,,the ,,vitality ,,of ,,mormonism ,,brief ,,essays ,,on ,,distinctive ,,doctrines ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ ,,of ,,latter-,,day ,,saints ,by ,,james ,e4 ,,talmage ,one of the ,twelve ,apostles of the ,church ,,boston ,,richard ,g4 ,,badger ,,the ,,gorham ,,press ,,preface ,the message of ,mormonism is of summoning interest in the world today4 ,people of serious mind are not satisfied with the unsupported generalization that it is naught but the outgrowth of delusion and error4 ,fungi of fallacy1 particularly in the field of modern religious systems1 are of no such sturdy growth and wholesome fruitage as the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints has progressively manifested4 ,mormonism1 mis-named though it be1 stands for the principles of eternal truth as enunciated by our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and by ,his duly commissioned ,apostles and ,prophets4 ,the basis of ,mormonism is fairly summarized in the following outline of facts and premises3 #a4 ,the eternal existence of a living personal ,god2 and the preexistence and eternal duration of mankind as ,his literal offspring4 #b4 ,the placing of man upon the earth as an embodied spirit to undergo the experiences of an intermediate probation4 #c4 ,the transgression and fall of the first parents of the race1 by which man became mortal1 or in other words was doomed to suffer a separation of spirit and body through death4 #d4 ,the absolute need of a ,redeemer1 empowered to overcome death and thereby provide for a reunion of the spirits and bodies of mankind through a material resurrection from death to immortality4 #e4 ,the providing of a definite plan of salvation1 by obedience to which man may obtain remission of his sins1 and be enabled to advance by effort and righteous achievement throughout eternity4 #f4 ,the establishment of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ in the meridian of time1 by the personal ministry and atoning death of the foreordained ,redeemer and ,savior of mankind1 and the proclamation of ,his saving ,gospel through the ministry of the ,holy ,priesthood during the apostolic period and for a season thereafter4 #g4 ,the general falling away from the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 by which the world degenerated into a state of apostasy1 and the ,holy ,priesthood ceased to be operative in the organization of sects and churches designed and effected by the authority of man4 #h4 ,the restoration of the ,gospel in the current age1 and the reestablishment of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ by the bestowal of the ,holy ,priesthood through ,divine revelation4 #i4 ,the appointed mission of the restored ,church of ,jesus ,christ to preach the ,gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof amongst all nations1 in preparation for the near advent of our ,savior ,jesus ,christ1 who shall reign on earth as ,lord and ,king4 ,the short essays following have been published at weekly intervals through two years2 they number therefore one hundred and four4 ,concise rather than exhaustive treatment has been attempted4 ,no apology is offered for reiteration of quotations or comment2 repetition seemed preferable to the introduction of cross references4 ,,james ,e4 ,,talmage4 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah1 ,february #c1 #aiai4 ,,contents #a4 ,the ,mustard ,seed and the ,tree--,development1 not ,growth ,alone #b4 ,what the ,mormons ,believe--,their ,articles of ,faith #c4 ,what's in a ,name8--,is ,mormonism ,misunderstood because of ,its ,unpopular ,title8 #d4 ,mormonism--,a ,distinctive ,religious ,system #e4 ,direct and ,sure--,the ,church ,bold yet ,tolerant #f4 ,wheat and ,weeds--,successive ,apostasies from the ,gospel #g4 ,a ,new ,dispensation--,authority by ,restoration not ,through ,succession #h ,divine ,command and ,human ,agency--,the ,church a ,democracy #i4 ,the ,holy ,trinity--,unity of the ,godhead #aj4 ,original ,sin--,are ,all to ,suffer from it ,eternally8 #aa4 ,the ,cooperative ,plan of ,salvation--,christ ,alone ,cannot ,save ,you #ab4 ,the ,need of a ,redeemer--,man ,cannot ,exalt ,himself #ac4 ,christ's ,unique ,status--,as ,redeemer and ,savior of the ,world #ad4 ,philosophy of the ,atonement--,its ,two-fold ,effect #ae4 ,how ,does ,christ ,save8--,his ,plan ,combines ,justice and ,mercy #af4 ,heaven and ,hell--,graded ,conditions in the ,hereafter #ag4 ,in the ,realm of the ,dead--,paradise--,what of the ,spirits in ,prison8 #ah4 ,why ,are ,they ,baptized for the ,dead8--,elijah the ,prophet on the ,american ,continent #ai4 ,obedience is ,heaven's ,first ,law--,conditions of ,citizenship in the ,kingdom of ,god #bj4 ,the ,devils ,believe and ,tremble--,faith not ,mere ,belief #ba4 ,the ,voice of ,john the ,baptist ,again ,heard--,repent ,ye1 for the ,kingdom of ,heaven is at ,hand6 #bb4 ,arise and ,wash ,away ,thy ,sins--,the ,only ,way #bc4 ,are ,babes to be ,damned8--,a ,horrible ,misconception #bd4 ,the ,watery ,grave--,and the ,new ,birth #be4 ,the ,baptism of ,fire--,power of the ,spirit #bf4 ,in the ,name of ,god1 ,amen6--,authority of the ,holy ,priesthood ,again ,operative on ,earth #bg4 ,for ,time ,only or for ,eternity--,human ,institutions and ,divine ,authority #bh4 ,apostles and ,prophets ,necessary--,the ,primitive ,church and the ,church of ,latter ,days #bi4 ,when ,darkness ,covered the ,earth--,the ,long ,night of ,apostasy #cj4 ,the ,morning ,breaks1 the ,shadows ,flee--,light of the ,gospel ,again ,shines #ca4 ,the ,beginning or the ,end--,ushering in of the ,last ,dispensation #cb4 ,a ,god of ,miracles--,wonders ,wrought by ,devils #cc4 ,is the ,bible ,sufficient8--,scriptures of ,many ,peoples #cd4 ,a ,messenger--,from the ,presence of ,god #ce4 ,scriptures of the ,american ,continent--,the ,book of ,mormon #cf4 ,by the ,mouth of ,witnesses--,shall the ,truth be ,established #cg4 ,voices of the ,dead--,a ,testimony from the ,dust #ch4 ,a ,new ,witness of the ,christ--,an ,independent ,scripture #ci4 ,when ,christ ,stood on ,american ,soil--,his ,church ,established ,among the ,ancient ,americans #dj4 ,east and ,west in ,one ,acclaim--,that ,jesus is the ,christ #da4 ,sheep of ,another ,fold--,shepherds and ,sheep-herders #db4 ,from ,god to ,man--,divine ,communication in the ,current ,age #dc4 ,the ,tragedy of ,israel--,a ,nation ,without a ,country #dd4 ,the ,gathering of the ,tribes--,judah and ,israel to ,come into ,their ,own #de4 ,america the ,land of ,zion--,the ,place of the ,new ,jerusalem #df4 ,the ,coming of the ,lord--,the ,consummation of the ,ages #dg4 ,the ,federation of the ,world--,a ,thousand ,years of ,peace #dh4 ,thy ,kingdom ,come6--,so ,pray ,we ,yet #di4 ,freedom to ,worship ,god--,man's ,divine ,birthright #ej4 ,the ,law of the ,land--,should ,we ,submit to ,it8 #ea4 ,church and ,state--,independent but ,mutually ,helpful #eb4 ,religion of ,daily ,life--,a ,practical ,test #ec4 ,america the ,cradle of ,liberty--,no ,king to ,rule in the ,land #ed4 ,democracy of ,american ,origin--,the ,founding of an ,ancient ,republic #ee4 ,perpetuity of ,american ,nation--,assured by ,prophecy #ef4 ,law of the ,tithe--,the ,lord's ,revenue ,system #eg4 ,the ,united ,order--,no ,longer ,mine and ,thine1 but the ,lord's and ,ours #eh4 ,the ,word of ,wisdom--,sanctity of the ,body #ei4 ,unchastity the ,dominant ,evil--,infamy of a ,double ,standard of ,virtue #fj4 ,not ,good for ,man to be ,alone--,companionship of the ,sexes #fa4 ,till ,death ,does ,you ,part--,is there no ,hope ,beyond8 #fb4 ,they ,neither ,marry--,nor ,give in ,marriage #fc4 ,celestial ,marriage--,eternal ,relationship of the ,sexes #fd4 ,there ,was ,war in ,heaven--,primeval ,conflict over ,satanic ,autocracy #fe4 ,we ,lived ,before ,we ,were ,born--,our ,primeval ,childhood #ff4 ,man is ,eternal--,successive ,stages of ,existence #fg4 ,in the ,lineage of ,deity--,man's ,divine ,pedigree #fh4 ,unending ,advancement--,infinite ,possibilities of ,man's ,estate #fi4 ,the ,living and the ,dead--,both to ,hear the ,gospel #gj4 ,god of the ,living--,all ,live unto ,him #ga4 ,beyond the ,grave--,repentance ,possible even ,there #gb4 ,opportunity ,here and ,hereafter--,free ,agency and its ,results #gc4 ,the ,spirit ,world--,paradise and ,hades #gd4 ,how ,long ,shall ,hell ,last8--,the ,duration of ,punishment #ge4 ,salvation and ,exaltation--,advancement ,worlds ,without ,end #gf4 ,deity as ,exalted ,humanity--,man is a ,god in ,embryo #gg4 ,be ,ye ,perfect--,is ,it ,possible #gh4 ,the ,glory of ,god is ,intelligence--,knowledge is ,power in ,heaven as on ,earth #gi4 ,when ,ignorance is ,sin--,opportunity ,entails ,accountability #hj4 ,knowing and ,doing--,knowledge ,may ,help to ,condemn or ,save #ha4 ,will ,many or ,few be ,saved8--,our ,place ,beyond the ,grave #hb4 ,the ,graves ,shall be ,opened--,and the ,dead ,shall ,live #hc4 ,resurrection of the ,dead--,when ,shall it be8 #hd4 ,reaching ,after the ,dead--,lest ,we ,forget #he4 ,the ,house of the ,lord--,why do the ,latter-day ,saints ,build ,temples8 #hf4 ,the ,second ,death--,spiritual ,banishment ,like unto the ,first #hg4 ,antiquity of the ,gospel--,as ,old as ,adam #hh4 ,the ,origin of ,sacrifice--,coeval with the ,race #hi4 ,simplicity of the ,gospel--,none ,need ,err ,therein #ij4 ,the ,will or ,god--,though ,opposed1 ,yet ,eventually ,supreme #ia4 ,god's ,foreknowledge--,not a ,determining ,cause #ib4 ,are ,men ,created ,equal8--,individualism is ,eternal #ic4 ,ethics and ,religion--,a ,distinction with a ,difference #id4 ,religion ,active and ,passive--,effort ,essential to ,salvation #ie4 ,remember the ,sabbath ,day--,a ,law unto ,man from the ,beginning #if4 ,the ,foolishness of ,god--,and the ,wisdom of ,men #ig4 ,freedom ,through ,obedience--,release from ,autocracy of ,sin #ih4 ,he ,went and ,washed--,and ,came ,seeing #ii4 ,the ,rod of ,iron--,a ,dependable ,support #ajj4 ,liar and ,murderer--,from the ,beginning #aja4 ,on the ,devil's ,ground--,prisoners to ,satan #ajb4 ,what ,doth ,it ,profit a ,man8--,worldly ,gain--,eternal ,loss #ajc4 ,the ,garden of ,god--,and the ,weeds of ,human ,culture #ajd4 ,the ,last ,dispensation--,today is the ,sum of all the ,yesterdays ,,the ,,vitality ,,of ,,mormonism -- #a -- ,,the ,,mustard ,,seed ,,and ,,the ,,tree ,development1 ,not ,growth ,alone ,,why does ,mormonism persist8 ,the question is perennial1 while the fact implied therein commands increasing interest and concern4 ,determined attempts were made to stifle the system at its birth1 to destroy the mustard seed at the planting2 and1 paradoxically1 in proportion as the actuality of its survival has become generally evident1 the assumed certainty of its imminent decline has been the more confidently proclaimed4 ,the fall of the spreading tree1 whose branches afford unfailing food and shelter1 has been predicted time and again1 but never realized4 ,on the sixth day of ,april1 #ahcj1 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints was organized as a body corporate at ,fayette in the ,state of ,new ,york1 with a membership of six persons4 ,true1 at that time a few times six had associated themselves more or less closely with the new religious movement2 but1 as the laws of the ,state specified six as the minimum required to form a religious corporation1 only that number took part in the legal procedure4 ,and they1 save one1 were relatively obscure4 ,the name of ,joseph ,smith had already been heard beyond his home district4 ,he was at the time a subject of widening notoriety if not of enviable fame4 ,the ,book of ,mormon1 purporting to be a record of the aboriginal peoples of the ,western ,continent1 had already been published4 ,in reference to the title page of this work the appellation ,mormons came to be fastened upon members of the ,church4 ,such a beginning as that of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints would seem to afford little ground of either hope or fear as to future developments4 ,what was there to cause hostile concern over the voluntary association of six men and a few of their friends in an organization of openly expressed purpose1 and that1 the peaceful promulgation of what they verily believed to be the uplifting religion of life1 the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ8 ,whatever may be the answer to the query1 the fact that the ,church met opposition1 which for a long period was increasingly severe1 is abundantly attested by history4 #a ,today the ,mormon ,church is known1 by name at least1 throughout the civilized world1 as well as among most of the semi-cultured peoples in the remoter parts of the earth and on the islands of the sea4 ,the six have increased to over half a million adherents4 ,the growth of the organization is apparent to even the poorly informed4 ,but the ,church has not only grown2 it has developed4 ,between growth and development there is an essential difference2 and not a few of the grave mistakes of men1 even in every-day affairs--in business1 in politics1 in statesmanship--are traceable to our confusing and confounding the two4 ,growth alone is the result of accretion1 the accumulation of material1 the amassing of stuff4 ,development involves an extension of function1 a gradation of efficiency1 a passing from immaturity to maturity1 from the seed to the fruiting tree4 ,growth produces big things1 and not only things of this sort but men4 ,between bigness and greatness1 however1 there is a distinction of kind4 ,growth is a measure of bulk1 of quantity2 it is specified as so many or so much2 development is a gradation of quality2 its terms are so good or so bad4 ,our nation boasts a constantly increasing host of big men2 the great men of the country may be more easily counted4 ,and as with men so with institutions4 ,dead things may grow1 as witness the tiny salt crystal in its mother-brine--at first a microscopic cube1 then a huge hexahedron limited only by the size of the container or other external conditions4 ,development1 however1 is the characteristic of life1 to which mere growth is essentially secondary and subordinate4 ,the vital character of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints has been evident from the first4 ,mormonism lives because it is healthy1 normal and undeformed4 ,in general1 a healthy organism is assured of life1 barring destruction from external violence or deprivation of physical necessities2 whereas one that is abnormal and sickly is doomed to decline4 ,opposition to the ,church1 the pitiless maltreatment to which its people have been subjected1 particularly in the earlier decades of its history1 comprising mobbings1 drivings1 spoliation1 scourgings1 and assassination1 have operated to strengthen the ,church1 body and soul4 ,true1 the heat of persecution has scorched and withered a few of the sickly plants1 such as had little depth of sincerity2 but the general effect has been to promote a fuller growth1 and to make richer and more fertile the ,garden of the ,lord4 ,the ,church has never experienced a distinctive period of reduced membership4 ,always the present has been the time of its highest achievement4 ,in spite of persecution1 some of which sprang from misplaced sincerity and zeal while much was born of ignorance and fanaticism1 the strength of the institution1 measured in terms of loyalty1 devotion and unswerving adherence to the principles of the restored ,gospel1 has steadily increased4 ,it is a notable fact that its members are imbued with the testimony of certitude as to the genuineness of the ,gospel they have espoused and the perpetuity of the ,church4 ,this has been a distinguishing feature from the beginning4 ,apostasy from the organization is so rare as to be negligible4 ,excommunicants1 who are deprived of their membership through failure to live up to the high standard of morality and duty required by the revealed law of the ,church1 while not numerous exceed by many fold those who voluntarily withdraw and affiliate with other religious bodies4 ,mormonism is definite and incisive in its claims4 ,it speaks to the world in no uncertain tone4 ,its voice is virile2 its activities are strong4 ,it presents an unbroken front and is unafraid4 ,its attitude is not hostile1 though strongly aggressive4 ,its methods are those of reason and persuasion1 coupled with a fearless affirmation of testimony as to the surpassing importance of its message1 which message it labors to convey to every nation1 kindred1 tongue and people4 ,it is not too much to affirm that the leaven of ,mormonism is leavening the world and its theology4 ,every studious reader of recent commentaries on the ,holy ,scriptures1 and of theological treatises in general1 is aware of a surprising progressiveness in modern views of things spiritual1 amounting in many instances to an abandonment of what were once regarded as the fundamentals of orthodoxy4 ,in the new theology ,mormonism has pioneered the way4 ,in its early days the ,church received the word of the ,lord avouching the perpetuity of the organization4 ,while no individual was promised that he should not fall away1 and though the forfeiture of the ,holy ,spirit's companionship was specified as the sure and incalculable loss to all who wilfully persisted in sin1 the blessed assurance was given that the ,church of ,jesus ,christ was established for the last time1 never to be destroyed1 nor again driven from the earth through apostasy4 ,men may come and men may go1 but the ,church shall go on forever4 ,there has never been revision nor amendment in the fundamental law of the ,church1 and the only changes are those natural to development1 expansion and adaptation to new conditions4 ,the world is full of sects and churches1 and there is scarcely one that has not a counterpart in a revised or reformed or reorganized sect4 ,but the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is no sect2 it is an original creation1 established upon the earth in this age as a restoration4 ,there will never be a reformed or reorganized variant of this1 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,the faith of the people is no whit weakened because of their fewness4 ,this very condition was foretold4 ,nearly six centuries before the ,savior's birth1 a ,hebrew prophet on the ,western ,continent predicted the establishment of this ,church in the last days1 and testified of it1 as he had seen in vision1 that its members would be found in all parts of the earth1 but that their numbers would be relatively small4 ,see ,book of ,mormon1 #a ,nephi #ad4 ,strait is the gate1 and narrow is the way1 which leadeth unto life1 and few there be that find it4 7,matt4 #g3ad1 also ,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #ad3ad47 ,the doors of the ,church are open to all1 rich and poor1 learned and unlearned2 and the pleading invitation to enter and become partakers of the blessings that pertain both to mortality and to the eternities beyond is freely extended--to you and yours and to everybody1 near and afar off1 even as many as the ,lord our ,god shall call4 ,footnotes #a4 ,see the author's ,story and ,philosophy of ',mormonism'1 #acf pp41 ,the ,deseret ,news1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah4 -- #b -- ,,what ,,the ,,mormons ,,believe ,their ,articles of ,faith ,,while it may be impossible for any religious body to set forth in a brief statement all the distinguishing features of its doctrines and practise1 it has become usual for churches to embody the fundamentals of their belief in condensed form as creeds4 ,when asked for a concise presentation of the principal doctrines accepted by his people1 ,joseph ,smith1 through whose instrumentality the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints was established1 responded with the ,articles of ,faith presented below4 ,this was in the year #ahda4 ,from the time of their first promulgation ,the ,articles have been in force as an authorized statement of belief2 and they were early adopted as such by the ,church in general conference assembled4 ,the ,articles of ,faith of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints #a4 ,we believe in ,god1 the ,eternal ,father1 and in ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 and in the ,holy ,ghost4 #b4 ,we believe that men will be punished for their own sins1 and not for ,adam's transgression4 #c4 ,we believe that through the ,atonement of ,christ1 all mankind may be saved1 by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 #d4 ,we believe that the first principles and ordinances of the ,gospel are3--7#a7 ,faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 7#b7 ,repentance2 7#c7 ,baptism by immersion for the remission of sins2 7#d7 ,laying on of hands for the ,gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 #e4 ,we believe that a man must be called of ,god1 by prophecy1 and by the laying on of hands1 by those who are in authority1 to preach the ,gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof4 #f4 ,we believe in the same organization that existed in the ,primitive ,church1 viz43 apostles1 prophets1 pastors1 teachers1 evangelists1 etc4 #g4 ,we believe in the gift of tongues1 prophecy1 revelation1 visions1 healing1 interpretation of tongues1 etc4 #h4 ,we believe the ,bible to be the word of ,god1 as far as it is translated correctly2 we also believe the ,book of ,mormon to be the word of ,god4 #i4 ,we believe all that ,god has revealed1 all that ,he does now reveal1 and we believe that ,he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the ,kingdom of ,god4 #aj4 ,we believe in the literal gathering of ,israel and in the restoration of the ,ten ,tribes2 that ,zion will be built upon this the ,american continent2 that ,christ will reign personally upon the earth2 and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory4 #aa4 ,we claim the privilege of worshiping ,almighty ,god according to the dictates of our own conscience1 and allow all men the same privilege1 let them worship how1 where1 or what they may4 #ab4 ,we believe in being subject to kings1 presidents1 rulers1 and magistrates1 in obeying1 honoring1 and sustaining the law4 #ac4 ,we believe in being honest1 true1 chaste1 benevolent1 virtuous1 and in doing good to all men2 indeed1 we may say that we follow the admonition of ,paul1 we believe all things1 we hope all things1 we have endured many things1 and hope to be able to endure all things4 ,if there is anything virtuous1 lovely1 or of good report or praiseworthy1 we seek after these things4--,joseph ,smith4 ,to most of these items many sects professing ,christianity could confidently pledge allegiance2 to many of them all ,christian bodies subscribe4 ,belief in the existence and powers of the ,holy ,trinity1 in ,jesus ,christ as the ,savior and ,redeemer of the human race1 in man's individual accountability for his acts1 in the acceptance of sacred writ as the ,word of ,god1 in the rights of worship according to the dictates of conscience1 in the moral virtues--these professions and beliefs are a common creed in the realm of present-day ,christendom4 ,there is no peculiarly ,mormon interpretation1 in the light of which these principles of faith and practise are viewed by the ,latter-day ,saints1 except1 perhaps1 in a certain simplicity and literalness of acceptance4 ,the ,articles of ,faith are confessedly but an incomplete summary of doctrine1 as the ninth of the series avers4 ,the atmosphere of the ,church is that of expectancy1 of reverent waiting for further revelation of the ,divine will and purpose4 ,mormonism is alive1 and therefore grows and develops with the years4 ,it promulgates latter-day ,scripture as well as the ,holy ,writ of centuries remote2 and strict comparison demonstrates consistency and harmony in spirit and principle4 ,mormonism affirms itself to be the embodiment of the essential requirements of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 as proclaimed by the ,master ,himself1 and by ,his duly ordained ,apostles in the ,primitive ,church1 and as taught and administered under ,divine authority in the present dispensation4 ,mormonism is new only as a reestablishment1 a restoration4 ,it is the embodiment of the eternal ,gospel1 come again4 #a ,footnotes #a4 ,for more detailed treatment see the author's ,the ,articles of ,faith1 #dhj pp41 ,the ,deseret ,news1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah4 -- #c -- ,,what',s ,,in ,a ,,name8 ,is ,mormonism ,misunderstood ,because of ,its ,unpopular ,title8 ,,what',s in a name8 ,so asked one who has been called the chief of ,english bards2 and hosts of thoughtful minds have been conscious of the same insistent query springing up as a conception original to each4 ,who but the superficial will venture to deny the influence of names8 ,we are all subject to the witchery of bias and of prejudice for or against2 and the odium or the good repute of a name ofttimes determines our provisional acceptance or rejection of that for which it stands4 ,most of us are in the habit of putting up our knowledge in little packages1 duly ticketed4 ,these we stow away in more or less orderly fashion1 and though we glance betimes at the label we are apt to forget what any one of the parcels really contains4 ,mormonism is an unpopular name2 the truths for which it stands1 the principles which it embodies1 are more readily believed in if left unlabeled4 ,it should be borne in mind that the term ,mormon with its several variants was first applied by way of nickname to the people now so designated4 ,but nicknames may be so sanctified by effort and achievement that they become titles of respect and profound significance4 ,to this fact history lends definite and abundant testimony4 ,the term ,christian was first applied as an epithet of contempt4 ,you know how it was hurled in hatred and disdain at the disciples in ,antioch4 ,see ,acts #aa3bf4 ,yet the followers of ,christ accepted the name and hallowed it by sacrifice and righteous deeds2 and today the world counts but one distinction greater than being called a ,christian1 and that is to be a ,christian in fact4 ,the ,mormon people do not resent the misnomer by which they are commonly known1 and which has been put upon them by popular usage4 ,they deplore1 however1 the possible misunderstanding that the ,church to which they belong professes to be the church of ,mormon4 ,it should be known that ,mormon was a man1 a very distinguished and a very able man it is true1 an eminent prophet and historian according to the record bearing his name1 but a man nevertheless4 ,the ,mormon ,church affirms itself to be in no sense the church of ,mormon1 nor the church of ,joseph ,smith1 nor of ,brigham ,young1 nor of any man other than the ,savior and ,redeemer of the race4 ,the true name of this ,church1 the designation by which it is officially known is ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,this is an age of multitudinous sects1 cults1 and religious societies in general1 and the number increases year by year4 ,strictly speaking a sect is a branch or offshoot of a primary institution1 and in this sense numerous sects have arisen and others may arise1 all professing something in common though differing in particulars ofttimes to the point of antagonism4 ,most of the existing sects designate themselves as churches with a distinctive forename to each4 ,as the term church in its ordinary and broad usage is a common possession1 unprotected by letters patent or other guaranty of exclusiveness1 its general employment as an alternative for sects or cognate nouns is no breach of law1 order or custom4 ,narrowing our consideration to that of churches professing ,christianity1 we meet the question as to whether there can be two or more diverse sects1 opposed to each other in essentials of belief and practise1 and both or all be in reality the ,church of ,jesus ,christ4 ,can a church that is divided against itself1 or a multitude of sects with discordant doctrines and conflicting claims to priestly authority1 be one and all the same church1 and that the ,church of ,god8 ,the question has been answered by the churches themselves2 and their emphatic reply in the negative is expressed in the names by which these organizations have chosen to be known4 ,some have elected to be called after the names of their founders or eminent promoters1 as ,lutherans1 ,calvinists1 ,wesleyans1 ,campbellites4 ,others proclaim by their self-chosen titles a preference for appellations denoting some descriptive feature of their plan of organization or governmental system1 as ,episcopal1 ,presbyterian1 ,congregational4 ,yet others attach so great significance to distinctive points of doctrine as to make that the mark of identity1 such as ,unitarian1 ,trinitarian1 ,universalist1 ,baptist4 ,none of us can consistently challenge the vested right of religious associations to choose their own names4 ,moreover1 the designations of existing sects1 with few exceptions1 are self-explanatory1 significantly expressive1 and eminently appropriate4 ,in general the names tell1 as explicitly as any brief title could do1 just what the respective sect1 society or church professes to be4 ,organizations planned and operated for individual and social betterment1 whether known as churches or otherwise1 are commendable institutions4 ,inasmuch as membership therein is a matter of personal choice1 no objection should be raised against rules established by common consent or majority decision for the admission of new applicants or for the discipline of members1 provided1 of course1 that such rules be administered without infringement upon the rights of outsiders4 ,but can any association of men1 conceived and effected on human initiative1 be anything other than an earthly institution1 even though its aims be lofty and its activities the most praiseworthy8 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 as an institution both earthly and heavenly1 that is to say having vital relation to mortal life and to eternity1 cannot have been originated at human instance4 ,that church is not the fruitage of man's planting1 neither the offshoot of other and older institutions4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 therefore1 is not1 nor can it be1 a sect4 ,the ,book of ,mormon affirms that the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 shortly after ,his ascension in ,judea1 visited the early inhabitants of the ,western ,continent and established ,his ,church amongst them4 ,as ,he had done in ,galilee1 so in ,america4 ,he chose and ordained ,twelve ,disciples1 to whom ,he gave authority to administer the ordinances of the ,gospel1 which1 as the ,lord taught1 are essential to salvation4 ,he very clearly set forth that ,his ,church was to be rightly named1 as the following record attests4 ,the ,twelve1 whom ,he had commissioned to build up the ,church1 prayed for instruction1 saying3 ,lord1 we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this ,church2 for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter4 ,and the ,resurrected ,lord1 there present in visible ,person1 answered them in this wise3 ,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing8 ,have they not read the ,scriptures1 which say ye must take upon you the name of ,christ1 which is my name8 ,for by this name shall ye be called at the last day4 ,and whoso taketh upon him my name1 and endureth to the end1 the same shall be saved at the last day4 ,therefore whatsoever ye shall do1 ye shall do it in my name2 therefore ye shall call the ,church in my name2 and ye shall call upon the ,father in my name1 that ,he will bless the ,church for my sake4 ,and how be it my ,church1 save it be called in my name8 ,for if a church be called in ,moses' name1 then it be ,moses' church2 or if it be called in the name of a man1 then it be the church of a man2 but if it be called in my name1 then it is my ,church1 if it so be that they are built upon my gospel4 7,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #bg47 ,the members of the ,church aver that the distinguishing features of their religious system1 in short1 the essentials of the philosophy of ,mormonism are epitomized in the name of their organization--,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,if the name be used without ,divine warrant1 its assumption can not fail to be regarded as a sacrilege2 if it has been authoritatively bestowed one need look no further for explanation of the vitality exhibited by the ,church in so impressive a degree from the day of its organization to the present4 -- #d -- ,,mormonism ,a ,distinctive ,religious ,system ,,in the popular classification of religious bodies1 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 if included at all1 is generally given mention apart from churches and sectarian institutions in general4 ,the segregation is eminently proper1 for this ,church is strictly unique4 ,no well informed commentator1 no capable critic in either friendly or hostile mood1 has classed ,mormonism as the sectarian offspring of any mother church1 nor as any mere variation of a preexisting body4 ,no church on earth claims1 acknowledges or admits any community of origin with the commonly known but mis-called ,mormon ,church4 ,nor does the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints assert any such relationship with other bodies4 ,at this point it is well to consider the fact that toleration in religious belief and practise is a fundamental tenet of ,mormonism4 ,this is set forth in one of the formulated ,articles of ,faith3 ,we claim the privilege of worshiping ,almighty ,god according to the dictates of our own conscience1 and allow all men the same privilege1 let them worship how1 where1 or what they may4 ,we demand no prerogatives1 ask no privileges1 beyond what we readily accede to be the common rights of mankind4 ,our distinctive teachings and the claims of the ,church as to its commission to preach the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 and administer the saving ordinances thereof1 must be judged on their merits1 and in the spirit of testimony1 which we believe the honest-hearted inquirer may gain for himself in the course of unbiased investigation4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is unique in that it solemnly affirms to the world that the new dispensation1 foretold in prophecy as a characteristic of the last days precedent to the second advent of ,christ1 is established1 and that the ,holy ,priesthood1 with all its ancient authority and power1 has been restored to earth4 ,mormonism affirms that such restoration was a necessity1 inasmuch as mankind had fallen away from the ,gospel of ,christ during the dark ages of history1 with the inevitable consequence that the ,holy ,priesthood had been taken from the earth1 and authority to administer the essential and saving ordinances of the ,gospel had been lost4 ,the condition of spiritual darkness was foretold by prophets who lived prior to the meridian of time1 as also by ,jesus ,christ while in the flesh1 and by ,his ,apostles1 who were left to continue the ministry after the ,lord's departure4 ,furthermore1 the fact of the great falling away or general apostasy is admitted1 and indeed affirmed1 by high ecclesiastical authority4 ,consider the forceful declaration of the ,church of ,england1 embodied in her official ,homily ,against ,peril of ,idolatry1 first published about the middle of the #afth century1 and still in force as appointed to be read in churches4 ,so that laity and clergy1 learned and unlearned1 all ages1 sects1 and degrees of men1 women1 and children of whole ,christendom--an horrible and most dreadful thing to think--have been at once drowned in abominable idolatry2 of all other vices most detested of ,god1 and most damnable to man2 and that by the space of eight hundred years and more4 ,prophets of olden times were permitted to look beyond the black night of apostasy and to behold the glorious dawn of the restoration4 ,john1 the ,apostle and ,revelator1 having seen the events in vision1 wrote of the realization as then already attained3 ,and ,i saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth1 and to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 ,saying with a loud voice1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him2 for the hour of his judgment is come3 and worship him that made heaven1 and earth1 and the sea1 and the fountains of waters4 7,rev4 #ad3f-g47 ,we affirm the literal fulfilment of this gladsome promise through the ministration of angels in these latter days1 by which the ,holy ,priesthood has been renewed to man4 ,thus1 in #ahbc1 an angelic personage ministered to ,joseph ,smith1 and later delivered to the mortal prophet the ancient record from which the ,book of ,mormon has been translated4 ,this record contains the fulness of the everlasting ,gospel as delivered by the ,savior to the ancient inhabitants of the ,western ,continent4 ,then1 on ,may #ae1 #ahbi1 ,john the ,baptist1 who held the keys of the ,lesser or ,aaronic ,priesthood in the earlier dispensation1 appeared in his resurrected state and ordained ,joseph ,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery to that order of ,priesthood1 comprising the keys of the ministering of angels1 and of the gospel of repentance1 and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins4 7,d,c #ac47 ,later1 the presiding three of the ancient ,twelve ,apostles ordained these men to the holy apostleship1 conferring upon them the ,higher or ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 which comprises all authority for the administration of the prescribed ordinances of the ,gospel1 and for the building up of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ in the current dispensation1 preparatory to the coming of the ,christ to reign on earth4 ,this is the distinctive claim of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,being under ,divine commission so to do1 the ,church proclaims these solemn truths1 with full recognition of the individual rights of men to believe or disbelieve according to their choice4 -- #e -- ,,direct ,,and ,,sure ,the ,church ,bold ,yet ,tolerant ,,the establishment of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints was no experiment4 ,its actual organization as a body corporate was preceded by visitations of heavenly beings1 by definite revelation1 by prophecies as to the unfolding plan of the ,divine purpose in these latter days1 and by the publication of the ,book of ,mormon--a volume of ,scripture which1 though comprising the record of ancient peoples1 was new to the modern world4 ,these and other heavenly manifestations1 including the bestowal of the ,holy ,priesthood with its expressly defined authority and appointment to organize and build up the ,church1 were made through ,joseph ,smith1 who at the time of the first visitation was a lad in his fifteenth year4 ,to the earnest student of this unprecedented series of events a certain dominant characteristic is apparent--the positiveness and certitude with which the successive avowals of the youthful prophet were set forth4 ,from his testimony of the glorious theophany by which the dispensation of the fulness of times was inaugurated1 down to his last inspired utterances immediately preceding his martyrdom1 his doctrinal teachings1 his affirmations and prophecies were unweakened by qualification or ambiguity4 ,plain and unembellished by studied rhetoric or dramatic effect1 his solemn averments were free from even the shadow of the tentative or provisional4 ,he voiced his message fearlessly and in the strength of simplicity1 with no restraining afterthought of opposition1 ridicule or persecution4 ,true to the character of a real prophet1 he gave out only as he received--line upon line1 precept upon precept1 here a little and there a little4 ,and behold1 the precepts have arrayed themselves into a scriptural unity2 the lines have fallen into order as verses of a revealed epic2 and the little has grown to the fulness of the everlasting ,gospel4 ,the mission of ,joseph ,smith and that of the ,church he was instrumental in founding have from the first been before the world in their true colors4 ,though the unity of unalterable purpose and unchanging plan is impressively apparent1 there is nothing in the latter-day ,scripture that savors of policy or obscure intent4 ,granted that the claims of the ,church are bold ones1 even strikingly so1 and that some of them when first enunciated stood in disturbing contrast with certain theological dogmas long regarded as orthodox4 ,nevertheless1 they were presented with an assurance such as only the certainty of their ,divine source could justify or sufficiently explain4 ,in this age of free speech and liberty of conscience it is surely allowable to put forth views and publish affirmations relating to religious belief1 even though the doctrines be opposed to earlier conceptions1 provided the rights of men to accept or reject be duly respected4 ,consider the following instances of the solemn avowals made by ,joseph ,smith4 ,he declares that in answer to prayer1 in the spring of #ahbj1 he was visited by two ,personages1 in the form and likeness of perfect men and amidst light and glory indescribable1 who were none other than ,god the ,eternal ,father and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and that the former pointing to the latter said ,this is my beloved ,son1 hear ,him4 ,then on ,september #ba1 #ahbc1 ,joseph ,smith was visited by the angel ,moroni1 who disclosed to him the depository of the ancient records from which the ,book of ,mormon has been since translated4 ,part of the angel's message on this occasion1 as recorded in the words of the latter-day prophet1 was that ,god had a work for me to do2 and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations1 kindreds1 and tongues1 or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #hi47 ,is it conceivable that an unschooled youth1 of obscure parentage and humble surroundings1 would venture to assert such future distinction without the assurance of unmistakable commission8 ,another of ,moroni's predictions is thus stated by ,joseph ,smith3 ,he informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth1 with great desolations by famine1 sword1 and pestilence2 and that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation4 ,furthermore1 the angel cited ,scripture from both the ,old ,testament and the ,new1 relating to the gathering of ,israel1 vicarious work for the dead1 and other characteristics of the last days1 declaring that all these earlier prophecies were about to be fulfilled4 ,in #ahcb a revelation was received by ,joseph ,smith definitely foretelling the civil war in this country1 and specifying the defection of the ,state of ,south ,carolina as the beginning4 ,this portentous prediction followed3 ,the days will come that war will be poured out upon all nations1 and that by bloodshed1 famine1 plagues1 as well as by earthquakes and other destructive natural agencies1 the inhabitants of the earth would be brought into mourning and humility4 -- #f -- ,,wheat ,,and ,,weeds ,successive ,apostasies from the ,gospel ,,the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field2 ,but while men slept1 his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat4 7,matt4 #ac3bd-be47 ,so hath it been from the beginning2 so will it be until the end4 ,the ,lord ,god gave commandment unto ,adam1 and straightway ,satan countered with sophistry and falsehood disguised as half the truth4 ,adam preached the ,gospel and administered its essential ordinances amongst his posterity2 ,and ,satan came among them1 saying3 ,i am also a son of ,god2 and he commanded them1 saying3 ,believe it not2 and they believed it not1 and they loved ,satan more than ,god4 ,and men began from that time forth to be carnal1 sensual1 and devilish4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #ba47 ,thus1 even during the lifetime of the first patriarch1 many of his descendants fell into apostasy and denied the ,god with whom their great progenitor had talked face to face4 ,from ,adam to ,noah righteous men taught and testified of the truth1 denounced sin and warned sinners2 yet all the while ,satan sowed assiduously the tares of wickedness in the hearts of men1 and with such evil success that1 excepting ,noah and his household1 the whole human family became corrupt4 ,so awful was the condition that the floods came and swept the ungodly race from the earth2 and their rebellious spirits passed into the state of duress1 in which they remained until the way of repentance was opened to them anew by the ministry of the disembodied ,christ over twenty-three centuries later4 ,see #a ,peter #c3ah-bj4 ,as the children of men multiplied and nations developed after the ,deluge1 the wholesome plants of ,divine truth struggled against the rank growth of error2 therefore the ,lord commanded ,abraham to leave his idolatrous country and kindred1 that through him and his posterity the saving powers of the ,priesthood might be preserved among men4 ,the tares of idolatry and its inseparable abominations grew apace4 ,even the harrowing experiences