tongue.\n\n8. 23 he took the blind man and put his hands on him. 25.\n\n_Acts_ 4. 30 stretching forth thy hand to heal, that signs and wonders\nbe done.\n\n14. 3 granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 20. 58 teachers and deacons have no authority to lay on hands.\n\n25. 8 by his hands you shall receive the Holy Ghost.\n\n33. 15 by the laying on of hands I will bestow the Holy Ghost.\n\n36. 2 will lay my hands upon you, by the hand of my servant.\n\n39. 23 by your hands they shall receive the Holy Ghost, and know me.\n\n42. 43, 44 the elders shall lay hands on the sick.\n\n49. 14 receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. _Sec_. 52. 10.\n_Sec_. 53. 3. _Sec_. 55. 1.\n\n66. 9 lay your hands upon the sick and they shall recover.\n\n68. 25 children should be taught baptism, and the Gift of the Holy\nGhost by laying on hands.\n\n27 and their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins\nwhen eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands.\n\n_See Mil. Star, Vol. 3, page 59_.\n\n_History of J. Smith, March 20, 1842_.\n\n\n\nTHE RESURRECTION.\n\nWhat little knowledge we have of this doctrine we have received from\nJesus Christ, the author of it, and from those whom he has sent to\nteach mankind. From these we learn that a resurrection has occurred,\nand that there will be others at different periods of time, as well as\nunder different circumstances.\n\nThe resurrection is predicated on the death or dissolution of the\nearth, and all organizations pertaining to it. As the fall of Adam\nbrought death or dissolution, so the death and resurrection of Christ\nwill bring to pass a restoration to life, of all creatures that have\nbeen affected by the fall.\n\nAT CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.\n\nThat Christ well understood the great object of his earthly mission,\nis evident from many of his sayings previous to his death and\nresurrection. Early in his ministry he said to Nicodemus, \"As Moses\nlifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be\nlifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have\neternal life;\" _John_ 3. 14, 15.\n\nOn another occasion Jesus said to Martha the sister of Lazarus, \"I am\nthe resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he were\ndead, yet shall he live;\" _John_ 11. 25. At another time, in talking\nwith the Pharisees, he said, \"Therefore doth my Father love me, because\nI lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from\nme, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and to\ntake it up again;\" _John_ 10. 17, 18.\n\nWe are informed that one resurrection has already taken place, and that\nit occurred at the resurrection of our Savior. \"And the graves were\nopened; and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose, and came out\nof the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and\nappeared unto many;\" _Matt_. 27. 52, 53.\n\nThe following indicates that the prophet Isaiah had a prophetic glimpse\nof this resurrection; \"Thy dead _men_ shall live, _together_ with my\ndead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for\nthy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead;\"\n_Isa_. 26. 19.\n\nIt would appear that the Psalmist, David, looked forward for redemption\nfrom the dead, at the resurrection of Christ. \"My flesh also shall rest\nin hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou\nsuffer thine Holy One to see corruption;\" _Psalm_ 16. 9, 10.\n\nThe Book of Mormon is much more definite and comprehensive on this\nsubject than the Bible. \"And there cometh a resurrection, even a first\nresurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and\nwho are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ: for\nso shall he be called. And now, the resurrection of all the prophets,\nand all those that have believed in their words, or all those that\nhave kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first\nresurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection * * * And\nthese are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are\nthey that have died before Christ came in their ignorance, not having\nsalvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the\nrestoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection,\nor have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord. And little children\nalso have eternal life;\" _Mos_. 15. 21-25.\n\nThis declaration of the prophet-king, Mosiah, was made about 100 B. C.\nAlma, who lived and prophesied a few years later, says, \"And behold,\nagain it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection; a\nresurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be,\ndown to the resurrection of Christ from the dead;\" _Alma_ 40. 16.\n\nFrom these passages quoted from the Book of Mormon, and their\ncontexts, it is evident that the Nephite Saints looked forward to the\nresurrection of Christ from the dead, for their deliverance from the\ngrave, with the same assurance that the Latter-day Saints anticipate\ntheir resurrection at his second coming.\n\nBy way of explanation, the prophet Alma adds, \"The resurrection meaneth\nthe re-uniting of the soul with the body of those from the days of\nAdam, down to the resurrection of Christ;\" 40. 18, 19.\n\nThe Lamanite prophet, Samuel, speaking of the resurrection of Christ,\nsays, \"And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of\ntheir dead; and many Saints shall appear unto many;\" _Hel_. 14. 25.\nDuring Christ's ministry among the Nephites, his disciples testified\nthat this prophecy was fulfilled; 3 _Nephi_ 23. 10.\n\nBible.\n\n_Job_ 19. 25 for I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall\nstand at the latter day upon the earth.\n\n_Matt_. 17. 9 until the Son of Man be risen from the dead. _Mark_ 9.9.\n27. 64 and the people say he is risen from the dead.\n\n28. 6 he is not here, for he is risen as he said. _Mark_ 16. 6, 9, 14.\n\n_Luke_ 24. 34 the Lord is risen, indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.\n\n_John_ 2. 19-21 destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it\nup.\n\n5. 25 the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the\nvoice of the Son of God.\n\n26 the Father gave to the Son to have life in himself.\n\n8. 28 when ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I\nam he.\n\n12. 32 if I be lifted up I will draw all men to me.\n\n_Acts_ 1. 22 must one be ordained to be a witness of his resurrection.\n\n2. 31 David spake of the resurrection of Christ. 32.\n\n26. 23 that he should be the first that should rise from the dead.\n\n_Rom_. 8. 34 is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God.\n\n14. 9 died and rose that he might be Lord of the dead and living.\n\n_Col 1_. 18 who is the beginning, the first born from the dead.\n\n_Rev_. 1. 18 I am he that liveth and was dead.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 2. 8, 9 he layeth down his life and taketh it again, that he\nmay bring to pass the resurrection of the dead. _Mos_. 13. 35.\n\n_Mos_. 16. 9 he is a life that is endless, that there can be no more\ndeath. 10.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 6. 20 testifying of the death of Christ and of his\nresurrection, in all the land.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 18. 12 he hath risen from the dead, that he might bring all men\nto him.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 21. the Saints arose at the resurrection of Christ. The spirits\nthat were in prison came forth.\n\nAT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.\n\nThose who have lived and died since the resurrection of Christ, in the\nhope of a resurrection from the dead, are looking forward to the time\nof his coming, in the latter days, for their redemption from the grave.\n\"Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For\nthis we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive\nand remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are\nasleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,\nwith the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the\ndead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive _and_ remain\nshall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord\nin the air;\" 1 _Thess_. 4. 14-17.\n\nChrist said to his Nephite disciples who were to remain until his\ncoming, \"When I shall come in my glory, ye shall be changed in the\ntwinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality;\" 3 _Nephi_ 28. 8.\n\nThe Lord said to Joseph Smith, the Seer, \"Behold, I will come; and they\nshall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great\nglory, with all the holy angels; and he that watches not for me shall\nbe cut off; * * and the Saints that have slept shall come forth to meet\nme in the cloud;\" _Doc. & Cov_., 45. 44, 45.\n\nWe have seen by previous reference to the Book of Mormon, that the\nheathen nations, and those who knew no law, should be resurrected when\nChrist arose from the dead. The Lord revealed to Joseph, the Seer, that\nthis should also take place when he comes in his glory. \"And then shall\nthe heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have\npart in the first resurrection;\" _verse_ 54.\n\nThe Lord gave Joseph, the Seer, a further description of this glorious\nevent. \"And immediately after shall the curtain of heaven be unfolded,\nas a scroll is unfolded after it is rolled up, and the face of the Lord\nshall be unveiled; and the Saints that are upon the earth, who are\nalive, shall be quickened, and be caught up to meet him. And they who\nhave slept in their graves shall come forth; for their graves shall be\nopened, and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of\nthe pillar of heaven: They are Christ's, the first fruits: they who\nshall descend with him first, and they who are on the earth and in\ntheir graves, who are first caught up to meet him;\" 88. 95-98.\n\nThen comes the redemption of those who have received their part in\nthat prison that is prepared for them; _verse_ 99. \"Then cometh the\nspirits of men who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation;\nand these are the rest of the dead, and they live not again until the\nthousand years are ended, neither again, until the end of the earth;\"\n_verses_ 100 and 101. These appear to be the only ones of the family of\nman whose bodies remain in their graves until the last resurrection.\n\nBible.\n\n_Dan_. 12. 2 many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall\nawake.\n\n_Luke_ 14. 14 for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the\njust.\n\n_Rev_. 11. 18 the time of the dead, that they should be judged.\n\n20. 5, 6 blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 29. 13 the dead who have died in Christ shall come forth.\n\n63. 18 they shall not have part in the first resurrection. 49, 51.\n\n76. 50-70 concerning those who shall come forth in the resurrection of\nthe just.\n\n71-80 concerning those of the terrestrial world who shall rise in the\nfirst resurrection.\n\n88. 100 then cometh the spirits of men who are still under condemnation.\n\nRESURRECTION AT THE END OF THE WORLD.\n\nJohn, the Revelator, has left us a short description of this\nresurrection, and of the judgment connected with it. \"And I saw the\ndead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and\nanother book was opened, which is _the book of life_: and the dead were\njudged out of those things which were written in the books, according\nto their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and\ndeath and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were\njudged every man according to their works;\" _Rev_. 20. 12, 13.\n\nAt that time, the earth, having filled the measure of its creation, in\nthis order of things, will undergo a change that will fit it for the\nresidence of exalted, celestial beings; \"And I saw a new heaven and a\nnew earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away;\"\n21. 1.\n\nThe Book of Mormon, also gives some account of this final resurrection;\n\"And they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand\nbefore his bar, being redeemed and loosed from the eternal band of\ndeath;\" _Mormon_ 9. 13.\n\nThe Jaredite prophet, Ether, who lived on the American continent 600\nyears before the Savior was born, predicted this great change in the\nearth; \"And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall\nbe like unto the old, save the old have passed away, and all things\nshall become new;\" _Ether_ 13. 9.\n\nJoseph, the Seer of the present dispensation, has given us a more\ncomprehensive view of this subject than has come down from other\ndispensations; \"And the end shall come, and the heaven and the earth\nshall be consumed and pass away, and there shall be a new heaven and\na new earth, for all old things shall pass away, and all things shall\nbecome new, even the heaven and the earth, and all the fulness thereof,\nboth men and beasts, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea;\nand not one hair, neither mote, shall be lost;\" _Doc. & Cov_., 29.\n23-25.\n\nBoth the wicked and the righteous will be resurrected; _verses_ 26, 27.\nThat the final change in the earth will be equivalent to a resurrection\nis evident from the following: \"Wherefore it shall be sanctified; yea,\nnotwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again, and shall\nabide the power by which it is quickened;\" 88. 26.\n\nBible.\n\n_Matt_. 25. 32 all nations to be gathered before the Son of Man.\n\n_Rev_. 20. 15 those not found written in the book of life, were cast\ninto the lake of fire.\n\n8 the wicked had their part in the lake of fire.\n\n22. 11 he that is unjust, let him be unjust still. 12.\n\n15. without are dogs, sorcerers and whoremongers.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 26. 4 when all people and nations shall stand before God.\n\n_Mormon_ 9. 2 when the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll, when\nye shall be brought to stand before the Lamb of God.\n\n13 when all, both small and great, shall be loosed from the bands of\ndeath.\n\n_Ether_ 4. 19 he that is faithful at the last day shall be lifted up.\n\n5. 6 when we shall stand before God at the last day.\n\nDoctrine & Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 76. 39 for all the rest shall be brought forth by the\nresurrection of the dead.\n\n81-89 concerning those of the telestial world who will come forth in\nthe last resurrection.\n\nRESURRECTION OF THE BODY THAT IS LAID DOWN.\n\nWhen Job said, \"Though after my skin _worms_ destroy this body, yet in\nmy flesh shall I see God;\" 19. 26; it is evident that he believed that\nthough his body should be disorganized, yet, in his own flesh, and not\nin that of another, he should see God. As if to confirm his assertion,\nhe further adds, \"Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall\nbehold, and not another;\" _verse_ 27.\n\nA literal resurrection was manifested to Ezekiel in his vision of the\nresurrection of the house of Israel; 37. 1-14.\n\nWhen Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and said, \"This\nis John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead;\" _Matt_. 14. 1, 2; he\nprobably, in common with the Jews, believed in a literal resurrection.\n\nJesus said to his disciples, \"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I\nmyself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as\nye see me have;\" _Luke_ 24. 39; _John_ 20. 27; _Acts_ 10. 41. \"He that\nraised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies;\"\n_Rom_. 8. 11. That is, their bodies that died, and not some other\nbodies.\n\nThe apostle Paul gives us some light on this subject: \"But some _man_\nwill say, How are the dead raised? and with what body do they come?\n_Thou_ fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die; *\n* thou sowest not that body that shall be. * * But God giveth it a body\nas it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is\nnot the same flesh: but _there is one kind of_ flesh of men, another\nflesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds;\" 1 _Cor_. 15.\n35-39.\n\nThe apostle evidently considers the old body the germ of a new body,\nwhich will be like the old, but a new growth, even as new grain is\nproduced from that which is sown.\n\nIt is also evident that the apostle considered it impossible for one\nkind of flesh to mingle with another in the resurrection, as they\nwidely differ, from different combinations of the elements, in their\norganization. As well might we expect the different grades of spiritual\norganizations, to intermingle, as the different kinds of flesh of which\ntheir material bodies are composed.\n\nThe following is from the _Times and Seasons, vol. 5, page_ 617:\n\"Mothers, you shall have your children, for they shall have eternal\nlife: for their debt is paid, there is no damnation awaits them, for\nthey are in the spirit. As the child dies, so shall it rise from the\ndead and be forever living in the learning of God; it shall be the\nchild, the same as it was before it died out of your arms. Children\ndwell and exercise power in the same from as they laid them down.\"\n\nIn the _History of Joseph Smith_, under date of April 7, 1843, we find\nthe following very pointed assertion on this subject: \"There is no\nfundamental principle belonging to a human system that ever goes into\nanother in this world or in the world to come: I care not what the\ntheories of men are. We have the testimony that God will raise us up,\nand he has the power to do it. If any supposes that any part of our\nbodies, that is the fundamental parts thereof, ever goes into another\nbody, he is mistaken.\"\n\n_See a Sermon by J. Smith, Jun., Times and Seasons, Vol, 5, page 612_.\n\n_Also a Pamphlet published the same year in which the above Discourse\nwas delivered_.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 9. 4 must waste away, but in our bodies we shall see God.\n\n6 as death has passed on all men, there must be a power of resurrection.\n\n8. 9 if the flesh should rise no more, our spirits must become subject\nto the devil.\n\n12 the bodies and spirits of men will be restored, the one to the other.\n\n_Alma_ 11. 43-45 the spirit and the body shall be reunited in perfect\nform.\n\n40. 23 not a hair of the head shall be lost.\n\n_Mormon_ 6. 21 day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality.\n\nMiscellaneous Passages.\n\n_Matt_. 22. 28 therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be.\n_Luke_ 20. 33.\n\n31, 32 God is not the God of the dead but of the living.\n\n_Mark_ 12. 25 rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in\nmarriage.\n\n_Luke_ 20. 36 are the children of God, being the children of the\nresurrection.\n\n_John_ 5. 21 the Father raiseth up the dead; the Son quickeneth whom he\nwill.\n\n28 all that are in their graves shall hear his voice.\n\n11. 24 I know he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.\n25, 26.\n\n_Acts_ 4. 2 and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.\n10, 33.\n\n24. 15 a resurrection of both the just and unjust.\n\n26. 8 thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the\ndead.\n\n_Rom_. 4. 17 even God who quickeneth the dead.\n\n6. 5 we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.\n\n1 _Cor_. 3. 22 life or death, things present or to come, all are yours.\n\n15. 40-44 bodies are raised in different degrees of glory, according to\ntheir order.\n\n45 first man, Adam, was made a living soul, the last a quickening\nspirit.\n\n_Col_. 3. 1 ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are\nabove.\n\n2 _Tim_. 1. 10 who hath brought life and immortality to light through\nthe Gospel.\n\n_Heb_. 6. 2 of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.\n\n11. 35 not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better\nresurrection.\n\n1 _Peter_ 1. 3 hath begotten us again unto a lively hope of the\nresurrection.\n\n_Rev_. 1. 5 first begotten of the dead, and king of the princes of the\nearth.\n\n14. 13 blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Their works follow\nthem.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n_Alma_ 11. 41 the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption\nmade, except the loosing of the bands of death.\n\n12. 7 been spoken concerning the resurrection of the dead, that all\nshall rise. 16, 18, 24.\n\n_Chap_. 40. no resurrection until after the coming of Christ. A time\nappointed that all shall rise. Must needs be a space between death and\nthe resurrection. State of the soul during that time.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 28. 36-40 concerning the change wrought in the disciples who\nwere to tarry.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 42. 45 especially for those that have not hope of a glorious\nresurrection.\n\n43. 18 say to the sleeping nations, ye Saints arise, ye sinners stay\nand sleep.\n\n32 he that liveth in righteousness shall be changed in the twinkling of\nan eye.\n\n88. 14 through the redemption that is made for you, is brought to pass\nthe resurrection of the dead.\n\n101. 31 not sleep but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye.\n\n130. 18 whatever knowledge we attain to in this life, will rise with us\nin the resurrection.\n\n132. 13 all things not ordained of God, shall not remain after the\nresurrection.\n\n133. 55 Moses, Elijah and John with Christ in his resurrection\n\n_See a Pamphlet by B. Young_.\n\n_Sermon by J. Smith, J. of D., Vol. 6, page 1_.\n\n\" _B. Young \" _Vol. 15, page 139_.\n\n\" _Geo. Q. Cannon, J. of D., Vol. 17, page 134_.\n\n_Article by P. P. Pratt, Mil. Star, Vol. 2, page 97_.\n\n_Key to Theology, Chapter 15_.\n\n_Sermon by J. Smith, Mil. Star, Vol. 3, page 59_.\n\n_Article by C. W. Penrose, Mil. Star, Vol. 30, page 65_.\n\n_History of J. Smith, April 16, 1843_.\n\n\n\nTHE HOLY PRIESTHOOD.\n\n\"There are, in the church, two Priesthoods, namely, the Melchisedek and\nAaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first is called\nthe Melchisedek Priesthood, is because Melchisedek was such a great\nHigh Priest. Before his day it was called _the Holy Priesthood, after\nthe Order of the Son of God_. * * * All other authorities or offices in\nthe church are appendages to this Priesthood;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 107. 1-5.\n\nIn the ordinances of this Priesthood \"The power of Godliness is\nmanifest; and without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the\nPriesthood, the power of Godliness is not manifest unto men in the\nflesh;\" 84. 20, 21.\n\nThis Priesthood, or _Order of the Son of God_. is \"Without father,\nwithout mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor\nend of life;\" _Heb_. 7. 3. Its authority and powers have ever existed,\nand there has never been wanting intelligences to manifest them through\nits ordinances.\n\n\"This greater Priesthood administereth the Gospel and holdeth the key\nof the mysteries of the kingdom even the key of the knowledge of God;\"\n_Doc. & Cov_. 84. 19. That this passage refers to a personal knowledge\nof God is evident from _verse_ 22, \"For without this no man can see the\nface of God, even the Father, and live.\" This is a distinct line drawn\nbetween the two Priesthoods.\n\nThat man could not attain to the knowledge which would admit him\nto the presence of God, without the Melchisedek Priesthood, \"Moses\nplainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought\ndiligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of\nGod; but they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence,\ntherefore the Lord in his wrath (for his anger was kindled against\nthem) swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the\nwilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory. Therefore he took\nMoses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;\" _verses_ 23-25.\n\nThe Latter-day Saints have this Priesthood, with its authority,\nordinances and blessings. How they have obtained it, is a very\nimportant question. Peter was the chief of the apostles, in the Gospel\ndispensation, from which we understand that the Presidency of the\nMelchisedek Priesthood, in that dispensation, was vested in him, and\nthat it was through him that its succession could be again restored to\nthe earth. We find that in June, 1829, a revelation was given, making\nknown the calling of a Council of Twelve Apostles; _Doc & Cov_. 18. 27.\n\nIt is evident that between the fifteenth of May, 1829, and the time\nwhen this revelation was given, in June following, Joseph Smith, Jun.,\nO. Cowdery, and D. Whitmer were called to the Melchisedek Priesthood.\nFor the Lord, speaking to O. Cowdery and D. Whitmer, said, \"I speak\nunto you, even as unto Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with\nthe same calling with which he was called;\" _verse_ 9.\n\nWhile Joseph Smith, Jun., is not mentioned here as an apostle, we have\nthe information in a revelation given April, 1830, that he was the\nfirst apostle and elder of this church, \"Which commandments were given\nto Joseph Smith, Jun., who was called of God, and ordained an APOSTLE\nof Jesus Christ, to be the FIRST ELDER of this church; and to Oliver\nCowdery, who was also called of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be\nthe SECOND ELDER of this church, and ordained under his hand;\" _Doc. &\nCov_. 20. 2, 3.\n\nWe are informed in _sec_. 27. 12, under date of September, 1830, who\nordained them; \"And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have\nsent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be\napostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your\nministry, and of the same things which I revealed unto them.\"\n\nThe presidency of Peter, James and John are plainly asserted in the\nabove passages; the thirteenth verse, with the context, informs us\nthat they bestowed the presidency of this dispensation on Joseph Smith\nand others: \"Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and\na dispensation of the Gospel for the last time; and for the fulness\nof times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both\nwhich are in heaven, and which are on earth.\" We are informed that\nthese primitive apostles also testified that they held this presidency\nof the Melchisedek Priesthood: \"The voice of Peter, James and John in\nthe wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna County, and Colesville,\nBroome County, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as\npossessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the\nfulness of times;\" 128. 20.\n\nIn the thirty-seventh verse of _sec_. 18, the Lord designated O.\nCowdery and D. Whitmer as two men he had chosen to search out the then\nfuture Twelve, whom the Lord declares, in the twenty-seventh verse were\nalready called. This selection, of the Council of Twelve Apostles, was\nnot made until February 14, 1835, over five years afterwards.\n\nThe most comprehensive evidence that Joseph Smith. Jun., received the\nauthority and power of the Holy Priesthood, is that the works of John\nthe Baptist, of Jesus and his apostles, are being again done on the\nearth by his administration. To receive the powers of this Priesthood,\nit is necessary that men should obey the laws and ordinances of the\nGospel.\n\nThe Lord has personally appeared to some men, and covenanted with them\nas he did with Abraham; _Gen_. 12. 1-3. _chap_. 13. 14-17. The Lord\nalso personally called and authorized his twelve Jewish apostles. So\nfully were they authorized to labor for him, and act in his name, that\nhe said to them, \"He that receiveth you receiveth me; and he that\nreceiveth me receiveth him that sent me;\" _Matt_. 10. 40.\n\nMore generally, it is from the prophets and apostles of Christ that\nmen receive the Priesthood. Many received it under the hands of the\napostles of the first Gospel dispensation. Those who have received it\nin this latter-day dispensation, have received it from Joseph Smith,\nJun., and O. Cowdery, and, in doing so, have received it through a\nlegitimate channel from God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. Those\nwho have received this Priesthood have covenanted with God the Father,\nand he with them. This is evidently the view taken of the subject in\nthe above passage quoted from Matthew.\n\nThe doctrine is more fully illustrated in _Doc. & Cov_.: \"All they\nwho receive this Priesthood receiveth me, saith the Lord; for he that\nreceiveth my servants receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth\nmy Father; and he that receiveth my Father, receiveth my Father's\nkingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him;\nand this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the\nPriesthood;\" 84. 35-39.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 14. 18, 20 Melchisedek, king of Salem, blessed Abraham. _Heb_.\n7. 1, 2.\n\n_Psalm_ 110. 4 thou art a priest forever after the order of\nMelchisedek. _Heb_. 5. 6, 10. _Chap_. 6. 20.\n\n_Acts_ 14. 23 and when they had ordained them elders in every church.\n\n20. 17 sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church.\n\n_Titus_ 1. 5 and ordain elders in every city.\n\n_Heb_. 2 17 a faithful High Priest, to make reconciliation for the sins\nof the people.\n\n3. 1 the Apostle and High Priest of our profession.\n\n4. 14 a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God.\n\n15 not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our\ninfirmities.\n\n5. 1 every high priest taken from among men is ordained. 8. 3.\n\n8. 1, 2 Jesus Christ an high priest, and minister of the sanctuary. 3,\n5.\n\n10. 19-21 boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n_Mos_. 29. 42 the office of high priest conferred on Alma by his father.\n\n_Alma_ 4. 4 Alma high priest over the church. 20. _Chap_. 5. 3, 49, 51.\n\n6. 1 ordained priests and elders according to the holy order of God. 8.\n\n13. 1, 2. ordained priests after the order of his Son, that the people\nmight know how to look forward to the redemption of his Son.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 18. 5 one ordained to bless bread, and break it.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 18. 27-39 duty of the Twelve Apostles to preach the Gospel.\n\n21. 1 J. Smith, Jun., to be called a seer, translator, prophet and\napostle.\n\n10, 11 J. Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery ordain each other.\n\n27. 5-11 personages who held important keys of the Priesthood, in\nformer dispensations.\n\n28. 2 none to receive revelations for the church but J. Smith, Jun.\n\n_Sec_. 102. organization of the first High Council of the church.\n\n106. 1 W. A. Cowdery appointed and ordained a presiding high priest.\n\n107. 33 the Twelve are a traveling presiding High Council, to officiate\nin the name of the Lord under the direction of the Presidency of the\nchurch agreeable to the institution of heaven to build up the church,\nand regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations; first unto the\nGentiles, and secondly unto the Jews.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 26. Abraham became a high priest, holding the right belonging to\nthe fathers.\n\n28. Pharaoh was of that lineage which could not have the right of\nPriesthood.\n\nMiscellaneous Passages.\n\n_John_ 15. 16 ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.\n\n1 _Cor_. 5. 5 offenders to be delivered to Satan by the Priesthood.\n\n2 _Cor_. 5. 20 now then we are embassadors for Christ.\n\n_Heb_. 5. 4 no man taketh this honor, but he that is called of God.\n\n7. 15-28 another priest who is made after the power of endless lives.\n\n9. 11-28 Christ the great sacrifice, the Mediator of the New Testament.\n\n10. 19-21 boldness to enter into the holiest, by the blood of Jesus.\n\n1 _Peter_ 2. 5 an Holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices. 25.\n\n_Rev_. 1. 6 and hath made us kings and priests unto God. 5. 10. _Chap_.\n20. 6.\n\n7. 3 sealed the servants of God in their foreheads.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 6. 2 called of God and ordained after his holy order.\n\n_Mos_. 3. 23 I have spoken what the Lord hath commanded me.\n\n23. 16, 17 none received authority to teach except from God.\n\n_Alma_ 7. 22 ye may walk after the holy order of God. _Chap_ 8. 4.\n\n13. 3 being called and prepared, from the foundation of the world.\n\n5-20 calling, foreordination and eternal duration of the Priesthood.\n\n17. 3 they taught with power and authority from God.\n\n18 Ammon imparted the word of God to his brethren.\n\n49. 30 word of God declared by those ordained after the holy order of\nGod.\n\n_Hel_. 8. 18 many before Abraham who were called by the order of God.\n_Ether_ 12. 10.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Lecture on Faith, Sec_. 2. genealogy of the Priesthood from Adam to\nAbraham.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 17, 18 J. Smith, Jun., authorized to declare the Gospel, that\nthe prophets might be fulfilled.\n\n30 that they might have power to organize the true church.\n\n2. 1, 2 the Priesthood to be revealed by Elijah.\n\n19. 9 I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing.\n\n29. 4 ye are chosen out of the world to declare my Gospel.\n\n35. 18 the keys of those things that have been sealed, given to J.\nSmith, Jun.\n\n42. 11 ordination to be done by one having authority.\n\n65 unto you is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom. 69.\n\n64. 5 the keys of the kingdom not to be taken from J. Smith, Jun.\n\n68. 2 this is an ensample to all who were ordained to this Priesthood.\n\n72. 1 the kingdom and power given to the high priests of the church.\n\n77. 11 those to be sealed out of the tribes of Israel are high priests.\n_Rev_. 7. 4-8.\n\n78. 1 hearken to me you who are ordained to the High Priesthood.\n\n84. 6-16 lineage of the Priesthood from the sons of Moses back to Adam.\n\n25, 26 the Lord took Moses and the Holy Priesthood from the midst of\nIsrael.\n\n29 offices of elder and bishop necessary appendages to the Melchisedek\nPriesthood.\n\n33, 34 those faithful to the obtaining of these two Priesthoods, become\nthe sons of Moses and Aaron.\n\n86. 8 saith the Lord to you with whom the Priesthood hath continued.\n10, 11.\n\n113. 8 the strength of Zion is the power of the Priesthood.\n\n121. 21 neither they nor their posterity shall have a right to the\nPriesthood.\n\n36-45 the necessity of exercising the powers of the Priesthood in\nmeekness.\n\n124. 33, 34 temples necessary for the purposes of the holy Priesthood.\n\n91-95 H. Smith clothed with the same Priesthood and gifts as were once\nbestowed on O. Cowdery.\n\n123 the offices and keys of the Priesthood, on J. Smith, Jun.\n\n124 H. Smith holds the sealing blessings of the church.\n\n135-145 instructions concerning various quorums.\n\n127. 8 the Lord about to restore many things pertaining to the\nPriesthood.\n\n128. 8 nature of this ordinance consists in the power of the Priesthood.\n\n132. 44 then shall you have power by my Holy Priesthood to take her.\n\n58 many things pertaining to the law of the Priesthood.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 13. the same Priesthood, in the beginning and end of the world.\n\n17. thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days.\n\n23. and the Lord ordained Noah after his order.\n\n29. the seed of Abraham to bear this mission and Priesthood to all\nnations.\n\nTHE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD.\n\nJohn the Baptist was the acknowledged forerunner of Christ, and, as\nsuch, he preached the preparatory Gospel of repentance, and baptism\nfor the remission of sins. His father, Zacharias, was a priest of the\ncourse of Abia, and his mother was of the daughters of Aaron; _Luke_ 1.\n5.\n\nThus the Aaronic Priesthood was the heritage of John the Baptist.\nHis ministry evidences that he was clothed with its authority. That\nthe chain of evidence might be complete, regarding this fact, the\nLord revealed to Joseph Smith, Jun., that he was ordained to the\nAaronic Priesthood by an angel; _Doc. & Cov_. 84. 28. Being the first\nman ordained to it in the former Gospel dispensation, he holds the\npresidency of that Priesthood in all subsequent dispensations.\n\nAs a sequence, the man who should open up the last dispensation must\nreceive it from him. We have the testimony of Joseph Smith, Jun.,\nand Oliver Cowdery, that John the Baptist did ordain them to this\nPriesthood, using the following words, \"Upon you my fellow servants, in\nthe name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the\nkeys of the ministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and\nof baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never\nbe taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an\noffering unto the Lord in righteousness;\" _Doc. & Cov., sec_. 13.\n\n\"The messenger who visited us on this occasion, and conferred this\nPriesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same that is\ncalled John the Baptist in the New Testament, and that he acted under\nthe direction of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the\nPriesthood of Melchisedek, which Priesthood he said should in due time\nbe conferred on us, and that I should be called the first Elder, and\nOliver the second. It was on the fifteenth day of May, 1829, that we\nwere ordained under the hand of the messenger and baptized;\" _His. of\nJ. Smith, Jun., May_ 15, 1829.\n\nThus was the succession of the Lesser Priesthood again restored to the\nearth.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 29. 34 Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah.\n\n50. 7 all the elders of his house, and of the land of Egypt.\n\n_Exo_. 3. 16 go and gather the elders of Israel together.\n\n6. 16 names of the sons of Levi.\n\n17. 5 take with thee of the elders of Israel.\n\n18. 1 Jethro, the priest of Midian.\n\n19. 7 Moses called for the elders. 22.\n\n28. 1 Aaron and his sons set apart to minister in the priest's office.\n_Chap_. 29. 44. _Chap_. 30. 30. _Chap_. 40. 13, 15.\n\n_Lev_. 7. 35, 36 Aaron and his sons anointed priests by a statute\nthroughout all their generations. 4. 15.\n\n_Chap_. 8. Aaron and his sons anointed and clothed in their priestly\ngarments.\n\n_Chap_. 16. an enumeration of many of the duties of Aaron.\n\n_Num_. 3. 1-10 Aaron and his sons appointed to the priest's office.\n\n3. 12 the Levites taken in place of the first-born of Israel.\n\n_Chap_. 4. an enumeration of some of the duties of the priests and\nLevites.\n\n11. 25 the Lord gave his Spirit unto the seventy elders.\n\n16. 10 seek ye the Priesthood also?\n\n_Chap_. 18. the Lord's charge to Aaron and his sons.\n\n35. 2-8 the cities of refuge the inheritance of the Levites.\n\n_Deut_. 10. 8, 9 Levi had no inheritance with his brethren.\n\n21. 5 the Priesthood of Levi had authority to try all manner of\ncontroversy.\n\n31. 28 go gather all the elders of your tribes.\n\n2 _Chron_. 29. enumerates several duties of the Priesthood.\n\n31. 4-11 tithing to be received by the Aaronic Priesthood.\n\n_Psalm_ 99. 6 Moses and Aaron among his priests.\n\n107. 32 praise him in the assembly of the elders.\n\n132. 9 let thy priests be clothed with righteousness.\n\n_Isa_. 61. 6 ye shall be named the priests of the Lord.\n\n66. 21 I will take of them for priests and Levites, saith the Lord.\n\n_Ezek_. 8. 1 I sat in mine house, and the elders of Israel before me.\n\n45. 4 Levitical Priesthood the ministers of the sanctuary.\n\n_Joel_ 1. 14 gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land.\n\n_Mal_. 2. 4-6 God's covenant with Levi for his righteousness.\n\n3. 3 he shall purify and purge the sons of Levi.\n\n_Phil_. 1. 1 to the Saints, bishops and deacons.\n\n1 _Tim_. 3. 1-13 qualifications and duties of bishops and deacons.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 20. 38-71 the duties of elders, priests, teachers, deacons and\nmembers of the church of Christ.\n\n41. 9 E. Partridge ordained first bishop to the church.\n\n42. 12-14 instructions to elders, priests and teachers.\n\n68. 14, 15 bishops to be high priests, unless literal descendants of\nAaron.\n\n16, 17 the first born held the right of presidency in the Aaronic\nPriesthood.\n\n22-24 a bishop can be tried only by the First Presidency of the church.\n\n72. 18-20 N. K. Whitney ordained. Duties of bishops.\n\n84. 18 the Lord confirmed a Priesthood on Aaron and his sons for ever.\n\n107 the lesser Priesthood to go before and prepare the way.\n\n_Sec_. 107. the higher and lesser Priesthoods, their organizations,\nthe duties pertaining to their various offices, and the lineage of the\nPriesthood.\n\nEVANGELISTS OR PATRIARCHS.\n\nIn the _History of Joseph Smith_, under date of June 27, 1839, will be\nfound the following: \"An Evangelist is a Patriarch, even the oldest man\nof the blood of Joseph or of the seed of Abraham. Whenever the Church\nof Christ is established in the earth, there should be a Patriarch for\nthe benefit of the posterity of the Saints, as it was with Jacob in\ngiving his patriarchal blessing unto his sons,\" etc.\n\nAs the singular number is here used, exclusively, doubtless the Prophet\nJoseph, in the above passage, speaks of then Patriarch of the whole\nchurch.\n\nIn the _History of Joseph Smith_, under date of September 14, 1840, we\nare informed that Joseph Smith, Sen., Patriarch of the Church of Jesus\nChrist of Latter-day Saints, died at Nauvoo. In a biographical sketch\nof him, of the same date, we are informed that he was ordained to this\noffice, on the eighteenth of December, 1833.\n\nThe distinguishing feature between his calling and that of other\npatriarchs is, that he was patriarch of the whole church, while others\nwere ordained patriarchs in the church. Of the latter was John Young,\nSen., who was ordained a patriarch in the church by the Prophet Joseph\nSmith, in 1834; _His. of J. Smith, under date of Aug_. 8, 1844.\n\n\"It is the duty of the Twelve, in all large branches of the church,\nto ordain evangelical ministers, (or patriarchs), as they shall be\ndesignated unto them by revelation;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 107. 39.\n\n\"The order of this (patriarchal) Priesthood was confirmed, to be handed\ndown from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants\nof the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made. This order was\ninstituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage;\" _verses_\n40-57.\n\nFrom the last quotation it is evident that if a man holds the High\nPriesthood, by virtue of that Priesthood he is patriarch over his own\nposterity, and as such has a right to bestow upon them patriarchal\nblessings.\n\nA little more than four months after the death of the Patriarch, Joseph\nSmith, Sen., in a revelation given to his son Joseph, occurs the\nfollowing: \"That my servant Hyrum may take the office of Priesthood and\nPatriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father, _by blessing\nand also by right_, that from henceforth he shall hold the keys of the\npatriarchal blessings upon the heads of all my people, that whoever\nhe blesses shall be blessed, and whoever he curses shall be cursed;\nthat whatsoever he shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and\nwhatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven;\" _Doc. &\nCov_. 124. 91-93.\n\nFrom this we learn, that Joseph Smith, Sen., inherited the Patriarchal\nPriesthood, by right from the fathers over the house of Israel in this\ndispensation. For this right to have descended to him, by lineage,\nhe must of necessity be an Ephraimite, for Ephraim, by the right of\nappointment and ordination by his father Jacob, is the head of Israel.\nThis fact is plainly stated in the Scriptures: \"Now the sons of Reuben\nthe firstborn of Israel, for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as\nhe defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of\nJoseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after\nthe birthright;\" 1 _Chron_. 5. 1.\n\nJust before his death, in blessing Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob adopted\nthe sons of Joseph as his own. Said he, \"Let my name be named on them,\nand the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;\" _Gen_. 48. 16. For this\nreason, these two sons of Joseph, each, had a name as the head of\ntribes in Israel, \"and he set Ephraim before Manasseh;\" _Gen_. 48. 20.\n\nThe Lord further declared through his prophet Jeremiah, \"I am a father\nto Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn;\" 31. 9.\n\nBy virtue of this adoption of Ephraim, as the head of the house of\nIsrael, and Joseph Smith, Sen., being the oldest son of Ephraim,\nholding the Priesthood in this dispensation, he is Patriarch of the\nwhole church, by right. This right should be perpetuated in his family,\nas the oldest branch of the tribe of Ephraim.\n\nIf, from any cause, there should be failure of a son to exercise this\nright, then the office would be filled from the next eldest branch of\nthe family.\n\nThis has been the case in the short history of the church. When Joseph\nand Hyrum were martyred, the latter had no son old enough to fill the\noffice of patriarch, and John, his eldest living brother, was ordained\nto the office vacated by his death.\n\nAfter the death of father John Smith, the office reverted back to the\nfamily of Hyrum Smith, for his oldest son John had grown to manhood,\nand was ordained Patriarch of the whole church.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 8. 21, 22 God covenanted with Noah, that he would not again\ndestroy all flesh.\n\n9. 1 God blessed Noah and his sons, and said, be fruitful and multiply.\n\n24-27 Noah cursed Canaan, and blessed Shem and Japhet.\n\n12. 1-3 the Lord promised Abraham that in his seed all the families of\nthe earth should be blessed. 26. 4.\n\n7 the land of Canaan promised to Abraham and his seed.\n\n13. 15-17 I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth.\n\n14. 18, 19 Melchisedek took bread and wine and blessed Abraham.\n\n16. 10 the angel said to Hagar, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly.\n\n17. 6 I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.\n\n7 God covenants to be a God to Abraham and his seed.\n\n16 Abraham is promised that Sarah should be a mother of nations.\n\n19 the Lord promised to establish his covenant with Isaac.\n\n20 Ishmael to become a great nation.\n\n22. 17 the seed of Abraham to possess the gate of their enemies.\n\n24. 60 Rebecca to be the mother of thousands of millions.\n\n25. 23 Rebecca is promised that she should be the mother of two nations.\n\n27. 28, 29 Isaac's blessing on his son Jacob.\n\n39, 40 Jacob's blessing on Esau.\n\n28. 1-4 Isaac sends Jacob to Padan-aram and blesses him.\n\n31. 55 Laban kissed and blessed his sons and daughters.\n\n32. 12 Jacob claims the blessings of Abraham and Isaac.\n\n24-29 the Lord wrestles with and blesses Jacob at Peniel.\n\n35. 10-12 the Lord names Jacob Israel, and declares that a company of\nnations shall come of him.\n\n46. 2-4 Jacob is promised that he should be made a great nation in\nEgypt, and be brought out again.\n\n48. 15-20 Jacob's blessings on the sons of Joseph.\n\n49 1 Jacob called his sons together to bless them.\n\n22-24 Joseph a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the\nwall; * * * from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 5. 5 I have attained a land of promise.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 1. 31, 32 the seed of Zoram to be blessed with the seed of\nNephi.\n\n3. 3 Lehi promised Joseph that his seed should not be utterly\ndestroyed. 25.\n\n5 a righteous branch to be raised up from the loins of Joseph.\n\n24 a mighty man to be raised up among the seed of Joseph the son of\nLehi.\n\n4. 9 the blessing of the children of Laman left on the children of\nLemuel.\n\n_Ether_ 1. 43 none greater than the nation I will make of thee.\n\n2. 7, 15 but they shall come forth to a land of promise choice above\nall other lands.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 26. Abraham sought for the blessings of the fathers, and\nobtained his right to the office of high priest, which came down to him\nthrough the fathers from Adam.\n\n_See sermon by P. P. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 1. page 256_.\n\n\" _J. Smith, \" \" 6, \" 237_.\n\n\" _B. Young, \" \" 9, \" 86, at Mill Creek_.\n\n\" _B. Young, \" \" 9, \" 279_.\n\n\" _B. Young, Des. News, \" 11, \" 68_.\n\n\" _B. Young, Des. Eve. News, June 2, 1877, at Logan_.\n\n\" _B. Young, Mil. Star, Vol. 15, page 493_.\n\n_Article, Mil. Star, Vol. 4, page 1_.\n\n\" \" \" _15, page 486_.\n\n\" _J. A. Little, Mil. Star, Vol. 18, page 145_.\n\n\" _Geo. Taylor, \" \" 19, page 796_.\n\n\" _C. W. Penrose, \" \" 29, page 177_.\n\n_O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. Wm. Crowel, No. 9_.\n\n_A pamphlet, Items on Priesthood, by John Taylor_.\n\n_A Pamphlet, Succession in the Priesthood, by John Taylor_.\n\n_History of J. Smith, June 1829_.\n\n\" \" _April 13, 1833_.\n\n\" \" _May 2, 1835_.\n\n\" \" _July 2, 1839_.\n\n\" \" _April 28, 1842_.\n\n\" \" _May 1, 1842_.\n\n\n\nCHRIST'S FIRST COMING.\n\nThe oldest Bible prophecy, of the coming of Christ, is in Jacob's\nblessing on Judah: \"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a\nlawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come;\" _Gen_. 49. 10.\n\nWhen Christ was born, the sceptre had not wholly departed from Judah,\nfor Herod the king, who reigned at the time of his birth, was virtually\nking of Judea. Christ was condemned to be crucified by Pontius Pilate,\na Roman governor. The Shiloh had come and the sceptre had entirely\ndeparted, for Judah was under Gentile rule.\n\nThe records of three dispensations assert that Christ came to his own,\nand they did not receive him; _John_ 1. 11. 3 _Nephi_ 9. 16. _Doc. &\nCov_. 6. 21. He came to his own covenant people, the house of Israel,\nand, though they still retained most of the forms of the Mosaic ritual,\nthey had apostatized from the faith of their fathers, had drank deep\ninto pagan philosophy, had become wicked and corrupt, and, when the\nShiloh came, they new him not, rejected him, and were the means of his\ndeath.\n\nThe numerous prophecies of the first coming of Christ, in both the\nJewish and Nephite records, had a veritable fulfilment in his birth,\nlife, sufferings, death and resurrection, and furnish overwhelming\ntestimony of the Divine inspiration of those records. That Jesus Christ\nwas the same being who called Abraham from his native country, who led\nIsrael out of the land of Egypt with mighty miracles and wonders, who\nmade known to them his law amid the thunderings of Sinai, who delivered\nthem from their enemies, who chastened them for their disobedience, who\ninspired their prophets, and whose glory filled Solomon's temple, is\nevident from all the inspired writings, and in none more so than in the\nBible.\n\nHis lamentation over Jerusalem evidences that, in his humanity, he had\nnot forgotten his former exalted position: \"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,\nthou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto\nthee, how often _would I have gathered_ thy children together, * * and\nye would not;\" _Matt_. 23. 37. It was this creator of the world, this\nmighty ruler, this controller of the destinies of the human family,\nwho, in his last moments, cried out in the agony of his soul, \"My God,\nmy God, why hast thou forsaken me?\" _Mark_ 15. 34.\n\nHe was the great sacrifice for the world's redemption. It was a\nsacrifice worthy of Deity. How grandly, how nobly it was made! It\nwas made in the meridian of time, and it changed the character of\ndispensations. Israel ceased to be a nation, and the Gentile rule was\nushered in, to continue for many long centuries, in which God's chosen\npeople were to suffer terrible persecutions. We must look at Jesus\nChrist in his true character of God and Savior, in order to form a\nproper conception of the great sacrifice which has opened, to the human\nfamily, the way to immortality.\n\nBible.\n\n_Deut._ 18. 15-19 a prophet to be raised up in Israel like unto Moses.\n\n_Psalm_ 22. several prophecies concerning Christ.\n\n69. 20, 21 in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.\n\n118. 22, 23 the stone which the builders rejected. 26.\n\n_Isa_. 7. 14 a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.\n\n9. 2 the people that sat in darkness have seen a great light. 6, 7\n\n42. 1 he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 3, 4.\n\n53. 3 he is despised and rejected. 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12.\n\n_Mic_. 5. 2 of thee shall he come forth that is to be ruler in Israel.\n\n_Zech_. 9. 9 just and lowly and sitting on an ass. 10.\n\n11. 12 so they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.\n\n_Acts_ 3. 22, 23 he that will not hear that prophet shall be cut off.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 4, 5 six hundred years after Lehi left Jerusalem Messiah\nshould come.\n\n12. 4-4 a great destruction to take place before Christ should appear\nto the Nephites.\n\n19. 10 the God of Abraham yieldeth himself up.\n\n11, 12 at his death Christ shall manifest himself to the house of\nIsrael.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 9. 5 he suffered himself to become subject to men in the\nflesh, that all men might be subject to him.\n\n10. 3 expedient that Christ should come among the more wicked part of\nthe world.\n\n25. 26 we talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, prophesy of Christ, preach\nof Christ.\n\n26. 24 he layeth down his life that he may draw all men to him.\n\n_Mos_. 3. 5-10 the Lord came among the children of men, was crucified\nand rose from the dead, that a righteous judgment might come on them.\n13, 15.\n\n4. 2 Jesus, the Creator of heaven and earth, who shall come among men.\n\n13. 33-35 Moses and all the prophets since the world began, prophesy of\nChrist.\n\n15. 1-11 God, himself, shall come down among the children of men.\n\n_Alma_ 39. 18, 19 as necessary that the plan of salvation should be\nknown before, as well as after the coming of Christ.\n\n_Hel_. 14. 12 Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of heaven and\nearth.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 1. 9-14 Christ made known to Nephi, that, on the morrow he\nwould come into the world.\n\n20. 23 the prophet of whom Moses spake was Jesus Christ.\n\n_Ether_ 3. 16 Christ said to the brother of Jared, as I appear to thee\nin the spirit, so will I appear to my people in the flesh.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 20. 26, 27 not only those who believe after he comes, but all\nthose from the beginning, as well as those who shall come after.\n\n76. 39 who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made.\n\n\n\nCHRIST'S SECOND COMING.\n\nChrist's first coming attracted comparatively little attention. He was\nborn a helpless infant, under very humble circumstances. Through the\nministration of an angel, a few shepherds rejoiced over his advent,\nand some wise men, who must have known of, and believed in prophecies\nconcerning him, visited and made presents to him. They were warned\nto leave the country in a private manner, on account of the evil\ndesigns of Herod. He grew up in obscurity, performed his labors in the\nministry, in affliction and persecution and apparently, to men, died\nthe death of a malefactor.\n\nAt his second appearance he will come \"With clouds; and every eye shall\nsee him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth\nshall wail because of him;\" _Rev_. 1, 7. \"Behold the Lord cometh with\nten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all;\" _Jude_ 14,\n15. \"He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river unto\nthe ends of the earth;\" _Psalm_ 72. 8. \"Yea, all kings shall fall down\nbefore him; all nations shall serve him;\" _verse_ 11. \"The Son of Man\nshall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to\nmeet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth;\" _Doc. & Cov_.\n65. 5.\n\nWhen will Christ come in his glory and power? This question many\nmillions of the human family have asked, and the query still remains\nunanswered. Jesus said to his disciples, \"Be ye therefore ready also:\nfor the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not;\" _Luke_ 12. 40.\n\"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;\" 2 _Pet_.\n3. 10. \"But the hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in\nheaven, nor shall they know until he comes;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 49. 7.\n\nThe Lord has not told us that there shall be no period of time\ndesignated in which he will come, but that neither the day nor the\nhour shall be known. Had we a correct chronology we might, perhaps,\napproximate very closely to the year, for according to _Sec_. 77. 12,\nit will be in the beginning of the seventh thousand years. It will be\na time of destruction for the wicked; \"The Lord shall punish the host\nof the high ones _that are_ on high, and the kings of the earth upon\nthe earth;\" _Isa_. 24. 21. \"The Lord who shall come down upon the world\nwith a curse to judgment; yea, upon all the nations that forget God,\nand upon all the ungodly among you;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 133. 2.\n\nThere will be great commotion and changes in the elements; \"The\nfoundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down,\nthe earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth\nshall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a\ncottage; and the transgressions thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it\nshall fall, and not rise again;\" _Isa_. 24. 18-20.\n\nThe fulfilment of the prophecies and the signs of the times indicate\nthat the coming of the Son of Man is nigh at hand. The Lord through\nJoseph, the Seer, also informs us that this is the case. \"Not many days\nhence and the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man,\nand the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light, and\nthe moon shall be bathed in blood, and the stars shall become exceeding\nangry, and shall cast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a\nfig tree;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 88. 87.\n\nIsrael requested Moses, when around Mount Horeb, that they might no\nmore hear the voice of the Lord, nor see his glory, lest they should\ndie. They had not faith to behold his presence, and the law of carnal\ncommandments was given them. When they were about to enter into the\nland of their inheritance, Moses rehearsed these things to them, and\nrepeated what the Lord had said to him concerning a future prophet: \"I\nwill raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee,\nand will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all\nthat I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever\nwill not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will\nrequire it of him;\" _Deut_. 18. 18, 19. The Book of Mormon informs us\nthat this prophet was Jesus Christ: \"Behold, I am he of whom Moses\nspake, saying, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of\nyour brethren, like unto me;\" 3 _Nephi_ 20. 23.\n\nPeter, when he reproved the Jews for killing the \"Prince of life,\"\nrepeated this prophecy, rendering the latter part of it a little\nplainer: \"Every soul, which will not hear that Prophet shall be cut off\nfrom among the people;\" _Acts_ 3. 22, 23. It is evident from _verses_\n19-21, that the time when those who would not hear that prophet should\nbe cut off, would be at the time of the restitution of all things, when\nhe whose right it is shall reign, and the kingdoms of this world shall\nbecome the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.\n\nThe prophet Joseph says, \"I was once praying very earnestly to know the\ntime of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the\nfollowing--'Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five\nyears old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man: therefore let\nthis suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.' I was left thus,\nwithout being able to decide whether this coming referred to the\nbeginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether\nI should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the Son of\nMan will not be any sooner than that time;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 130. 14-17.\n\n\"I have asked of the Lord concerning his coming; and while asking the\nLord, he gave me a sign and said, 'In the days of Noah I set a bow in\nthe heavens as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be\nseen the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time and harvest\nduring that year; but whenever you see the bow withdrawn, it shall be a\ntoken that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among\nthe nations, and that the coming of the Messiah is not far distant.' *\n* *\n\n\"I also prophesy, in the name of the Lord, that Christ WILL NOT COME\nIN FORTY YEARS; and if God ever spoke by my mouth, he will not come in\nthat length of time. Brethren, when you go home, write this down, that\nit may be remembered. * * * Jesus Christ never did reveal to any man\nthe precise time that he would come;\" _His. of J. Smith, March_ 10,\n1844.\n\nBible.\n\n_Job_ 19. 25 he shall stand in the latter day upon the earth.\n\n_Psalm_ 50. 3-5 our God shall come and shall not keep silence.\n\n_Matt_. 16. 27 the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father.\n_Chap_. 25. 31-46\n\n_Acts_ 1. 11 this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven.\n\n1 _Thess_. 3. 13 at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his\nSaints.\n\n_Heb_. 9. 28 shall he appear the second time, without sin unto\nsalvation.\n\n1 _Peter_ 4. 13 that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad.\n\n1 _John_ 2. 28 and not be ashamed before him at his coming.\n\n3. 2 when he shall appear we shall be like him.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 26. 3 Christ expounded all things from the beginning to the\ntime he shall come in his glory.\n\n28. 7 the three disciples to remain until Christ come in his glory.\n\n29. 2 ye need not say that the Lord delays his coming.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 33. 17, 18 verily, I say unto you, that I come quickly.\n\n34. 6 preparing the way of the Lord for his second coming.\n\n35. 15 the poor and the meek shall be looking for my coming.\n\n45. 38-44 shall be looking to the coming of the Son of Man.\n\n74, 75 all nations shall be afraid because of the glory of the Lord.\n\n_See Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 18, page 57_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _15, \" 53_.\n\n\" \" _W. Woodruff, J. of D., Vol. 15, page 275_.\n\n_History of J. Smith, April 6, 1843_.\n\n\n\nTHE SCATTERING OF ISRAEL.\n\nDuring the administration of Moses, the Lord promised Israel,\nconditionally, many blessings and curses. The former if they were\nobedient to his commandments, the latter if they were rebellious.\nThese promises were, in their nature, prophetic. Evidently, no man,\nunless inspired by the Holy Ghost, as was Moses, could have thought of\nblessings and curses so varied and comprehensive in their nature, much\nless have spoken and recorded them.\n\nThe subject of the scattering of Israel is historical, and needs to\nbe well understood, in order to comprehend the great work of their\ngathering in the latter times. A moderate comprehension of the\nscattering of Israel requires much careful study of their history in\nthe Old Testament, and as written by that eminent Jewish historian,\nJosephus, a general knowledge of history, and of the many prophecies\nyet to be fulfilled concerning them.\n\nIf a complete history of the house of Israel were written, it would\nbe the history of histories, the key of the world's history for the\npast twenty centuries. The student is particularly recommended to\nstudy the last chapters of _Deuteronomy_, from the beginning of the\ntwenty-seventh to the end of the book.\n\nThe scattering of the seed of Joseph, among all nations, was\nforeshadowed in the blessing of his father, Jacob: \"Joseph is a\nfruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run\nover the wall;\" _Gen_. 49. 22.\n\nA terrible prophetic picture of the afflictions which the Lord would\nheap upon Israel, is drawn by Moses in the twenty-sixth chapter of\n_Leviticus_. If persistently disobedient, they were to be scattered\namong all nations and suffer great afflictions in the lands of their\nenemies.\n\nThe prophet Abijah said to the wife of Jeroboam, \"The Lord shall smite\nIsrael, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel\nout of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall\nscatter them beyond the river;\" 1 _Kings_ 14. 15. This prophecy was\nfulfilled when the ten tribes were carried into captivity by the king\nof Assyria 721, B. C.; 2 _Kings_ 17. In the Apocrypha, the prophet\nEsdras states that these ten tribes went a year and a half journey into\nthe north country; 2 _Esdras_ 13. 39-45. That many remained is evident\nfrom _verses_ 48 and 49 of the same chapter.\n\nThe great historian of Israel, Josephus, who wrote nearly 800 years\nafter the captivity of the ten tribes, corroborates this view of the\nsubject. Speaking of the return of the Jews under Esdras, he says:\n\"Many of them took their effects with them, and came to Babylon, as\nvery desirous of going down to Jerusalem, but then the entire body\nof the people of Israel remained in that country, wherefore there\nare but two tribes in Asia and Europe subject to the Romans, while\nthe ten tribes are beyond the Euphrates till now, and are an immense\nmultitude, and not to be estimated by numbers;\" _Ant. B_. 11. _C_.\n5. Over twenty-six centuries these scattered tribes of Israel, which\nJosephus declared, 1800 years ago, were an immense multitude in Asia,\nhave continued to mix up with the nations of the earth.\n\nThe second great scattering of Israel was brought about by the\nBabylonish captivity. The Lord said through the prophet Jeremiah, \"I\nwill give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon;\" 20. 4. There\nis an account of the fulfilment of this prophecy in 2 _Kings, chapters_\n24 and 25. Jerusalem was desolated and only the poor left to till the\nland.\n\nThe Jews, like the ten tribes before them, were scattered among the\nnations of Asia. In _Ezra, Chap_. 2, we have an account of those who\nreturned to build the waste places of Judah, but multitudes of them\nremained in their scattered condition, as is evident from the book\nof Esther. Some nine years after the completion of the term of their\ncaptivity, they were scattered from India to Ethiopia, through the 127\nprovinces of the Persian empire; 8. 9.\n\nJeremiah prophesied the entire desolation of Judah; \"Judah shall\nbe carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away\ncaptive;\" 13. 19. It was nearly 600 years from the consummation of the\nBabylonish captivity to the fulfilment of this prophecy, by the final\ndestruction of the Jews, as a nation, by the Romans, when a remnant of\nsome 97,000 were sold into slavery in the cities of the Roman empire,\nand were scattered wherever the caprice of their masters led them.\n\nDuring this period, from the Babylonish captivity to the destruction\nof Jerusalem, the Jews suffered much from their enemies, and many\nthousands were sold into slavery. A few references to Josephus will\nassist to comprehend this subject:\n\n_Ant. B_. 11. _C_. 5. Miserable condition of the Jews as represented to\nthe prophet Nehemiah.\n\n_B_. 11. _C_. 6. Haman said to the king of Persia, \"There is a certain\nwicked nation (the Jews), and it is dispersed over all the habitable\nearth that is under thy dominion.\"\n\n_B_. 12. _C_. 1. The first Ptolemy took a great many captives in Judea\nand carried them into Egypt.\n\n_B_. 12. _C_. 2. The second Ptolemy liberated 120,000 Jews who where in\nbondage in Egypt.\n\n_B_. 12. _C_. 3. Antiochus set free all the Jews who had been carried\ncaptive.\n\n_B_. 12. _C_. 4. The Samaritans were in a flourishing condition, and\nmuch distressed the Jews, cutting off parts of their land, and carrying\noff slaves.\n\n_B_. 12. _C_. 5. The daily sacrifice was taken away, and 10,000 Jews\ncarried captive.\n\n_B_. 14. _C_. 7. The Jews were scattered over the habitable earth.\nCassius, the Roman general, carried 30,000 Jews captive.\n\n_B_. 14. _C_. 11. Four Jewish cities sold into slavery for taxes.\n\n_B_. 15. _C_. 3. Not a few ten thousands of Jews that dwelt about\nBabylonia.\n\n_B_. 16. _C_. 2. A great multitude of Jews dwelt in the cities of Ionia.\n\n_B_. 16. _C_. 6. The cities of Asia and Lybia ill-treated the Jews. The\nnorthern part of Africa was then called Lybia.\n\nThese references to Josephus, and their contexts, well considered, will\ngreatly assist the student in forming a proper idea of the scattered\ncondition of the Jews about the commencement of the Christian era.\n\nWe have no knowledge of the location or condition of that part of the\nten tribes who went into the north country.\n\nB. C. 600, a colony left Jerusalem, under one Lehi, to people the\nwestern hemisphere. Eleven years after, it was followed by another\nunder the direction of Mulek. Their descendants have scattered over the\nAmerican continent from Cape Horn to the Arctic Sea.\n\nThis branch of the house of Israel may truly be said to be scattered\nover half the globe. The Book of Mormon, and the monumental ruins they\nhave left on the land, give us all the information we have of them down\nto the year 1492, A. D., when Christopher Columbus discovered America.\n\nSince that time, their history forms a part of the general history\nof the continent, which is a record of the fulfilment of many of the\nprophecies, in the Bible and Book of Mormon, concerning the scattering\nof Israel.\n\nBible.\n\n_Deut_. 28. 37 thou shalt become a proverb and a by-word.\n\n64 Israel to be scattered from one end of the earth even unto the\nother. _Chap_. 32. 26.\n\n_Psalm_ 106. 27 to overthrow their seed also among the nations.\n\n_Isa_. 5. 13 my people have gone into captivity.\n\n10. 3 what will ye do in the day of visitation?\n\n32. 14 the multitude of the city shall be left.\n\n42. 24 who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers.\n\n64. 10 Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.\n\n_Jer_. 5. 15-18 I will bring a nation upon you from afar. _Deut_. 28.\n49-57.\n\n6. 8-12 their houses, fields and wives shall be turned to others. 7. 15\nand I will cast you out of my sight.\n\n8. 3 which remain in all the places whither I have driven them.\n\n9. 11 I will make the cities of Judah desolate. 16.\n\n10. 22 to make the cities of Judah desolate. 25.\n\n15. 4 I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth.\n\n34. 17 to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.\n\n_Ezek_. 20. 23 I would disperse them through the countries. _Chap_. 22.\n15. _Chap_. 34. 6. _Chap_. 36. 19.\n\n_Hos_. 7. 8. Ephraim hath mixed himself among the people.\n\n_Joel_ 3. 2 the Lord will plead with all nations who have scattered his\npeople.\n\n_Amos_ 7. 17 Israel shall surely go into captivity.\n\n9. 9 I will sift the house of Israel among all nations.\n\n_Mic_. 3. 12 Zion shall be ploughed as a field.\n\n_Zach_. 7. 14 I scattered them with a whirlwind among all nations.\n\n10. 9 I will sow them among the people.\n\n_Matt_. 23. 38 your house is left unto you desolate. _Luke_ 13. 35.\n\n_James_ 1. 1 to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 12-14 the house of Israel to be scattered over all the\nface of the earth. _Chap_. 14. 14. _Chap_. 22. 3.\n\n13. 14 the seed of the brethren of Nephi to be scattered and smitten of\nthe Gentiles.\n\n39 other books to come forth to the convincing of the Jews who were\nscattered over the face of the whole earth.\n\n19. 14 they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss\nand a by-word.\n\n22. 4 the more part of all the tribes have been led away and are\nscattered, to and fro, on the isles of the sea.\n\n5 the Jews to be scattered among all nations, because they hardened\ntheir hearts against the Holy One of Israel. 2 _Nephi_ 10. 5, 6, 22.\n\n7 the Lord shall raise up a mighty nation in this land, and by them\nshall our seed be scattered.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 6. 8 the Lord showed Jacob that those at Jerusalem had been\nslain and scattered. 11.\n\n25. 14, 15 the final destruction of Jerusalem foretold.\n\n16 the Jews to be scourged until they believe in the Messiah.\n\n_Hel_. 15. 12 the Lamanites to be hunted, and smitten, and scattered.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 10. 7 the places of your dwellings shall become desolate,\nuntil the time of the fulfilling of the covenant to your fathers.\n\n16. 4 the remnant of their seed who shall be scattered on the face of\nthe earth.\n\n20. 27 which blessings upon the Gentiles shall make them mighty, unto\nthe scattering of my people. _Mormon_ 5. 9, 20.\n\n_Mormon_ 5. 15 this people shall be scattered and become dark.\n\n_Ether_ 13. 11 they are they who were scattered and gathered from the\nfour quarters of the earth, and from the north country.\n\n\n\nGATHERING OF ISRAEL.\n\nIt will appear to the most casual reader, that the Gathering of Israel\nis predicated on its having been scattered. That part of the subject\nneeds to be well studied, to obtain a proper conception of the great\nwork of gathering in the latter times.\n\nAs general as was the scattering of Israel so must the gathering be. If\nthe dispersion was over all the earth, and among all nations, so the\ngathering must be out of all nations, and from all parts of the earth.\n\nWhen we reflect that it is thirty-two centuries since the enemies\nof Israel began to oppress them in the land of Canaan, that about\none-third of the time they were a people in that land, they were,\nmore or less, in bondage to their enemies; that seven hundred years\nbefore the coming of Christ the ten tribes were scattered throughout\nwestern Asia; that we have no record that any have as yet returned to\nthe land of their inheritance; that nearly 600 years before Christ\nthe Babylonish captivity took place, and that, according to the Book\nof Esther only a part of the Jews ever returned, but were scattered\nthrough the 127 provinces of the Persian empire; that Asia was the\nhive from which swarmed the nomadic tribes who overran Europe; that\nat the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans the Jews were scattered\nover the known world; we may well ask the question, Does not Israel\nto-day constitute a large proportion of the human family? With this\ncomprehensive view of the subject of the scattering, we the better\nunderstand such passages as the following, \"I will gather the remnant\nof my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them;\" _Jer_.\n23. 3. \"Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they\nshall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they\nshall be brought out of obscurity, and out of darkness;\" 1 _Nephi_ 22.\n12.\n\nOur Savior had a clear conception of the magnitude of this gathering\nwhen he said, \"He shall send his angels with a great sound of a\ntrumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds,\nfrom one end of heaven to the other;\" _Matt_. 24. 31.\n\n\"And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times\nof the Gentiles be fulfilled;\" _Luke_ 21. 24. That is until the Gentile\nrule shall wane before the growing power of Israel, when, \"Israel shall\nbe saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation;\" _Isa_. 45. 17.\nWhen \"They shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they\nshall rule over their oppressors;\" 14. 2.\n\nThen will the promise made to Abraham be fully realized by his\nchildren, \"And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;\" _Gen_.\n22. 17. Then will Abraham be the heir of the world, \"Through the\nrighteousness of faith;\" _Rom_ 4. 13.\n\nIt is evident from the Book of Mormon, that the Jews, as well as\nother portions of the house of Israel, will believe in Jesus Christ\nand accept the Gospel, before they are gathered to the land of their\ninheritance.\n\nThe first Nephi, about 600 years before the final dispersion of the\nJews, recorded the following very comprehensive prophecy about their\ngathering: \"And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath\nscourged them by other nations, for the space of many generations, yea,\neven down from generation to generation, until they shall be persuaded\nto believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is\ninfinite for all mankind; and when that day shall come, that they shall\nbelieve in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts\nand clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah,\nthen, at that time. The day will come that it must needs be expedient\nthat they should believe these things, and the Lord will set his hand\nagain the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen\nstate. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvellous work and a wonder\namong the children of men;\" 2 _Nephi_ 25. 15, 16, 17.\n\nBible.\n\n_Deut_. 30. 3 Lord will gather Israel from all nations whither he has\nscattered them.\n\n_Neh_. 1. 9 the Lord will gather those that are scattered from the\nuttermost part of heaven.\n\n_Psalm_ 50. 5 gather my Saints together who have made a covenant with\nme by sacrifice.\n\n_Isa_. 2. 2 in the last days the mountain of the Lord's house shall be\nestablished in the tops of the mountains.\n\n5. 26, 27 he will lift up an ensign to the nations.\n\n10. 20, 22 the remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob.\n\n11. 11-16 set his hand the second time to recover the remnant.\n\n18. 1-3 see ye when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains.\n\n27. 12, 13 ye shall be gathered one by one.\n\n29. 22, 23 Jacob shall not now be ashamed.\n\n35. 10 the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion.\n\n40. 2 speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. 9, 11.\n\n43. 5, 6 I will bring thy seed from the east.\n\n9 let all nations be gathered together, let the people be assembled.\n\n49. 12 these shall come from far, from the north and from the west.\n\n22 lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the\npeople.\n\n23 kings shall be thy nursing fathers.\n\n51. 3 the Lord will comfort Zion.\n\n11 the redeemed of the Lord shall return.\n\n52. 9-12 the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.\n\n54. 7 with great mercies will I gather thee.\n\n56. 1-8 the stranger that keepeth his hand from doing evil, will the\nLord gather with the outcasts of Israel.\n\n60. 3 the Gentiles shall come to thy light.\n\n4 thy sons shall come from far. 5, 6, 10, 16.\n\n61. 4 they shall repair the desolations of many generations.\n\n62. 7 till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.\n\n66. 20 they shall bring your brethren out of all nations.\n\n_Jer_. 3. 14 take one of a city and two of a family.\n\n17 all nations shall be gathered to Jerusalem.\n\n18 the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel.\n\n16. 14-16 it shall no more be said, the Lord liveth that brought up the\nchildren of Israel out of Egypt. I will send for many fishers.\n\n23. 8 Lord liveth which led the children of Israel out of the north\ncountry.\n\n25. 34 the days of your dispersions are accomplished.\n\n30. 3 I will bring again the captivity of my people. 10, 18.\n\n31. 8-14 I will bring them from the north country and gather them from\nthe coasts of the south. They shall come with weeping.\n\n32. 37-44 I will give them one heart, I will make an everlasting\ncovenant with them.\n\n33. 9 Israel shall be an honor to me before all the nations of the\nearth. 14, 16.\n\n50. 4, 5 they shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward.\n\n_Ezek_. 11. 17 I will assemble you out of the countries.\n\n20. 34-42 in my holy mountain shall the house of Israel serve me.\n\n28. 25 when I shall be sanctified in Israel, in the sight of the\nheathen.\n\n34. 11-31 Lord will deliver his sheep out of all places where they have\nbeen scattered in a cloudy and dark day.\n\n37. 21-28 Israel shall be one nation, and one king shall reign over\nthem.\n\n_Joel_ 2. 15, 16 blow ye the trumpet in Zion, gather the people.\n\n_Zeph_. 3. 19, 20 I will make you a praise among all people.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 14 the house of Israel to be gathered in.\n\n19. 15-17 then will he remember the isles of the sea.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 6. 11 when the Jews shall come to a knowledge of their\nRedeemer, they shall be gathered again to the lands of their\ninheritance.\n\n9. 2 when they shall be restored to the true church, they shall be\nestablished in their lands of promise.\n\n10. 7 when they believe that I am Christ, I have covenanted with their\nfathers that they shall be restored to the lands of their inheritance.\n\n30. 7 8 the Jews shall begin to believe in Christ, and to gather.\n\n_Jacob_ 6. 2 he shall set his hand the second time to recover his\npeople.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 5. 26 then shall they know their Redeemer, and be gathered\nfrom the four quarters of the earth.\n\n20. 29-33 the Jews shall believe in Jesus Christ, then will the Father\ngather them together again.\n\n21. 1 a sign that I will gather in my people from their long dispersion.\n\n26-28 at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the\ndispersed of my people.\n\n_Mormon_ 5. 14 the record of the Nephites to go to the Jews, that they\nmay believe in Christ.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 29. 7, 8 be gathered in one place, and be prepared against the\nday of tribulation.\n\n42. 36 be gathered in one when I shall come to my temple.\n\n45. 17 day of redemption shall come, and the restoration of scattered\nIsrael.\n\n25 but shall remain until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled.\n\n43 and the remnant shall be gathered unto this place.\n\n69 there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation.\n\n57. 1, 2 the land of Missouri consecrated for the gathering of the\nSaints.\n\n58. 56 let the work of the gathering not be in haste.\n\n63. 36 I will that my Saints should be assembled upon the land of Zion.\n\n101. 13 and they that have been scattered shall be gathered.\n\n20-22 the Lord will appoint the places for the gathering of his Saints.\n\n64-69 must gather my people, according to the parable of the wheat and\ntares.\n\n105. 24 boast not of faith or mighty works, but carefully gather\ntogether.\n\n110. 11 Moses delivered the keys of the gathering of Israel.\n\n125. 2 let them gather to places I shall appoint, by my servant Joseph.\n\n133. 7 go ye out from Babylon, gather ye out from the nations.\n\n_See Sermon by J. Smith, J. of D., Vol. 6, page 237_.\n\n\" \" _B. Young, \" \" 2, \" 266_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _12, \" 161_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _12, \" 226_.\n\n\" \" _J. Taylor, \" \" 19, \" 150_.\n\n\" \" _O. Pratt, \" \" 18, \" 16_.\n\n\" \" _G. Q. Cannon,\" \" 15, \" 202_.\n\n_O. Spencer's Letters to Rev, Wm. Crowel, No. 10_.\n\n_Article, Mil. Star, Vol. 4, pages 161 and 177_.\n\n\" \" \" _22, \" 321, 339, 362, 379_.\n\n\" _by J. J., Mil. Star, Vol. 33, pages 209, 294, 325, 449_.\n\n\" _by D. McK., Mil. Star, Vol. 38, page 296_.\n\n_History of J. Smith, April 21, 1834_.\n\n\n\nBOOK OF MORMON--EVIDENCES OF ITS DIVINE AUTHENTICITY.\n\nIn order that the predictions of the ancient prophets might be\nfulfilled, it was necessary that a book should be brought forth to the\nworld which should be a record of truth. This book must also come forth\nfrom the earth.\n\nThe prophet Enoch, according to Bible chronology, lived 969 years\nbefore the flood.\n\nOn a certain occasion, the Lord made known to him many things that\nshould transpire a short period before his latter-day coming. He said,\n\"Great tribulation shall be among the children of men, but my people\nwill I preserve; and righteousness will I send down out of heaven;\nand truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of\nmine Only Begotten; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep\nthe earth as with a flood, to gather out mine own elect from the four\nquarters of the earth.\" _P. of G. P., page_ 21.\n\nThe Book of Mormon, in every particular, fulfils this very ancient\nprediction of Enoch's. It is a record of truth; it was brought forth\nfrom the earth; it bears testimony of the Only Begotten Son of God;\nof his birth, death, resurrection, teachings, and ministrations among\nthe Nephites. Righteousness has been sent down out of heaven by the\nrestoration of the Priesthood, with all its authority, ordinances, and\nblessings, through which, alone, righteousness can be made manifest.\n\nThe latter-day gathering of Israel has been inaugurated, and\nrighteousness, and truth are sweeping the earth as with a flood, and\ngathering the elect from the four quarters of the earth.\n\nThis wonderful prophecy of Enoch's was reiterated by prophets who lived\nmany centuries after him. The Psalmist David, who lived until 1015 B.\nC., mentions this event in connection with the latter days: \"Truth\nshall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from\nheaven;\" _Psalms_ 85. 11.\n\nThe prophet Isaiah, also, saw in prophetic vision these great events of\nthe latter days, when he said: \"Let the skies pour down righteousness;\nlet the earth open and let them\"--that is, the earth and the skies\ntogether--\"bring forth salvation;\" 45. 8.\n\nAccording to the twenty-ninth chapter of _Isaiah_. there was to be a\npeople who like Ariel, or Jerusalem, were to be brought down and they\nshould speak out of the ground, their speech was to be low out of the\ndust.\n\nThe predictions in _verses_ 1-6 of this chapter have been fulfilled\nin every particular, in the history of the Nephites and in the coming\nforth of their record, the Book of Mormon.\n\nFor an account of the fulfilment of many of the predictions in this\nchapter, see _P. of G. P., pages_ 49-54.\n\nEzekiel's prophecy, in _chapter_ 37, _verses_ 16-20, concerning the\nsticks of Judah and Joseph, is literally fulfilled in this generation.\nThe most of the Latter-day Saints are of the tribe of Ephraim, the son\nof Joseph. There can be but one conclusion with regard to the Bible,\nand that is, that it is the stick of Judah referred to by Ezekiel.\n\nThe stick or record of Joseph, is fitly represented by the Book of\nMormon, which is a record of the Nephites, who are descendants of\nJoseph who was sold into Egypt. They are both, to-day, in the hands of\nEphraim.\n\nA very good explanation of this subject is contained in 2 _Nephi,\nchapter_ 3. Lehi was rehearsing to his son Joseph, some important\npromises which the Lord made to their father, Joseph, who was sold into\nEgypt. The special promise to which we refer is in the twelfth verse.\n\n\"Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the\nloins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the\nfruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit\nof the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of\nfalse doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing\npeace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge\nof their fathers in the latter-days; and also to the knowledge of my\ncovenants, saith the Lord.\"\n\nThe following from the writings of O. Pratt, is very appropriate to\nthis subject.\n\n\"If the historical parts of the Book of Mormon be compared with\nwhat little is known from other sources, concerning the history of\nancient America, there will be found much evidence to substantiate its\ntruth; but there cannot be found one truth among all the gleanings of\nantiquity that clashes with the historical truths of the Book of Mormon.\n\n\"If the prophetical part of this wonderful book be compared with\nthe prophetical declarations of the Bible, there will be found much\nevidence in the latter to establish the truth of the former. But though\nthere are many predictions in the Book of Mormon, relating to the great\nevents of the last days, which the Bible gives us no information about,\nyet there is nothing in the predictions of the Bible that contradicts\nin the least, the predictions of the Book of Mormon.\n\n\"If the doctrinal part of the Book of Mormon be compared with the\ndoctrines of the Bible, there will be found the same perfect harmony\nwhich we find on the comparison of the prophetical parts of the two\nbooks. Although there are many points of the doctrine of Christ that\nare far more plain and definite in the Book of Mormon than in the\nBible, and many things revealed in relation to doctrine that never\ncould be fully learned from the Bible, yet there are not any items of\ndoctrine in the two sacred books that contradict each other, or clash\nin the least.\n\n\"If the various books which enter into the collection, called the Book\nof Mormon, be carefully compared with each other, there will be found\nnothing contradictory in history, in prophecy, or in doctrine.\n\n\"If the miracles of the Book of Mormon be compared with the miracles of\nthe Bible, there cannot be found in the former anything that would be\nmore difficult to believe, than what we find in the latter.\n\n\"If we compare the historical, prophetical, and doctrinal parts of\nthe Book of Mormon, with the great truths of science and nature, we\nfind no contradictions--no absurdities--nothing unreasonable. The most\nperfect harmony, therefore, exists between the great truths revealed\nin the Book of Mormon, and all other known truths, whether religious,\nhistorical, or scientific.\" _Divine Authenticity of B. of M., page_ 56.\n\nA person educated in the doctrines and traditions of modern\nChristianity, could not have written the Book of Mormon, for many of\nits important doctrines do not agree with those of the Christian sects.\n\nThey do not believe in the ministry of angels, in miracles, in signs,\nin dreams and in visions. The book had its origin in those things, much\nof it is made up of an account of them.\n\nLehi, the most prominent patriarch of the aboriginal American race, was\nwarned by an angel that Jerusalem would be destroyed; 1 _Nephi_ 1. 11,\n13. That he might not be destroyed with it, the Lord warned him in a\ndream to take his family and depart into the wilderness; 2. 2. In the\nnineteenth verse of this last chapter, the Lord spake to Nephi, and\nblessed him on account of his great faith.\n\nNephi, who wrote the first two books of the Book of Mormon, had\nwonderful visions and manifestations. An infidel, or deist, having no\nfaith in manifestations from God, could not have written the book;\nequally impossible that it could have been written by a sectarian\nChristian.\n\nWas the Book of Mormon written for a romance? It would spoil the\ninterest of a work of fiction, for the writer to commence it with a\nsketch of the plan of his story. Yet the two books of Nephi, which\ncommence the Book of Mormon, are a very plain, prophetic sketch of the\nthen future history of the people of America.\n\nBesides, what writer of fiction could expect to interest the literary\nworld of the nineteenth century, with an account of the organization\nof a church, on the American continent, exactly after the pattern of\nthe primitive church in Asia, with advocating baptism by immersion for\nthe remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of\nhands, and with an almost verbatim repetition of Christ's sermon on the\nMount. Such a fiction would be wanting in all the elements of modern\nromance.\n\nSkeptics, Christian divines, and writers of romance are not the men to\nstake their reputation on the enunciation of such principles as the\nfollowing: \"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he\nthat believeth not and is not baptized shall be damned.\" \"Harlotry is\nthe most abominable of all sins in the sight of God, except it be the\nsin against the Holy Ghost.\" In fact, it is the teaching of such pure\nprinciples in the Book of Mormon that makes it so very unpopular with a\nlarge portion of mankind.\n\nThe Book of Mormon, as a whole, must be either true or false. If false,\nthe Bible is equally so, for there is no antagonism between the two.\n\nThe former states that it and the Bible shall grow together for the\nconfounding of false doctrine in the latter times. The writer of a book\nof errors would hardly have staked his reputation on the fact that his\nbook was an evidence of the truth of the Bible, and _vice versa_. That\none is a witness of the truth of the other is readily evident to any\none who will honestly compare them.\n\nWritten by different authors, under very different circumstances, and\non opposite sides of the globe, such perfect concordance would have\nbeen impossible, unless the authors had all been actuated by the same\nSpirit of divine inspiration.\n\nThe admission is general that the Bible was written and compiled on the\nEastern hemisphere, and, more or less continuously through a period\nof some 1500 years. The fact is generally recognized that the Book of\nMormon was written on the Western hemisphere, and by those who had\nnothing to do in getting up the Bible.\n\nThe chain of history it has recorded; the principles it teaches; its\nanomalous style as a literary production, and its truthfulness as a\nprophetic record, are all against its being a production of modern\ntimes.\n\nAs an ancient record, it contains many predictions of prophets and\nseers which have been realized, and many others which are now having\na remarkable fulfilment. It has these facts in favor of its divine\norigin, as well as the Bible.\n\nNot the least remarkable of its prophecies are those declaring how it\nshould be written, and why. How it should be hid up in the earth for\nmany generations, and how it should come forth in the latter times;\nevery particular of which has been realized.\n\nBible.\n\n_Isa_. 29. 10-12 the vision of all is become as the words of a book.\n\n13, 14 and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men.\n\n18 in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book.\n\n43. 19 I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth.\n\n_Ezek_. 37, 15-28 the sticks of Judah and Ephraim.\n\n_Hos_. 8. 12 I have written to him the great things of my law.\n\n_Hab_. 1. 5 I will work a work in your days which you will not believe.\n\n2. 3 for the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it\nshall speak.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 3. 16-20 the records of the Book of Mormon preserved, that the\npromises of the Lord might be fulfilled.\n\n5. 11-15 the testimony of three witnesses to the Book of Mormon.\n\n10. 1-52 concerning that portion of the Book of Mormon which Martin\nHarris had permitted to pass into the hands of wicked men.\n\n20. 8 gave him power from on high to translate the Book of Mormon.\n\n9-16 the purposes of God in bringing forth the Book of Mormon.\n\n24. 1 thou wast called and chosen to write the Book of Mormon\n\n27. 5 and with Moroni, whom I have sent to reveal the Book of Mormon.\n\n33. 16 Book of Mormon and Holy Scriptures given for instruction.\n\n42. 12 elders to teach the principles contained in the Bible and Book\nof Mormon.\n\n124. 119 unless he be a believer in the Book of Mormon and the\nrevelations.\n\n135. 3 J. Smith, Jun., brought forth the Book of Mormon by the power of\nGod.\n\n6 Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants cost the best blood of the\nnineteenth century.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n44-57 an account of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in\nfulfilment of prophecy.\n\n_See Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 15, page 178_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _16, \" 209_.\n\n_A series of six pamphlets, by O. Pratt, on the Divine Authenticity of\nthe Book of Mormon_.\n\n_Public Discussion between J. Taylor and Rev'ds C. W. Cleeve, James\nRobertson and Phillip Cater_.\n\n_An account of several remarkable visions, by O. Pratt_.\n\n\n\nJOSEPH SMITH, JUN., AS A FULFILLER OF BIBLE PROPHECIES.\n\nThe mission of Joseph Smith, Jun., is the key of the dispensation of\nthe fulness of times. If he was not sent of God, the pretentions of the\nLatter-day Saints to be the true Gospel church are without foundation,\nand their labors for the redemption of the world must prove a failure.\n\nIf, in his life's labors, and their results, the predictions of the\nancient prophets are being fulfilled, it should be satisfactory\nevidence of the divinity of his mission. For unless a man have the\nspirit of the prophets, he can neither understand their predictions,\nnor the nature of the events that would fulfil them.\n\nJohn, the Revelator, in his vision of the latter times, saw another\n\"Angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to\npreach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and\nkindred, and tongue;\" _Rev_. 14. 6.\n\nOn page 49, _P. of G. P_., Joseph Smith, Jun., states that a glorious\npersonage appeared to him and said that his name was Moroni. This\nangel told Mr. Smith one thing concerning his own future, that, since\nthat time, 1823, has had a remarkable fulfilment. This was that his\nname \"should be had for good or evil among all nations, kindreds and\ntongues.\"\n\nHe also informed him that there was a record on gold plates, deposited\nin the earth, which gave an account of the ancient inhabitants of this\ncontinent, and of the source from which they sprang.\n\nA book containing such information, as the angel said, was engraven on\nthe plates, was produced by Mr. Smith, with competent witnesses that it\nwas a translation from certain plates of gold which were shown to them\nby an angel. (_See Book of Mormon for the historical account, and the\nthird page for the testimony of the witnesses_.)\n\nThe angel Moroni further stated, that the record contained the fulness\nof the everlasting Gospel. Here we have all the conditions necessary\nfor the fulfilment of the prophetic vision of St. John, regarding the\nrestoration of the Gospel in the latter times.\n\nThe angel repeated to Mr. Smith the fifth verse of the last chapter of\nMalachi, thus: \"Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the\nhand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful\nday of the Lord.\" In _Doc. & Cov_., 110. 13, 14, we find an account of\nthe fulfilment of this prophecy, by the appearance of Elijah to Mr.\nSmith. He stated that he had come in fulfilment of this prediction of\nMalachi's.\n\nThe angel Moroni quoted the sixth verse as follows: \"And he shall\nplant in the hearts of the children, the promises made to the fathers,\nand the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers; if it\nwere not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.\"\n\"Therefore,\" said the prophet Elijah to Joseph Smith, \"The keys of this\ndispensation are committed into your hands.\"\n\nAfter receiving authority from the prophet Elijah, Mr. Smith made it\nthe business of his life to lay the foundation for accomplishing the\ngreat work committed to him. He has left the world most important\ninstructions on this subject, in _Doc. & Cov. sec_. 128.\n\nAfter referring to the prophecy of Malachi, he says \"It is sufficient\nto know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse,\nunless there is a welding link of some kind or other, between the\nfathers and the children, upon some subject or other, and behold, what\nis that subject? It is baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot\nbe made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither\ncan they nor we, be made perfect, without those who have died in the\nGospel also;\" _verse_ 18. It is necessary that all things be connected\nand welded together in one glorious and complete union, from Adam down\nto the present time.\n\nTo accomplish this it is necessary that the hearts of the fathers and\nchildren be turned towards each other, by understanding the promises\nmade in the Gospel. We have no information that the Christian world\nhas had any knowledge of these glorious principles for the universal\nredemption of man, from the time of the primitive church until they\nwere revealed through Joseph Smith, Jun.\n\nIn the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon, through the agency of an\nangel, we find the fulfilment of _Psalm_ 85. 11, \"Truth shall spring\nout of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven;\"\nand also of a parallel prophecy of Enoch's, _P. of G. P. page_ 21.\n\"Righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send\nforth out of the earth.\" What for? \"To bear testimony of mine Only\nBegotten.\"\n\nTruth came forth out of the earth, in the Book of Mormon, through the\nministration of the angel Moroni, and righteousness came down out of\nheaven through the blessings and ordinances of the holy Priesthood,\nas restored to the earth by John the Baptist, when he appeared to J.\nSmith, Jun., and O. Cowdery, and conferred upon them the Priesthood of\nAaron, \"Which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the\nGospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of\nsins;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 13.\n\nAnd by Peter, James and John, who were sent to Jos. Smith, Jun., and\nothers, and who ordained them to be apostles and especial witnesses of\nChrist. 27. 12. Through these ordinances and blessings came the power\nto work righteousness on the earth.\n\nHere we have all the conditions for the fulfilment of the prophecies\nof Enoch and David, through the agency of Mr. Smith. We find, by\ncomparison, that there is no antagonism in doctrine between the Book\nof Mormon and Bible. Christ said, \"This Gospel of the kingdom shall\nbe preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then\nshall the end come;\" _Matt_. 24. 14.\n\nJoseph Smith, Jun., reiterates this prediction of our Savior's nearly\n1800 years after its utterance: \"For verily the voice of the Lord is\nunto all men;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 1. 2; \"And the voice of warning shall be\nunto all people;\" _verse_ 4. \"Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto\nthe ends of the earth;\" _verse_ 11.\n\nJoseph Smith, Jun., spent the labors of his life, for the\naccomplishment of the great work of preaching the Gospel to all the\nworld, and it has been the great object of the labors of the Latter-day\nSaints for more than fifty years. Considering the magnitude of the work\nit is being rapidly accomplished.\n\nJesus called the Gospel, the \"Gospel of the kingdom.\" Of what kingdom\ndid he speak, unless of a kingdom of God on the earth which this Gospel\nwas to establish? Even the kingdom which Daniel speaks of: \"And in the\ndays of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which\nshall never be destroyed: * * and it shall stand forever;\" _Dan_. 2.\n44. \"And there was given him (the Son of Man) dominion, and glory, and\na kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him;\"\n7. 14; \"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom\nunder the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the Saints of\nthe Most High;\" _verse_ 27. The kingdom which this Gospel was to build\nup, is the great object for which all Latter-day Saints labor.\n\nOne of the great burdens of the ancient prophets was the gathering of\nIsrael in the latter days, that Jerusalem might be established, and\nZion built up, that the law might go forth from Zion, \"And the word of\nthe Lord from Jerusalem;\" _Isa_. 2. 3.\n\nIt is evident from the tenor of the inspired writings, that this\nkingdom is to consist of gathered Israel, and therefore the gathering\nof Israel must be a part of \"This Gospel of the kingdom.\" Some one must\nreceive authority to organize the means for accomplishing this great\ngathering of the latter days.\n\nThe former great gatherer and deliverer of Israel was Moses, and he,\nvery naturally, was the one to restore that authority to the earth\nafter the fulness of the Gentiles should come in.\n\nThrough the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Jos. Smith, Jun., understood\nthis, and had the faith to receive the administrations of Moses, and\nhe has left the fact on record. \"And Moses appeared before us, and\ncommitted unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four\nparts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of\nthe north;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 110. 11.\n\nHe preached \"This Gospel of the kingdom,\" the obedient received the\nHoly Ghost, and it moved them to gather together, and Israel, for over\nfifty years, has been gathering to form that kingdom in fulfilment of\nthe predictions of the ancient prophets.\n\nJoseph Smith, Jun., is the first man of whom we have any record, for\nsome 1800 years, that has labored for the fulfilment of the predictions\nof the ancient prophets; _Doc. & Cov_. 1. 18.\n\nThe Lord said, through his prophet Micah, \"In the last days it shall\ncome to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be\nestablished in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above\nthe hills; * * and many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let\nus go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of\nJacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths:\nfor the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from\nJerusalem;\" _Mic_. 4. 1, 2.\n\nFor many years there has been a \"House of the Lord\" in Salt Lake City,\nin the top of the mountains, and for more than thirty years, the\npeople of many nations have been saying, \"Come and let us go up to the\nmountain of the Lord.\"\n\nThat there will be a place called Zion from which \"The law shall go\nforth,\" distinct from Jerusalem, is evident from Isaiah, \"When the Lord\nof Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem;\" 24. 23.\n\nHow is it that Joseph Smith, Jun., first organized the means for the\npartial fulfilment of this prophecy, and left, at his death, the\nauthority and instructions necessary to complete its fulfilment, by the\nbuilding of a great city to be called Zion, in the state of Missouri,\nwhich in fulfilment of the prophecy, shall become the capital of this\nwestern hemisphere, if he did not obtain his knowledge of the whole\nmatter through Divine inspiration?\n\nThe Jaredite prophet, Ether, some 2500 years ago, foretold \"That a New\nJerusalem should be built up upon this land (America), unto the seed of\nJoseph;\" _Ether_ 13. 4, 6.\n\nThere is a wonderful connection between this passage in the Book of\nMormon, and the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah, the result of one\nspirit of inspiration, acting upon different men, in countries, long\ndistances apart, and at different periods of time.\n\nIt is quite as unaccountable on any other grounds than that of\ninspiration, that Joseph Smith, Jun., after many centuries had elapsed\nsince these predictions of the prophets, should declare to the world\nthat the time was at hand for their fulfilment, and that he should have\nthe confidence to indicate the identical spot, on this great land of\nNorth America, where this city of Zion is to be built. \"This is the\nland of promise, and the place for the city of Zion. * * * Behold, the\nplace which is now called Independence, is the center place, and a spot\nfor the temple is lying westward;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 57. 2, 3.\n\n\n\nJOSEPH SMITH AS A FULFILLER OF BOOK OF MORMON PROPHECIES.\n\nThe first Nephi, 2400 years before the days of Joseph Smith, the\nProphet, had a vision of the discovery and colonization of America by\nEuropeans. He also saw the record of the Jews (the Bible) come forth\nfrom the Gentiles to the remnant of the seed of his brethren (the\nAmerican Indians). He says, \"After it had come forth unto them, I\nbeheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the\nGentiles unto them:\" 1 _Nephi_ 13. 38, 39.\n\nAdmitting that this prophecy has been partly fulfilled, by Christian\ndenominations who have sent missionaries and the Bible among the\nIndians, it remained for Joseph Smith, Jun., to initiate the fulfilment\nof the second part of the prophecy, that other books, besides the\nBible, should come forth to the children of Lehi, which should bear\ntestimony of the truth of the Bible.\n\nThe Book of Mormon was the first of this series of books, which were\nto be carried forth among the American Indians, after the Bible. It\nhas been followed by the book of Doctrine and Covenants, containing\nrevelations and instructions concerning the latter-day work, and by\ninspired translations from the writings of Enoch, Abraham and Moses,\nwhich all bear record of the truth of the Jewish prophets, and of the\nteachings of Jesus and his apostles, as foretold they would do by the\nprophet Nephi.\n\nThis same prophet further says, \"There is nothing which is secret, save\nit shall be revealed; * * * there is nothing which is sealed upon the\nearth, save it shall be loosed. Wherefore, all things which have been\nrevealed unto the children of men, shall at that day be revealed;\" 2\n_Nephi_ 30. 17, 18. The context of this passage shows that it speaks of\nthe latter days.\n\nThe following is nearly a parallel passage in meaning: \"And he shall\nsend Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven\nmust receive until the times of restitution of _all things_, which God\nhath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets _since the world\nbegan_;\" _Acts_ 3. 20, 21.\n\nThat is, all the knowledge that has ever been revealed to man will\nbe restored to the earth. All that was revealed to Adam and the\nante-diluvian prophets; to Noah and the Jaredite prophets; to Abraham;\nto Moses and the Jewish prophets; to the Nephite prophets; to the\nprimitive apostles of our Savior, and many others, to whom the Lord has\nshewn all things from the beginning of the world to the end thereof.\n\nAfter many centuries had passed, in which man's wisdom had failed to\ncomprehend the meaning of the phrase, \"The restitution of all things,\"\nor the grand fulfilment of prophecy comprehended in a \"Dispensation\nof the fulness of times\"--a time in which all the knowledge and power\nof all times will be gathered into one--Jos. Smith, Jun., appears in\nthe United States of America, and claims that the Lord has authorized\nhim to open up this grand dispensation of a fulness, and that for this\npurpose he has bestowed upon him first, and then through him upon\nothers, all the keys and powers of the Priesthood which had been held\nin former dispensations.\n\n\"For unto you, (the twelve) and those (the first presidency) who\nare appointed with you, to be your counselors and your leaders, is\nthe power of this Priesthood given, for the last days and for the\nlast time, in the which is the dispensation of the fulness of times,\nwhich power you hold in connection with all those who have received a\ndispensation at any time from the beginning of creation;\" _Doc. & Cov_.\n112. 30-32.\n\nIn _sec_. 110 we are informed that Jesus Christ, Elias, Moses, and\nElijah the prophet, appeared to Jos. Smith, Jun., and others, and\nbestowed upon them the keys of the holy Priesthood, held in other\ndispensations, that they might be concentrated in this.\n\nIn these last two quotations, from _Doc. & Cov_., we have an account of\nthe bestowal of the necessary authority upon certain persons, for the\nopening up of the gathering dispensation of the latter times, that is\nperfectly consistent with the Book of Mormon and the Bible.\n\nNo man, unless endowed by Divine inspiration, could have conceived of\nsuch a sacramental feast as is represented in the following, to which\nwill be gathered in the latter times, the great dignitaries of all\ndispensations, with Jesus Christ at their head, together holding all\nthe keys, authority and powers of the holy Priesthood, pertaining to\nthe redemption of man and of the earth.\n\n\"For the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with\nyou on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal\nthe Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting Gospel, *\n* * and also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing\nto pass the restoration of all things,\" and with John the Baptist,\n\"whom I have sent unto you, my servants, Jos. Smith, Jun., and Oliver\nCowdery, to ordain you unto this first Priesthood which you have\nreceived. * *\n\n\"And also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power\nof turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, * * * and also\nwith Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, * * and\nalso with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the\nancient of days.\n\n\"And also with Peter, and James, and John, * * * by whom I have\nordained you and confirmed you to be Apostles, and especial witnesses\nof my name, and bear the keys of your ministry, and of the same things\nwhich I have revealed unto them: unto whom I have committed the keys of\nmy kingdom, and a dispensation of the Gospel for the last times; and\nfor the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one\nall things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;\" 27. 5-13.\n\nOn a certain occasion, when the Nephite disciples of our Savior were\nengaged \"in mighty prayer and fasting,\" he appeared in their midst and\nasked them, \"What will ye that I shall give unto you? And they said\nunto him, Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we\nshall call this church; for there are disputations among the people\nconcerning this matter.\n\n\"And the Lord said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, why is it\nthat the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing? Have\nthey not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name\nof Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the\nlast day. * * * Therefore whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my\nname; therefore ye shall call the church in my name;\" 3 _Nephi_ 27. 2-7.\n\nIn the above Jesus plainly told his disciples that his name was Christ,\nand that his church should be called Christ's Church, not Christian,\nCatholic, Campbellite or Episcopalian.\n\nWhen Jos. Smith, Jun., organized this church, on the 6th of April,\n1830, it was organized as the Church of Jesus Christ, in obedience to\nthe instructions of Jesus Christ, some 1800 years before.\n\nThe prophet Nephi, speaking of the gathering of Israel, says, that\nthe Lord \"Will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be\ngathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be\nbrought out of obscurity, and out of darkness;\" 1 _Nephi_ 22. 12.\n\nThe Book of Mormon, brought forth through the agency of Jos. Smith,\nJun., reveals to the world the fact that the millions of aboriginal\nAmericans scattered over the American continent, from Cape Horn to the\nArctic Ocean, are of the house of Israel.\n\nThe keys of the Patriarchial Priesthood enable those on whom they are\nbestowed, to know, by revelation, the lineage of the Latter-day Saints,\nand tens of thousands of Ephraim, and thousands of Manasseh, are being\ngathered, who were not known before the days of Jos. Smith, Jun., as\nportions of the house of Israel. Thus the great work of bringing the\ntribes of Israel, out of obscurity and darkness, and of developing\ntheir existence to themselves, and to the world, has been inaugurated\nby Jos. Smith, Jun. The work must continue until they are gathered from\nall parts of the earth, in fulfilment of the words of the prophets, and\nof the promises made to their fathers.\n\nThe following promise was made to Joseph who was sold into Egypt,\n\"The fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of\nJudah shall write;\" and that which shall be written, \"Shall grow\ntogether, unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of\ncontentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and\nbringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter-days; and\nalso the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord;\" 2 _Nephi_ 3. 12.\nJos. Smith, Jun., has brought forth the Book of Mormon, the writing of\nthe fruit of the loins of Joseph through Ephraim and Manasseh, and has\nplaced it, side by side, with the writing of the fruit of the loins of\nJudah--the Bible--the one establishing the truth of the other, and thus\nhas literally fulfilled this prophecy.\n\nThe Lord further said to Joseph who was sold into Egypt, \"I will raise\nup unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman.\nAnd I, behold, I will give unto him, that he shall write the writing of\nthe fruit of thy loins (the Nephites), unto the fruit of thy loins (the\nAmerican Indians); and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it;\"\n_verse_ 18.\n\nIn _Doc. & Cov_., we are informed of the fulfilment of this prophecy.\nThe Lord said to Joseph the prophet and S. Rigdon, \"It is expedient\nin me that you, my servant Sidney, should be a spokesman unto this\npeople; yea, verily, I will ordain you unto this calling, even to be a\nspokesman unto my servant Joseph;\" 100. 9.\n\n\"And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them\nfrom the dust;\" 2 _Nephi_ 3. 19. Jos. Smith, Jun., was of the lineage\nof Joseph who was sold into Egypt, to whom these promises were made.\nThe Nephites were also his descendants, and they wrote and hid up the\nplates of the Book of Mormon, with the assurance that, in after years,\nthe writing should be brought forth to their descendants and others\nof the house of Israel; _Mormon_ 8. 14-16. The record was engraved on\nplates in a language known only to the Nephites; _Mormon_ 9. 34.\n\nOf necessity there were some means provided for interpreting and\nre-writing the record in a modern language, before it could benefit\nthose for whom it was designed. With the plates of the Book of Mormon\nwas found a Urim and Thummim, by means of which, through the power of\nGod, Jos. Smith, Jun., was enabled to translate the Nephite record for\nthe benefit of the descendants of Lehi, and any others of the human\nfamily who would receive it; _Doc. & Cov_. 10. 1. \"And it shall be\nas if the fruit of thy loins had cried to them from the dust,\" was\nfulfilled in taking the writing out of the earth, where it had been\ndeposited for 1400 years.\n\nIn _Mormon_ 8. 13, 14, we are informed that the record was hid up in\nthe earth by Moroni, the son of Mormon, and it remained under his care\nuntil he delivered it to Joseph Smith, Jun., _P. of G. P. page_ 49.\nThe Lord said, \"And it shall come to pass that my people which are of\nthe house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their\npossessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one;\" 2 _Nephi_ 29.\n14.\n\nIn fulfilment of this prophecy, Jos. Smith, Jun., during the short\nperiod of his ministry, not only inaugurated the great work of\ngathering Israel, but also of gathering together sacred writings, which\nat this time consist of the unsealed portion of the record of Mormon;\nthe Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and of important portions of the\nwritings of Enoch, of Abraham, and of Moses. He also declared that more\nsacred writings would come forth, as fast as the people were prepared\nto receive them.\n\nMoroni, who completed and hid up the record of Mormon in the earth,\nsays, of the plates, \"Unto three shall they be shown by the power of\nGod; wherefore they shall know of a surety that these things are true.\nAnd in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established;\"\n_Ether_ 5. 3, 4. We find that the Lord repeated this prediction to Jos.\nSmith, Jun.; _Doc. & Cov_. 5. 11-15. On the second page, after the\ntitle page of the Book of Mormon, we find the testimony of three men,\nOliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris, that an angel appeared\nto them and showed them the plates, \"Which is a record of the people of\nNephi, and also of the Lamanites their brethren, and also of the people\nof Jared, who came from the tower\" of Babel.\n\nIt was made manifest to them that they had been translated by the gift\nand power of God, and the voice of the Lord commanded that they should\nbear record of the things that had been shown them.\n\n\n\nJOSEPH SMITH, JUN., AS A PROPHET, AND FULFILLER OF HIS OWN PROPHECIES.\n\n\"And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of\nmy disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days;\" _Doc. & Cov_.\n1. 4. This was one of the first prophetic commandments given to the\nLatter-day Saints, through Jos. Smith, Jun.\n\nMany hundreds of the Elders of the Church have traveled to and fro in\nthe earth, regardless of exposure to the elements, of fatigue, or of\npecuniary considerations, warning the people to repent of their sins,\nfor the day of the Lord was near.\n\nThere are now but few nations who are prepared to receive the word,\nthat have not had the Gospel of this dispensation preached to them.\nWith a constantly increasing number of Elders, the labor will continue\nuntil the Gospel is preached \"as a witness to all nations.\" The quorums\nof the Priesthood were organized and set in order, by Jos. Smith, Jun.,\nwith this great work especially in view.\n\nIn _sec_. 3. 16-20, it is predicted that a knowledge of the Savior,\nand also of their fathers, should come to the descendants of Lehi, the\nAmerican Indians. Through the ministry and teachings of Jos. Smith,\nJun., thousands of the Lamanites have come to a knowledge of their\nfathers, and many \"Believe the Gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus\nChrist,\" of which many of the Latter-day Saints are witnesses.\n\n\"Behold, a marvellous work is about to come forth among the children\nof men;\" 4. 1. This declaration was made in February, 1829; before\nthe organization of the Church. The organization of the Church, the\nteachings, unity, energy, and progress of the Latter-day Saints, have\never been a marvel to the world, and are daily becoming more so, in\nfulfilment of this often repeated prediction in the book of _Doc. &\nCov_.\n\nIn March, 1829, the Lord said to Jos. Smith, Jun., \"For hereafter you\nshall be ordained and go forth and deliver my words unto the children\nof men;\" 5. 6. On the 15th of May following, John the Baptist laid\nhis hands upon the heads of Jos. Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery, and\nordained them to \"The Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the\nministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism\nby immersion for the remission of sins;\" _sec_. 13.\n\nIt is evident that, previous to this time, Jos. Smith, Jun., had\nforeseen by the spirit of prophecy, that it was necessary he should be\ncalled of God as was Aaron, and for this reason was prepared to receive\na proper ordination by the hands of an authorized messenger from God.\nWe have no record of such previous ordination to the Priesthood, since\nthe days of the primitive apostles.\n\nThe Lord said to Joseph Smith, Jun., \"There are many that lie in wait\nto destroy thee from off the face of the earth;\" 5. 33. The whole\nlife of Jos. Smith, Jun., and his death, evidence the truthfulness of\nthis prophecy. Some forty times was he brought before the courts by\nhis enemies, and they failed to substantiate the charges preferred\nagainst him, and, on the 27th of June, 1844, he, and his brother Hyrum,\nwere assassinated in Carthage jail, by a mob, when under the pledged\nprotection of the Executive of the state of Illinois.\n\n\"And the poor and the meek shall have the Gospel preached unto them,\nand they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming;\" 35. 15. Not\nonly has the Gospel been preached to the poor and the meek, but they\nare the ones who have received it, and are looking and preparing for\nthe coming of our Lord, \"For it is nigh at hand.\"\n\n\"Inasmuch as my people shall assemble themselves to the (state of)\nOhio, I have kept in store a blessing such as is not known among the\nchildren of men, and it shall be poured forth upon their heads;\" 39.\n15. This prophetic promise was given through Joseph Smith, Jun., in\nFayette, New York, January 5, 1831. In 1836, a temple was completed in\nthe town of Kirtland, Ohio. It was the first temple of modern times,\ndedicated to that Priesthood of which Jesus Christ is the acknowledged\nhead.\n\nIn this temple the Elders of the Church received endowments and great\nblessings, of which the world generally were entirely ignorant. The\nLord said through J. Smith, Jun., \"The sound must go forth from\nthis place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the\nearth--the Gospel must be preached unto every creature, with signs\nfollowing them that believe;\" 58. 64.\n\nThis prophecy was literally fulfilled by the Elders scattering from\nKirtland, after receiving their endowments, to all parts of the United\nStates and the Canadas, and by the first European Mission being\nestablished soon after.\n\nAt this time thousands of Latter-day Saints can testify that the Gospel\nhas been preached in a large portion of the world, and that the signs\nof faith, gift of tongues, healing, etc., have followed the believer.\n\nThe following remarkable prophecy was delivered Dec. 25th, 1832. \"Thus\nsaith the Lord, concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass,\nbeginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually\nterminate in the death and misery of many souls. The days will come\nthat war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at that place;\n* * and it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up\nagainst their masters, who shall be marshalled and disciplined for war;\"\n\nIn 1861, twenty-nine years after this prophecy was recorded, the war\nbetween the North and South commenced in South Carolina. It continued\nfor several years and was very destructive. In the latter part of it\nmany thousands of slaves deserted their masters and were marshalled and\ndisciplined for war, and formed a part of the armies of the Northern\nStates.\n\nDuring the contest the Southern States called upon the nation of\nGreat Britain for assistance. \"And it shall come to pass also, that\nthe remnants who are left of the land (the Indians) will marshal\nthemselves, and shall become exceeding angry, and shall vex the\nGentiles with a sore vexation;\" _Sec_. 87.\n\nNever before, since the United States have been a nation, has the\nIndian question been so complicated and vexatious as now. That a part\nof this prophecy has been so literally fulfilled would seem a guarantee\nthat the whole will be realized.\n\nThe delivery of the keys of the holy Priesthood unto the Prophet\nJoseph Smith, by Elias, by Moses, by Elijah, their ordination to the\nPriesthood of Aaron by John the Baptist, to the Melchisedek Priesthood\nby Peter, James and John, the building of temples, the ordinances and\nendowments for the living and for the dead, received in them; the\npreaching of the Gospel to all the world, the gathering of Israel; and\nall the varied labors of the Latter-day Saints in order to establish a\nveritable kingdom of God on the earth, and to prepare for the coming of\nour Savior in his glory, are the direct results of the personal labors\nand inspired teachings of Joseph Smith, Jun.\n\nHe stands forth, pre-eminently, as the Divinely inspired prophetic\nleader of the \"Dispensation of the fulness of times;\" as God's agent\nfor the \"Restitution of all things spoken by all holy prophets since\nthe world began.\" As the great fulfiller of numerous prophecies of both\nthe ancient Jewish and Nephite prophets, as recorded in the Bible and\nBook of Mormon; as the great prophet of the nineteenth century, and the\nfulfiller of his own prophecies, showing that he was Divinely inspired\nto both prophesy and to fulfil.\n\n_See a pamphlet by O. Pratt, entitled, \"Divine Authority, or, was\nJoseph Smith sent of God_.\"\n\n_A pamphlet entitled, \"A Public Discussion, between J. Taylor and C. W.\nCleeve, J. Robertson and P. Cater_.\"\n\n\"_Joseph Smith's Prophetic Calling,\" Mil. Star, Vol. 42, pages 164,\n187, 195, 227_.\n\n_Epistle of D. W. Patten, History of J. Smith, July 31, 1838_.\n\n_O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. Wm. Crowel, No. 1_.\n\n\n\nMARRIAGE--A DIVINE INSTITUTION, AND DESIGNED TO BE ETERNAL.\n\nMarriage is ordained of God unto man, that the earth might answer the\nend of its creation, and \"Be filled with the measure of man, according\nto his creation before the world was made;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 49. 15-17.\n\nOutside of marriage the salvation of man would be incomplete: \"Neither\nis the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in\nthe Lord;\" 1 _Cor_. 11. 11. All the works of God receive the impress\nof eternity: \"I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever:\nnothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it;\" _Eccl_. 3. 14.\n\nWhen the Creator joined Adam and Eve together, as the progenitors\nof the human race, we do not learn that he set any limit to the\ncontinuance of their marriage relations. We have no reason to doubt\nthat the gift of Eve, to Adam, was designed to be as eternal as himself.\n\nMan, in his fulness, is a twofold organization--male and female. Either\nbeing incapable of filling the measure of their creation alone, it\nrequires the union of the two to complete man in the image of God, for\nin _Gen_. 1. 27, it expressly says, that he was created male and female\nin the image of God. Therefore, without the proper union of the sexes,\nman would be less than what God created him.\n\nThere is a comprehensive significance in, \"The Lord God said, it is\nnot good that the man should be alone;\" _Gen_. 2. 18. It speaks of no\nparticular period of man's life, and has no limit in its application.\nThe entire narrative of the union of Adam and Eve, in the second\nchapter of Genesis, intimates the designed inseparable relationship\nbetween man and wife, in marriage as ordained of God.\n\nAdam said, \"This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh;\" 2.\n23. He evidently well understood this eternal relationship with Eve,\nwhen he answered the Lord's question, \"Hast thou eaten of the tree,\nwhereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?\" and he replied,\n\"The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and\nI did eat;\" _Gen_. 3. 11, 12.\n\nHere Adam tells the Lord, by way of apology, that in order to keep\nhis commandment, that he and the woman should remain together, he\nwas compelled to partake of the forbidden fruit after her. This is\nevidently the view the apostle Paul took of the subject: \"Adam was not\ndeceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression;\" 1\n_Tim_. 2. 14.\n\nThis inseparable connection between man and wife, in marriage as\nordained of God, is further exemplified by the same apostle in _Eph_.\n5. 22-33: \"The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the\nhead of the church.\" That is, as Christ is eternally the head of the\nchurch, so is the husband eternally the head of the wife. \"Husbands,\nlove your wives, even as Christ also loved the church. * * so ought men\nto love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth\nhimself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh. * * Let every one of\nyou in particular so love his wife even as himself.\"\n\nThe principle of inseparable connection is fully expressed in Adam's\nanswer to the Lord as rendered in the writings of Moses, translated by\nJoseph, the Seer. \"The woman whom thou gavest me, and commanded that\nshe should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree and I\ndid eat;\" _P. of G. P., page_ 8.\n\nWe further read, on _page_ 13, \"In the day that God created man, (in\nthe likeness of God made he him), in the image of his own body, male\nand female, created he them, and blessed them, and called their name\nAdam.\" Here we are informed that it required the male and female,\nunited, to make one image of his own body, and that male and female\nwere necessary to form one Adam, who was in the dual image of God\nhis father. We also find by referring again to _Gen_. 1. 27, that it\nrequired the male and female to make an image of God.\n\nThe Lord has ever manifested a great interest in the marriage\nrelations of his chosen people and Priesthood, and has protected the\nsexual relations by stringent laws and regulations. The importance\nof marrying in the same lineage, as themselves, appears to have been\nwell understood by the patriarchs. For this reason, doubtless, Abraham\nmarried a near relation, and sent his servant, Eliezer, to his kindred\nto obtain a wife for his son, and heir, Isaac; _Gen_. 20. 12. _Chap_.\n24.\n\nIsaac also commanded Jacob to go to Padanaram, and take one of his\ncousins to wife; _Gen_. 28. 1-6. Twice the Lord interfered, in a\nmiraculous manner, to prevent the wife of Abraham from being defiled;\n_Gen_. 12. 17-20. _Chap_. 20. 2, 3. Evidently for the reason that she\nwas the foreordained covenant wife of Abraham, and destined mother\nof the Lord's chosen people. Israel was forbidden to marry with the\nCanaanites; _Deut_. 7. 3.\n\nThe Lord gave special commandments regarding the marriage of priests\nand their families. A priest's daughter that profaned herself was to be\nburned with fire; _Lev_. 21. 9. The High Priest was required to take a\nvirgin of his own people to wife; _verse_ 14. The sons of Aaron were\ncommanded not to take a wife that was a whore, or profane, or a woman\nput away from her husband; _verse_ 7.\n\n\"If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they\nshall both of them die;\" _Deut_. 22. 22. If a man lay with a virgin, in\nthe city, that was betrothed to an husband, they were both stoned to\ndeath; _verses_ 23, 24. If a man lay with a virgin not betrothed, and\nthereby humbled her, he was required to pay her father fifty shekels of\nsilver, and take her to wife, without the possibility of divorcing her;\n_verse_ 28, 29.\n\nThe eighteenth chapter of Leviticus is chiefly occupied with forbidding\nthe unlawful indulgence of the passions. The Nephite prophet, Alma,\ntold his son that harlotry was \"most abominable above all sins, save\nit be the shedding of innocent blood;\" _Alma_ 39, 5. Jesus told his\nNephite disciples \"It is better that ye should deny yourselves of these\nthings, wherein ye will take up your cross, than that ye should be cast\ninto hell;\" 3 _Nephi_ 12. 30.\n\nIn _Doc. & Cov_., the passages are numerous in which adultery is\nforbidden. The Lord has given much instruction to the Latter-day Saints\nconcerning the intercourse of the sexes. They are required to keep\nthemselves strictly within their marriage covenants.\n\nFrom the sacred writings, it would appear that in all dispensations of\nthe Priesthood, the laws regulating this matter have been substantially\nthe same, and have been calculated to strictly guard the issues of\nlife; that all those who would keep them might be \"perfect in their\ngenerations.