of ,egyptian bondage failed to extirpate the weeds from ,israel1 though the fertilizing effect of humility under suffering did much to nurture and sustain the precious grain of the covenant4 ,at the time of the ,exodus the ,israelites constituted the few whom the ,lord could call ,his own2 and they had to undergo a disciplinary probation--a course of intensive and purifying cultivation1 covering four decades in the wilderness--before they were deemed fit to enter the land of their inheritance4 ,they were distinguished as ,jehovah-worshipers1 and as such stood apart from the more thoroughly apostate and degenerate world4 ,but even ,israel's fields were full of tares2 and the ,lord mercifully suspended the fulness of the ,gospel requirements1 which1 because of violation1 would have been a means of condemnation2 and the law of carnal commandments1 generalized as the ,mosaic ,code1 was given instead--as a schoolmaster1 whose rigid insistence and compelling restraint1 whose rod of correction would1 in the course of centuries1 prepare the covenant though recreant people for the reestablishment of the ,gospel--as was effected through the personal ministry of the ,redeemer4 ,see ,gal4 #c3bc-bf4 ,following the ,messianic ministry and apostolic dispensation1 another cloud of apostasy enveloped the world1 and for well-nigh sixteen centuries held the race befogged in its clammy mists4 ,in this murky and fetid atmosphere the weeds of superstition1 unbelief and human dogma flourished as a dank tropical jungle1 while belief in revealed truth survived only as a wilted growth amidst the prevalent insalubrity4 ,the last apostasy was general1 alike on both hemispheres4 ,for nearly two centuries after its establishment on the ,western ,continent1 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ flourished to the blessing of its members4 ,then followed disruption and apostasy1 the bitter fruitage of sin2 and so was fulfilled the saddening prophecy of ,alma concerning the ,nephites3 ,yea1 and then shall they see wars and pestilences1 yea1 famines and bloodshed1 even until the people of ,nephi shall become extinct4 ,yea1 and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief1 and fall into the works of darkness1 and lasciviousness1 and all manner of iniquities4 ,yea1 ,i say unto you1 that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge1 yea1 ,i say unto you1 that from that day1 even the fourth generation shall not all pass away1 before this great iniquity shall come4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,alma #de47 ,following each of these epoch-marking declensions1 from the ,adamic to the current dispensation1 there has come a period of revival1 rejuvenescence1 or as now witnessed1 a definite restoration and reestablishment of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 by which the tares1 though not yet rooted up to be burned1 have been at least prevented from choking out the wheat4 ,the application of our ,lord's parable of the wheat and the tares to the great falling away1 or the last general apostasy1 is thus shown in latter-day ,scripture3 ,and after they the ,apostles of old have fallen asleep1 the great persecutor of the church1 the apostate1 the whore1 even ,babylon1 that maketh all nations to drink of her cup1 in whose hearts the enemy1 even ,satan1 sitteth to reign1 behold he soweth the tares2 wherefore the tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness4 7,d,c #hf3c2 compare ,rev4 #ab3f1 #ad47 ,but the day of the ,church's exile is ended4 ,in unostentatious triumph she has returned after enforced absence1 and is established anew for the blessing of all who make themselves fit to be partakers of her bounty4 -- #g -- ,a ,,new ,,dispensation ,authority by ,restoration ,not ,through ,succession ,,to act officially in affairs of government1 to administer public laws and ordinances1 a man must have been duly elected or appointed and must have qualified as the law provides4 ,if there be but the shadow of doubt as to his legal competency1 his acts1 say as president1 senator1 governor1 judge or mayor1 are almost sure to be challenged2 and1 if his claims to authority be invalid1 his so-called official acts are justly pronounced null and void1 while the quondam pretender may be liable to severe penalty4 ,in like manner authority to administer the ordinances of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ must be definitely vested through personal conferment as the law of ,god prescribes4 ,and no man taketh this honor unto himself1 but he that is called of ,god1 as was ,aaron4 7,heb4 #e3d74 ,aaron was called and set apart to the priestly office by revelation from ,god through ,moses1 and retributive punishment fell upon all who essayed to minister without authority in the priest's office4 ,consider the awful fate of ,korah and his associates 7,num4 #af71 the instance of ,uzziah king of ,judah 7#b ,chron4 #bf71 and1 in ,new ,testament times1 that of ,sceva's sons 7,acts #ai71 all of whom brought upon themselves condign penalty for blasphemously arrogating the right to officiate in the name of the ,lord4 ,how great a lesson is writ for warning and guidance in the history of ,saul1 king of ,israel4 ,he had received his anointing under the hand of ,samuel the prophet4 ,on the eve of battle1 when ,samuel delayed his coming to offer sacrifices for victory1 ,saul presumptuously officiated at the altar1 failing to realize that1 king though he was1 his royal authority did not empower him to serve even as a deacon in the household of ,god4 ,his sacrilege was one of the principal causes that led to his rejection by the ,lord4 ,while in the flesh ,christ chose ,his ,apostles and ordained them1 bestowing upon them specific authority4 ,those who were afterward called through revelation1 e4 g41 ,matthias1 ,saul of ,tarsus who came to be known as ,paul the ,apostle1 ,barnabas1 and others1 were ordained by those previously invested with the ,holy ,priesthood4 ,elders1 priests1 bishops1 teachers and deacons in the ,primitive ,church on the ,eastern hemisphere were all similarly ordained2 and so a succession was maintained until the ,church1 corrupted and apostate1 was no longer worthy to be called the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 because it was not2 and the real ,church1 characterized by investiture of the ,holy ,priesthood1 was lost to mankind4 ,when the ,resurrected ,lord established ,his ,church on the ,western ,continent1 ,he called and personally commissioned ,twelve ,disciples2 and later1 others were with equal definiteness and certainty called and ordained to priestly functions by revelation through those in authority2 and this order continued in the ,west until1 through transgression1 the people became apostate and succession in the priesthood no longer obtained4 ,see ,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #aa and later chapters4 ,there is but one church on the earth today claiming authority in the ,holy ,priesthood by direct succession from the ,primitive ,church2 and surely none can consistently assert priestly powers by spontaneous origination4 ,the rational interpretation of history reveals the literal fulfilment of ancient prophecy in the absolute loss of sacerdotal authority during the early centuries of the ,christian ,era2 so that present-day claim to the ,priesthood through unbroken succession from the ,apostles of old rests upon arbitrary assertion only4 ,if a mother church be devoid of ,divine commission in the ,holy ,priesthood1 definitely and authoritatively vested1 no sect springing from that parent institution can inherit the ,priesthood4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints positively avers that it lays claim to no priestly authority through mortal succession reaching back to the ,primitive ,church of the ,east1 nor by descent from the ,nephite ,church of ,christ as established on the ,western ,continent4 ,to the contrary1 this ,church affirms the complete cessation of ,divine commission in churchly organizations1 and the consequent necessity of a restoration--a new dispensation from the heavens4 ,this ,church disavows any and all derivation of appointment or commission1 direct or implied1 from other organizations1 ,catholic or ,protestant1 established or dissenting churches sects or parties4 ,it defends the rights of all men1 whether church members or not1 to worship as they severally choose to do1 and to believe in and advocate the genuineness of any sect or church to which they elect to belong2 and1 by the same principle of liberty1 it claims the right to set forth its own professions and doctrines1 the while bespeaking for these a dispassionate and prayerful consideration4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints avows that the ,holy ,priesthood has been restored to earth in the present age1 by means and manner strictly in accord with prophecy2 and that through direct bestowal from the heavens the authority to administer the ordinances of the ,gospel1 which are indispensable to individual salvation1 is operative today in preparation for the advent of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 which is near1 as hath been predicted by the mouths of holy prophets and by the coming ,lord ,himself4 -- #h -- ,,divine ,,command ,,and ,,human ,,agency ,the ,church a ,democracy ,,the compound character of the name-title--,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints--has elicited inquiries from many thoughtful readers4 ,does the organization profess to be ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 or ,the ,church of the ,latter-day ,saints8 ,the answer is--both4 ,as we have already seen1 our ,lord designated the ,church established by ,himself in the meridian of time as ,my ,church1 that is to say1 ,his ,church--,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and1 as also shown1 when the ,savior ministered in the resurrected state to the ancient inhabitants of ,america1 ,he established ,his ,church amongst them1 and particularly directed that the institution be called by ,his name as the only properly descriptive title4 ,see ,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #bg4 ,when the ,church was reestablished upon earth through the instrumentality of ,joseph ,smith the prophet1 in #ahcj1 it was provisionally called the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 in harmony with the principle and practise established by the ,savior among the ,nephites1 and to express the ,lord's specific designation of the latter-day body as ,my ,church4 ,the early revelations given to the ,church contain frequent mention of common consent or the voice of the members1 as essential in matters of administration4 ,the following excerpts are illustrative3 ,no person is to be ordained to any office in this church1 where there is a regularly organized branch of the same1 without the vote of that church4 ,and all things shall be done by common consent in the church1 by much prayer and faith1 for all things you shall receive by faith4 ,amen4 7,d,c #bj and #bf47 ,after the people had been trained through the revealed word and by actual experience in the affairs of ,church government1 when they had learned the basal lesson that upon every member rests a measure of responsibility1 and that in consistency and justice each is entitled to part and voice in the activities of the organized body1 the ,lord specified in the following manner the expanded and complete name by which the institution was to be known4 ,he spoke by revelation directed to the ,high ,council and unto all the elders and people of my ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 scattered abroad in all the world4 ,for thus shall my ,church be called in the last days1 even ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints 7#aae3c-d74 ,the name thus conferred is a self-explanatory and exclusive title of distinction and authority4 ,it is an epitome of the cardinal truths and of the philosophical basis of the system commonly called ,mormonism4 ,every prayer that is offered1 every ordinance administered1 every doctrine proclaimed by the ,church1 is voiced in the name of ,him whose ,church it is4 ,nevertheless1 as an association of human membership1 as a working body having relation with the secular law1 as a religious society claiming the rights of recognition and privilege common to all1 it is the people's institution1 for the operation of which1 so far as such is dependent upon them1 they are answerable to themselves1 to the organization as a unit1 and to ,god4 ,the plan of organization and government of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is that of a theodemocracy1 whose organic constitution has been revealed from heaven and is accepted by the members as their guide in faith1 doctrine and practise4 ,the ,church receives commandments through revelation1 and when such are promulgated the assembled body takes action1 voting to accept and to obey the same so far as the ,divine direction calls for service4 ,such a conception as that of the ,church rejecting a ,divine revelation is extreme1 and suggests an improbable contingency4 ,nevertheless1 individuals having membership in the ,church may ignore or reject the commandments of ,god1 and so exhibit the spirit of apostasy in a degree proportionate to their disaffection2 but such declension by the ,church in its entirety is neither to be supposed nor feared4 ,adam had his agency1 and chose to use it in disobeying the ,lord's injunction4 ,of the commandment and the alternative we read3 ,and ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 commanded the man1 saying3 ,of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat1 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil2 thou shalt not eat of it4 ,nevertheless1 thou mayest choose for thyself1 for it is given unto thee2 but1 remember that ,i forbid it1 for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 pp4 #ac-ad47 ,the same principle applies to persons and to the ,church as a whole today4 ,god has not established ,his ,church to make of its members irresponsible automatons1 nor to exact from them blind obedience4 ,albeit1 blessed is the man who1 while unable to fathom or comprehend in full the ,divine purpose underlying commandment and law1 has such faith as to obey4 ,so did ,adam in offering sacrifice1 yet1 when questioned as to the significance of his service1 he answered with faith and assurance worthy the patriarch of the race3 ,i know not1 save the ,lord commanded me4 -- #i -- ,,the ,,holy ,,trinity ,unity of the ,godhead ,,we believe in ,god the ,eternal ,father1 and in ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 and in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,so runs the first of the ,articles of ,faith of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,a similar asseveration of belief has place in most creeds or churches called ,christian4 ,the ,scriptures affirm the existence of the ,supreme ,trinity1 constituting the ,godhead1 the governing ,council of the heavens and the earth4 ,the very name ,trinity which is commonly current in the literature of ,christian theology1 connotes three distinct entities1 and such we believe to be the scriptural signification and therefore expressive of the actual constitution of the ,godhead4 ,three ,personages are comprised1 each designated by the exalted title ,god1 and each of whom has separately and individually revealed ,himself to mankind2 these are 7#a7 ,god the ,eternal ,father1 7#b7 ,god the ,son1 or ,jesus ,christ1 and 7#c7 ,god the ,holy ,ghost4 ,that the three are individually separate and distinct ,personages is evidenced by such ,scriptures as the following4 ,as our ,lord ,jesus ,christ emerged from the baptismal waters of ,jordan1 ,john1 the officiating priest1 recognized the visible sign of the ,holy ,ghost1 while he saw before him the ,christ with a tangible body of flesh and bones1 and heard the voice of the ,eternal ,father saying3 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4 7,matt4 #c3af1 #ag74 ,the three ,personages were there present1 each manifesting ,himself in a different manner to mortal sense1 and plainly1 each distinct from the others4 ,again1 in that last solemn interview with ,his apostles on the night of the betrayal1 the ,lord ,jesus thus cheered with sublime assurance their sorrowful despair3 ,but when the ,comforter is come1 whom ,i will send unto you from the ,father1 even the ,spirit of truth1 which proceedeth from the ,father1 he shall testify of me4 7,john #ae3bf47 ,could the members of the ,trinity be more definitely segregated8 ,that the ,comforter is the ,holy ,ghost is expressly set forth in the preceding chapter 7,john #ad3bf71 and in that passage also the ,father and the ,son are as separately specified4 ,that the ,eternal ,father and ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ are individual ,personages is clear from the very fact of the relationship expressed1 for no being can be his own father or his own son4 ,the numerous ,scriptures in which ,christ is shown as praying to ,his ,father abundantly testify of ,their distinct personality2 and1 furthermore1 amidst the indescribable glory of our ,lord's transfiguration1 from out of the cloud came the voice of the ,father1 avowing again3 ,this is my beloved ,son4 ,the individual members of the ,holy ,trinity are united in purpose1 plan1 and method4 ,to conceive of disagreement1 differences1 or dissension among them would be to regard them as lacking in the attributes of perfection that characterize ,godhood4 ,but that this unity involves any merging of personality is nowhere attested in ,scripture1 and the mind is incapable of apprehending such a union4 ,in the course of ,his soulful ,high-,priestly prayer1 ,christ supplicated the ,father in behalf of the ,apostles1 asking that they may be one as ,he and the ,father were one 7,john #ag3aa74 ,surely the ,lord did not intimate that ,he would have the ,apostles lose their individuality and become one person2 and indeed1 ,he had long before assured them that at a time which is even yet future they shall sit upon twelve thrones1 judging the twelve tribes of ,israel4 7,matt4 #ai3bh47 ,human knowledge concerning the attributes of ,god and the nature of the ,godhead is such as has been revealed from the heavens4 ,divine revelation is the ultimate source of all we know of the being and personality of the ,deity4 ,through revelation in ancient days ,god was made known to man--to ,adam1 ,enoch1 ,noah1 ,abraham1 ,moses1 and the prophets4 ,and in the present age1 after mankind had in great measure come to reject the plain and simple truths of a personal ,god and ,his actual ,son ,jesus ,christ1 such as the ,scriptures affirm1 the ,father and the ,son have revealed ,themselves anew4 ,joseph ,smith has given us his solemn testimony that in the early spring of #ahbj1 while engaged in solitary prayer1 to which he had been impelled by scriptural admonition 7,james #a3e71 he was visited by the ,eternal ,father and ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 and that the ,father1 pointing to the ,christ1 spake1 saying3 ,this is my beloved ,son1 hear ,him4 ,in this wise was ushered in the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times1 foretold by the ,apostle of old 7,eph4 #a3aj74 ,in #ahbj there was on earth one mortal who knew beyond all question that the human conception of ,deity1 as an incorporeal essence of something possessing neither form nor substance1 is as devoid of truth in respect to both the ,father and the ,son as its statement in formulated creeds is incomprehensible4 ,joseph ,smith has proclaimed anew to the world the simple truth that the ,eternal ,father and ,his glorified ,son ,jesus ,christ are in form and stature perfect ,men2 and that in ,their physical likeness mankind has been created in the flesh4 -- #aj -- ,,original ,,sin ,are ,all to ,suffer from it ,eternally8 ,,we believe that men will be punished for their own sins1 and not for ,adam's transgressions4 ,belief in original sin1 with its dread incubus as a burden from which none can escape1 has for ages cast its depressing shadow over the human heart and mind4 ,accepting as fact the account outlined in ,genesis concerning the transgression of the parents of the race1 every thoughtful reader must have wondered as to whether he is to suffer throughout this life and beyond for a deed in which he had no part1 and for which1 according to his natural conception of justice and right1 he was not even indirectly responsible4 ,if he assumes an affirmative answer to his honest query1 he must have stood aghast at the seeming injustice of it all4 ,the ,scriptures proclaim in definite terms the fact of individual responsibility1 and as an indispensable consequence1 the ,free ,agency of ,man4 ,freedom to choose or reject and accountability for the choice go hand in hand4 ,the word of ,divine revelation made the matter plain very early in the history of mankind4 ,to evil-hearted ,cain the ,lord said3 ,if thou doest well1 shalt thou not be accepted8 ,and if thou doest not well1 sin lieth at the door4 7,gen4 #d3g47 ,a knowledge of good and evil is essential to progress1 and the school of experience in mortality has been provided for the acquirement of such knowledge4 ,the ,divine purpose was thus enunciated by an ancient ,hebrew prophet3 ,wherefore1 the ,lord ,god gave unto man that he should act for himself4 ,wherefore man could not act for himself1 save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other4 4 44 ,wherefore1 men are free according to the flesh2 and all things are given them which are expedient unto man4 ,and they are free to choose liberty and eternal life1 through the great mediation of all men1 or to choose captivity and death1 according to the captivity and power of the devil2 for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself4 7,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #b3af and #bg47 ,and a later prophet voiced the eternal truth as addressed to his wayward fellows3 ,and now remember1 remember1 my brethren1 that whosoever perisheth1 perisheth unto himself2 and whosoever doeth iniquity1 doeth it unto himself2 for behold1 ye are free4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,helaman #ad3cj47 ,but1 many have asked how can man be regarded as free to choose right or wrong when he is predisposed to evil through the heritage of original sin bequeathed to him by ,adam8 ,heredity at most is but tendency1 not compulsion2 and we have no warrant for doubt in the light of revealed truth concerning the inherent justice and mercy of ,god that every element of cause or inflicted tendency will be taken into righteous account in the judgment of each and every soul4 ,the man who can intelligently ask or consider the question framed above shows his capability of distinguishing between good and evil1 and can not consistently excuse himself for wilful wrongdoing4 ,our first parents disobeyed the command of ,god by indulging in food unsuited to their condition2 and1 as a natural consequence1 they suffered physical degeneracy1 whereby bodily weakness1 disease1 and death came into the world4 ,their posterity have inherited the resultant ills1 to all of which we now say flesh is heir2 and it is true that these human imperfections came through disobedience1 and are therefore the fruits of sin4 ,but as to accountability for ,adam's transgression1 in all justice ,adam alone must answer4 ,the present fallen status of mankind1 as expressed in our mortal condition1 was inaugurated by ,adam and ,eve2 but ,divine justice forbids that we be accounted sinners solely because our parents transgressed4 ,though the privations1 the vicissitudes1 and the unrelenting toil enforced by the state of mortal existence be part of our heritage from ,adam1 we are enriched thereby2 for in just such conditions do we find opportunity to develop the powers of soul that shall enable us to overcome evil1 to choose the good1 and to win salvation and exaltation in the mansions of our ,father4 ,if the expression original sin has any definite signification it must be taken to mean the transgression of our parents in ,eden4 ,we were not participators in that offense4 ,we are not inheritors of original sin1 though we be subjects of the consequences4 ,the millions who have been slaughtered or have otherwise met death because of the greatest war in history1 and those other and more millions of helpless dependents who have endured such agonies as to make of death a blessed relief1 are all involved in the frightful results of the precipitation of war by their respective rulers2 yet who can doubt that when a just accounting is called1 those who brought about the carnage and the suffering shall be made to answer1 not the irresponsible victims8 ,and to everyone who has suffered blamelessly1 ,he who notes even the sparrow's fall shall give full meed of recompense4 ,why waste time and effort in bewailing what ,adam did8 ,better is it to face like men the actual conditions of our existence and to meet the requirements of righteous living4 ,from the effects of ,adam's transgression full redemption is assured through the atonement wrought by ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,for as in ,adam all die1 even so in ,christ shall all be made alive4 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bb47 -- #aa -- ,,the ,,cooperative ,,plan ,,of ,,salvation ,christ ,alone ,cannot ,save ,you ,,we believe that through the ,atonement of ,christ all mankind may be saved1 by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,in earlier articles of this series it has been shown that mortality is divinely provided as a means of schooling and test1 whereby the spirit offspring of ,god may develop their powers and demonstrate their characters4 ,every one of us has been advanced from the unembodied or preexistent state to our present condition1 in which the individual spirit is temporarily united with a body of flesh and bones4 ,yet this promotion to the mortal state is regarded by many as a degradation2 and we are prone to bewail the fallen condition of the race as an unmitigated calamity4 ,the ,scriptures make plain the glorious truth that man may rise far above the plane upon which he existed before his birth in the flesh4 ,we have stooped that we may conquer2 we have been permitted to descend only that we may attain greater heights4 ,the transgression of our parents in ,eden was foreseen1 and the ,divine plan provided a means of redemption4 ,the ,eternal ,father1 who is verily the ,father of our spirits1 well understood the diverse natures and varied capacities of ,his unembodied children2 and it was plain to ,him1 even from the beginning1 that in the school of mortal life some would succeed while others would fail2 some would be faithful and others false2 some would choose the good1 others the evil2 some would seek the way of life while others would follow the road to destruction4 ,he foresaw that ,his commandments would be disobeyed and ,his law violated2 and that men1 shut out from ,his presence and left to themselves would sink rather than rise1 would retrograde rather than advance1 and would be lost to the heavens4 ,it was plain to ,him that death would enter the world1 and that the possession of bodies by ,his children would be of brief individual duration4 ,a ,redeemer was chosen1 and that even before the foundation of the world4 ,he1 the first-born among all the spirit children of ,god1 was to come to earth1 clothed with the attributes of both ,godhood and manhood1 to teach men the saving principles of the eternal ,gospel and so establish on earth the terms and conditions of salvation4 ,in consummation of ,his mission1 ,christ gave up ,his life as a voluntary and vicarious sacrifice for the race4 ,through the ,atonement wrought by ,him the power of death has been overcome2 for while all men must die1 their resurrection is assured4 ,the effect of ,christ's ,atonement upon the race is twofold3 #a4 ,the eventual resurrection of all men1 whether righteous or wicked4 ,this constitutes ,redemption from the ,fall1 and1 since the ,fall came through individual transgression1 in all justice relief therefrom must be made universal and unconditional4 #b4 ,the providing of a means whereby reparation may be made and forgiveness be obtained for individual sin4 ,this constitutes ,salvation1 and is made available to all through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,between redemption from the power of death and salvation in the ,kingdom of ,heaven there is a vital difference4 ,man alone cannot save himself2 ,christ alone cannot save him4 ,the plan of salvation is cooperative4 ,the ,atonement effected by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ has opened the way2 it is left to every man to enter therein and be saved or to turn aside and forfeit salvation4 ,god will force no man either into heaven or into hell4 ,jacob1 a ,nephite prophet1 has given us a masterly summary of the results of our ,lord's ,atonement1 both as to the universal redemption from death1 and the conditions upon which individual salvation may be obtained3 ,for as death hath passed upon all men1 to fulfil the merciful plan of the great ,creator1 there must needs be a power of resurrection1 and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall2 and the fall came by reason of transgression2 and because man became fallen1 they were cut off from the presence of the ,lord2 ,wherefore it must needs be an infinite atonement2 save it should be an infinite atonement1 this corruption could not put on incorruption4 ,wherefore1 the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration4 4 44 ,and it shall come to pass1 that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life1 insomuch as they have become immortal1 they must appear before the judgment-seat of the ,holy ,one of ,israel2 and then cometh the judgment1 and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of ,god4 4 44 ,and he suffereth this1 that the resurrection might pass upon all men1 that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day4 ,and he commandeth all men that they must repent1 and be baptized in his name1 having perfect faith in the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of ,god4 ,and if they will not repent and believe in his name1 and be baptized in his name1 and endure to the end1 they must be damned2 for the ,lord ,god1 the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 has spoken it4 7,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #i3f1 #g1 #ae1 #bb-bd74 -- #ab -- ,,the ,,need ,,of ,a ,,redeemer ,man ,cannot ,exalt ,himself ,,the ,scriptures inform us that1 prior to his transgression in ,eden1 ,adam held direct and personal communion with ,god2 and that one of the immediate consequences of his fall1 which was brought about through disobedience1 was his forfeiture of that exalted association4 ,he was shut out from the presence of ,god1 and though he heard the ,divine ,voice he no longer was permitted to behold the ,presence of the ,lord4 ,this banishment was to the man spiritual death2 and its infliction brought into effect the predicted penalty1 that in the day of his sin he would surely die4 ,see ,gen4 #b3ag2 ,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #ad4 ,through partaking of food unsuited to their condition and against which they had been specifically forewarned1 the man and his wife became subject to physical degeneracy2 and1 eventually1 as ,satan the arch-tempter had foreseen1 both the man and the woman had to suffer bodily death4 ,their offspring were directly affected by the hereditary enthralment1 to which ,abel fell a victim even during the life-time of his parents4 ,death came into the world through sin2 the imperfections and frailties incident to the mortal state are conducive to sin2 and man is prone in an inexcusable degree to readily yield thereto4 ,so general is sin operative in the world that the wise comment of the ancient preacher stands unchallenged3 ,there is not a just man upon earth1 that doeth good and sinneth not4 7,eccles4 #g3bj74 ,and the admonitory precept given by ,john the ,apostle has lost none of its inspired forcefulness with time3 ,if we say that we have no sin1 we deceive ourselves1 and the truth is not in us4 7#a ,john #a3h74 ,this sinful and fallen condition of mankind and the universal infliction of death are dominant elements of ,satan's diabolical scheme to subdue the embodied spirits1 whom he1 as the rebellious son of the morning1 had failed to draw to his standard in the conflict of primeval hosts4 ,see ,rev4 #ab3g-i2 ,isa4 #ad3ab2 also ,d,c #bi3cf-ch and #gf3be-bg4 ,god provided a way by which ,his spirit-children would become embodied as a means of advancement2 ,satan introduced degeneracy and death in an attempt to thwart the ,divine purpose4 ,death may claim its victim in infancy or youth1 in the period of life's prime or when the snows of age have settled heavily upon the venerable head2 it may come through disease or accident1 by violence1 or as what we call the result of natural causes2 but come it must1 as ,satan well knows2 and in that knowledge lies his present though but temporary triumph4 ,but the ways of ,god1 as they ever have been and ever shall be1 are infinitely more potent than the deepest designs of men or devils2 and the ,satanic machinations to make death perpetual and supreme were foreseen and provided against even before the first man had been clothed in flesh4 ,the ,atonement wrought by ,jesus ,christ was ordained to overcome death1 and to provide a means of ransom from sin and consequent deliverance from the dominion of ,satan4 ,as the natural and inevitable penalty incident to ,adam's fall came upon the race through individual transgression1 it would be manifestly unjust and therefore impossible as part of the ,divine plan to make all men suffer the results thereof without provision for emancipation4 ,wherefore1 as by one man sin entered into the world1 and death by sin2 and so death passed upon all men1 for that all have sinned3 ,therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation2 even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life4 7,rom4 #e3ab1 #ah74 ,and further3 ,for since by man came death1 by man came also the resurrection of the dead4 ,for as in ,adam all die1 even so in ,christ shall all be made alive4 7#a ,cor4 #ae3ba1 #bb2 see further ,book of ,mormon1 ,mosiah #c3aa1 #ab74 ,without assistance from some power superior to his own1 fallen man would remain eternally in his state of spiritual banishment from the presence of ,god4 ,he is tainted and defiled through sin2 and though he must pass the gates of death1 that change from the embodied to the disembodied state cannot consistently be regarded as a means of ransom from the effect of transgression4 ,we find in ,nature an analogy applicable to our present demonstration2 though in its use the present writer claims no credit for originality4 ,the lifeless mineral1 belonging to the lowest of the three kingdoms1 may grow big through accretion of substance1 and may attain relative perfection of structure and form as in the crystal4 ,but1 though placed in the most favorable environment1 no mineral particle unassisted by the power incident to life can become part of a living organism such as the plant4 ,the living plant1 however1 may reach down to the mineral plane1 and by absorption and assimilation make the mineral part of its own organic tissue4 ,so the plant1 though of itself utterly powerless to attain the yet higher plane of animal tissue1 may be assimilated by the animal and become part thereof4 ,and so with respect to either plant or animal substance becoming a constituent of human tissue4 ,so for the advancement of man from his present fallen state to the higher condition of spiritual life1 a power greater than his own is requisite4 ,through the operation of laws obtaining in the spiritual world man may be reached and lifted2 himself he cannot exalt4 ,a ,redeemer and ,savior is essential to the accomplishment of the ,father's plan1 which is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #g72 and that ,redeemer and ,savior is ,jesus the ,christ1 beside whom there is and can be no other4 -- #ac -- ,,christ',s ,,unique ,,status ,as ,redeemer and ,savior of the ,world ,,to hosts of earnest and thoughtful people1 comprising many who devoutly believe in the efficacy of our ,lord's atoning death as a means of redemption from death and salvation from sin1 it is a matter of surpassing wonder that the sacrifice of a single life could be made an effective means of emancipation for mankind4 ,scriptures ante-dating the ,savior's earthly life plainly aver that the ,atonement to be made by ,him was to be a vicarious sacrifice1 voluntary and love-inspired on ,his part1 and universal in its application so far as human-kind would avail themselves of its beneficent means4 ,these conditions were confirmed by the personal affirmations of the embodied ,christ1 and are attested by ,scriptures post-dating the tragic consummation on ,calvary4 ,the concept of vicarious service1 in which one may act or officiate for and in behalf of another1 is as old as the race4 ,it is1 however1 fundamentally opposed to the unscriptural assumption that the merits of one man may be accounted to the cancellation of another's sins4 ,scriptures both ancient and modern1 the traditions of the human family1 the rites of altar sacrifice1 and even the sacrileges of heathen idolatry involve the basal conception of vicarious atonement4 ,this principle1 of ,divine establishment in its original and uncorrupted form1 was revealed to ,adam 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 pp4 #ai-bj71 who offered sacrifices in the similitude of the then future death of the ,lamb of ,god1 and was taught and practised by later prophets down to the time of ,christ4 ,the ,scriptures relieve us from the assumption that any ordinary mortal1 by voluntarily giving up his life even as a martyr to the best of causes1 could become a ransom for the sins of his fellows and a victor over death4 ,jesus ,christ1 though ,he lived and died as one of the human family1 was of unique nature4 ,never has another such as ,he walked the earth4 ,christ was the only ,being among all the embodied spirit-children of ,god suited to and acceptable as the great sacrifice of atonement1 in these definite and distinct respects3 #a4 ,he was the ,one chosen and foreordained in the heavens to this specific service4 #b4 ,he was and is the ,only ,begotten of the ,father in the body1 and therefore the only ,being ever born to earth who possessed in their fulness the inherent attributes of both ,godhood and manhood4 #c4 ,he was and is the one and only sinless ,man who has lived in mortality4 ,concerning our ,lord's foreordination as the ,redeemer and ,savior1 ,he has given us personal testimony with which the utterances of prophets who lived before ,his birth and apostles who taught after ,his death are in harmony4 ,twenty-two centuries before the meridian of time1 the then unembodied ,christ revealed ,himself to a ,book of ,mormon prophet1 saying3 ,behold ,i am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people4 ,behold ,i am ,jesus ,christ4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,ether #c3ad74 ,unto ,moses the ,father spake1 saying3 ,thou art in the similitude of mine ,only ,begotten1 and mine ,only ,begotten is and shall be the ,savior4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #b74 ,these ,scriptures are in accord with ,peter's testimony of ,christ as a ,lamb without blemish and without spot1 who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world4 7#a ,peter #a3ai-bj74 ,as the ,eternal ,father's ,only ,begotten ,son in the flesh1 ,christ possessed the inborn power to withstand death indefinitely1 and this just as naturally as that ,he1 being the offspring of a mortal mother1 should derive the ability to die4 ,jesus ,christ inherited through the operation of the natural law of heredity the physical1 mental1 and spiritual attributes of ,his parents--the ,father immortal and glorified1 the mother human4 ,he could not be slain until ,his hour had come1 the hour in which ,he would voluntarily give up ,his life1 and permit ,his own decease as an act of will4 ,how else are ,his definite asseverations concerning ,himself to be construed8 ,consider for example this3 ,therefore doth my ,father love me1 because ,i lay down my life1 that ,i might take it again4 ,no man taketh it from me1 but ,i lay it down of myself4 ,i have power to lay it down1 and ,i have power to take it again4 7,john #aj3ag-ah74 ,and further3 ,for as the ,father hath life in himself1 so hath he given to the ,son to have life in himself4 7,john #e3bf74 ,christ died1 not as other men have died or shall die1 because of inability to escape death1 but for a special purpose by voluntary surrender4 ,thus1 the atoning sacrifice was no usual death of an ordinary man1 but the decease of ,one who had the power to live4 ,it was a sacrifice1 indeed6 #a ,as a sinless ,man ,christ was exempt from the dominion of ,satan2 and was sublimely conscious of ,his own perfect probity4 ,he challenged assailants with the pertinent demand ,which of you convinceth me of sin8 7,john #h3df72 and in the hour of ,his entrance into ,gethsemane solemnly averred3 ,the prince of this world cometh1 and hath nothing in me4 7,john #ad3cj74 ,had our ,lord died as the result of ,satan's power over ,him through transgression1 ,his death would have been but an individual experience1 expiatory in no degree of any offenses but ,his own4 ,his absolute freedom from spot or blemish of sin made ,him eligible1 ,his humility and willingness rendered ,him acceptable as the propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the world4 ,in these respects1 as in that of ,his having life in ,himself and therefore power over death1 ,he was of a status absolutely unique among men4 ,with this knowledge spake the ancient ,hebrew prophet1 saying3 ,as the ,lord ,god liveth1 there is none other name given under heaven1 save it be this ,jesus ,christ of which ,i have spoken1 whereby man can be saved4 7,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #be3bj74 ,footnotes #a4 ,for comprehensive treatment see the author's work ,jesus the ,christ1 #hjj pp41 ,the ,deseret ,news1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah4 -- #ad -- ,,philosophy ,,of ,,the ,,atonement ,its ,two-fold ,effect ,,belief in the efficacy of the death of ,jesus ,christ as a means of atonement1 whereby redemption and salvation are made possible1 is an essential feature of distinctively ,christian religion4 ,that belief if sustained by works constitutes faith in or acceptance of the ,christ as the ,only ,begotten ,son of ,god1 and is supported by the ,holy ,scriptures of all ages4 ,nevertheless1 to most of us1 the fact of the ,atonement is a great mystery4 ,be it remembered that the effect of the ,atonement is two-fold3 7#a7 ,redemption of the human race from physical death1 which entered the world as a result of ,adam's transgression2 and 7#b7 ,salvation1 whereby means of relief from the results of individual sin are provided4 ,victory over death and the tomb became manifest in the resurrection of the crucified ,christ4 ,of all who have lived in the flesh ,he was the first to come from the grave with spirit and body reunited1 a resurrected1 immortalized ,soul4 ,justly1 therefore1 is ,he called the firstfruits of them that slept 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bj72 the firstborn from the dead 7,col4 #a3ah72 and the first begotten of the dead4 7,rev4 #a3e74 ,immediately following our ,lord's resurrection1 many bodies of the saints which slept arose1 and came out of the graves after his resurrection1 and went into the holy city1 and appeared unto many4 7,matt4 #bg3eb-ec74 ,we learn that in due time everyone who has lived and died on earth shall be resurrected1 they that have done good1 unto the resurrection of life2 and they that have done evil1 unto the resurrection of damnation4 7,john #e3bi74 ,however1 the order in which we shall be resurrected is determined by individual conditions of righteousness or guilt4 7,see #a ,cor4 #ae3bc2 ,rev4 #bj3e-f47 ,a latter-day ,scripture1 describing the general resurrection of the just1 incident to the approaching advent of ,christ1 embodies the ,lord's declaration in these words3 ,the trump of ,god shall sound both long and loud1 and shall say to the sleeping nations1 ,ye saints arise and live2 ye sinners stay and sleep until ,i shall call again4 7,d,c #dc3ah74 ,the second effect of the ,atonement makes salvation possible to all men through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel2 and of these the following are fundamental3 7#a7 ,faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 7#b7 ,repentance2 7#c7 ,baptism by immersion for the remission of sins2 7#d7 ,laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it is evident that but for the ,atonement accomplished by the ,savior1 there could be no resurrection from the dead 7see ,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #i3g-ab72 and advancement from the disembodied state would be impossible4 ,and just as plainly the ,scriptures declare that without the ,atonement of ,christ mankind would be left in their sins1 without means of making amends therefor and receiving remission thereof4 ,we have learned but little of the eternal laws operative in the heavens2 but that ,god's purposes are accomplished through and by law is beyond question4 ,there can be no irregularity1 inconsistency1 arbitrariness or caprice in ,his doings1 for such would mean injustice4 ,therefore1 the ,atonement must have been effected in accordance with law4 ,the self-sacrificing life1 the indescribable agony1 and the voluntary death of ,one who had life in ,himself with power to halt ,his torturers at any stage1 and whom none could slay until ,he permitted1 must have constituted compliance with the eternal law of justice1 propitiation and expiation by which victory over sin and death could be and has been achieved4 ,through the mortal life and sacrificial death of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ the demands of justice have been fully met1 and the way is opened for the lawful ministration of mercy so far as the effects of the ,fall are concerned4 ,sin1 followed by death1 came into the world through the transgression of one man4 ,the entailment of mortality upon that man's posterity1 with all its elements of a fallen state1 is natural1 we say1 because we think we know something about heredity4 ,is it any more truly natural that one man's transgression should be of universal effect than that the redeeming and saving achievement of ,one1 fully empowered and qualified for the work of atonement1 should be of universal blessing8 ,the ancient ,apostles were explicit in answer4 ,thus spake ,paul3 ,therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation2 even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life4 7,rom4 #e3ah74 ,and further3 ,for there is one ,god1 and one mediator between ,god and men1 the man ,christ ,jesus1 who gave himself a ransom for all4 7#a ,tim4 #b3e-f74 ,christ1 victor over sin and death1 established ,his right to prescribe the conditions under which man may attain salvation1 and these are summarized as obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,that the physical1 mental1 and spiritual agony preceding and accompanying the crucifixion was real and necessary to the accomplishment of ,his fore-appointed mission has been affirmed by the ,christ in the current dispensation3 ,for behold ,i1 ,god1 have suffered these things for all1 that they might not suffer if they would repent2 but if they would not repent1 they must suffer even as ,i4 ,which suffering caused myself1 even ,god1 the greatest of all1 to tremble because of pain1 and to bleed at every pore1 and to suffer both body and spirit3 and would that ,i might not drink the bitter cup and shrink--,nevertheless1 glory be to the ,father1 and ,i partook and finished my preparation unto the children of men4 ,wherefore1 ,i command you again to repent4 7,d,c #ai3af-bj74 -- #ae -- ,,how ,,does ,,christ ,,save8 ,his ,plan ,combines ,justice and ,mercy ,,the results of the ,atonement accomplished by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ comprise 7#a7 universal deliverance from bodily death1 that is to say the assured resurrection of all the dead1 and 7#b7 deliverance from the effects of individual sin4 ,it is but just that since death has been entailed upon the entire race through the act of our first parents1 redemption therefrom should be likewise universal1 without effort or sacrifice on our part4 ,we shall each be resurrected from death1 our disembodied spirits tabernacling again in their bodies of flesh and bones1 whether we be relatively clean1 or filthy from sin2 but the time or order of our respective liberation from the grave will be determined by our state of righteousness or guilt4 ,so the ,scriptures aver4 7,see e4 g4 ,john #e3bh-bi2 #a ,cor4 #ae3bc2 ,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #i3f-ac2 and ,d,c #hh3if-ajb47 ,herein is a lawful adjustment between justice and mercy4 ,we are mortal through no personal fault2 we shall be made immortal without personal merit4 ,such is justice4 ,and though many have committed crimes far more heinous than ,adam's disobedience1 even they shall eventually be absolved from their hereditary mortality4 ,such is mercy4 ,the ,divine plan of salvation1 made effective through the ,atonement1 is likewise of universal application1 so that every man may become a beneficiary thereof2 but that plan is not self-operative4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints summarizes the conditions in this wise3 ,we believe that men will be punished for their own sins1 and not for ,adam's transgression4 ,we believe that1 through the ,atonement of ,christ1 all mankind may be saved1 by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,however great his moral weakness and sinful tendencies entailed by heredity1 every responsible individual knows right from wrong1 with some degree of conviction2 and in the final judgment of that soul every element1 whether of extenuation or crimination1 will be taken into due account4 ,means of making amends for sin1 and thereby establishing eligibility as fit subjects for remission or forgiveness1 are freely offered to all men2 but the prescribed conditions must be complied with or the incubus of sin can not be lifted4 ,salvation is not to be had for the mere asking4 ,it is too precious a pearl to be wantonly cast at the feet of the unrepentant and unregenerate who1 heedless of its eternal worth1 would fain tread it into the mire wherein they wallow4 ,christ's plan for saving the souls of men contemplates no universal and unconditional remission of sins4 ,that would be justice travestied and mercy corrupted4 ,so far as ,i am personally responsible for sin1 ,i1 and ,i alone am accountable4 ,this is just4 ,but though ,i make all material restitution possible to my brother whom ,i may have wronged1 ,i cannot alone wipe the stain of guilt from my soul4 ,to obtain remission from ,god whose laws ,i have violated1 to be again reconciled to ,him through expiation for my transgression1 ,i am in dire need of help4 ,that help is provided through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i am not left without hope2 but on the contrary have the ,divine assurance of possible emancipation4 ,this is mercy1 indeed4 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that believeth not shall be damned4 7,mark #af3af74 ,so spake the ,christ4 ,the belief here specified must mean that active1 vital1 potent belief which we distinctively designate faith4 ,a mere assent of the mind to any proposition1 without application and action1 remains a mental concept and nothing more4 ,our ,lord's association of belief with baptism is proof that no empty or idle belief can avail to save4 ,genuine faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ naturally leads to obedience to ,his commands2 and the firstfruits of faith are embodied in repentance4 ,none but the truly repentant believer is an acceptable subject for baptism4 ,thus no man can consistently hope for salvation in the ,kingdom of ,god except through the ,atonement of ,jesus ,christ2 and the ,atonement is made operative for the remission of sins through individual compliance with the conditions explicitly set forth by the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him4 7,heb4 #e3i74 ,christ's method of saving souls is that of providing definite means1 which any one may accept or reject to his own eternal gain or loss4 ,universal amnesty for crime may serve to increase crime4 ,god's system of benevolence1 which comprises and exceeds all that we call charity1 consists in helping sinners to help themselves4 ,indiscriminate giving fosters pauperism in both the temporal and the spiritual sense4 ,man alone cannot save himself2 and just as truly1 ,christ alone cannot save him4 ,obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel is the price of salvation4 ,an ancient ,hebrew prophet thus set forth in simplicity the plan of salvation dependent upon the ,atonement of ,christ3 ,his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of ,adam1 who have died1 not knowing the will of ,god concerning them1 or who have ignorantly sinned4 ,but1 wo1 wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against ,god2 for salvation cometh to none such1 except it be through repentance and faith on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,mosiah #c3aa-ab74 ,in these latter days the ,lord hath given this commandment unto the ,church3 ,thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the ,savior and remission of sins by baptism and by fire1 yea1 even the ,holy ,ghost4 7,d,c #ai3ca47 -- #af -- ,,heaven ,,and ,,hell ,graded ,conditions in the ,hereafter ,,the destiny of souls in the hereafter is a subject of persistent interest and concern in human belief and speculation4 ,even pagan literature and the languages of heathendom testify to a general though ofttimes vague conception of two widely separated places or strongly contrasted states of future existence1 which are in the main equivalent to the heaven and the hell of dogmatic theology4 ,the ,holy ,scriptures generalize the future estate of the righteous as heaven1 and the opposite as hell1 without giving warrant1 however1 for the belief that but two places or kingdoms are provided1 to one or the other of which every soul is to be consigned according to the balance-sheet of his life's account1 and perhaps on a very small margin of merit or guilt4 ,equally unscriptural is the inference that the state of the soul at death determines that soul's place and environment throughout eternity1 forever deprived of opportunity of progression4 ,when left to his imagination1 without the guidance of revelation1 man conjures up a heaven and a hell to suit his fancy4 ,thus1 to the mind of the savage1 heaven is a hunting-ground with game a-plenty2 to the carnal1 heaven promises perpetual gratification of senses and passions2 to the lover of truth and the devotee of righteousness1 heaven is the assurance of limitless advancement in wisdom and achievement4 ,and to each of these1 hell is the eternal realization of deprivation1 loss1 disappointment and consequent anguish4 ,divine revelation is the only source of sure knowledge as to what awaits man beyond the grave1 and from this we learn that at death the spirits of all men pass to an intermediate state1 in which they associate with their kind1 the good with the good1 the wicked with the wicked1 and so shall endure in happiness or awful suspense until the time appointed for their resurrection4 ,paradise is the dwelling place of relatively righteous spirits awaiting the glorious dawn of the resurrection4 ,the final judgment1 at which all men shall appear before the bar of ,god1 is to follow their resurrection from the dead4 ,we shall stand in our resurrected bodies of flesh and bones to receive from ,jesus ,christ1 who shall judge the world1 the sentence we individually merit1 whether it be ,come ye blessed of my ,father or ,depart from me ye cursed4 7,see ,matt4 #be3ca-df47 ,in ,his solemn discourse to the ,apostles immediately prior to the betrayal our ,lord sought to cheer their saddened hearts with the assurance1 ,in my ,father's house are many mansions3 if it were not so1 ,i would have told you4 ,i go to prepare a place for you4 ,and if ,i go and prepare a place for you1 ,i will come again1 and receive you unto myself2 that where ,i am1 there ye may be also4 7,john #ad3b1 #c47 ,here is conclusive proof of varied conditions in the world beyond2 and the teachings of ,paul are incisive as to the state of resurrected souls3 ,there are also celestial bodies1 and bodies terrestrial2 but the glory of the celestial is one1 and the glory of the terrestrial is another4 ,there is one glory of the sun1 and another glory of the moon1 and another glory of the stars3 for one star differeth from another star in glory4 ,so also is the resurrection of the dead4 7#a ,cor4 #ae3dj-db47 ,latter-day revelation avers even more explicitly the fact of numerous and graded states provided for the souls of men4 ,there is a ,celestial ,kingdom1 into which shall enter all who have won not alone ,salvation1 but ,exaltation4 ,and who are these blessed ones8 ,they are they who received the testimony of ,jesus1 and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial1 being buried in the water in his name1 and this according to the commandment which he has given2 that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins1 and receive the ,holy ,spirit4 7,d,c1 #gf74 ,next in order is the ,terrestrial ,kingdom1 in which shall be saved those who1 though honorable according to the codes of men1 have failed in valiant and aggressive service in the cause of ,god1 and also those who have died in ignorance of the prescribed laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,behold1 these are they who died without law1 and also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison1 whom the ,son visited1 and preached the gospel unto them1 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh2 who received not the testimony of ,jesus in the flesh1 but afterwards received it4 ,these are they who are honorable men of the earth1 who were blinded by the craftiness of men4 ,yet lower is the ,telestial ,kingdom1 and of its inhabitants we read3 ,these are they who received not the gospel of ,christ1 neither the testimony of ,jesus4 ,these are they who deny not the ,holy ,spirit4 ,these are they who are thrust down to hell4 ,these are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil1 until the last resurrection1 until the ,lord1 even ,christ the ,lamb shall have finished his work4 4 4 4 ,but behold1 and lo1 we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world1 that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven1 or as the sand upon the sea shore4 ,far below the lowest of these kingdoms of glory is the fate or state decreed for the souls who have sinned in the full light of knowledge and with conscious guilt1 those who having received the testimony of ,christ have ruthlessly and wantonly denied it in the interest of temporary gain or gratification1 who have fallen so far in transgression as to be known by the awful name sons of perdition1 for whom no forgiveness is promised4 7,see ,d,c1 #gf3cb-ch74 ,thus is it provided that every soul shall inherit according to his deserts under the inviolable laws of ,god4 ,salvation is relative4 ,he who attains the ,telestial state is saved from the fate of utter ,perdition2 he who wins a place in the ,terrestrial is raised above the lesser glory2 and those who merit exaltation in the ,celestial kingdom are supremely blessed1 for they shall dwell and serve with ,god and ,his ,christ eternally4 -- #ag -- ,,in ,,the ,,realm ,,of ,,the ,,dead ,paradise--,what of the ,spirits in ,prison8 ,,we believe that through the ,atonement of ,christ all mankind may be saved1 by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,no limitation is here expressed with respect to the living or the dead4 ,who are the living but the few just now tabernacled in mortal bodies destined sooner or later to die8 ,who are the dead but the uncounted myriads who once lived in the flesh and have already passed to the world of the disembodied8 ,if the ,atonement accomplished by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ be a means of salvation to the few only who constituted the living during some specific period1 or even to all who have heard and accepted the ,gospel while in the body1 the sacrifice made by the ,son of ,god becomes of limited and small effect4 ,the sure word of ,scripture declares otherwise4 ,christ affirmed that ,his mission as the ,redeemer and ,savior of the race extended beyond the grave4 ,consider the profound significance of ,his words3 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,the hour is coming1 and now is1 when the dead shall hear the voice of the ,son of ,god3 and they that hear shall live4 4 4 4 ,marvel not at this3 for the hour is coming1 in the which all that are in the graves shall hear ,his voice1 ,and shall come forth2 they that have done good1 unto the resurrection of life2 and they that have done evil1 unto the resurrection of damnation4 7,john #e3be-bi74 ,jesus ,christ died upon the cross in the literal sense in which all men die4 ,while the corpse lay in the rock-hewn sepulchre the immortal ,christ existed as a disembodied ,spirit4 ,where was ,he1 and what were ,his activities in the interval between ,his death on ,calvary and ,his emergence from the tomb with spirit and body reunited--a resurrected ,soul8 ,the most natural assumption is that ,he went where the spirits of the dead ordinarily go2 and that in the sense in which ,he had been while in the flesh a ,man among men1 ,he was during the period of disembodiment a ,spirit among spirits4 ,the ,scriptures confirm this conception as true4 ,while in the bodiless state our ,lord ministered among the departed1 both in ,paradise and in the prison realm where dwelt in a state of durance the spirits of the disobedient4 ,to this effect testified ,peter3 ,for ,christ also hath once suffered for sins1 the just for the unjust1 that ,he might bring us to ,god1 being put to death in the flesh1 but quickened by the ,spirit3 ,by which also ,he went and preached unto the spirits in prison4 7#a ,peter #c3ah1 #ai74 ,and further3 ,for1 for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead1 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh1 but live according to ,god in the spirit4 7#a ,peter #d3f74 ,one of the two condemned malefactors crucified by our ,lord's side reviled ,him2 the other1 who was penitent1 supplicated the dying ,christ saying3 ,lord1 remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom2 and to this appeal the ,lord replied with the blessed assurance3 ,verily ,i say unto thee1 ,today shalt thou be with me in paradise4 7,luke #bc3db1 #dc74 ,the spirit of ,jesus and that of the repentant sinner left their crucified bodies and went to the same place in the spirit world4 ,but neither of them at that time went to ,heaven1 the abode of the ,eternal ,father2 for1 on the third day following1 ,jesus1 then a resurrected ,being1 positively stated to the weeping ,magdalene3 ,i am not yet ascended to my ,father1 and added as to an event then future1 but go to my brethren1 and say unto them1 ,i ascend unto my ,father1 and your ,father2 and to my ,god1 and your ,god4 7,john #bj3ag74 ,christ and the contrite thief went to ,paradise2 but ,paradise is not the distinctive abode of ,god4 ,to infer that the crucified transgressor was saved by his dying confession1 and was granted a special passport to ,heaven with sins unexpiated and without his compliance with the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel is to disregard both letter and spirit of ,scripture1 and to ignore both reason and the sense of justice4 ,we find here no warrant for belief in the efficacy of death-bed confession as a means of grace4 ,only through individual faith1 repentance1 and works can remission of sins be obtained4 ,the dying malefactor who won from the ,christ the comforting promise of a place in ,paradise had manifested both faith and repentance4 ,the blessing promised him was to the effect that he should that day hear the ,gospel preached in ,paradise4 ,in the acceptance or rejection of the message of salvation he would be left an agent unto himself4 ,the requirement of obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel was not waived1 suspended1 or superseded in his case1 nor shall it be for any soul4 ,for the dead who have lived and died in ignorance of the requirements of salvation1 as1 in another sense1 for the disobedient who later come to repentance1 the plan of ,god provides for the vicarious administration of the essential ordinances to the living posterity in behalf of their dead progenitors4 ,of this saving labor ,malachi prophesied in solemn plainness 7,malachi #d3e1 #f72 and the glorious fulfilment has been witnessed in this modern age4 ,the great ,temples reared by the ,latter-day ,saints are maintained in large part for the service of the living in behalf of the dead4 -- #ah -- ,,why ,,are ,,they ,,baptized ,,for ,,the ,,dead8 ,elijah the ,prophet on the ,american ,continent ,,in one of his letters to the ,corinthians1 ,paul the ,apostle discusses the resurrection of the dead1 which was a subject of contention at the time of his writing4 ,having shown that through the ,atonement of ,jesus ,christ all mankind shall be eventually redeemed from bodily death1 the scholarly ,apostle asks3 ,else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead1 if the dead rise not at all8 ,why are they then baptized for the dead8 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bi74 ,as the question is put by way of finality and climax to the preceding argument and is without explanatory comment1 we must conclude that the subject involved no new or strange doctrine2 but to the contrary that the people both understood and practised the ordinance of vicarious baptism by the living in behalf of the dead4 ,to ,nicodemus our ,lord declared in such plainness as to preclude dispute3 ,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god4 7,john #c3e74 ,that this new birth comprises water baptism by immersion1 as was at that time being administered by ,john the ,baptist1 and the higher baptism of the ,spirit1 which ,christ ,himself came to give1 is evident from the scriptural context4 ,note the incisiveness of our ,lord's affirmation that without baptism man cannot enter the kingdom of ,god4 ,no distinction is made1 no exceptions are implied4 ,the indispensable condition is applicable to all men whether living or dead4 ,nicodemus1 though a scholar and a master in ,israel1 failed to understand the full import of our ,lord's words1 and in seeming bewilderment asked3 ,how can a man be born when he is old8 ,can he enter the second time into his mother's womb1 and be born8 7,verse #d74 ,with at least equal pertinency it may now be asked3 ,how can a man who has died without baptism be baptized8 ,can he enter the second time into his body of flesh and be immersed in water8 ,the answer is that the living may be baptized for the dead4 ,no one who accepts as a reality the ,atonement of ,jesus ,christ in behalf of all humankind can consistently deny the efficacy of vicarious service1 in which one person officiates in behalf of another1 provided of course that the labor be done by ,divine appointment4 ,in the last chapter of the ,old ,testament the prophet ,malachi describes a condition of the last days immediately precedent to the second advent of the ,christ3 ,for1 behold1 the day cometh1 that shall burn as an oven2 and all the proud1 yea1 and all that do wickedly1 shall be stubble3 and the day that cometh shall burn them up1 saith the ,lord of hosts1 that it shall leave them neither root nor branch4 7,malachi #d3a74 ,this fateful prediction is followed by the blessed promise1 expressed in the words of ,jehovah3 ,behold1 ,i will send you ,elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the ,lord3 ,and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children1 and the heart of the children to their fathers1 lest ,i come and smite the earth with a curse4 7,verses #e1 #f74 ,joseph ,smith the modern prophet solemnly affirms that in #ahcf ,elijah the prophet of ancient ,israel appeared in the ,temple that had been erected by the ,latter-day ,saints at ,kirtland1 ,ohio1 and effected the fulfilment of ,malachi's prediction by this declaration3 ,behold1 the time has fully come1 which was spoken of by the mouth of ,malachi1 testifying that he 7,elijah7 should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the ,lord come1 to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children1 and the children to the fathers1 lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse4 7,d,c1 #aaj3ad-ae74 ,this union of the interests of the departed fathers with those of their yet living descendants is a necessary preparation for the coming of the ,lord1 as affirmed by ,joseph ,smith3 ,the earth will be smitten with a curse1 unless there is a welding link of some kind or other1 between the fathers and the children1 upon some subject or other1 and behold what is that subject8 ,it is the baptism for the dead4 ,for we without them cannot be made perfect2 neither can they without us be made perfect4 7,d4 ,c4 #abh3ah74 ,the ,latter-day ,saints are distinguished as a ,temple-building people4 ,through direct revelation the ,lord has made plain that baptism and associated ordinances for the dead1 as also certain endowments of the living1 are acceptable only when administered in structures specially reared and consecrated for this sacred service4 ,in the spirit realm1 as in our material world of mortals1 the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is being preached2 and among both dead and living the authoritative proclamation is made3 ,repent for the ,kingdom of ,heaven is at hand4 ,to be competent to officiate for his dead1 a man must first comply with the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel in his own behalf4 ,there is an element of particular fitness in the fact that the appointed minister1 through whom the vicarious service of the living in behalf of the dead has been inaugurated in the current dispensation1 is none other than ,elijah1 who was taken from earth without passing through the change we call death1 and who therefore held a peculiar and special relationship to both the living and the dead4 ,true to the commission conferred through ,elijah's modern ministry1 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints rears ,temples to the name and service of the living ,god1 and in those sacred structures carries forward the appointed service for the salvation of the uncounted dead who have passed away in ignorance as to the necessity of compliance with the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel1 without which compliance no man can have place in the ,kingdom of ,god4 -- #ai -- ,,obedience ,,is ,,heaven',s ,,first ,,law ,conditions of ,citizenship in the ,kingdom of ,god ,,we believe that through the ,atonement of ,christ all mankind may be saved1 by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 7,articles of ,faith1 #c74 ,pope's famous line1 ,order is ,heaven's first law1 has often been misapplied4 ,order is a result of compliance with established requirements2 of necessity1 therefore1 it cannot be first4 ,it is an effect1 not the primary cause4 ,a more thoughtful generalization leads to the conclusion that obedience is the basal law of ,heaven1 and that this law is equally valid and as truly operative in things pertaining to mortality4 ,jesus ,christ1 through whom the plan of salvation has been made available to mankind1 has prescribed the conditions under which we may become its beneficiaries--the terms by which citizenship in the ,kingdom of ,god may be secured4 ,among these specified conditions is baptism by immersion for the remission of sins4 ,the gross materialist1 who wilfully refuses to see or to acknowledge anything beyond the affairs of earth1 may ask3 ,how can water wash away sin8 ,in answer be it said1 water cannot remove the stain of guilt2 nevertheless1 obedience to the law of baptism as required by ,jesus ,christ is truly a means of securing forgiveness4 ,obedience1 not water1 is the cleansing unction4 ,have you never read of ,naaman1 captain of the ,syrian hosts1 who sought relief from his leprosy through the ministration of ,elisha1 the man of ,god8 ,read #b ,kings1 chap4 #e4 ,the prophet commanded the leper to wash himself seven times in ,jordan1 and promised that through obedience the man would be cleansed4 ,but the haughty ,syrian was offended at the simplicity of the requirement4 ,he had expected some ceremonial spectacle of power1 a display of miracle4 ,but by the counsel of his servant he went and dipped himself seven times in ,jordan1 according to the saying of the man of ,god3 and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child1 and he was clean4 ,the waters of ,jordan had no special virtues of healing1 but obedience effected a cure from the leprous affliction1 which was rightly regarded as at once a bodily disease and a curse4 ,and what of the widow1 whose sons were to be sold into bondage because she could not pay her late husband's debt8 ,read #b ,kings #d3a-g4 ,she came to ,elisha in agony of soul2 and the prophet told her to take the one little pot of oil in her house1 and pour from it into as many vessels as she could borrow4 ,with scrupulous care she complied with every detail of the instructions given her by the man of ,god1 and the vessels were filled from the single cruse4 ,then she came and told the man of ,god4 ,and he said1 ,go1 sell the cil1 and pay thy debt1 and live thou and thy children of the rest4 ,obedience is a source of power1 even as is prayer4 ,when the ,jews marveled at the wisdom of ,christ1 ,he told them of a very simple yet effective way of obtaining1 each for himself1 knowledge of supreme worth4 ,my doctrine is not mine1 said ,he1 but his that sent me4 ,if any man will do his will1 he shall know of the doctrine1 whether it be of ,god1 or whether ,i speak of myself4 7,john #g3af1 #ag74 ,in every-day affairs we comply without question with the requirements essential to the results we desire4 ,electricity lights our homes1 propels our vehicles1 drives our machinery1 transmits our messages1 but only on condition that we obey to the minutest detail the laws by which that mystic force operates4 ,we may cause the sunlight to record indelibly the beauties of the landscape1 or the features of a friend1 but only through obedience to the laws of light and the numerous mechanical adjustments incident to the use of the camera4 ,and as we fully and unreservedly obey1 the result is sure4 ,why then should it be a thing strange in our eyes that through obedience to established and eternal law the higher or spiritual powers should be invoked to our service8 ,the effect is equally sure4 ,the ,christ has given us solemn assurance3 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved4 7,mark #af3af74 ,in the present age1 the unalterable necessity of obedience as a means of blessing has been reaffirmed through the prophet ,joseph ,smith3 ,there is a law1 irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world1 upon which all blessings are predicated2 ,and when we obtain any blessing from ,god1 it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated4 7,d,c #acj3bj1 #ba74 ,and further3 ,i1 the ,lord1 am bound when ye do what ,i say1 but when ye do not what ,i say1 ye have no promise4 7#hb3aj74 ,there is no element of uncertainty in the plan of salvation1 far less of inconsistency or caprice in the judgment to be rendered on individual lives1 for that would imply injustice4 ,the plan is simple4 ,man is in a fallen condition1 beset with weaknesses and sin4 ,means are provided whereby he may rise1 and1 through the corridors of death and the portals of the resurrection1 reach the way of eternal progression4 ,these means are all comprised in obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,it is only by compliance with the laws of our community and nation that we have title to personal liberty and to a share in the blessings and privileges provided by the government under which we live4 ,shall the terms of citizenship in the ,kingdom of ,god be less definite than in the nations officered by men8 ,divine authority for the naturalization of mankind in that eternal ,kingdom has been restored to earth in the current age4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints calls upon all peoples1 irrespective of race or nationality1 to cultivate an abiding faith in ,god1 to turn from sin in contrite and genuine repentance1 to be baptized by the authority of the ,holy ,priesthood1 and to receive the assured companionship of the ,holy ,ghost through the laying on of hands4 ,on the high authority of the ,holy ,scriptures1 the direct word of ,god to man1 be it said3 ,there is no other road to ,salvation4 -- #bj -- ,,the ,,devils ,,believe ,,and ,,tremble ,faith ,not ,mere ,belief ,,we believe that the first principles and ordinances of the ,gospel are3 7#a7 ,faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 7#b7 ,repentance2 7#c7 ,baptism by immersion for the remission of sins2 7#d7 ,laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 7,articles of ,faith1 #d74 ,faith in ,god is the first1 the fundamental1 the basal principle of the ,gospel2 as1 indeed1 faith1 in the more general usage of the term1 is the impelling cause to activity even in ordinary affairs4 ,faith and belief are not infrequently confused1 and the words are too commonly regarded as synonymous4 ,an approach to identity of meaning appears in early ,english1 in consequence of which fact belief is sometimes given the more definite signification of faith in our versions of the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,belief may be nothing more than a mental assent to any proposition1 principle1 or alleged fact2 whereas faith implies such confidence and conviction as shall inspire to action4 ,belief is by comparison passive1 a mere agreement or tacit acceptance only2 faith is active and positive1 and is accompanied by works4 ,faith is vivified1 vitalized1 living belief4 ,even the devils believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 and so fully that they tremble at the prospect of the fate foreshadowed by that belief 7see ,james #b3ai74 ,their belief may amount even to certain knowledge1 but they remain devils nevertheless4 ,consider the man possessed by a demon in the country of the ,gadarenes4 ,when he beheld ,jesus afar off he ran to the ,master1 and worshiped ,him1 while the evil spirit by whom the man was controlled acknowledged the ,lord1 calling ,him ,jesus1 thou ,son of the ,most ,high ,god4 7,mark #e2 for analogous instances see ,mark #a3bc-bg1 and #c3h-aa74 ,strikingly similar in form1 yet vitally different in spirit and effect1 is this testimony of the demons as compared with ,peter's confession of his ,lord4 ,to the ,savior's question ,whom say ye that ,i am8 ,peter replied in practically the same words voiced by the unclean spirits3 ,thou art the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god4 7,matt4 #af3ae1 #af74 ,peter's faith had already been tested1 and had demonstrated its vital power4 ,through faith the ,apostle had forsaken much that had been dear1 and had followed his ,lord in persecution and suffering4 ,his knowledge of ,god as the ,eternal ,father and of ,jesus ,christ as the ,redeemer may have been no greater than that of the demons2 but while to them that knowledge was an added cause of condemnation1 to him it was the power of righteous service and of eventual salvation4 ,in a theological sense faith includes a moving1 vital1 inspiring confidence in ,god1 and the acceptance of ,his will as our law and of ,his words as our guide in life4 ,faith in ,god is a principle of power1 for by its exercise spiritual forces are made operative4 ,by this power phenomena that appear to be supernatural1 such as we call miracles1 are wrought4 ,even the ,lord ,jesus was influenced and in a measure controlled by the lack of faith or the possession thereof by those who sought blessings at ,his hands4 ,we are told that at a certain time and place ,jesus could there do no mighty work because of the people's unbelief1 which was so dense that ,he marveled at it4 7,mark #f3e1 #f74 ,repeatedly did the ,lord rebuke and admonish with such reproofs as ,o ye of little faith1 ,where is your faith8 and ,how is it that ye have no faith8 ,in glorious contrast rang out ,his words of benediction to those whose faith had made it possible for ,him to heal and to save3 ,thy faith hath made thee whole and ,according to your faith be it unto you4 ,read the record of the youthful demoniac whose agonized father brought his son to the ,master1 pleading pitiably ,if thou canst do any thing1 have compassion on us and help us4 ,to this qualified intercession ,jesus replied ,if thou canst believe and added ,all things are possible to him that believeth4 7,read ,mark #i3ad-bi74 ,the faith requisite to the healing was not that of the ,healer alone1 but primarily faith on the part of the suppliant4 ,if through faith ,divine interposition may be secured to the accomplishment of what we call material or physical miracles1 and of this the ,scriptures contain copious testimony 7read ,hebrews1 chap4 #aa71 is it consistent to doubt that faith is the appointed agency for invoking and securing spiritual blessings1 even to the attainment of salvation in the eternal worlds8 ,as shown in earlier articles1 redemption from the power of death is assured to all through the victory achieved by ,jesus ,christ2 but salvation is an individual gift1 provided for all who shall establish claim thereto through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,faith in ,god the ,eternal ,father1 and in ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ as the ,redeemer and ,savior of the race1 and in the ,holy ,ghost1 is essential to the securing of individual salvation4 ,paul forcefully declares ,but without faith it is impossible to please him3 for he that cometh to ,god must believe that he is1 and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him4 7,heb4 #aa3f74 ,the ,scriptures abound in assurances of salvation to those who exercise faith in ,god4 ,the ,savior's teachings are conclusive3 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that believeth not shall be damned4 7,mark #af3af74 ,and again3 ,he that believeth on the ,son hath everlasting life3 and he that believeth not the ,son shall not see life2 but the wrath of ,god abideth on him4 7,john #c3cf74 ,but who will venture to affirm that passive belief as distinguished from active faith is here implied8 ,can a man be said to believe in ,jesus ,christ in any effective and genuine sense unless that man shall strive to do the things that ,christ commands8 ,to any such inconsistent assumption1 the ,apostle ,john replies3 ,and hereby we do know that we know him1 if we keep his commandments4 ,he that saith1 ,i know him1 and keepeth not his commandments1 is a liar1 and the truth is not in him4 ,but whoso keepeth his word1 in him verily is the love of ,god perfected3 hereby know we that we are in him4 7#a ,john #b3c-e74 ,in a revelation through ,joseph ,smith in #ahbi the ,lord ,jesus ,christ gave this instruction and blessed promise3 ,ask the ,father in my name1 in faith believing that you shall receive1 and you shall have the ,holy ,ghost1 which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men4 7,d,c #ah3ah74 -- #ba -- ,,the ,,voice ,,of ,,john ,,the ,,baptist ,,again ,,heard ,repent ,ye1 for the ,kingdom of ,heaven is at ,hand ,,the personal ministry of ,jesus ,christ in the flesh was directly heralded by the preaching of ,john the ,baptist1 whose voice was that of one crying in the wilderness3 ,repent ye1 for the ,kingdom of ,heaven is at hand4 ,the proclamation of the appointed harbinger was vindicated by the appearance of the ,lord ,himself1 who came and opened the way of the ,kingdom of ,god to all who would enter therein4 ,in these modern days that same ,john1 now a resurrected personage1 has again officiated on earth4 ,in him was vested of old the authority of the ,priesthood of ,aaron4 ,on the #aeth of ,may1 #ahbi1 a heavenly messenger1 who declared himself to be ,john known as the ,baptist1 appeared in light and glory1 and1 laying his hands upon the heads of the modern prophet ,joseph ,smith and a companion in the ministry1 conferred upon them the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 saying3 ,upon you my fellow servants1 in the name of ,messiah ,i confer the ,priesthood of ,aaron1 which holds the keys of the ministering of angels1 and of the gospel of repentance1 and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins4 7,d,c1 ,sec4 #ac74 ,thus was fulfilled in part the vision prophecy of the ancient ,revelator1 that in the last days an angel would come1 having the everlasting ,gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth4 7,see ,rev4 #ad3f1 #g74 ,repentance1 which stands eternally established as an indispensable condition of salvation1 is today proclaimed anew under the authority of the restored ,priesthood1 and the call is to every nation1 kindred1 tongue1 and people4 ,the second advent of the ,christ is near1 and but little time remains to prepare for ,his coming1 which shall be in power and great glory1 to the accompaniment of the resurrection of the righteous dead1 the glorification of the worthy who are still in the flesh1 and the destruction of the wilfully and hopelessly wicked4 ,repentance1 as the ordained requirement whereby remission of sins may be attained1 consists essentially in a genuine sorrow for sin and comprises3 7#a7 a personal conviction of guilt2 7#b7 an earnest desire to secure foregiveness2 and 7#c7 a resolute determination to forsake sin and follow the path of righteous living4 ,the first step in the course of effective repentance consists in the acknowledgment or confession of sin before ,god2 the second in the sinner forgiving those who have sinned against him2 and the third in his acceptance of ,christ's atoning sacrifice as shown by a willingness to obey the further requirements embodied in the ,gospel of salvation4 #a4 ,without sincere confession of sin repentance is impossible4 ,the ,apostle ,john declared the solemn truth3 ,if we say that we have no sin1 we deceive ourselves1 and the truth is not in us4 ,if we confess our sins1 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins1 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness4 7#a ,john #a3h1 #i74 ,in this modern age the voice of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ has been heard to the same effect3 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,i1 the ,lord1 forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness1 who have not sinned unto death4 ,and further3 ,by this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins4 ,behold1 he will confess them and forsake them4 7,d,c #fd3g2 and #eh3dc74 #b4 ,the sinner must be willing to grant forgiveness to others if he would secure that boon to himself4 ,in teaching us how to pray1 the ,lord specified the condition on which forgiveness may rationally be asked3 ,forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors4 ,no hope of forgiveness is justified if in our hearts we are unforgiving1 ,for1 said the ,christ1 if ye forgive men their trespasses1 your heavenly ,father will also forgive you3 ,but if ye forgive not men their trespasses1 neither will your ,father forgive your trespasses4 7,matt4 #f3ad1 #ae74 ,through ,his revelations to the restored ,church in the current age1 the ,lord has emphasized this essential element of repentance3 ,wherefore ,i say unto you1 that ye ought to forgive one another1 for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses1 standeth condemned before the ,lord1 for there remaineth in him the greater sin4 ,i1 the ,lord1 will forgive whom ,i will forgive1 but of you it is required to forgive all men4 7,d,c #fd3i1 #aj74 #c4 ,contrite repentance will naturally lead the penitent to do all he can to make amends for past offenses1 and to comply with the conditions on which forgiveness is predicated4 ,and as he learns that baptism at the hands of one invested with ,divine authority is essential1 he will seek such a servant of ,god1 and humbly submit himself to the ordinance whereby citizenship in the ,kingdom of ,god may be established4 ,without repentance salvation is impossible4 ,the ,savior followed the ringing call of ,his forerunner with the command3 ,repent ye and believe the ,gospel 7,mark #a3ae74 ,so also taught the ,apostles of old1 that ,god commandeth all men everywhere to repent 7,acts #ag3cj74 ,and in the present dispensation the word of ,god has come through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith3 ,and we know that all men must repent and believe on the name of ,jesus ,christ1 and worship the ,father in his name1 and endure in faith on his name to the end1 or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of ,god4 7,d,c #bj3bi74 ,against the awful danger of procrastination1 whereby the ability to repent may be forfeited1 the ,book of ,mormon solemnly warns3 ,for behold1 this life is the time for men to prepare to meet ,god2 yea1 behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors1 4 4 4 ,for behold1 if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance1 even until death1 behold1 ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil1 and he doth seal you his2 therefore1 the ,spirit of the ,lord hath withdrawn from you1 and hath no place in you1 and the devil hath all power over you4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,alma #cd3cb1 #ce74 -- #bb -- ,,arise ,,and ,,wash ,,away ,,thy ,,sins ,the ,only ,way ,,we believe that the first principles and ordinances of the ,gospel are3 7#a7 ,faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 7#b7 ,repentance2 7#c7 ,baptism by immersion for the remission of sins2 7#d7 ,laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 7,articles of ,faith1 #d74 ,men and brethren1 what shall we do8 ,such was the eager1 anguished1 almost despairing cry of the humbled multitude who1 at the first ,pentecost following the crucifixion of ,christ1 were brought to a realization of their awful guilt through the inspired utterances of ,peter1 the presiding ,apostle4 ,what shall we do8 ,what can we do8 ,is hope yet open to us8 ,this is the wail of contritely penitent souls1 everywhere1 always4 ,when convicted of sin at the bar of his own conscience through genuine repentance1 when at last able to see himself in all the repulsive pollution of his transgression1 the self-accusing sinner yearns with fervid purpose to make all possible reparation and is zealous to learn and obey the conditions of forgiveness1 if such there be4 ,to every soul thus brought into the depths through the benign though afflicting influences of repentance1 to all who thus appeal for mercy and rescue1 the answer is direct and prompt3 ,repent1 and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ for the remission of sins1 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 7,see ,acts #b3cg-ci74 ,the promise of remission is as wide as the domain of sin2 for1 excepting those 7and be it said to our comfort that they are few7 who sink so far into the quagmire of iniquity as to be numbered among the sons of perdition1 to whom effective repentance is impossible1 all may be saved by compliance with the requirements set forth by the ,author of the plan of salvation4 ,the need of forgiveness is likewise universal2 for there is not a just man upon earth1 that doeth good1 and sinneth not 7,eccles4 #g3bj74 ,is it not reasonable1 and wholly in keeping with the ordinary ways of men in their mutual dealings1 that some substantial evidence shall be demanded to attest the genuineness of the repentance we voice in words8 ,is it enough that the debtor shall merely acknowledge his obligation and express regret that he has not heretofore been able to meet it8 ,he must do something more1 or he remains forever in debt4 ,the seal by which repentance is validated is ,baptism in water for the remission of sins2 for by this is the blood of ,jesus ,christ made effective to cleanse from sin4 7,see #a ,john #a3g74 ,the voice in the wilderness heralding the advent of the ,lord1 the proclamation that aroused ,jerusalem and reverberated throughout ,judea and ,galilee1 was the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins4 7,mark #a3d2 ,luke #c3c74 ,the cleansing ordinance was not to be administered indiscriminately1 however2 it was reserved for those who had brought forth fruits meet for repentance1 those whose profession of penitence was a true index to their contrite state4 ,saul of ,tarsus when rebuked for his ill-directed zeal in persecuting the ,lord's own1 exclaimed in agony3 ,what shall ,i do1 ,lord8 ,by the mouth of devout ,ananias came the answer3 ,arise1 and be baptized and wash away thy sins4 7,see ,acts #bb74 ,and ,saul1 thereafter known as ,paul1 a preacher of righteousness and an ,apostle of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 taught the saving doctrine that by baptism in water comes regeneration from sin4 ,pastors and prophets who ministered to the ancient fold of ,christ on the ,american continent led the people in the same path1 that of repentance and baptism by water1 the only way by which remission of sins could then or can ever be secured4 ,read for yourselves in the ,book of ,mormon1 which is verily the ,scripture of the ,western ,continent3 ,for the gate by which ye should enter1 is repentance1 and baptism by water2 and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire1 and by the ,holy ,ghost4 7#b ,nephi #ca3ag74 ,shew unto your ,god that ye are willing to repent of your sins1 and enter into a covenant with ,him to keep ,his commandments1 and witness it unto ,him this day1 by going into the waters of baptism4 7,alma #g3ae74 ,hear the words of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ through the prophet ,mormon3 ,turn1 all ye ,gentiles from your wicked ways1 and repent of your evil doings1 of your lyings and deceivings1 and of your whoredoms1 and of your secret abominations1 and your idolatries1 and of your murders1 and your priestcrafts1 and your envyings1 and your strifes1 and from all your wickedness and abominations1 and come unto me1 and be baptized in my name1 that ye may receive a remission of your sins1 and be filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 that ye may be numbered with my people1 who are of the house of ,israel4 7#c ,nephi #cj3b74 ,and further3 ,the first fruits of repentance is baptism2 and baptism cometh by faith1 unto the fulfilling the commandments2 and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins4 7,moroni #h3be74 ,to ,his commissioned servants in the current age1 the bearers of the ,holy ,priesthood again restored to earth1 the ,lord has given commandment that they proclaim anew to the world the same unchangeable truth1 that only through baptism is remission of sins promised4 ,thus we read3 ,but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the ,savior and remission of sins by baptism and by fire1 yea1 even the ,holy ,ghost4 7,d,c #ai3ca74 ,such is the immutable law of ,god throughout the ages4 ,there is no other way provided on earth or in heaven by which the merits of the ,atonement of ,jesus ,christ may bring salvation to mankind4 -- #bc -- ,,are ,,babes ,,to ,,be ,,damned8 ,a ,horrible ,misconception ,,that baptism is essential to individual salvation is a tenet of most ,christian churches4 ,but baptism is enjoined as an indispensable requisite to remission of sins1 and as the one and only gate of admission to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ or the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,faith in ,god and genuine repentance are prerequisites to effective baptism4 ,in all consistency and justice1 therefore1 baptism can be required of those only who are capable of exercising faith and of rendering repentance4 ,the undeveloped mind of a babe is incapable of conceiving sin1 of experiencing faith1 or of comprehending repentance4 ,why then should babes be baptized8 ,we search in vain for scriptural authority or sanction of the practise of infant baptism4 ,christ took little children into ,his arms and blessed them1 saying to those who would have kept the innocents from ,him ,suffer little children1 and forbid them not1 to come unto me3 for of such is the kingdom of heaven4 7,matt4 #ai3ad74 ,but ,he did not baptize them2 and1 as an early writer has tersely remarked3 ,from the action of ,christ's blessing infants1 to infer they are to be baptized1 proves nothing so much as that there is a want of better argument2 for the conclusion would with more probability be derived thus3 ,christ blessed infants1 and so dismissed them1 but baptized them not2 therefore infants are not to be baptized4 ,the unscriptural and repellent dogma of inherent degeneracy and the contaminating effect of original sin1 by which every child is born vile in the sight and judgment of ,god1 long cast its dark shadow over the minds of men4 ,from this conception sprang the practise of infant baptism and the perverted doctrine of assured damnation for all babes who die unbaptized4 ,even the most radical of churches has modified its teaching on this subject1 and today permits its members to believe that children who die without baptism pass to a state of partial happiness and content1 though forever denied the beatific vision of ,god4 ,it is conceded1 of course1 that no dictum1 dogma1 or doctrine of men can determine the fate of souls1 infant or adult1 in the hereafter2 nevertheless1 theologic precepts have direct effect upon the thoughts and lives of mankind4 ,it is cheering to know that practically all ,christendom today repudiates the frightful heresy of the eternal condemnation of babes who die without baptism4 ,hear now the word of ,mormonism on the matter and note the time of its enunciation4 ,in #ahcj the ,book of ,mormon was first published4 ,therein we read1 in an epistle of the ancient prophet ,mormon to his son ,moroni3 ,listen to the words of ,christ1 your ,redeemer1 your ,lord and your ,god4 ,behold1 ,i came into the world not to call the righteous1 but sinners to repentance3 the whole need no physician1 but they that are sick2 wherefore little children are whole1 for they are not capable of committing sin2 wherefore the curse of ,adam is taken from them in me1 that it hath no power over them2 and the law of circumcision is done away in me4 ,and after this manner did the ,holy ,ghost manifest the word of ,god unto me2 wherefore1 my beloved son1 ,i know that it is solemn mockery before ,god1 that ye should baptize little children4 ,behold ,i say unto you1 that this thing shall ye teach1 repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin2 yea1 teach parents that they must repent and be baptized1 and humble themselves as their little children1 and they shall all be saved with their little children4 ,and their little children need no repentance1 neither baptism4 ,behold1 baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins4 ,but little children are alive in ,christ1 even from the foundation of the world4 4 4 4 ,little children cannot repent2 wherefore it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of ,god unto them1 for they are all alive in him because of his mercy4 ,and he that saith1 that little children need baptism1 denieth the mercies of ,christ1 and setteth at nought the atonement of him and the power of his redemption4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,moroni #h3h-bj74 ,so proclaims the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints to the world today4 ,faith in ,god1 repentance of sin1 baptism by water and of the ,spirit1 are required of every soul that comes to years of accountability and powers of comprehension2 but without faith and repentance1 of which only understanding minds are capable1 baptism is but a perversion of the ,gospel ordinance4 ,the ,scriptures relating to baptism in all ages and of all peoples are in harmony as to the conditions essential to the proper reception of the saving rite4 ,in a revelation on ,church government given through ,joseph ,smith the ,prophet1 in ,april1 #ahcj1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ thus defined the status of acceptable candidates for baptism3 ,all those who humble themselves before ,god1 and desire to be baptized and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits1 and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins1 and are willing to take upon them the name of ,jesus ,christ1 having a determination to serve him to the end1 and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the ,spirit of ,christ unto the remission of their sins1 shall be received by baptism into ,his ,church4 7,d,c #bj3cg74 ,these conditions exclude all who have not reached the age and capacity of discretion and understanding2 and by specific commandment the ,lord has forbidden the ,church to administer baptism to others3 ,no one can be received into the ,church of ,christ1 unless he has arrived unto the years of accountability before ,god1 and is capable of repentance4 7,verse #ga74 ,by revelation the ,lord has designated eight years as the age at which children may be baptized into the ,church4 ,at an earlier age1 however1 children are to be brought to the elders of the ,church1 and be blessed by the laying on of hands in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 after the pattern set by the ,master in the course of ,his personal ministry4 -- #bd -- ,,the ,,watery ,,grave ,and the ,new ,birth ,,while our ,lord tarried at ,jerusalem following the first ,passover festival after the beginning of ,his public ministry1 there came unto ,him by night a certain ruler of the ,jews4 ,the visitor was of the ,pharisees and a member of the great ,sanhedrin1 or supreme council of the nation4 ,there is significance in the circumstance that ,nicodemus sought ,christ by night4 ,read ,john #c3a-ba4 ,we must credit the man with a genuine desire to learn of the doctrines taught by the newly recognized ,prophet from ,galilee1 whose fame was already widely spread2 but it appears that pride of station or fear of criticism led him to seek an interview under cover of darkness and privacy4 ,speaking for himself and probably for his official associates1 ,nicodemus thus addressed the ,savior3 ,rabbi1 we know that thou art a teacher come from ,god3 for no man can do these miracles that thou doest1 except ,god be with him4 ,without waiting for specific questions1 ,jesus answered and said unto him1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 ,except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 ,the learned ,jew expressed surprise1 if not incredulity4 ,how can a man be born when he is old8 he asked2 can he enter the second time into his mother's womb1 and be born8 ,even after further explanation of the plan provided for the salvation of mankind1 the eminent ,rabbi and ,sanhedrist exclaimed3 ,how can these things be8 ,our ,lord's reply must have been humbling if not humiliating to the man3 ,art thou a master of ,israel1 and knowest not these things8 ,the conditions of citizenship in the kingdom of ,god are so simple that even the unscholarly may understand and obey4 ,beyond question the second birth specified to ,nicodemus as so thoroughly indispensable that without it no man can ever see the kingdom of ,god is baptism by water1 and by the ministry of the ,spirit or the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the efficacy of baptism as a means of securing remission of sins and of attaining entrance to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 which is the kingdom of ,god1 lies in the fact that this is the ordinance prescribed by ,divine authority1 whereby the ,savior's atoning sacrifice may be made operative and effective4 ,salvation is not to be had for the mere asking2 it is nevertheless made accessible to all through faith and prescribed works4 ,simple as is the outward or physical process1 there is profound symbolism in the baptismal rite4 ,as seen1 ,christ compared it to a birth1 an entrance into a new world or state of being4 ,no such symbolism obtains in baptism except by complete immersion in water and a coming forth therefrom4 ,water baptism has also been very impressively compared to burial and resurrection2 and the comparison is meaningless except the baptism be by immersion followed by a rising from the watery grave4 ,paul evidently so knew1 as his words attest3 ,know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into ,jesus ,christ were baptized into his death8 ,therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death3 that like as ,christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the ,father1 even so we also should walk in newness of life4 ,for if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death1 we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection4 7,rom4 #f3c-e2 see also ,col4 #b3ab74 ,christ ,himself was baptized to fulfill all righteousness1 and ,his baptism at the hands of ,john was by immersion1 as is evidenced by the fact that ,he went up straightway out of the water4 ,have you read the story of the contrite ,ethiopian eunuch1 treasurer to ,queen ,candace8 ,after listening to ,philip's exposition of the ,scriptures1 as the two rode together1 the ,ethiopian desired baptism1 and1 ,philip consenting1 he commanded the chariot to stand still3 and they went down both into the water1 both ,philip and the eunuch2 and he baptized him4 ,and when they were come up out of the water1 the ,spirit of the ,lord caught away ,philip1 that the eunuch saw him no more2 and he went on his way rejoicing4 7,see ,acts #h3bf-ci74 ,did ,philip1 who was directed in this ministry by the angel of the ,lord1 err in administering baptism by immersion8 ,theologians are generally agreed that for centuries after the time of ,christ immersion was the only mode of authorized baptism2 and philologists testify that the very word baptize is derived from the ,greek verb meaning to immerse or bury4 ,the ,holy ,scriptures prescribe baptism by immersion as essential to salvation1 and none other form is validated by the ,word of ,god4 ,to the ,nephites on the ,western ,continent the resurrected ,lord appeared soon after ,his ascension from the ,mount of ,olives4 ,he gave the people explicit instructions as to the way in which the essential ordinance of baptism by immersion was to be administered4 ,baptism as prescribed by revelation in the present age is after the same pattern2 and every baptism administered in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is by immersion4 7,see ,d,c #bj3gb-gd74 -- #be -- ,,the ,,baptism ,,of ,,fire ,power of the ,spirit ,,we believe that the first principles and ordinances of the ,gospel are3--7#a7 ,faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 7#b7 ,repentance2 7#c7 ,baptism by immersion for the remission of sins2 7#d7 ,laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 7,articles of ,faith #d74 ,john the ,baptist proclaimed the necessity of repentance and of baptism by water1 which latter he administered to all who came in contrition seeking admission to the kingdom of ,god4 ,with equal fervency1 this voice crying in the wilderness foretold a second or higher baptism1 which1 however1 ,john was not authorized to give4 ,this he characterized as the baptism of fire and the ,holy ,ghost1 ordained to follow his administration1 and to be given by that ,mightier ,one1 whose preeminence ,john delighted to proclaim4 ,this was the ,baptist's testimony3 ,i indeed baptize you with water unto repentance3 but he that cometh after me is mightier than ,i1 whose shoes ,i am not worthy to bear3 he shall baptize you with the ,holy ,ghost1 and with fire4 7,matt4 #c3aa74 ,that the ,mightier ,one referred to was none other than ,jesus the ,christ is thus set forth in the words of ,john3 ,behold the ,lamb of ,god4 4 4 4 ,this is he of whom ,i said1 ,after me cometh a man which is preferred before me3 for he was before me4 4 4 4 ,and ,i knew him not3 but he that sent me to baptize with water1 the same said unto me1 ,upon whom thou shalt see the ,spirit descending1 and remaining on him1 the same is he which baptizeth with the ,holy ,ghost4 7,john #a3bi-cc74 ,in ,his incisive instructions to ,nicodemus respecting the works essential to salvation1 the ,savior did not stop with the specification of the watery birth4 ,baptism by immersion in water1 though administered by one invested with the power of the ,holy ,priesthood1 is incomplete without the quickening effect of the ,spirit4 ,born of water and of the ,spirit is the indispensable status of every man who shall gain admission to the kingdom of ,god4 ,while yet in the flesh our ,lord specifically and repeatedly assured the ,apostles that after ,his departure the ,comforter or the ,spirit of ,truth would be sent unto them2 and the scriptural context plainly shows that these expressive appellations have reference solely to the ,holy ,ghost4 ,amidst the solemnities of ,his ascension1 the ,lord reiterated these assurances of a spiritual baptism1 saying3 ,for ,john truly baptized with water2 but ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence4 7,acts #a3e74 ,a rich fulfilment was realized at the succeeding ,pentecost1 when the assembled ,apostles were endowed with unprecedented power from heaven1 being filled with the influence of the ,holy ,ghost so that they spake in tongues other than their own as the ,spirit gave them utterance4 ,an outward manifestation of this ,divine investiture was seen in the tongues of flame which rested upon them severally4 ,the ,lord's promise1 so miraculously fulfilled upon themselves1 was repeated by the ,apostles to those who sought their instruction4 ,conditioned upon their repentance and baptism in water1 ,peter assured the penitent ,jews that they should receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 7,acts #b3ch74 ,that the bestowal of the ,holy ,ghost is an ordinance requiring higher authority than that by which water baptism may be performed is evidenced by ,scripture4 ,philip--not the ,apostle ,philip1 but presumably one of the seven men who had been set apart for a lesser ministry 7,acts #f3c-f7--preached to the ,samaritans and baptized many4 ,plainly ,philip was empowered to administer water baptism2 and it is equally clear that an authority greater than his was requisite for the higher baptism of the ,spirit or the conferring of the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands4 ,to this the ,scriptures testify3 ,now when the apostles which were at ,jerusalem heard that ,samaria had received the word of ,god1 they sent unto them ,peter and ,john3 ,who1 when they were come down1 prayed for them1 that they might receive the ,holy ,ghost3 7,for as yet he was fallen upon none of them3 only they were baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus47 ,then laid they their hands on them1 and they received the ,holy ,ghost4 7,acts #h3ad-ag74 ,very illuminating is the instance of ,paul's ministry unto certain devout ,ephesians 7,acts #ai3a-g7 who professed to have been baptized unto ,john's baptism1 but who were plainly uninstructed as to the necessity of the baptism of the ,spirit4 ,it is probable that these men had submitted to immersion by unauthorized hands2 and therefore ,paul caused that they be baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,and when ,paul had laid his hands upon them1 the ,holy ,ghost came on them2 and they spake with tongues1 and prophesied4 ,to the ,twelve ,disciples who were ordained by the resurrected ,lord among the ,nephites on the ,american continent1 ,christ gave special power1 so that all baptized believers upon whom they would lay their hands should receive the ,holy ,ghost2 and thus is the assurance recorded3 ,yea1 blessed are they who shall believe in your words1 and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized1 for they shall be visited with fire and with the ,holy ,ghost1 and shall receive a remission of their sins4 7,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #ab3b2 see also ,moroni chap4 #b47 ,and in this modern day1 the authority of both the ,lesser or ,aaronic ,priesthood1 which is requisite to water baptism1 and of the ,higher or ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 without which the gift of the ,holy ,ghost cannot be authoritatively bestowed1 has been restored to earth1 through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,the ,elders of the ,church today are commanded to preach the ,gospel1 to baptize the penitent1 ,and to confirm those who are baptized into the church1 by the laying on of hands for the baptism of fire and the ,holy ,ghost1 according to the ,scriptures4 7,d,c #bj3da74 -- #bf -- ,,in ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,god1 ,,amen6 ,authority of the ,holy ,priesthood ,again ,operative on ,earth ,,we believe that a man must be called of ,god1 by prophecy1 and by the laying on of hands1 by those who are in authority1 to preach the ,gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof4 7,articles of ,faith ,no4 #e74 ,we have seen that certain ordinances1 prescribed by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 are indispensable to salvation4 ,without baptism by water and the conferment of the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of hands no man can enter the kingdom of ,god1 for so the ,lord hath affirmed and so the ,scriptures attest4 ,the outward form1 mode1 or operation in each of these sacred and far-reaching rites is notably simple4 ,so far as the physical procedure is concerned1 any man of ordinary ability may learn to perform the ceremony1 and that with a few minutes' oral instruction or reading4 ,the same may be said of many ordinances prescribed in human institutions4 ,one may readily commit to memory and learn to speak with due impressiveness the words by which a college degree is conferred upon the successful student1 the formula by which man and woman are united in the bonds of wedlock1 or the judicial pronouncement by which one prisoner is restored to liberty and another condemned4 ,but1 as everybody knows1 to make the utterance effective he who speaks must be invested with specific authority1 without which his presumption to officiate would be a punishable offense under the secular law4 ,are consistency and reason less to be considered in matters of ,divine administration than in the affairs of mortals8 ,healing ministry to the afflicted in the name of ,jesus ,christ is one of the gifts of the ,spirit implanted in the ,church4 ,the ,apostles of old so administered1 and with such effect that disease was stayed and evil spirits were rebuked4 ,certain vagabond ,jews once attempted to imitate ,paul in his authoritative functions1 and among them were the seven sons of ,sceva chief of the priests4 7,see ,acts #ai3aa-ah74 ,unto a suffering demoniac these evil and presumptuous men1 void of authority and power1 undertook to minister1 solemnly pronouncing the words3 ,we adjure you by ,jesus1 and then1 as if to put beyond question the ,name in which they blasphemously essayed to speak1 added whom ,paul preacheth4 ,but the demon in the man laughed them to scorn1 and cried aloud in derision3 ,jesus ,i know1 and ,paul ,i know2 but who are ye8 ,the ,apostles who were with the ,lord in the flesh had been ordained by ,him to the ,holy ,priesthood2 and ,paul who was later called into the ministry was ordained by the laying on of hands of those in authority4 7,acts #ac3b-d74 ,even the evil spirits acknowledged their authority1 as earlier the demons had acclaimed the ,christ ,jesus1 thou ,son of the ,most ,high ,god4 7,see ,mark #e3g74 ,but for the vagabond pretenders there was contempt and humiliation4 ,and what of the impressive lesson taught by the experience of ,simon the sorcerer8 7,see ,acts #h3ah-bd74 ,he marveled at the power demonstrated through the ,apostles2 for to the baptized believers upon whom they laid their hands came the ,holy ,ghost with manifestations of spiritual endowment4 ,his mind1 heart and motive darkened by sin1 ,simon sought to buy with money the power that only the call of ,god could impart3 ,but ,peter said unto him1 ,thy money perish with thee1 because thou hast thought that the gift of ,god may be purchased with money4 ,thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter3 for thy heart is not right in the sight of ,god4 ,repent therefore of this thy wickedness1 and pray ,god1 if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee4 ,for ,i perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness1 and in the bond of iniquity4 7,acts #h3bj-bc74 ,far surpassing anything and all that man can bestow is the authority to preach the ,word of ,god and administer ,divine ordinances through the investiture of the ,holy ,priesthood4 ,while ,israel lived under the ,law1 bereft of the fulness of spiritual light such as the ,gospel alone can give1 ,jehovah repeatedly manifested ,his righteous jealousy or zeal in behalf of ,his appointed servants and against all who pretended to arrogate authority unto themselves4 ,read the story of wicked ,korah and his associates in their attempt to minister in the priest's office 7,numbers #af72 consider the rejection of ,saul1 king of ,israel1 who offended by undertaking to discharge the functions of the ,lord's prophet 7#a ,sam4 #ac3h-ad74 ,and think of ,uzziah1 king of ,judah1 who died an outcast and a leper1 through the visitation of punishment for having presumed to officiate without priestly ordination4 7#b ,chron4 #bf74 ,in the establishment of ,his ,church among the ancient ,americans1 the ,lord was specific in conferring upon certain men the authority to baptize1 to lay on hands for the giving of the ,holy ,ghost1 administer the sacrament of bread and wine1 and otherwise to officiate in the ordinances pertaining to the ,holy ,priesthood4 ,by personal ordination the ,lord invested ,his chosen representatives to minister in ,his ,name4 7,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #aa3ba1 #bb2 #ab3 #a1 #b2 #ah3e74 ,so also1 in the present age1 authority to minister in the saving ordinances of the ,gospel must be given of ,god1 not assumed by man4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints proclaims to the world that the ,holy ,priesthood1 which is the appointment and authority to officiate in the name of ,god1 has been restored to the earth in modern days1 through direct dispensation from the heavens by angelic ministry to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,the imperative urgency of the call is thus set forth in current revelation3 ,and the voice of warning shall be unto all people1 by the mouths of my disciples1 whom ,i have chosen in these last days4 ,and they shall go forth and none shall stay them1 for ,i the ,lord have commanded them4 4 4 4 ,wherefore the voice of the ,lord is unto the ends of the earth1 that all that will hear may hear3 ,prepare ye1 prepare ye for that which is to come1 for the ,lord is nigh4 4 4 4 ,for ,i the ,lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance4 ,nevertheless1 he that repents and does the commandments of the ,lord shall be forgiven4 7,d,c #a74 -- #bg -- ,,for ,,time ,,only ,,or ,,for ,,eternity ,human ,institutions and ,divine ,authority4 ,,organization is essential to human advancement4 ,the ,divine affirmation that it is not good for man to be alone may be applied not only to the union of the sexes in honorable marriage1 upon which the perpetuity of the race depends1 but also to the association of humankind in community life1 without which cooperation is impossible and the achievements of united purpose would be unknown4 ,it is natural and necessary that men shall establish and maintain institutions for community betterment4 ,the constitution of every liberal government recognizes the right of individuals to associate themselves in any organization having worthy purpose1 in harmony with the spirit of law and order1 and not interfering with the rights and privileges of non-members4 ,thus1 men may institute societies1 associations1 and clubs1 guilds1 fraternities1 and orders4 ,they may designate their organization as a church if they choose1 and may enact rules prescribing conditions of admission1 and providing for the administration of the institution's affairs4 ,they may go so far as to say that no man shall be admitted to the church thus created except he be baptized by immersion in water by one of the officials1 and that the seal of membership shall be the pronouncing of a formula accompanied by the laying on of hands4 ,but who of us would hazard his reputation as a rational being by asserting or even believing that such baptism1 administered by an authority created by man1 can be of effect in assuring remission of sins1 or that it shall be recognized as efficacious by the powers of ,heaven8 ,churches1 societies1 or other associations1 established on purely human initiative are institutions of men2 they can never be aught else4 ,it is in line with consistency that such organizations bear the names of men1 or that they be known by some appellation expressive of their origin1 their constitution1 their peculiarities of government1 their location1 or some other distinguishing feature4 ,could it be counted less than sacrilege to attach the name of ,deity to a church called into being in the manner we have assumed8 ,the ,church of the apostolic epoch was the organization that ,christ had established4 ,he very expressively called it ,my ,church 7,matt4 #af3ah72 and after ,his departure1 every ordinance therein was administered in the name of ,jesus ,christ4 ,by ,divine assurance those ordinances were of effect1 not only on earth but in ,heaven1 not alone for time1 but for eternity4 ,of man-made institutions1 of artificial growths though bearing the titles of churchly cults1 the ,lord emphatically declared3 ,every plant1 which my heavenly ,father hath not planted1 shall be rooted up4 7,matt4 #ae3ac74 ,in the course of ,his ministrations on the ,western ,continent1 ,jesus ,christ established ,his ,church1 and thus answered certain inquiries as to the name by which that ,church should be called3 ,whatsoever ye shall do1 ye shall do it in my name2 therefore ye shall call the church in my name2 and ye shall call upon the ,father in my name1 that he will bless the church for my sake4 ,and how be it my church1 save it be called in my name8 ,for if a church be called in ,moses' name1 then it be ,moses' church2 or if it be called in the name of a man1 then it be the church of a man2 but if it be called in my name1 then it is my church1 if it so be that they are built upon my gospel4 7,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #bg3g1 #h47 ,the acts of a public official1 whether of local or national status1 are effective only within the limits of the jurisdiction he represents4 ,city ordinances can be enforced within the boundaries of the municipality1 but not beyond4 ,state legislatures are powerless to enact laws for interstate regulation4 ,congress is limited in specific jurisdiction to the national domain4 ,yet1 in the face of these fundamental facts1 there are men who assume that it is within their province to legislate in spiritual affairs1 and to alter1 annul1 or supersede by their own enactments1 the laws established by ,divine authority relating to membership in the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,in the current age the ,lord has established ,his ,church upon the earth1 and has made plain the portentous fact that while honorable obligations1 agreements1 and contracts among men may be valid under human laws1 ,he is in no way bound by such exercise of mortal agency as conditioning the future of the soul after death4 ,ponder these declarations of ,jesus ,christ1 given to ,his ,church in #ahdc3 ,all covenants1 contracts1 bonds1 obligations1 oaths1 vows1 performances1 connections1 associations1 or expectations1 that are not made1 and entered into1 and sealed1 by the ,holy ,spirit of promise1 of him who is anointed1 both as well for time and for all eternity1 4 4 44 are of no efficacy1 virtue or force1 in and after the resurrection from the dead2 for all contracts that are not made unto this end1 have an end when men are dead4 4 4 44,and everything that is in the world1 whether it be ordained of men1 by thrones1 or principalities1 or powers1 or things of name1 whatsoever they may be1 that are not by me1 or by my word1 saith the ,lord1 shall be thrown down1 and shall not remain after men are dead1 neither in nor after the resurrection1 saith the ,lord your ,god4 7,d,c #acb3e-ac74 -- #bh -- ,,apostles ,,and ,,prophets ,,necessary ,the ,primitive ,church and the ,church of ,latter ,days ,,we believe in the same organization that existed in the ,primitive ,church1 viz43 apostles1 prophets1 pastors1 teachers1 evangelists1 etc4 7,articles of ,faith1 ,no4 #f74 ,most people who profess belief in ,christianity accept as a scriptural fact the establishment of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 through the ,lord's personal ministry1 in the early days of what we call the ,christian ,era1 the period that has been expressively designated the meridian of time4 ,during the many centuries between the days of ,moses and the advent of ,christ in the flesh1 ,israel had lived under the ,law1 between which and the ,gospel a clear distinction is drawn in ,scripture4 ,paul's explicit segregation of the two is cogent1 and ample for illustration3 ,but before faith came1 we were kept under the law1 shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed4 ,wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto ,christ1 that we might be justified by faith4 ,but after that faith is come1 we are no longer under a schoolmaster4 ,for ye are all the children of ,god by faith in ,christ ,jesus4 7,gal4 #c3bc-bf74 ,the ,law of ,moses1 the schoolmaster's administration which was constituted for the discipline of a people unprepared to receive the higher tutoring of the ,gospel1 was fulfilled and therefore abrogated as a formal and obligatory system through the earthly ministry of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,while this fulfilment is evidenced by the whole tenor of ,new ,testament ,scripture1 a most direct and concise declaration may be quoted with profit from the ,nephite ,scriptures1 recorded by holy men who officiated under ,divine commission on the ,american continent throughout a period of approximately six centuries before and four centuries after the birth of ,christ4 ,the prophet ,nephi who was living at the time of our ,lord's death1 resurrection1 and ascension1 incorporates in his record the words of the ,resurrected ,savior as follows3 ,behold ,i say unto you1 that the law is fulfilled that was given unto ,moses4 ,behold1 ,i am he that gave the law1 and ,i am he who covenanted with my people ,israel3 therefore1 the law in me is fulfilled1 for ,i have come to fulfil the law2 therefore it hath an end4 ,behold1 ,i do not destroy the prophets1 for as many as have not been fulfilled in me1 verily ,i say unto you1 shall all be fulfilled4 7,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #ae3d-f74 ,a studious reading of the four ,gospels demonstrates that while our ,lord recognized the ,jewish hierarchy as administrators of an existing system of government1 and complied with all lawful requirements thereof as such applied to ,himself1 ,he proclaimed the ,gospel of the ,kingdom in place of the ,mosaic ,law1 and ordained men to a higher ,priesthood than that of ,aaron under which the priests of the ,jews claimed to operate4 ,he commissioned the ,twelve ,apostles 7,matt4 #aj3a2 ,mark #c3ad2 ,luke #f3ac71 and afterward the ,seventy 7,luke #aj3a74 ,unto the eleven ,apostles who had remained faithful the ,lord gave the parting instruction1 shortly before ,his ascension3 ,go ye into all the world1 and preach the ,gospel to every creature4 ,the ,apostles labored with devoted energy1 ,and they went forth1 and preached every where1 the ,lord working with them1 and confirming the word with signs following4 7,see ,mark #af3ae-bj74 ,the ,apostles clearly understood that though the ,master had passed from earth ,he had left with them authority and commandment to build up the ,church as an established organization4 ,one of their early official acts was to fill the vacancy in their own body1 which had been created by the apostasy and death of ,judas ,iscariot4 ,it is evident that they considered the apostolic body to comprise twelve members and that the needs of the ,church required the organization to be made complete4 ,by official action ,matthias was added to the eleven4 7,see ,acts #a3ba-bf74 ,under the administration of the ,apostles and others who officiated by their direction in positions of lesser authority1 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ grew in membership and influence4 ,for ten years or more following our ,lord's ascension1 ,jerusalem was the headquarters of the ,church1 but branches were established in the outlying provinces1 and these branches1 or local churches1 were officered by bishops1 deacons1 and other ministers1 who were chosen and ordained by apostolic authority4 ,we find1 operating in their sacred callings in the ,primitive ,church1 apostles1 prophets1 evangelists1 pastors1 teachers1 elders1 bishops1 priests and deacons4 ,the purpose of these several offices is declared to be ,for the perfecting of the saints1 for the work of the ministry1 for the edifying of the body of ,christ4 7,eph4 #d3ab74 ,every office so established is necessary to the development of the ,church1 which has been aptly compared to a perfect body with its several members1 each adapted to particular function and all coordinated for the common good4 ,in an organization planned and established through ,divine wisdom1 there are neither superfluities nor parts wanting4 ,eye1 ear1 hand1 and foot1 each is essential to the symmetry and physical perfection of the body2 in the ,church no one in authority can rightly say to his fellow3 ,i have no need of thee4 7,see #a ,cor4 #ab3ab-ba74 ,the ,primitive ,church was of comparatively short duration4 ,the world fell into spiritual darkness1 and a restoration of power and commission from the ,heavens became necessary to the reestablishment of the ,church with its ancient blessings and privileges4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints proclaims the imperative need of the same organization that existed in the ,primitive ,church1 and solemnly avers that through the ministration of heavenly beings the ,church of ,jesus ,christ is restored to earth1 for the salvation of mankind both living and dead4 -- #bi -- ,,when ,,darkness ,,covered ,,the ,,earth ,the ,long ,night of ,apostasy ,,we accept as fact the belief common to ,christendom that the ,church of ,christ was established under our ,lord's personal direction and that during the early period of apostolic administration the ,church was blessed with rapid growth and marvelous development4 ,a question of profound importance confronts us3 ,has the ,church of ,jesus ,christ maintained an organized existence upon the earth from the apostolic age to the present8 ,we affirm that with the passing of the apostolic period the ,church drifted into a condition of apostasy1 whereby succession in the ,holy ,priesthood was broken2 and that the ,church as an earthly organization operating under ,divine direction and having authority to officiate in spiritual ordinances ceased to exist among men4 #a ,we affirm that this great apostasy1 whereby the world was enshrouded in spiritual darkness1 was foretold by the ,savior ,himself while ,he lived as a ,man among men1 and by ,his prophets both before and after the period of ,his life in mortality4 ,the apostolic ministry continued in the ,primitive ,church for about sixty years after the death of ,christ1 or nearly to the end of the first century of the ,christian ,era4 ,for some time thereafter the ,church existed as a unified body1 officered by men duly invested by ordination in the ,holy ,priesthood1 though1 even during the lifetime of some of the ,apostles1 the leaven of apostasy and disintegration had been working4 ,indeed1 hardly had the ,gospel seed been sown before the enemy of all righteousness had started assiduously to sow tares in the field2 and so intimate was the growth of the two that any forcible attempt to extirpate the tares would have imperiled the wheat4 ,the evidences of spiritual decline were observed with anguish by the ,apostles who1 however1 recognized the fulfilment of earlier prophecy in the declension1 and added their own inspired testimony to the effect that even a greater falling away was imminent4 ,the apostasy progressed rapidly1 in consequence of a cooperation of disrupting forces without and within the ,church4 ,the dreadful persecution to which the early ,christians were subjected drove great numbers of ,christians to renounce their allegiance to ,christianity1 thus causing a widespread apostasy from the ,church4 ,but far more destructive was the contagion of evil that spread within the body1 manifesting its effects mainly in the following developments3 7#a7 ,the corrupting of the simple principles of the ,gospel of ,christ by admixture with the so-called philosophical systems of the times4 7#b7 ,unauthorized additions to the rites of the ,church1 and the introduction of vital changes in essential ordinances4 7#c7 ,unauthorized changes in ,church organization and government4 ,the result of the degeneracy so produced was to bring about an actual apostasy of the entire ,church4 ,the ,apostasy ,predicted ,isaiah beheld in vision the condition of mankind during the darkness of the spiritual night2 and he pictures the earth as languishing in desolation3 ,the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof2 because they have transgressed the laws1 changed the ordinance1 broken the everlasting covenant4 7,isa4 #bd3a-f74 ,that the general transgression meant something more than a violation of ,mosaic statutes is evident from the fact that nowhere in ,scripture is the ,law of ,moses called an everlasting covenant1 but to the contrary1 the covenant of the ,gospel is clearly differentiated from the ,law4 ,the prophet ,amos foresaw the time of famine and thirst1 the day of futile search for the ,word of ,god4 ,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,lord ,god1 that ,i will send a famine in the land1 not a famine of bread1 nor a thirst for water1 but of hearing the words of the ,lord3 ,and they shall wander from sea to sea1 and