\"\n\nIf, on the one hand, what the Lord does is eternal, because he is an\neternal and infinite being, then what man does of himself, he being\nfinite, must be limited to this life. Therefore, it is necessary that\nman and wife, to be eternally united, should be married in the way God\nhas appointed, and by a man whom he has authorized to act in his stead.\n\nIt would not be consistent with the character of God, as the spiritual\nand natural father of mankind, to have no law regulating the marriages\nof his children, that they might be crowned with the blessings of\neternal life and increase.\n\nThe Lord brought Abraham forth abroad, \"And said, Look now toward\nheaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said\nunto him, So shall thy seed be;\" _Gen_. 15. 5. This was a promise of\ninfinite and eternal increase. If we could count the stars, and grasp\ninfinitude, we might comprehend the result of the promise.\n\nWe find that the Lord confirmed blessings to Abraham, and to his seed,\nby recorded ordinance and covenant. For this reason it is not probable\nthat a blessing of such magnitude, as the sealing upon man and wife the\npower of eternal increase, is an exception. Abraham, in his own record,\ntranslated by Joseph the Seer, says, \"I sought for the blessings of the\nfathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the\nsame.\" One of these blessings was, \"To be a father of many nations, a\nprince of peace;\" _P. of G. P., page_ 26.\n\nAbraham understood that this right could only be bestowed by\nordination, by one of the fathers who had received it from the fathers\nin regular descent from Adam. He states that this right was conferred\nupon him from the fathers, according to his desire. That this right\nincluded the authority to regulate the marriage relations, in the\nfuture generations of his children, is evident from the further\nstatement, \"I sought for mine appointment unto the Priesthood according\nto the appointment of God unto the fathers concerning the seed.\" That\nis, he sought for that especial authority in the Priesthood, through\nwhich he had obtained the power of eternal increase.\n\nThe priest's office was bestowed upon Aaron and his posterity forever,\nby ordinance and covenant; _Exodus_ 40. 15. Could this have been the\ncase unless his posterity was made an eternal heritage through the\neverlasting covenant of marriage? This power of uniting husband and\nwife by an everlasting covenant of marriage, and by that ordinance\ngiving them an eternal right over their posterity, descended from\nAbraham through the fathers, until Israel, by transgression, forfeited\nthe blessing.\n\nFrom the sharpness with which the prophet Nathan reproved David, and\nthe statement that the Lord had given him the wives of his master Saul;\n2 _Sam_. 12. 1-12, it is probable that the prophet held this authority.\n\nThe great sin of David, apart from the murder of Uriah, was, that he\nhad taken from another man that which the Lord had given him, and\nstepped outside of his own covenant limits.\n\nWhether the prophet Malachi held the keys of this power or not, he\nevidently saw in prophetic vision, that it would be taken from the\nearth, and be restored again, that the broken links of past generations\nmight be welded together. For the Lord said, through him, \"I will send\nyou Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful\nday of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the\nchildren, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come\nand smite the earth with a curse;\" 4. 5, 6. Or as it is rendered in _P.\nof G. P., page_ 50, \"And he shall plant in the hearts of the children,\nthe promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall\nturn to their fathers; if it were not so, the whole earth would be\nutterly wasted at his coming.\"\n\nEvidently a very important part of these promises was, that the\nchildren would open up the way of salvation to the fathers, through the\nordinances of the Gospel, and through them the broken links of past\ngenerations would be connected.\n\nCenturies of darkness passed away in which we hear nothing of the order\nof the holy Priesthood, or of any saving ordinances for the dead, when\nan obscure man, Joseph Smith, Jun., appeared in the United States of\nAmerica, and claimed that to him was committed the authority to open\nup the Dispensation of the fulness of times, in which all the keys and\npowers of the holy Priesthood should be restored to the earth.\n\nHe professed to be a fulfiller of prophecy, and numerous facts, which\nhave become a part of history, prove him to be what he professed.\nHe asserts that in the temple in Kirtland, Ohio, Elias appeared and\ncommitted the dispensation of the \"Gospel of Abraham,\" \"Saying, that in\nus, and our seed, all generations after us should be blest.\" In this\nwe see the needed preparatory work for sealing, upon men the power of\neternal lives, through the everlasting covenant of marriage, through\nwhich Abraham sought \"To be a father of many nations.\"\n\nThen at the same place appeared Elijah, and said, \"Behold, the time has\nfully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi, testifying\nthat he (Elijah) should be sent before the great and dreadful day of\nthe Lord come, To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and\nthe children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a\ncurse. Therefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your\nhands;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 110. 11-16. Thus we see that the way has been\nopened for the complete reunion and salvation of all the generations or\nmen, through the keys of the Holy Priesthood which have been bestowed\nupon Joseph Smith, Jun. This is the designed glorious culmination of\nthe New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage--the eternal union of the\ngenerations of the righteous in bonds never to be broken.\n\nIn _Doc. & Cov. sec_. 128. Joseph, the Seer, gives instructions for\nrestoring the past; in _sec_. 132, he tells the world how future\ngenerations may come forth in unbroken succession, each succeeding\nintelligence, the heritage of its fathers, worlds without end.\n\nPLURALITY OF WIVES.\n\nPlural marriage is a very ancient institution. Although generally\nignored by peoples professing modern Christianity, it is still\ncustomary among a large portion of the family of man. Many customs of\nmodern Europe and America are modeled after those of pagan Greece and\nRome, instead of after the primitive patriarchs, or after the examples\nrecorded in the history of ancient Israel.\n\nWhile these ancient nations were monogamists, the limits of intercourse\nbetween the sexes, especially on the part of men, were very indefinite.\nThis phase of society is quite characteristic of the modern nations of\nEurope and America. While the Christian sects of to-day profess some\nrespect for the patriarchs of Israel, they practically condemn their\nfamily relations as corrupt and immoral.\n\nIf plural marriage be unlawful, then is the whole plan of salvation,\nthrough the house of Israel, a failure, and the entire fabric of\nChristianity without foundation.\n\nGod said to Abraham, \"I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be\nthou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will\nmultiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked\nwith him, saying, as for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou\nshalt be a father of many nations;\" _Gen_. 17. 1-4.\n\nHere we are informed that God talked with Abraham, told him to be\nperfect, bestowed upon him the blessings of a numerous posterity, and,\nas a sequence, future power and glory. If polygamy was contrary to\nhis law, it is remarkable that God should have condescended to talk\nwith and greatly bless a man who had, but a short time before, taken\na second wife, while the first was living; a fact of which we are\ninformed in the second and third verses of the previous chapter. If\nthis was criminal, Sarai, the mother of all Israel, was involved in the\ntransgression, for she gave Hagar to her husband for a wife; _Gen_. 16.\n3.\n\nThe Lord told Joseph, the Seer, that he commanded, \"And Sarah gave\nHagar to Abraham to wife;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 132. 34. This is also the\ntestimony of Josephus, the Jewish historian; _Ant_. B. 1. C. 10.\n\nWhen Hagar was in distress, on account of difficulty with her mistress,\nthe Lord did not treat her as a profane, cast off woman, but sent an\nangel to counsel and comfort her, by assuring her that her posterity\nshould not be numbered for multitude; _Gen_. 16. 8-10.\n\nThe Lord further promised to bless Ishmael, the fruit of this polygamic\nmarriage, and said, \"I will make him fruitful, and will multiply him\nexceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget and I will make him a great\nnation;\" 17. 20.\n\nWe find that this great and good man, Abraham, whom the Lord especially\nfavored, had concubines: for \"Unto the sons of the concubines, which\nAbraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his\nson;\" 25. 6.\n\nJacob, the grandson and heir to all the blessings of Abraham, was a\npolygamist. He served seven years for Rachel the daughter of Laban,\nbut being deceived, and Leah given him instead, he served other seven\nyears for Rachel. Each of these wives had a handmaid, which they gave\nto their husband for wives; _Gen_. 29. 18-35. _Chap_. 30. 3-12.\n\nMoses was conversant with the Lord, and was the great lawgiver of\nIsrael; in his laws especial provision was made for polygamous\nchildren; _Deut_. 21. 15-17. In them polygamy is not mentioned as one\nof the crimes for which penalties were provided.\n\nElkanah was a polygamist, yet his son, Samuel, was a great prophet, and\njudge in Israel. He was born, and lived under the special favor of God.\n\nDavid, king of Israel, was the chosen of the Lord; 1 _Sam_. 16. 12,\n13. He took Abigail and Ahinoam, \"And they were also both of them his\nwives;\" 1 _Sam_. 25. 42, 43. He \"Took him more concubines and wives out\nof Jerusalem;\" 2 _Sam_. 5. 13.\n\nWe are further informed, that \"David did that which was right in the\neyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded\nhim all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the\nHittite;\" 1 _Kings_ 15. 5. In this passage we have an assurance that\nDavid did right in taking all his wives and concubines, except in\none instance, for which he was severely chastised. When Nathan, the\nprophet, reproved him for this sin, he said to him, in the name of the\nLord, \"I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy\nbosom;\" 2 _Sam_. 12. 8.\n\nAfter having repented and suffered for his sin, Bath-sheba was given\nhim for a wife, and she bare Solomon; _verse_ 24. The Lord appeared\nto this son of a plural wife in a dream, and bestowed upon him great\nblessings; 1 _Kings_ 3. God gave him \"Wisdom and understanding\nexceeding much;\" 1 _Kings_ 4. 29. He was not reproved for plural\nmarriage but for marrying strange wives, who led him into idolatry and\nwickedness; 1 _Kings_ 11. Many chief men in Israel, to whom the Lord\nmanifested his favor, were polygamists.\n\nThe following is sometimes quoted as an argument against plural\nmarriage: \"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and\ncleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh;\" _Mark_ 10. 7,\n8. But \"Know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body?\nfor two, saith he, shall be one flesh;\" 1 _Cor_. 6. 16, shows that it\nhas no connection with the subject.\n\n\"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife;\" 1 _Tim_.\n3. 2, and let deacons be the husbands of one wife; _verse_ 12, are\nsupposed by some to limit officers in the church, and by inference\nall men, to one wife. But when the passages are taken in connection\nwith the context, which is an enumeration of several qualifications\nnecessary for bishops and deacons, there is but one reasonable\nconstruction--that these officers of the church should be married men.\n\nThe Latter-day Saints believe that all men should marry; _Doc. & Cov_.\n49. 15-17. The Lord is \"of purer eyes than to behold evil, and can not\nlook upon iniquity;\" _Hab_. 1. 13; and says, that \"A bastard shall not\nenter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation;\"\n_Deut_. 23. 2. Yet the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel were\nthe sons of four wives of Jacob; _Gen_. 35. 22-26.\n\nJoseph, the first son of Rachel, the second wife of Jacob, received\nespecial blessings; _Gen_. 49. 22-26. The Lord called to Samuel, the\nson of a polygamous father; 1 _Sam_. 3. 4-14. Solomon was the son of a\npolygamist, yet he was a child of promise; 1 _Chron_. 22. 9, 10. Jesus\nChrist was descended from David through Solomon the son of her who had\nbeen the wife of Uriah; _Matt_. 1. 1-17.\n\nThe Lord said to Isaiah, \"Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my\npeople their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins;\" 58. 1.\nThis commission was to be faithfully executed; _Ezek_. 3. 18. Polygamy\nwas common in the Jewish nation, yet none of the prophets reproved\nthem for it; but they were sharply reproved for adultery, whoredom,\nfornication, and other sins; _Jer_. 5. 7, 8, 23. _Ezek_. 22. _Chap_.\n23. 36-44.\n\nHistory evidences that plurality of wives was generally customary among\nthe nations of Asia, yet it is not condemned in any of the epistles of\nthe apostles, nor does John the Revelator mention it in the letters he\nwas commanded to write to the seven churches of Asia.\n\nPaul mentions nearly every crime, in 1 _Cor_. 6. 9, 10, but, says\nnothing about plurality of wives. Every species of commerce between\nthe sexes, outside of marriage, is often mentioned in the scriptures\nas crime, but plural marriage is never, except on the part of the\nwoman, who is forbidden to marry another man during the lifetime of her\nhusband; _Rom_. 7. 3.\n\nHad plurality of wives been sinful in man, the inference is reasonable\nthat it would have been equally condemned. Although plural marriage was\ncustomary in the days of the patriarchs, some assert that it was done\naway in Christ. This would seem very inconsistent when he himself was\nof a polygamous lineage. He was born and filled his earthly mission\namong a polygamous people, yet, he never reproved them for their plural\nmarriages. There is nothing in the inspired writings to infer that he\nreproved or did away with either polygamy or monogamy. The following is\nfrom the Book of Mormon on this subject: The Lord, through dreams and\nvisions and the ministry of angels, directed a Jewish prophet by the\nname of Lehi, to leave Jerusalem, 600 years B. C., with his family and\nothers, for the purpose of colonizing America.\n\nIt was then a dark period in the history of Israel, as is evident from\nthe Bible history of the times, and from the opening chapters of the\nBook of Mormon.\n\nThe brilliant reign of Solomon had deeply planted in Israel the sins\nof idolatry and sexual wickedness. His reign was the pride of Israel,\nand its effects were deep and lasting. It hastened the destruction of\nthe ten tribes, as a people, some one hundred and twenty years before\nthe exodus of Lehi, and at that time was about to culminate in the\ndestruction of Jerusalem and in the Babylonish captivity.\n\nWith all his wisdom, Solomon had disobeyed two very important\ncommandments, one especially to the kings of Israel: \"Neither shall he\nmultiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away;\" _Deut_. 17.\n17. The other was to all Israel, that they should not marry into the\nidolatrous nations around them: \"Neither shalt thou make marriages with\nthem; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter\nshalt thou take unto thy son;\" _Deut_. 7. 3. _Ezra_, _chapters_ 9. 10.\n\nThrough disobedience to these injunctions, his heart had turned away\nfrom the Lord, and he had been led into idolatry and wickedness. At\nhis death he not only left the influence of his personal example, but,\nalso, a numerous family who, from their great wealth and high social\nposition, must have exercised a powerful and lasting influence for\nevil, which, with other causes, resulted, in less than three hundred\nyears, in the scattering of the ten tribes among the nations of Asia,\nand the occupation of their country by strangers, and in less than four\nhundred years, in the destruction of Jerusalem, and in the Babylonish\ncaptivity.\n\nThe sexual wickedness which had become prevalent in Israel, and the\nconsequent abuse of the marriage relations, was, evidently, the reason\nwhy the Lord commanded that the children of Lehi should have but one\nwife, for he said to the Nephites, through his prophet Jacob, \"This\npeople begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures;\nfor they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of\nthe things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son;\"\n2. 23.\n\nThat is, they excused themselves with the example of these kings for\nbreaking the special command of God to them, that they should have\nbut one wife, and like those eminent persons, ran into excess and\nwickedness, as their fathers had done before them.\n\nTo neutralize the evil effects of the bad example of their fathers was\nevidently the reason why the Lord commanded the Nephites, \"For there\nshall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he\nshall have none;\" _verse_ 27. Plural marriage would have been whoredom\nto the Nephites, because the Lord had forbidden it.\n\nThat the prophet Jacob foresaw, prophetically, that at some future\nperiod this restriction would be taken off is evident from _verse_ 30,\n\"For if I will, saith the Lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will\ncommand my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.\"\nThat is, they were required to limit themselves to one wife, until the\nLord should order it otherwise, and by implication, when he instructed\nthem to take more than one wife, it would be justifiable.\n\nIn the thirty-first verse the Lord gives a reason for forbidding plural\nmarriage among the Nephites, \"For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the\nsorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the\nland of Jerusalem; yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of\nthe wickedness and abominations of their husbands.\"\n\nThese teachings of the prophet Jacob cannot be presumed, even by\nopposers of plural marriage, to do away with the tenor of the Jewish\nScriptures, for we are informed in 2 _Nephi_ 3. 12, that the record of\nthe Jews and of the Nephites, should grow together unto the confounding\nof false doctrine in the latter-days.\n\nThe prophet Jacob could not have intended to condemn a principle\non which is based the legitimacy of our Savior, of prophets and\npatriarchs, and indeed of the whole house of Israel. The words\n\"multiply,\" and \"greatly,\" in _Deut_. 17. 17, evidently imply excess\nand unreasonable indulgence, as in the case of David and Uriah, and in\ntaking strange women, as in the case of Solomon.\n\nThe absurdity of the argument that these passages imply that a man\nshould have but one wife, is evident from the previous verse, that the\nkings of Israel should \"not multiply horses to themselves.\" No one\nwould be so unreasonable as to suppose that the Lord designed to limit\nthe kings of Israel to one horse.\n\nThe Lord gave Joseph Smith a very important revelation on this\nsubject. It is contained in _Sec_. 132, _Doc. & Cov_. It is entitled\na \"Revelation on the Eternity of the Marriage Covenant, Including\nPlurality of Wives.\"\n\nIt commences by stating that the prophet Joseph Smith, Jun., inquired\nof the Lord, how it was that his servants anciently were justified in\nhaving many wives and concubines. The Lord did not answer his question\nat once, but tells him, in the third verse, to prepare his heart to\nreceive and obey the instructions he was about to give him.\n\nIn the fourth verse the Lord said to him, \"I reveal unto you a new\nand an everlasting covenant.\" We find the general principle involved\nin that covenant, directly stated in the seventh, thirteenth and\nfourteenth verses:\n\n\"And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are\nthese:--All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows,\nperformances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not\nmade, and entered into, and sealed, by the Holy Spirit of promise, of\nhim who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and\nthat too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of\nmine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power,\n(and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the\nlast days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time, on whom\nthis power and the Keys of this Priesthood are conferred,) are of no\nefficacy, virtue or force, in and after the resurrection from the dead;\nfor all contracts that are not made unto this end, have an end when men\nare dead. * * * * And everything that is in the world, whether it be\nordained of men, by thrones, or principalities, or powers, or things\nof name, whatsoever they may be, that are not by me, or by my word,\nsaith the Lord, shall be thrown down, and shall not remain after men\nare dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the Lord your\nGod; for whatsoever things remain, are by me; and whatsoever things are\nnot by me, shall be shaken and destroyed.\" We find a direct application\nof this law to the marriage relations in _verses_ 15 and 19: \"If a man\nmarry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me, nor by my\nword; and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world, and she\nwith him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are\ndead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound\nby any law when they are out of the world. * * * And again, verily I\nsay unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and\nby the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by\nthe Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have\nappointed this power, and the keys of this Priesthood; and it shall\nbe said unto them, ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and\nif it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and\nshall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions,\nall heights and depths--then shall it be written in the Lamb's Book of\nLife, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood,\nand if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed\ninnocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever\nmy servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity,\nand shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they\nshall pass by the angels, and the Gods, which are set there, to their\nexaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their\nheads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds\nforever and ever.\"\n\nThe above quotations evidence, that only those who comply with the law\nwill continue in the marriage relations after death; consequently only\nthose who comply with the law can expect a continuation of posterity\nin the world to come, and the consequent glory and power pertaining to\nthat condition.\n\nThe law of the Lord is very plain on this subject. Who can question his\nright to dictate the marriages of his sons and daughters, that they and\ntheir generations may be fitted for his presence?\n\nIn _verse_ 29, the Lord begins to answer the question in the first\nverse: \"Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by\nrevelation and commandment.\" \"God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave\nHagar to Abraham to wife;\" _verse_ 34. That is, God commanded Abraham\nto receive Hagar and commanded his already covenant wife to give her\nhandmaid to him. \"And why did she do it? Because this was the law.\"\nThe reason why Abraham was not under condemnation, is very forcibly\nexpressed in the latter part of _verse_ 35: \"For I, the Lord, commanded\nit.\" In _verses_ 36-39, the principle is well elucidated, that, in\nnothing did the ancients sin except in things which they received not\nof God.\n\nIn _verse_ 40, the Lord says to Joseph, the Seer: \"I gave unto thee, my\nservant Joseph, an appointment, and restore all things.\" And from the\ntenor of the Revelation, \"all things\" must include plurality of wives\nand the eternity of the marriage covenant.\n\nThis subject may be readily summed up as follows: If a man has a wife\nin the world to come, she will be a gift from the Lord, through the\ncovenants he has ordained, and that man is justifiable in receiving all\nthe wives the Lord sees fit to give him, through the authority he has\nappointed on the earth.\n\nMany elders of the Latter-day Saints have been commanded, as was\nAbraham, to enter into plural marriage, and disobedience becomes\ntransgression. Hence it involves a religious principle, and becomes a\nmatter of conscience. \"Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart,\nand shalt cleave unto her and none else;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 42. 22, is\nsometimes referred to as an argument against plural marriage.\n\nIf it would admit of this construction, it would not be valid as an\nargument, from the fact, that the revelation of which it forms a\npart was given previous to that on the plurality and eternity of the\nmarriage relations, and consequently, before the church was prepared\nto receive such a revelation. It evidently admits of the construction,\nthat a man may have more than one wife, and yet cleave to none but his\nwife. That is, it forbids all sexual commerce outside of the marriage\ncovenant.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 16. 1, 2, 3 Sarai gave Hagar to Abraham.\n\n15 Hagar bare Abraham a son.\n\n20. 17 the Lord healed the wife and maidservants of Abimelech.\n\n36. 2 Esau took wives of the daughters of Canaan.\n\n38. 8 Judah said to Onan, go in unto thy brother's wife.\n\n_Exo_. 2. 21 Moses married Zipporah, daughter of the priest of Midian.\n\n21. 10 and if he take him another wife.\n\n_Num_. 12. 1 Moses married an Ethiopian woman.\n\n_Judges_ 7. Gideon delivered Israel from bondage through the favor of\nGod.\n\n8. 30 Gideon had three score and ten sons and many wives.\n\n9. 5 Jerubbaal had seventy sons.\n\n10. 3, 4 Jair, a judge in Israel, had thirty sons.\n\n12. 13, 14 Abdon, a judge in Israel, had forty sons.\n\n2 _Sam_. 19. 5 and the lives of thy wives and the lives of thy\nconcubines.\n\n1 _Kings_ 8. 10, 11 the glory of the Lord filled the house.\n\n9. 3 the Lord told Solomon that his prayer was answered.\n\n20. 7 for he sent unto me for my wives.\n\n1 _Chron_. 4. 5 Ashur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives.\n\n7. 4 for they had many wives and sons.\n\n8. 8 Shaharaim had two wives.\n\n2 _Chron_. 11. 21 Rehoboam had eighteen wives and three score\nconcubines.\n\n13. 21 Abijah married fourteen wives.\n\n24. 3 Jehoiada, the priest of God, took two wives.\n\n_Psalm_ 45. 9 king's daughters were among thy honorable women.\n\n_Isa_. 4. 1 in that day seven women shall take hold of one man.\n\n_Hos_. 1. 2 go take thee a wife of whoredoms.\n\n_See Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 1, page 53_.\n\n\" \" _B. Young, \" \" 1, \" 112_.\n\n\" \" _O. Hyde, \" \" 2, \" 75_.\n\n_See Sermon by B. Young, \" \" 2, \" 88_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _3, \" 264_.\n\n\" \" _O. Pratt, \" \" 6, \" 349_.\n\n\" \" _Geo. A. Smith, \" \" 13, \" 37_.\n\n\" \" _O. Pratt, \" \" 13, \" 183_.\n\n\" \" _G. Q. Cannon, \" \" 13, \" 197_.\n\n_Article, by P. P. Pratt, Mil. Star, Vol. 5, page 189_.\n\n_History of Marriage among the Jews, Mil. Star, Vol. 13, pages 263,\n282, 296, 316, 324, 350, 365, 377_.\n\n_Milton on Polygamy, Mil. Star, Vol. 16, pages 321, 342_.\n\n_Article, \"Marriage Ritual of the Church of England,\" by J. A. Little,\nMil. Star, Vol. 18, page 177_.\n\n_Address by P. P. Pratt, before joint session of Utah Legislature, Mil.\nStar, Vol. 18, page 337_.\n\n_History of J. Smith, May 16, 1843_.\n\n_A pamphlet entitled, \"On Marriage,\" by John Taylor_.\n\nCONCUBINES.\n\nA concubine \"In scripture signifies a wife of the second rank, who was\ninferior to the matron, or mistress of the house.\n\n\"The chief wives differed from the concubines in that they were taken\ninto covenant with their husband by solemn stipulation, and with\nconsent and rejoicing of friends.\n\n\"They brought with them dowries to their husbands. They had the\ngovernment of their families under and with their husbands. The\ninheritance belonged to the children brought forth by them.\n\n\"Though the children of the concubines did not inherit their father's\nestate, yet the father in his life time provided for them, and made\npresents to them:\n\n_Thus_ Sarah _was_ Abraham's _wife of whom_ he _had_ Isaac, _the heir\nof all his wealth_. _But he had besides two_ concubines, namely, Hagar\n_and_ Keturah; _of these he had children, whom he distinguished from_\nIsaac, _and made_ presents to them;\" (_see Concubine, Cru. Concor_.)\n\nAlthough Hagar is considered a concubine in the above quotation, yet,\naccording to Cruden's definition, she was a wife of the second degree.\nShe is nowhere called a concubine in the scripture, but emphatically a\nwife.\n\n\"And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, * * and\ngave her to her husband Abram to be his wife;\" _Gen_. 16. 3. That this\ncondition of wifehood did not change the former relations of mistress\nand servant, between Sarai and Hagar, is evident from _verse_ 9. The\nangel said to Hagar, \"Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under\nher hands.\"\n\nThat Keturah was Abraham's wife is evident from the fact, that she\nis called his wife in _Gen_. 25. 1: and that she was also called his\nconcubine, appears from 1 _Chron_. 1. 32. That concubine and wife were\nsynonymous terms, further appears from the declaration of Nathan, the\nprophet, to David, \"I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give\n_them_ unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight\nof this sun;\" 2 _Sam_. 12. 11. In the account of the fulfilment of this\nprophecy, these wives are called concubines. \"And Absalom went in unto\nhis father's concubines in the sight of all Israel;\" 16. 22.\n\nThe Nephites, whose ancestors colonized America 600 years before\nChrist, did not forget the custom of their Jewish fathers; for when\nthey broke the special commandment of the Lord to them, by taking more\nthan one wife, they also added concubines; _Mos_. 11. 2-4.\n\nThis custom of taking wives and concubines prevailed among the\nJaredites, whose ancestors emigrated to North America from the tower\nof Babel. It appears to have been abused by a wicked king, called\nRiplakish, who reigned some 1500 years before Christ; _Ether_ 10. 5.\nFrom both the Bible and Book of Mormon, it appears that the custom of\ntaking a plurality of wives and concubines prevailed at a very early\nperiod after the flood. It was, however, of antediluvian origin:\n\"And Lamech took unto himself two wives, Adah and Zillah;\" _Gen_. 4.\n19. he lived before the flood. It is evident from the \"Revelation\non the Eternity of the Marriage Covenant,\" that the Lord anciently\ngave concubines to good men, as wives, and that only the custom of\nthe country discriminated between them and others: \"Abraham received\nconcubines, and they bare him children, and it was accounted unto him\nfor righteousness, because they were given unto him;\" _Doc. & Cov_.\n132. 37. \"David's wives and concubines were given unto him, of me, by\nthe hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the\nkeys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me,\nsave in the case of Uriah and his wife;\" _verse_ 39.\n\nWe cannot presume that the Lord ever gave women to these men under\nany title, except for the noble purpose of parentage. Concubinage is\nunknown among the Latter-day Saints. Wifehood, in the fullest sense of\nthe word, is conferred by the marriage covenant. All a man's children\nare his legitimate heirs, both by law and custom.\n\n\n\nFOREORDINATION--ELECTION.\n\n\"Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world;\"\n_Acts_ 15. 18.\n\nThe knowledge that we have of the beginning of the world is principally\nderived from the history of its creation in the Bible Genesis, and in\nthe writings of Moses and of Abraham, as given in _P. of G. P., pages_\n4-7, and 32-36.\n\nAbraham says, \"Now the Lord had shewn unto me, Abraham, the\nintelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all\nthese there were many of the noble and great ones; and God saw these\nsouls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he\nsaid, These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were\nspirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me, Abraham,\nthou art one of them, thou wast chosen before thou wast born;\" _P. of\nG. P., page_ 32.\n\nThese writings make it plain that man existed in a spiritual\ncondition prior to coming here, and also quite as evident that in\nthat pre-existence he exercised his free agency. These facts throw\nmuch light on the following passages: \"Him, being delivered by the\ndeterminate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by\nwicked hands have crucified and Slain;\" _Acts_ 2. 23. \"For whom he did\nforeknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his\nSon;\" _Rom_. 8. 29.\n\n\"Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called;\" _verse_ 30.\n\"God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew;\" 11. 2. \"For the\ngifts and calling of God are without repentance;\" _verse_ 29.\n\nThe last passage explains the previous ones. God may have called and\nchosen men in their first estate, or spiritual existence, but whether\nthey will accept that call and fill it, by repentance and good works in\nthis life, is a matter in which it is their privilege to exercise their\nfree agency.\n\nThis idea is illustrated in the case of the Roman centurion, who had\nfaith that his sick servant would be healed if Jesus would only speak\nthe word. Jesus said to those around him, \"That many shall come from\nthe east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and\nJacob, in the kingdom of heaven: But the children of the kingdom shall\nbe cast out into outer darkness;\" _Matt_. 8. 11, 12.\n\nThe \"Children of the kingdom\" evidently refers to Israel, the called\nand chosen of God. The passages are numerous in which Israel is called\nthe \"Chosen of God;\" \"The elect according to the covenant.\" \"Hearken\nunto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called;\" _Isa_. 48. 12.\n\nJesus, when he predicted the destruction of Jerusalem, and the\nscattering of the Jews, declared that for the elect's sake those days\nshould be shortened; _Matt_. 24. 22.\n\nThe elect could only mean according to the covenant with Abraham for\nthe remnant who were saved in the flesh were of a wicked generation,\nand they and their children became a hiss and a by-word among all\nnations, consequently they could not have been the elect through faith\nand good works.\n\nDavid said to the congregation, \"Solomon, my son, whom alone God hath\nchosen;\" 1 _Chron_. 29. 1. Yet Solomon did not fully prove himself by\ngood works, for he fell into transgression and corrupted Israel; 1\n_Kings_ 11. 9-11.\n\nThe Book of Mormon is plain on this subject: \"Being called and prepared\nfrom the foundation of the world, according to the foreknowledge of\nGod, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first\nplace being left to choose good or evil;\" _Alma_ 13. 3-7.\n\nTheir calling and preparation from the foundation of the world were\nevidently based on their faith and good works, previous to their being\ncalled, and not on the possibilities of their future good conduct.\n\nThis idea is verified by the apostle who, speaking of Christ, says,\n\"And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he\nsaith, And let all the angels of God worship him. * * * Thou hast loved\nrighteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath\nanointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows;\" _Heb_. 1.\n6, 9. \"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,\nbut was manifest in these last times for you;\" 1 _Pet_. 1. 20. Christ\nwas chosen before the foundation of the world, because he had already\nproven himself worthy.\n\nMen exercised their free agency in the first or spiritual estate, as\nwell as in this. That the character of their works in that estate\nshaped their destiny in this is evident. The Lord said to Abraham,\n\"They who keep their first estate, shall be added upon; and they who\nkeep not their first estate, shall not have glory in the same kingdom\nwith those who keep their first estate;\" _P. of G. P., page_ 32.\n\nThere are some foreordained to condemnation: \"There are certain\nmen crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this\ncondemnation;\" _Jude_ 4.\n\n\"The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own\nhabitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto\nthe judgment of the great day;\" _Jude_ 6. That is, those angels who,\nvoluntarily, by their own acts, forfeited the glory prepared for them.\n\nThe Lord revealed to Joseph, the Seer, that the only ones who should\nnot be redeemed in the due time of the Lord are those who \"Having\ndenied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the\nOnly Begotten Son of the Father--having crucified him unto themselves,\nand put him to an open shame.\" _Doc. & Cov_. 76. 31-43. We learn from\nthe Book of Mormon also \"The way is prepared for all men from the\nfoundation of the world, if so be that they repent and come unto him.\"\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 18.\n\nBible.\n\n_Exo_. 33. 19 I will shew mercy on whom I will.\n\n_Num_. 16. 7 the man whom the Lord shall choose shall be holy.\n\n_Deut_. 7. 6 the Lord hath chosen thee to be a special people. 14. 2.\n\n18. 5 the Lord hath chosen him out of all thy tribes. 21. 5.\n\n2 _Sam_. 6. 21 it was before the Lord which chose me before thy father.\n\n16. 18 whom the Lord and the men of Israel chose.\n\n_Neh_. 9. 7 thou art the Lord who did'st choose Abram.\n\n_Psalm_ 33. 12 the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.\n\n89. 3 have made a covenant with my chosen; sworn to David my servant.\n\n105. 6 ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.\n26.\n\n_Isa_. 14. 1 Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel.\n\n41. 8 Jacob whom I have chosen; the seed of Abraham my friend. 9.\n\n42. 1 my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth.\n\n_Matt_. 12. 18 behold my servant whom I have chosen.\n\n20. 16 and the first last, for many be called but few chosen. 22. 14.\n\n_Luke_ 18. 7 shall not God avenge his own elect?\n\n_John_ 15. 16 ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. 19.\n\n_Acts_ 1. 24 shew whether of these two thou hast chosen.\n\n9. 15 for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name.\n\n22. 14 the God of our fathers hath chosen thee.\n\n_Rom_. 9. 11-22 Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated. 23, 24, 26.\n\n11. 7 but the election hath obtained it.\n\n28 but as touching the election they are beloved.\n\n1 _Cor_. 1. 24, 27 God hath chosen the foolish things of the world.\n\n_Eph_. 1. 4-11. 18 predestination and adoption set forth.\n\n_Col_. 3. 12 put on therefore as the elect of God.\n\n2 _Thess_. 2. 13, 14 because God, from the beginning, hath chosen you\nto salvation.\n\n_Titus_ 1. 1 an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God's\nelect.\n\n_James_ 2. 5 hath not God chosen the poor of this world?\n\n1 _Peter_ 1. 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God.\n\n_Rev_. 17. 14 those that are with him are called and chosen.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 1. 20 over all whom he has chosen because of their their\nfaith.\n\n3. 29 know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him?\n\n17. 40 he loved our fathers and covenanted with them.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 9. 18 shall inherit the kingdom of God prepared for them.\n\n_Alma_ 13. 10, 11 were called after his holy order on account of their\nfaith.\n\n_Moroni_ 7. 31 by declaring the word of God unto chosen vessels. 48.\n\n8. 12 little children are alive in Christ from the foundation of the\nworld.\n\n22 they that are without law are alive in Christ.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 10. 59-62 other sheep I have which are not of this fold.\n\n25. 3 Emma Smith an elect lady.\n\n29. 4 ye are chosen out of the world. 7.\n\n46 little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world. 74. 7.\n\n33. 6 so will I gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth.\n\n52. 1 the elders whom the Lord hath chosen. 21.\n\n53. 1 concerning your calling and election.\n\n84. 34 become the seed of Abraham and the elect of God. 99.\n\n86. 9-11 for ye are lawful heirs according to the flesh.\n\n88. 4 this comforter is the promise of eternal life.\n\n93. 38 every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning.\n\n95. 5. 6 those not chosen have sinned. 8.\n\n101. 3 they shall be mine in that day when I make up my jewels.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 26. Abraham became a rightful heir.\n\n27. the Lord took Abraham and put upon him his name.\n\n39. if possible they shall deceive the very elect according to the\ncovenant.\n\n40. shall gather the remainder of mine elect. When mine elect shall see\nthese things.\n\n_See Article by B. Young and W. Richards, Mil. Star, Vol. 38, page 145_.\n\n_History of J. Smith, Jan., 1, 1841_.\n\n_Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. 10, page 1_.\n\n_Article by J. Nicholson, Mil. Star, Vol. 27, Page 739_.\n\n\n\nDISPENSATION OF THE FULNESS OF TIMES.\n\nA dispensation \"is power and authority to dispense the word of God, and\nto administer in all the ordinances thereof.\" What the dispensation\nof the fulness of times is, is well expressed by the apostle Paul\nin _Eph_. 1. 9, \"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,\naccording to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that\nin the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in\none all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on\nearth, even in him.\"\n\nIt is still more comprehensively expressed by the prophet Joseph. \"Now\nthe thing to be known is, what the fulness of times means, or the\nextent and authority thereof. It means this, that the dispensation of\nthe fulness of times is made up of all the dispensations that ever have\nbeen given since the world began, until this time. Unto Adam first was\ngiven a dispensation. It is well known that God spake to him with his\nown voice in the garden, and gave him the promise of the Messiah.\"\n\n\"And unto Noah also was a dispensation given; for Jesus said, 'As it\nwas in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the coming\nof the Son of Man;' and as the righteous were saved then, and the\nwicked destroyed, so will it be now. And from Noah to Abraham, and from\nAbraham to Moses, and from Moses to Elias, and from Elias to John the\nBaptist, and from then to Jesus Christ, and from Jesus Christ to Peter,\nJames, and John, the Apostles all having received in their dispensation\nby revelation from God, to accomplish the great scheme of restitution,\nspoken by all the holy Prophets since the world began; the end of which\nis, the dispensation of the fulness of times, in which all things shall\nbe fulfilled that have been spoken of since the earth was made.\" _Mil.\nStar, vol_. 16, _page_ 220. The apostle Paul further says on this\nsubject, \"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this\nmystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in\npart is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come\nin. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall\ncome out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from\nJacob;\" _Rom_. 11. 25, 26.\n\nThese passages make it evident, in connection with other passages, that\nthe dispensation of the fulness of times will commence when the fulness\nof the Gentiles shall come in, for then will a Deliverer come out of\nZion who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.\n\nThis dispensation of the fulness of times is a period in which all\nthings will be restored to their proper order or condition.\n\nThe apostle Peter had a very comprehensive view of this subject when he\nseverely reproved the Jews for killing the \"Prince of Life,\" and said\nto them, \"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be\nblotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence\nof the Lord.\"\n\nThis was evidently to take place when Israel should be gathered and\nthe Gospel restored, in its fulness: \"And he shall send Jesus Christ,\nwhich before was preached unto you: whom the heavens must receive until\nthe times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the\nmouth of all his holy prophets since the world began;\" _Acts_ 3. 19,\n21. Peter gave them to understand that not until then could those who\nkilled the \"Prince of Life\" expect to be restored to the privileges of\nthe Gospel which was preached to them while in the flesh.\n\nIn this time of restitution everything in heaven and in earth will find\nits appropriate place and condition, and good and evil will find their\nfulness of reward.\n\nThe Book of Mormon is very plain on this subject: \"The meaning of\nthe word restoration, is to bring back again evil for evil, or\ncarnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish; good for that which is\ngood; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is\njust; merciful for that which is merciful. * * * Deal justly, judge\nrighteously, and if ye do all these things, then shall ye receive your\nreward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall\nhave justice restored to you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment\nrestored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you\nagain; for that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and\nbe restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the\nsinner, and justifieth him not at all;\" _Alma_ 41. 13-15.\n\nThis principle of restitution has also been further revealed in this\ndispensation: \"Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto\nevery man according to his works, and measure to every man according\nto the measure which he has measured to his fellow man;\" _Doc. & Cov_.\n1. 10. The following passage warns us that the time is near when the\nevil and the good will each find their own place: \"The hour is not yet,\nbut is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the\ndevil shall have power over his own dominion; and also the Lord shall\nhave power over his Saints, and shall reign in their midst;\" 35, 36.\n\nAll the intelligences, of whatever order, pertaining to this earth,\nwill be redeemed from death through the resurrection, except the\nsons of perdition. The great burden of the ancient prophets was the\nrestoration, in the latter times, of the house of Israel to the lands\nof their inheritance, and to the favor of God. On the other hand, those\nwho have oppressed and persecuted them must suffer the full reward of\ntheir evil works.\n\nThis world, in its present condition, is one of antagonisms. When all\nthings are restored to their proper place, these antagonisms will\ncease, and the good and the evil will be placed in positions where they\nwill harmonize with their surroundings.\n\nThe term, \"Dispensation of the fulness of times,\" refers to the latter\ndays, when the fulness of the Gospel will be revealed, and the holy\nPriesthood be restored to the earth. Under its direction the work of\nrestoration will commence and be fully consummated, through the great\nplan of redemption for man and the earth, which was decided in the\ncouncils of heaven before the foundations of the earth were laid.\n\nBible.\n\n_Isa_. 11. 6, 7 animals shall dwell together in peace.\n\n9 the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God.\n\n13. 13, 14 the earth will be moved out of its place.\n\n32. 15 until the Spirit be poured out upon us from on high.\n\n16 then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness.\n\n17, 18 and the work of righteousness shall be peace.\n\n35. 1 the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad.\n\n7 and the parched ground shall become a pool.\n\n9 no lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast.\n\n51. 6 the earth shall wax old like a garment.\n\n60. 20 the Lord shall be their everlasting light. 21.\n\n62. 4 thy land shall be married.\n\n65. 17-25 a description of the millennial condition of the earth.\n\n_Mic_. 4, 4 they shall sit, every man under his own fig tree.\n\n_Hab_. 2. 14 the earth will be filled with a knowledge of the glory of\nthe Lord.\n\n_Zech_. 14. 4 and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof.\n\n_Matt_. 17. 11 Elias truly shall first come and restore all things.\n\n_Rom_. 11. 25 until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.\n\n2 _Peter_ 3. 11, 12 all these things shall be dissolved.\n\n_Rev_. 6. 13, 14 the stars of heaven will fall, and the heavens be\nrolled together.\n\n21. 1 and I saw a new heaven and a new earth.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 30. 17, 18, works of darkness to be made manifest; that which\nis sealed to be loosed; all things which have been revealed to be again\nrevealed.\n\n_Hel_. 14. 31 good restored to good and evil to evil.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 22 that mine everlasting covenant might be established\n\n38 all the word of the Lord to be fulfilled.\n\n_Sec_. 2. Elijah, the prophet, to reveal the Priesthood.\n\n3. 18-20 the records of the children of Lehi to be restored to them.\n\n_Sec_. 13. John the Baptist restored the Aaronic Priesthood.\n\n14. 10 the fulness of the Gospel to be brought forth from the Gentiles\nto the house of Israel.\n\n22. 1 everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning,\nrestored.\n\n3 caused this church to be built up as in days of old.\n\n27. 5 the fulness of the everlasting Gospel--the Book of Mormon.\n\n12 Peter, James and John ordained J. Smith, Jun., to hold the keys of\nthe dispensation of the Gospel, for the last time.\n\n38. 7 the Lord gave J. Smith, Jun., the keys of the mysteries of the\nthings which have been sealed.\n\n86. 10 until the restoration of all things spoken by all the holy\nprophets.\n\n90. 2 which kingdom is coming forth for the last time.\n\n_Sec_. 110. Moses, Elias and Elijah appeared in the Kirtland temple,\nand bestowed keys of former dispensations.\n\n112. 30 power of the Priesthood given, for the dispensation of the\nfulness of times.\n\n121. 26-32 things to be revealed by the Holy Ghost that have not been\nrevealed--all things to be revealed.\n\n128. 8 in the last dispensation, all dispensations will be welded\ntogether.\n\n20 declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the dispensation of\nthe fulness of times.\n\n_See Sermon by P. P. Pratt, J. of D. Vol. 3, page 127_.\n\n\" \" _E. Snow, \" \" 16, \" 200_.\n\n_History of J. Smith, May 2, 1842_.\n\n_Epistle by D. W. Patten, History of J. Smith, July, 1838_.\n\n_Latter-day Kingdom, a pamphlet by O. Pratt_.\n\n_Article, Mil. Star, Vol. 21, pages 17, 35_.\n\n_O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. Wm. Crowel, Nos. 12, 13_.\n\n_Voice of Warning, by P. P. Pratt, Chap. 5_.\n\n_Pearl of Great Price, pages 21, 22_.\n\n\n\nTHE SPIRIT OF GOD, OR HOLY GHOST.\n\nWhenever the Priesthood has been on the earth, through it, and in\nvarious ways, the Lord has revealed his will to man. By his voice:\n\"They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden;\" _Gen_. 3.\n8. The Lord talked with Abraham; _chap_. 18. And with Moses; _Exo_. 3.\nHe called to young Samuel; 1 _Sam_. 3.\n\nPassages are numerous in the inspired writings in which it says \"The\nLord hath spoken;\" \"The Lord spake;\" \"Thus saith the Lord;\" etc. He has\noften revealed his will through the ministrations of angels, by visions\nand dreams, by signs and tokens; but the more general way has been\nthrough the agency of his Spirit, or the Holy Ghost.\n\nThe Prophet Joseph Smith has informed us that \"The Holy Ghost has not a\nbody of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit.\" _Doc. & Cov_.\n130, 22, 23.\n\nIts office is to enlighten the understanding and give knowledge and\nwisdom; _Exo_. 31. 1-11. 1 _Chron_. 28. 12. \"But the Comforter, _which_\nis the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach\nyou all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I\nhave said unto you;\" _John_ 14. 26.\n\nIt is the Spirit of prophecy, and reveals future events, \"For the\nprophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God\nspake _as they were_ moved by the Holy Ghost;\" 2 _Pet_. 1. 21.\n\nIt is a witness and testifies to man, of God and his attributes. \"Even\nso the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God:\" 1 _Cor_.\n2. 11. \"We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy\nGhost;\" _Acts_ 5. 32. _Chap_. 20. 23. \"No man can say that Jesus is the\nLord, but by the Holy Ghost;\" 1 _Cor_. 12. 3. It gives the knowledge\nthat is essential to salvation. \"When he, the Spirit of truth, is come,\nhe will guide you into all truth.\" _John_ 16. 13.\n\nNephite prophets declared, that, after Christ should be slain, \"He\nshould rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the\nHoly Ghost, unto the Gentiles;\" 1 _Nephi_ 10. 11. 3 _Nephi_ 15. 23.\n\"The mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the\nHoly Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in\ntimes of old as in times to come;\" 1 _Nephi_ 10. 19.\n\nThe Holy Ghost bears record of the Father and of the Son; 3 _Nephi_ 11.\n32. The Holy Ghost and Spirit of God are synonymous. The gifts of the\nSpirit mentioned in 1 _Cor_. _chap_. 12, are often mentioned in the\ninspired writings as gifts of the Holy Ghost.\n\nThe Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth are also synonymous with the\nHoly Ghost. \"But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost;\" _John_ 14. 26.\n\"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the\nFather, _even_ the Spirit of Truth;\" _John_ 15. 26.\n\nThe Holy Ghost is the moving power in the salvation of the human\nfamily, for faith is one of its gifts; 1 _Cor_. 12. 9. And all\nintelligences work by faith. _Doc. & Cov_., _Lec. on Faith_; 1. 11.\n\nThe Spirit of God is not only the medium by which knowledge is\ncommunicated to man, but it is the power by which all organizations are\ndeveloped, and by which they exist and move. It is the agent of God's\npower by which, through faith, the elements are controlled. \"And the\nSpirit of God moved upon the face of the waters;\" _Gen_. 1. 2. \"By his\nSpirit he hath garnished the heavens;\" _Job_ 26. 13. \"The Spirit of\nGod hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life;\"\n33. 4. \"If he gather unto himself his Spirit and his breath; all flesh\nshall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust;\" 34. 14, 15.\n\"Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created;\" _Psalm_ 104. 30.\n\"For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both\nspiritual and temporal;\" _Doc. & Cov_., 29. 31. \"The power of my Spirit\nquickeneth all things;\" 33. 16.\n\nBy it the Lord works his will among the nations: \"I have called upon\nthe weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to\nthresh the nations by the power of my Spirit;\" 35. 13. \"The elements\nare the tabernacle of God;\" 93. 35. Through the power of the Spirit\nwhich pervades them, they are organized and disorganized in accordance\nwith the laws by which they are governed. Spirit and element must be\ninseparably connected, through the resurrection, in order to attain the\ngreatest perfection; _verses_ 33, 34.\n\nMan, ignorant of God and his attributes, increases in knowledge by\nexperience and observation, explores the fields of nature, watches\nand experiments with the elements, acquires, to him, new and grand\ntruths, makes discoveries in science which measurably revolutionize\nthe conditions of human life, and thinks, in his ignorance of the\nspiritual elements, that he accomplishes these important results by\nhis own unaided wisdom, when they are the effects of the workings of\nthat universal spirit of intelligence which emanates from the Father of\nlight, without which man would be like the blind, who wander about at\nnoonday, unconscious of the light that shines around them.\n\nMan observes a universal energy in nature. Organization and\ndisorganization succeed each other. The thunders roll through the\nheavens; the earth trembles and becomes broken by earthquakes;\nfires consume cities and forests; the waters accumulate, flow over\ntheir usual bounds and cause destruction of life and property; the\nworlds perform their revolutions in space with a velocity and power\nincomprehensible to man, and he, covered with a veil of darkness, calls\nthis universal energy, God, when it is the workings of his Spirit,\nthe obedient agent of his power, the wonder-working and life-giving\nprinciple in all nature.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 6. 3 my Spirit shall not always strive with man.\n\n_Num_. 11. 17 I will take of the Spirit that is on thee, and put it on\nthem,\n\n26 The Spirit rested on Eldad and Medad, and they prophesied.\n\n24. 2 and the Spirit of the Lord rested on Balaam.\n\n1 _Sam_. 10. 10 the Spirit of God came on Saul and he prophesied.\n\n2 _Kings_ 2. 9 let a double portion of thy spirit be on me.\n\n15 the spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha. 16.\n\n_Neh_. 9. 20 thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them.\n\n30 God for many years testified against Israel by his Spirit.\n\n_Job_ 32. 8 there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the\nAlmighty giveth them understanding.\n\n_Prov_. 1. 23 behold I will pour out my Spirit on you.\n\n_Isa_. 29. 10 the Lord hath poured upon you the Spirit of deep sleep.\n\n42. 1 I have put my Spirit on him, he shall bring forth judgment.\n\n44. 3 will pour my Spirit on thy seed, my blessing on thine offspring.\n\n48. 16 the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me.\n\n61. 1 the Spirit of the Lord God is on me. _Luke_ 4. 18.\n\n_Ezek_. 11. 24 brought me in a vision, by the Spirit of God, into\nChaldea.\n\n_Dan_. 4. 8 in whom is the Spirit of the holy Gods.\n\n_Joel_ 2. 29 upon the servants and handmaids, in those days, will I\npour out my Spirit. _Acts_ 2. 17, 18.\n\n_Matt_. 3. 16 he saw the Spirit of God descending on him like a dove.\n\n4. 1 Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness. _Luke_ 4. 1.\n\n12. 28 if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God?\n\n_Luke_ 1. 17 he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias.\n\n2. 25-27 Simeon came by the Spirit into the temple.\n\n4. 14 Jesus returned in power of the Spirit into Galilee.\n\n11. 13 your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.\n\n_John_ 3. 34 God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.\n\n6. 63 it is the Spirit that quickeneth.\n\n16. 13 the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.\n\n_Acts_ 2. 4 began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them\nutterance.\n\n8. 29 the Spirit said to Philip, go near and join thyself to this\nchariot.\n\n39 the Spirit caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more.\n\n10. 19 the Spirit said to Peter, three men seek thee.\n\n_Rom_. 8. 10 but the Spirit is life, because of righteousness.\n\n11 if the Spirit which raised up Jesus shall also quicken your mortal\nbodies.\n\n26 the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us.\n\n1 _Cor_. 2. 4 in demonstration of the Spirit and power.\n\n10 the Spirit of God searcheth all things.\n\n15. 45 the first Adam was a living soul, the last Adam a quickening\nspirit.\n\n2 _Cor_. 3. 6 the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.\n\n17 where the Spirit of God is there is liberty.\n\n18 changed from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.\n\n_Gal_. 5. 16 walk in the Spirit; ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the\nflesh.\n\n_Eph_. 2. 2 the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.\n\n6. 17 take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18.\n\n1 _Thess_. 5. 19. 20 quench not the Spirit, despise not prophesyings.\n\n2 _Thess_. 2. 8 the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth.\n\n1 _Tim_. 3. 16 God manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit.\n\n_Rev_. 1. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.\n\n2. 7 hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. 11. 17, 29.\n\n11. 11 After three days, the Spirit of life, from God, entered into\nthem.\n\n14. 13 blessed are the dead that die in the Lord; yea, saith the Spirit.\n\n17. 3 so he carried me away in the Spirit, into the wilderness.\n\n19. 10 for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 1. 12 as he read he was filled with the Spirit.\n\n4. 6 was led by the Spirit, not knowing the things I should do.\n\n18 I obeyed the voice of the Spirit, and smote off the head of Laban.\n\n11. 1 caught away in the Spirit, into an exceeding high mountain.\n\n6 when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice.\n\n8 the Spirit said to me, look; I looked and beheld a tree.\n\n11 I knew it was the Spirit of the Lord, and he spake unto me as a man\nspeaketh with another.\n\n19 I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit.\n\n13. 12 the Spirit of God wrought on the man, and he went forth on the\nwaters.\n\n15 the Spirit of the Lord was on the Gentiles, that they prospered.\n\n14. 30 an end of speaking what I saw, when carried away in the Spirit.\n\n17. 52 lest they wither before me, so powerful was the Spirit.\n\n19. 12 kings of the isles shall be wrought upon by the Spirit.\n\n20 I have workings in the Spirit, for those at Jerusalem.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 2. 4 for the Spirit is the same yesterday, to-day and forever.\n\n8 who layeth down his life and taketh it, by the power of the Spirit.\n\n3. 5 Messiah to be manifest in the latter days, in the Spirit of power.\n\n4. 25 on the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away.\n\n26. 11 the Spirit of God will not always strive with man.\n\n32. 7 I cannot say more, the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance.\n\n_Jacob_ 4. 13 for the Spirit speaketh the truth, and lieth not.\n\n_Enos_ 1. 10 while struggling in the Spirit, the voice of the Lord came.\n\n_Mos_. 2. 36 that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord.\n\n3. 19 but if he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.\n\n5. 3 through his Spirit have great views of that which is to come.\n\n13. 5 durst not lay their hands on him, for the Spirit was on him.\n\n18. 26 might wax strong in Spirit, having the knowledge of God.\n\n_Alma_ 3. 26 reap happiness or misery according to the spirit they\nlisted to obey.\n\n5. 54 sanctified by the Spirit, bring forth works meet for repentance.\n\n7. 13 the Spirit knoweth all things.\n\n16 have eternal life according to the testimony of the Spirit.\n\n8. 24 been called according to the Spirit of revelation and prophecy.\n\n12. 3 thou seest that thy thoughts are made known by the Spirit.\n\n13. 4 would reject the Spirit, on account of the hardness of their\nhearts.\n\n16. 16 the Lord poured his Spirit on the face of the land.\n\n17. 3 given themselves to fasting and prayer, therefore they had the\nSpirit.\n\n18. 16 being filled with the Spirit, perceived the thoughts of the king.\n\n19. 13 the queen sank down, being overpowered by the Spirit.\n\n22. 1 he was led by the Spirit to the land of Nephi.\n\n23. 6 according to the Spirit of revelation and prophecy.\n\n30. 46 resist the Spirit of truth, that thy soul may be destroyed.\n\n34. 35 the Spirit of the Lord has withdrawn, and the devil has power\nover you.\n\n40. 13 the wicked have no part of the Spirit of the Lord.\n\n61. 15 give them power to conduct the war, according to the Spirit of\nGod.\n\n_Hel_. 5. 45 the Spirit entered their hearts, and they were filled as\nwith fire.\n\n6. 35 the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites.\n\n10. 16 Nephi taken by the Spirit and conveyed away.\n\n13. 8 except they repent I will withdraw my Spirit from them.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 3. 19 to appoint captains of those who had the Spirit of\nprophecy.\n\n7. 21 signified they had been visited by the Spirit of God.\n\n18. 7 if ye do always remember me, ye shall have my Spirit. 11.\n\n20. 9 when the multitude had eaten and drank, they were filled with the\nSpirit.\n\n_Mormon_ 2. 26 the Spirit of God did not abide in us, and we were weak.\n\n3. 16 manifestations of the Spirit which had testified of things to\ncome.\n\n_Ether_ 2. 15 remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man.\n\n_Moroni_ 6. 9 conduct meetings after the manner of the workings of the\nSpirit.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Lecture on Faith_ 2. 24, 25 when the plan of redemption was revealed\nmen began to call on God, and the Holy Spirit was given, bearing record\nof the Father and the Son.\n\n5. 2 possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy\nSpirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son.\n\n3 partaking of the fulness of the Father and Son, through the Spirit.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 33 my Spirit shall not always strive with man.\n\n8. 3 this is the Spirit of revelation, by which Moses brought Israel\nthrough the sea.\n\n18. 47 I am Jesus Christ, by the power of my Spirit I have spoken it.\n\n19. 23 walk in the meekness of my Spirit.\n\n27. 18 the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you.\n\n29. 30 first shall be last, last first, in all things created by the\npower of my Spirit.\n\n31 by the power of my Spirit all things, both temporal and spiritual,\nwere created.\n\n33. 16 the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things.\n\n35. 13 I have called on the weak things of the world, to thresh the\nnations by the power of my Spirit. 133. 59.\n\n42. 13-17 all teachings to be by the Spirit.\n\n45. 57 who have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, shall abide the\nday.\n\n50. 10 come saith the Lord, by the Spirit, let us reason together.\n\n17-21 to impart the truth, it must be preached in the Spirit of truth.\n\n27 the light the Spirit sent, through Jesus Christ, by the will of the\nFather.\n\n61. 27 to whom is given power to command the waters, is given the\nSpirit to know all his ways. 28.\n\n63. 32 angry with the wicked, holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of\nthe earth.\n\n64. 16 they sought evil in their hearts, and I withheld my Spirit.\n\n67. 11 no man has seen God in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit.\n\n71. 1 expounding mysteries of the scriptures, according to the Spirit\nand power given.\n\n72. 24 they that are appointed by the Spirit, to go up to Zion.\n\n76. 11 J. Smith, Jun., and S. Rigdon, being in the Spirit.\n\n12, 13 by the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened to see those\nthings ordained of the Father before the world was. 18.\n\n28 while yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us to write the vision.\n80, 113.\n\n83 these are they who deny not the Spirit.\n\n86 receive not of his fulness, but of the Holy Spirit.\n\n118 through manifestations of the Spirit in the flesh, be able to bear\nhis presence.\n\n84. 45-47 whatsoever is light is Spirit. The Spirit enlighteneth every\nman.\n\n93. 9-11 the Spirit of truth who came into the world. 23.\n\n26 the Spirit of truth is of God; I am the Spirit of truth.\n\n95. 4 bring to pass my strange act; pour out my Spirit on all flesh.\n\n97. 1 I speak unto you with my voice, even the voice of my Spirit.\n\n105. 36 the voice of the Spirit shall manifest those chosen.\n\n121. 37 when compulsion is used, the Spirit is grieved.\n\n131. 5 more sure word of prophecy, means a man's knowing he is sealed\nup to eternal life, by the Spirit of prophecy.\n\n136. 33 the Spirit sent forth into the world, to enlighten the humble.\n\nTHE HOLY GHOST.\n\nBible.\n\n_Luke_ 1. 15 John shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.\n\n67 and his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Ghost.\n\n2. 26 it was revealed to Simeon by the Holy Ghost.\n\n4. 1 Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan.\n\n12. 12 Holy Ghost shall teach you, in the same hour, what ye shall say.\n\n_John_ 14. 26 the Holy Ghost shall teach you all things.\n\n20. 22 he breathed on them, and said, receive ye the Holy Ghost.\n\n_Acts_ 1. 8 ye shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost shall come\nupon you.\n\n5. 3 why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?\n\n6. 3 look ye out seven men, full of the Holy Ghost.\n\n8. 15 prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost.\n\n10. 44 the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word.\n\n13. 9 Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. 52.\n\n15. 28 for it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us.\n\n16. 6 were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach in Asia.\n\n21. 11 thus saith the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem.\n\n1 _Cor_. 2. 13 not of men's wisdom, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.\n\n6. 19 your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.\n\n2 _Cor_. 13. 14 the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you.\n\n_Heb_. 3. 7 the Holy Ghost saith, to-day if ye will hear his voice.\n\n2 _Peter_ 1. 21 holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy\nGhost.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 11 Christ should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost\nto the Gentiles.\n\n19 the mysteries of God unfolded by the power of the Holy Ghost.\n\n12. 7 bare record that the Holy Ghost fell on twelve others.\n\n18 the Messiah, of whom the Holy Ghost bear record from the beginning.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 26. 13 Christ manifesteth himself, by the power of the Holy\nGhost.\n\n31. 12 to him that is baptized will the Father give the Holy Ghost.\n\n13 by baptism ye shall receive the Holy Ghost.\n\n17 then cometh a remission of sins, by fire and the Holy Ghost.\n\n32. 2 had received the Holy Ghost, ye could speak with the tongue of\nangels.\n\n_Jacob_ 6. 8 deny the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Spirit.\n\n7. 17 Sherem confessed the Christ, and power of the Holy Ghost.\n\n_Alma_ 13. 12 after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, being pure and\nspotless.\n\n36. 24 they might be born of God, and filled with the Holy Ghost.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 9. 20 whoso comes to me with a contrite spirit, will I\nbaptize with the Holy Ghost.\n\n11. 32 the Holy Ghost bears record of the Father and the Son. 35, 36.\n\n15. 23 Christ not manifest to the Gentiles, except by the Holy Ghost.\n\n16. 4 my people, at Jerusalem, receive a knowledge of you by the Holy\nGhost.\n\n20. 27 pouring out the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, makes\nthem mighty to the scattering of my people.\n\n28. 11 the Father giveth the Holy Ghost to men because of me.\n\n4 _Nephi_ 1. 48 being constrained by the Holy Ghost, Ammaron hid up the\nsacred records.\n\n_Mormon_ 7. 7 sing praises to Father, Son and Holy Ghost.\n\n_Ether_ 5. 4 Father, Son and Holy Ghost beareth record. _Chap_. 12. 41.\n\n12. 23 made this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy\nGhost.\n\n_Moroni_ 8. 26 of meekness cometh visitation of the Holy Ghost, which\nfilleth with hope.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 8. 2 will tell you in your heart and mind, by the Holy Ghost.\n\n18. 18 ask and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all\nthings.\n\n20. 26-28 who believed in all the holy prophets, who spake as they were\ninspired by the Holy Ghost.\n\n35 neither adding to nor diminishing from that which has come, or shall\ncome, by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost.\n\n60 ordination is by the power of the Holy Ghost.\n\n34. 10 prophecy, and it shall be given by the Holy Ghost.\n\n39. 6 the baptism of the Holy Ghost, which showeth all things.\n\n68. 4 what they shall speak, when moved by the Holy Ghost, shall be\nscripture.\n\n100. 8 the Holy Ghost shall bear record of what you say.\n\n107. 56 Adam, full of the Holy Ghost, predicted what should befall his\nposterity.\n\n109. 15 that they may receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost.\n\n121. 26 God shall give the Saints knowledge by the Holy Ghost.\n\n43 reproving with sharpness, when moved by the Holy Ghost.\n\n124. 5 given you by the Holy Ghost, to know concerning kings and\nauthorities.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 9. in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam.\n\n10. the Lord God called upon men, by the Holy Ghost, everywhere.\n\n12. the Gospel declared by the gift of the Holy Ghost.\n\n13. it was given to write by the Spirit of inspiration.\n\n15 my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify.\n\n19. Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up into Zion.\n\n_History of J. Smith, June 15, 1842_.\n\n\n\nNAME OF CHRIST'S CHURCH.\n\nThe name, Saint, \"Signifies a holy or godly person, one that is so by\nprofession, covenant, and conversation;\" _Cru_. _Con_.\n\nIn the Old Testament it means one who worked righteousness, and one\nin whom the Lord delighted, for that reason. \"But to the Saints that\n_are_ in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight;\"\n_Psalm_ 16. 3. \"Gather my Saints together unto me; those that have made\na covenant with me by sacrifice;\" _Psalm_ 50. 5.\n\nWhile the meaning of the term Saints is not changed in the New\nTestament, it is used in the epistles of the apostles as a general name\nof the followers of Jesus Christ; \"To the Saints which are at Ephesus,\nand to the faithful in Christ Jesus;\" _Eph_. 1. 1. They are those\nwho have submitted themselves to Jesus Christ, and have become his\nsubjects. \"Just and true are thy ways, thou king of Saints;\" _Rev_. 15.\n3.\n\nJesus said, \"I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if\nanother shall come in his own name, him ye will receive;\" _John_ 5. 43.\nThis saying of our Savior's is as applicable to the Christian world\nto-day, as it was to the people to whom he spake. The Latter-day Saints\nhave come in the name of Jesus Christ, and preached the Gospel of\nrepentance as he preached it, and do all things in his name, and, yet,\nthe most of the world reject them.\n\nSome Christian sects have derived their names from their founders, as\nCalvanists, Lutherans, Wesleyans. Others have some appellation growing\nout of a peculiarity of doctrine, or faith, as Baptists, Methodists\nand Presbyterians. Others again derive their name from historical\nevents connected with their origin, and geographical location, as Roman\nCatholic Church, Greek Church, Church of England, etc. Not a church\nin all the world bearing the name of Jesus Christ, except that of the\nLatter-day Saints.\n\nSectarians may ask, are we not called Christians? But the name of our\nSavior was Jesus Christ, not Christian. The early Christians first\nreceived that name at the city of Antioch; _Acts_ 11. 26.\n\nWe find that the apostles, in their epistles, addressed the members of\nthe various churches, as Saints, \"Beloved of God, called to be Saints;\"\n_Rom_. 1. 7. \"To the Saints and faithful brethren in Christ;\" _Col_.\n1. 2. We further find that the apostles do not speak of themselves as\nfollowers of men; but Paul calls himself, \"An apostle of Jesus Christ\nby the will of God;\" _Col_. 1. 1. 1 _Tim_. 1. 1. \"Paul, a servant of\nGod, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's\nelect;\" _Titus_ 1. 1. Not according to the doctrines of Luther, Calvin\nor Wesley.\n\nThe most definite instructions on this subject are found in the Book of\nMormon. When the Nephite disciples of Jesus were, at a certain time,\nunited in mighty prayer and fasting, he came and stood in the midst of\nthem, and asked them, \"What will ye that I shall give unto you?\" \"And\nthey said unto him, Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name\nwhereby we shall call this church; for there are disputations among the\npeople concerning this matter.\n\n\"And the Lord said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, why is it\nthat the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing? Have\nthey not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name\nof Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the\nlast day; and whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end,\nthe same shall be saved at the last day; therefore whatsoever ye shall\ndo, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my\nname; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name, that he will bless\nthe church for my sake; and how be it my church, save it be called in\nmy name? For if a church be called in Moses' name, then it be Moses'\nchurch; or if it be called in the name of a man, then it be the church\nof a man; but if it be called in my name, then it is my church, if so\nbe that they are built upon my Gospel;\" 3 _Nephi_ 27. 2-8.\n\nIn accordance with the spirit of the Old and New Testaments, and with\nthese instructions of Jesus Christ, when the church was organized on\nGospel principles, by Joseph Smith, Jun., in 1830, it was named, \"The\nChurch of Jesus Christ.\" The Lord afterwards revealed to his Prophet,\nJoseph Smith, that it should be called, \"The Church of Jesus Christ of\nLatter-day Saints;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 115. 3, 4.\n\nBible.\n\n_Psalm_ 16 3. but the Saints that are in the earth.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n_Mos_. 5. 7-12 the disciples of Christ exhorted to take upon them his\nname.\n\n\n\nTITHING.\n\nThe history of ancient Israel, as given in the Old Testament, evidences\nthat the law of tithing was in force from Abraham until their\ndestruction as a nation. That it was a perpetual law of the Priesthood,\nand did not pertain, exclusively, to the Mosaic dispensation, is\napparent, from the fact that Abram paid tithes to Melchisedek; _Gen_.\n14. 20, and that Jacob covenanted to give a tenth to the Lord; 28. 22.\nThey lived before Moses.\n\nIn the present dispensation the law of tithing was revived, and the\nkeeping of that law is one of the first duties of the Latter-day\nSaints. About eighteen months after the organization of the church,\nSeptember 11, 1831, the Lord, through Joseph the Seer, made this\nimportant declaration. Speaking after the manner of the Lord, he called\n\"to-day,\" from the giving of the revelation until the coming of the Son\nof Man, and said, \"Verily I say unto you, it is a day of sacrifice,\nand a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall\nnot be burned. For after to-day cometh the burning.\" That is, at the\ncoming of the Son of Man; \"For verily I say, to-morrow\"--that is, at my\ncoming--\"all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble;\nand I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 64.\n23, 24.\n\nIn this declaration we are assured that all who call themselves the\nLord's people, and do not pay their tithing, will find their portion\namong the wicked at his coming, and will share their fate. In _sec_.\n85. 3, the Lord reiterates the fact, that it is necessary his people\nshould be tithed, \"To prepare them against the day of vengeance and\nburning.\"\n\nThe names of those who do not keep this law of tithing shall not be\nenrolled with the people of God: \"Neither is their genealogy to be\nkept, or to be had where it may be found on any of the records or\nhistory of the church; Their names shall not be found, neither the\nnames of the fathers, nor the names of the children written in the book\nof the law of God, saith the Lord of Hosts;\" 85. 4, 5. This revelation\nwas also given soon after the organization of the Church; Nov. 27, 1832.\n\nLike every principle connected with the latter-day work, tithing must\nneeds commence with the leaders of the Dispensation. The following very\ninteresting account of the first covenant and promise concerning this\nprinciple will be found in the History of Joseph Smith, under date of\nNov. 29, 1834.\n\nThe occasion was one of rejoicing for the blessings received of the\nLord. The narrative says: \"After commencing and rejoicing before the\nLord on this occasion, we agreed to enter into the following covenant\nwith the Lord, viz.:--That if the Lord will prosper us in our business,\nand open the way before us, that we may obtain means to pay our debts,\nthat we be not troubled nor brought into disrepute before the world,\nnor His people; after that, of all that He shall give us, we will give\na tenth, to be bestowed upon the poor in His Church, or as He shall\ncommand; and that we will be faithful over that which He has entrusted\nto our care, that we may obtain much; and that our children after us,\nshall remember to observe _this sacred and holy covenant_; and that our\nchildren, and our children's children, may know of the same, we have\nsubscribed our names with our own hands.\n\n\"JOSEPH SMITH, JUN.,\n\n\"OLIVER COWDERY.\"\n\nAfter the above covenant the following is recorded: \"And now, O\nFather, as thou didst prosper our father Jacob, and bless him with\nprotection and prosperity wherever he went, from the time he made\na like covenant before and with thee; as thou didst, even the same\nnight, open the heavens unto him, and manifest great mercy and power,\nand give him promises, so wilt thou do with us his sons; and as his\nblessings prevailed above his progenitors unto the utmost bounds of the\neverlasting hills, even so may our blessings prevail like his.\"\n\nNotwithstanding this principle began to be taught soon after the\norganization of the Church, it required some time to reach practical\ndevelopment, for no definite law concerning it was revealed, until July\n8, 1838.\n\nThe custom of paying labor tithing, appears to have been commenced\nwhen building the Nauvoo Temple. Of a meeting of some of the leading\nauthorities of the Church, in Lima, Illinois, the following is\nrecorded, in His. of Joseph Smith, under date of October 23, 1841: \"It\nwas moved and seconded, That all those who are willing to consecrate\none-tenth of their time and property to the building of the Temple at\nNauvoo, under the superintendence of President Morley and Counselors,\nto signify it by uplifted hands; when the motion was carried\nunanimously.\"\n\nThe following is a \"_Revelation given through Joseph, the Prophet, at\nFar West, Missouri, July 8th, 1838, in answer to the question, O Lord,\nshow unto thy servants how much thou requirest of the properties of the\npeople for a tithing_?\n\n\"Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property\nto be put into the hands of the bishop of my church of Zion, for the\nbuilding of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion\nand for the Priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my\nchurch.\n\n\"And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people; and after\nthat, those who have thus been tithed, shall pay one-tenth of all their\ninterest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them for ever,\nfor my holy Priesthood, saith the Lord.\n\n\"Verily I say unto you, it shall come to pass, that all those who\ngather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus\nproperties, and shall observe this law, or they shall not be found\nworthy to abide among you.\n\n\"And I say unto you, if my people observe not this law, to keep it\nholy, and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that my\nstatutes and my judgments may be kept thereon, that it may be most\nholy, behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion\nunto you; and this shall be an ensample unto all the Stakes of Zion.\nEven so. Amen;\" _Doc. & Cov. Sec_. 119.\n\nThe law of tithing, as embodied in the revelations referred to, is an\nimmutable decree of Jehovah to his people, and admits of no evasion\nby those who would enjoy the blessings of the faithful on the land of\nZion, or be classed among the righteous, and avoid the burning at the\ncoming of our Lord.\n\nBible.\n\n_Lev_. 27. 30 the tithe of the land shall be the Lord's.\n\n32 the tenth of the herd and the flock shall be holy.\n\n33 not to search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it.\n\n_Num_. 18. 26-28 the Levites paid a tenth of their tithes to the\npriests.\n\n_Deut_. 12. 17, 18 tithes to be eaten in the place the Lord should\nchoose. _Chap_. 14. 23, 24.\n\n28 the tithe of the third year to be laid up.\n\n14. 22, 23 thou shalt surely tithe all he increase of thy seed.\n\n26. 12 hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thy increase.\n\n2 _Chron_. 31. 5, 6 Israel brought the tithes of all things, abundantly.\n\n_Neh_. 10. 37, 38 the tithes of Israel were brought to the Levites, and\nthey paid a tenth to the house of the Lord.\n\n13. 12 men appointed over the treasuries of the house of the Lord.\n\n_Amos_ 4. 4 bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after\nthree years.\n\n_Mal_. 3. 8 wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.\n\n10 bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse.\n\n_Matt_. 23. 23 Pharisees paid tithes, but omitted the weightier matters\nof the law.\n\n_Luke_ 11. 42 for ye tithe mint and rue, and pass over judgment and the\nlove of God.\n\n18. 12 I fast twice in a week, I give tithes of all I possess.\n\n_Heb_. 7. 5 the sons of the Levites to take tithes of the people. 6, 8,\n9.\n\n_See Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. 1, page 51_.\n\n\" \" _G. Q. Cannon, \" \" 15, \" 147_.\n\n\" \" _F. D. Richards, \" \" 16, \" 59_.\n\n\" \" _B. Young, \" \" 16, \" 111_.\n\n\n\nAPOSTACY OF THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH.\n\nThe Gospel dispensation inaugurated by our Savior, while on his\nearthly mission, was not a gathering one. Israel had already been\nwidely scattered. That scattering was soon to result in the complete\ndesolation of the land of Palestine.\n\nWherever the people received the Gospel through the preaching of the\napostles, they were organized into churches. They not only had their\nold traditions and customs to contend with, but there was no relief\nfrom the general pagan influences under which they had been educated.\nAdd to these things, the persecutions the early Saints were exposed to,\nand it could not well be otherwise than that many of them should be\nweak in the faith.\n\nThe epistles of the apostles inform us that they had often contended\nwith false teachers and doctrines in the primitive churches. \"Even\nnow,\" said the apostle John, \"are there many anti-Christs.\" 1 _John_\n2. 18. The apostle Paul, in his second epistle to Timothy, informs us,\nthat \"In the last days perilous times shall come;\" 2 _Tim_. 3. 1.\n\nIn the following three verses he enumerates all manner of wickedness\nwhich shall be prevalent in the latter times. He evidently means in the\nChristian churches, or among those who profess godliness, for in the\nfifth verse of the same chapter, he speaks of their having \"A form of\ngodliness, but denying the power thereof.\"\n\nThe apostle Paul exhorted the Colossians to \"be not moved away from\nthe hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to\nevery creature which is under heaven;\" _Col_. 1. 23.\n\nAbout fifty-seven years after the Savior had closed his earthly\nmission, if we are correctly informed in the second and third chapters\nof the Revelations of St. John, there were but seven churches in Asia\nwhom the Lord considered worthy of notice. This, coupled with the\nassertion of Paul, that the Gospel had, in his day, been preached to\nevery creature, proves that its light only faintly glimmered, in the\notherwise universal darkness, which existed at the time John had his\nvision on the isle of Patmos.\n\nJohn the Revelator saw Rome in all her glory, in his day, reigning over\nthe kings of the earth, full of riches and all manner of abominations,\nand drunken with the blood of the Saints and of the martyrs of Jesus;\n_Rev_. 17. This great power, drenched in the blood of the martyrs,\nabout 325 A.D., in the reign of Constantine, adopted what was then\nknown as Christianity, as the religion of the empire.\n\nIt was not possible that such a wicked, corrupt element and the Gospel\nof Jesus could have any affinity. Rather, is it not evident that the\nantagonism of Christianity and paganism had measurably ceased? that\nthey had assimilated? that they had both so nearly found the same\nlevel, that with a slight pressure of governmental policy they readily\namalgamated?\n\nNot only prophecy but general history, and especially the history of\nChristianity by its learned professors, furnish abundant evidence of\nits early departure from the pure principles of the Gospel.\n\nThe prophetic history of the preparatory work, for the coming of Christ\nto reign on the earth in the latter days, is predicated on the apostacy\nof the primitive Christian church, the general wickedness of the\nnations, and the gathering of the house of Israel.\n\nSince the calling of Abraham, the authenticated personal manifestations\nof the Lord to man have been through him and his family. Christ came\nto his own chosen people. His earthly mission was commenced and\nconsummated in the midst of Israel. The Gospel was first preached to\nthe Jews. His apostles were chosen from his brethren of the seed of\nAbraham. The first church of Christ was established at Jerusalem. The\napostles were commanded to remain there until endowed with power from\non high. All the blessings of salvation are promised to mankind through\nthe seed of Abraham.\n\nWhen the Lord comes in glory and power, the prophets inform us that he\nwill come to Zion and Jerusalem, the chief cities of gathered Israel.\nThe apostle Paul informs us that \"God hath set some in the church,\nfirst apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that\nmiracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of\ntongues;\" 1 _Cor_. 12. 28.\n\nFrom the above it is evident that, had the church of Christ been on\nthe earth in the past centuries, it would have been organized like the\nprimitive church, with apostles and prophets of the house of Israel at\nthe head of it. More than that, it would have enjoyed all the spiritual\ngifts and blessings mentioned in the above chapter.\n\nJohn the Revelator, in his visions of the latter times, says, \"And I\nsaw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting\nGospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every\nnation, and kindred, and tongue, and people;\" _Rev_. 14. 6.\n\nNo one who has any faith in the Scriptures would assert that the Gospel\npreached by Jesus and his apostles was not the \"Everlasting Gospel.\"\nIf everlasting, it must of necessity be the same wherever found.\nIf the same Gospel, it would always produce the same results. Its\nordinances would be the same. Its followers would enjoy the same gifts\nand blessings. They would call themselves Saints. They would have an\norganization that would not vary from the church organized by Jesus and\nhis apostles. They would have been led by apostles and prophets of the\nhouse of Israel.\n\nInstead of this, the Christian churches and nations have for many\ncenturies ground the House of Israel with the iron heel of oppression.\nThey have robbed, driven and slain the covenant people of God, the\nchosen people of that same Jesus of Nazareth whose precepts and example\nthey profess to follow.\n\nThe Shiloh came and the sceptre departed from Judah. A series of\nterrible oppressions commenced under Roman governors, which resulted\nin the destruction of Jerusalem, and of the Jews as a nation; that may\nbe considered the beginning of the fulfilment of the prediction of our\nSavior, \"Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the\ntimes of the Gentiles be fulfilled;\" _Luke_ 21. 24.\n\nThe reasonable construction of this passage is, that \"The times of\nthe Gentiles\" means the period in which they will bear rule, oppress\nIsrael, and hold possession of the heritage of the seed of Abraham.\n\nWhen \"The times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled,\" when the angel,\nseen in vision by John the Revelator, shall have brought again to earth\nthe \"Everlasting Gospel,\" will also be \"The times of restitution of all\nthings, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets\nsince the world began;\" _Acts_ 3. 21.\n\nThe first century of the Christian era was a very important one in\nthe world's history. The covenant people of God ceased to exist as a\nnation. The civilized world, represented by the Roman empire, with\nPaganism as the prevailing religion, began to fill up the measure\nof its iniquity by shedding the blood of the apostles, and of the\ndisciples of Jesus. Pagan philosophy counteracted Gospel influences.\nThere was a constant tendency in Christianity and paganism to\nassimilate. This is evident from the writings of the apostles.\n\nThat, after Christianity became the leading element of the Roman\nempire, it ceased to be regenerative in its nature, is evidenced by\nthe fact, that the empire was often scourged with destructive civil\nwars which prepared it for dissolution. It was finally crushed by\nbarbarian hordes. They desolated whole provinces, leaving only remnants\nof corrupt peoples, to be measurably regenerated by an infusion of\nnew blood from the plains of eastern Europe, and western Asia. Both\nsacred and profane history have failed to record an instance of a\npeople who, living under the regenerating influences of the Gospel of\nJesus, and enjoying the favor of God, were broken and destroyed by such\nterrible scourges as visited the Roman empire the first five centuries\nof the Christian era. Modern nations have risen from its ashes, have\nadopted its religion, its customs, its ethics, without inspiration\nfrom heaven, without any further Gospel dispensation, without apostles\nand prophets of the house of Israel, and without the guidance of the\nHoly Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God, which the Lord has\ndecreed should only come through the seed of Abraham.\n\nBible.\n\n_Isa_. 24. 2 as with the people, so with the priest.\n\n5 the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof.\n\n17 fear and the pit are upon thee, O inhabitants of the earth.\n\n_Dan_. 7. 25 he shall speak great words against the Most High, and\nshall wear out the Saints.\n\n8. 10 it waxed great, even to the host of heaven.\n\n11 by him the daily sacrifice was taken away.\n\n12 it cast down the truth to the ground, and it practised and prospered.\n\n23 the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to\nthe full.\n\n25 through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand. 26.\n\n_Matt_. 24. 10 many shall be offended, and shall betray and hate one\nanother.\n\n_Acts_ 20. 29 after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among\nyou. 30.\n\n1 _Tim_. 1. 6 some have turned aside to vain jangling. 7.\n\n19 concerning faith have made shipwreck.\n\n4. 1 in the latter times some shall depart from the faith.\n\n2, 3 speaking lies in hypocrisy, forbidding to marry.\n\n2 _Tim_. 2. 18 who concerning the truth have erred.\n\n3. 1 know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.\n\n2-7 men shall be lovers of their own selves, without natural affection.\nEver learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.\n\n12 all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.\n\n4. 16 at my first answer no man stood with me.\n\n_Titus_ 1. 10, 11 many unruly and vain talkers, deceivers, who subvert\nwhole houses.\n\n3. 9 avoid foolish questions, contentions, and strivings. 10.\n\n2 _Peter_ 2. 1 who, privily, shall bring in damnable heresies.\n\n_Rev_. 16. 6 for they have shed the blood of the Saints and prophets.\n\n17. 1, 2 the great whore that sitteth upon the waters. _Chap_. 18. 3, 9.\n\n5 the mystery, Babylon, the mother of harlots.\n\n6 the woman, drunken with the blood of the Saints, and the martyrs of\nJesus.\n\n15 the waters which thou sawest are peoples, multitudes and nations.\n\n18 the woman is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the\nearth.\n\n18. 2 Babylon is become the habitation of devils, the hold of every\nfoul spirit.\n\n24 in her was found the blood of the prophets.\n\n19. 2 he hath judged the great whore which did corrupt the earth.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 13. 5 the foundation of a church which is most abominable,\nwhich slayeth the Saints of God. _Chap_. 14. 3, 9, 10. _Chap_. 22. 14.\n2 _Nephi_ 28. 18.\n\n9 for the praise of the world they destroy the Saints.\n\n24-34 the Jewish record went forth in purity to the Gentiles, but the\nGentiles took away the most precious parts, for which reason many\nstumble.\n\n14. 11 she had dominion over all the earth, and sat upon many waters.\n\n12 the Saints of God were scattered over the earth, and their dominions\nwere small, because of the wickedness of the great whore.\n\n13 mother of abominations gathered together multitudes to fight against\nthe Lamb of God.\n\n15 the wrath of God poured out on that abominable church. 16, 17.\n\n15. 13 many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in the\nbody, the fulness of the Gospel shall come to the Gentiles.\n\n22. 22, 23 the kingdom of the devil built up among the children of men.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 26. 19-22 refers to the time when the children of Lehi (the\nAmerican Indians) shall be smitten and driven by the Gentiles, and\ngives an unmistakable description of the Christian world of the present\nday.\n\n27. 1 in the latter days, all shall be drunken with iniquity.\n\n28. 3 every one that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord,\nshall say, I am the Lord's.\n\n4 they and their priests shall contend one with another.\n\n6 they shall say, in this day God is not a God of miracles.\n\n29. 3 a Bible, we have got a Bible; there cannot be any more.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 16. 7 in the latter days shall the truth come unto the\nGentiles. 1 _Nephi_ 15. 13. _Rev_. 14. 6.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 15 they have strayed from mine ordinances and broken mine\neverlasting covenant.\n\n16 every man walketh in his own way, after the image of his own God.\n\n17, 18 Joseph Smith, Jun., and others commanded to proclaim these\nthings, that the sayings of the prophets might be fulfilled.\n\n30 to bring forth the only true and living church, out of obscurity and\ndarkness.\n\n5. 6 you shall be ordained to deliver my words to the children of men.\n\n29. 21 that great and abominable church shall be cast down.\n\n35. 11 shall not anything be shown forth except desolations on Babylon?\n\n38. 11 for all flesh is corrupted before me.\n\n86. 1-7 an explanation of the parable of the wheat and tares. _Sec_.\n88. 94.\n\n133. 14 go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 3. in a day when men would take many of the words from the book\nwhich Moses should write, the Lord promised to raise up another like\nhim, when they should be had again among men. 2 _Nephi_ 3. 9.\n\n21. so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and\nvengeance.\n\n_See O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. Wm. Crowel, No. 6_.\n\n\"_Universal Apostacy,\" a pamphlet by O. Pratt_.\n\n\n\nTHE JERUSALEM OF THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE.\n\nThe earliest account we have of Jerusalem is in the fourteenth chapter\nof Genesis, under the date of 1913 B. C.\n\nWhen Abram was returning from the slaughter of the five kings,\nMelchisedek, king of Salem, brought him refreshments. He was a\nrighteous prince and a priest of the Most High God; and he blessed\nAbram.\n\nJosephus, the Jewish historian, states that this city of Salem was\nafterwards called Jerusalem; _Ant. of the Jews, B_. 1., _Chapter_ 10.\nIt has been the scene of many great events connected with the ministry\nof the holy Priesthood on the earth.\n\nAbram was commanded to offer his son Isaac, on one of the mountains in\nthe land of Moriah; _Gen_. 22. 2. Josephus says, that the mountain on\nwhich Abram built an altar, to offer his son Isaac, was the same on\nwhich king David (Solomon) afterwards built a temple.\n\nThe Jebusites retained possession of the city of Jerusalem until 1048\nB. C., when it was subdued by David. He first took the stronghold of\nZion; \"The same is the city of David.\" At that time, this was only a\nstrong outwork or fortification for the defence of the city; 2 _Sam_.\n5. 6-9.\n\nIn the days of Solomon, Jerusalem became a great and strong city, with\na magnificent temple towering on Mount Moriah.\n\nFrom its conquest by David, until the death of Solomon, it was the\ncapital city of Israel, and afterwards of the kingdom of Judah. B. C.\n585, Jerusalem was burned by the army of Nebuchadnezzar, and the better\npart of the inhabitants of the land were carried captive to Babylon; 3\n_Kings_, _chapters_ 24 and 25.\n\nThe city was re-established at the end of the seventy years' captivity.\nIt afterwards played an important part in the history of that part of\nAsia.\n\nAlmost under the shadow of its walls, our Savior was born. It was\nthe central place of the scenes of his earthly mission. In it he was\nscourged and condemned to death. Just outside of its walls, and in\nsight of its towers, and the glorious temple built to his name, the God\nof Israel died the death of a malefactor.\n\nIt was here, and near here, that he consummated his earthly mission,\nand ascended to his Father.\n\nIn A. C. 70, the land of Judea, and city of Jerusalem, were made a\ndesolation by the Roman armies, and the Jews, as a nation, entirely\nrooted out of their heritage, and scattered among all nations.\n\nFor information on this subject, the student should read, carefully,\nJosephus' \"_Wars of the Jews_.\"\n\nUp to this time, in her history, many prophecies were fulfilled. In\nher future many more are to be fulfilled, for she is yet to take an\nimportant part in the great work of the latter days. Like the New\nJerusalem of the American continent, this city will descend out of\nheaven, after the final change of the earth to its celestial condition;\n_Rev_. 21. 10-27.\n\nIt is often called Zion in the Old Testament, and will be the capital\ncity of gathered Israel on the Eastern hemisphere, in the latter days.\n\nThere are many passages in the Scriptures relating to this important\ncity. A few are appended to assist the student in further researches\nconcerning it.\n\nBible.\n\n_Deut_. 31. 29 evil will befall you in the latter days, because ye will\ndo evil.\n\n1 _Kings_ 11. 11-13 Lord declared he would rend the kingdom from\nSolomon.\n\n14. 15 Lord shall root up Israel, and scatter them beyond the river.\n\n2 _Kings_ 20. 17, 18 treasures laid up by the fathers, to be carried to\nBabylon.\n\n23. 27 I will remove Judah out of my sight, as I have removed Israel.\n\n2 _Chron_. 36. 21 the land shall enjoy her Sabbaths seventy years.\n_Jer_. 29. 10.\n\n_Isa_. 4. this chapter evidently refers to the latter days, and to the\nZion of the Western Hemisphere, and to the city of Jerusalem, on the\nEastern.\n\n25. 6-12 in this mountain shall the Lord make a feast of fat things.\nHe will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people, He will\nswallow up death in victory.\n\n32. 9-18 land of Israel to be desolate, until the Spirit is poured out\nfrom on high.\n\n52. 9, 10 sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem.\n\n51. 17 stand up, O Jerusalem, which has drunk of the cup of his fury.\n\n_Jer_. 25. 11 these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy\nyears.\n\n18 to make Jerusalem and her kings a desolation, and a curse.\n\n26. 18 Micah prophesied that Zion should be plowed like a field.\n\n50. 4 in those days Israel and Judah, together, shall come, going and\nweeping.\n\n51. 19-23 Israel the rod of the Lord's inheritance, with which he will\nbreak in pieces their enemies.\n\n_Ezek_. 38 and 39. these chapters are a prophecy of the gathering of\nthe nations against Jerusalem in the latter days.\n\n_Zeph_. 1. this chapter is, evidently, a prophecy of the desolation of\nJerusalem.\n\n_Haggai_ 2. 9 the glory of this latter house, shall be greater than\nthat of the former.\n\n_Zech_. 12. the restoration of Judah.\n\n_Chap_. 14. in the latter days the Lord will deliver Jerusalem from the\nnations that will go up to battle against it.\n\n_Matt_. 24. Destruction of Jerusalem foretold. _P. of G. P., page_ 38.\n\n_Luke_ 19. 41-44 Christ foretells the destruction of Jerusalem. _Chap_.\n23. 28-30.\n\n_See Article, by C. W. Penrose, Mil. Star, Vol. 30, page 353_.\n\n\"_New Jerusalem,\" a pamphlet by O. Pratt_.\n\n\n\nNEW JERUSALEM.\n\nThe Jaredite prophet, Ether, predicted, 600 B. C., that a city which\nshould be called a holy city, should be built on the land of North\nAmerica, and that it should be built up unto the remnant of the seed\nof Joseph. He further informs us, that it should be called the New\nJerusalem, to distinguish it from Jerusalem which should be built on\nthe eastern hemisphere; _Ether_ 13. 3-8.\n\nEther also saw that this New Jerusalem was the one that John the\nRevelator saw, in vision, coming down out of heaven. \"Until the end\ncome, when the earth shall pass away, and there shall be a new heaven\nand a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old, save the old have\npassed away, and all things have become new. And then cometh the New\nJerusalem;\" _verses_ 8-10. _Rev_. 21. 2.\n\nOur Savior, in his personal ministration among the Nephites, six\nhundred years after the predictions of Ether, renews the promise that a\nNew Jerusalem should be built upon this land.\n\nSpeaking to the Nephites, he says: \"This people will I establish in\nthis land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your\nfather Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem;\" 3 _Nephi_ 20. 22.\n\nThe Savior again says, speaking to the Gentiles, that those who shall\ncome into the covenant, shall \"be numbered among this the remnant of\nJacob.\" \"And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and\nalso, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build\na city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem; and then shall they\nassist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon\nall the face of the land in unto the New Jerusalem;\" 21. 22-24.\n\nWe learn from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that this New\nJerusalem is to be the city of Zion, of the latter days. \"And it shall\nbe called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place\nof safety for the Saints of the most High God; And the glory of the\nLord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there,\ninsomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called\nZion;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 45. 66, 67.\n\nThis is, also, the Zion spoken of by the ancient Jewish prophets,\nas separate and distinct from the Zion, or Mount Zion, that was in\nJerusalem, in the land of Palestine.\n\nIn the following passages, evidently, two distinct places are intended.\n\"Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation;\" _Isa_. 64. 10. \"For the\nlaw shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem;\"\n_Micah_ 4. 2.\n\nThere are three Zions spoken of in the sacred writings--the Zion on the\nAmerican continent, the Zion at Jerusalem, and the Zion of Enoch. For\nsome account of the Zion of Enoch, _see Pearl of Great Price, pages_\n18-22. On the 22d page we learn, that, when Christ shall come, the Zion\nof the western hemisphere and the Zion of Enoch shall be united in one.\nThere the Lord will reside, and it will be the gathered Zion \"which\nshall come forth out of all the creations which I have made.\"\n\nBible.\n\n_Psalm_ 14. 7 oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!\n\n48. 2 beautiful for situation is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north.\n11-14.\n\n_Isa_. 1. 27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment.\n\n2. 3 out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from\nJerusalem.\n\n40. 9 O Zion that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high\nmountain.\n\n49. 19-26 the land of thy destruction shall be too narrow. I will lift\nup mine hand to the Gentiles. Kings shall be thy nursing fathers. I\nwill feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh.\n\n51. 11 the redeemed of the Lord shall come to Zion.\n\n52. 1 put on thy strength, O Zion.\n\n59. 20 and the Redeemer shall come to Zion.\n\n64. 10 Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.\n\n_Jer_. 3. 14 will take you one of a city and two of a family, and bring\nyou to Zion.\n\n31. 6-14 arise, let us go up to Zion. Behold, I will bring them from\nthe north country. They shall come with weeping. They shall come and\nsing in the heights of Zion. The virgin shall rejoice in the dance.\n\n50. 4, 5 the children of Israel shall come, they and the children\nof Judah together. They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces\nthitherward.\n\n_Joel_ 2. 32 for in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, shall be deliverance.\n\n3. 16 the Lord shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from\nJerusalem.\n\n_Obad_. 21. Saviors shall come up on Mount Zion.\n\n_Zeph_. 3. 14 sing, O daughter of Zion, rejoice, O daughter of\nJerusalem.\n\n16 said to Jerusalem, fear not; and to Zion, let not thine hands be\nslack.\n\n_Zech_. 1. 17 the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and choose Jerusalem.\n\n2. 10, 11 the Lord will dwell in the midst of Zion, and many nations\nshall be joined to him.\n\n_Rom_. 11. 26 there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer.\n\n_Rev_. 14. 1 a Lamb stood on Mount Zion.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 28. 9 no man knoweth where the city shall be built.\n\n35. 24 Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish. 39. 13. _Sec_.\n49. 25.\n\n38. 4 have taken the Zion of Enoch into my own bosom.\n\n42. 9 shall be revealed when the New Jerusalem shall be prepared. 35,\n62, 67.\n\n48. 4, 5 the place for the city to be revealed to certain men.\n\n57. 2 Missouri the place for the city of Zion. 3, 14.\n\n58. 7 bearing record of the land on which the Zion of God shall stand.\n\n59. 3 blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion.\n\n63. 24 should assemble themselves together on the land of Zion.\n\n29-31 land of Zion to be obtained by purchase, or by blood. 36.\n\n64. 34 the obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion.\n\n68. 25 inasmuch as parents have children in Zion.\n\n29 the inhabitants of Zion shall keep the Sabbath day holy. 30-32.\n\n72. 15 every man that cometh to Zion must lay all things before the\nbishop.\n\n76. 66 there are they who are come unto Mount Zion.\n\n82. 13 Kirtland consecrated for a stake of Zion. 14. _Sec_. 94. 1.\n_Sec_. 96. 1.\n\n85. 1 duty of the Lord's clerk to record what transpires in Zion.\n\n89. 1 a word of wisdom for the church and Saints in Zion.\n\n90. 8 that they might be perfected in their ministry, for the salvation\nof Zion.\n\n93. 53 obtain a knowledge of history, countries, lands, etc., for the\nsalvation of Zion.\n\n97. 10 my will that an house be built in Zion, like the pattern given.\n\n21 this is Zion, the pure in heart. 25.\n\n100. 13 Zion shall be redeemed, although she is chastened for a little\nseason.\n\n101. 18 the pure in heart shall return to build up Zion. 19-21, 41.\n\n70-75 land around the land of Zion to be bought with money. 103. 22-24.\n\n103. 15-20 the redemption of Zion must needs come by power.\n\n29-35 concerning the redemption of Zion, by gathering together the\nstrength of Israel.\n\n105. 5 Zion must be built according to the law of the celestial kingdom.\n\n124. 2 Nauvoo planted as a corner stone of Zion. 6. 60.\n\n136. 18 Zion shall be redeemed in mine own due time.\n\n31 Saints to be tried, that they may receive the glory of Zion.\n\n\n\nSPIRITUAL GIFTS.\n\nIn the churches established by our Savior and his apostles, the Holy\nGhost manifested itself in the development of a variety of gifts. Of so\ngreat importance did the apostle Paul consider these gifts, to the well\nbeing and edification of the Saints in Rome, that he wrote, \"For I long\nto see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end\nye may be established;\" _Rom_. 1. 11.\n\nThe inspired writings do not indicate that these gifts were limited to\nany period of time, or to any one dispensation, but they are spoken\nof by the apostles, as ever characterizing the operations of the Holy\nSpirit.\n\nIn the twelfth chapter of the apostle Paul's first epistle to the\nCorinthians, we are assured that \"there are diversities of gifts by the\nsame spirit;\" _verse_ 4. \"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given\nto every man to profit withal;\" _verse_ 7. From this we learn that\nthe presence of the Spirit in a man is manifested by some gift. It is\nevident from the general tenor of this chapter, that these gifts will\nalways be manifest in the church of Christ, for its members will ever\nhave the Holy Ghost abiding in them, and, where that is, the gifts of\nthe Spirit will be manifest.\n\nThe Book of Mormon speaks very plainly of the necessity of these gifts\nin the church. \"Again I speak unto you, who deny the revelations of\nGod, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations,\nnor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and\nthe interpretation of tongues. Behold I say unto you, he that denieth\nthese things, knoweth not the Gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read\nthe scriptures; if so, he does not understand them;\" _Mormon_ 9. 7, 8.\n\nIn a revelation to Joseph, the prophet, given March 8, 1831, the Lord\ngives much instruction concerning spiritual gifts; \"For all have not\nevery gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man\nis given a gift by the Spirit of God;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 46. 11. The Lord\nalso adds, \"That unto some it may be given to have all these gifts,\nthat there may be a head;\" _verse_ 29.\n\nBible.\n\n1 _Cor_. 1. 7 so that ye may come behind in no gift.\n\n7. 7 every man hath his proper gift of God.\n\n12. 8 to one is given the word of wisdom, to another the word of\nknowledge.\n\n9 to another faith, to another the gift of healing by the same Spirit.\n\n10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy.\n\n11 but all worketh that one and the self-same Spirit.\n\n31 covet earnestly the best gifts.\n\n13. 2 though I have the gift of prophecy.\n\n14. 1 desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophecy.\n\n12 forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts.\n\n1 _Peter_ 4. 10 as every man hath received the gift, so minister.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n_Omni_ 1. 25 believe in the gift of speaking with tongues, and\ninterpreting tongues.\n\n_Alma_ 9. 21 having the spirit of prophecy and revelation.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 29. 6 shall say the Lord no longer worketh by prophecy, nor\ngifts.\n\n_Moroni_ 10. 9-19 an enumeration of spiritual gifts.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 46. 10-26 an enumeration of spiritual gifts.\n\n27 it is given to those ordained to watch over the church to discern\nall these gifts. 29.\n\n_See A Pamphlet by O. Pratt_.\n\n\n\nPRE-EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS.\n\nIn the first chapter of Genesis, we have an account of six days, or\nperiods of time, which God occupied in the creation of this earth.\nAccording to the traditions of many centuries, it is considered by the\nChristian world a history of the creation of this earth, as it appears\nnow, naturally to men who dwell upon it.\n\nFrom the first and second chapters of Genesis, taken together, this\nview of the subject is evidently erroneous. In the first verse of the\nsecond chapter we read; \"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished,\nand all the host of them.\" This creation is evidently in a very\nunfinished condition, for myriads of animal and vegetable life are\ncoming upon it and going to decay.\n\nThe sacred writings not only testify that it is in a very imperfect\ncondition, but that it must pass away and be changed into a more\nperfect earth.\n\nIn the second and third verses of the second chapter, we learn that\nthere was a period of time called the seventh day, and that the Lord\nsanctified it as a day of rest. If there has ever been a period of\ntime in which this earth, or its inhabitants, have had universal peace\nand rest, since the progenitors of the race partook of the forbidden\nfruit in the Garden of Eden, we have no account of it. \"These are the\ngenerations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created,\nin the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens;\" _verse_\n4. This passage certainly states, that everything had been completed\nin the period of time stated in the previous account. Verse five very\nplainly states, in connection with the previous verse, that every plant\nof the field was created, \"Before it was in the earth, and every herb\nof the field before it grew.\" During all this long period of time it\nhad not rained upon the earth. What is still more singular, it says,\n\"And there was not a man to till the ground.\"\n\nThis Mosaic history of the creation was written for men in their\npresent temporal condition, and it is evident that these two verses\ngive us to understand, that these things had not taken place naturally\nupon the earth, as they do now. As a sequence, when they did take\nplace, they would indicate a great change in the condition of the\nearth. The first indication of this change is given in the sixth verse,\n\"There went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the\nground.\"\n\nBefore the event mentioned in the seventh verse, the earth must have\nbeen fitted up for the abode of man, in this his natural or temporal\ncondition. \"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground,\nand breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.\" That is, the\nground furnished the elements for the growth of the body of this first\ntemporal man; from its first conception, or germ, until it matured into\nperfect manhood by a universal law.\n\nIt should be noticed, that, in the first chapter, _verse_ 27, it says,\n\"God created man.\" That is he organized from the spiritual elements,\nthe living, acting spiritual man. In the seventh verse of the second\nchapter, it only states that he formed man out of the ground. That is\nout of earthly elements he formed a tabernacle, a dwelling place for\nthe man whom he had before created. The prophet Joseph Smith, in his\ntranslation of the Mosaic account of creation, fills up this gap, which\nis so evident in the Bible Genesis, between the seventh day of rest,\nand the formation of man from the dust of the ground.\n\n\"For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken,\nspiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For\nI, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth.\nAnd I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a\nman to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not\nyet flesh upon the earth; neither in the water, neither in the air; but\nI, the Lord God, spake, and there went up a mist from the earth, and\nwatered the whole face of the ground. And I, the Lord God, formed man\nfrom the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath\nof life; and man became a living soul, the first flesh upon the earth,\nthe first man also; nevertheless, all things were before created; but,\nspiritually, were they created and made according to my word;\" _P. of\nG. P. page_ 6.\n\nThis account of the creation, plainly sets forth the comprehensive\nfact, that all temporal organizations, pertaining to this earth, are\nanimated by spiritual pre-existent organizations. The following is a\nvery comprehensive passage on this subject: \"When the Most High divided\nto the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam,\nhe set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children\nof Israel;\" _Deut_. 32. 8. This passage certainly refers to a very\nearly period, when the heritage of the nations was given in proportion\nto the numbers of Israel. It is difficult to conceive how their numbers\nwere then known unless there was a spiritual Israel, of which the\ntemporal is but the counterpart.\n\nThe sacred writings abound with evidences that Jesus Christ controlled\nthe earth and ministered to man, as an organized spiritual intelligence\nbefore he came in the flesh in the meridian of time. The first chapter\nof John is very pointed on this subject: \"In the beginning was the\nWord, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;\" _verse_ 1. \"And\nthe Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us;\" _verse_ 14.\n\nBible.\n\n_Num_. 16. 22 the God of the spirits of all flesh. _Chap_. 27. 16.\n\n_Job_ 12. 10 in whose hand is the soul of every living thing.\n\n38. 3, 7 where wert thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? who\nhath laid the corner stone thereof when the morning stars sang together?\n\n_Eccl_. 12. 7 the spirit shall return to God who gave it.\n\n_Jer_. 1. 5 before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.\n\n_John_ 6. 62 if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was\nbefore.\n\n9. 2 who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?\n\n16. 27 and have believed that I came out from God.\n\n28 I came forth from the Father. 30.\n\n17. 5 glorify me with the glory I had with thee before the world was.\n\n_Heb_. 1. 6 when he bringeth the First Begotten into the world.\n\n12. 9 shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of our spirits?\n\n_Rev_. 12. 7-12 the devil and his angels cast out of heaven.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 13. 33-37 many sayings of the Lamb of God, concerning the\nfuture of Israel, repeated to Nephi by an angel--600 B. C.\n\n17. 30 their Lord, their God, their Redeemer going before them.\n\n19. 10 the God of our fathers yielded himself, as a man, into the hands\nof wicked men.\n\n20. 17 thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.\n\n21. 26 all flesh shall know that I am the Lord thy Savior and Redeemer.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 6. 18 know that I, the Lord, am thy Savior and Redeemer.\n\n9. 5 it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become\nsubject to man in the flesh, that all men might be subject to him.\n\n11. 2 for he verily saw my Redeemer, as I have seen him. 3.\n\n7 but there is a God, and he is Christ.\n\n25. 12 Father of heaven and earth shall manifest himself to them in the\nflesh.\n\n_Mos_. 3. 5 the Lord omnipotent shall come down from heaven among men.\n\n8 he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things from the\nbeginning.\n\n4. 2 Jesus Christ, who created heaven and earth and all things.\n\n7. 27 because he said Christ was God, the Father of all things.\n\n13. 33, 34 the prophets prophesied that God should come down among men.\n\n15. 1 God, himself, shall come among men and redeem his people.\n\n_Hel_. 14. 12 Jesus Christ the Father of heaven and earth. _Chap_. 16.\n18.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 1. 12-14 this night shall the sign be given, and on the\nmorrow come I into the world.\n\n9. 15 I created the heavens and the earth and all things.\n\n_Ether_ 2. 12 if they will serve Christ, who is the God of the land.\n\n3. 6-20 an account of a remarkable manifestation of Jesus Christ as God\nthe Son, and the Father, but still a personage of spirit.\n\n12. 22 the Lord hath commanded me, even Jesus Christ.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 10. 57 I came to my own and they received me not.\n\n29. 36 the devil, who was before Adam, rebelled against Christ.\n\n38. 1-3 Jesus Christ looked on the wide expanse of eternity, and the\nhosts of heaven before the worlds were made, and all things came by\nhim. 4.\n\n76. 13 Jesus Christ in the bosom of the Father from the beginning.\n\n24 by him, of him, through him, the worlds were made.\n\n86. 9 lawful heirs, and have been hid from the world, with Christ in\nGod.\n\n93. 23 ye were also in the beginning with the Father.\n\n_See Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 14, page 233_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _15, \" 241_.\n\n\n\nPLURALITY OF GODS.\n\nThe passages are numerous in the inspired writings which indicate a\nplurality of Gods. In the account of creation, in the Book of Abraham,\nthe plural Gods is exclusively used; _P. of G. P. page_ 33.\n\nThe Psalmist, speaking of God, says: \"Thou lovest righteousness, and\nhatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the\noil of gladness above thy fellows;\" _Psalm_ 45. 7. It is not possible\nthat any other than the true God is here referred to, for the God\nthat was anointed above his fellows had loved righteousness and hated\niniquity. \"God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth\namong the Gods;\" 82. 1. In this passage the number of Gods among whom\nGod judgeth is indefinite, and the words, \"congregation of the mighty,\"\nindicate that they might be quite numerous.\n\nJohn, the Evangelist, opens his history of our Savior thus; \"In the\nbeginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was\nGod;\" 1. 1. In this passage we have an account of two Gods, one of\nwhich dwelt with the other in the beginning. That the \"Word,\" spoken\nof, is Jesus Christ is evident from _verse_ 14: \"And the Word was made\nflesh, and dwelt among us.\"\n\n\"Which in his times he shall shew, _who is_ the blessed and only\nPotentate, the King of kings, and Lord of Lords;\" 1 _Tim_. 6. 15. From\nthe context of this passage we learn that the kings and lords here\nreferred to were holy men. Of like significance is the following: \"And\nhath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;\" _Rev_. 1. 6.\nThat is to God and the Father of God.\n\n\"A Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty _and_\nfour thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads;\"\n14. 1. From the third verse we learn that these were redeemed from the\nearth. Whether this name of the Father of Jesus Christ was God, or some\nother title indicating his power and attributes, is not revealed to us,\nbut, whatever it was, it evidently identified those who received it as\nGods.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 1. 26 and God said, let us make man in our image.\n\n_Exo_. 15. 11 who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods.\n\n_Deut_. 10. 17 Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords.\n\n_Josh_. 22. 22 the Lord God of gods. Israel he shall know.\n\n1 _Chron_. 16. 25 great is the Lord; to be feared above all gods.\n\n2 _Chron_. 2. 5 for great is our God, above all gods.\n\n_Psalm_ 86. 8 among the gods, there is none like unto thee, O Lord.\n\n126. 2, 3 O give thanks to the God of gods.\n\n138. 1 before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.\n\n_Dan_. 2. 11 none can shew it before the king, except the gods.\n\n47 your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings.\n\n4. 8 in whom is the Spirit of the holy Gods.. _Chap_. 5. 14.\n\n11. 36 and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods.\n\n_Matt_. 5. 48 be ye perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.\n\n_John_ 5. 19 the Son doeth nothing except what he seeth the Father do.\n\n1 _Cor_. 8. 5 for though there be that are called gods.\n\n_Phil_. 3. 21 that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.\n\n1 _Tim_. 6. 15 who is the King of kings and Lord of lords.\n\n1 _John_ 3. 2 when he shall appear we shall be like him.\n\n_Rev_. 3. 21 to him that overcometh, will I grant to sit on my throne.\n\n14. 1 with him 144,000, having his Father's name in their foreheads.\n\n17. 14 for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings.\n\n20. 4 I saw thrones, and they that sat upon them.\n\n21. 7 he that overcometh shall inherit all things.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n_Alma_ 12. 31 becoming as Gods, knowing good and evil.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 27. 27 what manner of men ought ye to be? verily I say unto\nyou, even as I am.\n\n28. 10 ye shall be as I am, and I, even as the Father.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 35. 2 one in me, even as I am one in the Father.\n\n39. 4 as many as received me, gave I power to become my sons.\n\n76. 24 worlds were created, and the inhabitants begotten sons and\ndaughters of God.\n\n55-59 have received of his fulness and glory; they are Gods.\n\n94, 95 know as they are known; and he makes them equal in power and\ndominion.\n\n84. 35-39 receiveth me, receiveth my Father and his kingdom.\n\n93. 20 be glorified in me, as I am in the Father.\n\n121. 28 whether there be one God or many Gods, they shall be manifest.\n\n32 in the midst of the council of the eternal God of all other Gods.\n\n128. 23 proclaiming in our ears eternal life, kingdoms, principalities\nand powers.\n\n132. 17 and from henceforth are not Gods. but angels of God, forever.\n18.\n\n19 shall pass by the angels and the Gods which are set there.\n\n37 entered into their exaltation; sit upon thrones, and are not angels\nbut Gods.\n\n_History of Joseph Smith, June 16, 1844_.\n\nGOD A PERSONAGE.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 1. 25-27 man created in the image of God.\n\n3. 9, 10 Adam heard the voice of the Lord.\n\n4. 6 the Lord said unto Cain. 14.\n\n5. 1, 2 Lord created man male and female, in his own likeness.\n\n6. 6 it repented and grieved the Lord that he had made man.\n\n13-21 God talked with Noah. _Chap_. 7. 1-4. _Chap_. 9. 8.\n\n8. 1 God remembered Noah. 15, 21. _Chap_. 9, 16.\n\n11. 5 the Lord came down to see the city and the tower. 7.\n\n12. 7 the Lord appeared to Abraham. _Chap_. 17. 22.\n\n_Chap_. 18. the Lord ate and talked with Abraham.\n\n28. 13 the Lord stood above the ladder Jacob saw.\n\n32. 30 Jacob saw God face to face. 35. 13.\n\n_Exo_. 3. 6 Moses was afraid to look on God.\n\n15. 3 the Lord is a man of war. 8, 16, 17.\n\n24. 10, 11 they saw God and did eat and drink. 12.\n\n31. 18 the tables of testimony, written with the finger of God.\n\n33. 11 the Lord talked with Moses as one man speaks with a friend.\n\n23 thou shalt see my back parts, but not my face.\n\n_Num_. 12. 8 with him will I speak, mouth to mouth.\n\n35. 34 for I, the Lord, dwell among the children of Israel.\n\n_Deut_. 5. 15 the Lord's mighty hand and stretched out arm.\n\n2 _Sam_. 22. 16 the breath of his nostrils. _Job_ 1. 11. _Chap_. 89. 20.\n\n2 _Chron_. 16. 9 the eyes of the Lord run to and fro.\n\n_Job_ 13. 8 will ye accept his person?\n\n_Psalm_ 13. 1 how long wilt thou hide thy face?\n\n34. 15 the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous. 16.\n\n45. 3 gird thy sword upon thy thigh.\n\n89. 13 thou hast a mighty arm and strong is thy hand.\n\n139. 16 thine eyes did see my substance. _Prov_. 15. 3.\n\n_Isa_. 30. 27 his lips are full of indignation, his tongue as a\ndevouring fire.\n\n40. 11 he shall gather his lambs with his arm.\n\n48. 13 mine hand hath laid the foundations of the earth.\n\n_Ezek_. 1. 27 from the appearance of his loins upward.\n\n38. 18 my fury shall come up in my face.\n\n43. 7 the place of the soles of my feet.\n\n_Zech_. 14. 4 and his feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives.\n\n_Heb_. 1. 10 the heavens are the work of thine hands. 2. 7.\n\n_Rev_. 1. 14 his head and his hair like wool, and his eyes like fire.\n\n_See Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 18, page 286_.\n\n_Gibson and Woodman's Discussion, second night_.\n\n\n\nTHE TRUE AND LIVING GOD.\n\n\"There are two personages who constitute the great, matchless,\ngoverning, and supreme, power over all things, by whom all things\nwere created and made, that are created and made, whether visible or\ninvisible, whether in heaven, on earth, or in the earth, under the\nearth, or throughout the immensity of space.\n\n\"They are the Father and the Son--the Father being a personage of\nspirit, glory, and power, possessing all perfection and fulness, the\nSon, who was in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle,\nmade or fashioned like unto man, or being in the form and likeness of\nman, or rather man was formed after his likeness and in his image; he\nis also the express image and likeness of the personage of the Father,\npossessing all the fulness of the Father, or the same fulness with the\nFather; being begotten of him, and ordained from before the foundation\nof the world to be a propitiation for the sins of all those who should\nbelieve on his name, and is called the Son because of the flesh, and\ndescended in suffering below that which man can suffer; or, in other\nwords, suffered greater sufferings, and was exposed to more powerful\ncontradictions than any man can be.\n\n\"But, notwithstanding all this, he kept the law of God, and remained\nwithout sin, showing thereby that it is in the power of man to keep\nthe law and remain also without sin; and also, that by him a righteous\njudgment might come upon all flesh, and that all who walk not in the\nlaw of God may justly be condemned by the law, and have no excuse for\ntheir sins.\n\n\"And he being the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and\ntruth, and having overcome, received a fulness of the glory of the\nFather, possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is\nthe Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son, and\nthese three are one; or, in other words, these three constitute the\ngreat, matchless, governing and supreme, power over all things; by\nwhom all things were created and made that were created and made,\nand these three constitute the Godhead, and are one; the Father and\nSon possessing the same mind, the same wisdom, glory, power, and\nfulness--filling all in all; the Son being filled with the fulness of\nthe mind, glory, and power; or, in other words, the Spirit, glory and\npower, of the Father, possessing all knowledge and glory, and the same\nkingdom, sitting at the right hand of power, in the express image and\nlikeness of the Father, mediator for man, being filled with the fulness\nof the mind of the Father; or, in other words, the Spirit of the\nFather, which Spirit is shed forth upon all who believe on his name and\nkeep his commandments; and all those who keep his commandments shall\ngrow up from grace to grace, and become heirs of the heavenly kingdom,\nand joint heirs with Jesus Christ; possessing the same mind, being\ntransformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of\nhim who fills all in all; being filled with the fulness of his glory,\nand become one in him, even as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one.