from the north even to the east1 they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the ,lord1 and shall not find it4 7,amos #h3aa-ab74 ,christ specifically warned the disciples against the impending departure from the truth3 ,take heed that no man deceive you said ,he1 ,for many shall come in my name1 saying1 ,i am ,christ1 and shall deceive many4 7,matt4 #bd3d1 #e74 ,and further3 ,then if any man shall say unto you1 ,lo1 here is ,christ1 or there2 believe it not4 ,for there shall arise false ,christs1 and false prophets1 and shall shew great signs and wonders2 insomuch that1 if it were possible1 they shall deceive the very elect4 ,behold1 ,i have told you before4 ,wherefore if they shall say unto you1 ,behold1 he is in the desert2 go not forth3 behold1 he is in the secret chambers2 believe it not4 7,verses #bc-bf74 ,the ,apostles bore warning testimony to the same awful certainty4 ,paul admonished the elders at ,ephesus to be on their guard against the wolves that would invade the fold1 and against false teachers who would assert themselves speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them4 7,see ,acts #bj3bh-cj74 ,the same ,apostle thus wrote to ,timothy3 ,now the ,spirit speaketh expressly1 that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith1 giving heed to seducing spirits1 and doctrines of devils2 ,speaking lies in hypocrisy2 having their conscience seared with a hot iron4 7#a ,tim4 #d3a1 #b2 see also #b ,tim4 #d3a-d2 and #b ,thess4 #b3c1 #d74 ,peter prophesied1 in language so plain that all may comprehend1 of the heresies that would be preached as doctrine3 ,but there were false prophets also among the people1 even as there shall be false teachers among you1 who privily shall bring in damnable heresies1 even denying the ,lord that bought them1 and bring upon themselves swift destruction4 ,and many shall follow their pernicious ways2 by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of4 7#b ,peter #b3a1 #b74 ,john the ,revelator expressly predicted the restoration of the ,gospel 7,rev4 #ad3f1 #g72 and such restoration would be impossible had not the ,gospel been taken from the earth4 ,book of ,mormon ,scriptures foretold in plainness the great falling away and the subsequent restoration of the ,gospel of ,christ4 7,see #a ,nephi #ac3 #e-i2 #c ,nephi #af3g74 ,the ,apostasy ,affirmed ,the apostate condition of ,christendom has been recognized and affirmed by high ecclesiastical authority4 ,let a single citation suffice4 ,the ,church of ,england thus proclaims the fact of degeneracy1 as set forth in her ,homily against ,peril of ,idolatry1 published about the middle of the sixteenth century and retained to this day as an official declaration3 ,so that laity and clergy1 learned and unlearned1 all ages1 sects1 and degrees of men1 women1 and children of whole ,christendom--an horrible and most dreadful thing to think--have been at once drowned in abominable idolatry2 of all other vices most detested of ,god1 and most damnable to man2 and that by the space of eight hundred years and more4 ,by revelation through ,joseph ,smith the prophet the ,lord thus confirmed the predictions of ,his ancient servants with respect to the apostasy of mankind3 ,for they have strayed from mine ordinances1 and have broken mine everlasting covenant4 ,they seek not the ,lord to establish his righteousness1 but every man walketh in his own way1 and after the image of his own ,god1 whose image is in the likeness of the world1 and whose substance is that of an idol4 7,d,c #a3ae1 #af74 ,the universal apostasy has been succeeded by the restoration of the ,gospel1 of which blessed truth the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints bears testimony to the world4 ,footnotes #a4 ,see the author's ,the ,great ,apostasy1 #agj pp41 ,the ,deseret ,news1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah4 -- #cj -- ,,the ,,morning ,,breaks1 ,,the ,,shadows ,,flee ,light of the ,gospel ,again ,shines ,,we believe in the same organization that existed in the ,primitive ,church1 viz43 apostles1 prophets1 pastors1 teachers1 evangelists1 etc4 7,articles of ,faith1 ,no4 #f74 ,as one of the signs whereby men may know when the ,lord's coming is near1 ,christ specified this feature of the latter times3 ,and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations2 and then shall the end come4 7,matt4 #bd3ad74 ,as this follows in immediate sequence to our ,lord's prediction of the general apostasy1 incident to which false prophets would arise1 iniquity abound1 and love for the truth wax cold1 an actual restoration of the ,gospel had to occur1 or the ,savior's words recorded in the #bdth chapter of ,matthew would be inconsistent and their fulfilment impossible4 ,the ,revelator ,john was shown the scenes of the days immediately before the latter-day advent of the ,christ4 ,in recording the vision as then already past he wrote3 ,and ,i saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting ,gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth1 and to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 ,saying with a loud voice1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him2 for the hour of his judgment is come3 and worship him that made heaven1 and earth1 and the sea1 and the fountains of waters4 7,rev4 #ad3f1 #g74 ,if an angel was to come to earth1 bringing the ,gospel1 the fact is plain that the ,gospel could not be at that time upon the earth4 ,the ,gospel1 which the angel would bring1 was to be preached to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people2 and this in strict and logical consistency with the ,lord's personal prophecy quoted above1 that one of the distinguishing signs of the last days was that the ,gospel of the kingdom1 this ,gospel1 that is to say1 the ,gospel that ,he had proclaimed1 would be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations4 ,but1 many have asked1 had we not the ,gospel8 ,the ,holy ,bible1 which is the scriptural repository of the ,gospel record has been among men from the time of its earliest compilation2 why then the necessity of a restoration8 ,yes1 we had the ,bible2 but the ,gospel is something other and greater than a book4 ,the ,holy ,scriptures1 invaluable and sacred though they be1 profess to be only the letter of the ,gospel4 ,is it reasonable to assume that the mere possession of a ,bible1 or even a perfect memorization of its contents1 could give to man the authority to administer the ordinances prescribed therein8 ,it is quite as plausible to say that if one owns a copy of the statutes of his state or nation and learns therefrom the duties of sheriff1 judge1 governor or president1 the knowledge thus acquired would be authority for him to administer in the respective offices4 ,statutes are not self-operative4 ,the ,holy ,scriptures define and prescribe certain administrative ordinances1 such as water baptism and the laying on of hands for the bestowal of the ,holy ,ghost1 which ordinances1 unless the ,lord ,christ spoke fable and falsehood1 are indispensable to individual salvation4 ,but the right and authority to administer those essential and saving ordinances cannot be arrogated to one's self by ever so intensive a study of the scriptural record4 ,the angel seen by the ,revelator1 in vision of the then distant future1 was to bring to earth not the bare record and letter of requirement as to baptism and other rites1 for this the world already would have1 in part at least2 but he was to restore to earth the ,divine commission1 the actual appointment and authority to officiate in those sacred and saving ordinances1 in short the power of the ,holy ,priesthood1 which the world would not at that time possess4 ,we affirm that on the #aeth of ,may1 #ahbi1 a heavenly messenger appeared on the earth in light and glory1 and1 laying his hands upon the heads of ,joseph ,smith and an associate in the ministry1 ,oliver ,cowdery1 conferred upon them the ,lesser or ,aaronic ,priesthood1 saying3 ,upon you my fellow servants1 in the name of ,messiah1 ,i confer the ,priesthood of ,aaron1 which holds the keys of the ministering of angels1 and of the gospel of repentance1 and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins2 and this shall never be taken again from the earth1 until the sons of ,levi do offer again an offering unto the ,lord in righteousness4 7,d,c1 ,sec4 #ac74 ,the personage who thus appeared and officiated as an angel of light announced himself as ,john1 known of old as the ,baptist1 and stated that he acted under instructions from the ,apostles ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john1 who held the presidency of the ,higher or ,melchizedek ,priesthood in the earlier ,gospel dispensation4 ,later1 ,joseph ,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery were visited by the presiding ,apostles of old1 ,peter1 ,james and ,john1 who ordained them to the ,priesthood after the order of ,melchizedek1 which comprises the fulness of authority operative in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ4 ,in accordance with this high commission the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints has been established2 and presents to the world today the same organization that existed in the ,primitive ,church1 viz43 apostles1 prophets1 pastors1 teachers1 evangelists1 etc4 ,come ye and share the priceless blessings of the restored ,gospel1 for verily1 the darkness of the long night of apostasy has been dispelled1 and the spiritual light of heaven again illumines the earth4 ,the morning breaks1 the shadows flee2 ,lo6 ,zion's standard is unfurled4 ,the dawning of a brighter day ,majestic rises on the world4 -- #ca -- ,,the ,,beginning ,,of ,,the ,,end ,ushering in of the ,last ,dispensation ,,the inauguration of the last or current dispensation of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 which is verily the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times1 was in this wise4 ,in the year #ahbj there lived at ,manchester1 ,n4 ,y41 ,joseph ,smith ,jr4 then in his fifteenth year1 the third son in a respected and pious family4 ,at the time of which we speak great excitement with much sectarian rivalry was manifest in religious matters1 and the boy ,joseph was seriously concerned as to which of the contending sects was the true ,church of ,christ2 for it was plain that all could not be right4 ,let us read the account written by himself4 ,during this time of great excitement1 my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness2 but though my feelings were deep and often poignant1 still ,i kept myself aloof from all these parties1 though ,i attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit4 ,in process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the ,methodist sect1 and ,i felt some desire to be united with them2 but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations1 that it was impossible for a person young as ,i was1 and so unacquainted with men and things1 to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong4 ,my mind at times was greatly excited1 the cry and tumult were so great and incessant4 ,the ,presbyterians were most decided against the ,baptists and ,methodists1 and used all the powers of either reason or sophistry to prove their errors1 or1 at least1 to make the people think they were in error4 ,on the other hand1 the ,baptists and ,methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others4 ,in the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions1 ,i often said to myself1 ,what is to be done8 ,who of all these parties are right2 or1 are they all wrong together8 ,if any one of them be right1 which is it1 and how shall ,i know it8 ,while ,i was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contest of these parties of religionists1 ,i was one day reading the ,epistle of ,james1 first chapter and fifth verse1 which reads3 ,if any of you lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1 that giveth to all men liberally1 and upbraideth not2 and it shall be given him4 ,never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine4 4 4 4 ,at length ,i came to the conclusion that ,i must either remain in darkness and confusion1 or else ,i must do as ,james directs1 that is1 ask of ,god4 ,i at length came to the determination to ask of ,god1 concluding that if ,he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom1 and would give liberally1 and not upbraid1 ,i might venture4 4 4 4 ,after ,i had retired to the place where ,i had previously designed to go1 having looked around me1 and finding myself alone1 ,i kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to ,god4 ,i had scarcely done so1 when immediately ,i was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me1 and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that ,i could not speak4 ,thick darkness gathered around me1 and it seemed to me for a time as if ,i were doomed to sudden destruction4 ,but1 exerting all my powers to call upon ,god to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me1 and at the very moment when ,i was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction--not to an imaginary ruin1 but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world1 who had such marvelous power as ,i had never before felt in any being--just at this moment of great alarm1 ,i saw a pillar of light exactly over my head1 above the brightness of the sun1 which descended gradually until it fell upon me4 ,it no sooner appeared than ,i found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound4 ,when the light rested upon me ,i saw two ,personages1 whose brightness and glory defy all description1 standing above me in the air4 ,one of them spake unto me1 calling me by name1 and said1 pointing to the other--,this is my beloved ,son1 hear ,him6 ,my object in going to inquire of the ,lord was to know which of all the sects was right1 that ,i might know which to join4 ,no sooner1 therefore1 did ,i get possession of myself1 so as to be able to speak1 than ,i asked the ,personages who stood above me in the light1 which of all the sects was right--and which ,i should join4 ,i was answered that ,i must join none of them1 for they were all wrong2 and the ,personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in ,his sight2 that those professors were all corrupt2 that 'they draw near to me with their lips1 but their hearts are far from me2 they teach for doctrines the commandments of men1 having a form of godliness1 but they deny the power thereof4' 7,see ,pearl of ,great ,price1 pp4 #hc-he74 ,thus ended the long night of spiritual darkness in which man had groped for centuries4 ,thus was begun the dispensation of which the ancient prophets had spoken1 in preparation for the coming of the ,christ to reign on earth as ,lord and ,king4 ,this glorious and unprecedented manifestation of the ,father and the ,son to a mortal was followed in later years by visitations of angelic personages through whom the ,holy ,priesthood was again restored to earth1 and under whose direction the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints was established in ,april1 #ahcj4 ,joseph ,smith was a prophet of the living ,god4 ,his testimony is before the world4 ,the saving ordinances of the ,gospel are again administered under ,divine authority1 and the means of salvation are offered freely to all mankind4 -- #cb -- ,a ,,god ,,of ,,miracles ,wonders ,wrought by ,devils ,,we believe in the gift of tongues1 prophecy1 revelation1 visions1 healing1 interpretation of tongues1 etc4 7,articles of ,faith1 ,no4 #g74 ,the personal ministry of ,jesus ,christ in the flesh was characterized by many mighty works--signs1 wonders1 miracles1 as they are severally called4 ,the ,apostles who labored to build up the ,church after the ,master's departure attested the divinity of their calling and priesthood by manifestations of power surpassing the ordinary attributes of mortals4 ,thus1 these holy men were endowed with the ennobling gifts of the ,spirit1 which have been inherent in the ,church of ,christ in all ages4 ,multitudes have been troubled by the disquieting query as to why the gifts of prophecy1 visions1 revelation1 healing1 and the power to speak in diverse tongues are not apparent in the sectarian churches of modern times1 and have found partial satisfaction in the assumption1 unfounded and unscriptural though it be1 that all such gifts and graces ceased with the passing of apostolic days and are not required as testimonies of the ,spirit in a more enlightened age4 ,that these spiritual gifts did cease as the apostasy of the ,primitive ,church progressed is doubtless true2 but that the cause of the cessation was anything else than transgression by which the apostasy was brought about is unsupported by ,scripture4 ,in ,his parting commission to the ,apostles1 the ,resurrected ,christ gave this combined command and promise3 ,go ye into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that believeth not shall be damned4 ,and these signs shall follow them that believe2 ,in my name shall they cast out devils2 they shall speak with new tongues2 ,they shall take up serpents2 and if they drink any deadly thing1 it shall not hurt them2 they shall lay hands on the sick1 and they shall recover4 7,mark #af3ae-ah74 ,it is evident that the several gifts of the ,spirit are the products of faith in ,god and obedience to ,his commandments4 ,that these manifestations are brought about through the power of the ,holy ,priesthood and are characteristic thereof is set forth in ,paul's teachings3 ,and ,god hath set some in the church1 first apostles1 secondarily prophets1 thirdly teachers1 after that miracles1 then gifts of healings1 helps1 governments1 diversities of tongues4 7#a ,cor4 #ab3bh74 ,mormon1 a prophet who ministered on the ,american continent in the latter part of the fourth century1 solemnly declared that miracles will not cease in the ,church so long as there shall be a man upon the earth to be saved3 ,for it is by faith that miracles are wrought2 and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men2 wherefore if these things have ceased1 wo be unto the children of men1 for it is because of unbelief1 and all is vain4 7,moroni #g3cg74 ,mark his inspired words addressed to those who deny the revelations of ,god1 and say that they are done away1 that there are no revelations1 nor prophecies1 nor gifts1 nor healing1 nor speaking with tongues1 and the interpretation of tongues4 ,behold ,i say unto you1 he that denieth these things1 knoweth not the gospel of ,christ2 yea1 he has not read the scriptures2 if so1 he does not understand them4 ,for do we not read that ,god is the same yesterday1 today1 and for ever2 and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing8 ,and now1 if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary1 and in him there is shadow of changing1 then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a ,god of miracles4 ,but behold1 ,i will shew unto you a ,god of miracles1 even the ,god of ,abraham1 and the ,god of ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob2 and it is that same ,god who created the heavens and the earth1 and all things that in them are4 7,moroni #i3g-aa74 ,miracles are not promised save to those who believe and obey as the ,lord hath commanded4 ,however marvelous they may be as gaged by physical standards1 the gifts of the ,spirit appeal to the unbelieving and carnal mind only as unusual and curious phenomena2 while to the man of faith they testify of the power and purposes of ,god4 ,many people followed ,jesus about through morbid curiosity1 clamoring to see some strange thing wrought2 and degenerate ,herod ,antipas1 before whom our ,lord was brought in bonds1 was interested and amused1 because he hoped to have seen some miracle done by ,him4 7,luke #bc3h47 ,through a revelation to the ,church in #ahca the ,lord ,jesus ,christ gave this solemn admonishment against the craving for spiritual gifts to gratify curiosity4 ,wherefore1 beware lest ye are deceived2 and that ye may not be deceived1 seek ye earnestly the best gifts1 always remembering for what they are given4 ,for verily ,i say unto you1 they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments1 and him that seeketh so to do1 that all may be benefited that seeketh or that asketh of me1 that asketh and not for a sign that he may consume it upon his lusts4 7,d,c #df3h-i74 ,we are not justified in regarding miracles as infallible testimony of ,divine power and authority1 for powers of the baser sort work wonders1 to the deceiving of many4 ,the magicians of ,egypt were able to imitate in small measure the miracles of ,moses4 ,john the ,revelator told of evil powers deceiving men by what seemed to be supernatural achievements1 and he saw unclean spirits1 whom he knew to be the spirits of devils working miracles4 7,see ,rev4 #ac3 #ac-ad1 and #af3ac-ad74 ,and the ,savior ,himself by this solemn warning armed the disciples against deception3 ,there shall arise false ,christs1 and false prophets1 and shall shew great signs and wonders2 insomuch that1 if it were possible1 they shall deceive the very elect4 7,matt4 #bd3bd74 ,the distinguishing feature of a miraculous manifestation of the ,holy ,spirit1 as contrasted with a wonder wrought through other agencies1 lies in the fact that the former is always done in the name of ,jesus ,christ and has for its object the fostering of faith and the furthering of ,divine purposes4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints rejoices in the possession of the several gifts and graces with which the ,church of old was endowed2 and within her pale signs do follow them that believe4 ,come and see4 -- #cc -- ,,is ,,the ,,bible ,,sufficient8 ,scriptures of ,many ,peoples ,,we believe the ,bible to be the word of ,god1 as far as it is translated correctly4 ,we also believe the ,book of ,mormon to be the word of ,god4 7,articles of ,faith1 ,no4 #h74 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints accepts the ,holy ,bible for just what it purports to be1 nothing less1 nothing more4 ,taken as a whole the ,holy ,bible is a collection of sacred and historical writings1 depicting though incompletely the ,divine dealings with mankind on the ,eastern ,hemisphere from the creation down to about the close of the first century after ,christ4 ,the ,old ,testament contains a brief record of pre-,mosaic time1 but is largely a history of the ,semitic people or ,hebrews1 as they lived under the ,law of ,moses4 ,the ,new ,testament is distinctively the ,scripture of the ,gospel as contrasted with the ,law1 and is devoted to the earthly ministry of the ,savior and to the growth of ,his ,church under apostolic administration4 ,the compilation as it now stands is the work of men1 and our modern translations from the original ,hebrew of the ,old ,testament and ,greek of the ,new have been made by skilled linguists and learned theologians4 ,but the wisdom of even the wisest of men may be faulty1 and the understanding of the prudent may be biased and dangerously imperfect4 ,the many revisions and successive versions of the ,bible1 made as the errors of earlier renditions became strikingly apparent1 testify to the unreliability of scholarship in the translation of sacred writ4 ,moreover1 it is an indisputable fact that the compilation of books constituting our present version is incomplete2 for within the ,bible itself more than a score of books1 epistles1 or other writings not included are mentioned1 and generally in such a way as to show that those lost ,scriptures were considered authentic and genuine4 ,furthermore1 numerous ,biblical passages are tinged with what scholars call gloss--that is wording intended to convey the private interpretation of the translator4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints openly proclaim their reservation as to incorrect translation4 ,we are in harmony with all able and earnest students of the ,scriptures in accepting the ,bible as the ,word of ,god1 only so far as it is translated correctly4 ,but we hold that there are now extant other ,scriptures1 of equal validity with those of the ,holy ,bible1 and in no sense in conflict therewith nor a substitute therefor4 ,for nearly six centuries before and about four centuries after the birth of ,christ1 the ,american continent was inhabited by a detached body of ,israelites1 who developed into powerful nations4 ,their existence was unknown to the people of the ,east4 ,is it unreasonable to believe that unto the western fold ,god sent ,his shepherds1 and that prophets officiated amongst them by ,divine appointment8 ,that the ,book of ,mormon would be rejected by many on the specious and untenable claim that they already had a ,bible and that there could be no other ,scriptures1 the ,lord foretold by the mouth of the prophet ,nephi3 ,and because my words shall hiss forth1 many of the ,gentiles shall say1 ,a ,bible6 ,a ,bible6 ,we have got a ,bible1 and there cannot be any more ,bible4 ,know ye not that there are more nations than one8 ,know ye not that ,i1 the ,lord your ,god1 have created all men1 and that ,i remember those who are upon the isles of the sea2 and that ,i rule in the heavens above1 and in the earth beneath2 and ,i bring forth my word unto the children of men1 yea1 even upon all the nations of the earth8 ,wherefore murmur ye1 because that ye shall receive more of my word8 ,know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that ,i am ,god1 that ,i remember one nation like unto another8 ,wherefore1 ,i speak the same words unto one nation like unto another4 ,and when the two nations shall run together1 the testimony of the two nations shall run together also4 ,and ,i do this that ,i may prove unto many1 that ,i am the same yesterday1 today1 and forever2 and that ,i speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure4 ,and because that ,i have spoken one word1 ye need not suppose that ,i cannot speak another2 for my work is not yet finished2 neither shall it be1 until the end of man2 neither from that time henceforth and forever4 ,for behold1 ,i shall speak unto the ,jews1 and they shall write it2 and ,i shall also speak unto the ,nephites1 and they shall write it2 and ,i shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of ,israel1 which ,i have led away1 and they shall write it2 and ,i shall also speak unto all nations of the earth1 and they shall write it4 ,and it shall come to pass that the ,jews shall have the words of the ,nephites1 and the ,nephites shall have the words of the ,jews2 and the ,nephites and the ,jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of ,israel2 and the lost tribes of ,israel shall have the words of the ,nephites and the ,jews4 7#b ,nephi #bi74 ,thus is predicted the bringing forth of yet other ,scriptures1 not extant among known nations today1 viz41 the records of the ,lost ,tribes of ,israel1 to whom the ,book of ,mormon indicates the ,resurrected ,christ went to minister after ,his visitation to the ,nephites4 ,in the present or last dispensation numerous revelations have been given by ,jesus ,christ to ,his modern prophets4 ,many of these are before the world in the volume of latter-day ,scripture known as the ,d,c4 ,it is noticeable that we make no reservation respecting the ,book of ,mormon on the ground of incorrect translation4 ,to do so would be to ignore attested facts as to the bringing forth of that book4 ,joseph ,smith the prophet1 seer1 and revelator1 through whom the ancient record has been translated into our modern tongue1 expressly avers that the translation was effected through the gift and power of ,god1 and is in no sense the product of linguistic scholarship4 ,the ,bible in its original form1 and in modern versions so far as correctly translated1 contains the ,word of ,god4 ,without it1 the world would be plunged into spiritual gloom4 ,nevertheless there are other ,scriptures already published1 and yet others are to come4 -- #cd -- ,a ,,messenger ,from the ,presence of ,god ,,the discovery of the ancient record known to mankind as the ,book of ,mormon was no affair of chance4 ,to the contrary1 both the finding of the plates of gold and the translation of the inscriptions were specifically the result of ,divine direction4 ,so the following facts attest4 ,on the #bast of ,september1 #ahbc1 ,joseph ,smith of ,manchester1 ,n4 ,y41 was visited by an angelic personage who announced himself as ,moroni1 ,a messenger sent from the presence of ,god4 ,what6 the skeptical may exclaim1 ,a heavenly being visiting the earth and talking to a man in these modern days8 ,to which interrogatory a fair rejoinder is ,why not8 ,has the ,god of ,heaven changed in nature and attributes1 or found need of altering and revising ,his former and most simple methods of communicating with men8 ,to the priest ,zacharias in days of old came one saying ,i am ,gabriel1 that stand in the presence of ,god1 and am sent to speak unto thee4 7,luke #a3ai74 ,to the prophet ,joseph ,smith in latter times came a messenger with the same form of annunciation4 ,both ,gabriel and ,moroni were ambassadors from the ,eternal ,one1 who is the same yesterday1 today and forever1 and with whom is no variableness1 neither shadow of turning4 7,james #a3 #ag2 ,heb4 #ac3h74 ,part of ,moroni's message delivered at this visitation is thus stated by the latter-day prophet3 ,he said there was a book deposited1 written upon gold plates1 giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent1 and the source from whence they sprang4 ,he also said that the fulness of the everlasting ,gospel was contained in it1 as delivered by the ,savior to the ancient inhabitants4 ,also1 that there were two stones in silver bows--and these stones1 fastened to a breastplate1 constituted what is called the ,urim and ,thummim--deposited with the plates2 and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted 'seers' in ancient or former times2 and that ,god had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book4 4 4 4 ,while he was conversing with me about the plates1 the vision was opened to my mind that ,i could see the place where the plates were deposited1 and that so clearly and distinctly that ,i knew the place again when ,i visited it4 ,on going to the place the next day ,joseph ,smith located the stone box1 and with the aid of a lever removed the cover4 ,his record continues3 ,i made an attempt to take them out1 but was forbidden by the messenger1 and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived1 neither would it1 until four years from that time2 but he told me that ,i should come to that place precisely in one year from that time1 and that he would there meet with me1 and that ,i should continue to do so until the time should come for obtaining the plates4 ,at the close of the fourth probationary year1 the plates and accessories were given into the custody of the latter-day seer4 ,of this occasion and subsequent developments he wrote as follows3 ,at length the time arrived for obtaining the plates1 the ,urim and ,thummim1 and the breastplate4 ,on the twenty-second day of ,september1 one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven1 having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited1 the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge3 that ,i should be responsible for them2 that if ,i should let them go carelessly1 or through any neglect of mine1 ,i should be cut off2 but that if ,i would use all my endeavors to preserve them1 until he1 the messenger1 should call for them1 they should be protected4 ,i soon found out the reason why ,i had received such strict charges to keep them safe1 and why it was that the messenger had said that when ,i had done what was required at my hand1 he would call for them4 ,for no sooner was it known that ,i had them1 than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me4 ,every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose4 ,the persecution became more bitter and severe than before1 and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible4 ,but by the wisdom of ,god1 they remained safe in my hands1 until ,i had accomplished by them what was required at my hand4 ,when1 according to arrangements1 the messenger called for them1 ,i delivered them up to him2 and he has them in his charge until this day1 being the second day of ,may1 one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight4 ,subsequent revelations showed that ,moroni was the last of a long line of prophets whose translated writings constitute the ,book of ,mormon4 ,by him the ancient records had been closed about #dbj ,a4 ,d42 by him the graven plates had been deposited in the stone vault wherein they lay buried over fourteen centuries2 and through his appointed embassage they were given into the possession of the latter-day seer whose work of translation is before us4 ,joseph ,smith1 unschooled beyond the rudiments of what we call an education1 unversed in any tongue but the vernacular ,english1 was wholly unequipped according to all human standards to translate the language of a nation long extinct1 and1 except for certain ,indian traditions1 forgotten4 ,but the operation of a power higher than human1 by which the engraved plates were brought forth from the earth1 was to be effective in making the long-buried chronicles intelligible to modern readers4 ,it was no part of the ,lord's plan to entrust the translating to man's linguistic skill2 and1 moreover1 at that time the ,rosetta ,stone still lay buried beneath the debris of ages1 and there was not a man upon the earth capable of rendering an ,egyptian inscription into ,english4 ,as the ,book of ,mormon avers1 the original writing was ,egyptian1 modified through the isolation of the ancient peoples on the ,western ,continent1 and designated ,reformed ,egyptian4 ,it was divinely appointed that the sacred archives should be restored to the knowledge of men through the gift and power of ,god4 ,had it not been written that in the latter days the ,lord would accomplish a marvelous work and a wonder1 whereby the wisdom of the wise would fail and the understanding of the learned be hidden8 7,see ,isa4 #bi3 #ac1 #ad74 ,and this because men would put their dogmas and precepts above the revealed word8 7,verse #ac74 ,in the translation of the ,book of ,mormon there was to be no gloss of fallible scholarship1 no attempt to improve and embellish the plain1 simple and unambiguous diction of the original scribes who wrote by inspiration4 ,therefore was the commission laid upon one who was rated among the weak of the earth1 but whose ministry1 nevertheless1 has confounded the mighty4 7,see #a ,cor4 #a3bg1 #bh74 -- #ce -- ,,scriptures ,,of ,,the ,,american ,,continent ,the ,book of ,mormon ,,the ,book of ,mormon is preeminently an ,american book1 comprising the history of the aboriginal peoples of the ,new ,world4 ,it professes to be the modern translation of certain records1 covering the period from ,b4 ,c4 #fjj to about ,a4 ,d4 #dbj1 with which is incorporated the abridgment of a yet earlier history4 ,the original account was inscribed on thin sheets of gold1 in small characters of the ,reformed ,egyptian style4 ,the plates were taken from their repository on the side of a hill near ,palmyra1 ,new ,york4 ,this was in ,september1 #ahbg2 and in the early months of #ahcj the ,english translation was published4 ,the ,book of ,mormon story deals in part with the general history of the ancient peoples1 their rise and fall as nations1 their wars and intrigues of state1 their alternating epochs of material prosperity and adversity2 but more particularly it preserves an account of the ,divine revelations1 the prophets and prophecies with which the ancient ,americans were blessed2 and thus the work stands before the world as the ,scriptures of the ,western ,continent4 ,this is the story in brief4 ,in the closing years of the #gth century ,b4 ,c4 there lived in ,jerusalem a person of influence and wealth named ,lehi4 ,he was a righteous man and a prophet1 of the tribe of ,manasseh and therefore a descendant of ,joseph1 son of ,jacob4 ,at the time of which we speak1 ,lehi and his wife were the parents of four sons1 of whom the elder two were of disobedient and unruly character1 in which respect they stood in striking contrast to their dutiful brothers4 ,other children1 both sons and daughters1 are of later mention4 ,those were troublous days for ,israel4 ,the people had largely forgotten the ,god of their fathers2 and the calamities voiced by ,moses and the prophets as the contingent result of sins against which the people had been specifically warned1 were multiplying apace4 ,already the shadows of the ,babylonian captivity were falling athwart the nation4 ,many prophets1 ,lehi among them1 lifted their voices in admonition and warning1 crying repentance to the recreant ,israelites1 and predicting that unless they turned from their wickedness the ,city of ,david1 their national boast and pride1 would be despoiled and ,israel be made captive4 ,instead of heeding these men of ,god1 the people went wild with resentment and tried to slay them4 ,in the year #fjj ,b4 ,c41 when ,zedekiah ascended the throne of ,judah1 the word of the ,lord came to ,lehi directing him to take his family and flee from ,jerusalem into the wilderness of ,arabia4 ,the scattering of the ,israelitish nation had been foretold1 and the departure of ,lehi and his household1 together with another entire family which was of the tribe of ,ephraim1 and part of a third1 was in line with the general dispersion4 ,had it not so been declared by ,isaiah8 ,for out of ,jerusalem shall go forth a remnant1 and they that escape out of mount ,zion3 the zeal of the ,lord of hosts shall do this4 7#b ,kings #ai3ca2 also ,isa4 #cg3cb74 ,the migrating colony journeyed by slow stages for about eight years in the desert1 during which time ,lehi and his faithful younger son ,nephi received many revelations of the ,divine word and will1 through which the purpose of their own exodus was made known1 as were also the portending vicissitudes of the nation from which they had become expatriated by the ,lord's command4 ,eventually they reached the shores of the ,arabian sea1 where1 divinely directed1 they built a vessel1 in which they were carried by wind and current across the ocean to the western coast of ,south ,america4 ,so long as unity prevailed the colony prospered in the ,promised ,land1 and with high birth-rate and few deaths soon became a numerous people4 ,with prosperity came pride and avarice1 and the inevitable accompaniment1 dissension4 ,the more righteous part chose ,nephi for their leader and called themselves ,nephites1 while the rebellious and evil faction came to be known as ,lamanites or followers of ,laman1 who was the eldest and most wicked of ,lehi's sons4 ,as the decades linked themselves into centuries the breach between ,nephites and ,lamanites became wider1 the enmity fiercer1 and the disparity in customs and culture greater2 though for brief and exceptional periods there was truce between them4 ,the ,nephites maintained a relatively high standard of civilized activity1 while the ,lamanites became a degenerate people1 of nomadic and predatory life1 devoted mostly to warfare and the chase2 and as a mark of ,divine displeasure they were cursed with a dark ruddy skin4 ,many and bloody were the wars they waged against their more peaceable contemporaries4 ,nevertheless the ,nephites developed and throve in proportion to their varying degrees of allegiance to the laws of ,god as made known by the succession of prophets whom the ,lord raised up among them2 and their departures from the ways of righteousness were followed by the disciplinary suffering incident to ,lamanite victories1 which were permitted to afflict them at intervals4 ,they fled before their aggressive foes1 moving northward and eastward2 so that in the course of centuries they swept over a large part of the area now embraced by ,mexico and the ,united ,states4 ,the ,gospel of salvation was taught and the fundamental ordinances were administered among the ,nephites2 and the resurrected ,lord1 ,jesus ,christ1 ministered among them in ,person1 and declared them to be the sheep of that other fold to which ,he had referred while preaching to the ,jews4 ,see ,john #aj3af4 ,about #dbj ,a4 ,d41 the ,nephites1 having fallen into wickedness all the more convicting because of their intellectual superiority1 were utterly destroyed as a nation by their hereditary enemies4 ,the exterminating conflict was fought in the vicinity of ,palmyra1 in the present ,state of ,new ,york4 ,the savage but victorious ,lamanites have lived on as the degraded race of red men1 whom ,columbus found in the land on the occasion of his re-discovery of the ,western ,continent4 ,such is the origin of the ,american ,indians4 ,they are of ,israelitish descent1 belonging to the ,house of ,joseph who was sold into ,egypt4 ,from the time of ,lehi's exodus from ,jerusalem down to the end of ,nephite history1 a circumstantial record was kept by scribes set apart to the work4 ,that record has been restored to human knowledge1 and the translated part has been given to the world as the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the announcement of such a discovery as that of the plates of ,mormon1 and of such an achievement as the translation of the records into ,english1 could not fail to attract the attention of both layman and scholar4 ,but the announcement was treated with contempt and vigorous denunciation4 ,the reason for this hostile rejection is found in the fact that ,joseph ,smith1 the translator1 avowed that he had not accomplished the marvelous work by his own or other human power alone1 but that the resting-place of the ancient plates had been revealed to him by an angel1 who appeared in light and glory1 and announced himself as that same ,moroni who had sealed up and buried the inscribed plates over fourteen centuries earlier4 ,a further cause for the popular opposition to the ,book of ,mormon lay in ,joseph ,smith's solemn testimony that he had been empowered to make the translation through the direct inspiration of ,god4 ,this avowal introduced the element of the supernatural4 ,if ,joseph ,smith spoke truly1 miracles had not ceased1 and direct revelation from ,god to man was of modern certainty4 ,such a conception was wholly opposed by theological theory and churchly dogma4 ,and yet1 why in reason should direct revelation from the heavens be more of an improbability today than in the centuries of long ago8 ,except as to the extent of the writing1 is the bringing forth of the ,book of ,mormon any more of a marvel than the inspired reading of the mystic words by ,daniel in the midst of ,belshazzar's riotous feast8 7,see ,dan4 #e3be-ca74 ,and surely the means by which the writing was done appears far more mysterious in the case of the ,chaldean king than in the ordinary and human way of engraving the ,book of ,mormon plates4 ,the ,book of ,mormon is before the world4 ,it has been distributed by millions of copies in ,english and other modern tongues4 ,let it be understood that in no sense does the ,book of ,mormon profess to be a substitute for the ,holy ,bible1 or to be in any way related thereto except as a parallel volume of ,scripture4 ,the ,bible is essentially a record of the dealings of ,god with ,his people of the ,east2 the ,book of ,mormon is an embodiment of ,divine revelations to the people of the ,west4 ,so far as the two books touch common themes they are in harmony2 and in no particular are they contradictory of each other4 -- #cf -- ,,by ,,the ,,mouth ,,of ,,witnesses ,shall the ,truth be ,established ,,moses voiced the word of ,jehovah unto ,israel1 saying that by the testimony of competent witnesses should questions of fact be established2 and our ,lord in the flesh reaffirmed the ancient rule for common observance 7,matt4 #ah3af71 and1 on a particular occasion1 cited it in vindicating to the casuistical ,jews ,his claim to ,divine authority4 7,john #h3ag1 #ah74 ,it is a vital element of jurisprudence1 and is at once reasonable and indispensable in practise4 ,the ,book of ,mormon predicts its own coming forth in latter times1 and presents the specific prophecy that the plates on which the ancient record was engraved would be shown to three witnesses1 and later to certain others4 ,the sacred character of the plates forbade their display for the gratification of curiosity2 and1 moreover1 it was the stated purpose of the ,lord that the restored ,scriptures be accepted or rejected by men according to the reader's measure of faith or lack thereof4 ,respecting the bringing forth of the ,book of ,mormon in the latter days1 the ,lord thus spake through ,nephi the prophet3 ,wherefore at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom ,i have spoken1 the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world1 that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it1 by the power of ,god1 besides him to whom the book shall be delivered2 and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein4 ,and there is none other which shall view it1 save