\n\n\"From the foregoing account of the Godhead, which is given in his\nrevelations, the saints have a sure foundation laid for the exercise\nof faith unto life and salvation, through the atonement and mediation\nof Jesus Christ; by whose blood they have a forgiveness of sins, and\nalso a sure reward laid up for them in heaven, even that of partaking\nof the fulness of the Father and the Son through the Spirit. As the\nSon partakes of the fulness of the Father through the Spirit, so the\nsaints are, by the same Spirit, to be partakers of the same fulness,\nto enjoy the same glory; for as the Father and the Son are one, so, in\nlike manner, the saints are to be one in them. Through the love of the\nFather, the mediation of Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit,\nthey are to be heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ;\" _Doc.\n& Cov_., _Fifth Lecture on Faith_.\n\n\"And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that\nGod himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem\nhis people; and because he dwelleth in flesh, he shall be called the\nSon of God: and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father,\nbeing the Father and the Son; the Father, because he was conceived by\nthe power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the\nFather and Son; and they are one God, yea, the very eternal Father of\nheaven and earth;\" _Mos_. 15. 1-4.\n\n\"And shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the\nSon, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one eternal God,\nto be judged according to their works;\" _Alma_ 11. 44.\n\n\"Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and\nthe earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from\nthe beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath\nthe Father glorified his name;\" 3 _Nephi_ 9. 15.\n\n\"And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name, for behold, verily\nI say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are\none; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I\nare one;\" 3 _Nephi_ 11. 27.\n\n\"I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me,\nand the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me. * * And whoso\nbelieveth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are\nthey who shall inherit the kingdom of God.\n\n\"And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.\nVerily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear\nrecord of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me, believeth in\nthe Father also, and unto him will the Father bear record of me; for he\nwill visit him with fire, and with the Holy Ghost.\n\n\"And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will\nbear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and\nthe Holy Ghost are one;\" _verses_ 32-36.\n\n\"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sits\nenthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the vail was\nrent to-day, and the Great God who holds this world in its orbit, and\nwho upholds all worlds and all things by his power, was to make himself\nvisible,--I say, if you were to see him to-day, you would see him like\na man in form--like yourselves in all the person, image, and very\nform as a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion, image, and\nlikeness of God, and received instruction from, and walked, talked, and\nconversed with him, as one man talks and communes with another;\" _His.\nJ. Smith, April_ 7, 1844.\n\nBible.\n\n_Matt_. 11. 25 I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth 26, 27.\n\n26. 39 take away this cup from me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as\nthou wilt.\n\n_Luke_ 10. 22 no man knoweth who the Son is but the Father, and who the\nFather is but the Son.\n\n23. 34 Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 46.\n\n_John_ 1. 14 the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father. 18.\n\n4. 23 shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father\nseeketh such to worship him.\n\n5. 19 the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father\ndo. 20, 21.\n\n22 the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the\nSon. 23.\n\n26 as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son.\n\n27 hath given authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of\nMan. 30.\n\n45 think not that I will accuse you unto the Father.\n\n6. 27 for him hath God the Father sealed.\n\n37 all that the Father giveth me shall come to me. 44-46.\n\n8. 16 I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 18.\n\n10. 15 as the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father.\n\n12. 27 Father save me from this hour, but for this cause came I unto\nthis hour.\n\n13. 1 Jesus knew that he should depart out of this world to the Father.\n\n14. 6 no man cometh to the Father but by me. 8.\n\n9 he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. 11, 13, 16.\n\n26 but the Comforter whom the Father will send.\n\n15. 26 when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the\nFather.\n\n16. 15 all things that the Father hath are mine. 16, 25-28.\n\n17. 1 Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son.\n\n3 eternal life is to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he\nhas sent. 5, 11, 24, 25.\n\n10 all mine are thine, and thine are mine.\n\n21 that they may be one, as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee.\n\n22 the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be\none, even as we are one.\n\n23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.\n\n24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me\nwhere I am.\n\n_Acts_ 2. 33 received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost.\n\n_Rom_. 1. 20 being understood by the things that are made, even his\neternal power and Godhead.\n\n8. 16 the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit.\n\n9. 5 Christ came who is over all, God blessed forever.\n\n11. 36 of him, through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory\nforever.\n\n16. 27 to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.\n\n1 _Cor_. 2. 4 in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.\n\n8. 6 but to us there is but one God, the Father.\n\n15. 24 when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the\nFather.\n\n_Gal_. 4. 4 when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son\nmade of a woman.\n\n_Eph_. 3. 11 to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus.\n\n4. 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all.\n\n_Col_. 1. 19 for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness\ndwell.\n\n2. 9 in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead, bodily.\n\n_Heb_. 1. 8 to the Son he saith, thy throne, O God, is forever.\n\n5. 9 being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation.\n\n7. 28 maketh the Son who is consecrated forevermore.\n\n9. 14 who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to\nGod.\n\n12. 9 be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live.\n\n13. 8 Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day and forever.\n\n2 _Peter_ 1. 17 for he received from God the Father, honor and glory.\n\n1 _John_ 2. 1 we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the\nrighteous. 23, 24.\n\n5. 7 there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, Son and\nHoly Ghost.\n\n_Rev_. 1. 18 he that liveth and was dead, and am alive forever more.\n\n2. 7 hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.\n\n5. 13 unto him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever.\n\n10. 6 sware by him that liveth forever, that time shall be no longer.\n\n11. 15 and he shall reign for ever and ever.\n\n15. 7 full of the wrath of God who liveth forever.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 18 for he is the same yesterday, to-day and forever.\n\n19 wherefore the course of God is one eternal round.\n\n11. 21 behold the Lamb of God, the Son of the eternal Father. _Chap_.\n13. 40.\n\n32 the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 2. 4 for the Spirit is the same yesterday, to-day and for\never.\n\n9. 16 it is his eternal word which cannot pass away.\n\n10. 14 I will be a light to them forever, that hear my words.\n\n27. 23 that I am the same yesterday, to-day and forever. 29. 9.\n\n_Mos_. 3. 5 is from all eternity to all eternity.\n\n15. 4 yea, the very eternal Father of heaven and earth.\n\n16. 9 the light and life of the world, yea, a light that is endless.\n\n_Alma_ 7. 16 he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of\nthe Holy Spirit.\n\n11. 39 he is the very eternal Father of heaven and earth. 40.\n\n44 Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit, one eternal God.\n\n13. 9 Only Begotten of the Father, without beginning of days or end of\nyears.\n\n34. 14 the great, last, infinite and eternal sacrifice will be the Son\nof God.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 9. 18 Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.\n\n_Mormon_ 6. 22 the Father, yea, the eternal Father of heaven and earth.\n\n_Moroni_ 7. 22 God knowing all things, being from everlasting to\neverlasting. 28.\n\n8. 18 he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.\n\n10. 4 exhort you that you would ask God, the eternal Father. 28.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 14. 9 Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth.\n\n19. 1 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.\n\n20. 17 we know there is a God, infinite and eternal, from everlasting\nto everlasting. 28.\n\n29. 34 neither Adam, your father, whom I created.\n\n41 the Lord God cast Adam out of the Garden of Eden.\n\n35. 1, 2 Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.\n\n39. 1 the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity.\n\n45. 1 by whom all things live, and move, and have a being. 7.\n\n49. 12 believe on the Lord Jesus, the beginning and the end.\n\n56. 11 though heaven and earth pass away, these words shall not pass\naway.\n\n68. 6 Son of the living God. That I was, that I am, and that I am to\ncome.\n\n88. 13 who is in the bosom of eternity, in the midst of all things.\n\n41 all things are by him and of him, even God for ever and ever.\n\n121. 32 according to that which was ordained, in the council of the\neternal God.\n\n132. 20 then shall they be gods, because they have no end. 22.\n\n24 this is eternal life, to know the only wise and true God.\n\n_See Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. 1, page 46_.\n\n\" \" _B. Young, \" \" 4, \" 215_.\n\n_Article Mil. Star, Vol. 15, page 301_.\n\n\n\nORDINANCES, COVENANTS, ETC., ETERNAL.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 21. 33 Abraham called on the name of the everlasting God. _Isa_.\n40. 28. _Rom_. 16. 26.\n\n_Exo_. 3. 15 this is my name forever and my memorial to all generations.\n\n12. 14 Israel to keep the feast of Passover by an ordinance forever. 24.\n\n27. 21 it shall be a statute forever to Israel.\n\n31. 16, 17 the Sabbath a perpetual covenant and sign between the Lord\nand Israel forever.\n\n_Num_. 10. 8 an ordinance forever throughout your generations.\n\n1 _Sam_. 3. 14 the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged for ever.\n\n2 _Sam_. 7. 24 hast confirmed Israel to be a people to thee for ever.\n\n1 _Chron_. 17. 14 David's throne established for evermore.\n\n23. 13 Aaron and his sons sanctified forever.\n\n2 _Chron_. 33. 4 in Jerusalem shall my name be forever.\n\n_Psalm_ 19. 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.\n\n24. 7 lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come\nin.\n\n33. 11 the counsel of the Lord standeth forever.\n\n45. 6 thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. 17.\n\n72. 19 blessed be his glorious name forever, let the earth be filled\nwith his glory.\n\n100. 5 his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth.\n\n119. 89 forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.\n\n145. 13 thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.\n\n_Eccl_. 3. 14 what God doeth it shall be forever; nothing can be put to\nit or taken taken from it.\n\n15 that which hath been is now; that which is hath already been.\n\n_Isa_. 9. 6 a child is born, he shall be called the everlasting Father.\n\n32. 17 and the effect of his righteousness quietness and assurance\nforever.\n\n33. 14 who among us shall dwell in everlasting burnings.\n\n_Ezek_. 37. 26 make a covenant of peace with them it shall be an\neverlasting covenant.\n\n_Dan_. 7. 14 his dominion is an everlasting dominion.\n\n18 the Saints shall take and possess the kingdom forever.\n\n12. 3 they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars\nforever.\n\n_Matt_. 19. 16 Master, what good thing shall I do that I may inherit\neternal life.\n\n_Luke_ 16. 9 make friends with the mammon of unrighteousness, that when\nyou fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations.\n\n18. 30 manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come\nlife everlasting.\n\n_John_ 3. 15 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but\nhave eternal life.\n\n4. 14 the water I give him shall be in him a well of water springing up\ninto everlasting life. 36.\n\n5. 24 he that believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life.\n\n39 search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life.\n\n6. 68 to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.\n\n10. 28 I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish.\n\n12. 25 he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life\neternal.\n\n17. 2 that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given\nhim.\n\n3 life eternal to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom\nthou hast sent.\n\n_Acts_ 13. 48 as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.\n\n_Rom_. 1. 20 being understood by the things that are made, even his\neternal power and Godhead.\n\n2. 7 by patient continuance in well doing seek for immortality and\neternal life.\n\n5. 21 might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life.\n\n6. 23 the wages of sin are death; but the gift of God is eternal life.\n\n11. 36 for of him, and through him, and to him, are all things.\n\n2 _Cor_. 4. 17 our light affliction worketh for us a far more exceeding\nand eternal weight of glory.\n\n5. 1 a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.\n\n_Gal_. 1. 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever.\n\n6. 8 he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life\neverlasting.\n\n_Eph_. 3. 11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in\nChrist Jesus.\n\n2 _Thess_. 1. 9 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction.\n\n1 _Tim_. 6. 12 fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.\n\n_Titus_ 1. 2 in hope of eternal life, which God promised before the\nworld began.\n\n_Heb_. 5. 9 being made perfect he became the author of eternal\nsalvation, unto all them that obey him.\n\n9. 14 who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to\nGod.\n\n1 _Peter_ 1. 23 born again by the word of God, which abideth forever.\n\n5. 10 who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus.\n\n2 _Peter_ 2. 17 to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.\n\n1 _John_ 1. 2 shew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father.\n\n2. 25 this is the promise he hath promised us, even eternal life.\n\n3. 15 no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.\n\n5. 11 this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and\nthis life is in his Son. 13, 20.\n\n2 _John_ 2. for the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be\nwith us forever.\n\n_Jude_ 21. looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal\nlife.\n\n_Rev_. 7. 12 honor, power and might be unto our God forever.\n\n10. 6 sware by him that liveth forever that time shall be no longer.\n\n22. 5 for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign forever.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 10. 19 wherefore the course of God is one eternal round.\n\n11. 21 the Lamb of God even the Son of the eternal Father.\n\n32 the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 1. 19 his ways are righteousness for ever.\n\n2. 4 for the Spirit is the same yesterday, to-day and forever.\n\n12 must needs destroy the wisdom and eternal purposes of God.\n\n9. 13 all men became incorruptible, immortal, living souls.\n\n16 it is his eternal word and cannot pass away.\n\n39 to be spiritual minded is life eternal.\n\n11. 5 the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.\n\n_Jacob_ 2. 21 created them to keep his commandments and glorify him\nforever.\n\n_Mos_. 5. 15 ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life.\n\n16. 11 if good to the resurrection of endless life; if evil to the\nresurrection of endless damnation.\n\n_Alma._ 34. 14 the great, last, infinite and eternal sacrifice will be\nthe Son of God.\n\n_Mormon_ 5. 14 may bring about his great and eternal purposes.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 15 have broken mine everlasting covenant.\n\n6. 7 he that hath eternal life is rich. 11. 7.\n\n14. 7 eternal life the greatest of all the gifts of God.\n\n20. 28 which Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and\neternal.\n\n22. 1 this is a new and everlasting covenant, which was from the\nbeginning.\n\n39. 1 the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity.\n\n45. 8 to them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal\nlife.\n\n56. 11 though heaven and earth pass away, these words shall not pass\naway.\n\n76. 4 from eternity to eternity he is the same.\n\n59 all things are theirs, whether life or death, things present or to\ncome.\n\n62 shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever.\n\n109. 77 the earth in its sanctified, immortal and eternal state.\n\n85. 7 whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words.\n\n88. 13 who is in the bosom of eternity in the midst of all things.\n\n20 that bodies of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever.\n\n41 all things are by him and of him, even God, forever.\n\n101. 22 and worship me according to mine everlasting Gospel.\n\n77 an infinity of fulness from everlasting to everlasting.\n\n121. 2 behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people.\n\n32 according to that which was ordained in the council of the eternal\nGod.\n\n128. 23 let the eternal creations declare his name forever.\n\n132. 19 there shall be a continuation of the seeds for ever.\n\n20 then shall they be gods, because they have no end.\n\n24 this is eternal lives to know the only wise and true God.\n\n46 whosesoever sins ye remit shall be remitted eternally.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 1. Endless is my name. My works and words are without end. 3.\n\n9. repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.\n\n16. and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world and eternal life\nin the world to come.\n\n17. the record of the Father and the Son from henceforth and forever.\n\n19. seeing thou art holy from all eternity to all eternity, endless and\neternal is my name also.\n\n20. Enoch wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled as\nwide as eternity.\n\n29. the blessings of the Gospel of salvation, even of life eternal.\n\n32. they shall have no end for they are gnolaum, or eternal.\n\n49. the angel said the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained\nin the records of the Book of Mormon.\n\n\n\nPASSOVER OR SACRAMENT.\n\n\"This word (passover) comes from the Hebrew verb, pasach, which\nsignifies to pass, to leap, or skip over. They gave the name of\nPassover to the feast which was established in commemoration of the\ncoming forth out of Egypt, because the night before their departure,\nthe destroying angel, who slew the first-born of the Egyptians, passed\nover the Israelites, because they were marked with the blood of the\nlamb which was killed the evening before; and which for this reason was\ncalled the Paschal Lamb;\" _Cruden's Con_.\n\nWe have an account of the institution of the Passover in the twelfth\nchapter of Exodus. The Lord commanded Israel, saying, \"And the day\nshall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to\nthe Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an\nordinance for ever:\" _verse_ 14. This command rather implies that there\nmight be a change in the manner and time of keeping this passover, by\nthe house of Israel. The essential part of it is that it shall be kept\nby a feast forever.\n\nThat the passover, as instituted the evening before the departure of\nIsrael out of Egypt, was typical of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God,\nappears to be the generally received opinion of all who have faith\nin the Bible and its institutions. It is evident that the apostle\nPaul entertained this view of the subject when he made the following\nassertion, \"For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us;\" 1\n_Cor_. 5. 7.\n\nThat our Savior considered the ordinance of the passover a part of\nthe Mosaic law which was to be done away in his sufferings and death,\nis evident from the wish, which he expressed to his disciples, while\nkeeping the passover with them the evening before his death, \"With\ndesire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer;\"\n_Luke_ 22. 15. The type was no longer needed and the ordinance was\nchanged to commemorate the great sacrifice he was about to make.\nHence, he commanded his disciples to partake of the bread and wine in\nremembrance of him.\n\nWe cannot do better than to insert here, _verbatim_, the account of\nthe first administration of the sacrament among the Nephites, by our\nSavior. \"And it came to pass that Jesus commanded his disciples that\nthey should bring forth some bread and wine unto him. And while they\nwere gone for bread and wine, he commanded the multitude that they\nshould sit themselves down upon the earth.\"\n\n\"And when the disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the\nbread, and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the disciples, and\ncommanded that they should eat. And when they had eat, and were filled,\nhe commanded that they should give unto the multitude. And when the\nmultitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the disciples, behold\nthere shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power\nthat he shall break bread, and bless it, and give it unto the people of\nmy church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name.\n\n\"And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I\nhave broken bread, and blessed it, and gave it unto you. And this shall\nye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shewn unto you. And it\nshall be a testimony unto the Father, that ye do always remember me.\nAnd if ye do always remember me, ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.\n\n\"And it came to pass that when he said these words, he commanded his\ndisciples that they should take of the wine of the cup, and drink of\nit, and that they should also give unto the multitude, that they might\ndrink of it. And it came to pass that they did so, and did drink of it,\nand were filled; and they gave unto the multitude, and they did drink,\nand they were filled. And when the disciples had done this Jesus said\nunto them, Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this\nis fulfilling my commandment, and this doth witness unto the Father\nthat ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you. And this\nshall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and\nye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you,\nthat ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And\nif ye do always remember me, ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.\nAnd I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things. And if\nye shall always do these things, blessed are ye, for ye are built upon\nmy rock;\" 3 _Nephi_ 18. 1-12.\n\nBible.\n\n_Lev_. 23. 5 the fourteenth day of the first month is the Lord's\npassover.\n\n_Num_. 9. 5 they kept the passover at even. _Josh_. 5. 10.\n\n33. 3 on the morrow after the passover Israel went out of Egypt.\n\n_Deut_. 16. 2 place the Lord should choose, Israel was to sacrifice the\npassover. 5.\n\n2 _Kings_ 23. 22 not holden such a passover from the days of the Judges.\n\n2 _Chron_. 35. 1-19 a description of the solemn passover of Josiah.\n\n_Ezra_ 6. 19, 20 the children of the captivity kept the passover.\n\n_Ezek_. 45. 21 ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days.\n\n_Matt_. 26. 17-29 Christ kept the passover, with his disciples, the\nevening before his death. _Mark_ 14. 12-25. _Luke_ 22. 8-38.\n\n_Luke_ 24. 30, 31 Christ made himself known to his disciples by the\nbreaking of bread.\n\n_John_ 2. 13 and the Jews' passover was at hand.\n\n6. 53-58 he that eateth the flesh and drinketh the blood of Christ hath\neternal life.\n\n11. 55 many went to Jerusalem, before the passover, to purify\nthemselves.\n\n18. 39 have a custom that I should release one unto you, at the\npassover.\n\n19. 14 and it was the preparation of the passover.\n\n_Acts_ 2. 46 they continued daily in breaking bread. 20. 7.\n\n1 _Cor_. 11. 23-30 the same night in which he was betrayed took bread.\n\n_Heb_. 11. 28 through faith he kept the passover.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 18. 27-30 none to eat and drink unworthily.\n\n20. 1-9 Jesus administered the sacrament, the second time, among the\nNephites.\n\n_Moroni_ 4. 5 the manner of administering the sacrament.\n\n6. 6 did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 20. 75 expedient that the church meet together oft, to partake\nof bread and wine.\n\n77-79 the form of administering the sacrament.\n\n27. 2 it matters not what we eat and drink in the sacrament.\n\n46. 4 those who have trespassed to make reconciliation.\n\n_See Sermon by Jos. F. Smith, J. of D., Vol. 15, page 324_.\n\n_Article by J. G. B., Mil. Star, Vol. 34, page 520_.\n\n\n\nMILLENNIAL REIGN.\n\nThe inspired writings teach us that, at the second coming of Christ,\nhis reign of a thousand years, on the earth, will commence. A veritable\nkingdom of the house of Israel will have been prepared to receive him.\n\n\"The Son of man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of\nhis glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth;\"\n_Doc. & Cov_. 65. 5. The kingdom of God in heaven and on the earth will\nthen unite and constitute but one kingdom. \"The kingdoms of this world\nare become _the_ kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall\nreign for ever and ever;\" _Rev_. 11. 15.\n\nThose that have part in the first resurrection, \"Shall be priests of\nGod and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years;\" 20. 6.\n\nThe earth will go through a purifying process to fit it for the\nresidence of its millennial inhabitants. \"Behold, I create new heavens\nand a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered;\" _Isa_. 65.\n17. That this passage refers to the preparation for the millennium\nis evident by the twentieth verse: \"There shall be no more thence an\ninfant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the\nchild shall die a hundred years old; but the sinner _being_ a hundred\nyears old shall be accursed.\"\n\nThis view of the subject is also presented to us in a revelation to\nJoseph, the Seer: \"Old things shall pass away, and all things become\nnew. * * * And he that liveth when the Lord shall come, and has kept\nthe faith, blessed is he; nevertheless it is appointed to him to die at\nthe age of man; wherefore children shall grow up until they become old,\nold men shall die;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 63. 49-51.\n\nThere are three conditions of the earth spoken of in the inspired\nwritings--the present, in which everything pertaining to it must go\nthrough a change which we call death; the millennial condition in which\nit will be sanctified for the residence of purer intelligences, some\nmortal and some immortal, and the celestial condition spoken of in the\ntwenty-first and twenty-second chapters of Revelation, which will be\none of immortality and eternal life.\n\nWhen Christ's reign is fully established on the earth, there will be\ntwo capitals to his immense empire--Jerusalem on the eastern hemisphere\nand Zion on the western. \"When the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount\nZion, and in Jerusalem;\" _Isa_. 24. 23. \"For out of Zion shall go forth\nthe law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem;\" 2. 3.\n\nIn this, \"The fulness of times when Christ shall have subdued all\nenemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work, when he\nshall deliver up the kingdom, and present it to the Father spotless,\nthen shall he be crowned with the crown of his glory, to sit on the\nthrone of his power to reign forever and ever;\" _Doc. & Cov_., 76.\n106-108.\n\nThe prophet Daniel speaks of this great event:\n\n\"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man came\nwith the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they\nbrought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and\nglory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should\nserve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not\npass away, and his kingdom _that_ which shall not be destroyed;\" 7. 13,\n14. This passage evidences that Christ's reign on the earth will be\nreal and tangible; and that his kingdom will embrace a great variety of\nnations and peoples, and that he is also subservient to his Father.\n\nThe following passage, with its context, is a beautiful description of\nthe final coming of our Lord, and of his reign on the earth:\n\n\"That my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the\ntime of my coming; for there shall be my Tabernacle, and it shall be\ncalled ZION, a New Jerusalem. And the Lord said unto Enoch, Then shalt\nthou and all thy city meet them there and we will receive them into our\nbosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and\nthey shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; and there\nshall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out\nof all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand\nyears shall the earth rest.\n\n\"And it came to pass that Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of\nMan, in the last days, to dwell on the earth in righteousness for the\nspace of a thousand years;\" _P. of G. P., page_ 22.\n\nBible.\n\n_Isa_. 52. 7 that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth.\n\n_Jer_. 23. 5 a king shall reign and shall execute justice and judgment.\n6.\n\n_Mic_. 4. 7 the Lord shall reign over them in Zion forever.\n\nLuke 1. 33 and he shall reign over the house of Israel forever.\n\n_Rom_. 15. 12 he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles.\n\n1 _Cor_. 15. 25 till he hath put all enemies under his feet.\n\n2 _Tim_. 2. 12 if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.\n\n_Rev_. 5. 10 made us kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.\n\n20. 4 they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.\n\n21. 22, 27 description of the celestial earth.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 36 the Lord shall reign in the midst of his Saints.\n\n29. 11 and dwell in righteousness with me on the earth a thousand years.\n\n43. 30 for the great Millennium of which I have spoken shall come.\n\n45. 59 the Lord shall be their king and lawgiver.\n\n56. 18 shall see the kingdom of God come in power and great glory.\n\n58. 22 until he reigns whose right it is to rule.\n\n133. 25 the Savior shall reign over all flesh.\n\n_See Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. 1, page_ 198.\n\n\" \" _O. Pratt, \" \" 16, \" 312_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _18, \" 314_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" \" \" _335_.\n\n_Article Mil. Star, Vol. 1, pages 4 and 73_.\n\n\" _by. O. Pratt, Mil. Star, Vol. 28, page 561_.\n\n\n\nDESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED.\n\nPassages are numerous in the inspired writings which assert that the\nwicked shall be destroyed. The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the latter\ntimes, says, \"Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts\nwith righteousness. And the destruction of the transgressors and of\nthe sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the Lord shall be\nconsumed;\" 1. 27, 28.\n\nThe Lord further declared through the same prophet, that, because the\ninhabitants of the earth had defiled it, the curse had devoured it;\n\"And they that dwell therein are desolate;\" 24. 5, 6. \"For, behold, the\nLord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for\ntheir iniquity;\" 26. 21.\n\nMany of the sayings concerning the destruction of the wicked are\ngeneral in their application, to all times in which wickedness is\nprevalent. But there are many passages in the inspired writings which\npoint to the latter times for a general destruction of the ungodly, and\nthe cleansing of the earth from wickedness.\n\nThe following from Isaiah are of this character. \"For the indignation\nof the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies. *\n* For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompense\nfor the controversy of Zion;\" 34. 2-8.\n\n\"For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and\nthe slain of the Lord shall be many;\" 66. 16.\n\nThe Book of _Doc. & Cov_. being a record of revelations concerning\nthe dispensation of the fulness of times, it says much concerning the\ndestruction of the wicked, and the redemption of man, and of the earth.\n\nIt is evident that the visions of the prophet Joseph were vivid and\nwell defined on this subject, for the Lord said through him, \"The hour\nis nigh, and the day soon at hand when the earth is ripe: and all the\nproud, and they that do wickedly, shall be as stubble, and I will burn\nthem up, saith the Lord of hosts, that wickedness shall not be upon the\nearth;\" 29. 9, 14-21. _Sec_. 64. 24.\n\nThe records of the times are a daily testimony of the fulfilment of the\nfollowing: \"And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars,\nand the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail\nthem;\" _sec_. 45. 26. And men shall be standing in that generation in\nwhich these things shall appear, \"That shall not pass, until they shall\nsee an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the\nland;\" _verse_ 31.\n\n\"Among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices, and curse God and\ndie. And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many\ndesolations; yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they\nwill take up the sword, one against another, and they will kill one\nanother;\" _verses_ 32, 34.\n\nThe testimony of the elders is the great preparatory work for the\ndestruction of the wicked in this dispensation. Their labors are \"To\nbind up the law and seal up the testimony, and to prepare the saints\nfor the hour of judgment which is to come;\" _sec_. 88. 84. And, after\ntheir testimony, \"cometh wrath and indignation upon the people;\"\n_verse_ 88.\n\nThe testimonies that will follow the testimony of the elders are\nfearful to contemplate: \"For after your testimony cometh the testimony\nof earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her (the\nearth), and men shall fall to the ground, and shall not be able to\nstand. And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and\nthe voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of\nthe waves of the sea, heaving themselves beyond their bounds. And all\nthings shall be in commotion; and surely men's hearts shall fail them;\nfor fear shall come upon all people;\" _sec_. 88. 89-91.\n\nThese testimonies are becoming historical facts. The words of the\nancient prophets are being fulfilled. That Joseph Smith, Jun., saw and\npredicted their fulfilment, evidences the divinity of his mission.\n\nBible.\n\n_Job_ 4. 8 they that sow wickedness reap the same.\n\n18. 5-21 curses on the wicked. _Chap_. 20. 4-29.\n\n_Psalm_ 1. 4, 5 nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.\n\n2. 4, 5 the Lord shall have them in derision.\n\n7. 11-16 God is angry with the wicked every day.\n\n9. 17 the wicked shall be turned into hell.\n\n37. 28 the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.\n\n35, 36 I have seen the wicked in great power, and he passed away.\n\n_Isa_. 2. 19 they shall go into holes of the rocks and caves of the\nearth.\n\n18. 6 the carcasses of the wicked shall be left to the beasts of the\nearth.\n\n24 1-12 the earth is made empty, because both priests and people have\ngone astray.\n\n28. 22 a consumption determined upon the whole earth.\n\n29. 20 for the terrible one is brought to nought.\n\n21 that make a man an offender for a word.\n\n63. 1-6 the wicked kingdoms shall be broken. _Jer_. 25. 30-38. _Dan_.\n2. 44.\n\n_Jer_. 23. 19, 20 a whirlwind shall fall on the head of the wicked.\n\n_Mal_. 4. 1 the day cometh that shall burn them up, saith the Lord of\nhosts.\n\n_Matt_. 13. 49 the angels shall sever the wicked from the just.\n\n_Luke_ 21. 25, 26 signs in the sun and moon and stars. Men's hearts\nfailing them.\n\n1 _Peter_ 4. 17 judgment must first begin at the house of God.\n\n_Rev_. 2. 23 I will kill her children with death.\n\n8. 7 the plagues of hail, fire and blood, 8.\n\n_Chap_. 9. the plagues of the last days.\n\n_Chap_. 16. the seven vials of wrath poured out.\n\n_Chap_. 17. the great mystery, Babylon.\n\n18. 1-24 the fall of Babylon.\n\n19. 20, 21 the destruction of the beast and the false prophet.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 11. 36 all nations to be destroyed that fight against the\napostles of the Lamb.\n\n14. 3 the great and abominable church destroyed.\n\n6 wo to the Gentiles! if they harden their hearts against the Lamb of\nGod.\n\n17 the wrath of God poured out upon the mother of harlots.\n\n22. 13 that great and abominable church shall be drunken with her own\nblood.\n\n14 those that fight against Israel shall be turned one against another.\n\n23 all churches not built up in righteousness to be consumed as stubble.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 6. 15 those who do not believe in Christ shall be destroyed.\n\n9. 16 the filthy shall go into everlasting fire.\n\n27 wo unto him that has the commandments of God, and transgresseth them.\n\n26. 3-6 terrible destruction of the wicked at the crucifixion of\nChrist. 3 _Nephi, Chapters_ 8. 9. 10.\n\n27. 1, 2 in the last days all nations shall be drunken with iniquity,\nand be visited with terrible destruction.\n\n_Mos_. 15. 26 those who have known the commandments of God, and not\nkept them, shall have no part in the first resurrection.\n\n16. 1, 2 when all shall see that the judgments of God are just, the\nwicked shall be cast out.\n\n_Alma_ 5. 57 the names of the wicked shall be blotted out.\n\n9. 28 those who have been evil shall reap the damnation of their souls.\n\n11. 41 the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made.\n\n12. 16 he that dieth in his sins, shall die as to things pertaining to\nrighteousness. 17, 18.\n\n40. 13 those who choose evil to be cast into outer darkness 14, 26.\n\n41. 4 those who work evil shall have evil restored to them. 5.\n\n_Hel_. 14. 18 those who do not repent are hewn down and cast into the\nfire.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 20. 23 every soul that will not hear that prophet shall be\ncut off. _Deut_. 18. 15. _Acts_ 3. 22, 23.\n\n_Mormon, Chapters_ 2-6. great destruction of the Nephites for their\nwickedness.\n\n_Ether_ 11. 7 great destruction of the Jaredites for their wickedness.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 35. 11 without faith nothing shall be shown except desolation on\nBabylon.\n\n56. 1 in the day of visitation and of wrath on the nations.\n\n63. 6 the day of wrath shall come upon them as a whirlwind. 32, 33.\n\n_Sec_. 87. concerning the wars that shall come to pass, beginning at\nSouth Carolina.\n\n88. 79 the wars and perplexities of nations.\n\n97. 21-24 the Lord's scourge shall pass over by night and by day.\n\n101. 14 mine indignation is soon to be poured out upon all nations. 89.\n\n103. 2 on whom I will pour out my wrath without measure.\n\n112. 24 vengeance cometh speedily on the inhabitants of the earth. 25,\n26.\n\n130. 12 the beginning of the wars of the latter times to be in South\nCarolina.\n\n133. 2 the Lord shall come down with a curse to judgment.\n\n136. 35 now cometh the day of their calamity.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 20. the blood of the righteous to be shed in the meridian of\ntime, in the days of wickedness and vengeance.\n\n21. the Lord to come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and\nvengeance. The earth shall rest; but before that day there shall be\ngreat tribulations among men.\n\n22. Enoch saw the coming of the Son of man in the last days, but,\nbefore that day, he saw great tribulation among the wicked. He saw that\nthe sea was troubled, and men's hearts failed them with fear for the\njudgment of Almighty God.\n\n38. the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet,\nbefore the destruction of Jerusalem.\n\n39. before the coming of the Son of Man in the last days, nation\nshall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall\nbe famine, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. The\nGospel of the kingdom shall be preached to all nations, for a witness,\nand again shall the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the\nprophet be fulfilled.\n\n_See History of Joseph Smith, July 2, 1839_.\n\n\" \" \" _May 18, 1843_.\n\n_O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. Wm. Crowel, No. 11_.\n\n_P. P. Pratt's Voice of Warning_.\n\n\n\nMIRACLES.\n\nTo mortal man the creation of the earth was a mysterious, miraculous\nwork. \"God said let there be light and there was light.\" To the\nuninspired the production of that light remains a supernatural\nmanifestation of power. From that time to this the Creator has been the\nsame wonder working God.\n\nThe Mosaic dispensation opened up with mighty miracles in the land of\nEgypt. To Israel, for fifteen hundred years, the Lord God was a God of\nmiracles.\n\nNicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, well understood the power of the\nPriesthood as manifested in the history of his fathers, when he said\nto Jesus, \"No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be\nwith him;\" _John_ 3. 2.\n\nThe Jews had faith in miracles as a witness that a man was sent of God.\n\"Many of the people believed on him, and said, when Christ cometh,\nwill he do more miracles than these which this _man_ hath done?\" 7.\n31. The Gospel dispensation, like the Mosaic, which preceded it, was\none of miraculous manifestations. When Jesus sent out his disciples to\npreach the Gospel he said to them, \"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,\nraise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give;\"\n_Matt_. 10. 8.\n\nThe Book of Mormon evidences that the Mosaic dispensation, among\nthe Nephites, was also one of miraculous manifestations. The Gospel\ndispensation, among them, was preceded and ushered in, by miraculous\nwonders which involved the destruction of the wicked, and increased the\nknowledge and faith of those who had the testimony of Jesus.\n\nWe have the testimony of the writings of Moses, of the prophets, of\nancient Israel on both continents, of both Gospel dispensations as\nrecorded in the New Testament and Book of Mormon, that the God of\nIsrael, and of former day saints, was a God of miracles, of signs, and\nwonders. We have the testimony of many thousands of Latter-day Saints,\nthat God manifests himself to them as he did to his people anciently.\n\nThe Revelation of St. John assures us, that there will be many\nmiraculous manifestations of the power of God in the last days. The\nsacred records everywhere evidence, that God is a God of miracles. No\npeople can claim to be saints of the Most High without the testimony of\nmiracles.\n\nAt the same time there may be miraculous manifestations that are not\nof God, for in the latter times one of the beasts which John saw, will\nhave power to do great wonders and deceive them that dwell on the\nearth; _Rev_. 13. 13, 14.\n\nJohn also saw the spirits of devils working miracles; 16. 14. The\nmagicians worked miracles in common with Moses and Aaron, but Aaron's\nrod swallowed up their rod. Thus it will ever be. The devil may have\ngreat power over the elements, and over the hearts of men, but the Lord\nwill come off conqueror. The elect will never be deceived for they will\ndiscern the difference between the two powers. Whoever is sent of God\nwill work miracles in the name of Jesus, and no man can work miracles\nin the name of Jesus, \"Save he were cleansed every whit from his\niniquity;\" 3 _Nephi_ 8. 1-3.\n\nThere are two classes of miracles. One, manifesting the power of God\nin the destruction of the wicked, the other a means of preserving,\nblessing, and confirming the saints in the faith. If there be no faith\nGod can do no miracles; _Ether_ 12. 12. The apostle Paul declared that\nthe power to work miracles was one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit;\n1 _Cor_. 12. 10. Hence we may conclude that this gift will be ever\nmanifest where the Holy Ghost is conferred by the authority of the Holy\nPriesthood.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 15. 17 a smoking furnace and a burning lamp passed between the\npieces.\n\n19. 11 the men of Sodom smitten with blindness.\n\n24, 25 the Lord destroyed the cities of the plain.\n\n26 Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt.\n\n_Exo_. 3. 2 the angel appeared to Moses in a burning bush.\n\n4. 3 Moses' rod transformed into a serpent.\n\n6 Moses' hand became leprous.\n\n_Chapters_ 7-12 a history of the wonders which the Lord wrought, in the\ndeliverance of Israel out of Egypt.\n\n13. 21, 22 the Lord went before Israel in a pillar of a cloud by day.\n\n14. 19, 20 the pillar of a cloud covered the Egyptians with darkness.\n\n21-30 Israel passed through the Red Sea, but the Egyptians were\ndestroyed.\n\n15. 25 the waters of Marah sweetened.\n\n16. 10 the glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud.\n\n13-15 Israel fed on quails and manna.\n\n23, 24 a double quantity of manna sent for the Sabbath.\n\n17. 6 water brought forth from the rock in Horeb.\n\n19. 16 thunderings and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mount.\n\n18 Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke.\n\n24. 15, 16 a cloud covered the mount six days.\n\n17 the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire.\n\n18 Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.\n\n34. 28 Moses was in the mount forty days without food. _Deut_. 9. 18.\n\n40. 34 a cloud covered the tent of the congregation.\n\n38 the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire by\nnight.\n\n_Lev_. 10. 1, 2 Nadab and Abihu destroyed. _Num_. 3. 4.\n\n_Num_. 11. 1-3 the fire of the Lord burnt among Israel.\n\n31-33 quails sent into the camp of Israel and a great plague.\n\n12. 10 Miriam struck with leprosy. 14, 15 healed of leprosy.\n\n14. 37 the spies who brought an evil report died of a plague.\n\n16. 16-35 Korah and company destroyed. _Chap_. 26. 10.\n\n46-50 the Lord sent a plague among the congregation.\n\n17. 8 the rod for the tribe of Levi budded.\n\n20. 11 Moses smote the rock and the water came out.\n\n21. 6-9 the plague of fiery serpents.\n\n22. 28 the Lord opened the mouth of Baalam's ass. 2 _Peter_ 2. 16.\n\n25. 9 24,000 of Israel destroyed by a plague.\n\n_Deut_. 29. 5 the clothes of Israel did not grow old.\n\n31. 15 the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud.\n\n_Josh_. 3. 14-17 the waters of Jordan divided and Israel passed through.\n\n6. 20 the walls of Jericho fell down.\n\n7. 14-21 the theft of Achan discovered.\n\n10. 11 the enemies of Israel destroyed by hailstones.\n\n12-14 the sun stood still and the moon stayed.\n\n_Judges_ 6. 21 fire consumed the flesh and unleavened bread of Gideon.\n\n36-40 the sign given by a fleece of wool.\n\n7. 6, 7 three hundred of Gideon's men lapped water.\n\n14. 5, 6 Samson slew a lion. 19.\n\n15. 14 the cords on the arms of Samson became as flax burnt with fire.\n\n15 Samson slew a thousand Philistines with the jaw bone of an ass.\n\n19 water came out of the jaw-bone for Samson.\n\n16. 29, 30 Samson slew many Philistines at the time of his death.\n\n1 _Sam_. 5. 4 Dagon falls and is broken before the ark of God.\n\n6, 7 the men of Ashdod smitten on account of the ark.\n\n9-12 the cities of Gath and Ekron smitten on account of the ark.\n\n28. 11-14 the witch of Endor brought up Samuel.\n\n2 _Sam_. 6. 7 the Lord smote Uzziah for taking hold of the ark.\n\n24. 12-25 the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, which destroyed seventy\nthousand men. 1 _Chron_. 21. 14.\n\n1 _Kings_ 8. 11 the glory of the Lord had filled the house. 2 _Chron_.\n5. 13, 14.\n\n13. 4-6 Jeroboam's hand dried up and restored again.\n\n24 a prophet slain by a lion, for disobedience.\n\n17. 6 Elijah fed by ravens,\n\n14-16 the widow's barrel of meal and cruise of oil that did not fail by\nusing.\n\n21, 22 the widow's child brought to life.\n\n18. 38 the fire of the Lord consumed Elijah's offering.\n\n41-46 rain came in answer to the prayer of Elijah.\n\n19. 6-8 Elijah fed by an angel, after which he fasted forty days.\n\n20. 35, 36 a man slain by a lion for not obeying a prophet.\n\n22. 20-23 the Lord put a lying spirit into the prophets of Ahab.\n\n2 _Kings_. 1. 9-14 two companies, of fifty men each, destroyed by fire.\n\n2. 8 the waters of Jordan divided, and Elijah passed through.\n\n11 Elijah went up in a chariot with horses of fire.\n\n14 Elisha smote the waters of Jordan with the mantle of Elijah.\n\n20-22 the waters of Jericho healed by Elisha.\n\n23, 24 forty-two children torn by bears, because they mocked Elisha.\n\n3. 16-20 the armies of Israel and Edom supplied with water.\n\n4. 1-7 the widow's pot of oil increased, so as to pay the debts of her\nhusband.\n\n32-37 the son of the Shumanite brought to life\n\n38-41 the poison removed from the pot of pottage.\n\n42-44 one hundred men miraculously fed.\n\n5. 14 Naaman healed of leprosy by washing in Jordan.\n\n27 the servant of Elisha cursed with the leprosy of Naaman.\n\n6. 5-7 an axe floats in the water.\n\n17 the servant of Elisha saw horses and chariots of fire.\n\n18 the Syrians smitten with blindness.\n\n13. 21 a dead man raised by coming in contact with the bones of Elisha.\n\n19. 35 an angel of the Lord smote the Assyrians. 2 _Chron_. 32. 21.\n\n20. 11 the shadow went back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz.\n\n2 _Chron_. 7. 1 fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice.\n\n20. 23, 24 the Lord destroyed a great army in defence of Judah.\n\n21. 14-19 Jehoram smitten with disease of the bowels.\n\n26. 19 king of Judah struck with leprosy for burning incense.\n\n_Job_ 1. 16 the fire of God hath burned up the sheep and servants.\n\n_Dan_. 3. 13-27 the three Israelites delivered from the fiery furnace.\n\n6. 16-24 Daniel delivered from the den of lions.\n\n_Matt_. 8. 2, 3 leper healed. 13 centurion's servant healed.\n\n14, 15 Jesus healed Peter's wife's mother.\n\n26 Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea.\n\n28-34 devils entered into the herd of swine.\n\n9. 2-8 a man sick with palsy, healed.\n\n20-22 a woman healed of an issue of blood.\n\n23-25 the ruler's daughter raised from the dead.\n\n27-31 blind man healed. 32-34 devil cast out.\n\n12. 13 withered hand restored. 15 the multitudes healed.\n\n22 blind and dumb lunatic healed.\n\n14. 14 Jesus healed the sick of the multitude.\n\n17-21 the multitude fed on five loaves and two fishes.\n\n25-27 Jesus walked on the water.\n\n36 as many as touched the hem of Jesus' garment were healed.\n\n15. 28 the Canaanitish woman's daughter healed.\n\n30, 31 Jesus healed some blind and dumb of the multitude.\n\n35-38 the multitude fed on seven loaves and a few fishes.\n\n17. 14-18 Jesus cures a lunatic.\n\n27 tribute money taken from a fish.\n\n20. 30-34 two blind men restored to sight.\n\n21. 14 Jesus healed the blind and lame in the temple.\n\n19 the fig tree cursed.\n\n27. 45 three hours of darkness at the crucifixion.\n\n51 vail of the temple rent. 28. 2 a great earthquake.\n\n_Mark_ 1. 23-26 unclean spirit rebuked.\n\n4. 39 Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea.\n\n7. 32-35 the deaf man healed and his speech restored.\n\n8. 22-25 blind man received his sight.\n\n_Luke_ 1. 20-22 Zacharias struck dumb.\n\n2. 9 the glory of the Lord shone round about them.\n\n7. 10 centurion's servant healed.\n\n14, 15 widow's son raised from the dead.\n\n21 many cured of their infirmities and plagues.\n\n13. 11-13 the woman healed of a spirit of infirmity.\n\n14. 2-4 man healed of the dropsy.\n\n17. 12-14 ten lepers healed.\n\n_John_ 2. 6-10 water turned into wine.\n\n4. 49-53 nobleman's son healed.\n\n5. 8, 9 the impotent man healed.\n\n9. 6, 7 the blind man healed by washing in the pool of Siloam.\n\n11. 43, 44 Lazarus raised from the dead.\n\n_Acts_ 3. 6-8 a lame man healed.\n\n5. 3, 10 Ananias and wife killed for lying.\n\n15, 16 the sick of the multitude healed.\n\n18, 19 an angel delivered the apostles from prison.\n\n8. 7 unclean spirits cast out, and many healed.\n\n9. 1-8 miraculous conversion of Saul.\n\n17, 18 Saul receives his sight. _Chap_. 22. 13.\n\n34 Eneas healed of the palsy.\n\n40, 41 Dorcas raised from the dead.\n\n12. 7-10 Peter delivered from prison by an angel.\n\n21-23 Herod smitten by an angel.\n\n14. 8-10 impotent man healed by Paul.\n\n16. 16-18 Paul cast the spirit of divination out of a damsel.\n\n26-30 Paul and Silas delivered from prison.\n\n19. 11, 12 many miracles wrought by Paul.\n\n20. 10-12 the young man restored who fell from an upper window.\n\n28. 3-5 Paul received no injury from a viper on his hand.\n\n8 Paul heals the father of Publius. 9.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 1. 6 a pillar of fire appeared before Lehi.\n\n16. 10 the Lord prepared a director to guide Lehi in his travels.\n\n17. 45 the Lord spake to the brothers of Nephi and the earth shook.\n\n52-55 the brothers of Nephi dare not touch him for many days.\n\n18. 12 after Nephi was bound the compass ceased to work.\n\n21 compass worked in the hands of Nephi. Through prayer the storm\nceased.\n\n_Mos_. 27. 11 the angel of the Lord spake to Alma and the earth shook.\n_Alma_ 36. 7.\n\n19 Alma became dumb. _Alma_ 36. 10.\n\n_Alma_ 8. 31 Alma and Amulek could not be slain.\n\n14. 26-29 Alma and Amulek delivered from prison.\n\n15. 6-11 Zeezrom healed through the ministration of Alma.\n\n17. 36-39 through a miraculous manifestation of strength, Ammon saved\nthe flocks of Lamoni.\n\n18. 42 King Lamoni overcome by the power of God.\n\n19. 1-12 miraculous conversion of Lamoni.\n\n13-32 account of the conversion of the servants and wife of Lamoni.\n\n22. 17-25 miraculous conversion of the king of the land of Nephi.\n\n_Hel_. 5. 20-52 Nephi and Lehi delivered from prison.\n\n_Chap_. 9. miraculous manifestations connected with the murder of the\nchief judge.\n\n16. 6, 7 miraculous preservation of the prophet Samuel.\n\n3 _Nephi_, _Chapters_ 8, 9 and 10. an account of the destruction of the\nwicked on the American continent, at the death of Christ.\n\n19. 25 the countenance and garments of Jesus exceeding white.\n\n20. 3-7 miraculous furnishing of bread and wine for sacrament.\n\n26. 14-16 tongues of the Nephite children loosed.\n\n18 many saw and heard remarkable things.\n\n_Chap_. 28. account of the three Nephite disciples who were to remain\non the earth.\n\n4 _Nephi_ 1. 30 the disciples delivered from prison.\n\n_Ether_ 3. 1-6 the Lord prepared stones to give light in the Jaredite\nvessels.\n\n8-16 the brother of Jared saw the Lord.\n\n\n\nRECORDS OF THE JAREDITES.\n\nThe book of Ether, now forming a part of the Book of Mormon, is an\nabridgment of the original book of Ether, the last historian of the\nJaredites. It was written by Moroni, during the period of thirty-six\nyears, between the destruction of his people at the great battle of\nCumorah, A. C. 384, and the time of closing up the Nephite records,\nabout A. C. 421.\n\nAt the time of writing it, approximately one thousand years had passed\naway since the people, of whom it gives a short account, were destroyed\nby a civil war which was carried to the extreme of extermination.\n\nThe account occupies about thirty-eight pages of the present edition\nof the Book of Mormon. It can only be considered an outline sketch of\na people who occupied North America, probably a little over sixteen\nhundred years.\n\nThe Lord told the brother of Jared, the leader of this early American\ncolony, that \"There shall be none greater than the nation which I will\nraise up unto me of thy seed, upon all the face of the earth;\" _Ether_\n1. 43.\n\nWe cannot doubt but what this prophetic blessing of the Lord upon them,\nwhen they were about to commence their long and tedious journey from\nthe tower of Babel, was amply fulfilled.\n\nTheir history informs us that they, in time, occupied the continent\nfrom the Isthmus of Darien to the great lake on the north, and that the\nstates of their vast empire occupied the shores of both the eastern and\nwestern oceans.\n\nMoroni says, \"I take mine account from the twenty and four plates which\nwere found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether;\"\n_Ether_ 1. 2. Some account of the finding of these plates may be found\nin _Mos_. 8. 8-11. _Chap_. 21. 25, 27.\n\nThe fact that these plates were called the Book of Ether, after the\nlast prophet and historian of the Jaredites, indicates that they were\nan abridgment from the general records of the Jaredites. The Book of\nEther bears the same relation to the general Jaredite records, that the\nBook of Mormon does to those of the Nephites.\n\nMoroni states that he gives only a part of the account of the Jaredites\nfrom the tower down to their destruction; _Ether_ 1. 5. At the\ncompletion of this record he says, \"And the hundredth part I have not\nwritten;\" 15. 33. From these statements it is evident that the Book of\nEther, written by Moroni, is a very limited abridgment of the record of\nEther contained on the twenty-four plates.\n\nFrom the genealogy of Ether, given in the first chapter of the book, we\nlearn that he was the last of the royal line of the Jaredites, as well\nas their last historian.\n\nIn the days of the first Nephite king, called Mosiah, who reigned\nin the land of Zarahemla, there was a stone brought to the city of\nZarahemla, on which was engraved a short account of the Jaredites;\n_Omni_ 1. 20-22.\n\nThe twenty-four plates, and this stone, are the only original records\nof the Jaredites of which we have any information. Moroni does not\nappear to have made any use of this stone record in writing his\nabridgment.\n\nWe are informed, in the Book of Ether, that the twenty-four plates\ncontained the visions of the brother of Jared; 4. 4-7. Therefore we may\nconclude, that they are in the sealed portion of the plates from which\nthe Book of Mormon was translated, by Joseph Smith, the Seer.\n\nThere was, evidently, an original record from which Ether wrote his\naccount of the creation, and the history of the world down to the\ntower. Probably this record is the one referred to by the daughter of\nking Jared, when she asked her father if he had not read the record\nwhich their fathers had brought across the great deep 8. 9.\n\nTo the student who desires to dig deep, to learn the inspired history\nof the earth and its inhabitants, this short account of a great people,\nwho occupied North America from about one hundred and twenty-five years\nafter the flood, until some 600 B. C., greatly increases the desire for\nfurther information concerning them.\n\n\n\nRECORDS\n\nMENTIONED IN THE BIBLE, BUT NOT IN IT.\n\n_Gen_. 5. 1 the book of the generations of Adam.\n\n_Exo_. 24. 7 the book of the covenant.\n\n32. 15-19 tables of testimony written on both sides.\n\n32 and 33 the book which the Lord had written.\n\n_Num_. 21. 14 book of the wars of the Lord.\n\n_Josh_. 10. 13 written in the book of Jasher. 2 _Sam_. 1, 18.\n\n1 _Sam_. 10. 25 the book in which the manner of the kingdom was written.\n\n1 _Kings_ 4. 32, 33 books containing three thousand proverbs, a\nthousand and five songs, a treatise on natural history and botany,\nwritten by Solomon.\n\n11. 41 book of the Acts of Solomon.\n\n14. 19 book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel.\n\n1 _Chron_. 29. 29 the book of Samuel the Seer, of Nathan the prophet,\nand of Gad the Seer.\n\n2 _Chron_. 9. 29 book of Nathan the prophet, the prophecy of Ahijah,\nthe Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the Seer.\n\n12. 15 book of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the Seer concerning\ngenealogies.\n\n13. 22 the story of the prophet Iddo.\n\n20. 34 the book of Jehu the son of Hanani.\n\n24. 27 the story of the book of the kings.\n\n26. 22 the Acts of Uzziah, written by Isaiah, son of Amoz.\n\n28. 26 book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 35. 27. _Chap_. 36. 8.\n\n33. 18, 19 life of Manasseh, the words of the Seers that spake to him,\nin the book of the kings of Israel.\n\n_Jer_. 36. 2 the words which Jeremiah wrote against Israel and Judah,\nand all the nations, in the roll of a book.\n\n13 the roll in which Baruch, the scribe, wrote.\n\n_Dan_. 22. 4 the book that was sealed to the time of the end.\n\n_Hab_. 2. 2 the vision that was made plain on tables.\n\n_Mal_. 3. 16 the book of remembrance that was written for those that\nfeared the Lord.\n\n_Luke._ 1. 1 many wrote concerning the faith of the early Saints.\n\n1 _Cor_. 5. 9 a third epistle to the Corinthians; we have only two.\n\n_Philip_ 4. 3 the book of life. _Rev_. 13. 8. _Chap_. 20. 12.\n\n_Col_. 4. 16 read the epistle from Laodicea.\n\n2 _Tim_. 4. 13 books and parchments left at Troas.\n\n_Jude_ 3 a second epistle of Jude; we have but one.\n\n14 the prophecy of Enoch.\n\n_Rev_. 1. 11 the book sent to the seven churches of Asia.\n\n5. 1 a book sealed with seven seals.\n\n10. 2 little book which a mighty angel had in his hand.\n\n20. 12 the books out of which the dead will be judged.\n\n\n\nRECORDS OF THE NEPHITES.\n\nThe record of first importance to the Nephites was that of the plates\nof brass, which was taken from the treasury of Laban by Nephi. It\ncontained the five books of Moses, the history of the Jews down to the\nreign of Zedekiah, and a genealogy of the family of Lehi.\n\nThis record was invaluable to the Jewish-American colony as a means of\nperpetuating the religion, customs and civilization of their fathers.\nLehi prophesied, in his first camp in the wilderness, \"That these\nplates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues,\nand people who were of his seed;\" 1 _Nephi_ 5. 18. He further said\n\"That these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be\ndimmed any more by time;\" _verse_ 19.\n\nNearly two thousand five hundred years have passed away since this\nprophecy of Lehi's was recorded, and we are assured that these plates\nof brass are well preserved, and are yet to come forth to all the\ntribes and peoples of the aboriginal American race, and to all the race\nof Lehi who may be scattered on the islands of the sea. This record,\non brass plates, was written in the Egyptian language; _Mos_. 1. 4. It\nappears to have borne the same relationship to the Nephites, that the\nBible has to Christian nations, and to have been not only their guide\nin religion, but also the foundation of their ethics and jurisprudence.\n\nFrom the first, Nephi was strongly impressed with the importance of\nkeeping a faithful record of his people. He says in the beginning\nof his first book, \"I make a record in the language of my father,\nwhich consists of the learning of the Jews, and the language of the\nEgyptians;\" 1. 2. The Egyptian language must have had about the same\nrelation to the Jews, that the Latin has to modern Christian nations.\n\nThe purpose of the Lord, in inspiring Nephi to make ample preparations\nfor keeping a record of his people, was gradually developed to him, for\nhe says in 9. 5, of his first book, \"The Lord hath commanded me to make\nthese plates for a wise purpose in him; which purpose I know not.\"\n\nThe importance of the future record of his people was afterwards shown\nhim in vision: \"For behold, saith the Lamb, I will manifest myself unto\nthy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto\nthem, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be\ndestroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren;\nbehold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles,\nby the gift and power of the Lamb;\" 13. 35. The remainder of this\nchapter further explains this subject.\n\nBy reading the third chapter of 2 _Nephi_, we learn that this subject\nhad become well developed in the mind of Lehi before his death.\nJoseph, who was sold into Egypt, had left on record a remarkable\nprophecy--which was probably engraven on the plates of brass--that\nthe writing of the fruit of his loins (the Book of Mormon), and the\nwriting of the fruit of the loins of Judah (the Bible), should not only\nbe joined together in the latter days, but that a great Seer should\nbe raised up who should write the writing of the fruit of his loins\nfor the benefit of his brethren. Such a plain description is given\nof things connected with this Seer, that we are perfectly safe in\nconcluding that he and Joseph Smith, Jun., are identical.\n\nFrom this time, during the existence of the Nephites, the coming forth\nof their record to the Lamanites, and to their own posterity in the\nlatter times, was ever associated in the minds of the faithful, with\nthe Seer whom the Lord should raise up to bring them forth. Both were\nthe subject of their earnest prayers, and called forth the exercise of\na living faith; _Mormon_, 8. 25.\n\nThe history of the Nephite-American colony commences with their leaving\nJerusalem, 600 B. C.; 1 _Nephi_ 10. 4, and closed when Moroni finished\nthe record, from which the Book of Mormon was translated, and hid it up\nin the hill Cumorah, A. C. 421; a period of one thousand and twenty-one\nyears.\n\nWhen Lehi and his colony left Jerusalem, the renowned city of Babylon\nwas in the height of its glory, and the city of Rome had been founded\nonly one hundred and fifty years.\n\nThe importance of the Book of Mormon, as a history, will be recognized\nby the fact that it is the only history of the western hemisphere,\nknown to the world, for the long period of thirty-eight hundred years\nbetween Noah's flood, and the discovery of America by Christopher\nColumbus, in 1492.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 3. 3 the record of Laban. 4, 13, 19, 26. _Chap_. 4. 10-27.\n\n5. 11-13 the record contained the five books of Moses, and a history of\nJews. 16.\n\n21, 22 the records on the plates of brass very desirable. _Chap_. 6.\n1-6.\n\n9. 2-4 one set of plates for sacred things, the other historical\n_Chap_. 19. 1-6.\n\n13. 23 the record that proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. 25, 38,\n40, 41.\n\n14. 18-30 concerning the writings of the apostle John, and of Nephi.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 3. 12 the writings of Judah and Joseph to grow together.\n\n5. 12 Nephi took with him, into the wilderness, the record on the\nplates of brass. 30-33.\n\n25. 18 the Lord will bring forth his word to the Jews. 18-23.\n\n26. 17 the things done among them shall be written and sealed up.\n\n27. 7 in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning.\n10-29.\n\n29. 2 my words shall hiss forth to the ends of the earth. 8, 10-14.\n\n30. 3 the book written to be carried forth to the seed of Nephi.\n_Chap_. 31. 1, 2. _Jacob_ 4. 1-3.\n\n_Enos_ 1. 13 Enos prayed that a record might be preserved to come forth\nto the Lamanites. 14, 16-18.\n\n_Jarom_ 1. 2 the small plates written for the benefit of the Lamanites.\n\n_Omni_ 1. 17 the people of Zarahemla had no records. 18.\n\n_Words of Mormon_ 1. 1, 2 many years after the coming of Christ, Mormon\ndelivered the records to Moroni, and wrote these \"Words.\"\n\n_Mos_. 2. 34 the people of Mosiah taught concerning the records on the\nplates of brass.\n\n8. 5 Limhi caused the records of his people to be brought to Ammon.\n\n9 the people of Limhi discovered the records of the Jaredites. 10-19.\n_Chap_. 21. 27.\n\n12. 8 leave a record which I will preserve for other nations. _Chap_.\n22. 14.\n\n25. 5, 6 the record of Zeniff and of Alma. 28. 10-20.\n\n_Alma_ 22. 12, 13 Alma expounded the scriptures from the creation. 23.\n5. _Chap_. 33. 12-15.\n\n37. 1-6 Alma prophesied that the records, containing holy writ, should\nretain their brightness. 7-27. _Chap_. 45. 2.\n\n_Hel_. 3. 13-16 many particular and large records kept by the Nephites.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 5. 8-18 Mormon explains concerning the abridgment of the\nrecords of his people.\n\n26. 7 the plates of Nephi contain the more part of what Christ taught.\n11.\n\n27. 23-27 things not forbidden to be written. All things written by the\nFather.\n\n4 _Nephi_ 1. 19, 20 Amos kept the records eighty-four years. 21.\n\n48. 49 Ammaron hid up the sacred records in the earth.\n\n_Mormon_ 1. 1 Mormon makes a record and calls it the Book of Mormon.\n2-5. _Chap_. 2. 17, 18.\n\n7. 8 the Jewish records to go from the Gentiles to the remnants.\n_Chap_. 8. 5, 12, 14, 15.\n\n8. 25 their prayers were in behalf of him who should bring these things\nforth.\n\n9. 32, 33 record written in the reformed Egyptian. 34.\n\n_Ether_ 1. 3 the record of Ether speaks of the creation.\n\n4-6 Moroni gives only a partial account of the Jaredites.\n\n3. 21-24 the brother of Jared commanded to write what he had seen and\nheard.\n\n4. 1 the things written by the brother of Jared not to be revealed\nuntil Christ should come. 3-7, 16.\n\n5. 1 touch not the things sealed up.\n\n3, 4 these things shall be established by the mouth of three witnesses.\n\n15. 33 Ether hid the record so that the people of Limhi found it.\n\n_Moroni_ 1. 1-4 Moroni only wrote an abridgment of Jaredite history. 9.\n24. _Chap_. 10. 2.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 1. 29 after having received the records of the Nephites. 3. 19.\n_Sec_. 5. 1, 3, 4, 11, 26, 30.\n\n6. 26 records kept back because of the wickedness of the people.\n\n8. 1 shall receive a knowledge concerning ancient records. 9. 1.\n\n10. 1 because you have given up those records you had power to\ntranslate. 38-42.\n\n44-49 the prayers of the ancient Saints answered, in the bringing forth\nof the Book of Mormon. _Sec_. 11. 22. _Sec_. 17. 1-3.\n\n20. 35 these things are true and according to the revelations of John.\n\n21. 1 Joseph Smith, Jun., to be called a Seer, a translator.\n\n24. 1 Joseph Smith, Jun., called and chosen to write the Book of\nMormon. _Sec_. 28. 7.\n\n42. 12 Bible and Book of Mormon contain the fulness of the Gospel. 15.\n\n93. 6 the fulness of John's record hereafter to be revealed.\n\n107. 57 written in the book of Enoch.\n\n_Sec_. 128. the dead to be judged from the books. Things that have\nnever been revealed shall be revealed in the dispensation of the\nfulness of times.\n\n20 Moroni declaring the fulfilment of the prophets--the book to be\nrevealed.\n\n135. 3 the books brought forth by Joseph Smith, Jun.\n\n_See Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 16, page 47_.\n\n\" \" _Prest. B. Young, Farmington, June 17, 1877, J. of D., Vol. 19.\npage 36_.\n\n\n\nVISIONS AND DREAMS.\n\n\"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto\nhis servants the prophets;\" _Amos_ 3. 7. \"Where there is no vision the\npeople perish;\" _Prov_. 29. 18.\n\nBy visions and dreams the Lord has made known his will to his people,\nin every dispensation of the Priesthood. This method of communicating\ninformation, in its operations, is beyond the comprehension of our\nnatural powers, and, for this reason, ranks among the supernatural.\n\nIn the past, the Lord has made known to his prophets many of the\nimportant events that were to become history, down through the\ncenturies of coming time.\n\nIn the writings of Moses, as revealed to Joseph, the Seer, we have an\naccount of wonderful things, made known in this way, to the prophet\nEnoch, who lived several hundred years before Noah's flood. He says:\n\"As I was journeying, and stood in the place Mahujah, and cried unto\nthe Lord, there came a voice out of heaven, saying, Turn ye, and get ye\nupon the mount Simeon.\n\n\"And it came to pass that I turned and went up on the mount; and as I\nstood upon the mount, I beheld the heavens open, and I was clothed upon\nwith glory, and I saw the Lord; and he stood before my face, and he\ntalked with me, even as a man talketh one with another, face to face;\nand he said unto me, Look, and I will show unto thee the world for the\nspace of many generations.\" When we reflect that this great prophet\nlived nearly five thousand years ago, and that the Lord revealed to him\nthe great events that were to take place on the earth until the coming\nof Christ in the latter-days, it will give us some little comprehension\nof the wonderful and great things revealed to him. The account of this\nis in _P. of G. P., pages_ 17-22.\n\nThe Book of Mormon gives us a short account of another prophet, the\nbrother of Jared, who lived about one hundred years after the flood.\nThe Lord \"Shewed unto the brother of Jared all the inhabitants of the\nearth which had been, and also all that would be; and he withheld them\nnot from his sight, even unto the ends of the earth; For he had said\nunto him in times before, That if he would believe in him, that he\ncould shew unto him all things--it should be shewn unto him; therefore\nthe Lord could not withhold anything from him, for he knew that the\nLord could shew him all things.\"\n\nWe have no account of any greater vision than this which the brother\nof Jared had. \"And the Lord said unto him, Write these things and seal\nthem up, and I will shew them in mine own due time unto the children\nof men;\" _Ether_ 3. 2-27. Thus we learn from the twenty-seventh verse,\nthat all the great things which pertain to the history of man, from the\nbeginning unto the end of the earth, are yet to be revealed, through\nthe record of the brother of Jared, to all who are prepared to receive\nthem.\n\nLehi, the head of the first Jewish colony to America, was commanded by\nthe Lord, in a dream, to leave Jerusalem, take his family and go into\nthe wilderness, preparatory to going to a strange land; 1 _Nephi_ 2.\n2; _verse_ 4 proves his supreme faith in this dream: \"And it came to\npass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and\nthe land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his\nprecious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family,\nand provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.\"\n\nThis great patriarch, on other occasions, showed his faith in dreams\nand visions. In these ways the Lord revealed many great things to him\nand his son Nephi.\n\nThe Mosaic dispensation opened by an angel of the Lord appearing unto\nMoses in a flame of fire \"Out of the midst of a bush;\" _Exo_. 3. 2.\n\nThe Old Testament gives an account of many visions and dreams,\nbut perhaps the most important of the latter is the dream of\nNebuchadnezzar, which was interpreted by the prophet Daniel; _Dan_.\n2. It is now over twenty-four hundred years since the king of Babylon\nhad that dream, and its fulfilment can be traced in the history of the\nworld down through all these centuries.\n\nThe last great event, shown in this dream, was, that in the latter\ntimes the God of heaven would set up a kingdom which would break down\nother kingdoms and stand forever. This is the kingdom that it was the\nmission of Joseph Smith, Jun., to establish, and which the Latter-day\nSaints are laboring to build up.\n\nDreams characterized the opening up of the New Testament dispensation.\nAfter the birth of our Savior the wise men, who came from the east to\nsee him, were warned to disobey the command of the wicked king Herod,\nwho sought the life of the young child. The reputed father of the\nchild, Joseph, was warned in a dream to take the child and its mother\nand flee into Egypt for the same reason. When Herod was dead, Joseph\nwas warned in a dream to take the child and its mother and return into\nthe land of Israel.\n\nThis great latter-day dispensation was opened up by a vision. When\nJoseph Smith, Jun., was a lad, in his fifteenth year, he retired to a\nsecret place to ask the Lord to direct him and give him wisdom. When he\nkneeled down to offer up the desires of his heart to God, he was nearly\novercome by the powers of darkness.\n\nHe says, in the narrative of his life written by himself, \"Just at this\nmoment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head,\nabove the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it\nfell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from\nthe enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me, I saw two\npersonages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing\nabove me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and\nsaid (pointing to the other), THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, HEAR HIM.\" _P. of\nG. P., page_ 47.\n\nAn account of one of the most remarkable visions of this dispensation,\nis recorded in _Doc. & Cov., sec_. 76. The narrative commences as\nfollows: \"We, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, being in the\nSpirit on the sixteenth of February, in the year of our Lord, one\nthousand eight hundred and thirty-two, by the power of the Spirit our\neyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see\nand understand the things of God--even those things which were from\nthe beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father,\nthrough his Only Begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, even\nfrom the beginning, of whom we bear record, and the record which we\nbear is the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom\nwe saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision;\" _verses_\n11-14. In Joseph Smith's first vision, God the Father bore testimony of\nJesus Christ his Son. In this last vision, the Son appeared to Joseph\nSmith and Sidney Rigdon, and revealed to them many great and glorious\ntruths concerning the resurrection, and the final reward of all men\naccording to their works. The account of the vision will repay much\ncareful study.\n\nThe Lord said, through his prophet Joel, speaking of the times when\nIsrael should be gathered in the latter days, \"I will pour out my\nSpirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,\nyour old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions;\" 2.\n28. Thousands of Latter-day Saints can testify that this prophecy is\nbeing fulfilled, and that dreams and visions characterize this as they\nhave all former dispensations of the Priesthood.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 15. 12 a horror of great darkness fell on Abraham.\n\n20. 3 God came to Abimelech in a dream by night. 6.\n\n28. 12-15 Jacob's dream in Bethel.\n\n31. 10-12 Jacob's dream of the speckled cattle.\n\n24 God appeared to Laban.\n\n37. 5-8 Joseph's dream of the sheaves.\n\n9. 10 Joseph's dream of the sun, moon and stars.\n\n40. 5-19 the dreams of Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker.\n\n41. 1-32 Pharaoh's dreams and Joseph's interpretation.\n\n46. 2 God spake to Jacob in the visions of the night.\n\n2 _Sam_. 7. 17 according to all this vision did Nathan speak to David.\n\n1 _Kings_ 3. 5-14 Solomon's dream in which he asks the Lord for wisdom.\n\n9. 2 the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, as he had appeared unto\nhim at Gibeon.\n\n22. 19-22 Micah's vision of the lying spirit.\n\n_Job_ 4. 12, 13 was secretly brought to me from the visions of the\nnight.\n\n_Jer_. 1. 11-16 visions of a rod, and of a seething pot.\n\n_Ezek_. 1. vision of four living creatures.\n\n2. 9, 10 the visions of the roll of a book.\n\n3. 22, 23 a vision of the glory of the Lord.\n\n_Chap_. 8. vision of the glory of the Lord and of the rebelliousness of\nJudah.\n\n_Chap_. 9. vision of the destruction of the wicked and of the\npreservation of the righteous in Jerusalem.\n\n_Chap_. 10. vision of the coals of fire scattered over Jerusalem and of\nliving creatures which Ezekiel had before seen by the river Chebar.\n\n11. 22 vision of the Cherubim.\n\n23 vision of the glory of the Lord departing from Jerusalem.\n\n24, 25 Ezekiel in vision was carried by the Spirit into Chaldea.\n\n37. 1-10 vision of dry bones, their coming together and being covered\nwith flesh and filled with life.\n\n_Chap_. 40. and remainder of Ezekiel is probably a vision of Jerusalem\nduring the Millennium.\n\n_Dan_. 4. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great tree.\n\n_Chap_. 5. the handwriting on the wall of the palace of Belshazzar.\n\n_Chap_. 7. Daniel's vision of the four beasts, and of the sitting of\nthe Ancient of days.\n\n_Chap_. 8. Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat.\n\n_Hab_. 2. 2, 3 write the vision and make it plain upon tables.\n\n_Zech_. 1. 8-11 the vision of the horses among the myrtle trees.\n\n18-21 visions of the horns and carpenters.\n\n2. 1, 2 vision of the measuring line.\n\n_Chap_. 4. vision of the golden candlestick.\n\n_Chap_. 5. vision of the flying roll. 6. 1-8 of the four chariots.\n\n_Matt_. 1. 20 an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream.\n\n_Luke_ 1. 5-19 Gabriel promised Zacharias that his wife Elizabeth\nshould have a son named John.\n\n_Acts_ 9. 12 Saul's vision of Ananias.\n\n10. 10-16 Peter's vision of all manner of beasts. 11. 5-10.\n\n30-32 Cornelius' vision of a man in bright clothing.\n\n16. 9 Paul's vision of a man from Macedonia wanting help.\n\n18. 9, 10 the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision.\n\n22. 17-21 Paul had a trance in the temple.\n\n_Rev_. 1. 12-18 vision of the seven golden candlesticks.\n\n_Chap_. 4. vision of the throne of God, of twenty-four elders and of\nfour beasts.\n\n_Chap_. 5. the book sealed with seven seals.\n\n_Chap_. 6. the opening of the seven seals.\n\n_Chap_. 7. 144,000 of the tribes of Israel sealed in their foreheads,\nan innumerable multitude stood before the throne.\n\n_Chap_. 8. the opening of the seventh seal and the plagues that follow.\n\n_Chap_. 9. opening of the bottomless pit, the plague of locusts; other\nwoes follow.\n\n_Chap_. 10. the book which John is commanded to eat.\n\n_Chap_. 11. vision of two witnesses who shall be slain and rise after\nthree days. The seventh trumpet sounds.\n\n_Chap_. 12. vision of the woman with child, and of the great red dragon.\n\n_Chap_. 13. the beast with seven heads and ten horns.\n\n_Chap_. 14. the Lamb standing on Mount Zion; the Gospel preached; the\nfall of Babylon.\n\n_Chap_. 15. the seven angels with the seven last plagues; the seven\nvials full of wrath.\n\n_Chap_. 16. the angels pour out their vials full of wrath; the coming\nof Christ.\n\n_Chap_. 17. great Babylon represented by a woman.\n\n_Chap_. 18. the fall of Babylon; the gathering of the Saints.\n\n_Chap_. 19. the blood of the Saints avenged; the marriage of the Lamb;\nthe fowls called to the great slaughter.\n\n_Chap_. 20. Satan bound for a thousand years; he is let loose again;\nGog and Magog; the last resurrection.\n\n_Chap_. 21. a new heaven and a new earth; the heavenly Jerusalem.\n\n_Chap_. 22. the river and tree of life.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 1. 6 there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before\nLehi.\n\n8 Lehi was overcome by the Spirit and carried away in a vision, in\nwhich he saw many things.\n\n3. 2, 3 Lehi commanded, in a dream, to send his sons to Jerusalem for\nthe record of the Jews.\n\n_Chap_. 8. Lehi's vision of the tree with the white fruit, the river\nand the rod of iron, and of a great and spacious building.\n\n_Chap_. 11. Nephi's vision of the Son of Man, his ministry, sufferings\nand death.\n\n_Chap_. 12. Nephi's vision of his own seed, the seed of his brethren,\nand of the promised land.\n\n_Chap_. 13. Nephi's vision of the Gentile nations across the \"many\nwaters,\" of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, and of\nmany other great events that were to take place in the future.\n\n18. 2 Nephi built the ship after the manner the Lord had shown him.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 1. 4 Lehi had a vision in which he knew that Jerusalem was\ndestroyed.\n\n_Mos_. 27. 11-13 an angel of God descended in a cloud and appeared to\nAlma.\n\n\n\nSIGNS AND TOKENS.\n\nSigns may or may not be miraculous manifestations. They may indicate\nsomething that has taken place, and also be a token of a continuance of\nsome certain blessing. For instance, the Lord covenanted with Noah, and\nwith every living creature, that he would not again destroy all flesh\nfrom the earth with a flood.\n\nAs a token of this covenant the Lord said to Noah, \"I do set my bow in\nthe cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the\nearth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth,\nthat the bow shall be seen in the cloud.\" The Lord further assured\nNoah, \"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that\nI may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living\ncreature of all flesh that is upon the earth;\" _Gen_. 9. 9-17.\n\nThey may also indicate that certain things shall take place\nperiodically, as \"God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the\nheaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and\nfor seasons, and for days, and for years;\" 1. 14.\n\nThe prophets have foretold signs that should precede great events that\nwere to take place on the earth. Speaking of the birth of our Savior,\nthe prophet Isaiah says, \"The Lord himself shall give you a sign;\nBehold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son;\" 7. 14.\n\nThe Lamanite prophet, Samuel, foretold to the Nephites in the city\nof Zarahemla, that for two days and one night preceding the birth of\nChrist there should be no darkness, and that a new star should arise,\nsuch an one as the Nephites had never before beheld; _Hel_. 14. 3, 5.\nThese signs appeared as Samuel predicted; 3 _Nephi_ 1. 13-21.\n\nHe also predicted terrible judgments that should destroy the wicked\namong the Nephites and Lamanites when the Savior should die.\nSimultaneously with that event there should be thunderings, lightnings,\ntempests and earthquakes. These should continue for many hours, and\ndarkness should cover the land for three days; _Hel_. 14. 21-27.\n_Chapters_ 8, 9, and 10, of 3 _Nephi_, give us a very vivid description\nof these judgments that were predicted by Samuel.\n\nIn the sacred writings, many signs are predicted that should precede\nthe coming of the Son of Man, in the latter days. The Jewish apostles\nof our Savior manifested great interest in this matter. On a certain\noccasion when Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives, they asked concerning\nthe destruction of Jerusalem; after which they especially inquired,\n\"What is the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?\" _P. of G.\nP., page_ 38.\n\nJesus first answered them concerning the destruction of the Temple\nand the Jews. He told his disciples that they should be afflicted and\nkilled, and be hated of all nations for his name's sake. \"Then shall\nmany be offended, and shall betray one another; and many false prophets\nshall arise, and shall deceive many; and because iniquity shall abound,\nthe love of many shall wax cold; but he that remaineth steadfast and is\nnot overcome, the same shall be saved.\"\n\n\"When you, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken\nof by Daniel the prophet, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem\n(_Dan_. 12. 11), then you shall stand in the holy place.\" In this\nparagraph, continuing on to _page_ 39, Christ says, \"In those days,\nshall be great tribulation on the Jews, and upon the inhabitants of\nJerusalem, such as was not before sent upon Israel of God, since the\nbeginning of their kingdom until this time; no, nor ever shall be sent\nagain upon Israel.\"\n\nAfter these judgments should come upon Jerusalem and the Jews, then\nfalse Christs and prophets should arise, and shew great signs and\nwonders, insomuch that they would deceive the Elect according to the\ncovenant, if it were possible.\n\nThen he assures his disciples that they shall hear of wars and rumors\nof wars, but he assures them that will not be the end. For afterwards\nthere will be those who will predict the coming of the Son of Man. He\ntells his disciples that they need not be deceived with regard to this\ngreat event, \"For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east,\nand shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall\nalso the coming of the Son of Man be.\" That is, the indications of his\ncoming will be so unmistakable that they need not be deceived.\n\nOne very significant sign of his coming, he stated would be, that his\nElect should be gathered from the four quarters of the earth. Through\nthe instrumentality of Joseph Smith and the Holy Priesthood, this\ngreat work is now going on: \"And they,\" that is those who are being\ngathered, \"shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars, * * for nation\nshall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be\nfamine, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places; and again,\n(for the second time) because iniquity shall abound, the love of many\nshall wax cold.\" Again Jesus gave the assurance that he who was not\novercome should be saved: \"And again\"--that is when the Elect are being\ngathered and judgments were being poured out upon the nations for the\nsecond time--\"This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the\nworld, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come,\"\nor the destruction of the wicked; \"and again\"--that is for the second\ntime--\"shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the\nprophet, be fulfilled. And immediately after the tribulation of those\ndays, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,\nand the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall\nbe shaken; verily, I say unto you, this generation, in which these\nthings shall be shewn forth, shall not pass away until all I have told\nyou shall be fulfilled. * * * After the tribulation of those days,\nand the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; then shall appear the\nsign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the\nearth mourn; and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of\nheaven, with power and great glory;\" _P. of G. P., pages_ 38-40.\n\nThis translation of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, commencing\nwith the last verse of the twenty-third chapter, by Joseph Smith,\nthe Seer, is both very interesting and instructive to the student of\ntheology. It contains much more than can be made to appear in a short\nsketch like this.\n\nEvery dispensation of the Priesthood has been characterized by\nmiracles, by signs, and wonders, and none more than this, the\ndispensation of the fulness of times. It was to be opened up by\nan angel who should fly through the midst of heaven, having the\neverlasting Gospel to preach to the nations of the earth; _Rev_. 14. 6.\n\nAn angel, named Moroni, has come and brought forth to the world the\nBook of Mormon, which contains the fulness of the everlasting Gospel;\n_P. of G. P., pages_ 49-53. It is the same Gospel that was preached\nby Jesus and his apostles. Thus, the saying of the Savior to his\ndisciples upon the Mount of Olives is being fulfilled: \"This Gospel of\nthe kingdom shall be preached to all the world for a witness unto all\nnations; and then shall the end come;\" _Matt_. 24. 14. Israel is being\ngathered from the four quarters of the earth in fulfilment of numerous\npredictions of the ancient prophets.\n\nJesus, also, told his disciples that they should hear of wars and\nrumors of wars. \"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom\nagainst kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and\nearthquakes, in divers places;\" _verses_ 6, 7. The world is witness\nthat these sayings are being fulfilled.\n\nThese are only a few of the many signs and tokens that the coming\nof the Son of Man in power and great glory is near at hand. Signs\nand tokens will increase as manifestations that God is at work among\nthe nations. Only those who have faith in God will comprehend their\nmeaning. He has promised his saints that it should be given them to\nunderstand the signs of the times; _Doc & Cov_. 68. 11.\n\nThe wicked are ever seeking after signs, but they have no faith in the\nGiver, and therefore their motives are evil. Jesus said, \"An evil and\nadulterous generation seeketh after a sign;\" _Matt_. 12. 39. We are\npromised that signs shall follow the believer; _Mark_ 16. 17-20. This\npromise is not limited to any specified time or place; but extends to\nall believers. They are nowhere promised to the unbeliever except for a\ntestimony against them; for the Lord has said, \"He that seeketh signs,\nshall see signs, but not unto salvation;\" _Doc. & Cov_., 63. 7.\n\nSigns are a gift of God, and, to be beneficial to those who receive\nthem, they must come by faith; \"Signs come by faith, not by the will of\nmen, nor as they please, but by the will of God;\" _verse_ 10. Hence,\nthey are a blessing to the believer, but not to those who would treat\nwith contempt a manifestation of the power and goodness of God.\n\nBible.\n\n_Exo_. 4. 17 thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou\nshalt do signs.\n\n12. 13 and the blood shall be for a token upon the houses.\n\n_Deut_. 13. 1, 2 if a prophet or a dreamer of dreams give thee a sign\nor a wonder.\n\n28. 46 they shall be upon thee and thy seed forever for a sign and for\na wonder.\n\n_Dan_. 4. 3 how great are his signs, and how mighty his wonders.\n\n6. 27 he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.\n\n_Matt_. 12. 38 Master, we would see a sign from thee.\n\n16. 1 desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 3.\n\n_Mark_ 8. 11, 12 seeking of him a sign from heaven.\n\n13. 4 what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?\n22.\n\n_Luke_ 2. 34 for a sign that shall be spoken against.\n\n21. 11 fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 25.\n\n_John_ 2. 18 what sign shewest thou unto us?\n\n4. 48 except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe.\n\n6. 30 what sign shewest thou that we may see and believe thee?\n\n_Acts_ 2. 19 I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the\nearth beneath. 43.\n\n4. 30 that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Jesus. 5. 12.\n_Chap_. 14. 3.\n\n_Rom_. 4. 11 received the sign of circumcision, a seal of righteousness.\n\n1 _Cor_. 1. 22 for the Jews require a sign.\n\n2 _Thess_. 2. 9 with all powers, and signs, and lying wonders.\n\n_Rev_. 15. 1 I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 19. 10 Zenos spake of three days' darkness, a sign of the\ndeath of Christ.\n\n11 after Messiah shall come there shall be signs given to all Israel.\n\n_Jacob_ 7. 3, 14 Sherem said, shew a sign by this power of the Holy\nGhost.\n\n_Mos_. 3. 15 many signs, wonders, types and shadows shewed he unto them.\n\n_Alma_ 32. 17 many who say, shew us a sign from heaven and we shall\nbelieve.\n\n37. 27 all these signs and wonders ye shall retain from this people.\n\n_Hel_. 16. 13 in the nineteenth year of the judges were great signs and\nwonders.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 2. 1 the people began to forget the signs and wonders they\nhad seen.\n\n8 the Nephites began to reckon time from the appearing of the sign.\n\n11. 2 the people conversed about Jesus Christ and the sign of his death.\n\n21. 2 this is the thing I will give to you for a sign.\n\n7 be a sign to them that the work of the Father hath commenced.\n\n_Ether_ 4. 18 and signs shall follow those that believe.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 39. 23 and they shall be looking forth for the signs of my\ncoming.\n\n45. 16 as ye have asked of me concerning the signs of my coming. 39, 40.\n\n46. 9 not for a sign that he may consume it on his lusts.\n\n58. 64 the Gospel must be preached to every creature, with signs\nfollowing.\n\n63. 9 faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe.\n10, 12.\n\n68. 10 he that believeth shall be blest with signs following.\n\n11 to you it shall be given to know the signs of the times.\n\n84. 65 these signs shall follow those that believe.\n\n88. 93 immediately there shall appear a great sign in heaven, and all\npeople shall see it together.\n\n124. 98 these signs shall follow him.\n\n\n\nANGELS.\n\nAngels have acted an important part in every dispensation of the\nPriesthood. An angel first preached the Gospel of faith on the Son\nof God to Adam; _P. of G. P., page_ 9. An angel of the Lord called\nto Abraham; _Gen_. 22. 11. An angel first attracted the attention\nof Moses to the burning bush; _Ex_. 3. 2. Their ministrations are\noften mentioned in the Old Testament history of ancient Israel. They\nwere a prominent feature in the opening history of the New Testament\ndispensation. An angel appeared to Zacharias, the father of John the\nBaptist, and foretold his birth; _Luke_ 1. 11, 12.\n\nThe angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary and foretold the birth of\nthe Savior; _verse_ 31. An angel appeared to the shepherds, bringing\nthe joyful news of a Savior's birth; 2. 10, 11. One warned Joseph to\nflee into Egypt to save the life of the child Jesus, and to return\nagain after the death of Herod; _Matt_. 2. 13-15. According to the\nwritings of the apostles they continued their ministrations, at least\nuntil John wrote his Revelation, for he was commanded to write to the\nangel of each of the seven churches of Asia; _Chapters_ 2. 3.\n\nAccording to prophecy, angels were to act an important part in the\ndispensation of the fulness of times. The dispensation was to be opened\nby one, for John the Revelator says, \"And I saw another angel fly in\nthe midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them\nthat dwell on the earth;\" _Rev_. 14. 6.\n\nThere is abundant evidence that an angel, calling himself Moroni,\ncame to Joseph Smith, Jun., and taught him the principle and power of\nrevelation from God, made known to him the real condition of the world,\nand when he had properly instructed him, delivered to him the record\nfrom which the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God,\ncontaining the fulness of the everlasting Gospel; _P. of G. P., pages_\n49-54.\n\nThe angel, John the Baptist, ordained Joseph Smith and O. Cowdery to\nthe Priesthood of Aaron, \"Which holds the keys of _the ministering of\nangels_, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion\nfor the remission of sins;\" _Doc. & Cov_., 13. From this second angel\nthey received authority to preach the Gospel, revealed by the first\nangel, and to minister in its ordinances among all nations, thus\nfulfilling the prophetic vision of St. John.\n\nAngels are to accompany Jesus Christ when he shall come in the glory of\nhis Father; _Matt_. 16. 27. They are to gather the elect from the four\nquarters of the earth; 24. 31. The inspired writings, and especially\nthe Revelation of St. John, assures us that they will act an important\npart in the great work of the latter days. There can be no truly Gospel\nchurch in which their ministrations are not recognized.\n\nANGEL OF THE LORD.\n\nBible.\n\n_Gen_. 16. 7 an angel of the Lord found Hagar by a fountain.\n\n28. 12 angels of God ascended and descended.\n\n_Exo_. 14. 19 the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel,\nremoved and went behind them.\n\n_Judges_ 2. 4 when the angel of the Lord spake these words to the\nchildren of Israel.\n\n6. 11 there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak.\n\n12 an angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon.\n\n13. 3 an angel of the Lord appeared to the mother of Samson.\n\n2 _Kings_ 19. 35 the angel of the Lord smote and killed 185,000 of the\nAssyrians.\n\n1 _Chron_. 22. 12 the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the\ncoasts of Israel.\n\n30 David was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord.\n\n_Psalm_ 34. 7 the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that\nfear him.\n\n_Matt_. 28. 2 the angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the door.\n\n_Luke_ 2. 8, 9 the angel of the Lord came upon the shepherds.\n\n_Acts_ 5. 19 the angel of the Lord, by night, opened the prison doors.\n\n8. 26 the angel of the Lord spake unto Phillip.\n\n12. 23 the angel of the Lord smote Herod.\n\n27. 23 there stood by me, this night, the angel of God.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 3. 29 as they smote us with a rod, an angel of the Lord stood\nbefore them.\n\n_Mos_. 27. 11-18 the angel of the Lord appeared to Alma and the sons of\nMosiah.\n\n_Alma_ 9. 25 that ye may not be destroyed, the Lord hath sent his angel.\n\n10. 7-11 an angel of the Lord appeared to me and said, Amulek!\n\n24. 14 in his mercy he visits us by his angels.\n\n_Hel_. 5. 11 he hath sent his angels to declare the conditions of\nrepentance.\n\n14. 26 angel said to me, there should be thunderings and lightnings for\nmany hours. 28.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 63. 54 in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the\nwicked.\n\n103. 19, 20 I say not to you as I said to your fathers, mine angel\nshall go before you.\n\nMINISTERING ANGELS.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n_Jacob_ 7. 17 the power of the Holy Ghost and the ministering of angels.\n\n_Moroni_ 7. 25 by ministering of angels, men began to exercise faith in\nChrist. 29, 30.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 7. 6, 7 I will make him as a flaming fire and a ministering\nangel.\n\n43. 25 called on you by my servants, and the ministering of angels.\n\n67. 13 not able to abide the presence of God, neither the ministering\nof angels.\n\n76. 88 the telestial receive it of the ministering of angels.\n\n132. 16 but are appointed angels in heaven, which are ministering\nservants. 17-20.\n\n136. 37 whom I did call upon by mine angels, my ministering servants.\n\nMiscellaneous passages.\n\n_Gen_. 19. 1 there came two angels to Sodom at even.\n\n48. 16 the angel which redeemed me from all evil bless the lads.\n\n_Exo_. 23. 20 I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way.\n\n_Num_. 20. 16 sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt.\n\n2 _Sam_. 24. 16 when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to\ndestroy it.\n\n1 _Kings_ 19. 5 an angel touched Elijah and said, arise and eat.\n\n2 _Chron_. 32. 21 Lord sent an angel which cut off all the mighty men.\n\n_Psalm_ 8. 5 man made a little lower than the angels. _Heb_. 2. 7, 9.\n\n68. 17 the chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of\nangels.\n\n78. 25 man did eat angels' food.\n\n_Dan_. 9. 21 Gabriel touched Daniel about the time of the evening\noblation. 10. 4-14, 20, 21.\n\n_Matt_. 4. 11 angels came and ministered to Christ.\n\n13. 39 the harvest is the end of the world: the reapers are the angels.\n49.\n\n18. 10 their angels do always behold the face of my Father.\n\n24. 36 of that day knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven.\n\n25. 31 Son of Man shall come, and all the holy angels with him.\n\n26. 53 he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels.\n\n_Mark_ 8. 38 when he cometh in the glory of the Father, with the holy\nangels. _Luke_ 9. 26.\n\n12. 25 nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels.\n\n_Luke_ 1. 19 the angel said to Zacharias, I am Gabriel, that stand in\nthe presence of God.\n\n26 the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee.\n\n16. 22 was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.\n\n22. 43 there appeared an angel to Jesus, strengthening him.\n\n_Acts_ 7. 53 who received the law by dispensation of angels.\n\n10. 22 was warned from God, by an holy angel, to send for thee.\n\n_Rom_. 8. 38 I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels.\n\n1 _Cor_. 6. 3 know ye not that we shall judge angels?\n\n_Gal_. 1. 8 though we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel.\n\n2 _Thess_. 1. 7 Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his\nmighty angels.\n\n1 _Tim_. 5. 21 I charge thee before God and the elect angels.\n\n_Heb_. 1. 4 being made so much better than the angels. 7.\n\n2. 5 for unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to\ncome? 16.\n\n12. 22 the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.\n\n13. 2 not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have\nentertained angels unawares.\n\n_Rev_. 5. 2 saw a strong angel proclaiming, who is worthy to open the\nbook. 11. _Chap_. 7. 1. _Chap_. 8. 3. _Chap_. 10. 1, 5-10. _Chap_. 11.\n15. _Chap_. 12. 7.\n\n14. 6 I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the\neverlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth. 8, 10,\n15. _Chap_. 15. 6, 7. _Chap_. 17. 1. _Chap_. 18. 1. 21. _Chap_. 19. 17.\n\n21. 12 had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels. 17.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n1 _Nephi_ 13. 40 the angel said, these last records shall establish the\ntruth of the first.\n\n19. 8 he cometh according to the words of the angel, six hundred years\nfrom the time my father left Jerusalem. 10.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 6. 9 scourge and crucify him, according to the words of the\nangel. 11.\n\n10. 3 the last night the angel said he should be called Christ. 25. 19.\n\n32. 2, 3 angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost.\n\n_Alma_ 9. 21 having been visited by the Spirit of God, having conversed\nwith angels. 12. 29.\n\n13. 22 the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it to all\nnations. 24-26.\n\n29. 1 Oh, that 1 were an angel, that I might cry repentance to every\npeople.\n\n32. 23 now he imparteth his words, by angels, unto men, women and\nchildren.\n\n_Hel_. 16. 14 angels appeared to wise men and declared unto them glad\ntidings of great joy.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 7. 18 so great was the faith of Nephi, that angels ministered\nunto him daily.\n\n17. 24 they saw angels descending out of heaven and encircling the\nlittle ones.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 38. 12 the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the\nearth.\n\n88. 92 and angels shall fly through the midst of heaven sounding the\ntrump of God. 96-107.\n\n112 Michael, the seventh angel, shall gather together his armies.\n\n128. 20 Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the\nprophets.\n\n129. 1 angels are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and\nbones. 5.\n\n130. 4-7 no angels minister to this earth but those that belong to it.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Page_ 9. after many days an angel of the Lord appeared to Adam.\n\n12. the Gospel was preached from the beginning, being declared by\nangels.\n\n27. the angel of the Lord's presence stood by Abraham.\n\n29. thou didst send thine angel to deliver me from the gods of Elkanah.\n\n38. who cometh in the clouds of heaven, and the holy angels with him.\n\n40. he shall send his angels before him with the sound of a trumpet.\n\nFALLEN ANGELS.\n\nBible.\n\n_Psalm_ 78. 49 he cast upon them the fierceness of his wrath,\nindignation and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.\n\n_Matt_. 25. 41 depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,\nprepared for the devil and his angels.\n\n2 _Cor_. 11. 14 for Satan, himself, is transformed into an angel of\nlight.\n\n2 _Peter_ 2. 4 if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them\ndown to hell.\n\n_Jude_ 6. angels which kept not their first estate he hath reserved in\neverlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day.\n\n_Rev_. 9. 11 a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit.\n\n12. 9 the great dragon was cast out, and his angels with him.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n2 _Nephi_ 2. 17 must needs suppose that an angel of God fell from\nheaven.\n\n9. 8 our spirits must be subject to that angel who fell. 16.\n\n_Jacob_ 3. 11 that they may not become angels to the devil.\n\n_Mos_. 26. 27 shall depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil\nand his angels.\n\n_Alma_ 30. 53 hath deceived me, for he appeared in the form of an angel.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 9. 2 the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of\nthe slain.\n\n_Moroni_ 7. 17 neither do the devil nor his angels persuade men to do\ngood--no, not one.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 29. 28 depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared\nfor the devil and his angels. 37.\n\n76. 33 vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer with the devil and his\nangels. 44.\n\n128. 20 Michael detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of\nlight. _Sec_. 129 8.\n\n\n\nTHE SABBATH DAY.\n\nIn the history of creation, as given in the Bible Genesis, we find that\nthe Lord commenced and ended the labor of creating the world in six\ndays or periods of time. That also, he ceased his labors on the seventh\nday and devoted it to rest.\n\nAs we have shown in the article on pre-existence, in this work, these\nseven periods of creative time were occupied in the creation and\nperfection of spiritual organizations. These have since given life to\nthe organizations formed out of the crude elements, from which all\nanimal and vegetable life is formed.\n\nWhen Adam was formed out of these elements, and the Lord made every\ntree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, to grow\nout of the ground, another series of creative days, or periods of\ntime, commenced. The six days of labor, which, according to present\nreckoning, is supposed to be about six thousand years, has nearly\npassed away.\n\nThe Christian world anticipate the time when antagonisms will cease,\nand there will be a time of universal peace, called the Millennium.\nWhile the Christian sects may entertain various theories as to how\nthis millennium will be brought about, and what will be its practical\nresults, to the Latter-day Saints it assumes a well defined outline, as\ndelineated in the sacred books.\n\nTypical of these great, creative sabbaths, the Lord has commanded man\nto rest every seventh day, according to his reckoning, as measured by\none revolution of the earth on its axis. The sabbath was instituted for\nman's especial benefit, for the Savior, when on the earth, declared\nthat \"The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath;\"\n_Mark_ 2. 27.\n\nThere is nothing to indicate that the sabbath was a new institution at\nthe time Israel came out of Egypt, but, being the beginning of a new\ndispensation, the institution was strengthened by direct commandment.\nIn about one month after their deliverance from Egypt, when the Lord\nhad commenced to feed them on manna, they were commanded to gather\non the sixth day enough for the seventh day also. This obviated\nthe necessity of gathering food on the sabbath, for the Lord said,\n\"To-morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord;\" _Exo_. 16.\n23.\n\nIn the third month after Israel came out of Egypt, amidst a wonderful\ndisplay of his glory and power upon Mount Sinai, the Lord gave to\nIsrael ten commandments, one of which was, \"Remember the sabbath day,\nto keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but\nthe seventh is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not\ndo any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor\nthy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy\ngates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and\nall that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord\nblessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it;\" 20. 8-11. This commandment\nis very sweeping and comprehensive, and the Lord makes it typical of\nthe creative, sabbatic period of time.\n\nIn the Pentateuch the passages are quite numerous in which the children\nof Israel are reminded of the importance of keeping this commandment.\nThe importance of keeping the sabbath day holy is urged upon Israel in\nthe following passage, if possible, with still more force than in the\nDecalogue: \"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto\nthe children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for\nit is a SIGN between me and you throughout your generations; that ye\nmay know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you;\" 31. 12-18.\n\nA very important feature of this subject is expressed in the last\nverse. The keeping of the sabbath day was to be a _sign_ throughout the\ngenerations of Israel, that the people continually remembered that it\nwas the Lord that sanctified them through keeping his commandments.\n\nIn _verse_ 14, the Lord says, \"Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for\nit is holy unto you. Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to\ndeath: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off\nfrom among his people.\" The command is repeated in a little different\nform in _verse_ 15.\n\nThe sabbath was to be a perpetual covenant between the Lord and the\nchildren of Israel. \"Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the\nsabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a\nperpetual covenant;\" _verse_ 16. In _verse_ 17 they are commanded to\nobserve it as a sign that they remember that the Lord made heaven and\nearth, and rested on the seventh day.\n\nIn these quotations from _Exo_. 31, and in the Decalogue the most\npositive and weighty reasons are given by the Lord to the fathers of\nthe house of Israel, for keeping the sabbath day. The obligation is\nevidently as binding upon the Latter-day Saints as it was upon their\nfathers, and they in like manner will reap the reward of obedience.\n\nIsrael was also required to give the land rest. \"Six years thou shalt\nsow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather\nin the fruit thereof; but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of\nrest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy\nfield, nor prune thy vineyard;\" _Lev_. 25. 3, 4. After seven sabbaths\nof years had been numbered, making forty-nine years, then the fiftieth\nyear was to be a year of Jubilee. This was a year of general release\nfrom all bondage. \"And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim\nliberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it\nshall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his\npossession, and ye shall return every man unto his family;\" _verse_\n10. Both the forty-ninth and fiftieth were years of rest for the land.\nThis chapter should be well studied for information with regard to the\nsabbatic year.\n\nThe Lord, in his revelations through his prophet Joseph, has commanded\nthe saints to keep the sabbath day holy. \"For verily this is a day\nappointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions\nunto the Most High. * * * And on this day thou shalt do none other\nthing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that\nthy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be\nfull;\" _Doc. & Cov_., 59. 10, 13. In _verse_ 15-17, great blessings are\npromised as the result of keeping this commandment. To keep the sabbath\nholy is again positively enjoined upon the saints \"And the inhabitants\nof Zion shall, also, observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy;\" _Sec_.\n68. 29.\n\nBible.\n\n_Lev_. 19. 3 shall fear every man his father and mother, and keep my\nsabbaths. 30.\n\n26. 34 then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths as long as it is desolate.\n\n_Num_. 15. 32-36 a young man stoned for breaking the sabbath.\n\n_Neh_. 10. 31 the people covenanted not to buy victuals on the sabbath.\n\n13. 15-22 Nehemiah sharply reproved the people for laboring on the\nsabbath.\n\n_Isa_. 56. 2 blessed is the man that keepeth the sabbath.\n\n3-7 the eunuch and the stranger that keep the sabbath shall be blessed.\n\n58. 13, 14 great blessings promised to those who keep the sabbath.\n_Jer_. 17. 21-27.\n\n_Sam_. 2. 6 caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in\nZion.\n\n_Ezek_. 20. 12 I gave my sabbaths to be a sign between me and them.\n\n22. 26 have hid their eyes from my sabbaths.\n\n_Matt_. 12. 8 for the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.\n\n10-12 lawful to do good on the sabbath day.\n\n\n\nISRAEL A CHOSEN PEOPLE.\n\nThe name, Israel, is used to designate the descendants of Abraham\nthrough Isaac his son, and Jacob his grandson. The Lord gave the name\nto Jacob the father of twelve sons, the heads of the tribes of Israel.\n\"And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and\nblessed him. And God said unto him, thy name is Jacob: thy name shall\nnot be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name; and he\ncalled his name Israel;\" _Gen_. 35. 9, 10.\n\nAbraham was a direct descendant of Shem, the son of Noah, and his\nnative land was Ur of the Chaldees; _chap_. 11. \"Now the Lord said unto\nAbram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy\nfather's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of\nthee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great;\nand thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee,\nand curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the\nearth be blessed;\" 12. 1-3.\n\nThe promise to Abram, that he should become a great nation, has been\nfulfilled in his chosen seed occupying the land of Palestine, as such,\nfor fifteen hundred years. It will again be fulfilled when they become\na nation on that land forever.\n\nThe history of the eastern hemisphere for the two thousand years\nwhich intervened between the calling of Abraham and the destruction\nof Jerusalem by the Romans, witnesses that every nation that fought\nagainst Israel, or in any way oppressed them, passed away. Time will\nshow the same general result, from the destruction of Jerusalem to the\nmillennium.\n\nThe prophet Isaiah, speaking of the time when the Lord should favor\nIsrael, said, \"All they that were incensed against thee shall be\nashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive\nwith thee shall perish;\" 41. 11. \"I will feed them that oppress thee\nwith their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood;\"\n49. 26. \"I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the\ndregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: but I\nwill put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to\nthy soul, Bow down, that we may go over;\" 51. 22, 23.\n\nThe first Nephi saw the final result, as between Israel and their\nenemies, some six hundred years before the birth of our Savior.\nSpeaking of the time when they should be brought out of captivity, and\ngathered to the lands of their inheritance, he says, \"And the blood of\nthat great and abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth,\nshall turn upon their own heads; for they shall war among themselves,\nand the sword of their own hands shall fall upon their own heads, and\nthey shall be drunken with their own blood. And every nation which\nshall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against\nanother, and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare\nthe people of the Lord;\" 1 _Nephi_ 22. 13, 14.\n\nThe sacred and profane history of the world evidences that all people,\noutside of the covenant seed of Abraham, when brought into association\nwith that seed, have exhibited an instinctive antagonism to them. As a\nresult, there are few nations that have not oppressed them, when there\nhas been opportunity.\n\nThe quotations made on this subject, and many more not noticed, show\nthat Israel will rule over all these in the future. As a result\nthe future princes of the earth will be of that lineage. Then will\nbe fulfilled another very important promise which the Lord made to\nAbraham: \"Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;\" _Gen_. 22.\n17.\n\nThe promise in the following, _verse_ 18, which is also repeated in a\nnumber of places in the sacred writings, is a very important one: \"In\nthy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.\" It was through\nthe lineage of Abraham that Jesus came in the flesh to redeem the\nworld. It was only to the seed of Abraham that he personally ministered\nwhile in the flesh.\n\nHe was born in Bethlehem of Judea, almost under the walls of Jerusalem;\n_Luke, chap_. 2. He grew up in Nazareth, a city of Galilee; _verse_\n39. He was baptized in Jordan, the chief river of the land of promise;\n_Matt_. 3. 13. His chosen twelve disciples were of the house of Israel.\nThey were sent first to preach the Gospel to the house of Israel:\n\"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into\nthe way of Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:\nbut go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel;\" _Matt_. 10. 5,\n6.\n\nAll the labors of Christ's earthly mission were in the midst of Israel.\nAmong them he was slain for the sins of the world; his body was laid in\na tomb cut in the rock of the promised land; in the midst of those with\nwhose fathers he had covenanted he ascended up to his Father.\n\nAfter his resurrection he told his disciples that Christ must needs\nsuffer and rise from the dead, \"That repentance and remission of\nsins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at\nJerusalem;\" _Luke_ 24. 47.\n\nSo necessary did Jesus consider it, that the blessings and power of the\nGospel should go forth to the world from the house of Israel, that just\nbefore his ascension he commanded his disciples, \"Tarry ye in the city\nof Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high;\" _verse_ 49.\n\nJesus once said to his Jewish disciples, \"Other sheep I have, which are\nnot of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice;\nand there shall be one fold, and one shepherd;\" _John_ 10. 16. While\nministering among the Nephites, after his resurrection, he told them\nwhat he had said to his disciples at Jerusalem, and also that they were\nthe other sheep which he referred to.\n\nHe further said to the Nephites, \"And they (that is his disciples\nat Jerusalem) understood me not, for they supposed it had been the\nGentiles; for they understand not that the Gentiles should be converted\nthrough their preaching; * * and they understand me not that the\nGentiles should not at any time hear my voice; that I should not\nmanifest my self unto them, save it were by the Holy Ghost. But behold,\nye have both heard my voice, and seen me;\" 3 _Nephi_ 15. 22-24.\n\nIn another place the Lord told the Nephites how the promise to Abraham,\n\"In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed,\" would be\nfulfilled. \"And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father\nthe covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, in thy seed shall all\nthe kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy\nGhost through me upon the Gentiles;\" 20. 27.\n\nThus we are assured that Jesus never has ministered in person to the\nGentiles, and there are no promises for the future to them which\ninvolve such administration. In this dispensation, all the blessings\nof the everlasting Gospel have been restored to the earth, through\nthe agency of the house of Israel. Of them a people will be prepared,\nand through them a kingdom will be established, over which the Savior\nwill reign on the earth. Then Israel will be the head of nations, and\nthe promise made to Abraham, \"Thy seed shall possess the gate of his\nenemies,\" will fully be realized.\n\nFor further information on this subject see the following subjects in\nthis work: _Gathering of Israel, Apostacy of the Primitive Church_, and\n_Millennial Reign_.\n\nBible.\n\n_Exo_. 3. 6 I am the God of thy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.\n\n15 this is my name forever, and my memorial unto all generations.\n\n6. 7 will take you to me for a people, and will be to you a God.\n\n19. 5 ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.\n\n6 ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests and an holy nation.\n\n23. 22 I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto\nthine adversaries.\n\n29. 45 I will dwell among the children of Israel, and be their God.\n\n_Num_. 6. 27 they shall put my name upon Israel, and I will bless them.\n\n24. 9 blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth\nthee.\n\n_Deut_. 7. 15 I will lay them on all them that hate thee.\n\n26. 18, 19 to make thee high above all nations, and an holy people.\n\n27. 9 this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God.\n\n2 _Chron_. 9. 8 because the Lord loved Israel, to establish them\nforever.\n\n_Psalm_ 105. 6 ye seed of Abraham, his servant, ye children of Jacob,\nhis chosen.\n\n135. 4 Lord hath chosen Jacob for himself, and Israel for his peculiar\ntreasure.\n\n137. 8, 9 O Babylon, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast\nserved us.\n\n_Isa_. 10. 5-19 Assyria to be taken and destroyed.\n\n14. 2 they shall take them captives whose captives they were.\n\n29. 7, 8 all the nations that fight against Ariel shall be as a dream.\n\n41. 8 Jacob, whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, my friend. 9.\n\n43. 10 my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen.\n20.\n\n45. 4 Israel, mine elect. I have even called thee by name.\n\n49. 24, 25 even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away.\n\n26 I will feed them that oppress thee on their own flesh.\n\n54. 15 whosoever shall gather against thee shall fall. 17.\n\n_Jer_. 2. 3 all that devour him shall offend; evil shall consume upon\nthem.\n\n10. 25 pour out thy fury on the heathen, for they have eaten up Jacob.\n\n30. 11 though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered\nthee, I will not make a full end of thee. 16, 24.\n\n_Heb_. 8. 10 I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.\n\n\n\nSPIRITS IN PRISON.\n\nThe writings of every dispensation of the Priesthood evidence that\nthe Creator provided a place of confinement or retention, where\nintelligences await future events concerning themselves.\n\nSeveral hundred years before the flood, the Lord, speaking to Enoch\nconcerning the wicked, said: \"Behold, these which thine eyes are upon\nshall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison\nhave I prepared for them;\" _P. of G. P., page_ 20.\n\nThe idea of a pit or prison for man, appears to have been quite\ndefinite in the mind of Job; speaking of God's dealings with man,\nhe says, \"He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from\nperishing by the sword;\" 33. 18.\n\nThe Psalmist David called this place hell or place of departed spirits,\nfor he said of the Lord, \"Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;\" _Psalm_\n16. 10. The latter part of the passage evidences that he was looking\nforward to the resurrection of Christ, to open the way for his release,\n\"Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.\"\n\nSpeaking of the latter times, the Lord said, through the prophet\nIsaiah, \"Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant\nof the earth. * * * And it shall come to pass in that day, that the\nLORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the\nkings of the the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered\ntogether, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up\nin the prison, and after many days shall they be visited;\" 24. 17, 21,\n22. This passage from Isaiah is very definite on this subject. The\nassertion, \"After many days shall they be visited,\" certainly infers\nthat a time would come when they might be released.\n\nThe Lord speaking of another person says, \"I the _Lord_ have called\nthee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee,\nand will give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the\nGentiles.\" The following verse shows that the Lord would call and\nkeep this servant of his for a special work, and that was, \"To open\nthe blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them\nthat sit in darkness out of the prison house;\" 42. 6, 7. This passage\nexplains how those who would be gathered as prisoners into the pit, and\nbe shut up in prison, were to be visited after many days. Of similar\nimport is _Isa_. 49. 5-9.\n\nThe apostle Peter was evidently quite familiar with this subject: \"For\nChrist also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,\nthat he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but\nquickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the\nspirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the\nlong suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was\na preparing;\" 1 _Pet_. 3. 18-20. The Nephite, as well as the Jewish\nprophets, speak of a place of confinement for spirits; \"Wherefore,\ndeath and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its\ncaptive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and\nthe bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other;\" 2\n_Nephi_ 9. 12.\n\nThese spirits, which are delivered from hell, are not the spirits of\nthe righteous, for, in the thirteenth verse of the same chapter, the\nprophet says, \"For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver\nup the spirits of the righteous.\"\n\nThese passages show us that the spirits of the wicked go to a prison,\nor hell, and the spirits of the righteous to the paradise of God, a\nplace of light and freedom. Doubtless it was the same paradise which\nJesus referred to, when he said to the thief on the cross, \"To-day\nshall thou be with me in paradise;\" _Luke_ 23. 43.\n\nThe Lord said, in a revelation to the prophet Joseph, \"I am the same\nwhich have taken the Zion of Enoch into mine own bosom; and verily,\nI say, even as many as have believed in my name. * * * But behold,\nthe residue of the wicked have I kept in chains of darkness until the\njudgment of the great day, which shall come at the end of the earth;\nand even so will I cause the wicked to be kept, that will not hear my\nvoice but harden their hearts;\" _Doc. & Cov_. 38. 4-6.\n\nThis subject is still more fully explained in another revelation,\nthrough Joseph, the Seer. After the Lord instructed him concerning the\nfirst resurrection he says, \"And after this another angel shall sound,\nwhich is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who\nare Christ's at his coming; who have received their part in that prison\nwhich is prepared for them, that they might receive the Gospel, and\nbe judged according to men in the flesh;\" 88. 99. This verse informs\nus that when Christ comes there will be a class of spirits who will\nbe redeemed from prison, because they will have paid the penalty of\ntransgression, and will have accepted the Gospel which will have been\npreached to them in prison.\n\nAfter the spirits who are prepared for redemption shall be brought out\nof prison by the resurrection, then \"Another trump shall sound, which\nis the third trump; and then cometh the spirits of men who are to be\njudged, and are found under condemnation. And these are the rest of\nthe dead, and they live not again until the thousand years are ended,\nneither again, until the end of the earth;\" _verses_ 100 and 101. That\nis, all the dead that remain after the redemption of those prepared,\nare those who are under condemnation, and they will not come forth\nthrough the resurrection until after the Millennium of a thousand\nyears, and not until after the \"little season\" in which Satan will be\nloosed; or the end of the earth. It is mournful to think, that, even\nafter so long a period of probation, or trial, there will be then of\nthese spirits those who will still have to remain in the prison house,\nfor _verse_ 102 says, \"There are found among those who are to remain,\nuntil that great and last day, even the end, who shall remain filthy\nstill.\"\n\nIn another revelation we are informed, that a part of those who inherit\na terrestrial glory, will be \"The spirits of men kept in prison, whom\nthe Son visited, and preached the Gospel unto them, that they might be\njudged according to men in the flesh, Who received not the testimony of\nJesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it;\" _sec_. 76. 73, 74.\n\nBible.\n\n_Job_ 17. 16 they shall go down to the bars of the pit.\n\n33. 24 deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.\n28, 30.\n\n_Psalm_ 9. 17 the wicked shall be turned into hell.\n\n28. 1 lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down to\nthe pit.\n\n30. 3 thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.\n\n69. 15 let not the pit shut her mouth on me.\n\n142. 7 bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name.\n\n143. 7 hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto those that go\ndown to the pit.\n\n_Isa_. 14. 15 yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of\nthe pit.\n\n42. 16 I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not.\n\n61. 1 to proclaim liberty to the captives, to open the prison to those\nthat are bound.\n\n_Ezek_. 26. 20 bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, and\nshall set thee in the low parts of the earth.\n\n31. 14-18 for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of\nthe earth. Thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised. This is\nPharaoh and all his multitude.\n\n32. 18-32 several nations enumerated who were slain by the sword, and\nwhose multitudes went down to the pit.\n\n_Zech_. 9. 11 by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy\nprisoners out of the pit.\n\n_Matt_. 12. 32 whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not\nbe forgiven him in this world, nor the world to come.\n\n_Luke_ 12. 47, 48 some shall be beaten with few, some with many stripes.\n\n_Acts_ 2. 34 for David is not ascended into heaven.\n\n_Rev_. 5. 13 every creature which is in heaven, on earth, and under the\nearth.\n\n20. 7 when the thousand years are ended, Satan shall be loosed out of\nhis prison.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 19. 6 it is not written that there shall be no end to this\ntorment.\n\n45. 17 as ye have looked upon the long absence of your spirits from\nyour bodies to be a bondage, I will show you how the day of redemption\nwill come. 45, 46.\n\n54 and then shall the heathen nations be redeemed.\n\n78. 12 be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan, until the day of\nredemption. _Sec_. 82. 21.\n\n\n\nTHE FIRST PRESIDENCY AND TWELVE APOSTLES.\n\nTHE FIRST PRESIDENCY.\n\nIt is revealed unto us in _Doc. & Cov_., 20. 2, 3, that Joseph Smith,\nJun., was called of God and ordained an Apostle of the Lord Jesus\nChrist to be the first Elder of this church; and that Oliver Cowdery\nwas also called of God, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the second\nElder of this church. In _sec_. 