it be a few according to the will of ,god1 to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men3 for the ,lord ,god hath said1 ,that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead4 ,wherefore1 the ,lord ,god will proceed to bring forth the words of the book2 and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good1 will he establish his word2 and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of ,god4 7#b ,nephi #bg74 ,the angel1 ,moroni1 who delivered the plates to ,joseph ,smith1 received them back into his keeping after the translation of the unsealed portion had been effected4 ,the latter-day prophet had been instructed to guard the plates with vigilant care1 and was warned against any temptation to use the sheets of gold for personal gain4 ,they were preserved inviolate while in his hands2 and were shown by him only as the ,lord directed4 ,in ,june1 #ahbi1 three men1 designated through revelation1 were chosen to view the plates1 and the occasion was one of heavenly visitation4 ,the ,testimony of ,three ,witnesses ,be it known unto all nations1 kindreds1 tongues1 and people unto whom this work shall come1 that we1 through the grace of ,god the ,father1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 have seen the plates which contain this record1 which is a record of the people of ,nephi1 and also of the ,lamanites1 their brethren1 and also of the people of ,jared1 who came from the tower of which hath been spoken2 and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of ,god1 for his voice hath declared it unto us2 wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true4 ,and we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates2 and they have been shewn unto us by the power of ,god1 and not of man4 ,and we declare with words of soberness1 that an angel of ,god came down from heaven1 and he brought and laid before our eyes1 that we beheld and saw the plates1 and the engravings thereon2 and we know that it is by the grace of ,god the ,father1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that we beheld and bear record that these things are true2 and it is marvellous in our eyes1 nevertheless the voice of the ,lord commanded us that we should bear record of it2 wherefore1 to be obedient unto the commandments of ,god1 we bear testimony of these things4 ,and we know that if we are faithful in ,christ1 we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men1 and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of ,christ1 and shall dwell with ,him eternally in the heavens4 ,and the honour be to the ,father1 and to the ,son1 and to the ,holy ,ghost1 which is one ,god4 ,amen4 ,oliver ,cowdery1 ,david ,whitmer1 ,martin ,harris4 ,this solemn affirmation was never revoked nor in the least degree modified1 though all of the three were later severed from the ,church for transgression4 ,to the time of death each maintained the truth of his testimony1 despite ridicule and divers sufferings through persecution4 ,shortly after the witnessing of the plates by the three1 other eight persons were permitted to see and handle the records1 as they thus attest3 ,the ,testimony of ,eight ,witnesses ,be it known unto all nations1 kindreds1 tongues1 and people unto whom this work shall come1 that ,joseph ,smith1 ,jun41 the translator of this work1 has shewn unto us the plates of which hath been spoken1 which have the appearance of gold2 and as many of the leaves as the said ,smith has translated1 we did handle with our hands2 and we also saw the engravings thereon1 all of which has the appearance of ancient work1 and of curious workmanship4 ,and this we bear record with words of soberness1 that the said ,smith has shewn unto us1 for we have seen and hefted1 and know of a surety that the said ,smith has got the plates of which we have spoken4 ,and we give our names unto the world to witness unto the world that which we have seen2 and we lie not1 ,god bearing witness of it4 ,christian ,whitmer1 ,jacob ,whitmer1 ,peter ,whitmer1 ,jun41 ,john ,whitmer1 ,hiram ,page1 ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen41 ,hyrum ,smith1 ,samuel ,h4 ,smith4 ,three of these eight died out of the ,church1 yet not one of the whole number ever was known to deny his testimony4 ,had policy figured in the matter1 as doubtless would have been the case in the fraudulent exploitation of a spurious book1 the ,church might have been expected to tolerate misconduct on the part of members so vitally prominent in its affairs2 but the ban of excommunication fell1 as justice demanded1 without respect to persons4 ,the biography of each of the eleven witnesses has been widely published4 ,their testimonies appear in every copy of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,read and consider4 -- #cg -- ,,voices ,,of ,,the ,,dead ,a ,testimony from the ,dust ,,on ,september #bb1 #ahbg1 ,joseph ,smith1 a youthful resident of ,manchester1 ,n4 ,y41 took from the side of a hill in that vicinity a book made up of thin leaves of beaten gold1 held together by rings after the fashion of our modern loose-leaf records4 ,as described by the finder1 and by others to whom they were shown1 these golden leaves or plates were engraved with fine characters having all the appearance of ancient and curious workmanship4 ,the engraved plates had been laid away with care and attention to preservation2 for1 when uncovered1 they were found1 together with certain other antique objects1 resting in a small vault or box of stone4 ,the box in which they lay1 wrote ,joseph ,smith1 was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement4 ,in the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box1 and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them4 ,the top slab or lid of the box was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side1 and thinner towards the edges1 so that the middle part of it was visible above the ground1 but the edge all around was covered with earth4 ,as subsequent examination proved1 the graven characters constituted a history of the aboriginal peoples of the ,western ,continent1 of whom the existing tribes of ,american ,indians are the posterity4 ,a part of the ancient record has been translated into ,english and the modern version was first published in #ahcj as ,the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the ,book of ,mormon contains pointed and specific predictions of its own coming forth in the latter days2 and these prophecies harmonize with the ,biblical ,scriptures4 ,the ancient peoples whose voice is again heard among the living were of the tribes of ,ephraim and ,manasseh1 and therefore of the family of ,joseph1 son of ,jacob4 ,with this fact in mind1 the thoughtful student finds profound significance in the otherwise obscure words of ,ezekiel 7#cg3ae-bj73 ,the word of the ,lord came again unto me1 saying1 ,moreover1 thou son of man1 take thee one stick1 and write upon it1 ,for ,judah1 and for the children of ,israel his companions3 then take another stick1 and write upon it1 ,for ,joseph1 the stick of ,ephraim1 and for all the house of ,israel his companions3 ,and join them one to another into one stick2 and they shall become one in thine hand4 ,to the puzzled questioners who would ask the meaning of all this1 the prophet was told to declare the ,lord's purpose in this wise3 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold ,i will take the stick of ,joseph1 which is in the hand of ,ephraim1 and the tribes of ,israel his fellows1 and will put them with him1 even with the stick of ,judah1 and make them one stick1 and they shall be one in mine hand4 ,plainly the record of ,judah1 which we recognize as the ,holy ,bible1 was to be supplemented by the record of ,joseph2 and the bringing forth of the latter was to be effected by the direct exercise of ,divine power1 for the ,lord said ,i will take the stick of ,joseph2 and of the two ,he averred they shall be one in mine hand1 even as the prototypes had become one in the hand of ,ezekiel4 ,if the testimony of scholars as to ,biblical chronology be reliable1 ,lehi and his colony had already crossed the great waters and become well established in ,america when ,ezekiel voiced this significant prophecy concerning the stick or record of ,joseph as being distinct from that of ,judah4 ,the prediction has been fulfilled4 ,the ,holy ,bible and the ,book of ,mormon1 the records of ,judah and ,joseph respectively1 are before the world1 each attesting the authenticity of the other1 and each standing as an irrefutable testimony of the atoning life1 death1 and resurrection of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,a century and a half earlier1 ,isaiah had cried wo unto ,ariel1 the ,city of ,david2 and had made distinction between ,judah who then occupied ,ariel or ,jerusalem1 and another people with whom comparison is made4 ,note the prediction3 ,and thou shalt be brought down1 and shalt speak out of the ground1 and thy speech shall be low out of the dust1 and thy voice shall be1 as of one that hath a familiar spirit1 out of the ground1 and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust4 7,isa4 #bi3d74 ,the ,book of ,mormon contains pointed and specific predictions of its own coming forth in the latter days1 and these prophecies harmonize with the ,biblical ,scriptures4 ,nephi1 foreseeing the eventual annihilation of his people as the result of transgression1 and having been shown in vision the degraded future of the ,lamanites1 whom he designated the seed of my brethren1 spoke of the promised restoration of the records in this wise3 ,but behold1 ,i prophesy unto you concerning the last days2 concerning the days when the ,lord ,god shall bring these things forth unto the children of men4 ,after my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have dwindled in unbelief1 and shall have been smitten by the ,gentiles2 yea1 after the ,lord ,god shall have camped against them round about1 and shall have laid siege against them with a mount1 and raised forts against them2 and after they shall have been brought down low in the dust1 even that they are not1 yet the words of the righteous shall be written1 and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard1 and all those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten4 ,for those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground1 and their speech shall be low out of the dust1 and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit2 for the ,lord ,god will give unto him power1 that he may whisper concerning them1 even as it were out of the ground2 and their speech shall whisper out of the dust4 7#b ,nephi #bf74 ,the nation thus brought down has spoken out of the ground2 her speech has come forth out of the dust2 for the original of the ,book of ,mormon was actually taken out of the ground1 and the voice of the sacred record is as that of one speaking from the dust of the past4 -- #ch -- ,a ,,new ,,witness ,,of ,,the ,,christ ,an ,independent ,scripture ,,the angel ,moroni1 who made known to ,joseph ,smith the existence and repository of the inscribed plates from which the ,book of ,mormon has been translated1 informed the modern prophet that the metallic pages contained the fulness of the everlasting ,gospel as delivered by the ,savior to the former inhabitants of the ,western ,continent4 ,the book is more than a series of annals and chronicles4 ,invaluable as the ancient record may have proved in giving to man the history of a once mighty but now extinct nation1 in demonstrating the origin and significance of traditions cherished by the degenerate ,indians as evidence of a more enlightened past1 in explaining ethnological data otherwise unrelated and largely inexplicable--in these respects the ,book of ,mormon could have been nothing more than an important contribution to the common fund of human knowledge1 possibly of great academic interest but certainly of small vital value4 ,no apology could be consistently demanded for surprise1 wonder1 or even incredulity over the announcement of a messenger sent from the presence of ,god to restore to the possession of mortals a mere history of dynasties and kingdoms1 of migrations and battles1 of cities builded and destroyed1 and of the rise and fall of commonwealths4 ,the miraculous interposition of ,divine power in such a matter is without recorded precedent and apparently lacking in the essential element of necessity4 ,the priceless character of the ,book of ,mormon lies in its sacredness as a compilation of ,holy ,scripture1 telling primarily of the dealings of ,god with the ancient peoples of the ,west1 of the ,divine purpose in their isolation on a previously unknown continent1 the teaching and practise of the ,gospel with all its essential laws and ordinances enjoined through revelation entirely apart from the ,biblical ,scriptures1 and particularly of the solemn testimony of a great nation relating to the atoning death and literal resurrection of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,redeemer and ,savior of the race4 ,the avowed purpose of ,jehovah1 in leading ,lehi and his colony from ,jerusalem and conducting them across the great waters to the ,american shores1 was to separate unto ,himself a body of ,israelites who would be cleansed from false tradition and the defiling precepts of men respecting the appointed mission of ,christ in the flesh4 ,as ,moses was led into the desert and later into the mountain top1 as ,elijah was impelled to seek the cavern's solitude1 that each might the better hear the ,divine voice--so a nation was sequestered in the ,new ,world that they might learn the word of revealed truth in its simplicity and plainness4 ,in the mind of ,god it had been decreed that the life1 death1 and resurrection of ,his ,only ,begotten ,son be attested by other witnesses than ,galilee1 ,samaria and ,judea4 ,while ,lehi and his people were journeying through the deserts of ,arabia1 the ,lord revealed by vision and the visitation of angels unto the prophet and again unto ,nephi that1 six hundred years later1 the ,son of the ,eternal ,father would be born of the ,virgin of ,nazareth1 that ,he was to be the ,redeemer of the world1 that a prophet would go before ,him crying repentance unto the people and baptizing them in ,jordan1 and that twelve ,apostles would attend the ,savior and continue to teach and administer after the ,lord's death and resurrection4 ,the doctrine of the coming ,christ and the necessity of repentance and baptism had been preached by prophets throughout the six centuries of preparation4 ,at the time of our ,lord's birth at ,bethlehem1 the predicted signs of the glad event were witnessed in ,america1 and prominent among these was the absence of darkness between two days4 ,the tragedy on ,calvary was signalized in the ,west1 as the prophets had foretold1 by great disturbances of the earth1 and by the continuation of darkness between two nights4 ,the more righteous part of the people had been preserved from destruction2 and to a multitude of these1 assembled about the ,temple1 the crucified and resurrected ,lord appeared1 with the solemn accompaniment of the ,father's proclamation from the heavens3 ,behold my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased1 in whom ,i have glorified my name3 hear ye ,him4 7#c ,nephi1 chap4 #aa74 ,the people looked upward1 ,and behold they saw a ,man descending out of heaven2 and ,he was clothed in a white robe1 and ,he came down and stood in the midst of them1 and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon ,him1 and they durst not open their mouths1 even one to another1 and wist not what it meant1 for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them4 ,and it came to pass that ,he stretched forth ,his hand and spake unto the people1 saying1 ,behold1 ,i am ,jesus ,christ1 whom the prophets testified shall come into the world2 ,and behold1 ,i am the light and the life of the world2 and ,i have drunk out of that bitter cup which the ,father hath given me1 and have glorified the ,father in taking upon me the sins of the world1 in the which ,i have suffered the will of the ,father in all things from the beginning4 ,he permitted them to see and feel the wounds of the cross in ,his hands1 feet1 and side2 and they worshiped ,him4 ,the ,book of ,mormon is a new and independent witness of the divinity of ,jesus ,christ and ,his ,gospel1 by which all mankind may be saved through obedience1 and without which no man can have place in the ,kingdom of ,god4 -- #ci -- ,,when ,,christ ,,stood ,,on ,,american ,,soil ,his ,church ,established ,among the ,ancient ,americans ,,during ,his brief period of mortal ministry our ,lord the ,christ established ,his ,church1 with ,apostles empowered and directed to administer the ordinances essential to membership and to build up the institution4 ,this was done in ,palestine2 and from that land the message of salvation was carried into every country known to the inhabitants of the ,eastern ,continent4 ,in the period immediately following the ,lord's departure1 the ,apostles prosecuted the work of the ministry with such zeal and effectiveness that we read of them3 ,and they went forth1 and preached everywhere1 the ,lord working with them1 and confirming the word with signs following4 7,mark #af3bj74 ,we are expressly informed of the rapid growth of the ,church in apostolic times4 ,paul1 writing approximately thirty years after the ,ascension1 declared that the ,gospel had been made known to every nation--preached to every creature under heaven1 by which comprehensive statement the ,apostle doubtless meant that the ,gospel had been so generally proclaimed in known lands that all who would might have learned of it4 ,the ,apostles had been instructed to go into all the world and to preach the ,gospel to every creature1 with the assurance that such as accepted their message and were baptized as the ,lord had commanded would be saved1 while such as rejected the ,gospel would be damned4 ,so far as we know1 during the apostolic epoch and for more than a millennium thereafter1 the existence of a ,western ,continent was known to no one in the ,east4 ,nevertheless1 at that very time and for centuries before1 ,america was inhabited by powerful nations1 who exhibited the entire range of attainment from savagery to refinement and culture1 and all the gradations from deviltry to godliness4 ,it was obviously impossible for the ,galilean ,apostles1 by any but miraculous and supernatural aid1 to carry the ,gospel to the western world1 and we find scriptural warrant for the assertion that they did not so4 ,nevertheless1 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ was established upon the ,american continent1 and that through the personal ministry of the ,risen ,lord1 soon after ,his ascension from ,mount ,olivet4 ,the ,book of ,mormon contains a circumstantial account of this marvelous theophany4 ,jesus ,christ visited the aboriginal peoples of the ,western ,continent4 ,his identity affirmed by the voice of the ,eternal ,father and by ,his own solemn testimony1 the ,resurrected ,christ1 still bearing the wounds of the cross in hands and feet and side1 declared that the old order under the ,mosaic ,law was fulfilled and abrogated in ,him2 and straightway ,he proceeded to organize ,his ,church under the new or ,gospel dispensation4 ,he chose twelve men1 whom ,he ordained to be special witnesses of ,himself and the ,church2 and to them ,he gave authority to administer the ordinances essential to salvation1 as ,he had done on the other hemisphere4 ,baptism had been practised among the ,nephites prior to this visitation1 and disputation had arisen as to the mode and purpose of the ordinance4 ,the ,savior cautioned the ,nephite ,twelve and the people generally against schism and contention4 ,to the ordained disciples ,he said3 ,on this wise shall ye baptize2 and there shall be no disputations among you4 ,verily ,i say unto you1 that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words1 and desireth to be baptized in my name1 on this wise shall ye baptize them3 behold1 ye shall go down and stand in the water1 and in my name shall ye baptize them4 ,and now behold1 these are the words which ye shall say1 calling them by name1 saying3 ,having authority given me of ,jesus ,christ1 ,i baptize you in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,amen4 ,and then shall ye immerse them in the water1 and come forth again out of the water4 4 4 4 ,and there shall be no disputations among you1 as there hath hitherto been2 neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine1 as there hath hitherto been4 ,for verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me1 but is of the devil1 who is the father of contention1 and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger1 one with another4 4 4 4 ,and this is my doctrine1 and it is the doctrine which the ,father hath given unto me4 4 4 4 ,and whoso believeth in me1 and is baptized1 the same shall be saved2 and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,and whoso believeth not in me1 and is not baptized1 shall be damned4 7,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #aa74 ,then by specific commission ,he empowered the ,twelve ,disciples to administer the higher baptism of the ,spirit1 or the bestowal of the ,gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the sacrament of bread and wine was instituted by the ,lord for the further blessing of those who1 after due confession of faith and repentance1 had been baptized in ,his name4 ,as to partaking of the broken and consecrated bread ,he gave special commandment3 ,and this shall ye do in remembrance of my body1 which ,i have shewn unto you4 ,and it shall be a testimony unto the ,father1 that ye do always remember me4 ,and if ye do always remember me1 ye shall have my ,spirit to be with you4 ,in connection with the administration of the sacramental wine ,he said3 ,ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood1 which ,i have shed for you1 that ye may witness unto the ,father that ye do always remember me4 ,and if ye do always remember me1 ye shall have my ,spirit to be with you4 7#ah3g-aa74 ,we read further3 ,and they who were baptized in the name of ,jesus were called the ,church of ,christ4 7#bf3ba74 ,thus was the ,church of ,jesus ,christ organized among the ancient ,americans4 ,for nearly two centuries it flourished with such fruitage of blessing as had never before been known4 ,then the weeds of dissension attained so rank a growth as to well-nigh smother the tree of the ,lord's own planting4 ,man-made churches sprang up1 and persecution1 foul sister to intolerance1 became rampant4 ,about four hundred years after the visitation of ,christ1 the ,church in ,america ceased to exist1 for an overwhelming tide of apostasy had swept the ,new as well as the ,old ,world1 and by ,divine allowance the ,nephite nation fell a prey to its hereditary foes4 -- #dj -- ,,east ,,and ,,west ,,in ,,one ,,acclaim ,that ,jesus is the ,christ ,,two national histories1 separate and distinct1 written on opposite hemispheres1 unite in circumstantial testimony of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ as the ,world's ,redeemer2 and these are embodied in independent volumes of ,scripture--,the ,holy ,bible and ,the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the evidence of witnesses1 whether individuals1 coteries or nations1 refutes itself if it fail in consistency1 mutual support1 and agreement in all substantials4 ,the most critical examination of these two compilations of ,scripture as to this vital feature is invited4 ,among the outstanding facts of profoundest import recorded in the ,bible concerning ,jesus ,christ and ,his mission are these3 #a4 ,his preexistence and antemortal ,godship4 #b4 ,his foreordination as the ,redeemer and ,savior of mankind4 #c4 ,predictions of ,his embodiment in the flesh1 as the ,son of the ,eternal ,father and of mortal woman4 #d4 ,the fulfilment of these predictions in ,his birth as ,mary's ,child4 #e4 ,the sending of a forerunner1 ,john the ,baptist1 to prepare the way for the ,lord's public ministry4 #f4 ,christ's earthly life1 covering about a third of a century1 characterized by beneficent service1 by authoritative administration1 and by unexceptionable example4 #g4 ,the establishment of ,his ,church with duly ordained ,apostles1 who1 with other ministers invested with the ,holy ,priesthood1 carried forward the work of salvation after the ,lord's departure4 #h4 ,the specific and authentic enunciation of the fundamental principles and ordinances of the ,gospel1 by which the way of salvation has been opened to all1 and without which none can abide in the ,kingdom of ,god1 these comprising3 7#a7 ,faith in ,him as the ,son of ,god and the ,redeemer of the world2 7#b7 ,repentance of sin2 7#c7 ,baptism by immersion for the remission of sins2 and 7#d7 ,bestowal of the ,holy ,ghost by the authoritative laying on of hands4 #i4 ,the ,lord's sacrificial and atoning death4 #aj4 ,his actual resurrection1 whereby ,his spirit was reunited with the crucified body and ,he became a glorified and immortalized ,soul4 #aa4 ,his ministry as a ,resurrected ,being among men4 #ab4 ,his exaltation to the place ,he had won at the right hand of ,god the ,eternal ,father4 #ac4 ,the general apostasy of mankind from the ,gospel of ,christ1 bringing about an era of spiritual darkness4 #ad4 ,the restoration of the ,holy ,priesthood in the latter days1 by which the ,gospel would be again preached in power and its ordinances administered for the salvation of men4 #ae4 ,the assurance of our ,lord's yet future return to earth1 in glory and judgment1 to inaugurate the predicted ,millennium of peace and righteousness4 #af4 ,his eternal status as ,judge of both quick and dead1 and the eventual ,victor over sin and death4 ,in every particular1 even to circumstantial detail1 the ,scriptures of the ,west accord with those of the ,east in their solemn witness to these portentous developments of the ,divine plan1 which has for its purpose the immortality and eternal life of man4 ,the voice of the continents1 the independent testimonies of ,judah and ,ephraim1 the ,scriptures of the ,jews and those of the ,nephites1 are heard in tuneful harmony bearing true witness to the world of the everlasting ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,in vindication of the prophets of both ,east and ,west1 the ,holy ,priesthood has been restored to the earth in this latter age1 and the saving ordinances of the ,lord's ,house are again administered for the salvation of souls4 ,in this glorious restoration1 coupled with the miraculous bringing forth of the ,book of ,mormon1 is found a rich fulfilment of ancient prophecy2 for verily ,truth has sprung out of the earth1 and ,righteousness has come down from heaven4 7,see ,psa4 #he3aa74 ,now1 in olden times at least two witnesses were required to establish the truth of any important fact2 and thus spake the ,lord respecting the independent testimony of nations concerning ,himself3 ,wherefore murmur ye1 because that ye shall receive more of my word8 ,know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that ,i am ,god1 that ,i remember one nation like unto another8 ,wherefore1 ,i speak the same words unto one nation like unto another4 ,and when the two nations shall run together1 the testimony of the two nations shall run together also4 4 4 4 ,wherefore1 because that ye have a ,bible1 ye need not suppose that it contains all my words2 neither need ye suppose that ,i have not caused more to be written4 4 4 4 ,for behold1 ,i shall speak unto the ,jews1 and they shall write it2 and ,i shall also speak unto the ,nephites1 and they shall write it2 and ,i shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of ,israel1 which ,i have led away1 and they shall write it2 and ,i shall also speak unto all nations of the earth1 and they shall write it4 4 4 4 ,and it shall come to pass that my people which are of the house of ,israel1 shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions2 and my word also shall be gathered in one4 7#b ,nephi #bi74 ,the theme of this unified anthem of ,divine ministry is the preparation of the race for the impending advent of the ,lord1 who shall stand in ,bodily ,presence upon the earth1 to subdue wickedness and reign in righteousness in company with all who shall have become ,his4 -- #da -- ,,sheep ,,of ,,another ,,fold ,shepherds and ,sheep-,herders ,,our ,lord's likening ,himself to a shepherd and ,his followers to sheep has been an inspiration to poets1 preachers1 artists1 and devout souls generally throughout the centuries of our era4 ,while all ,his discourses are fraught with a significance that increases with repeated readings1 some of ,his utterances are of outstanding interest because of their universal application and personal appeal4 ,the sermon of the ,good ,shepherd is prominent in this class4 ,read ,john #aj4 ,none other than the ,lord ,himself has depicted so forcefully and yet simply the contrast between shepherd and sheep-herder1 between owner and hireling1 between him who is ready to defend the sheep because he loves them1 and the other who sees in the flock only so much wool1 hide1 and mutton4 ,our literature contains no more striking differentiation of devoted service from money-loving effort than that presented in this brief1 terse1 yet comprehensive discourse4 ,every efficient laborer is worthy of his hire1 or ought to be1 be he plowman1 artizan or professional1 artist1 teacher or preacher4 ,far from there being discredit in receiving wage for work1 this reciprocal relationship is a fundamental necessity of community existence4 ,but he whose sole purpose and interest is the wage1 without devotion to the service for its intrinsic good1 is but a hired servant and likely so to remain4 ,never has been spoken a stronger arraignment of insincere teachers1 false pastors1 self-seeking hirelings--those who teach for pelf and divine for dollars1 robbers who pose as shepherds yet avoid the door to the fold and climb up some other way1 prophets in the devil's employ who1 to achieve their master's purpose1 hesitate not to robe themselves in assumed sanctity1 and appear in sheep's clothing while inwardly they are ravening wolves4 7,matt4 #g3ae74 ,in the record of this profound discourse1 one verse appears as an abrupt interpolation1 bearing little relation aside from imagery with preceding or following verses4 ,this reads3 ,and other sheep ,i have1 which are not of this fold3 them also ,i must bring1 and they shall hear my voice2 and there shall be one fold1 and one shepherd4 7,john #aj3af74 ,the ,bible contains no related passage affording explanation4 ,commentators treat this verse as an isolated and unconnected utterance1 and content themselves with the suggestion that the other sheep may be the ,gentile nations who are to be brought into the ,jewish fold under the one ,shepherd4 ,the ,jews who heard the ,lord speak so understood ,him4 ,the ,book of ,mormon1 however1 illumines our understanding of the quoted ,scripture1 and explains the ,lord's purpose in speaking as ,he did and in leaving the subject without further exposition4 ,shortly after ,his ascension1 ,christ visited a detached body of ,israelites then existing as a great nation on the ,western ,continent4 ,to them ,he declared ,himself to be the slain and resurrected ,son of ,god1 through whom alone salvation was made possible to man4 ,he gave them precepts and commandments1 and chose twelve disciples whom ,he ordained to teach the ,gospel and to administer in ,his name the ordinances thereof4 ,to them ,he said1 referring to the ,jews amongst whom ,he had lived and died3 ,this much did the ,father command me1 that ,i should tell unto them3 ,that other sheep ,i have1 which are not of this fold2 them also ,i must bring1 and they shall hear my voice2 and there shall be one fold1 and one shepherd4 ,and now because of stiffneckedness and unbelief1 they understood not my word2 therefore ,i was commanded to say no more of the ,father concerning this thing unto them4 4 4 4 ,and verily1 ,i say unto you1 that ye are they of whom ,i said3 ,other sheep ,i have which are not of this fold2 them also ,i must bring1 and they shall hear my voice2 and there shall be one fold1 and one shepherd4 ,and they understood me not1 for they supposed it had been the ,gentiles2 for they understood not that the ,gentiles should be converted through their preaching4 ,and they understood me not that ,i said they shall hear my voice2 and they understood me not that the ,gentiles should not at any time hear my voice2 that ,i should not manifest myself unto them1 save it were by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,but behold1 ye have both heard my voice1 and seen me2 and ye are my sheep1 and ye are numbered among those whom the ,father hath given me4 7,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #ae3af-bd74 ,it is evident that even the ,jewish ,apostles had failed to apprehend the real significance of the ,master's words2 for they had vaguely surmised that ,he would manifest ,himself in personal ministry among the ,gentiles1 oblivious to the fact that ,he had been sent to the lost sheep of the ,house of ,israel2 and that only through the ministrations of ,his ordained representatives would the ,gospel be declared to the ,gentile world4 ,but1 as other parts of the sacred record make plain1 the ,gospel is offered freely to the ,gentiles of the earth1 and they through acceptance and obedience shall be numbered with ,israel and be made partakers of the blessings assured by covenant to the righteous4 ,see ,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #cj3b2 #c ,nephi #af3ac4 -- #db -- ,,from ,,god ,,to ,,man ,divine ,communication in the ,current ,age ,,we believe all that ,god has revealed1 all that ,he does now reveal1 and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the ,kingdom of ,god4 7,articles of ,faith1 ,no4 #i74 ,revelation1 direct and personal from ,god to men1 is the dominant theme of ,scripture4 ,expunge from the ,bible all record of actual revelation and reference thereto1 and what remains8 ,nothing more than a variety of historical sketches1 chronicles1 genealogical data1 some chapters of ethical value1 a few poetical rhapsodies1 proverbs1 and allegories4 ,every believer in the authenticity of the ,holy ,bible acknowledges that ,god literally spake to ,adam1 ,enoch1 ,noah1 ,abraham1 ,jacob1 and ,moses1 and that specific revelation was given to ,israel during the time of the ,judges1 and on to ,david and ,solomon1 thence to ,john who was the immediate forerunner of the ,messiah4 ,the actuality of ,divine revelation through duly constituted prophets1 seers1 and revelators1 has been so generally accepted throughout the ages1 and is so abundantly attested1 that by all rules of argument and debate the burden of proof naturally and properly falls upon him who denies4 ,continued revelation of the ,divine will and purpose is in harmony with the spirit of the times4 ,in no phase of human effort and advancement1 save only that of the soul's salvation1 do men venture to assert or even think that we have learned all there is to learn4 ,what of a college professor in chemistry1 geology1 or astronomy1 who would confine his students to the conning of books that tell of early discoveries1 with the dictum that nothing remains to be discovered1 instead of guiding them in laboratory and field1 and in the searching of the outer deep with telescope and spectroscope1 in the confident hope of finding new truths8 ,revelation is ,god's means of communication with ,his children1 and we deny the consistent and unchangeable character of ,deity when we say that ,god has revealed ,himself to man1 but cannot or will not do so again4 ,is it reasonable to hold that in one age the ,church of ,christ was blessed1 enlightened1 and guided by direct revelation and that at another time the ,church is to be left to itself1 sustained only by the dead letter of earlier days8 ,the living ,church must be in vital communication with its ,divine ,head4 ,the ,christ ,himself was a revelator1 through whom the ,father's will was made known to man4 ,notwithstanding ,his personal authority as ,jehovah1 ,god though ,he had been1 was1 and is1 while ,he lived as a ,man among men ,jesus ,christ declared ,his work to be that of ,one greater than ,himself1 from whom ,he had been sent1 and by whom ,he was instructed and directed4 ,note ,his words3 ,for ,i have not spoken of myself2 but the ,father which sent me1 he gave me a commandment1 what ,i should say1 and what ,i should speak4 ,and ,i know that his commandment is life everlasting3 whatsoever ,i speak therefore1 even as the ,father said unto me1 so ,i speak4 7,john #ab3di-ej74 ,the recreant and unbelieving ,jews rejected their ,lord because ,he came to them with a new revelation4 ,had they not ,moses and the prophets8 ,what more could they need8 ,they openly boasted ,we are ,moses' disciples1 and added ,we know that ,god spake unto ,moses2 as for this fellow1 we know not from whence he is4 7,john #i3bh-bi74 ,those who deny the possibility of present day revelation are not distinguished by originality2 they follow a beaten path1 hard trodden by ignoble feet4 ,the ,apostles ministered under the guiding influence of revelation4 ,paul writing to the ,corinthians said3 ,but ,god hath revealed them ,divine truths unto us by his ,spirit3 for the ,spirit searcheth all things1 yea1 the deep things of ,god4 ,for what man knoweth the things of a man1 save the spirit of man which is in him8 even so the things of ,god knoweth no man1 but the ,spirit of ,god4 7#a ,cor4 #b3aj-ab74 ,the imperative need of continued revelation appears in the fact that new conditions and unprecedented combinations of circumstances arise with the passage of time1 and ,divine direction alone can meet the new issues4 ,the ,apostle ,john knew that in the last days1 these present days1 the voice of ,god would be heard calling ,his people from the ,babylon of sin to the ,zion of safety3 ,and ,i heard another voice from heaven1 saying1 ,come out of her1 my people1 that ye be not partakers of her sins1 and that ye receive not of her plagues4 7,rev4 #ah3d2 see also #ad3f74 ,nephi1 an ancient prophet whose record appears in the ,book of ,mormon1 addressed himself to the unbelievers of the last days1 and thus predicted the bringing forth of additional ,scriptures3 ,and it shall come to pass1 that the ,lord ,god shall bring forth unto you the words of a book1 and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered4 ,and behold the book shall be sealed3 and in the book shall be a revelation from ,god4 7#b ,nephi1 #bg3 #f-g74 ,through the ,hebrew prophet ,malachi the ,lord promised additional revelation in the last days1 by the coming of ,elijah with a special and particular commission4 7,mal4 #d3 #e-f74 ,these prophecies have been fulfilled to the letter in modern time1 the first by the bringing forth of the ,book of ,mormon and its publication to the world3 the latter by the inauguration of vicarious work for the dead through the personal visitation of ,elijah1 a work now in vigorous prosecution in the ,temples erected and maintained by the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,not only has the voice of ,god been heard in modern times1 but ,his words spell rebuke and reproof unto those who would close ,his mouth and estrange ,him from ,his people4 ,verily hath ,he spoken1 proving to the world that the ,holy ,scriptures are true1 and that ,god does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation1 as well as in generations of old1 thereby showing that he is the same ,god yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever4 7,d,c #bj3aa-ab74 ,of old the ,lord proclaimed3 ,wo be unto him that shall say1 ,we have received the word of ,god1 and we need no more of the word of ,god1 for we have enough 7,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #bh3bi72 and in this age hath ,he spoken words of admonition and warning3 ,deny not the ,spirit of revelation1 nor the ,spirit of prophecy1 for wo unto him that denieth these things4 7,d,c #aa3be74 -- #dc -- ,,the ,,tragedy ,,of ,,israel ,a ,nation ,without a ,country ,,we believe in the literal gathering of ,israel1 and in the restoration of the ,ten ,tribes1 etc4 7,articles of ,faith1 ,no4 #aj74 ,the gathering of ,israel is contingent upon the fact of that people's dispersion4 ,consideration of the scattering is a necessary preliminary to a study of the reassembling of ,israel's hosts4 ,god made covenant with ,abraham that through him and his posterity should all nations of the earth be blessed4 ,a rich fulfilment of the promise is found in the earthly birth of the ,christ through the lineage of ,abraham4 ,further and related fulfilment appears in the effect of the distribution of ,israelites amongst other nations through enforced dispersion4 ,abraham's descendants through his son ,isaac and grandson ,jacob have been distinctively known since ,jacob's time as ,israelites1 or the ,children of ,israel4 ,as the ,old ,testament avouches they grew to be a mighty nation1 distinguished in certain respects from all other peoples4 ,they were particularly characterized as ,jehovah worshipers1 professing allegiance to the living ,god1 whilst all the rest of the world was pagan and idolatrous4 ,by their world wide dispersion a knowledge of the true and living ,god has been diffused4 ,so long as the ,israelites were true to the ,divine covenants made with ,abraham1 and reaffirmed severally with ,isaac and ,jacob1 they prospered in material things as in spiritual power4 ,so far as they became alienated through pagan practises and unrighteous affiliations1 they suffered both individually and as a nation4 ,the ,lord set before them the alternative of blessed perpetuity incident to their faithfulness1 or disruption and subjugation to alien powers as the sure result of disobedience to ,divine requirement4 ,both sacred and secular history make plain that ,israel chose the evil part1 forfeiting the promised blessings1 reaping the foretold curses4 ,at the death of ,solomon the nation was divided4 ,approximately two of the twelve tribes became established as the ,kingdom of ,judah1 and came in time to be currently known as ,jews2 the rest of the tribes retained the title ,kingdom of ,israel1 though known also by the name of ,ephraim4 ,the division led eventually to the eclipse of both kingdoms as autonomous powers among the known nations of the earth4 ,the ,kingdom of ,israel was subdued by the ,assyrians about #gba ,b4 ,c42 the people were carried into captivity1 and later disappeared so completely from history as to be designated the ,lost ,tribes4 ,these are the ten tribes whose restoration is predicted as an event of latter times4 ,the ,kingdom of ,judah maintained a precarious and partial independence for a little more than a century after the ,assyrian captivity1 and then fell a prey to the conquering hosts of ,nebuchadnezzar4 ,after seventy years of bondage1 the period specified through prophecy by ,jeremiah 7#be3aa1 #ab2 #bi3aj71 a considerable number of the people were permitted to return to ,judea1 where they rebuilt the temple1 and vainly strove to reestablish themselves on the scale of their vanished greatness4 ,they were impoverished by the aggressions of ,syria and ,egypt1 and eventually became tributary to ,rome1 in which condition of vassalage they existed at the time of ,christ's earthly ministry amongst them4 ,from the numerous ,biblical prophecies relating to ,israel's dispersion the following are cited as particularly illustrative3 ,and the ,lord shall scatter you among the nations1 and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen1 whither the ,lord shall lead you4 7,deut4 #d3bg47 ,and ,i will scatter thee among the heathen1 and disperse thee in the countries1 and will consume thy filthiness out of thee4 7,ezek4 #bb3ae74 ,for1 lo1 ,i will command1 and ,i will sift the house of ,israel among all nations1 like as corn is sifted in a sieve1 yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth4 7,amos #i3i74 ,and they shall fall by the edge of the sword1 and shall be led away captive into all nations3 and ,jerusalem shall be trodden down of the ,gentiles1 until the times of the ,gentiles be fulfilled4 7,luke #ba3bd74 ,and so1 in progressive stages1 the covenant people of ,god have been scattered4 ,the bringing of a body of ,israelites to the ,western ,continent six centuries before the birth of ,christ1 of which the ,book of ,mormon bears record1 was part of the general dispersion1 and was so recognized by ,nephite prophets4 ,since the destruction of ,jerusalem and the final disruption of the ,jewish nation by the ,romans1 ,a4 ,d4 #ga1 the ,jews have been largely wanderers upon the face of the earth1 outcasts among the nations1 a people without a country1 a nation without a home4 ,israel has been sifted like as corn is sifted in a sieve2 but1 be it remembered that coupled with the dread prediction was the assuring promise ,yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth4 ,the record made by that division of the house of ,israel which took its departure from ,jerusalem1 and made its way to the ,western ,hemisphere about #fjj ,b4 ,c41 contains many references to the dispersions that had already taken place1 and to the continuation of the scattering which was to the writers of the ,book of ,mormon yet future4 ,in the course of the journey to the coast1 the prophet ,lehi1 while encamped with his family and other followers in the valley of ,lemuel on the borders of the ,red ,sea1 declared what he had learned by revelation of the future dwindling of the ,jews in unbelief1 of their crucifying the ,messiah1 and of their scattering upon all the face of the earth4 ,he compared ,israel to an olive tree1 the branches of which were to be broken off and distributed2 and he recognized the exodus of his colony1 and their journeying afar1 as an incident in the general plan of dispersion4 ,nephi1 the son of ,lehi1 also beheld in vision the scattering of the covenant people of ,god1 and on this point added his testimony to that of his prophet-father4 ,he saw also that the seed of his brethren1 subsequently known as the ,lamanites1 were to be chastened for their unbelief1 and that they were destined to become subject to the ,gentiles1 and to be scattered before them4 ,down the prophetic vista of years1 he saw also the bringing forth of sacred records1 other than those then known1 unto the convincing of the ,gentiles1 and the remnant of the seed of my brethren1 and also the ,jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth4 ,after their arrival on the promised land1 the colony led by ,lehi received further information regarding the dispersion of ,israel4 ,the prophet ,zenos1 quoted by ,nephi1 had predicted the unbelief of the house of ,israel1 in consequence of which these covenant ones of ,god were to wander in the flesh1 and perish1 and become a hiss and a by-word1 and be hated among all nations4 ,the brothers of ,nephi1 skeptical in regard to these teachings1 asked whether the things of which he spake were to come to pass in a spiritual sense1 or more literally2 and were informed that the house of ,israel1 sooner or later1 will be scattered upon all the face of the earth1 and also among all nations2 and further1 in reference to dispersions then already accomplished1 that the more part of all the tribes have been led away2 and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea2 and then1 by way of prediction concerning further division and separation1 ,nephi adds that the ,gentiles shall be given power over the people of ,israel1 and by them shall our seed be scattered4 ,the day of deliverance for ,israel is near at hand2 the restoration of the ancient ,kingdom of ,judah1 and of the remnants of all the tribes distributed throughout the earth1 as well as bringing forth from their long exile the tribes that have been lost1 are particularly specified as events of the current dispensation1 directly precedent to the second advent of the ,christ4 -- #dd -- ,,the ,,gathering ,,of ,,the ,,tribes ,judah and ,israel to ,come ,into ,their ,own ,,we believe in the literal gathering of ,israel1 and in the restoration of the ,ten ,tribes1 etc4 7,articles of ,faith1 ,no4 #aj74 ,as complete as was the scattering1 so shall the gathering of ,israel be4 ,great as has been the chastisement of the covenant though recreant people1 all through their centuries of suffering they have been sustained by the ,divine promise of recovery and rehabilitation4 ,though despised of men1 a large part of them gone from the knowledge of the world1 the people of ,israel are not lost to their ,god1 who knows whither they have been led or driven4 ,note the paternal affection1 in which appears commiseration for the plight into which they had brought themselves through sin3 ,and yet for all that1 when they be in the land of their enemies1 ,i will not cast them away1 neither will ,i abhor them1 to destroy them utterly1 and to break my covenant with them3 for ,i am the ,lord their ,god4 7,lev4 #bf3dd2 see also ,deut4 #d3bf-ca74 ,isaiah thus forcefully proclaims the purposes of ,god to be fulfilled in the last1 the current1 age3 ,and it shall come to pass in that day1 that the ,lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people1 which shall be left4 4 4 4 ,and he shall set up an ensign for the nations1 and shall assemble the outcasts of ,israel1 and gather together the dispersed of ,judah from the four corners of the earth4 7,isa4 #aa3aa-ab74 ,so momentous shall be the assembling of the tribes in their respective places of gathering1 that the event shall be held to surpass the deliverance of ,israel from ,egyptian bondage1 for thus hath the ,lord spoken3 ,therefore1 behold1 the days come1 saith the ,lord1 that it shall no more be said1 ,the ,lord liveth1 that brought up the children of ,israel out of the land of ,egypt2 ,but ,the ,lord liveth1 that brought up the children of ,israel from the land of the north1 and from all the lands whither he had driven them3 and ,i will bring them again into their land that ,i gave unto their fathers4 ,behold1 ,i will send for many fishers1 saith the ,lord1 and they shall fish them2 and after will ,i send for many hunters1 and they shall hunt them from every mountain1 and from every hill1 and out of the holes of the rocks4 7,jer4 #af3ad-af74 ,to these ,biblical citations let us add the words of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 given to ,his ,apostles just prior to ,his death and specified as one of the signs to precede ,his later coming3 ,and he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet1 and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds1 from one end of heaven to the other4 7,matt4 #bd3ca74 ,two gathering centers are distinctively mentioned1 and the maintenance of a separate autonomy for the ancient kingdoms of ,judah and ,israel is repeatedly affirmed in ,scripture1 with ,jerusalem and ,zion as the respective capitals4 ,in the light of modern revelation by which many ancient passages are illumined and made clear1 we hold that the ,jerusalem of ,judea is to be rebuilt by the reassembled house of ,judah1 and that ,zion is to be built up on the ,american continent by the gathered hosts of ,israel1 other than the ,jews4 ,when such shall have been accomplished1 ,christ shall personally rule in the earth1 and then shall be realized the glad fulfilment3 ,for out of ,zion shall go forth the law1 and the word of the ,lord from ,jerusalem4 7,isa4 #b3c2 see also ,joel #c3af2 ,zeph4 #c3ad74 ,book of ,mormon prophecies are plain in defining the extent and purpose of the latter-day gathering4 ,be it remembered that it was the people who once constituted the kingdom of ,judah1 the ,jews1 not the entire house of ,israel1 who rejected ,jesus as the ,son of ,god and the foreappointed ,redeemer4 ,by the ,nephites who dwelt on the ,american continent1 an ,israelitish branch1 ,he was received and worshipped as the ,christ 7see ,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #aa72 and the tenor of ,book of ,mormon ,scriptures warrants the inference that ,he was accepted by the ,lost ,tribes1 to whom ,he went to minister in person after ,his several visitations in the resurrected state to the ,nephites4 7,see #c ,nephi #ae3ae and #af3a-c2 compare #b ,nephi #bi3ab-ac74 ,the rehabilitation of the ,jewish nation is assured1 and the prominent part to be taken in that work by ,gentile nations is defined in prophecy4 ,so spake ,jehovah through ,his prophet ,nephi3 ,but behold1 thus saith the ,lord ,god3 ,when the day cometh that they shall believe in me1 that ,i am ,christ1 then have ,i covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh1 upon the earth1 unto the lands of their inheritance4 ,and it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion1 from the isles of the sea1 and from the four parts of the earth2 and the nations of the ,gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me1 saith ,god1 in carrying them forth to the lands of their inheritance4 ,yea1 the kings of the ,gentiles shall be nursing fathers unto them1 and their queens shall become nursing mothers2 wherefore1 the promises of the ,lord are great unto the ,gentiles1 for he hath spoken it1 and who can dispute8 7,book of ,mormon #b ,nephi #aj3g-i2 see also #be3ae-ag74 ,the work of gathering is well under way2 and among the far-reaching results of the ,world ,war is the participation of the ,gentile nations in providing for the reassembling of ,israel4 ,it is the privilege of the ,gentiles to assist in the gathering of the ,jews on the ,eastern1 and the other branches of ,israel on the ,western ,continent2 and so far as they shall accept the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ the ,gentiles shall be numbered with the covenant people and share with them the plenitude of blessings1 in their own right1 for1 verily1 ,god is no respecter of persons4 -- #de -- ,,america ,,the ,,land ,,of ,,zion ,the ,place of the ,new ,jerusalem ,,we believe in the literal gathering of ,israel1 and in the restoration of the ,ten ,tribes2 that ,zion will be built upon this the ,american continent2 etc4 7,articles of ,faith1 ,no4 #aj74 ,the ,holy ,bible makes frequent mention of ,zion and ,jerusalem with the context showing that the terms are used interchangeably if not as precise synonyms4 ,this application of different names to the same place is justified by the fact that within the walls of the ,jerusalem of old was a hill specifically called ,mount ,zion1 and by contraction1 ,zion4 ,but the two names appear in other ,biblical passages with distinctive meaning1 indicating different places1 and expressive of contrast instead of identity4 ,for example1 consider the prophecy voiced by ,isaiah relating to a time yet future3 ,oh ,zion that bringest good tidings1 get thee up into the high mountain2 ,o ,jerusalem1 that bringest good tidings1 lift up thy voice with strength3 lift it up1 be not afraid2 say unto the cities of ,judah1 ,behold your ,god4 7,isa4 #dj3i74 ,the same prophet refers to a ,zion of the last days in which the righteous shall be safeguarded1 this to be in a mountainous land1 with the munitions of rocks as a defense2 and he particularly states that the land is very far off4 7,see ,isa4 #cc3 #ad-ag74 ,more definite than ,bible prophecies1 however1 are the predictions relating to the latter-day ,zion made by prophets who ministered on the ,american continent many centuries prior to the rediscovery of the ,new ,world by ,columbus4 ,in the ,book of ,mormon the names ,zion and ,new ,jerusalem are used with allied meaning and sometimes synonymously4 ,near the beginning of the sixth century before ,christ's birth1 ,ether1 a ,jaredite prophet1 compiled the history of his people from the time of their coming to ,america soon after the dispersion from ,babel4 ,even before they had crossed the ocean1 the sanctity of the ,western ,continent as a foreappointed land for people who would observe the laws of righteousness was made known to the ,jaredites4 ,in a summary of ,ether's record1 ,moroni the ,nephite who lived a thousand years after the extinction of the ,jaredites1 says of the latter3 ,and the ,lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness1 but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise1 which was choice above all other lands1 which the ,lord ,god had preserved for a righteous people4 ,and he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of ,jared1 that whoso should possess this land of promise from that time henceforth and forever1 should serve him1 the true and only ,god1 or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them4 4 4 4 ,for behold this is a land which is choice above all other lands2 wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve ,god1 or shall be swept off2 for it is the everlasting decree of ,god4 ,and it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land1 that they are swept off4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,ether #b3g-aj74 ,the inspired admonition of these ancient prophets to the inhabitants of ,america today1 that they observe and uphold the principles of righteousness1 which embody just government and true liberty under equitable laws1 may profitably be taken to heart by people of all conditions and degrees4 ,america is the ,land of ,zion1 and as the people of this continent render allegiance to the ,god of ,israel who is verily the ,god of all mankind1 the land shall be sacred to liberty as the inheritance of the house of ,israel4 ,in it the ,gentiles shall be potent1 and shall be numbered with ,israel according to their deserts4 ,to the ,nephites the ,lord gave this far-reaching and blessed promise4 ,but behold1 this land1 saith ,god1 shall be a land of thine inheritance1 and the ,gentiles shall be blessed upon the land4 ,and this land shall be a land of liberty unto the ,gentiles1 and there shall be no kings upon the land1 who shall raise up unto the ,gentiles4 ,and ,i will fortify this land against all other nations4 ,and he that fighteth against ,zion shall perish1 saith ,god2 for he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish1 for ,i1 the ,lord1 the king of heaven1 will be their king1 and ,i will be a light unto them for ever1 that hear my words4 7,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #aj3aj-ad74 ,zion is to be established on this continent1 and as the word of modern revelation avers1 in the western part of the ,united ,states 7,see ,d,c #de3fd-ga2 #eg3a-e74 ,the time of the blessed consummation is conditioned by the fitness of the people4 ,hither shall come the hosts of scattered ,israel1 and the ,lost ,tribes from their long obscurity4 ,here shall yet be built the ,city of the ,lord1 ,zion1 the ,new ,jerusalem1 which in time shall be made one with the ,holy ,city1 which the ,revelator saw coming down from ,god1 out of heaven1 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband4 7,rev4 #ba3b74 ,holy ,scriptures1 of both ancient and latter days1 aver that the ,lost ,tribes of ,israel shall be brought forth from the place whereunto the ,lord has led them1 and shall figure in the general gathering incident to the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times4 ,touching this feature of the ,divine purpose in the time of restoration1 we are told3 ,and they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the ,lord1 and their prophets shall hear his voice and shall no longer stay themselves1 and they shall smite the rocks1 and the ice shall flow down at their presence4 ,and an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep4 ,their enemies shall become a prey unto them1 ,and in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water2 and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land4 ,and they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of ,ephraim my servants4 ,and the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence4 ,and there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory1 even in ,zion1 by the hands of the servants of the ,lord1 even the children of ,ephraim2 and they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy4 ,behold1 this is the blessing of the everlasting ,god upon the tribes of ,israel1 and the richer blessing upon the head of ,ephraim and his fellows4 7,d,c #acc3bf-cd74 -- #df -- ,,the ,,coming ,,of ,,the ,,lord ,the ,consummation of the ,ages ,,we believe 4 4 4 that ,christ will reign personally upon the earth2 etc4 7,articles of ,faith1 ,no4 #aj74 ,ye men of ,galilee1 why stand ye gazing up into heaven8 ,this same ,jesus1 which is taken up from you into heaven1 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven4 7,acts #a3aa74 ,so spake the white-robed angels to the ,apostles as the resurrected ,christ ascended from their midst on ,mount ,olivet4 ,the assertion is definite1 unambiguous1 easy to comprehend4 ,jesus the ,christ is to return to earth in like manner as ,he went1 therefore as a material ,being1 a living ,personage1 having a tangible immortalized body of flesh and bones4 ,the actuality of the ,lord's future advent is attested by the utterances of holy prophets both before and since the brief period of ,his ministry in the flesh1 and by ,his own unequivocal avowal4 ,consider the following3 ,for the ,son of man shall come in the glory of his ,father with his angels2 and then he shall reward every man according to his works4 7,matt4 #af3bg74 ,for whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words1 of him shall the ,son of man be ashamed1 when he shall come in his own glory1 and in his ,father's1 and of the holy angels4 7,luke #i3bf2 compare ,mark #h3ch74 ,the ,master had so effectively instructed the ,apostles concerning ,his assured death and ,his later return to earth in power and glory1 that they eagerly inquired as to the time and signs of ,his coming4 7,see ,matt4 chap4 #bd74 ,though they failed to comprehend the full import of ,his reply1 ,he told them that many great developments would intervene between ,his departure and return2 but as to the certainty of ,his advent as ,judge1 and ,lord1 and ,king1 ,jesus left no excuse for dubiety in their minds4 ,throughout the apostolic period the ,lord's coming was preached with the emphasis of inspired and convicting testimony4 ,book of ,mormon prophecies concerning the great event are no whit less explicit4 ,to the ,nephites the resurrected ,christ preached the ,gospel of salvation2 ,and ,he did expound all things1 even from the beginning until the time that ,he should come in ,his glory4 7,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #bf3c74 ,questions of supreme import to every one of us are these3 7#a7 ,when will ,christ come8 7#b7 ,what shall be the purpose and attendant conditions of ,his coming8 ,the date of the ,lord's advent has never been revealed to man1 nor shall it be4 ,prior to ,his resurrection ,jesus ,himself did not know it1 as witness ,his words3 ,but of that day and that hour knoweth no man1 no1 not the angels which are in heaven1 neither the ,son1 but the ,father4 7,mark #ac3cb74 ,in the present age the ,father hath declared3 ,and they have done unto the ,son of ,man even as they listed2 and ,he has taken ,his power on the right hand of ,his glory1 and now reigneth in the heavens1 and will reign till ,he descends on the earth to put all enemies under ,his feet1 which time is nigh at hand4 ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 have spoken it1 but the hour and the day no man knoweth1 neither the angels in heaven1 nor shall they know until ,he comes4 7,d,c #di3f-g74 ,in the light of such scriptural affirmations we may dismiss as empty conjecture all alleged determinations as to the precise time of the ,lord's appearing4 ,nevertheless1 the specified signs and conditions by which is shown the imminence of the event are definite1 and from these we know that the great day of the ,lord is very near4 ,so near is the consummation that the intervening period is called today2 and on the morrow mankind shall rejoice or tremble at the presence of the ,lord4 7,see ,doctrines and ,covenants #fd3bc-be74 ,christ's advent shall be made with the accompaniment of power and great glory4 ,while in suddenness and unexpectedness to the unobserving it shall be comparable to the coming of a thief in the night1 it shall be a manifestation of surpassing glory to all the world3 ,for as the lightning cometh out of the east1 and shineth even unto the west2 so shall also the coming of the ,son of man be4 7,matt4 #bd3bg74 ,with the ,lord's appearing a general resurrection of the righteous dead shall be effected1 and many then in the flesh shall be changed from the mortal to the immortal state without the intervening experience of prolonged disembodiment or the sleep of the grave4 7,see #a ,thess4 #d3ad-ag74 ,and the face of the ,lord shall be unveiled2 ,and the saints that are upon the earth1 who are alive1 shall be quickened1 and be caught up to meet ,him4 ,and they who have slept in their graves shall come forth2 for their graves shall be opened1 and they also shall be caught up to meet ,him in the midst of the pillar of heaven4 7,d,c #hh3ie-ig74 ,then shall be established the era of peace1 the predicted ,millennium1 in which ,christ shall dwell with men1 and shall rule in the earth as ,lord and ,king4 -- #dg -- ,,the ,,federation ,,of ,,the ,,world ,a ,thousand ,years of ,peace ,,we believe 4 4 4 that ,christ will reign personally upon the earth1 and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory4 7,articles of ,faith1 ,no4 #aj74 ,through the lurid gloom of smoke and fire in which the nations have been enshrouded1 amidst the awful stench of blood that has sickened the world1 mankind has had reason to rejoice in the enlightening beams of comforting assurance that an era of peace is to be established4 ,and this shall be a peace that cannot be broken1 for righteousness shall rule1 and man's birthright to liberty shall be inviolate4 ,of necessity this blessed state shall be attained only after due preparation2 for in the economy of ,god it would be as incongruous to force upon mankind an unappreciated and undesired boon as to arbitrarily afflict with an undeserved curse4 ,the coming of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ to reign personally upon the earth is near at hand1 for the ,scriptures so attest4 ,prophecies relating to this impending event specify a period of a thousand years1 distinctively known as the ,millennium1 which in certain conditions shall differ from both preceding and succeeding time4 ,while this period is nowise indicative of a limitation to the ,lord's dominion1 it specifies the duration of a particular part of ,his ministry1 even as the epoch of ,his administration in the flesh is measurable in terms of years and days4 ,unto righteous ,enoch1 who walked with ,god and was taken bodily from the earth 7,gen4 #e3bd2 ,heb4 #aa3e71 the certainty of the millennial reign was revealed over thirty centuries before the ,lord's birth in mortality1 as is thus recorded3 ,and it came to pass that ,enoch saw the day of the coming of the ,son of ,man1 in the last days1 to dwell on the earth in righteousness for the space of a thousand years4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #de74 ,in glorious vision ,john1 the apostle and revelator1 foresaw ,christ's personal reign1 during which ,satan is to be bound3 ,and ,i saw thrones1 and they sat upon them1 and judgment was given unto them3 and ,i saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of ,jesus and for the word of ,god1 and which had not worshiped the beast1 neither his image1 neither had received his mark upon their foreheads1 or in their hands2 and they lived and reigned with ,christ a thousand years4 ,but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished4 7,rev4 #bj3d1 #e2 see also verse #b74 ,the ,millennium is to be a ,sabbatical era1 when the earth shall rest2 and men1 relieved from the tyranny of ,satan1 shall1 if they will1 live in righteousness and peace4 ,man1 to whom was given dominion over the earth and its creatures1 shall rule by love1 for enmity between him and the brute creation shall cease1 and the ferocity and venom of the beasts shall be done away4 ,so hath the ,lord avowed through the prophet ,isaiah4 7,see ,isa4 ch4 #fe74 ,we are definitely assured that the ,millennium is to be inaugurated by the advent of ,christ1 and that ,satan's power over men shall be restrained1 and further1 that after the thousand blessed years are finished1 ,satan shall be loosed for a season1 and such as elect to follow him shall eventually go with him to eternal condemnation4 ,see ,rev4 #bj3g1 and consider these words of the ,lord ,christ spoken in the current dispensation3 ,for in my own due time will ,i come upon the earth in judgment1 and my people shall be redeemed and shall reign with me on earth4 ,for the great ,millennium1 of which ,i have spoken by the mouth of my servants1 shall come2 ,for ,satan shall be bound1 and when he is loosed again he shall only reign for a little season1 and then cometh the end of the earth4 4 4 4 ,hearken ye to these words2 ,behold1 ,i am ,jesus ,christ1 the ,savior of the world4 ,treasure these things up in your hearts1 and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds4 7,d,c #dc3 #bi-cd74 ,the following revelation is equally specific3 ,for ,i will reveal myself from heaven with power and great glory1 with all the hosts thereof1 and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years1 and the wicked shall not stand4 4 4 4 ,and again1 verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 that when the thousand years are ended1 and men again begin to deny their ,god1 then will ,i spare the earth but for a little season2 ,and the end shall come1 and the heaven and the earth shall be consumed and pass away1 and there shall be a new heaven and a new earth4 7,d,c #bi3aa1 #bb1 #bc74 ,it is evident from citations given and from all ,scripture bearing upon the subject1 that the ,millennium is to precede the consummation spoken of as the end of the world4 ,in the era of peace both mortal and immortalized beings will tenant the earth2 and though sin will not be wholly abolished nor death banished1 the powers of righteousness shall be dominant4 ,though ,satan shall afterward regain a measure of power over mankind1 his time will be short and the earth shall eventually be restored to its paradisiacal glory1 and become a fit abode for the glorified children of our ,god and ,his ,christ4 -- #dh -- ,,thy ,,kingdom ,,come6 ,so ,pray ,we ,yet ,,our ,father which art in heaven1 ,hallowed be thy name4 ,thy kingdom come4 ,thus did the ,master teach ,his disciples to pray2 and the injunction has never been abrogated4 ,the passing of the centuries has demonstrated the need of ever increasing fervency in the supplication ,thy kingdom come6 ,but if this petition be anything more than words1 it implies a conviction on the part of the supplicant that the kingdom specified has not yet been established on the earth1 and that it will be set up in due time4 ,and1 if there is to be a kingdom1 there must needs be a living1 reigning ,king4 ,in the ,gospel according to ,matthew the phrase kingdom of heaven repeatedly occurs2 while in the writings of the other evangelists and throughout the epistles1 the corresponding expression is kingdom of ,god1 kingdom of ,christ1 or simply kingdom4 ,in many instances these designations are used with the same meaning1 though a distinction is apparent in others4 ,the several scriptural usages of the terms comprise3 #a4 ,a signification practically identical with that of ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ4 #b4 ,the designation of the literal kingdom1 material and spiritual1 over which ,christ the ,lord shall rule by personal ministration in days yet future4 ,under the first conception1 the kingdom of scriptural mention has been already established as an organization among men1 and is today in a state of war against sin1 with its powers and resources mobilized in defense of freedom of worship and for the salvation of the race4 ,plainly1 when we speak of the ,church as the ,kingdom we refer to an institution already extant on the earth1 not one that is yet to come4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ asserts no right of control in the government of nations2 and its jurisdiction in temporal affairs is limited to matters of organization and discipline within itself1 such as are essential to the maintenance and perpetuity of any community body4 ,the ,kingdom of ,god and the ,church of ,christ are virtually synonymous terms4 ,we do not pray that this organization shall come2 for it is now existent4 ,we pray and strive for its growth and development1 for the spread of its saving principles1 and for their acceptance by all mankind4 ,but the ,kingdom of ,heaven is greater than the ,church as the latter exists today1 and when fully established will be seen to be a development thereof4 ,its advent is yet to be prayed for4 ,this relationship is made clear through a revelation given to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints in #ahca3 ,hearken1 and lo1 a voice as of one from on high1 who is mighty and powerful1 whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth1 yea1 whose voice is unto men--,prepare ye the way of the ,lord1 make his paths straight4 ,the keys of the kingdom of ,god are committed unto man on the earth1 and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth1 as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth1 until it has filled the whole earth4 4 4 4 ,call upon the ,lord1 that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth1 that the inhabitants thereof may receive it1 and be prepared for the days to come1 in the which the ,son of ,man shall come down in heaven1 clothed in the brightness of his glory1 to meet the kingdom of ,god which is set up on the earth4 ,wherefore may the kingdom of ,god go forth1 that the kingdom of heaven may come1 that thou1 ,o ,god1 mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth1 that thy enemies may be subdued2 for thine is the honour1 power and glory1 for ever and ever4 ,amen4 7,d,c1 ,sec4 #fe74 ,when the ,messiah comes to rule and reign1 ,he will be accompanied by the hosts of the righteous who have already passed through the change of death2 and the righteous who are yet in the flesh shall be caught up to meet ,him1 and shall descend with ,him as partakers of ,his glory4 ,then shall the ,kingdom of ,god on earth be made one with the ,kingdom of ,heaven4 ,then shall be realized the glorious fulfilment of the prayer taught by the ,christ1 and voiced by men through the ages past1 ,thy ,kingdom come4 ,the ,kingdom of ,heaven on earth is to be a literal government1 administered under the supreme direction of ,jesus ,christ the ,king4 ,no longer shall men arrogate to themselves the power of might to exercise dominion over their fellows1 nor exalt themselves on thrones1 nor bedeck themselves with crowns and scepters4 ,that the extent and jurisdiction of the kingdom shall be world-wide was declared by ,daniel to ,nebuchadnezzar1 depicting what shall be in the latter days4 ,thus spake the prophet3 ,and in the days of these kings shall the ,god of heaven set up a kingdom1 which shall never be destroyed3 and the kingdom shall not be left to other people1 but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms1 and it shall stand for ever4 ,forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands1 and that it brake in pieces the iron1 the brass1 the clay1 the silver1 and the gold2 the great ,god hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter3 and the dream is certain1 and the interpretation thereof sure4 7,dan4 #b3dd-de2 see also verse #bh74 -- #di -- ,,freedom ,,to ,,worship ,,god ,man's ,divine ,birthright ,,we claim the privilege of worshiping ,almighty ,god according to the dictates of our own conscience1 and allow all men the same privilege1 let them worship how1 where1 or what they may4 7,articles of ,faith1 #aa74 ,the derivation of the word worship is significant4 ,it is the lineal descendant of a pair of ,anglo-,saxon terms--weorth meaning worthy1 and scipe1 an ancient form of the termination snip signifying condition or state4 ,the combination as perpetuated in our expression worship means worthy-ship1 and connotes the attribute of worthiness on the part of the object of adoration4 ,man cannot intelligently worship in ignorance2 and this basal fact is supported and strengthened by the inspired affirmation of a modern prophet3 ,it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance4 7,d,c #aca3f74 ,the devout worshiper must have some conception of the ennobling or emulatory character of his deity1 whether that deity be an idol made with hands or the true and living ,god1 the ,creator of the heavens and the earth4 ,worship to be genuine1 to be what the word implies1 must be voluntary1 willing1 soulful homage4 ,it is typified by actual praying as contrasted with the formality of saying one's prayers4 ,worship is no matter of mere form2 it consists not of posture nor gesture1 neither of ritual nor of creed--any more than prayer consists of words4 ,under compulsion1 or for the hypocritical purposes of effect1 one may mechanically perform all the outward ceremonies of an established style of adoration1 yet1 without sincerity his effort is but a mockery of worship4 ,worship1 then1 is a matter of conscience1 and as such its observance is one of man's inalienable rights4 ,freedom in worship is part of the ,divine birthright of the race2 and1 as a natural consequence1 no earthly power can justly interfere therewith so long as its exercise involves no trespass upon individual or community rights4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints accept as divinely inspired the constitutional provision by which religious liberty is professedly guarded--that no law shall ever be made respecting an establishment of religion1 or prohibiting the free exercise thereof2 and we confidently believe that with the spread of enlightenment throughout the world1 a similar guaranty will be established in every nation4 ,religious intolerance is inconsistent with democratic government2 yet this species of prejudice is manifest even amongst the most progressive nations of the age4 ,zeal ofttimes breeds indiscretion and injustice4 ,it is easy for one who believes that he has the truth to become uncharitable toward those who will not or cannot see as he sees4 ,we find simple explanation of the fact that the early followers of ,christ1 zealous for the new faith into which they had been baptized1 should look with disdain upon their fellows still groping in spiritual darkness4 ,even ,john1 who has come to be known as the ,apostle of ,love1 became on more than one occasion intolerant and resentful toward unbelievers4 ,he and his brother were incensed at the ,samaritans' rejection of the ,lord1 and would fain have called fire from heaven to consume the offenders2 but this vengeful desire was met by ,jesus with incisive rebuke1 as thus expressed3 ,ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of4 ,for the ,son of man is not come to destroy men's lives1 but to save them4 7,luke #i3ea-ef2 see also ,mark #i3ch-da2 compare ,john #c3ag74 ,intolerance is unscriptural and un-,christian4 ,our ,lord's teachings are imbued with the spirit of forbearance and love even toward enemies and persecutors4 ,but let us not forget that there is a vital difference between toleration and acceptance4 ,to assume that because ,i have respect for my neighbor's belief ,i must believe and act as he does would be to surrender my own rights4 ,to regard all religious systems1 all sects and churches1 as essentially of equal worth and worthiness1 is to make of religious profession a matter of mere convenience and conventionality4 ,i verily believe1 with the full force of my soul's conviction1 that there is and can be but one ,church of ,jesus ,christ upon the earth1 possessing the blessings and powers of the ,holy ,priesthood1 with the authority to administer the ordinances requisite to salvation4 ,nevertheless1 ,i can and do admit freely and without reservation the right of any man to believe that ,i am wrong2 and ,i hold that neither of us is justified in assailing the other except by means of persuasion1 demonstration1 and testimony4 ,to preach the doctrines of men as the precepts of ,christ1 to supplant the eternal principles of the ,gospel by the dogmas of human conception1 is to commit grievous sin and incur fearful culpability4 ,christ and ,his apostles gave solemn and repeated warning against the heresies of false teachers4 ,thus wrote ,paul to the ,galatians3 ,but though we1 or an angel from heaven1 preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you1 let him be accursed4 ,as we said before1 so say ,i now again1 ,if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received1 let him be accursed4 7,gal4 #a3h-i74 ,some have thought to find in this and cognate ,scriptures an excuse for intolerance1 and even for persecution4 ,but is it otherwise than consistent with justice and reason to hold that any man who preaches his own doctrines or those of other men under the name of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ stands convicted of blasphemy1 and deserving of the curse of ,god8 ,the ,apostle cited above left no doubt as to the genuineness of the ,gospel he so vigorously defended1 as witness the following3 ,but ,i certify you1 brethren1 that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man4 ,for ,i neither received it of man1 neither was ,i taught it1 but by the revelation of ,jesus ,christ4 ,each of us may accept or reject the message of eternal life1 the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ2 and by all reason and consistency each shall garner the fruitage of his choice4 -- #ej -- ,,the ,,law ,,of ,,the ,,land ,should ,we ,submit to ,it8 ,,we believe in being subject to kings1 presidents1 rulers1 and magistrates1 in obeying1 honoring1 and sustaining the law4 7,articles of ,faith1 #ab74 ,religion is essentially a matter of every-day life4 ,it has as much to do with the adjustment of the individual to his material environment as with his abstract belief in matters spiritual4 ,a man's religion should be a concrete demonstration of his conceptions concerning ,god and the ,divine purposes respecting himself and his fellows4 ,anything less lacks both the form of godliness and the power thereof4 ,the ,master associated love for ,god with love for fellowman2 and surely love comprises duty1 and duty means effort and action4 ,see ,matt4 #bb3ce-dj4 ,a very large part of the course of education provided in the school of mortality is attained through association with our kind and the righteous observance of duty in community life4 ,we are not here to be recluses nor to hold ourselves aloof from public service1 but to live in a state of mutual helpfulness and effective cooperation4 ,it is a fundamental necessity that laws shall be established among men for general governance2 and obedience to law is the obvious duty of every member of organized society4 ,violation of the law1 therefore1 is not only a secular offense but a transgression of the principles of true religion4 ,this world would be a happier one if men carried more religion into their daily affairs--into business1 politics1 and statesmanship4 ,mark you1 ,i say religion1 not church4 ,under existing conditions it is imperative that ,state and ,church be kept separate2 and this segregation must be maintained until the inauguration of ,christ's personal reign4 ,loyal citizenship is at once a characteristic and a test of a man's religion2 and as to the incumbent duties of citizenship1 the voice of the people1 as expressed through the established channels of government1 must determine4 ,obedience to secular authority is enjoined by ,scripture2 and the ,lord ,christ exemplified the principle in ,his own life1 even to the extent of meeting a demand that could have been legally challenged4 ,when the tax collector called for tribute money1 the following instructive colloquy occurred between ,jesus and ,peter3 ,what thinkest thou1 ,simon1 of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute8 of their own children1 or of strangers8 ,peter saith unto him1 ,of strangers4 ,jesus saith unto him1 ,then are the children free4 ,notwithstanding1 lest we should offend them1 go thou to the sea1 and cast an hook1 and take up the fish that first cometh up2 and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt find a piece of money3 that take1 and give unto them for me and thee4 7,matt4 #ag3be-bg4 ,for a discussion of this incident and lessons associated therewith see the writer's work ,jesus the ,christ74 ,on another occasion a treacherous snare was laid to make ,christ appear as an offender against the ,roman power4 ,certain wicked ,pharisees sought to entangle ,him by the question3 ,what thinkest thou8 ,is it lawful to give tribute unto ,caesar1 or not8 ,the ,lord's reply was a telling lesson in the matter of submission to the law4 ,shew me the tribute money1 said ,he1 ,and they brought unto ,him a penny4 ,and ,he saith unto them1 ,whose is this image and superscription8 ,they say unto ,him1 ,caesar's4 ,then saith ,he unto them1 ,render therefore unto ,caesar the things which are ,caesar's2 and unto ,god the things that are ,god's4 7,matt4 #bb3ae-ba74 ,the ,apostles made it clear that respect for the law and its officers was a part of the religious duty of the saints4 ,in writing to ,titus1 who was in charge of the ,church at ,crete1 ,paul thus admonished him to teach his flock to be orderly and law-abiding3 ,put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers1 to obey magistrates1 to be ready to every good work4 7,titus #c3a74 ,to the saints in ,rome the same ,apostle wrote1 emphasizing their duty toward the civil power1 pointing out the necessity of secular government1 and designating the officers of the law as ministers of ,god3 ,let every soul be subject unto the higher powers4 ,for there is no power but of ,god3 the powers that be are ordained of ,god4 ,whosoever therefore resisteth the power1 resisteth the ordinance of ,god3 and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation4 ,for rulers are not a terror to good works1 but to the evil4 4 4 4 ,for for this cause pay ye tribute also3 for they are ,god's ministers1 attending continually upon this very thing4 ,render therefore to all their dues3 tribute to whom tribute is due2 custom to whom custom2 fear to whom fear2 honour to whom honour4 7,rom4 #ac3a-g74 ,to the same effect the voice of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ has come to the ,church in this age4 ,thus spake ,he in #ahca3 ,let no man break the laws of the land1 for he that keepeth the laws of ,god hath no need to break the laws of the land3 ,wherefore1 be subject to the powers that be1 until ,he reigns whose right it is to reign1 and subdues all enemies under ,his feet4 ,and the distinction between the laws of the ,church and the laws of the nation is emphasized in the further word3 ,behold1 the laws which ye have received from my hand are the laws of the church1 and in this light ye shall hold them forth4 7,d,c #eh3ba-bc74 ,loyal and whole-souled support of the government1 service to country1 and devotion to the interests of the nation1 are requirements of the religion embodied in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 -- #ea -- ,,church ,,and ,,state ,independent ,but ,mutually ,helpful ,,the teachings of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints concerning the duty of its members1 and of all men1 in relation to the secular law1 are set forth in ,section #acd of the ,d,c1 which is one of the standard works of the ,church4 ,this is part of the law of the ,church1 and has been adopted as a guide in faith and practise by the members in general conference assembled4 ,of ,governments and ,laws in ,general #a4 ,we believe that governments were instituted of ,god for the benefit of man1 and that ,he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them1 either in making laws or administering them1 for the good and safety of society4 #b4 ,we believe that no government can exist in peace1 except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience1 the right and control of property1 and the protection of life4 #c4 ,we believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same1 and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people 7if a republic71 or the will of the sovereign4 #d4 ,we believe that religion is instituted of ,god1 and that men are amenable to ,him1 and to ,him only1 for the exercise of it1 unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others2 but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men1 nor dictate forms for public or private devotion2 that the civil magistrate should restrain crime1 but never control conscience2 should punish guilt1 but never suppress the freedom of the soul4 #e4 ,we believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside1 while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments2 and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected1 and should be punished accordingly2 and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgment are best calculated to secure the public interest1 at the same time1 however1 holding sacred the freedom of conscience4 #f4 ,we believe that every man should be honored in his station3 rulers and magistrates as such1 being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty2 and that to the laws1 all men owe respect and deference1 as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror2 human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations1 between man and man1 and ,divine laws given of heaven1 prescribing rules on spiritual concerns1 for faith and worship1 both to be answered by man to his ,maker4 #g4 ,we believe that rulers1 states1 and governments have a right1 and are bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their religious belief2 but we do not believe that