18. we are informed that Oliver Cowdery\nand David Whitmer were called with that same calling with which the\napostle Paul was called; but of Joseph Smith. Jun., the Lord said, 8th\n_verse_, \"Marvel not that I have called him unto mine own purpose,\nwhich purpose is known in me.\" In _sec_. 27. 12, the Savior says: \"And\nalso with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by\nwhom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be Apostles, and especial\nwitnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry, and of the\nsame things which I revealed unto them.\"\n\nJoseph, the first Apostle, continued as directed of the Lord from\ntime to time to organize and develop the offices and ordinances of\nthe church, for the saints were informed, in _sec_. 43. 3, \"Ye shall\nknow assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive\ncommandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.\"\n\nIn _sec_. 107, on Priesthood, instructions are given how to organize\nvarious councils and presidencies, in which is, _verse_ 22, \"Of\nthe Melchisedek Priesthood, three presiding High Priests, chosen\nby the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by\nthe confidence, faith and prayer of the church.\" _Verse_ 9, \"The\nPresidency of the High Priesthood, after the order of Melchisedek,\nhave a right to officiate in all the offices in the church;\" and, as\nin _verses_ 18, 19, to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of\nthe church\"--to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the\nkingdom of heaven--to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune\nwith the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and to enjoy the\ncommunion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the\nnew covenant.\n\nIn _verses_ 91-2, \"The duty of the President of the office of the High\nPriesthood is to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto\nMoses. Yea, to be a Seer, a revelator, a translator and a prophet,\nhaving all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the\nchurch.\" In this light and sense does the church uphold, by their vote,\ntheir faith and their prayers, the First Presidency of the church, or\nthe Presiding High Priest over the High Priesthood of the church.\n\nTHE TWELVE APOSTLES.\n\nThe Twelve Apostles, or the twelve traveling counselors, are called to\nbe the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in\nall the world; and they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to\nthe three Presidents previously mentioned--the decisions of each being\nunanimous. _Doc. & Cov., sec_. 107, _verses_ 23, 24. In _verse_ 33\nthey \"are to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of\nthe Presidency of the church, agreeable to the institution of heaven:\nto build up the church and regulate the affairs of the same in all\nnations; first unto the Gentiles, and secondly unto the Jews.\"\n\nThe foregoing laconic description of their duties is so comprehensive\nthat we will not detail further than to refer the student to _verses_\n23, 24, 35, 38, 39, 58 for further description of the duties of the\nTwelve Apostles.\n\nIn _sec_. 112, _verses_ 30-32, the Lord says to them: \"For unto you,\n(the Twelve,) and those (the First Presidency) who are appointed with\nyou to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this\nPriesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the which\nis the dispensation of the fulness of times, which power you hold in\nconnection with all those who have received a dispensation at any time\nfrom the beginning of the creation.\"\n\nAt the dedication of the Temple in Kirtland, the Prophet Joseph \"called\nupon the quorums and the congregation of Saints to acknowledge the\nTwelve Apostles, who were present, as Prophets, Seers and Revelators,\nand special witnesses to all the nations of the earth, holding the\nkeys of the kingdom, to unlock it, or cause it to be done, among them,\nand uphold them with their prayers, which they assented to by rising:\"\n_His. of Joseph Smith, March_ 27, 1836.\n\nThe following is a list of the names, time of birth and date of\nmembership of the First Presidency and of the Twelve Apostles of this\nDispensation, given in the order in which they were set apart to those\noffices, so far as we have ascertained:\n\nLyman E. Johnson was born October 24, 1811, at Pomfret, Windsor County,\nVermont; was ordained an apostle at the organization of the first\nCouncil of Apostles, at Kirtland, February 14, 1835, and was cut off\nfrom the Council and the church April 13, 1838, at Far West, Missouri.\n\nBrigham Young was born June 1, 1801, at Whittingham, Windsor County,\nVermont; was ordained an apostle February 14, 1835, at Kirtland. From\nthe apostacy of Thomas B. Marsh in October, 1838, he was President\nof the Twelve, and from December 27, 1847, was sustained as First\nPresident of the church, with Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards as\nhis counselors. This position he occupied until his death, on the 29th\nof August, 1877.\n\nHeber C. Kimball was born June 14, 1801, at Sheldon, Franklin County,\nVermont; was ordained an apostle February 14, 1835, at Kirtland, and\nwas first counselor to President Brigham Young, from December 27, 1847,\nuntil his death, on the 22d of June 1868.\n\nOrson Hyde was born January 8, 1805, at Oxford, New Haven County,\nConnecticut; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland,\nand died at Spring City, Utah, November 28, 1878.\n\nDavid W. Patten was born in the State of New York, about A. D. 1800;\nwas ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was fatally\nshot, by a mob, at Crooked River, Missouri, on the 25th of October,\n1838, and died the same day, firm in the faith.\n\nLuke S. Johnson was born November 3, 1807, at Pomfret, Windsor County,\nVermont; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was\ndisfellowshipped September 3, 1837, at Kirtland, and was cut off at Far\nWest, April 13, 1838.\n\nWilliam E. McLellin was born in Tennessee, supposed in 1806; was\nordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He was cut off May\n11, 1838, at Far West.\n\nJohn F. Boynton was born September 20, 1811, at Bradford, Essex County,\nMassachusetts; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland.\nHe was cut off September 3, 1837, at Kirtland.\n\nWilliam Smith was born March 13, 1811, at Royalton, Windsor County,\nVermont; was ordained an apostle February 15, 1835, at Kirtland. He\nwas deprived of the apostleship October 7, 1845, in Nauvoo, and was\nexcommunicated October 12, 1845.\n\nParley P. Pratt was born April 12, 1807, at Burlington, Otsege County,\nNew York; was ordained an apostle February 21, 1835, at Kirtland, and\nwas assassinated near Van Buren, in Arkansas, May 14, 1857.\n\nThomas B. Marsh was born November 1, 1799, at Acton, Massachusetts; was\nordained an apostle April 25 or 26, 1835, at Kirtland. He was cut off\nfor apostacy, at Quincy, Illinois, March 17, 1839.\n\nOrson Pratt was born September 19, 1811, at Hartford, Washington\nCounty, New York; was ordained an apostle April 26, 1835, at Kirtland.\nHe died at his residence in Salt Lake City, October 3, 1881.\n\nJohn Taylor was born November 1, 1808, at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland,\nEngland; was ordained an apostle December 19, 1838, at Far West,\nMissouri. He was President of the Twelve from the death of Brigham\nYoung, and has been sustained as First President of the church since\nOctober 10, 1880, with apostles George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith as\nhis counselors.\n\nJohn E. Page was born February 25, 1799, at Trenton, Oneida County, New\nYork; was ordained an apostle December 19, 1838, at Far West, Missouri.\nHe was cut off June 27, 1846.\n\nWilford Woodruff was born March 1, 1807, at Avon, Hartford County,\nConnecticut; was ordained an apostle April 26, 1839, at Far West,\nMissouri. Since October 10, 1880, has been sustained as President of\nthe Twelve Apostles.\n\nGeorge A. Smith was born June 26, 1817, at Potsdam, St. Lawrence\nCounty, New York; was ordained an apostle April 26, 1839, at Far West,\nMissouri. He was appointed and sustained first counselor to President\nBrigham Young, at the October Conference, 1868. He continued to hold\nthis office until his death, September 1, 1875.\n\nWillard Richards was born June 24, 1804, at Hopkinton, Middlesex\nCounty, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle April 14, 1840, at\nPreston, Lancashire, England, by President Brigham Young and the\nCouncil of Apostles held there on that day. He was second counselor to\nPresident Young from December 27, 1847, until his death, March 11, 1854.\n\nLyman Wight was born May 9, 1796, at Fairfield, Herkimer County,\nNew York; was ordained an apostle April 8, 1841, at Nauvoo. He was\nexcommunicated February 12, 1849.\n\nAmasa M. Lyman was born March 30, 1813, at Lyman, Grafton County, New\nHampshire; was ordained an apostle August 20, 1842, at Nauvoo. He was\ndeprived of his apostleship October 8, 1867, and excommunicated May 12,\n1870.\n\nEzra T. Benson was born February 22, 1811, at Mendon, Worcester County,\nMassachusetts; was ordained an apostle July 16, 1846, at Council\nBluffs, Iowa. He died at Ogden, September 3, 1869.\n\nCharles C. Rich was born August 21, 1809, in Campbell County, Kentucky,\nand was ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City. He\ndied at Paris, Idaho, November 17, 1883.\n\nLorenzo Snow was born April 3, 1814, at Mantua, Portage County, Ohio;\nwas ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City.\n\nErastus Snow was born November 9, 1818, at St. Johnsbury, Vermont; was\nordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at Salt Lake City.\n\nFranklin D. Richards was born April 2, 1821, at Richmond, Berkshire\nCounty, Massachusetts; was ordained an apostle February 12, 1849, at\nSalt Lake City.\n\nGeorge Q. Cannon was born January 11, 1827, at Liverpool, Lancashire,\nEngland; was ordained an apostle August 26, 1860, at Salt Lake City;\nwas sustained first counselor to President John Taylor October 10, 1880.\n\nBrigham Young, Jun., was born December 18, 1836, at Kirtland, Geauga\nCounty, Ohio; was set apart as one of the Twelve Apostles October 9,\n1868, in Salt Lake City.\n\nJoseph F. Smith was born November 13, 1838, at Far West, Missouri; was\nreceived into the Council of Apostles October 6, 1867, at Salt Lake\nCity. He was sustained as second counselor to President John Taylor\nOctober 10, 1880.\n\nAlbert Carrington was born January 8, 1813, at Royalton, Windsor\nCounty, Vermont; was ordained an apostle July 3, 1870, at Salt Lake\nCity.\n\nMoses Thatcher was born February 2, 1842, at Sangamon County, Illinois;\nwas ordained an apostle April 7, 1879, at Salt Lake City.\n\nFrancis M. Lyman was born January 12, 1840, near McComb, in McDonough\nCounty, Illinois; was ordained an apostle October 27, 1880, at Salt\nLake City.\n\nJohn H. Smith was born September 18, 1848, at Carbunca, Pottowattomie\nCounty, Iowa; was ordained an Apostle October 27, 1880, at Salt Lake\nCity.\n\nGeorge Teasdale was born on the 8th of December, 1831, at London,\nEngland, and ordained one of the Twelve Apostles on the 16th of\nOctober, 1882, by President John Taylor, assisted by George Q. Cannon\nand others of the apostles.\n\nHeber J. Grant was born on the 22d of November, 1856, in Salt Lake\nCity, Utah, and ordained one of the Twelve Apostles on the 16th of\nOctober, 1882, by President George Q. Cannon, assisted by President\nJohn Taylor and others of the apostles.\n\nJohn W. Taylor was born on the 15th of May, 1858, at Provo City, Utah\nCounty, Utah, and ordained one of the Twelve Apostles on the 9th day of\nApril, 1884, by President John Taylor, assisted by Counselors Geo. Q.\nCannon, Jos. F. Smith and others of the apostles.\n\nThe first First Presidency and Twelve Apostles of the church, in\nKirtland, were:\n\nFIRST PRESIDENCY.\n\nJoseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams.\n\nTWELVE APOSTLES.\n\n1. Thomas B. Marsh, 2. David W. Patten, 3. Brigham Young,\n\n4. Heber C. Kimball, 5. Orson Hyde, 6. William E. McLellin,\n\n7. Parley P. Pratt, 8. Luke S. Johnson, 9. William Smith,\n\n10. Orson Pratt, 11. John F. Boynton, 12. Lyman E. Johnson.\n\nThe persons composing the first Council of Twelve Apostles were chosen\nby the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon, viz.: Oliver Cowdery,\nDavid Whitmer and Martin Harris, on the 14th day of February, 1835.\nThey were ordained Apostles by Joseph Smith, Jun., Oliver Cowdery and\nDavid Whitmer, as stated in the History of Joseph Smith, under date of\nMay 28, 1843.\n\nIn a revelation given through Joseph, the Seer, at Far West, Missouri,\nJuly 8, 1838, the Lord said to him: \"Let my servant John Taylor, and\nalso my servant John E. Page, and also my servant Wilford Woodruff,\nand also my servant Willard Richards, be appointed to fill the\nplaces of those who have fallen, and be officially notified of their\nappointments.\"\n\nWhen Frederick G. Williams was rejected from the First Presidency,\non the 7th of November, 1837, at Far West, Hyrum Smith was appointed\na counselor in his stead, which position he occupied until called to\nofficiate as Patriarch to the church, after the death of his father,\nJoseph Smith, Sen., which occurred in Nauvoo, September 14, 1840, when\nWilliam Law was appointed counselor to the Prophet Joseph in Hyrum's\nstead. This office Wm. Law occupied until the assassination of the\nProphet and Patriarch, which occurred June 27, 1844, at Carthage,\nIllinois.\n\nThe First Presidency and Twelve Apostles as they stood in Nauvoo, after\nthe apostacy of Luke S. Johnson, William E. McLellin, John F. Boynton,\nLyman E. Johnson, Thomas B Marsh and Frederick G. Williams, and the\nordination of Hyrum Smith to the office of Patriarch, were:\n\nFIRST PRESIDENCY.\n\nJoseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, William Law.\n\nTWELVE APOSTLES.\n\n1. Brigham Young, 2. Heber C. Kimball, 3. Parley P. Pratt,\n\n4. Orson Pratt, 5. Orson Hyde, 6. William Smith,\n\n7. John Taylor, 8. John E. Page, 9. Wilford Woodruff,\n\n10. Willard Richards, 11. George A. Smith, 12. Lyman Wight.\n\nAt a General Conference, held on December 27, 1847, at Kanesville,\n(now Council Bluffs,) Iowa, the Saints acknowledged Brigham Young\nPresident of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and\nHeber C. Kimball and Willard Richards his Counselors. This action was\nconfirmed at the General Conference, held in Salt Lake Valley, after\nthe companies had arrived in the Fall of 1848.\n\nIn Salt Lake City, February, 1849, after the assassination of the\nProphet Joseph, the apostacy of Sidney Rigdon, William Law, William\nSmith, John E. Page and Lyman Wight, the First Presidency and Twelve\nApostles stood as follows:\n\nFIRST PRESIDENCY.\n\nBrigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards.\n\nTWELVE APOSTLES.\n\n1. Orson Hyde, 2. Parley P. Pratt, 3. Orson Pratt,\n\n4. John Taylor, 5. Wilford Woodruff, 6. George A. Smith,\n\n7. Amasa M. Lyman, 8. Ezra T. Benson, 9. Charles C. Rich,\n\n10. Lorenzo Snow, 11. Erastus Snow, 12. Franklin D. Richards.\n\nAfter the death of Counselor Willard Richards, March 11, 1854,\nPresident B. Young nominated, and the church sustained Jedediah\nM. Grant, at the General Conference April 6, 1854, as his second\ncounselor. Elder Grant filled this office until his death, at Salt Lake\nCity, December 1, 1856. He was born in Windsor, Broome County, New\nYork, February 21, 1816.\n\nJohn W. Young was born October 1st, 1844, at Nauvoo, Hancock County,\nIllinois; was ordained an apostle November 22d, 1855, by President\nBrigham Young, assisted by Heber C. Kimball and Jedediah M. Grant, at\nSalt Lake City; on the 4th of February, 1864, he was set apart to be\nassistant counselor to the First Presidency by his father, President\nBrigham Young, and on the 8th of October, 1876, was set apart as first\ncounselor to President Brigham Young, by his father, assisted by Daniel\nH. Wells and Brigham Young, Jr, at Salt Lake City, which position\nhe occupied until the death of President Young. Since then he has\nofficiated as counselor to the Twelve Apostles.\n\nDaniel H. Wells was born October 27, 1814, at Trenton, Oneida County,\nNew York; was ordained an apostle and set apart to be second counselor\nin the First Presidency by President Brigham Young, January 4th, 1857.\nHe held this office until the death of President Young; since then he\nhas officiated as counselor to the Twelve Apostles.\n\nSince the death of Presidents Brigham Young and George A. Smith, Elders\nOrson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Ezra T. Benson, Orson Pratt and Charles\nC. Rich, and the apostacy of Amasa M. Lyman, the First Presidency and\nCouncil of Apostles have been as follows, from April 9, 1884:\n\nFIRST PRESIDENCY.\n\nJohn Taylor, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith.\n\nTWELVE APOSTLES.\n\n1. Wilford Woodruff, 2. Lorenzo Snow, 3. Erastus Snow,\n\n4. Franklin D. Richards, 5. Brigham Young, 6. Albert Carrington,\n\n7. Moses Thatcher, 8. Francis M. Lyman, 9. John H. Smith,\n\n10. George Teasdale, 11. Heber J. Grant, 12. John W. Taylor.\n\nFrancis M. Lyman and John H. Smith were appointed and sustained at the\nGeneral Conference in October, 1880, but were not ordained, on account\nof the absence of Elder Lyman, until the 27th day of that month.\n\nBible.\n\n_Matt_. 10. 2-4 the names of the Twelve Apostles are these.\n\n28. 19, 20 go ye therefore and teach all nations.\n\n_Mark_ 3. 14 he ordained Twelve that they should be with him.\n\n_John_ 15. 16 ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.\n\n_Acts_ 1. 25 that ye may take part in this ministry and apostleship.\n\n4. 35 laid them down at the apostles' feet.\n\n16. 4 the decrees ordained of the apostles.\n\n_Rom_. 1. 5 by whom we have received grace and apostleship.\n\n11. 13 inasmuch as I am an apostle of the Gentiles.\n\n1 _Cor_. 12. 28 God hath set some in the church, first apostles.\n\n2 _Cor_. 12. 12 truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you.\n\n_Eph_. 2. 20 built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets.\n\n3. 5 as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets.\n\n4. 11 and he gave some apostles and some prophets, etc.\n\n_Neh_. 3. 1 the apostle and high priest of our profession.\n\n_Jude_ 17. words spoken before of the apostles of our Lord.\n\n_Rev_. 18. 20 rejoice over her, ye holy apostles and prophets.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n3 _Nephi_ 12. 1 give heed unto these Twelve whom I have chosen.\n\n13. 25 ye are they I have chosen to minister to this people.\n\n19. 4 Jesus chose twelve disciples among the Nephites.\n\n_Chap_. 28. Jesus' ministry to his Twelve Disciples; three chosen to\nremain.\n\n_Mormon_ 1. 16 disciples taken out of the land on account of wickedness.\n\n3. 19 Nephites to be judged by the Twelve whom Jesus chose.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 18. 9 called with the same calling as the apostle Paul.\n\n27-47 calling of the Council of Twelve Apostles in this dispensation.\n\n19. 8 for it is meet for you to know, even as mine apostles.\n\n20. 2, 3 Joseph Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery called and ordained\napostles.\n\n27. 12 with Peter, James and John, by whom I have ordained you apostles.\n\n84. 63 you are mine apostles, even God's high priests. 64.\n\n95. 4 prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time.\n\n_See A Pamphlet, Succession in the Priesthood, by John Taylor_.\n\n_Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 19, page 111_.\n\n\" \" _Geo. Q. Cannon, J. of D. Vol. 10, page 230_.\n\n\n\nCONSECRATION--STEWARDSHIP--UNITED ORDER.\n\nTo the Elder or Saint who has studied the revelations of our Lord Jesus\nChrist, as given in the Doctrine and Covenants, by the light of the\nHoly Spirit, it is most abundantly manifest that the human family has\ndeparted, degenerated or apostatized from original methods in their\nsecular or business concerns, as truly, and as extensively, as they\nhave in their spiritual interests, or the matters of their religious\nfaith.\n\nEnoch instituted an order of things among his people, in their business\nand financial relations, which so revolutionized their temporalities,\nthat they had no poor among them, and all rejoiced together in equal\nhope of the life and exaltation, offered to them in the Gospel of Jesus\nChrist, the Only Begotten of the Father.\n\nThis very peculiar condition of things has been revealed to us under\nthe style of United Order of Enoch, and it would surprise many who have\ngiven little attention to it to know how much is said in explanation\nand support of this doctrine in the Revelations.\n\nWe have thought that our little work could not be considered complete\nwithout a studied article, explanatory of this subject, but have\nconcluded to give some references and citations, and invite the\nearnest students and scholars in the Church to investigate these great\nprinciples of social reform which have long puzzled the scientists and\nmoralists of our age, which are worthy the efforts of our best minds,\nenlightened by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and which God has\npromised to set in order in his Church, in his own time and in his own\nway.\n\nBible.\n\n_Psalm_ 50. 5 gather my Saints together, that have made a covenant with\nme by sacrifice.\n\n_Matt_. 19. 16-21 go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor.\n\n_Acts_ 4. 31, 32 but they had all things common.\n\n35 distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n4 _Nephi_ 1. 2, 3 they had all things common among them, therefore they\nwere not rich and poor, bond and free.\n\n16 there could not be a happier people who had been created by the hand\nof God.\n\n24, 25 from that time they had their goods and substance no more common\namong them.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 19. 26 Martin Harris was commanded to impart of his substance,\nfor printing the Book of Mormon.\n\n34, 35 Martin Harris commanded to impart all his substance except\nsufficient for the support of his family.\n\n42. 30 properties to be consecrated for the support of the poor, by\ndeed and Covenant.\n\n32 every man to be made accountable to the Lord, as a steward over his\nown property.\n\n33 properties in the hands of the Church, or individuals, more than is\nnecessary for their support, shall be kept to administer to those who\nhave not.\n\n39 the riches of those who embrace the Gospel among the Gentiles, to be\nconsecrated to the poor of the house of Israel.\n\n37 he that is cast out of the Church shall not receive that which he\nhas consecrated to the poor.\n\n51. 1, 2 must needs be that they be organized according to my laws, or\nthey will be cut off.\n\n3 appoint unto this people their portion, every man equal according to\ntheir families.\n\n4 a writing given unto every man to secure unto him his portion. 5-7.\n\n58. 35-87 Martin Harris to be an example unto the Church, in laying\nhis monies before the bishop. This is the law to every man who would\nreceive an inheritance in Zion.\n\n70. 9-11 no man exempt from the law of consecration who belongs to the\nchurch.\n\n78. 4 the order for the establishment of the poor to be everlasting.\n\n5, 6 all to be equal in heavenly and earthly things.\n\n11, 12 the Saints to organize by an everlasting covenant. He who breaks\nit to be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan.\n\n82. 11 certain men to be bound together by a covenant not to be broken.\n12-18.\n\n21 the soul that sins against this covenant and hardens his heart\nagainst it, to be turned over to the buffetings of Satan.\n\n85. 3-5 those who do not keep the law of consecration and tithing,\nshall not have their names enrolled with the people of God; their\ngenealogy shall not be found in the records of the church, neither\nshall the names of the fathers or children be written in the book of\nthe law of God.\n\n104. 1 the united order to be an everlasting order for the salvation of\nmen until Christ come.\n\n4-10 the penalty of breaking the covenants of the united order.\n\n11-13 every man's stewardship to be appointed unto him.\n\n15, 16 the Lord will provide for his Saints in his own way.\n\n54, 55 the properties of the Saints are the Lord's, or else is their\nfaith vain.\n\n105. 2 were it not for the transgressions of my people, they might have\nbeen redeemed even now.\n\n4 are not united according to the law of the celestial kingdom.\n\n5 Zion cannot be built up except by the law of the celestial kingdom.\n\n9 elders to wait a little season for the redemption of Zion.\n\nPearl of Great Price.\n\n_Pages_ 18, 19, 20 an account of the city of Enoch.\n\n_See Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. 15, page 220_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _17_, \" _56_.\n\n\" \" _J. Taylor_, \" \" _17_, \" _47_.\n\n\" \" _G. A. Smith_, \" \" _17_, \" _58_.\n\n\" \" _W. Woodruff_, \" \" _17_, \" _69_.\n\n\" \" _E. Snow_. \" \" _17_, \" _74_.\n\n\" \" _O. Pratt_, \" \" _17_, \"_ 103_.\n\n\" \" _L. Snow,_ \" \" 18, \" 371.\n\n\" \" _E. Snow_, \" \" 19, \" 179.\n\n\" \" _L. Snow,_ \" \" _19_, \" _341_.\n\n\" \" _J. Taylor_, \" \" _20_, \" _55_.\n\n\" \" _L. Snow_, \" \" _20_, \" _361_.\n\n\" \" _J. Taylor_, \" \" _21_, \" _53_.\n\n\" \" _O. Pratt_, \" \" _21_, \" _146_.\n\n\n\nGEMS FROM THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.\n\n_May_, 25, 1835, in a Council of the Twelve, Brigham Young, one of the\nTwelve, Elders John P. Greene and Amos Orton were set apart to open the\ndoor of the Gospel to the remnants of Joseph.\n\nPRESIDENCY OF THE TWELVE.--_January_ 16, 1836, in a Council of the\nTwelve the Prophet Joseph made the following remark: \"The Twelve are\nnot subject to any other than the First Presidency, viz.: myself,\nSidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, who are now my Counselors;\n(and where I am not, there is no First Presidency over the Twelve.)\"\n\nA Vision.--_January_ 21, 1836, the Prophet Joseph says of this time;\n\"The heavens were opened upon us, and I beheld the celestial kingdom of\nGod, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell.\nI saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of\nthat kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire;\nalso the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and\nthe Son. I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the\nappearance of being paved with gold. I saw Fathers Adam and Abraham,\nand my father and mother, my brother Alvin, that has long since slept,\nand marvelled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that\nkingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set\nhis hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized\nfor the remission of sins. Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me,\nsaying--All who have died without a knowledge of this Gospel, who would\nhave received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs\nof the celestial kingdom of God; also all that shall die henceforth\nwithout a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their\nhearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom, for I, the Lord, will judge all\nmen according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.\nAnd I also beheld all children who die before they arrive at years of\naccountability, are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven. * * *\n\n\"Many of my brethren who received the ordinance with me saw glorious\nvisions also. Angels ministered unto them as well as myself, and the\npower of the Highest rested upon us, the house was filled with the\nglory of God, and we shouted Hosanna to God and the Lamb.\"\n\nTHE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY.--_On the evening of March_ 27, 1836, President\nJoseph Smith met the Quorums of the Priesthood in the Temple, and\ninstructed them respecting the ordinance of washing of feet, and in\nrelation to the Spirit of prophecy, \"And called upon the congregation\nto speak, and not to fear to prophesy good concerning the Saints,\nfor if you prophesy the falling of these hills, and the rising of\nthe valleys, the downfall of the enemies of Zion, and the rising of\nthe kingdom of God, it shall come to pass. Do not quench the Spirit,\nfor the first one that opens his mouth shall receive the spirit of\nprophecy. Brother G. A. Smith arose, and began to prophesy, when a\nnoise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled\nthe Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being\nmoved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues, and\nprophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was\nfilled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation. The\npeople of the neighborhood came running together, (hearing an unusual\nsound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting\nupon the Temple,) and were astonished at what was transpiring.\"\n\nWHAT THE ELDERS SHOULD PREACH.--_March_ 30, 1836, the Elders met in the\nKirtland Temple, to attend to the ordinance of washing of feet, under\nthe direction of the Prophet Joseph. He made the following remarks:\n\n\"That the time that we were required to tarry in Kirtland to be endued,\nwould be fulfilled in a few days, and then the Elders would go forth,\nand each must stand for himself, as it was not necessary for them to be\nsent out, two by two, as in former times, but to go in all meekness,\nin sobriety, and preach Jesus Christ and him crucified; not to contend\nwith others on account of their faith, or systems of religion, but\npursue a steady course. This I delivered by way of commandment; and\nall who observe it not, will pull down persecution upon their heads,\nwhile those who do, shall always be filled with the Holy Ghost; this I\npronounced as a prophecy, and sealed with hosanna and Amen.\"\n\nTHE COMFORTER.--From instructions of the Prophet Joseph, given at a\nConference of the Twelve, _June_ 27, 1839.\n\n\"There are two Comforters spoken of. One is the Holy Ghost, the same as\ngiven on the day of Pentecost, and that all Saints receive after faith,\nrepentance, and baptism. This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no\nother effect than pure intelligence. It is more powerful in expanding\nthe mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect\nwith present knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed of Abraham,\nthan one that is a Gentile, though it may not have half as much visible\neffect upon the body; for as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the\nliteral seed of Abraham, it is calm and serene; and his whole soul and\nbody are only exercised by the pure spirit of intelligence; while the\neffect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood,\nand make him actually of the seed of Abraham.\n\nThat man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a\nnew creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of\na powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an\nIsraelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile\nin pure intelligence.\n\nTHE OTHER COMFORTER spoken of is a subject of great interest, and\nperhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person hath faith\nin Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of\nhis sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands,)\nwhich is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself\nbefore God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living\nby every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou\nshalt be exalted, etc. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and\nfinds that the man is determined to serve him at all hazards, then the\nman will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be\nhis privilege to receive the _other Comforter_, which the Lord hath\npromised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in\nthe 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses. * *\n\nNow, what is this _other Comforter_? It is no more or less than the\nLORD JESUS CHRIST himself; and this is the sum and substance of the\nwhole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will\nhave the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him\nfrom time to time, and even he will manifest the Father unto him, and\nthey will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens\nwill be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and\nhe may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God;\nand this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when\nthey had such glorious visions--Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle\nof Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held\ncommunion with the general assembly and _Church of the First Born_, etc.\n\n\"THE SPIRIT OF REVELATION is in connection with these blessings. A\nperson may profit by noticing the first intimations of the Spirit of\nRevelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing unto\nyou, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, that by noticing it,\nyou may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i. e.,) those things\nthat were presented unto your mind by the Spirit of God, will come to\npass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you\nmay grow into the principle of Revelation, until you become perfect in\nChrist Jesus.\"\n\nFORGIVE ONE ANOTHER.--\"Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy,\nand be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of\nrepentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our\nbrother, or even our enemy, before they repent or ask forgiveness, our\nHeavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us.\"\n\nKEYS.--_July_ 2, 1839, at a meeting of the Twelve and some of the\nSeventies, President Joseph Smith made the following remarks: \"O ye\nTwelve! and all Saints! profit by this important KEY--that in all your\ntrials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments and\ndeath, see to it, that you do not betray heaven; that you do not betray\n_Jesus Christ_; that you do not betray the _brethren_; that you do not\nbetray the _revelations_ of God, whether in the Bible, Book of Mormon,\nor Doctrine and Covenants, or any other that ever was or ever will be\ngiven and revealed unto man in this world or that which is to come.\nYea, in all your kicking and flounderings, see to it that you do not\nthis thing, lest innocent blood be found in your skirts, and you go\ndown to hell. All other sins are not to be compared to sinning against\nthe Holy Ghost, and proving a traitor to thy brethren.\n\nI will give unto you one of the _keys_ of the mysteries of the\nkingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from\nall eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault\nwith the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself\nis righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the highroad to\napostacy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives.\n\nThe principle is as correct as the one Jesus put forth in saying, that\nhe who seeketh a sign is an adulterous person; and that principle is\neternal, undeviating, and firm as the pillars of heaven; for whenever\nyou see a man seeking after a sign, you may set it down that he is an\nadulterous man.\n\nCOMING OF THE SON OF MAN.--On another occasion about this time the\nprophet Joseph made the following remarks: \"Men profess to prophesy.\nI will prophesy that the signs of the coming of the Son of Man are\nalready commenced. One pestilence will desolate after another. We shall\nsoon have war and bloodshed. The moon will be turned into blood. I\ntestify of these things, and that the coming of the Son of Man is nigh,\neven at your doors. If our souls and our bodies are not looking forth\nfor the coming of the Son of Man; and after we are dead, if we are not\nlooking forth, &c.; we shall be among those who are calling for the\nrocks to fall upon us, &c. * * * The time is soon coming when no man\nwill have any peace but in Zion and her Stakes.\n\n\"I saw men hunting the lives of their own sons, and brother murdering\nbrother, women killing their own daughters, and daughters seeking the\nlives of their mothers. I saw armies arrayed against armies. I saw\nblood, desolation, fires. &c.\n\n\"The Son of Man has said that the mother shall be against the daughter,\nand the daughter against the mother, &c. These things are at our doors.\nThey will follow the Saints of God from city to city. Satan will rage,\nand the spirit of the devil is now enraged. I know not how soon these\nthings will take place; and with a view of them, shall I cry peace? No!\nI will lift up my voice and testify of them. How long you will have\ngood crops, and the famine be kept off, I do not know; when the fig\ntree leaves, know then that the summer is nigh at hand.\"\n\nTHE SAINTS MUST SUFFER.--_September_ 29, 1839, \"Explained concerning\nthe coming of the Son of Man, &c.; also that it is a false idea that\nthe Saints will escape all the judgments, whilst the wicked suffer;\nfor all flesh is subject to suffer, and 'the righteous shall hardly\nescape;' still many of the Saints will escape, for the just shall live\nby faith; yet many of the righteous shall fall a prey to disease, to\npestilence, etc., by reason of the weakness of the flesh, and yet be\nsaved in the kingdom of God. So that it is an unhallowed principle to\nsay that such and such have transgressed because they have been preyed\nupon by disease or death, for all flesh is subject to death; and the\nSavior said, 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.'\"\n\nTRANSLATION.--_October_ 5, 1840. \"Many may have supposed that the\ndoctrine of translation was a doctrine whereby men were taken\nimmediately into the presence of God, and into an eternal fulness,\nbut this is a mistaken idea. Their place of habitation is that of the\nterrestrial order, and a place prepared for such characters, be held in\nreserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and who as yet have\nnot entered into so great a fulness as those who are resurrected from\nthe dead. * * * This distinction is made between the doctrine of the\nactual resurrection and translation: translation obtains deliverance\nfrom the tortures and sufferings of the body, but their existence will\nprolong as to the labors and toils of the ministry, before they can\nenter into so great a rest and glory.\"\n\nSACRIFICE TO BE RESTORED.--\"It is generally supposed that sacrifice was\nentirely done away when the Great Sacrifice was offered up, and that\nthere will be no necessity for the ordinance of sacrifice in future;\nbut those who assert this are certainly not acquainted with the duties,\nprivileges, and authority of the Priesthood, or with the Prophets. * *\n\n\"These sacrifices, as well as every ordinance belonging to the\nPriesthood, will, when the Temple of the Lord shall be built, and the\nsons of Levi be purified, be fully restored and attended to in all\ntheir powers, ramifications, and blessings. This ever did and will\nexist when the powers of the Melchizedec Priesthood are sufficiently\nmanifest; else how can the restitution of all things spoken of by all\nthe holy Prophets be brought to pass?\"\n\nBOOK OF MORMON.--_November_ 28, 1841. In council with the Twelve\nApostles, Joseph Smith said, \"I told the brethren that the Book of\nMormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone\nof our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its\nprecepts, than by any other book.\"\n\nTHE RESURRECTION.--_March_ 20, 1842. From a sermon of Joseph Smith's:\n\"As concerning the resurrection, I will merely say that all men will\ncome from the grave as they lie down, whether old or young; there will\nnot be 'added unto their stature one cubit,' neither taken from it; all\nwill be raised by the power of God, having spirit in their bodies, and\nnot blood.\"\n\nSPIRIT AND MATTER.--_April_ 1, 1842. The Prophet Joseph said, \"In\ntracing the thing to the foundation, and looking at it philosophically,\nwe shall find a very material difference between the body and the\nspirit: the body is supposed to be organized matter, and the spirit,\nby many, is thought to be immaterial, without substance. With this\nlatter statement we should beg leave to differ, and state that spirit\nis a substance; that it is material, but that it is more pure, elastic,\nand refined matter than the body; that it existed before the body, can\nexist in the body, and will exist separate from the body, when the body\nwill be mouldering in the dust; and will in the resurrection, be again\nunited with it.\"\n\nMUST BE LIKE GOD.--_April_ 10, 1842. Joseph Smith said, \"If you wish to\ngo where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which\nGod possesses, for if we are not drawing towards God in principle, we\nare going from Him and drawing towards the devil. * * * A man is saved\nno faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he\nwill be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world,\nas evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power\nthan many men who are on the earth. Hence it needs revelation to assist\nus, and give us knowledge of the things of God.\".\n\nKEYS.--_May_ 1, 1842. \"The KEYS are certain signs and words by which\nfalse spirits and personages may be detected from true, which cannot be\nrevealed to the Elders till the Temple is completed. The rich can only\nget them in the Temple, the poor may get them on the mountain top as\nMoses did.\"\n\nCHARITY.--\"The rich cannot be saved without charity, giving to feed the\npoor when and how God requires.\"\n\nSIGNS.--\"There are signs in heaven, earth, and hell; the Elders must\nknow them all, to be endowed with power, to finish their work and\nprevent imposition. The devil knows many signs, but does not know the\nsign of the Son of Man, or Jesus. No one can truly say he knows God\nuntil he has handled something, and this can only be in the Holiest of\nHolies.\"\n\nA PROPHECY.--_August_ 6, 1842. \"I prophesied that the Saints would\ncontinue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky\nMountains, many would apostatize, others would be put to death by our\npersecutors, or lose their lives in consequence of exposure or disease,\nand some of you will live to go and assist in making settlements and\nbuild cities and see the Saints become a mighty people in the midst of\nthe Rocky Mountains.\"\n\nTHE MILLENNIUM.--_December_ 30, 1842. \"Christ and the resurrected\nSaints will reign over the earth during the thousand years. They will\nnot probably dwell on the earth, but will visit it when they please,\nor when it is necessary to govern it. There will be wicked men on the\nearth during the thousand years. The heathen nations who will not come\nup to worship will be visited with the judgments of God, and must\neventually be destroyed from the earth.\"\n\nSIGN OF A DOVE.--_January_ 29, 1843. \"The sign of the dove was\ninstituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy\nGhost, and the Devil cannot come in the sign of a dove.\"\n\nCOMING OF THE SON OF MAN.--_April_ 6, 1843. \"Judah must return,\nJerusalem must be rebuilt, and the Temple, and water come out from\nunder the Temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will\ntake some time to build the walls of the city and the Temple, &c.; and\nall this must be done before the Son of Man will make his appearance.\nThere will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and\non the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to\nblood, earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving beyond their\nbounds; then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven.\nBut what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, a comet, &c.\nBut the Son of Man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of\nMan, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east.\"\n\nSOME SEEK TO EXCEL.--_May_ 14, 1843. \"In this world, mankind are\nnaturally selfish, ambitious, and striving to excel above one another.\n* * So in the other world there is a variety of spirits. Some seek to\nexcel. And this was the case with Lucifer when he fell. He sought for\nthings which were unlawful. Hence he was cast down, and it is said he\ndrew away many with him; and the greatness of his punishment is, that\nhe shall not have a tabernacle. This is his punishment.\"\n\nTHE MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY.--\"Now for the secret and grand key.\nThough they might hear the voice of God and know that Jesus was the Son\nof God, this would be no evidence that their election and calling was\nmade sure, that they had part with Christ, and were joint heirs with\nhim. They then would want that more sure word of prophecy, that they\nwere sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the\nkingdom of God. Then, having this promise sealed unto them, it was an\nanchor to the soul, sure and steadfast.\"\n\nHID WITH CHRIST IN GOD.--_May_ 16, 1843. \"Your life is hid with Christ\nin God, and so are many others. Nothing but the unpardonable sin can\nprevent you from inheriting eternal glory, for you are sealed up by\nthe power of the Priesthood unto eternal life, having taken the step\nnecessary for the purpose. * * * The unpardonable sin is to shed\ninnocent blood, or be accessory thereto. All other sins will be visited\nwith judgment in the flesh, and the spirit being delivered to the\nbuffetings of Satan until the day of the Lord Jesus.\"\n\nTHREE DEGREES IN CELESTIAL GLORY.--\"In the celestial glory there are\nthree heavens or degrees; and in order to obtain the highest, a man\nmust enter into this order of the Priesthood; and if he does not, he\ncannot obtain it. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of\nhis kingdom: he cannot have an increase.\"\n\nSALVATION.--_May_ 17, 1843. \"Salvation means a man's being placed\nbeyond the power of all his enemies. The more sure word of prophecy\nmeans a man's knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life by\nrevelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the holy\nPriesthood. It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.\"\n\nETERNAL DURATION OF MATTER.--\"Speaking of the eternal duration of\nmatter, I said.--There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All\nspirit is matter, but is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned\nby purer eyes. We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified, we\nshall see that it is all matter.\"\n\nTHE PUNISHMENT OF THE DEVIL.--_May_ 21, 1843. \"The spirits in the\neternal world are like the spirits in this world. When those spirits\nhave come into this world and received tabernacles, then died, and\nagain have risen and received glorified bodies, they will have an\nascendancy over the spirits who have no bodies, or kept not their first\nestate, like the Devil. The punishment of the Devil was, that he should\nnot have a habitation like men. The Devil's retaliation is, he comes\ninto this world, binds up men's bodies, and occupies them himself. When\nthe authorities come along, they eject him from a stolen habitation.\"\n\nTHE THREE KEYS.--\"We have no claim in our eternal compact, in relation\nto eternal things, unless our actions and contracts and all things tend\nto this end. But after all this, you have got to make your calling and\nelection sure.\n\n\"If this injunction would lie largely on those to whom it was spoken,\nhow much more those of the present generation. First key: Knowledge\nis the power of salvation. Second key: Make your calling and election\nsure. Third key: It is one thing to be on the mount and hear the\nexcellent voice, &c., &c.; and another to hear the voice declare to\nyou, you have a part and lot in that kingdom.\"\n\nJOHN THE BAPTIST.--_May_ 24, 1843. \"After naming his text, the Prophet\nremarked that some one had asked him the meaning of the expression of\nJesus--'Among those born of women, there has not arisen a greater than\nJohn;' and said he had promised to answer it in public and he would do\nit then.\n\n\"It could not have been on account of the miracles John performed, for\nhe did no miracles; but it was--First, because he was trusted with a\ndivine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord. Who\nwas trusted with such a mission before or since? No man. Second, he\nwas trusted and it was required at his hand to baptize the Son of Man.\nWhoever did that? Who ever had so great a privilege or glory? Who ever\nled the Son of God into the waters of baptism, beholding the _Holy\nGhost_ descend upon him in the sign of a dove? _No man_.\n\n\"Third, John at that time was the only legal administrator holding the\nkeys of power there was on earth. The keys, the kingdom, the power,\nthe glory had departed from the Jews; and John, the son of Zachariah,\nby the anointing and decree of heaven, held the keys of power at that\ntime.\"\n\nTHE PRINCIPLE THAT CRUCIFIED JESUS CHRIST.--_June_ 11, 1843. \"Many\nmen will say, 'I will never forsake you, but will stand by you at all\ntimes.' But the moment you teach them some of the mysteries of the\nkingdom of God that are retained in the heavens and are to be revealed\nto the children of men when they are prepared for them, they will be\nthe first to stone you and put you to death. It was this same principle\nthat crucified the Lord Jesus Christ, and will cause the people to kill\nthe Prophets in this generation.\"\n\nA FULNESS OF ORDINANCES NECESSARY.--\"All men who become heirs of God\nand joint heirs of Jesus Christ will have to receive the fulness of\nthe ordinances of his kingdom; and those who will not receive all the\nordinances will come short of the fulness of that glory, if they do not\nlose the whole.\"\n\nTHE WORLD OF SPIRITS.--\"Hades, the Greek, or Shaole, the Hebrew: these\ntwo significations mean a world of spirits. Hades, Shaole, paradise,\nspirits in prison, are all one: it is a world of spirits.\n\n\"The righteous and the wicked all go to the same world of spirits until\nthe resurrection. * * The great misery of departed spirits in the\nworld of spirits, where they go after death, is to know that they come\nshort of the glory that others enjoy and that they might have enjoyed\nthemselves, and they are their own accusers.\"\n\nTHREE PERSONS IN HEAVEN HOLDING THE KEYS OF POWER.--\"Any person that\nhas seen the heavens opened knows that there are three personages in\nthe heavens who hold the keys of power, and one presides over all.\n* * * As the Father hath power in himself, so hath the Son power in\nhimself, to lay down his life and take it again, so he has a body of\nhis own. The Son doeth what he hath seen the Father do: then the Father\nhath some day laid down his life and taken it again; so he has a body\nof his own; each one will be in his own body.\"\n\nFORGIVE ALL MEN.--_July_ 9, 1843. \"Joseph remarked that all was well\nbetween him and the heavens; that he had no enmity against anyone; and\nas the prayer of Jesus, or his pattern, so prayed Joseph--'Father,\nforgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me,'\nfor I freely forgive all men. If we would secure and cultivate the love\nof others, we must love others, even our enemies as well as friends.\"\n\nNECESSITY OF BAPTISM.--The Gospel requires baptism by immersion for the\nremission of sins, which is the meaning of the word in the original\nlanguage--namely, to bury or immerse. * * But I further believe in the\ngift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. * * Might as well\nbaptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission\nof sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a\nbaptism, and is good for nothing without the other half--that is, the\nbaptism of the Holy Ghost.\n\nSEALING OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD.--_August_ 13, 1843. \"Four destroying\nangels holding power over the four quarters of the earth until the\nservants of God are sealed in their foreheads, which signifies sealing\nthe blessing upon their heads, meaning the everlasting covenant,\nthereby making their calling and election sure. When a seal is put upon\nthe father and mother, it secures their posterity, so that they cannot\nbe lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father\nand mother.\"\n\nTHE KING OF SALEM.--_August_ 18, 1843. \"The King of Shiloam (Salem) had\npower and authority over that of Abraham, holding the key and the power\nof endless life.\"\n\n\"THE SACRIFICE REQUIRED OF ABRAHAM in the offering up of Isaac shows\nthat if a man would attain to the keys of the kingdom of an endless\nlife, he must sacrifice all things. When God offers a blessing or\nknowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned.\"\n\nTHE FULNESS OF THE MELCHISEDEK PRIESTHOOD.--\"Those holding the fulness\nof the Melchisedek Priesthood are kings and priests of the Most High\nGod, holding the keys of power and blessings! In fact, that Priesthood\nis a perfect law of theocracy, and stands as God to give laws to the\npeople, administering endless lives to the sons and daughters of Adam.\n\n\"Abram says to Melchisedek, I believe all that thou hast taught\nme concerning the Priesthood and the coming of the Son of Man; so\nMelchisedek ordained Abram, and sent him away. Abram rejoiced, saying,\nNow I have a Priesthood. * * Elijah shall reveal the covenants to seal\nthe hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the\nfathers. The anointing and sealing is to be called, elected, and made\nsure.\"\n\nSPIRITS OF THE JUST.--_October_ 9, 1843. \"Spirits can only be revealed\nin flaming fire or glory. Angels have advanced further, their light\nand glory being tabernacled; and hence they appear in bodily shape.\nThe spirits of just men are made ministering servants to those who are\nsealed unto life eternal, and it is through them that the sealing power\ncomes down. * *\n\n\"The spirits of the just are exalted to a greater and more glorious\nwork; hence they are blessed in their departure to the world of\nspirits. Enveloped in flaming fire, they are not far from us, and know\nand understand our thoughts, feelings, and notions, and are often\npained therewith.\n\n\"Flesh and blood cannot go there; but flesh and bones, quickened by the\nSpirit of God, can.\"\n\nTHE KINGDOM OF GOD.--_October_ 15, 1843. \"It is one thing to see the\nKingdom of God, and another thing to enter into it. We must have a\nchange of heart to see the Kingdom of God, and subscribe the articles\nof adoption to enter therein.\n\nADULTERY.--_November_ 25, 1843. \"If a man commit adultery, he cannot\nreceive the celestial kingdom of God. Even if he is saved in any\nkingdom, it cannot be the celestial kingdom.\"\n\nSAVIORS ON MOUNT ZION.--_January_ 20, 1844. \"The Bible says, 'I will\nsend you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful\nday of the Lord; and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the\nchildren, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come\nand smite the earth with a curse.'\n\n\"Now, the word _turn_ here should be translated _bind_, or seal. But\nwhat is the object of this important mission? or how is it to be\nfulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah is to\ncome, the Gospel to be established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion\nbuilt up, and the Saints to come up as Saviors on Mount Zion.\n\n\"But how are they to become Saviors on Mount Zion? By building their\ntemples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving\nall the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings,\nordinations, and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all\ntheir progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come\nforth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with\nthem; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers\nto the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfils the\nmission of Elijah. * *\n\n\"The Saints have not too much time to save and redeem their dead, and\ngather together their living relatives, that they may be saved also,\nbefore the earth will be smitten, and the consumption decreed falls\nupon the world.\"\n\nTHE SPIRIT OF ELIAS.--_March_ 10, 1844. \"The spirit of Elias is\nto prepare the way for a greater revelation of God, which is the\nPriesthood of Elias, or the Priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto.\nAnd when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work,\nholding the keys of the power of Elias, it was called the doctrine of\nElias, even from the early ages of the world. * * * This is the Elias\nspoken of in the last days, and here is the rock upon which many split,\nthinking the time was past in the days of John and Christ, and no more\nto be. But the spirit of Elias was revealed to me, and I know it is\ntrue; therefore I speak with boldness, for I know verily my doctrine is\ntrue.\"\n\nTHE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH.--\"Now for Elijah. The spirit, power, and calling\nof Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the keys of the revelations,\nordinances, oracles, powers, and endowments of the fulness of the\nMelchisedek Priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth; and\nto receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the\nkingdom of God, even unto the turning of the hearts of the fathers\nunto the children, and the hearts of the children unto the fathers,\neven those who are in heaven. * * Now comes the point. What is this\noffice and work of Elijah? It is one of the greatest and most important\nsubjects that God has revealed. He should send Elijah to seal the\nchildren to the fathers, and the fathers to the children. * * I wish\nyou to understand this subject, for it is important; and if you will\nreceive it, this is the spirit of Elijah, that we redeem our dead, and\nconnect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven, and seal up\nour dead to come forth in the first resurrection; and here we want the\npower of Elijah _to seal those who dwell on earth to those who dwell\nin heaven_. This is the power of Elijah and the keys of the kingdom\nof Jehovah. * * Then what you seal on earth, by the keys of Elijah,\nis sealed in heaven; and this is the power of Elijah, and this is the\ndifference between the spirit and power of Elias and Elijah; for while\nthe spirit of Elias is a forerunner, the power of Elijah is sufficient\nto make our calling and election sure. * * We cannot be perfect without\nthe fathers, etc. We must have revelations from them, and we can see\nthat the doctrine of REVELATION as far transcends the doctrine of NO\nREVELATION as knowledge is above ignorance; for one truth revealed from\nheaven is worth all the sectarian notions in existence.\n\n\"This spirit of Elijah was manifest in the days of the apostles, in\ndelivering certain ones to the buffetings of Satan, that they might\nbe saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. They were sealed by the spirit\nof Elijah unto the damnation of hell until the day of the Lord, or\nrevelation of Jesus Christ. * *\n\n\"According to the Scriptures, if men have received the good word of\nGod, and tasted of the powers of the world to come, if they shall\nfall away, it is impossible to renew them again, seeing they have\ncrucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame; so there\nis a possibility of falling away: you could not be renewed again, and\nthe power of Elijah cannot seal against this sin, for this is a reserve\nmade in the seals and power of the Priesthood. * *\n\n\"A murderer, for instance, one that sheds innocent blood, cannot have\nforgiveness. David sought repentance at the hand of God carefully, with\ntears, for the murder of Uriah; but he could only get it through hell:\nhe got a promise that his soul should not be left in hell. Although\nDavid was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah\nand the fulness of the Priesthood; and the Priesthood that he received,\nand the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and given\nto another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his\nlineage.\n\n\"This is the case with murderers. They could not be baptized for the\nremission of sins, for they had shed innocent blood.\"\n\nTHE SPIRIT OF MESSIAH.--\"The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second,\nand Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare the way, and the\nspirit and power of Elijah is to come after, holding the keys of\npower, building the Temple to the cap stone, placing the seals of\nthe Melchisedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel, and making all\nthings ready; then _Messiah_ comes to his Temple, which is last of all.\nMessiah is above the spirit and power of Elijah, for he made the world,\nand was that spiritual rock unto Moses in the wilderness. Elijah was to\ncome and prepare the way and build up the kingdom before the coming of\nthe great day of the Lord, although the spirit of Elias might begin it.\"\n\nETERNAL LIFE.--_April_ 7, 1844. \"Here, then, is eternal life--to know\nthe only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods\nyourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods\nhave done before you,--namely, by going from one small degree to\nanother, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace,\nfrom exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of\nthe dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in\nglory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power.\"\n\nALL REVELATIONS ARE SPIRITUAL.--\"All things whatsoever God of his\ninfinite wisdom has seen fit and proper to reveal to us, while we are\ndwelling in mortality, in regard to our mortal bodies, are revealed\nto us in the abstract and independent of affinity of this mortal\ntabernacle, but are revealed to our spirits precisely as though we had\nno bodies at all; and those revelations which will save our spirits\nwill save our bodies. God reveals them to us in view of no eternal\ndissolution of the body, or tabernacle. Hence the responsibility, the\nawful responsibility, that rests upon us, in relation to our dead; for\nall the spirits who have not obeyed the Gospel in the flesh must either\nobey it in the spirit or be damned. * * * The greatest responsibility\nin this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.\nThe Apostle says, 'They without us cannot be made perfect;' for it is\nnecessary that the sealing power should be in our hands to seal our\nchildren and our dead for the fulness of the dispensation of times--a\ndispensation to meet the promises made by Jesus Christ before the\nfoundation of the world for the salvation of man.\"\n\nSIN AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST.--\"All sins, and all blasphemies, and every\ntransgression, except one, that man can be guilty of, may be forgiven;\nand there is a salvation for all men, either in this world or the world\nto come, who have not committed the unpardonable sin, there being a\nprovision either in this world or the world of spirits. Hence God hath\nmade a provision that every spirit in the eternal world can be ferreted\nout and saved, unless he has committed that unpardonable sin which\ncannot be remitted to him either in this world or the world of spirits.\nGod has wrought out a salvation for all men, unless they have committed\na certain sin; and every man who has a friend in the eternal world can\nsave him, unless he has committed the unpardonable sin. And so you can\nsee how you can be a savior.\"\n\nTHE CONTENTION IN HEAVEN.--\"The contention in heaven was--Jesus said\nthere would be certain souls that would not be saved; and the Devil\nsaid he could save them all, and laid his plans before the grand\ncouncil, who gave their vote in favor of Jesus Christ. So the Devil\nrose up in rebellion against God, and was cast down, with all who put\nup their heads for him.\"\n\nFOREORDINATION OF MAN.--_May_ 12, 1844. \"Every man who has a calling\nto minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very\npurpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was.\"\n\nGOD DWELLS IN ETERNAL FIRE.--\"God Almighty himself dwells in eternal\nfire: flesh and blood cannot go there, for all corruption is devoured\nby the fire. Our God is a consuming fire. When our flesh is quickened\nby the Spirit, there will be no blood in this tabernacle. Some dwell in\nhigher glory than others.\"\n\nTHE RESURRECTION.--\"All men who are immortal dwell in everlasting\nburnings. You cannot go anywhere but where God can find you out. All\nmen are born to die, and all men must rise; all must enter eternity.\n\n\"In order for you to receive your children to yourself, you must have\na promise--some ordinance, some blessing, in order to ascend above\nprincipalities, or else it may be an angel. They must rise just as they\ndied: we can there hail our lovely infants with the same glory--the\nsame loveliness in the celestial glory, where they all enjoy alike.\nThey differ in stature, in size: the same glorious spirit gives them\nthe likeness of glory and bloom; the old man with his silvery hairs\nwill glory in bloom and beauty. No man can describe it to you--no man\ncan write it.\"\n\nCOUNCIL OF HIGH PRIESTS.--_February_ 12, 1834. The Prophet Joseph said:\n\"No man is capable of judging a matter, in Council, unless his own\nheart is pure; and that we frequently are so filled with prejudice, or\nhave a beam in our own eye, that we are not capable of passing right\ndecisions, etc.\n\n\"But to return to the subject of order: In ancient days, Councils were\nconducted with strict propriety, that no one was allowed to whisper, be\nweary, leave the room, or get uneasy in the least, until the voice of\nthe Lord, by revelation, or the voice of the Council by the Spirit was\nobtained, which has not been observed in this Church to the present.\n\n\"It was understood in ancient days, that if one man could stay in\nCouncil, another could; and if the President could spend his time, the\nmembers could also; but in our Councils, generally, one will be uneasy,\nanother asleep; one praying, another not; one's mind on the business of\nthe Council, and another thinking on something else, etc.\n\n\"Our acts are rendered, and at a future day they will be laid before\nus, and if we should fail to judge right and injure our fellow beings,\nthey may be there, perhaps, condemn us; there they are of great\nconsequence, and to me the consequence appears to be of force, beyond\nanything which I am able to express, etc. Ask yourselves, brethren, how\nmuch you have exercised yourselves in prayer since you heard of this\nCouncil; and if you are now prepared to sit in Council upon the soul of\nyour brother.\"\n\nTHE HIGH COUNCIL.--_July_ 11, 1840. \"The High Council met at my office,\nwhen I taught them principles relating to their duty as a Council, and\nthat they might be guided by the same in future, I ordered it to be\nrecorded as follows: 'That the Council should try no case without both\nparties being present, or having had an opportunity to be present,\nneither should they hear one party's complaint before his case is\nbrought up for trial; neither should they suffer the character of any\none to be exposed before the High Council without the person being\npresent and ready to defend him or herself; that the minds of the\nCouncilors be not prejudiced for or against any one whose case they may\npossibly have to act upon.\"\n\nBY THE PROPHET JOSEPH, _January_ 5, 1841. \"At the organization of a\nschool of instruction. Description of Paul: He is about five feet high;\nvery dark hair; dark complexion; dark skin; large Roman nose; sharp\nface; small black eyes, penetrating as eternity; round shoulders; a\nwhining voice, except when elevated, and then it almost resembled the\nroaring of a lion. He was a good orator, active and diligent, always\nemploying himself in doing good to his fellow man.\"\n\nDIFFERENT DEGREES OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF MELCHISEDEK.--\"Answer to the\nquestion, Was the Priesthood of Melchisedek taken away when Moses died?\nAll Priesthood is Melchisedek, but there are different portions or\ndegrees of it. That portion which brought Moses to speak with God face\nto face was taken away; but that which brought the ministry of angels\nremained. All the prophets had the Melchisedek Priesthood and were\nordained by God himself.\n\nThe world and earth are not synonymous terms. The world is the human\nfamily.--This earth was organized or formed out of other planets which\nwere broken up and remodeled and made into the one on which we live.\n\nThe elements are eternal. That which has a beginning will surely have\nan end; take a ring, it is without beginning or end--cut it for a\nbeginning place and at the same time you have an ending place.\n\nA key: Every principle proceeding from God is eternal and any principle\nwhich is not eternal is of the devil. The sun has no beginning or end;\nthe rays which proceed from himself have no bounds, consequently are\neternal.\n\nSo it is with God. If the soul of man had a beginning it will surely\nhave an end. In the translation 'without form and void' it should read,\nempty and desolate. The word created should be formed, or organized.'\"\n\nOBSERVATION ON THE SECTARIAN GOD.--\"That which is without body, parts\nand passions is nothing. There is no other God in heaven but that God\nwho has flesh and bones. _John_, 5. 26, As the Father hath life in\nhimself, even so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. God\nthe Father took life unto himself precisely as Jesus did.\n\n\"The first step in the salvation of man is the laws of eternal\nand self-existent principles. Spirits are eternal. At the first\norganization in heaven we were all present, and saw the Savior chosen\nand appointed and the plan of salvation made, and we sanctioned it.\n\nWe came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure\nbefore God in the celestial kingdom. The great principle of happiness\nconsists is having a body. The devil has no body, and herein is his\npunishment. He is pleased when he can obtain the tabernacle of man,\nand when cast out by the Savior he asked to go into the herd of swine,\nshowing that he would prefer a swine's body to having none.\n\nAll beings who have bodies have power over those who have not. The\ndevil has no power over us only as we permit him. The moment we\nrevolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power. This\nearth will be rolled back into the presence of God, and crowned with\ncelestial glory.\"\n\nTHREE INDEPENDENT PRINCIPLES.--_May_ 16, 1841. \"There are three\nindependent principles; the Spirit of God, the spirit of man, and the\nspirit of the devil. All men have power to resist the devil.\n\n\"They who have tabernacles, have power over those who have not. The\ndoctrine of eternal judgment; _Acts_ 2. 41. Peter preached, Repent, and\nbe baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins,\n&c.; but in _Acts_ 3. 19 he says, Repent and be converted, that your\nsins may be blotted out when the times of redemption shall come, and he\nshall send Jesus, &c.\n\n\"Remission of sins by baptism was not to be preached to murderers.\nAll the priests of Christendom might pray for a murderer on the\nscaffold forever, but could not avail so much as a gnat towards their\nforgiveness. There is no forgiveness for murderers; they will have to\nwait until the times of redemption shall come, and that in hell. Peter\nhad the keys of eternal judgment, and he saw David in hell, and knew\nfor what reason, and that David would have to remain there until the\nresurrection at the coming of Christ. _Romans_ 9. All election that can\nbe found in the scriptures is according to the flesh, and pertaining to\nthe Priesthood.\n\nTHE THREE PERSONAGES.--Everlasting covenant was made between three\npersonages before the organization of this earth, and relates to their\ndispensation of things to men on the earth: these personages, according\nto Abraham's record, are called God the first, the Creator; God the\nsecond, the Redeemer; and God the third, the witness or Testator.\"\n\nLEHI'S TRAVELS.--_Revelation to Joseph the Seer_. The course that\nLehi and his company traveled from Jerusalem to the place of their\ndestination:\n\nThey traveled nearly a south, southeast direction until they came to\nthe nineteenth degree of north latitude; then, nearly east to the Sea\nof Arabia, then sailed in a southeast direction, and landed on the\ncontinent of South America, in Chili, thirty degrees south latitude.\n\n\n\nBOOK OF MORMON CHRONOLOGY.\n\nThe events marked are those about which the record does not appear\nsufficiently explicit to make the year certain. It is occasionally\ndifficult to decide whether the circumstance narrated took place near\nthe close of one year, or in the commencement of the next.\n\nThe four dates marked thus ** are based upon the supposition that\nZeniff re-occupied the land of Nephi, B. C. 200. This may not be the\nexact year, but it is approximate.\n\nThe three dates marked thus * are based upon the idea that the \"young\nman,\" Alma, was twenty-five years old when the prophet Abinadi was\nmartyred.\n\nThe Book of Mormon appears to furnish no clue to the date of Lehi's\ncolony landing in South America. It is supposed to have been about\ntwelve years after its departure from Jerusalem.\n\nB. C. signifies before the birth of Christ; A. C. after Christ; N. A.\nsignifies \"Nephite Annals\" or years after the departure of Lehi from\nJerusalem; Y. J., years of the Judges, or of the Republic.\n\n                                                                B.C. N.A. Y.J.\nLehi and colony leave Jerusalem, and journey to the             600  1\nvalley of Lemuel, by the Red sea.\nThe sons of Lehi return to Jerusalem  and obtain the\nsacred records kept by Laban.\nLehi and colony reach the land Bountiful,                       592  9\nwhere Nephi commences to build a ship.\nMulek, son of King Zedekiah,  with a colony\nleaves Jerusalem.\nLehi and his colony reach South America.                        590  11\nA temple built, Jacob and Joseph consecrated                    571  30\npriests, &c. before.\nWars and contentions, between Nephites and                      561  40\nLamanites, during ten years previous to.\nNephi transfers the records to Jacob. The book of               546  55\nJacob opens.\nJacob, having committed the records into the hands of           421  180\nhis son Enos, the latter transfers them to his son\nJarom. Many wars between the Nephites and\n Lamanites during the days of Enos.\nThe Nephites have increased and scattered much over\nthe land; they strictly observe the law of Moses and\nare prospered.\nThe Lamanites, much more numerous than the                      401  200\n Nephites, often invade the Nephite lands.\nJarom transfers the records to Omni. Many wars and              362  239\ncontentions during Jarom's days.\nOmni has frequent wars with the Lamanites.                      324  277\nOmni transfers the records to Ammaron.                          318  283\nThe more wicked portion of the Nephites destroyed,              280  321\nThe righteous preserved. Ammaron transfers the\nrecords to Chemish.\n**About this date Zeniff leaves Zarahemla, with a               200  401\ncolony, to re-occupy the land of Nephi. He makes a\ntreaty with King Laman, and obtains the lands of\nLehi-Nephi and Shemlon.\n**The Lamanites make war with the people of Zeniff,             183  418\nbut are repulsed with a loss of 3043 men.\nAlma, the elder, born in the land of Nephi.                     173  428\n**King Laman having died, his son attacks the people            161  440\nof Zeniff, but is driven back.\n**Zeniff confers the kingdom on his son Noah.                   160  441\nMosiah I, born in the land of Zarahemla.                        154  447\n*The prophet Abinadi appears in the land of Nephi, and          150  451\nreproves Noah and his subjects for their iniquities.\n*Abinadi again appears, prophesies, and is martyred.            148  453\n*Alma establishes a Christian Church at the waters              147  454\nof Mormon, and afterwards, because of King Noah's\npersecutions, removes with his people to Helam.\n\n                                                                B.C. N.A. Y.J.\nFirst Christian Church established in Zarahemla, by             125  476\nKing Benjamin, who, at the same time, consecrates\nhis son Mosiah king.\nA company sent by Limhi, son of Noah, to find                   123  478\nZarahemla, wander into the north country, and discover\nnumerous relies of the Jaredites.\nKing Benjamin dies. A company of men, under Ammon,              122  479\nstart from Zarahemla to find their brethren in the land\nof Nephi. They succeed, and help them to escape from\nthe Lamanites, and bring them safely to Zarahemla.\nMoroni, commander in chief of the Nephite armies,               99   502\nborn.\nAlma, the elder, dies, aged eighty-two. King Mosiah I,\ndies, aged sixty-three.\nAlma, the younger, elected Chief Judge of the Republic.\nThe sons of Mosiah, with other Elders, start on a mission\nto the Lamanites in the land of Nephi.\nPriestcraft first introduced among the Nephites, by\nNehor.\nNehor slays the aged patriarch, Gideon, is tried,\ncondemned and executed.\n\u2020King Lamoni and his household converted by Ammon.              91   510  1\nPriestcraft spreads among the Nephites; pride and\ncontention develop in the church.\n\u2020A church established by Ammon amongst the                      90   511  2\nLamanites, in the land of Ishmael.\nContinued peace amongst the Nephites,                           89   512  3\nnotwithstanding persecutions and increased wickedness.\nAmlici, a disciple of Nehor, desires to be king and to\ndestroy the true church; his pretentions are rejected\nat a special election, by \u201cthe voice of the people:\u201d he\nraises a rebellion, and is consecrated king by his\nfollowers.\nAmlici's forces are defeated by the Nephites under\nAlma at the hill Amnihu.\nThe Lamanites invade Zarahemla, are joined by the\nAmlicites, and the united armies are defeated by Alma,\non the west bank of the Sidon.\nAnother invading Lamanite army is defeated on the east\nbank of the Sidon, and driven back to their own lands.\nPeace restored.\nAaron, and other missionaries, imprisoned by the                87   514  5\nLamanites in the land Middoni.\nThe Nephites, because of their late afflictions, are\nhumble, and many are baptized.\n\u2020Ammon and Lamoni proceed to Middoni, to release\nAaron and his brethren. They meet Lamoni's father on\nthe way: he attempts to slay Ammon.\n\u2020Antiomno, King of Middoni, releases the captive                86   515  6\nmissionaries.\n3500 Nephites baptized into the church. Great peace\nand prosperity amongst them.\n\u2020Lamoni's father, king of all the Lamanites, baptized.\n\n                                                                B.C. N.A. Y.J.\nHe issues a proclamation in favor of the Nephite                85   516  7\nmissionaries.\nPride increasing in the Nephite church, causing                 84   517  8\nenvyings, malice, strife and persecutions.\nAlma, on account of increasing iniquity, resigns the            83   518  9\nChief-Judgeship, and nominates Nephihah as his\nsuccessor, who is accepted by the voice of the people.\nAlma devotes himself entirely to the work of the\nministry. He sets in order the churches in Zarahemla and\nGideon.\nAlma, as presiding High Priest, visits and ministers to\nthe people in Melek and Ammonihah.\nAmulek visited by an angel; he receives Alma into his\nhouse. They preach to the people of Ammonihah; are\nimprisoned and abused.\nZeezrom, the lawyer, converted, afterwards  healed of\na fever and baptized.\nThose who accept the Gospel are cast out of\nAmmonihah, whilst others, men, women and children, are\nmartyred by fire.\nAlma and Amulek delivered, by the power of God, from\nprison. The prison is destroyed, and with it their\npersecutors.\nMassacre of 1005 believing Lamanites.                           82   519  10\nThe Lamanites, as foretold by Alma, destroy Ammonihah,          81   520  11\nwith all its people, but are afterwards disastrously\ndefeated by Zoram.\nThe church greatly increases during this and two following      80   521  12\nyears.\n\u2020Second massacre of the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.              79   522  13\n\u2020The people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi arrive in the land of            78   523  14\nZarahemla.\nThe people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi established in the land of\nJershon.\nThe Lamanites pursue the Ammonites; are defeated by             77   524  15\nthe Nephites with great slaughter.\nKorihor, the Anti-Christ, struck dumb, and afterwards\nkilled in a city of the Zoramites.\nAlma, and others, proceed to Antionum and minister              75   526  17\namongst the Zoramite dissenters; the majority reject\ntheir words, and afterwards cast out their believing\nbrethren. The latter flee to the land of Jershon, whilst\nthe unrepentant ally themselves with the Lamanites and\nprepare for war.\nThe Ammonites remove to Melek. The Zoramites\nbecome Lamanites; the united armies occupy Antionum and\nattempt to invade Manti. They are defeated by Moroni\nand Lehi near the hill Riplah. The Lamanites make a\ncovenant of peace and return to their own lands.\nThe record of Alma closes.                                      74   527  18\nAlma transfers the records to his son Helaman, leaves\nZarahemla, as if to go to Melek, and is never heard of\nmore.\n\n                                                                B.C. N.A. Y.J.\nDissensions arise in the church; the dissenters endeavor        73   528  19\nto make Amalickiah king. Moroni rears \u201cthe title of\nliberty,\u201d the people rally thereto, and Amalickiah retreats into\nthe wilderness. The greater portion of his followers are\nslain; he escapes to the Lamanites, rises in power, poisons\nGeneral Lehonti, kills the king, marries the queen, and is\nproclaimed king. Moroni fortifies the Nephite cities. The\nLamanites invade Ammonihah and Noah; are repulsed\nwith great loss and return to their own lands.\nMoroni commences his line of defense along the southern         72   529  20\nline of the Nephite possessions. The Lamanites driven out\nof the East wilderness. The foundations laid of Moroni,\nLehi, Nephihah, and other cities.\nNever was a happier time along the people of Nephi.             71   530  21\nContention between the people of the cities of Morianton\nand Lehi. The former flee northward; their flight arrested\nby Teancum, who defeats and slays their leader. The\ndifficulty is settled, and both people return to their own\npossessions.\nNephihah, the second Chief Judge dies; his son, Pahoran,        68   533  24\nsucceeds him.\nGreat contentions between the \u201cking men\u201d and \u201cfree\nmen.\u201d The people decide in favor of the continuance of\nthe Republic; upon which the Monarchists revolt. They\nrefuse to take up arms against the invading Lamanites,\nbut are defeated by Moroni, 4000 slain, the rest are cast\ninto prison.\nAmalickiah captures the Nephite cities of Moroni,               67   534  25\nNephihah, Lehi, Gid, Morianton, Omner, Mulek, &c., on the\nAtlantic coast. He is defeated by Teancum. Teancum\nenters the Lamanite camp at night and slays Amalickiah. The\nLamanites retreat into Mulek.\nAmmoron, brother of Amalickiah, succeeds him as king of\nthe Lamanites, and takes command of their armies on the\nPacific coast.\nMoroni pays a short visit to the Nephite forces in the\nsouthwest.\nTeancum fortifies the Land Bountiful and the Isthmus of\nPanama.\nThe Ammonites desire to assist in the war, but because of       66   535  26\ntheir oath are not permitted; but 2000 of their sons,\nunder Helaman, join the Nephite armies in the southwest,\nwhere they find that the Lamanites have captured the\ncities of Manti, Zeezrom, Cumeni and Antiparah.\nMoroni gathers fresh troops and reinforces Teancum in\nBountiful.\nThe Nephite forces in the southwest finish fortifying the\ncity of Judea.\n\u2020Tremendous battle in the wilderness north of Judea;  the       65   536  27\nLamanites defeated, but Antipus, the Nephite\ncommander, is slain.\nMulek re-captured by Moroni, Lehi and Teancum.\n\n                                                                B.C. N.A. Y.J.\nJacob, the Lamanite General, killed. Lehi placed in\ncommand at Mulek.\nThe Lamanite prisoners compelled to dig a ditch around\nand fortify the city Bountiful.\nThe city of Antiparah vacated by the Lamanites and              64   537  28\nre-occupied by the Nephites.\nPachus revolts against the commonwealth, and endeavors\nto establish a monarchy.\nMoroni re-captures Gid, and releases large numbers of\nNephite prisoners.\nSix thousand men, from Zarahemla, join the Nephite\narmies in the Southwest.\nThe Lamanites surrender Cumeni. The Nephites drive the\nLamanites eastward to the land of Manti. They are\nafterwards driven out of that region by Helaman.\nHelaman writes an epistle to Moroni, complaining of want        63   538  29\nof reinforcements.\nPachus drives the Chief Judge out of Zarahemla; he seeks\nsafety in Gideon. Pachus opens a treasonable\ncorrespondence with the Lamanites.\nMoroni, having received Helaman's epistle, writes twice to\nPahoran; on receiving the latters reply, he gathers up\ntroops and goes to his aid. The united forces of Moroni\nand Pahoran defeat Pachus, who is slain, and the\nrebellion is put down.\nThe Lamanite troops, driven out of the Southwest, capture       62   539  30\nthe city of Nephihah.\nProvisions and 6000 men sent to the relief of Helaman, the\nsame to the commanders in the East.\nA battle fought on the road between Zarahemla and               61   540  31\nNephihah. 4000 Lamanite prisoners make a covenant of peace,\nand are sent to join the Ammonites. Nephihah surprised\nand captured by Moroni. Lehi and several other cities on\nthe Atlantic coast re-captured by the Nephite generals.\nTeancum slays Ammoron in the city of Moroni, and is\nhimself slain by Ammoron's servant. The city is captured by\nthe Nephites, and the Lamanites are driven to their own\nlands.\nMoroni fortifies the southern boundaries of the\nNephites, returns to Zarahemla, and transfers the command of\nthe Nephite forces to his son Moronihah.\nHelaman and his fellow-laborers re-establish the Church:        60   541  32\ngreat humility of its members.\nThe Nephites begin to recover from the demoralization           59   542  33\nand disorganization incident to the protracted war.\nHelaman dies. \u2020Shiblon takes charge of the scared plates.       57   544  35\nMoroni dies, aged 43.                                           56   545  36\n5400 Nephites, with their families, leave Zarahemla to          55   546  37\ncolonize the north country. Hagoth establishes ship-building\nyards on the Pacific side of the Isthmus.\nLarge migration northward. Two of Hagoth's ships never          54   547  38\nagain seen after leaving port.\n\n                                                                B.C. N.A. Y.J.\nShiblon dies; the sacred records, &c., transferred to\nHelaman, the younger.\nSome Nephites dissent and go over to the Lamanites; the\nlatter invade Zarahemla, but are driven out by Moronihah.\nPahoran dies. The Book of Alma closes.                          53   518  39\nThe Book of Helaman commences. Tubaloth king of the\nLamanites.\nThree of Pahoran's sons contend for the judgment seat.\nThe people choose Pahoran, the younger. His brother,\nPaanchi, rebels, for which he is tried, condemned and\nexecuted. One of his adherents, Kishkumen, assassinates\nPahoran. Pacumeni chosen Chief Judge.\nThe Gadianton robber bands organized.                           52   549  40\nThe Lamanites, under Coriantumr, invade Zarahemla,              51   550  41\ncapture the city, slay Pacumeni, and advance northward.\nAfterwards the Nephite forces, under Moronihah and Lehi,\ndestroy the invading army. Coriantumr slain.\nHelaman elected Chief Judge; Kishkumen attempts to              50   551  42\nassassinate him, but is himself slain. Gadianton and his band\nretire into the wilderness.\nMuch contention among the Nephites. Many emigrate               46   555  46\nNorth, as far as the great lakes.\nGreat contentions. Helaman fills the judgment seat with         45   556  47\njustice and equity.\nThe contentions measurably cease; the church is greatly\nprospered: tens of thousands baptized.\nThe Gadianton robbers secretly increase in the more             43   558  49\nthickly settled portions of the land.\nPride increases; the more humble members of the church          41   560  51\npersecuted.\nHelaman dies; his son Nephi succeeds him as Chief Judge.        39   562  53\nContentions and bloodshed among the Nephites; the               38   563  54\nrebellious affiliate with the Lamanites.\nMore dissenters go over to the Lamanites, who are all the       36   565  56\nyear preparing for war.\nThe Lamanites invade Zarahemla; the Nephites, owing to          35   566  57\ntheir dissensions and wickedness, are everywhere driven\nbefore them.\nThe Lamanites overrun all the Nephite possessions as far        34   567  58\nas the land Bountiful. The Nephites fortify the Isthmus.\nThe Lamanites obtain possession of all South America.           32   569  60\nMoronihah reconquers the most northern portions of\nSouth America.\nThe Nephites regain about half their possessions,\nZarahemla remaining in the hands of the Lamanites.\nUnder the preaching of Nephi, and others, the Nephites          31   570  61\ncommence to repent.\nNo more Nephite successes, on account of the lack of faith\nin the people. Nephi delivers up the judgment seat to\nCezoram.\n\n                                                                B.C. N.A. Y.J.\nNephi and Lehi, having preached to the Nephites, go over to     30   571  62\nthe Lamanites in the land of Zarahemla. 8000 of that\npeople are baptized. They then proceed to the land of\nNephi, where they are imprisoned, but delivered by\nmarvelous manifestations from heaven. The voice of the Lord\nis heard by those assembled at the prison, and they are\nsurrounded by fire. The greater part of the Lamanites are\nconverted, and they surrender to the Nephites all the lands\nthey had taken from them.\nThe Lamanites exceed the Nephites in righteousness, and         29   572  63\nmany of their missionaries preach in Zarahemla, and the\nland northward. Nephi and Lehi, also, go north. Universal\npeace prevails throughout all the continent, and both\nNephites and Lamanites travel, unrestrictedly, in all parts.\nAn era of great prosperity. Much preaching and prophecy         27   574  65\nby the servants of God.\nChief Judge, Cezoram, slain by a Gadianton robber; his son      26   575  66\nand successor suffers the same fate.\nThe Nephites again growing exceedingly wicked, the              25   576  67\ngreater part unite with the Gadianton robbers; they also\nworship idols of gold and silver.\nThe Lamanites grow in righteousness, whilst the Nephites\nincrease in iniquity.\nThe Gadianton bands are utterly destroyed from amongst          24   577  68\nthe Lamanites, but are so greatly encouraged by the\nNephites that they obtain sole management of the\ngovernment.\nChief Judge, Seezoram, assassinated by his brother,\nSeantum.\nNephi, rejected by the people in the north, returns to          23   578  69\nZarahemla; he notifies the people of the murder of Seezoram,\nis arrested as an accessory, but afterwards released. The\nLord makes a covenant with him, and directs him to\ncontinue his ministrations.\nNephi, preserved by the miraculous power of God,                22   579  70\npreaches from land to land.\nDivision, even to bloodshed, prevails among the Nephites.       21   580  71\nContentions and wars throughout all the land.                   20   581  72\nThe internal wars, originating with the Gadianton robbers,      19   582  73\nstill continue. To stay the bloodshed, Nephi prays for a\nfamine: his prayer is answered.\nThe famine continues and spreads.                               18   583  74\nThe whole land, both amongst the Nephites and                   17   584  75\nLamanites, smitten with the famine; thousands die of hunger and\npestilence. The people, in their extremity, begin to repent;\nthey exterminate the Gadianton bands.\nThe Lord sends rain, and the earth brings forth abundantly.     16   585  76\nNephi is reverenced as a servant of God by all the people.\nThe people rapidly increase; the major part of both             15   586  77\npeoples belong to the church.\n\n                                                                B.C. N.A. Y.J.\nSlight contentions on doctrinal questions.                      14   587  78\nThe controversies increase; Nephi and Lehi receive many         13   588  79\nrevelations and put an end to the disputes.\nDissenters search out the ancient abominations, re-             12   589  80\nestablish the Gadianton bands and commence war.\nThe robbers grow strong, defy the united armies of the          11   590  81\nNephites and Lamanites, commit depredations and carry\noff many prisoners. Great loss of life on both sides.\nThe Nephites again begin to forget the Lord. The                10   591  82\nLamanites remain faithful.\nThe people wax strong in iniquity.                              9    592  83\nThe people do not mend their ways.                              8    593  84\nThe people grow in wickedness and ripen for                     7    594  85\ndestruction.\nSamuel, the Lamanite, prophesies on the walls of                6    595  86\nZarahemla; some attempt to kill him, others believe. The\nlatter seek Nephi and are baptized. Samuel escapes to\nhis own land. Nephi performs many miracles.\nThe greater portion of the people remain in their pride         5    596  87\nand wickedness, the lesser portion walking more\ncircumspectly before God.\nThe people grow more hardened.                                  3    598  89\nThe words of the prophets commence to be fulfilled,             2    599  90\nsigns and wonders appear, betokening the near advent\nof the Savior; angels are seen by many: yet the people\nstill harden their hearts. The Book of Helaman closes.\nThe Third Book of Nephi opens. Nephi departs out of the         1    600  91\nland, and is never again seen. Lachoneus Chief Judge\nand Governor.\n                                                                A.C.\nThe promised signs of the Redeemer's birth appear,\nmuch to the joy of believers.\nThe two days and nights of constant light; a new star\nappears.\nThe majority of the people join the church.\nThe Nephites reckon their time from the Messiah's               1    601  92\nadvent.\nThe Gadianton robbers commit many murders; the                  2    602\npeople not strong enough to overpower them.\nDissensions increase, owing to many joining the robber          3    603\nband, especially among the youth.\nWickedness and unbelief greatly increase.                       4    604\nEvil continues to gain strength to this time. Gadianton         13   613\nbands grow so numerous that both Nephites and\nLamanites take up arms against them.\nThe robbers driven into their secret fastnesses in the          14   614\nmountains and the wilderness.\nOwing to dissensions, the robbers gain many advantages.         15   615\nGiddianhi, the robber chief, writes an epistle to\nLachoneus, calling upon the Nephites to surrender.\n\n                                                                A.C. N.A.\nGidgiddoni chosen commander of the Nephite forces. Lachoneus    16   616\ndecides to gather all the Nephites from both continents into\nthe lands of Zarahemla and Bountiful, and fortify against the\ninroads of the robbers.\nThe people, with all their movable substance and seven          17   617\nyears' provisions, gather at the appointed place.\nIn the latter part of the year the robbers sally out of their   18   618\nhiding places and occupy the lands deserted by the people.\nThe robbers, under Giddianhi, attack the Nephites. The          19   619\nslaughter more terrible than in any previous battle amongst\nthe children of Lehi; Giddianhi is slain, the robbers are\ndefeated and pursued to the borders of the wilderness.\nThe robbers do not venture to again attack the Nephites.        20   620\nZemnarihah made chief of the robber bands.\nThe robbers surround and ineffectually besiege the Nephites,    21   621\nwho make many sorties and slay tens of thousands of them; the\nrobbers attempt to concentrate on the northern continent, but\nare cut off, their armies destroyed, and many thousands taken\nprisoners, among whom is Zemnarihah, who is afterwards hanged.\nThe Nephites greatly rejoice in their marvelous deliverance.\nAll the Nephites believe the words of the prophets;             22   622\nrighteousness prevails. They preach to the robber prisoners;\nall who make a covenant to murder no more are set at liberty,\nthose who refuse are punished according to the law.\nThe Nephites all return to their own lands on both continents.  26   626\nThe laws revised according to justice and equity; great order   27   627\nThroughout the land.\nMany new cities built and old ones repaired; numerous other     28   628\nimprovements made.\nDisputings and contentions re-commence, pride and other         29   629\nevils increase.\nLachoneus, the younger, Governor. The church broken up,         30   630\nexcept among a few Lamanites. Many prophets testify and\nare persecuted, some are executed contrary to law. The\nofficers committing these crimes, on being called to account,\nrebel and seek to establish a monarchy, with Jacob as king.\nThe Chief Judge is assassinated, and the ancient iniquitous\ncombinations re-introduced. The Nephite commonwealth is\nbroken up, and the people divided into numerous tribes.\nJacob leads his followers into the northernmost part of\nthe land.\nThe various tribes more fully regulated. Nephi performs         31   631\nmany miracles; among others, raises his brother Timothy\nfrom the dead. But few are converted to the Lord.\n\n                                                                A.C. N.A.\nNephi continues his preaching and ministry; a few accept        32   632\nhis message.\nMany join the church.                                           33   633\nOn the fourth day of the new year the signs of Christ's\ncrucifixion commence. An unparalleled storm rages for\nthree hours, convulsing the land and destroying many cities.\nIt is followed by three days darkness. The voice of the Lord\nis heard proclaiming the destructions that had happened.\nJesus appears to the people in the land Bountiful.\nHe preaches his Gospel, performs many mighty works, and\nchooses twelve disciples.\nNephi, the son of Nephi, takes the records.                     34   634\nAll the people are converted, and the church becomes            36   636\nuniversal. The believers have all things common.\nThe disciples of Jesus work many wonderful miracles.            37   637\nThe people again becoming numerous. Zarahemla and other         59   659\ncities rebuilt.\nAll the original twelve disciples, except the three who         100  700\nwere to tarry, have died by this date.\nThe first generation in Christ have passed away. Nephi,         110  710\nthe recorder, dies, and his son Amos takes charge of\nthe records.\nAll the second generation have passed away, except a few.       200  800\nPride appears in the church; its members have their goods       201  801\n no more in common, and sects arise.\nMany churches established opposed to the true church of Christ. 210  810\nThe wicked increase; the disciples and saints persecuted.       230  830\nThe three Nephites perform many miracles, from the last date to.\nThe people divided into Nephites and Lamanites.                 231  831\nThe more wicked portion of the people have grown much stronger. 244  844\nThe wicked build up many expensive churches to their false      250  850\nfaiths.\nThe members of the true church, or Nephites, begin to grow      260  860\nproud and sinful. The Gadianton iniquities are again developed.\nBoth Nephites and Lamanites have grown exceedingly wicked;      300  900\nnone are righteous except the three disciples. The Gadianton\nrobbers have spread over all the land.\nAmos transfers the records to his brother Ammaron, and dies.    306  906\nMormon born.                                                    311  911\nAmmaron hides up the records in the hill Shim.                  321  921\nMormon, the father of Mormon, brings his son to Zarahemla.\nWar commences between the Nephites and Lamanites; a number      322  922\nof battles are fought, in which the Nephites are victorious.\nCommencement of Mormon's record.\n\n                                                                A.C. N.A.\nThe three Nephites cease to minister among the people,          326  926\nbecause of their iniquities. Things hidden in the earth\nbecome slippery. Mormon endeavors to preach, but his mouth\nis shut. War re-commences, and Mormon is chosen General of\nthe Nephite armies.\nThe Nephites, under Mormon, retreat before the Lamanites        327  927\nto the north countries. The Lamanites capture the city of\nAngola.\n\u2020The Lamanites drive the Nephites out of the land of David      328  928\ninto the land of Joshua.\n\u2020Revolution, blood and carnage throughout all the land. The     329  929\nNephite warriors gathered for battle into one place.\nThe Lamanite king, Aaron, defeated by Mormon.                   330  930\nGreat sorrow among the Nephites, because of their pitiable      331  931\ncondition.\nMormon obtains the plates, as Ammaron directed.                 335  935\nWars, with much slaughter, until.                               344  944\nThe Lamanites drive the Nephites to the land Jashon, thence     345  945\nnorthward to the land of Shem. The Nephites fortify the city\nof Shem.\nMormon, with 30,000 Nephites, defeats 50,000 Lamanites in       346  946\nthe land of Shem; he pursues and again defeats the enemy.\nThe Nephites regain the lands of their inheritance by the year. 349  949\nThe Nephites as one party, and the Lamanites and Gadiantons     350  950\nas the other, make a treaty, by which the Nephites possess\nthe country north of the Isthmus, and the Lamanites the south\nof it. Ten years' peace follows.\nBy the command of the Lord, Mormon preaches repentance, but     360  960\n the Nephites harden their hearts, during the ten years ending.\nThe Lamanite king declares war; the Nephites gather at the      360  960\nland Desolation.\nThe Lamanites march to Desolation, are defeated and return      361  961\nhome.\nThe Lamanites make another invasion and are defeated.           362  962\nMormon refuses to lead the wicked Nephites any longer.\nThe Nephites invade South America, and are driven back          363  963\nto Desolation. The Lamanites capture the city of Desolation.\nThe Lamanites besiege Teancum, are repulsed, and the Nephites   364  964\nre-capture Desolation.\nThe Lamanites re-commence war; they capture the cities of       367  967\nDesolation and Teancum, but are afterwards driven entirely\nout of the lands of the Nephites.\nThe Lamanites again commence war. An exceedingly fierce         375  975\nbattle is fought in the land of Desolation. The Lamanites\ncapture Desolation, Boaz and other cities. Mormon takes up\nall the records from the hill Shim.\n\n                                                                A.C. N.A.\nMormon, having resumed command of the Nephites, the Lamanites   379  979\ntwice attack the city of Jordan, and are repulsed. They burn\nmany Nephite towns.\nThe Nephites disastrously routed.                               380  980\n\u2020Mormon writes to the Lamanite king, asking to be allowed       382  982\nto gather all his people to the hill Cumorah, and there\ngive battle. His request is granted.\nAt the end of this year all the Nephites are gathered at        384  984\nthe hill Cumorah.\nMormon hides all the records entrusted to him in the hill\nCumorah, save the abridged records, which he gives to Moroni.\nThe final battle, in which all but twenty-four Nephites are     385  985\nkilled, and a few who escape to the South. Mormon closes\nhis record.\nMoroni records the death of his father and the extinction       400  1000\nof his people, also that the Lamanites were at war with\neach other all over the land.\nMoroni closes up the record.                                    421  1021\n\n\n\nTEMPLES AND SACRED PLACES.\n\nWhen the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, determined to make that\npeople a nation to himself, as soon as they had arrived at a safe\ndistance from surrounding peoples, he required them to build a\nTabernacle, which is sometimes called the Temple, wherein he could\ninstitute certain ordinances and regulations for their guidance and\nworship.\n\nThis, at the commencement of their pilgrimage in the wilderness, was\nmade portable, and of the costliest and best material within their\nreach, and one of the tribes was set apart to have charge of it and its\nappurtenances. Such has ever been the purpose of the Lord. This served\nthem through their journey and in the promised Canaan, until suitable\nwealth enabled Solomon to erect a magnificent Temple on Mount Moriah,\nsince called \"The Hill of Zion,\" to which all Israel came annually to\nworship or attend Conference.\n\nThe Lord has informed us _Doc. & Cov_., _Sec_. 124, _v_. 39, that his\npeople are always commanded to build Temples, or holy houses, unto his\nholy name. This accounts for our reading in the Book of Mormon of so\nmany Temples having been erected on this continent. It also explains\nwhy the Prophet Joseph so early taught the commencement of a Temple in\nevery important location of the Saints.\n\nNot less than eight Temples have been designated, and their sites\nconsecrated, of which there have been dedicated and ordinances\nadministered therein--one at Kirtland, Ohio; Nauvoo, Illinois; St.\nGeorge, and Logan, Utah. Those at Salt Lake City and Manti are\nprogressing satisfactorily, the latter nearing completion. The places\nappointed in Independence and Far West are in the hands of our\npersecutors, who have driven the Saints from their homes, and from the\nState.\n\nThe site for a Temple at Independence was dedicated Aug. 3, 1831. Those\npresent were Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge, Wm.\nW. Phelps, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, Joseph Coe and Newel Knight.\nDescription of Temple and city plot in History of Joseph Smith, under\ndate of June 23 and 24, 1883. This was the first ground dedicated for a\nTemple in this dispensation.\n\nThe Temple at Kirtland was 55x65 feet; the corner stones were laid July\n23, 1833. Reynolds Cahoon and Jared Carter were building committee.\nThis was accomplished by donation and voluntary contribution; was\ncompleted and dedicated March 27, 1836.\n\nThe corner stone for a Temple at Far West was laid July 4, 1838, with\nappropriate ceremony. Dimensions of building to be 110 feet long and\n80 feet wide. Particulars given in the History of Joseph Smith under\nthis date. Work was re-commenced on this foundation April 26, 1839, and\nabandoned for the time on account of exterminating order of Governor\nBoggs, expelling the Saints from the State. Apostles Wilford Woodruff\nand George A. Smith were ordained on the corner stone of this building,\nand took leave of the Saints for a foreign mission, with the other\nApostles who were present, at that time.\n\nThe Temple at Nauvoo, Illinois, was about 128 feet long by 88 feet\nwide. The corner stones were laid in the presence of the Nauvoo Legion,\nby the various authorities of the Priesthood, on the 6th day of April,\n1841. The history of this date gives details of the proceedings.\nThe building was erected by the tithing and freewill offerings of\nthe people, and was so rapidly advanced that on the 8th of November\nof the same year the Baptismal Font was dedicated, and baptisms for\nthe dead were administered. The cap stone was laid May 24, 1845. The\nupper rooms were dedicated Sunday, December 7, 1845, and sacrament was\nadministered. Endowments were commenced on the 10th inst. The lower\npart of the building was dedicated with public services on Saturday and\nSunday, the 2d and 3d of May, 1846.\n\nThe Salt Lake City site was consecrated and the ground broken for the\nfoundation Feb. 14, 1853. The corner stones were laid April 6, 1853. It\nis 186 1/2 feet by 99 feet in length and width, and is constructed of\nhard granite rock, brought from the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon,\na distance of about twenty miles. With ordinary prosperity, its walls\nwill be up to the square by the Autumn of 1883. We will not undertake a\ndescription of the harmony of its parts, the beauty or grandeur of its\nappearance, but refer our readers to the Deseret News of Aug. 17, 1854,\nand the Millennial Star, Vol. 16, page 753, for a full description\ngiven by its architect, Truman O. Angell.\n\nThe Temple at St. George, the site of which was dedicated by prayer\nby President George A. Smith, and ground broken November 9, 1871, is\n141 feet 8 inches by 93 feet 4 inches; 84 feet from ground to top\nof parapet. The basement is of volcanic rock, the upper part of red\nsandstone, and contains about 1900 cords of rock, and 1,000,000 feet of\nlumber, and cost about $800,000.\n\nThe first foundation rock was laid March 10, 1873. On the first of\nApril following, a deposit of records was made by President Brigham\nYoung. On the first day of January, 1877, the Font, lower story and\nfirst main floor were dedicated by President Wilford Woodruff, and\nApril 6, following, a general Conference of all the authorities of the\nChurch consummated its consecration, at which Counselor Daniel H. Wells\noffered the dedication prayer.\n\nThe Manti Temple site was dedicated and the ground broken by President\nBrigham Young April 25, 1877. The corner stones were laid April 14,\n1879. Its size is 172x95 feet, and 82 feet to square. Its Eastern Tower\nis to be 179 feet high; the Western Tower 169 feet high. This edifice\nstand on a hill, which required 2400 cords of rock terrace to provide\nfor its location.\n\nThe site of the Logan Temple is situated on an elevation of table land\nin the eastern part of the city bearing that name. It was dedicated\nwith prayer offered by Apostle Orson Pratt, May 18, 1877, and the\nground was broken the same day. Instructions were given by Presidents\nBrigham Young and John Taylor. The corner stones were laid September\n17, 1877. The building, including tower and buttresses, is 171 feet\nlong by 95 in width, with a tower 28 feet square at each end, the\nEastern tower is 156 feet, and the Western tower 151 feet in height,\nand 87 feet from the surface to top of battlements. It was dedicated\nMay 17, 1884, President John Taylor offering the dedicatory prayer.\n\nThe location of the Temple sites at Independence, Kirtland, Far West\nand Nauvoo were determined and consecrated by or under direction of the\nProphet Joseph Smith, who also directed the designs and construction of\nthe Kirtland and Nauvoo Temples.\n\nThe locations of the Temples at Salt Lake City, at St. George, at Manti\nand at Logan were determined and dedicated by President Brigham Young,\nor by his direction. He also directed the designs of the Salt Lake City\nand St. George Temples, and presided at the dedication services of the\nlatter house.\n\nBible.\n\n_Exo. Chapters_ 25, 26, 27, 28 give a description of the Tabernacle\nconstructed in the wilderness, with its appointments. This Tabernacle\nis frequently called a Temple in the Old Testament; as in 1 _Sam_. 1. 9.\n\n1 _Kings_, _Chapters_ 6, 7, and 8. Temple of Solomon is described, with\nthe dedication ceremonies.\n\n_Ezra_, _Chap_. 6. The rebuilding of Solomon's Temple by Cyrus is\ngiven. The decree is found in _verse_ 3.\n\nThe final demolition of this Temple was foretold by Christ in _Matt_.\n24. 2. This terrible prophecy was fulfilled by the Romans under Titus\nabout the year seventy of our Lord.\n\nBook of Mormon.\n\n2. _Nephi_ 5. 16 and I, Nephi, did build a Temple after the manner of\nthe Temple of Solomon, etc.\n\n_Jacob_ 1. 17 wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words, as I\ntaught them in the Temple, etc.\n\n2. 2 I come up unto the Temple this day, that I might declare unto you\nthe word of God.\n\n2. 11 get thee up into the Temple on the morrow, etc.\n\n_Mos_. 1. 18 might gather themselves together to go up to the Temple,\nto hear the words which his father should speak unto them.\n\n2. 6, 7 pitched their tents around the Temple, with their doors toward\nthe Temple.\n\n_Alma_ 16. 13 and Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance to\nthe people in their Temples, and in their sanctuaries, and in their\nsynagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews.\n\n23. 2 but that they should have free access to their houses, and also\ntheir Temples and their sanctuaries.\n\n26. 29 we have taught them in their houses, in their streets, upon\ntheir hills, and we have also entered into their Temples, and their\nsynagogues, and taught them.\n\n_Hel_. 3. 9 have timber to build houses, cities, Temples, synagogues,\nsanctuaries and all manner of buildings.\n\n3. 14 an hundreth part of their building of ships, of Temples,\nsynagogues and sanctuaries cannot be contained in this work.\n\n10. 8 if ye shall say unto this Temple, it shall be rent in twain, it\nshall be done.\n\nDoctrine and Covenants.\n\n_Sec_. 84. 3 which city (New Jerusalem) shall be built, beginning at\nthe Temple lot, which shall be appointed by the finger of the Lord.\n\n4 even the place of the Temple, which Temple shall be reared in this\ngeneration.\n\n5 this generation shall not all pass away, until an house shall be\nbuilt unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, etc.\n\n31 which House shall be built unto the Lord in this generation, upon\nthe consecrated spot as I have appointed.\n\n97. 10 it is my will that an house should be built unto me in the land\nof Zion, like unto the pattern which I have given you.\n\n124. 29, 30 that they, my Saints, may be baptized for those who are\ndead; for this ordinance belongeth to my House.\n\n31 but I command you, all ye, my Saints, to build a House unto me.\n\n39 for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for\nthe glory, honor and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by\nthe ordinance of my Holy House, which my people are always commanded to\nbuild unto my Holy Name.\n\n55 and again, verily I say unto you, I command you again to build a\nHouse to my name, even in this place.\n\n127. 9 let all the records be had in order, that they may be put in the\narchives of my Holy Temple, to be held in remembrance from generation\nto generation, saith the Lord of Hosts.\n\n_See Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. I, page 277_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" \" \" _131_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _2, \" 29_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _9, \" 239_.\n\n\" \" _O. Pratt, \" \" 14, \" 271_.\n\n\" \" \" \" \" _16, \" 251_.\n\n\" \" _G. A. Smith, \" \" 17, \" 160_.\n\n_An Article entitled, The Order of Laying Temple Corner Stones, Deseret\nWeekly News, Vol. 27, page 214_.\n\n_History of Joseph Smith, date of Aug. 3, 1831, and July 4, 1838_.\n\n_History of Joseph Smith, date of May 6, June 6, and July 23, 1833, and\nMarch 27, 1836_.\n\n\n\nGEMS FROM THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.\n\nHOW THE BOOK OF MORMON WAS OBTAINED.--_May_ 8, 1838. Joseph Smith's\nanswer to the question, \"How and where did you obtain the Book of\nMormon?\" \"Moroni, who deposited the plates (from whence the Book of\nMormon was translated,) in a hill in Manchester, Ontario County, New\nYork, being dead and raised again therefrom, appeared unto me, and\ntold me where they were, and gave me directions how to obtain them.\nI obtained them, and the Urim and Thummim with them, by the means of\nwhich I translated the plates; and thus came the Book of Mormon.\"\n\nPLURALITY OF WIVES.--_October_ 5, 1843. \"Gave instructions to try those\npersons who were preaching, teaching, or practising the doctrine of\nplurality of wives; for, according to the law, I hold the keys of this\npower in the last days; for there is never but one on earth at a time\non whom the power and its keys are conferred; and I have constantly\nsaid no man shall have but one wife at a time, unless the Lord directs\notherwise.\"\n\n_October_ 8, 1843. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SPIRITUAL AND HEAVENLY\nWORLDS, and of spiritual and heavenly beings, was agreeable to the\nmost perfect order and harmony; their limits and bounds were fixed\nirrevocably, and voluntarily subscribed to in their heavenly estate by\nthemselves, and were by our first parents subscribed to upon the earth.\nHence the importance of embracing and subscribing to principles of\neternal truth by all men upon the earth that expect eternal life.\n\n\n\nCHURCH CHRONOLOGY.\n\nThis Compendium being designed for the elucidation of theological\nrather than of historical subjects, we have only given the dates of a\nfew important events in the development of the great latter-day work.\n\n1805.--Joseph Smith, Jun., was born on the 23d of December, in Sharon,\nWindsor Co., Vermont.\n\n1820.--Early in the Spring, Joseph Smith, Jun., had his first vision.\n\n1823.--_September_ 21; Joseph Smith, Jun., had his second vision, in\nwhich the existence of the Plates of the Book of Mormon was revealed\nto him. The following day he opened the place where the Plates were\ndeposited, and saw them.\n\n1827.--_September_ 22. Joseph Smith, Jun., obtained the Plates of the\nBook of Mormon, the Urim and Thummim, and Breastplate.\n\n1828.--_February_; Martin Harris showed some of the characters\ntranscribed from the Plates, and the translation of them to Professor\nAnthon and Dr. Mitchell, of New York.\n\n1829.--_May_ 15; Joseph Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery were ordained to\nthe Aaronic Priesthood, by John the Baptist, and were baptized by each\nother.\n\n1830.--_April_ 6. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was\norganized, Elders were ordained, the Sacrament was administered, and,\nfor the first time in the Church, hands were laid on for the reception\nof the Holy Ghost.\n\n_June_ 1. The Church held its first Conference, in Fayette, Seneca\nCounty, New York. In October the first missionaries to the Lamanites\nwere appointed.\n\n1831.--_January_. Joseph Smith, Jun., moved to Kirtland, Ohio where he\narrived about the first of February.\n\n_August_ 2. The land of Zion was consecrated and dedicated by prayer\nfor the gathering of the Saints.\n\n_August_ 4. The first Conference of the Church in the land of Zion was\nheld.\n\n1832.--_April_ 26. Joseph Smith, Jun., was acknowledged President of\nthe High Priesthood, at a General Council of the Church.\n\n_May_ 1. At a Council held at Independence, it was decided to publish\nthe Book of Doctrine and Covenants.\n\n_June_. The first periodical, \"The Evening and Morning Star,\" was\npublished by the Church in Independence.\n\n1833.--_February_ 2. Joseph Smith, Jun., completed the translation of\nthe New Testament.\n\n_March_ 18. The Quorum of High Priests was first organized in Kirtland.\n\n_July_ 2. Joseph Smith, Jun., finished the translation of the Bible.\n\n_July_ 23. The corner stones of the Lord's house in Kirtland were laid.\n\n_September_ 11. It was decided to publish a paper in Kirtland, entitled\n\"The Latter-day Saints' Messenger and Advocate.\" Bishop Edward\nPartridge was acknowledged head of the Church in Zion.\n\n_December_ 18. Joseph Smith, Sen., was ordained Patriarch.\n\n1834.--_February_ 17. A First Presidency of three and a High Council of\ntwelve were first organized.\n\n_May_ 3. At a Conference of Elders in Kirtland, the Church was first\nnamed \"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.\"\n\n_May_ 5. Zion's Camp left Kirtland for Missouri.\n\n1835.--_February_ 28. The organization of the Quorums of Seventies\ncommenced.\n\n_May_ 3. The Twelve left Kirtland on their first mission.\n\n_July_. In the early part of this month the rolls of Egyptian papyrus,\nwhich contained the writings of Abraham and Joseph in Egypt, were\nobtained.\n\n_August_ 17. At a general assembly at Kirtland, the Book of Doctrine\nand Covenants was accepted as a rule of faith and practice.\n\n1836.--_January_ 21. The authorities of the Church attended to the\nordinances of anointing and blessing each other in the Kirtland Temple.\n\n_March_ 27. The House of the Lord in Kirtland was dedicated.\n\n_April_ 3. In the House of the Lord in Kirtland, the Savior, Moses,\nElias and Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery.\n\n1837.--_June_. In this month Heber C. Kimball, O. Hyde and W. Richards\nwere set apart for a mission to England. This was the first foreign\nmission of the Church.\n\n_July_ 1. The mission for England sailed from New York on the ship\n_Garrick_.\n\n_July_ 20. The English mission landed in Liverpool, England.\n\n_July_ 30. The first baptism in England, by divine authority took place\nin the River Ribble.\n\n_August_ 4. The first confirmation of members in the Church took place\nin England, in Walkerfold, Chaidgley.\n\n_September_ 27. Joseph Smith, Jun., left Kirtland to visit the Saints\nin Missouri and establish gathering places. He arrived in Far West\nabout the last of October, or first of November.\n\n_December_ 10. About this time Joseph Smith, Jun., arrived in Kirtland\nfrom Missouri.\n\n_December_ 25. The first Conference of the Latter-day Saints in England\nwas held in the Cock Pit, Preston. During this month a somewhat\nextensive apostacy took place in Kirtland.\n\n1838.--_March_ 14. Joseph Smith, Jun., and family arrived at Far West.\n\n_July_ 6. 515 Saints left Kirtland for Missouri.\n\n_October_ 27. Governor Boggs' exterminating order was issued.\n\n_October_ 30. The massacre at Haun's Mill took place.\n\n_October_ 31. Joseph Smith, Jun., and others were betrayed by G. M.\nHinckle.\n\n_November_ 1. Joseph Smith, Jun., and others condemned to be shot. Far\nWest plundered.\n\n1839.--_February_ 14. Brigham Young fled from Far West to Illinois.\n\n_April_ 15. Joseph Smith, Jun., and his companions in bonds, left\nDavies for Broome County, and on their way made their escape from the\nguard.\n\n_April_ 26. The Saints commenced evacuating Far West.\n\n_April_ 22. Joseph Smith, Jun., arrived in Quincy, Illinois.\n\n_June_ 11. The first house was put up by the Saints in Commerce,\nafterward named Nauvoo.\n\n_September_ 18. Elder Brigham Young, accompanied by H. C. Kimball, left\nNauvoo on his first mission to England.\n\n_October_ 29. Joseph Smith, Jun., and others left Nauvoo for\nWashington, D.C., as delegates from the Church to the general\ngovernment.\n\n_November_ 28. Joseph Smith, Jun., arrived in Washington.\n\n1840--_March_ 4. Joseph Smith, Jun., arrived in Nauvoo from Washington.\n\n1840.--_April_ 15. Elder O. Hyde left Commerce, on his mission to\nJerusalem.\n\n_May_ 27. The first number of \"The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star\"\nwas published at Manchester, England.\n\n_June_ 6. The first company of emigrating Saints, from Europe, sailed\nfrom Liverpool for New York.\n\n_July_ 20. The company of Saints who left Liverpool in June arrived in\nNew York.\n\nAbout the first of this month, the first English edition of the\nLatter-day Saints' Hymn Book was published.\n\n_September_ 14. Joseph Smith, Sen., died in Nauvoo.\n\n_December_ 16. The charter of the city of Nauvoo became a law.\n\n1841.--_January_. During this month the first English edition of the\nBook of Mormon was published.\n\n_November_ 8. The Baptismal Font in the Nauvoo Temple was dedicated.\n\n1842.--_December_ 7. Elder O. Hyde returned from his mission to\nJerusalem.\n\n1844.--_June_ 27. Joseph and Hyrum Smith were assassinated in Carthage\njail.\n\n1845.--_September_ 24. The authorities of the Church made a treaty with\nthe mob, to evacuate Nauvoo the following spring.\n\n1846.--_February_. In the beginning of this month, the exodus of the\nSaints from Nauvoo commenced.\n\n_May_ 16. The Pioneer camp of the Saints arrived at Mount Pisgah, Iowa\nTerritory.\n\n_June_. A call was made, by the general government, for the Mormon\nBattalion.\n\n_September_ 10, 11, 12. Battles took place between the citizens of\nNauvoo and the mob.\n\n_September_ 16. The Trustees of the Church, in Nauvoo, made a treaty\nwith the mob for the surrender of the city, and its immediate\nevacuation by the remnant of the Saints.\n\n1847.--_April_ 14. The Pioneers left Winter Quarters for the Rocky\nMountains.\n\n_July_ 24. The Pioneers entered Great Salt Lake Valley.\n\n_December_ 23. The Twelve sent forth an epistle to the Saints to\nrecommence the gathering.\n\n1848.--_May_. Presidents B. Young and Heber C. Kimball left Winter\nQuarters, the second time, for Great Salt Lake Valley.\n\n_September_ 20. Presidents B. Young and H. C. Kimball arrived, the\nsecond time, in Great Salt Lake Valley.\n\n_November_ 19. The Nauvoo Temple was burned.\n\n1849.--_October_ 6. The organization of the P. E. Fund Company was\ncommenced.\n\n1850.--_June_ 14. The first missionaries to Scandinavia landed in\nCopenhagen, Denmark.\n\n_June_ 15. The first number of the \"Deseret News\" was published.\n\n_August_ 12. The first baptisms in Denmark, by legal authority, in this\ndispensation, took place.\n\n_September_ 9. The \"Act\" for organizing the Territory of Utah became a\nlaw.\n\n_October_ 13. The first company of P. E. Fund emigrants arrived in Salt\nLake City, from the United States.\n\n_December_ 7. The first branch of the Church, in France, was organized\nat Paris.\n\n1851.--_January_ 9. Salt Lake City was incorporated.\n\n_January_ 13. The first settlers of Iron County, U.T., arrived on\nCentre Creek, near where the city of Parowan now stands.\n\n1852.--_August_ 29. The revelation on the law of Celestial Marriage was\nfirst made public.\n\n_September_ 3. The first company of P. E. Fund emigrants from Europe\narrived in Utah.\n\n_December_ 13. The Legislative Assembly of Utah Territory met, for the\nfirst time.\n\n1853.--_January_ 25. Elders O. Spencer and J. Houtz, missionaries,\narrived in Berlin, Prussia, and were banished from there on the second\nof February following.\n\n_February_ 14. The Temple Block in Salt Lake City was consecrated.\n\n_March_ 7. The first missionaries to Gibraltar arrived there.\n\n_November_ 1. The first number of the \"Journal of Discourses\" was\npublished in England.\n\n1854.--_May_ 23. Patriarch John Smith died.\n\n_June_ 28. John Smith, son of Hyrum Smith, was appointed Patriarch over\nthe Church.\n\n1855.--_May_ 5. The Endowment House in Salt Lake City was dedicated.\n\n_October_. A branch of the Church was organized in Dresden, Germany.\n\nDuring this year grasshoppers and drouth caused a great failure of\ncrops in Utah.\n\n_October_ 29. The First Presidency of the Church, in their General\nEpistle, proposed, for the Saints who should emigrate by the P. E.\nFund, to cross the plains with handcarts.\n\n1856.--During this year the practice of paying tithing was generally\nintroduced among the Saints in Europe. During the winter and spring\nthere was a great scarcity of food in Utah, and many domestic animals\nperished.\n\n_September_ 26. The first company of Saints, who crossed the plains\nwith handcarts, arrived.\n\n1857.--_April_ 23. A company of about seventy missionary elders left\nSalt Lake City to cross the plains with handcarts.\n\n_July_ 11. A. Cumming, of Georgia, was appointed governor of Utah.\n\n_July_ 23. Messrs. J. Stoddard and A. O. Smoot arrived from\nIndependence without the mails, the postmaster there having received\norders not to forward them. They brought the news that General Harney,\nwith over 2000 men, was ordered to Utah.\n\nNear the close of the year, the U. S. army, under General Johnson, took\npossession of Fort Bridger.\n\n1858.--_March_ 21. The citizens of Utah, living north of Utah County,\nagreed to abandon their homes and move south. This was deemed advisable\nas a defensive measure.\n\nIn the meantime Col. Thos. L. Kane had arrived in Salt Lake City, via\nCalifornia, for the purpose of bringing about a peaceful solution of\nthe difficulties between the U. S. and Utah.\n\n_April_ 19. Gov. Cumming and Col. Kane visited the Utah library, where\nthey were shown the records and seal of the U.S. court, which was said\nto have been destroyed.\n\n_June_ 7. Messrs. Powell and McCullough, sent out as peace\ncommissioners, by the general government, arrived in Salt Lake City.\n\n_June_ 26. The \"Army of Utah,\" under Col. Johnson, passed through Salt\nLake City and camped on the west side of the river Jordan.\n\n_June_ 30. The people who had moved south began to return to their\nhomes.\n\n_October_ 28. Jacob Hamblin, with eleven men, left Southern Utah\nto open intercourse with the Indians on the east side of the river\nColorado.\n\n1861.--_April_ 23. Two hundred wagons, with four yoke of cattle each,\ncarrying 15,000 pounds of flour, started for the Missouri river, to\nbring the poor of the Saints to Utah.\n\n_October_ 18. President B. Young sent the first message over the\noverland wire to the U.S.\n\n_October_ 24. The first telegram was sent to San Francisco. In the\nautumn of this year a large colony of Saints was sent to southern Utah.\n\n1862.--_October_ 24. Camp Douglas, near Salt Lake City, was located by\nCol. P. E. Connor.\n\n1863.--Col. P. E. Connor defeated a band of the Shoshone Indians near\nBear river.\n\n_March_ 3. Great mass meeting held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City,\nto protest against the infamous course of U.S. officials.\n\n1864.--_April_ 10. Moves were made for building a telegraph line in\nUtah.\n\n1866.--_January_ 1. The first number of the \"Juvenile Instructor\" was\nissued in Salt Lake City.\n\n1867.--The Deseret Telegraph Company was organized.\n\n1868.--_June_ 19.--Ground was broken in Weber Canyon, on the U. P.\nRailroad.\n\n_October_ 16. Co-operative Mercantile Institution was organized. B.\nYoung, president.\n\n_March_ 8.--U.S. Land Office opened in Salt Lake City.\n\n_March_ 15. A company was partially organized for building a railroad\nbetween Ogden and Salt Lake City.\n\n_May_ 9. The last rail was laid connecting the U. P. and C. P.\nrailroads, thus completing the first railroad across the continent.\n\n_May_ 17. The first ground was broken for the Utah Central Railroad.\n\n_June_ 25. The first company of Latter-day Saint emigrants reached\nOgden, per U. P. R. R.\n\n_December_ 24. In the evening street lamps were first used in Salt Lake\nCity.\n\n1870.--_January_ 10. The last rail of the Utah Central Railroad was\nlaid.\n\n_January_ 13. General mass meeting of the ladies of Salt Lake City, to\nprotest against the passage of the Cullom bill.\n\n_February_ 12. \"An act conferring the elective franchise upon women,\"\nbecame a law of Utah Territory.\n\n_April_ 27, An abandoned child was left at the door of Mrs. The first\ncircumstance of the kind known in Salt Lake City.\n\n_August_ 12. A discussion commenced, in Salt Lake City, between\nProfessor O. Pratt and Dr. J. P. Newman, chaplain of the U.S. Senate.\nQuestion, \"Does the Bible sanction polygamy?\"\n\n_September_ 15. Gov. J. W. Shafer issued a proclamation, forbidding the\nassembly of the militia of Utah Territory for any purpose except by his\norders.\n\n1871.--_May_ 1. Ground was first broken for the Utah Southern Railroad.\n\n_June_ 30. Acting-Governor of Utah, George A. Black, issued a\nproclamation forbidding any of the militia of the Territory to assemble\nfor the purpose of celebrating the ninety-fifth anniversary of American\nIndependence.\n\n_October_ 10. President B. Young was arrested by U.S. Marshal on an\nindictment founded on a charge of \"lascivious cohabitation.\"\n\n1872.--_June_ 1. The first number of the \"Woman's Exponent was issued\nin Salt Lake City.\n\n_September_ 3 Ground was dedicated and broken for the Salt Lake City\nwater works.\n\n_October_ 14. President G. A. Smith and others left Salt Lake City on\ntheir Palestine tour.\n\n1873.--_February_ 24. President Smith and party arrived in Jerusalem.\n\n_June_ 18. President Smith arrived in Salt Lake City.\n\n\n\nLATTER-DAY SAINTS' EMIGRATION.\n\nThe publications of the church show that, commencing with the year\n1840 and ending with the year 1883, there have been emigrated from\nthe European countries to the United States, by the church emigration\nagencies, 78,219 souls, who have crossed the sea in 243 sail vessels\nand steamships.\n\nThese have come in companies of varied numbers, from a dozen or two at\na time to as many as eight hundred or more, which latter number has\nembarked several times on double decked ships.\n\nWe regret our inability to give a tabulated statement of the number of\npersons from each country of their nativity. The greater proportions\nhave been from Great Britain and Scandinavia, while Switzerland,\nGermany, Italy, Iceland, Finland, East India, South Africa and other\ncountries have contributed to make up the number.\n\nA very remarkable feature in this work of gathering Israel is that of\nall these vessels that have gone to sea, no one with a Latter-day Saint\non it has ever gone down. Some have been driven back to Port before\nthey could get out of the Irish channel, one was dismasted before\nreaching New Orleans, but all have yielded up their precious souls and\nfreight to the ports of their destination.\n\nThe organization, cleanliness and consequent health, peace and safety,\nhave rendered the Saints' emigration notorious and proverbial among\nEuropean shippers and ship captains, many of whom have been heard to\nsay that a company of Mormon emigrants on their ship they considered\nbetter insurance than the underwriters at Lloyd's could give.\n\n\n\nTHE BOOK OF MORMON.\n\nThe Book of Mormon is the name of a record which was engraved upon\nplates of gold, about 400 years after the crucifixion of our Lord and\nSavior Jesus Christ, by a celebrated prophet named Mormon. These plates\nwere deposited by his son, Moroni, in a stone box, in a hill in the\nwestern part of the State of New York, called by the Nephites, Cumorah.\nThe language in which this record was made was said by Mormon to be\nReformed Egyptian. On the 22d of September, 1823, Moroni discovered\nthe stone box which contained these plates, the Urim and Thummim, a\nsword and breastplate, to the young Prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr., and\nhe, by the aid of the Urim and Thummim, translated the record from the\nplates into the English language. This is the most ancient, the most\naccurate and reliable history of America, its ancient inhabitants and\nits antiquities, that is now extant; and has since been translated from\nthe English into the French, German, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Welsh,\nKanaka, Hindostanee, Dutch and Spanish. It has also been printed and\npublished in all those languages except Spanish, Hindostanee and Dutch,\nand will soon be published in the Spanish also.","title":"A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":114204}