they have a right in justice1 to deprive citizens of this privilege1 or proscribe them in their opinions1 so long as a regard and reverence are shown to the laws1 and such religious opinions do not justify sedition nor conspiracy4 #h4 ,we believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense2 that murder1 treason1 robbery1 theft1 and the breach of the general peace1 in all respects1 should be punished according to their criminality1 and their tendency to evil among men1 by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed2 and for the public peace and tranquillity all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment4 #i4 ,we do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government1 whereby one religious society is fostered1 and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges1 and the individual rights of its members as citizens1 denied4 #aj4 ,we believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with their members for disorderly conduct according to the rules and regulations of such societies1 provided that such dealings be for fellowship and good standing2 but we do not believe that any religious society has authority to try men on the right of property or life1 to take from them this world's goods1 or to put them in jeopardy of either life or limb1 neither to inflict any physical punishment upon them2 they can only excommunicate them from their society1 and withdraw from them their fellowship4 #aa4 ,we believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances1 where personal abuse is inflicted1 or the right of property or character infringed1 where such laws exist as will protect the same2 but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves1 their friends1 and property1 and the government1 from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons1 in times of exigency1 where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws1 and relief afforded4 #ab4 ,we believe it just to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth1 and warn the righteous to save themselves from the corruption of the world2 but we do not believe it right to interfere with bond servants1 neither preach the gospel to1 nor baptize them1 contrary to the will and wish of their masters1 nor to meddle with or influence them in the least1 to cause them to be dissatisfied with their situations in this life1 thereby jeopardizing the lives of men2 such interference we believe to be unlawful and unjust1 and dangerous to the peace of every government allowing human beings to be held in servitude4 -- #eb -- ,,religion ,,of ,,daily ,,life ,a ,practical ,test ,,we believe in being honest1 true1 chaste1 benevolent1 virtuous1 and in doing good to all men2 indeed1 we may say that we follow the admonition of ,paul--we believe all things1 we hope all things1 we have endured many things1 and hope to be able to endure all things4 ,if there is anything virtuous1 lovely1 or of good report or praise-worthy1 we seek after these things4 7,articles of ,faith1 #ac74 ,in this brief statement the ,latter-day ,saints proclaim the practical character of their religion--a religion that embraces not alone definite conceptions of spiritual matters and belief as to conditions in the hereafter1 doctrines of original sin and the actuality of heaven and hell1 but also and more particularly of present1 current1 every-day duties1 in which self-respect1 love for fellow-men1 and devotion to ,god are the guiding principles4 ,religion without personal morality1 professions of godliness without charity1 church membership without consistent conduct in the common affairs of life are but as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals--noise without music1 the words of prayer without the spirit4 ,if any man among you seem to be religious1 and bridleth not his tongue1 but deceiveth his own heart1 this man's religion is vain4 ,pure religion and undefiled before ,god and the ,father is this3 ,to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction1 and to keep himself unspotted from the world4 7,james #a3bf1 #bg74 ,a good test of a man's religion is its utility4 ,religious profession used as a cloak--and that too often reserved for ,sunday wear1 hiding in part the shabby rags of sin--is but sacrilege4 ,in any attempt to analyze a religious system or creed it is pertinent to examine the results of its operation in the lives of its adherents4 ,this is as simple and fair as to judge a tree by the quality of its substance and fruit4 ,altruism is an essential ingredient of a religion that is worth while4 ,if a man say1 ,i love ,god1 and hateth his brother1 he is a liar3 for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen1 how can he love ,god whom he hath not seen8 ,and this commandment have we from him1 ,that he who loveth ,god love his brother also4 7#a ,john #d3bj1 #ba74 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints invites attention to its work of unselfish1 practical1 unremitting benevolence4 ,in missionary service the ,church has been active since the date of its organization2 and this systematic labor1 because of its extent and unique methods1 has attracted attention and stimulated comment in practically all nations of the earth4 ,actuated by a genuine love for humanity and the desire to obey the ,divine command respecting such1 the ,church sends out every year hundreds of missionaries to proclaim its message to the world4 ,these devoted servants comprise men and women called from all vocations1 who serve without salary or any other form of material remuneration4 ,furthermore1 they pay their own way in traveling to their appointed fields of labor and while serving therein1 except so far as they may receive assistance from those who become interested in their work4 ,a desire common to young ,latter-day ,saints is to so live that they shall be found worthy to be called into service to spend a period of years1 generally from two to four1 as traveling ministers of the ,gospel of ,christ4 ,they offer their message without money or price1 carrying it to the doors in city and country1 distributing literature1 inviting conversation1 but never forcing themselves upon unwilling hearers4 ,who can consistently affirm that such faithful servants as these are insincere or devoid of that love for fellow-men without which genuine love of ,god is impossible8 ,the benevolence that manifests itself in material giving is impressed as a duty upon members of the ,church1 and while every one is taught to assist the needy by individual effort1 a system of orderly contribution and distribution is maintained4 ,in each ,ward and ,branch of the ,church an organization of women known as the ,relief ,society is operative4 ,its particular function is that of caring for the needy and the afflicted1 without exclusive distinction as to whether the subjects of their ministration are members of the ,church or not4 ,the ,relief ,society receives contributions of money1 clothing1 food and other commodities and distributes these as occasion requires1 beside maintaining a system of visitation to the needy1 giving aid in nursing1 comfort in bereavement1 and relief from distress in every way possible4 ,the ,church teaches the efficacy of prudent fasting1 moderate abstinence from food at stated times1 as an accessory to prayer2 and the first ,sunday of each month is observed as a fast-day4 ,on that day the people are invited to meet for special devotional service1 and by common consent and custom they contribute at least the equivalent of the meals omitted through the fasting of the family4 ,these offerings are received by the local officers and are distributed under their direction to the worthy poor4 ,if there be a surplus in any ,ward it is applied to the needs of other ,wards in which the proportion of dependent poor is greater4 ,by these and other methods1 including the tithing system to be considered later1 are the ,latter-day ,saints taught to give of their substance for worthy purposes1 and in such a way as to avoid indiscriminate charity whereby perchance unworthy dependency would be fostered4 ,we believe that the harmony of our prayers will become a discord if the cry of the deserving poor accompany our supplications to the throne of ,grace4 -- #ec -- ,,america ,,the ,,cradle ,,of ,,liberty ,no ,king to ,rule in the ,land ,,the commanding position of the ,united ,states among the world powers1 and the prominent place the ,american nation is to maintain as the exponent and champion of human rights1 were foreseen and predicted centuries before the beginning of the ,christian ,era4 ,such is the ,book of ,mormon record4 ,the prophet ,nephi was one of the original company1 who1 under the leadership of his father ,lehi1 left ,jerusalem in the year #fjj ,b4 ,c41 and journeyed to the ,arabian shore1 thence voyaging to the ,american continent in a vessel they had constructed as1 centuries earlier1 ,noah had built an ark under ,divine guidance4 ,in the early stages of the exodus1 while the travelers were journeying seaward through the deserts of ,arabia1 the ,lord revealed unto ,nephi that a part of the posterity of his brethren would be smitten by the righteous wrath of ,god2 and it was specifically shown that the nation into which the little company was to develop would be isolated beyond the seas from all other peoples4 ,thus runs the account of the revelation to ,nephi the prophet1 the events being chronicled in the past tense as though already accomplished3 ,and it came to pass that ,i looked and beheld many waters2 and they divided the ,gentiles from the seed of my brethren4 ,and it came to pass that the angel said unto me1 ,behold the wrath of ,god is upon the seed of thy brethren4 ,and ,i looked and beheld a man among the ,gentiles who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters2 and ,i beheld the ,spirit of ,god1 that it came down and wrought upon the man2 and he went forth upon the many waters1 even unto the seed of my brethren1 who were in the promised land4 7,book of ,mormon1 #a ,nephi #ac3aj-ab74 ,lehi and his people were ,hebrews2 all other nations are designated in the ,book of ,mormon as ,gentiles4 ,as later parts of the record make plain1 the promised land is the continent of ,america4 ,the man among the ,gentiles1 who was to come across the many waters and discover the descendants of ,nephi's brethren upon whom the wrath of ,god had fallen1 was ,christopher ,columbus whose mission was as surely foreappointed as was that of any prophet4 ,then follows the prediction of the migration of the ,pilgrim ,fathers1 who are described as other ,gentiles going forth out of captivity2 while the subsequent occupation of the land by multitudes of the ,gentiles who would prosper as a nation and would subjugate the ,indians is impressively set forth4 ,the struggle of the ,american colonies for independence was foretold1 and the assurance that the power of ,god would be exercised to give them victory over their mother ,gentiles1 or the ,british nation1 was inscribed on enduring metal before the existence of the western world had found place even in the dreams of mankind4 ,thus runs the ancient record3 ,and it came to pass that ,i1 ,nephi1 beheld that the ,gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity1 did humble themselves before the ,lord2 and the power of the ,lord was with them2 ,and ,i beheld that their mother ,gentiles were gathered together upon the waters1 and upon the land also1 to battle against them4 ,and ,i beheld that the power of ,god was with them1 and also that the wrath of ,god was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle4 ,and ,i1 ,nephi1 beheld that the ,gentiles that had gone out of captivity1 were delivered by the power of ,god out of the hands of all other nations4 7#a ,nephi #ac3af-ai74 ,in the economy of ,god1 ,america1 which is veritably the land of ,zion1 was aforetime consecrated as the home of a free and independent nation4 ,it is the divinely assured inheritance of the ,house of ,israel2 and people of all nationalities who will abide by the laws of righteousness1 which embody the principles of true liberty1 may become by adoption members of the ,house of ,israel4 ,for a wise purpose this promised land1 the ,american continent1 was long kept from the knowledge of men2 and the hand of the ,lord has been potent in directing its discovery and in the establishment of the nation of promise and destiny thereon4 ,nephite prophets reiterated this solemn assurance1 and proclaimed as the will and purpose of ,god that the government of the land should be a government of the people and not the tyranny of kings4 ,lehi was explicit in avowal of the ,lord's purpose in consecrating ,america as the home of free men1 on conditions of righteousness3 ,wherefore ,i1 ,lehi1 prophesy according to the workings of the ,spirit which is in me1 that there shall none come into this land1 save they shall be brought by the hand of the ,lord4 ,wherefore1 this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring4 ,and if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given1 it shall be a land of liberty unto them2 wherefore1 they shall never be brought down into captivity2 if so1 it shall be because of iniquity2 for if iniquity shall abound1 cursed shall be the land for their sakes2 but unto the righteous it shall be blessed for ever4 ,and behold1 it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations2 for behold1 many nations would overrun the land1 that there would be no place for an inheritance4 7#b ,nephi #a3f-h74 -- #ed -- ,,democracy ,,of ,,american ,,origin ,the ,founding of an ,ancient ,republic ,democracy is indigenous to ,america4 ,one of the earliest recorded experiments of representative government by the people was undertaken on the ,western ,continent2 and it was a success4 ,these statements are not made with reference to the establishment of the ,united ,states of ,america as a free and independent nation1 but to events that antedated by nearly a century the birth of ,christ4 ,at that time ,north ,america was inhabited by two great peoples1 the ,nephites and the ,lamanites1 each named after an early leader1 and both originally of one family stock4 ,except for brief periods of comparative peace the two nations lived in a state of hostility due to ,lamanite aggression4 ,the ,nephites were progressive1 cultured1 and of peaceful desires1 while the ,lamanites became degenerate1 dark-skinned and barbarous4 ,eventually the ,nephite nation was destroyed by its savage foes2 the ,lamanites persisted and are represented today by their direct descendants1 the ,american ,indians4 ,for five centuries prior to the events now under consideration each nation had been governed by a succession of kings4 ,the ,lamanite rulers exercised autocratic sway and relied upon physical force for their power4 ,some of the ,nephite monarchs were almost as bad1 though many were notably considerate and just4 ,the last of the ,nephite sovereigns was ,mosiah2 he died #ia ,b4 ,c4 after a righteous reign of thirty-three years4 ,king in name1 he called his people brethren and counted himself their trusted and presiding servant4 ,a short time before his death ,mosiah called for an expression from his people as to whom they desired to succeed him on the throne4 ,there was a united answer2 the people wanted the king's son1 to whom it was said the kingdom doth rightly belong4 ,but ,aaron1 the people's choice1 declined the crown1 as did his brothers in turn2 for all these sons of ,mosiah were devoted to the preaching of the ,gospel and esteemed the labors of the ministry above the royal estate4 ,mosiah seized the opportunity occasioned by the people's loyalty and unity to awaken them to the fact that the powers of government were inherent within themselves1 and to urge them to exercise their sovereign rights and assume the privileges and responsibilities of self-rule4 ,he recommended that they abolish the monarchy and establish a ,republic according to the voice of the people4 ,in a stirring proclamation he set forth the potential dangers of kingly rule and admonished the nation to guard its liberty as a sacred possession1 and to delegate the governing power to officers of its own choosing1 whom he called judges1 who should be elected by popular vote1 and who could be impeached if charged with iniquitous exercise of power and be removed if found unworthy4 ,king ,mosiah summarized in a masterly way the fundamentals of true democracy4 ,after reciting the wrongs the people had suffered under monarchical oppression1 he continued in this wise3 ,therefore choose you by the voice of this people1 judges1 that ye may be judged according to the laws which have been given you by our fathers1 which are correct1 and which were given them by the hand of the ,lord4 ,now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right2 but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right2 therefore this shall ye observe1 and make it your law to do your business by the voice of the people4 ,and if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity1 then is the time that the judgments of ,god will come upon you1 yea1 then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land4 ,and now if ye have judges1 and they do not judge you according to the law which has been given1 ye can cause that they may be judged of a higher judge4 ,if your higher judges do not judge righteous judgments1 ye shall cause that a small number of your lower judges should be gathered together1 and they shall judge your higher judges1 according to the voice of the people4 ,and ,i command you to do these things in the fear of the ,lord3 and ,i command you to do these things1 and that ye have no king4 4 4 4 ,and now ,i desire that this inequality should be no more in this land1 especially among this my people2 but ,i desire that this land be a land of liberty1 and every man may enjoy his rights and privileges alike4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,mosiah #bi47 ,the affairs of government were to be the concern of the whole commonwealth2 for1 as the king proclaimed with convincing plainness1 the burden should come upon all the people1 that every man might bear his part4 ,it is gratifying to know that the ,nephites adopted the proposition1 straightway set about creating election districts1 and at the appointed time chose by vote the first elective rulers of the new ,republic4 ,from ,american soil1 which of all was first to be prepared for the cultivation of representative government by the people1 the seed of democracy shall be carried to every other land1 until all men are free1 in accordance with ,divine intent4 -- #ee -- ,,perpetuity ,,of ,,american ,,nation ,assured by ,prophecy ,as late as but a few months prior to that fateful date--,august #a1 #aiad--when the war storm burst in ,europe1 some of the world's great ones1 eminent in scholarship and leaders of thought1 aggressively proclaimed their belief that a great war was impossible4 ,they held that the affairs of nations were so intimately related1 the interests common to humanity so closely knit1 as to safeguard the world against any such devastating conflict as would be entailed by the outbreak of war among great nations with the frightfully efficient enginery of destruction developed by present-day science4 ,there was neither ambiguity nor reservation in the academic pronouncement that the human race1 in its course of evolutionary progression1 had happily risen above the barbarous incentive to wholesale murder and ruthless destruction such as characterized the less cultured epochs of history4 ,certain optimistic protagonists averred that if1 contrary to their demonstrated facts and figures1 great nations should plunge recklessly into war1 the struggle would of necessity be brief1 for the total wealth of the world was insufficient to maintain for more than a few weeks at most the waging of war with modern equipment4 ,yet in spite of all prognostications1 as though derisively flouting the wisdom of the wise1 ,august #a1 #aiad1 was so deeply crimsoned that the weathering of ages future will not dull the stain4 ,that day and all the days since have witnessed the fulfilment of the prediction relating to the last dispensation1 the time in which we live1 as voiced by ,isaiah3 ,behold1 ,i will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people1 even a marvellous work and a wonder3 for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish1 and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid4 7,isa4 #bi3ad47 ,verily the accumulated wisdom of men has failed us in the time of need1 has failed to forecast and fails to expound the dread happenings of these eventful times4 ,where is the master mind that can interpret the problems of contemporary history1 with factors innumerable1 with relations so intricate and differentials so varied that the calculus of time is inadequate to solve8 ,human reasoning unillumined by ,divine revelation offers but dark and insecure refuge from the turmoil of current events4 ,whither then shall we look for guidance8 ,or1 must we abandon ourselves to the despairing conclusion that to the storm-lashed ocean of the ominous present there is no haven of hope1 and to our buffeted bark no anchor of comforting assurance8 ,to him who listens in faith there rises even above the roar of strife1 the voice of prophecy citing earlier prediction of events now materializing in rapid sequence1 and telling of the eventual triumph of righteousness and the vindication of man's right to liberty and happiness4 ,the great world conflict was predicted by both ancient and modern prophets4 ,joseph ,smith1 speaking the word of ,god1 told of the imminent outpouring of war upon all nations1 wisdom of the world's wise men to the contrary notwithstanding4 ,and in these utterances the modern prophet spake in harmony with the predictions of earlier seers1 as did he also of the promises made concerning ,america1 which is described as a land choice above all others4 ,read these words of assurance given through an ancient ,jaredite3 ,behold1 this is a choice land1 and whatsoever nation shall possess it1 shall be free from bondage1 and from captivity1 and from all other nations under heaven if they will but serve the ,god of the land1 who is ,jesus ,christ1 who hath been manifested by the things which we have written4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,ether #b3ab47 ,furthermore1 hearken unto the following with reference to this same choice land1 spoken unto the ancient inhabitants of this continent through ,jacob the ,nephite3 ,but behold1 this land1 saith ,god1 shall be a land of thine inheritance1 and the ,gentiles shall be blessed upon the land4 ,and this land shall be a land of liberty unto the ,gentiles1 and there shall be no kings upon the land1 who shall raise up unto the ,gentiles4 ,and ,i will fortify this land against all other nations4 7#b ,nephi #aj3aj-ab47 ,we hold that the ,declaration of ,independence and the ,constitution of the ,united ,states are inspired documents1 veritable scriptures of the nation1 framed by men under ,divine direction1 men specifically empowered and raised up for this high mission2 and that these charters of liberty constitute a pattern after which the governments of the nations shall be shaped4 ,thus shall be fulfilled1 in part at least1 the prophecy of the ancient revelator1 that out of this land1 which in solemn truth is the land of ,zion1 shall go forth the law of the ,lord unto the world at large4 ,in the majesty of her high destiny our ,nation has taken a stand as the champion of freedom and human rights4 ,her enduring greatness is conditioned only by the righteousness of her people1 who1 if they will but serve the ,god of the land--the ,god of ,heaven and earth--shall never be subject to alien domination4 ,it is not written in the book of destiny that ,america shall bow the knee to autocracy2 but1 to the glorious contrary1 it is inscribed on the scroll of the ,divine purpose1 that this1 the land of ,zion1 shall be the haven of refuge to the oppressed3 ,and it shall be said among the wicked3 ,let us not go up to battle against ,zion1 for the inhabitants of ,zion are terrible2 wherefore we cannot stand4 ,and it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations1 and shall come to ,zion1 singing with songs of everlasting joy4 7,d,c #de3 #gj-ga47 -- #ef -- ,,law ,,of ,,the ,,tithe ,the ,lord's ,revenue ,system ,payment of tithes was required under the ,law of ,moses4 ,indeed1 the early prominence given to this requirement has led to the incorrect assumption that tithe-paying had its beginning in an ,israelitish statute4 ,tithing is older than ,israel4 ,abraham paid a tenth part of his gains to ,melchizedek1 who was king of ,salem and priest of the ,most ,high ,god 7,gen4 #ad3bj and ,heb4 #g3a-h72 and ,jacob made a covenant to devote to the ,lord's service a tenth of all that would come into his hands4 7,gen4 #bh3bb47 ,following the development of the children of ,israel into a theocratic nation1 the practise of paying tithes in kind became one of the features by which they1 the worshipers of ,jehovah1 were distinguished from all other peoples4 ,the requirement was explicit and its application general1 to rich and poor alike4 ,thus we read3 ,and all the tithe of the land1 whether of the seed of the land1 or of the fruit of the tree1 is the ,lord's3 it is holy unto the ,lord4 4 4 4 ,and concerning the tithe of the herd1 or of the flock1 even of whatsoever passeth under the rod1 the tenth shall be holy unto the ,lord4 7,lev4 #bg3cj1 #cb47 ,as long as the people faithfully complied with the law of the tithe they prospered2 and when they failed the land was no longer sanctified to their good4 ,hezekiah 7#b ,chron4 #ca3 #e-aj7 and ,nehemiah 7,neh4 #ac3aj-ac7 reproved the people for their negligence in the matter and awakened them to the jeopardy that threatened2 and1 later1 ,malachi voiced the word of ,jehovah in stern rebuke1 forceful admonition1 and encouraging promise1 relative to the payment of the ,lord's tenth3 ,will a man rob ,god8 ,yet ye have robbed me4 ,but ye say1 ,wherein have we robbed thee8 ,in tithes and offerings4 ,ye are cursed with a curse3 for ye have robbed me1 even this whole nation4 ,bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse1 that there may be meat in mine house1 and prove me now herewith1 said the ,lord of hosts1 if ,i will not open you the windows of heaven1 and pour you out a blessing1 that there shall not be room enough to receive it4 7,mal4 #c3h-aj47 ,at the time of our ,lord's personal ministry the law had been supplemented by innumerable rules1 comprising unauthorized exactions often based upon mere trivialities4 ,christ approved the tithe but made plain the fact that other duties were none the less imperative4 ,see ,matt4 #bc3bc4 ,during recent years great interest has been manifest in the matter of the tithe1 among theologians1 ministers and intelligent laymen2 and the reestablishment of tithe-paying as a religious duty has been strongly advocated4 ,it is important to know that the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints has observed this requirement from the early days of its history--not because it was operative in ancient ,israel1 nor because it was law and custom among the ,jews in the days of ,christ1 but because it has been authoritatively established through modern revelation in the ,church4 ,in #ahch the ,lord systematized the practise upon which the people had voluntarily entered1 and defined the tithe as a tenth of one's individual possessions3 ,and this1 said ,he1 shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people4 ,and after that1 those who have thus been tithed1 shall pay one tenth of all their interest annually2 and this shall be a standing law unto them for ever1 for my ,holy ,priesthood1 saith the ,lord4 7,d,c #aai3 #c-d47 ,the manner in which the tithes of the people are to be paid and the channels through which the contributions are to be distributed and used in the work of the ,church are specifically set forth4 ,as of old1 so in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints today1 tithing is the divinely established revenue system by which the pecuniary needs of the ecclesiastical community are provided for4 ,and as of old so today1 tithe-paying must be a voluntary free-will sacrifice1 not to be exacted by secular power nor enforced by infliction of fines or other material penalties4 ,the obligation is self-assumed2 nevertheless it is one to be observed with full purpose of heart by the earner who claims standing in the ,church and who professes to abide by the revealed word given for the spiritual development of its members4 ,it is essential that men learn to give4 ,without provision for this training the curriculum in the school of mortality would be seriously defective4 ,human wisdom has failed to devise a more equitable scheme of individual contribution for community needs than the simple plan of the tithe4 ,every one is invited to give in amount proportioned to his income1 and to so give regularly and systematically4 ,the spirit of giving makes the tithe holy2 and it is by means thus sanctified that the material activities of the ,church are carried on4 ,blessings1 specific and choice1 are promised the honest tithe-payer2 and these blessings are placed within the reach of all4 ,in the ,lord's work the widow's penny is as acceptable as the gold-piece of the millionaire4 ,tithing is the rental we are asked to pay on the property committed to our keeping and use4 ,we are but temporary holders1 lessees of property the ultimate title of which is vested in ,him who created all that is4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints believe that the tithing system has been divinely appointed for their observance2 and they esteem themselves blessed in thus being permitted to have part in the furtherance of ,god's purposes4 ,under this system the people have prospered severally and as an organized body4 ,it is the simple and effective revenue law of the ,church2 and its operation has been a success from the time of its establishment4 ,amongst us it obviates the necessity of taking up collections in religious assemblies1 and makes possible the promulgation of the ,church's message through the printed and spoken word1 the building and maintenance of ,temples for the benefit of both living and dead1 to an extent that would be otherwise unattainable4 -- #eg -- ,,the ,,united ,,order ,no ,longer ,mine and ,thine1 ,but the ,lord's and ,ours ,,we live in a material world1 and certain material possessions are essential to life1 to say nothing of convenience and comfort4 ,man must have food1 clothing1 and shelter2 and he should have the means of intellectual enjoyment1 wholesome recreation1 and the desirable comforts of life4 ,all these things are comprised in what we call wealth1 and under present social conditions are represented by the one word money4 ,is it not true that money or its equivalent--the essential things that money can buy--must be counted among the necessities of life8 ,by misquotation we hear it said that money is the root of all evil2 but the ,scriptures say not so4 ,the inspired declaration reads3 ,for the love of money is the root of all evil4 7#a ,tim4 #f3aj47 ,as soon as one sets his heart on money he becomes unbalanced in mind and spirit2 his vision and perspective are disturbed4 ,in view of the prevailing conditions of social unrest1 of protest against existing systems whereby the distribution of wealth is becoming more and more disproportionate1 the consequent dissatisfaction with governments1 and the half-smothered fires of anarchy discernible in almost every nation1 we find comfort in the ,god-given promise of a better plan--a plan that provides without force or violence to establish a rational equality1 to take the weapons of despotism from the oppressor1 to banish poverty1 and to give to every man the opportunity to live1 labor1 and rejoice in the field or sphere to which he is adapted4 ,from the tyranny of misused wealth1 as from every other form of oppression1 the truth will make men free4 ,to deserve real freedom1 and to enjoy the blessings thereof to the full1 mankind must subdue selfishness1 which is the potent enemy of godliness4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints has been put under training in the practise of altruistic living1 in liberality1 and in the overcoming of selfishness1 by the ,lord's requirement of the tithe and other free-will offerings and efforts4 ,we regard the tithe system1 however1 as but a step in the course of advancement toward the consecration of all our possessions1 time1 talents and ability1 to the service of ,god4 ,within a few months after the organization of the ,church the voice of the ,lord was heard in the matter1 foreshadowing a development yet future1 in preparation for which the tithing system was established4 ,the day is coming when none amongst us shall speak of mine and thine1 but all we have shall be accounted ours and the ,lord's4 ,in this confident expectation we indulge no vague dreams of communism1 fostering individual irresponsibility1 and giving the idler an excuse for hoping to live at the expense of the thrifty2 but in the assurance that every man shall be a steward of the property entrusted to his care1 with the certainty of being required to give a full account of his stewardship4 ,the varied and graded vocations will still exist2 there will be laborers whose qualifications are for physical toil1 managers who have proved their ability to lead and direct1 some who can best serve with the pen1 others with the plow2 there will be engineers and mechanics1 artizans and artists1 farmers and scholars1 teachers and authors--each laboring so far as practicable in the sphere of his choice but each required to work1 and to work where and how he can be of the greatest service4 ,equal rights are to be insured1 for thus the ,lord hath spoken3 ,and you are to be equal1 or in other words1 you are to have equal claims on the properties1 for the benefit of managing the concerns of your stewardships1 every man according to his wants and his needs1 inasmuch as his wants are just4 7,d,c #hb3ag47 ,only the idler would suffer under such an order of things as is here outlined1 and against him the edict of the ,almighty has gone forth4 ,we read in the revelations of the ,church3 ,thou shalt not be idle2 for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer4 7#db3db47 ,in the early part of the apostolic ministry1 the unity and devotion of the ,church was such that the members established a system of community ownership2 7,acts #b3dd-df2 #d3cb-cg2 #f3a-d7 and during the brief period of its operation the people prospered temporally and spiritually4 ,more than thirty centuries earlier the people of ,enoch had rejoiced in a similar condition of oneness1 and their righteousness was such that ,the ,lord came and dwelt with ,his people4 4 4 4 ,and the ,lord called ,his people ,zion1 because they were of one heart and one mind1 and dwelt in righteousness2 and there was no poor among them4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #ch47 ,the people of whom the ,book of ,mormon bears record also attained a blessed state of equality and with corresponding results4 ,the ,twelve ,disciples1 whom ,christ had specially commissioned1 ministered with such effectiveness that the people had all things common among them1 every man dealing justly one with another4 7#c ,nephi #bf3ai47 ,further1 ,therefore they were not rich and poor1 bond and free1 but they were all made free1 and partakers of the heavenly gift4 7#d ,nephi #a3c47 ,of them the prophet wrote3 ,surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of ,god4 7,verse #af47 ,the ,united ,order will be a success when it is established by ,divine direction4 ,the tithing system has failed whenever meddled with by the secular power4 ,common ownership can never be enforced by the law of the land4 ,it must be a religious observance1 of voluntary acceptance devoid of compulsion or restraint2 and as such1 the world shall yet see this1 the ,lord's plan1 in successful operation4 -- #eh -- ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,wisdom ,sanctity of the ,body ,,know ye not that ye are the temple of ,god1 and that the ,spirit of ,god dwelleth in you8 ,if any man defile the temple of ,god1 him shall ,god destroy2 for the temple of ,god is holy1 which temple ye are4 7#a ,cor4 #c3af2 see also #f3ai2 and ,d,c #ic3ce47 ,in these and kindred ,scriptures the sanctity of the human body is affirmed with impressive simplicity4 ,the word of ,god stands in strong contrast with the erroneous assumption that the body is a hindrance and burden to the spirit and ought to be contemned and kept in subjection by self-imposed afflictions4 ,the lust of the flesh as manifested in perverted appetites and passions is a very real temptation1 and servitude thereto is among the commonest of sins2 but this is the evil against which the saints of old were so solemnly warned in the foregoing citation4 ,if the mortal state be an advancement beyond the pre-existent or unembodied condition1 and a preparation for a yet more exalted existence1 and so the ,scriptures attest1 then the body of flesh and bones is an endowment of supreme worth4 ,the genius of the current age recognizes the nobility of the mortal tabernacle in fact if not in theory2 and as a result of this advanced conception1 means for the maintenance of health and preservation of the body and the conservation of its divinely implanted functions are taught in school and college and are enforced by statute for community observance4 ,after long centuries of painful experience the race is coming to understand that the human body is essentially good2 and the word of ,god so proclaimed even in the beginning4 ,i venture to affirm that every natural appetite1 yearning1 passion of the human organism is inherently good2 and that evil comes not from the normal satisfying of these cravings but from the perversion thereof4 ,as early as #ahcc the ,lord spake to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints in warning against the use of stimulants and narcotics1 and in counsel as to matters of food and drink4 ,this revelation is currently known as ,the ,word of ,wisdom ,that inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you1 behold it is not good1 neither meet in the sight of your ,father1 only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him4 ,and1 behold1 this should be wine1 yea1 pure wine of the grape of the vine1 of your own make4 ,and1 again1 strong drinks are not for the belly2 but for the washing of your bodies4 ,and again1 tobacco is not for the body1 neither for the belly1 and is not good for man1 but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle1 to be used with judgment and skill4 ,and again1 hot drinks are not for the body or belly4 ,and again1 verily ,i say unto you1 all wholesome herbs ,god hath ordained for the constitution1 nature1 and use of man4 ,every herb in the season thereof1 and every fruit in the season thereof2 all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving4 ,yea1 flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air1 ,i1 the ,lord1 have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving2 nevertheless they are to be used sparingly2 ,and it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used only in times of winter1 or of cold1 or famine4 ,all grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts1 to be the staff of life1 not only for man but for the beasts of the field1 and the fowls of heaven1 and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth2 ,and these hath ,god made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger4 ,all grain is good for the food of man1 as also the fruit of the vine1 that which yieldeth fruit1 whether in the ground or above the ground4 ,nevertheless1 wheat for man1 and corn for the ox1 and oats for the horse1 and rye for the fowls and for swine1 and for all beasts of the field1 and barley for all useful animals1 and for mild drinks1 as also other grain4 ,and all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings1 walking in obedience to the commandments1 shall receive health in their navel1 and marrow to their bones2 ,and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge1 even hidden treasures2 ,and shall run and not be weary1 and shall walk and not faint4 ,and ,i1 the ,lord1 give unto them a promise1 that the destroying angel shall pass by them1 as the children of ,israel1 and not slay them4 ,amen4 7,d,c #hi47 ,hot drinks1 against which the people are specifically warned1 are understood to include tea and coffee1 and the counsel against their use was preached and published long before chemists and physiologists had recognized the deleterious effect of thein and caffein1 which are poisonous alkaloids contained in the beverages named4 ,the inhibition1 however1 applies in another sense to all liquids at high temperatures4 ,to this point special interest attaches in view of recent demonstrations in science4 ,dr4 ,wm4 ,j4 ,mayo1 a surgeon of prominence1 declared in an address delivered in ,san ,francisco1 ,june1 #aiae1 that hot drinks are among the dominant causes of gastric ulcers and cancer4 ,the ,word of ,wisdom is generally but not universally observed in its entirety by the ,latter-day ,saints2 and it is pertinent to inquire as to the results revealed by the vital statistics of the people4 ,the ,presiding ,bishopric of the ,church report that1 for the six year period ending with #aiaf1 deaths among ,latter-day ,saints in the organized ,stakes1 due to cancers and malignant ulcers of the stomach1 averaged #ae4hc per #ajj1jjj of population4 ,for the ,united ,states registration area as a whole1 during the six year period covered by the latest available report1 which1 however1 is earlier than the sexennium of the latest ,church statistics1 the average mortality from stomach cancer is #bh4c per #ajj1jjj4 ,deaths from all cancerous afflictions among members of the ,church during the last six years averaged #ca4ae per #ajj1jjj1 or only #b4he more per #ajj1jjj than the national rate of mortality from stomach cancer alone for the six years last reported4 ,the statistics of the ,church show for its members resident in organized communities exceptionally low death-rate1 high birth-rate1 and high average age at death1 as compared with the official reports of corresponding data for the registration area of the country at large4 ,of the certified causes of death ,mormons lead the country in one1 and that one is old age4 ,the ,divine promise of health1 prosperity1 and prolonged life are in course of rich fulfilment among the ,latter-day ,saints1 as in part the natural effect of obedience to the word of the ,lord embodied in the ,word of ,wisdom4 -- #ei -- ,,unchastity ,,the ,,dominant ,,evil ,infamy of a ,double ,standard of ,virtue ,,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints proclaims the law of personal purity as a ,divine commandment1 the violation of which constitutes one of the most grievous of sins4 ,we hold that the requirement is equally binding upon both man and woman1 and that a standard by which he is excused and she condemned is infamously unjust4 ,expressive of the attitude of the ,church upon this subject1 the following excerpts are taken from a pamphlet issued by the late ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 who at the time of writing was the presiding official in the ,church4 ,what has come to be known in present day literature as the social evil is a subject of perennial discussion1 and the means proposed for dealing with it are topics of contention and debate4 ,that the public conscience is aroused to the seriousness of the dire condition due to sexual immorality is a promising indication of prospective betterment4 ,no more loathsome cancer disfigures the body and soul of society today than the frightful affliction of sexual sin4 ,it vitiates the very fountains of life and bequeaths its foul effects to the yet unborn as a legacy of death4 ,infidelity to marriage vows is a fruitful source of divorce1 with its long train of attendant evils1 not the least of which are the shame and dishonor inflicted on unfortunate though innocent children4 ,the dreadful effects of adultery cannot be confined to the erring participants4 ,whether openly known or partly concealed under the cloak of guilty secrecy1 the results are potent in evil influence4 ,the immortal spirits that come to earth to tabernacle in bodies of flesh have the right to be well-born1 through parents who are free from the contamination of sexual vice4 ,it is a deplorable fact that society persists in holding woman to stricter account than man in the matter of sexual offense4 ,what shadow of excuse1 not to speak of justification1 can be found for this outrageous and cowardly discrimination8 ,can moral defilement be any the less filthy and pestilential in man than in woman8 ,is a male leper less to be shunned for fear of contagion that a woman similarly stricken8 ,oh the baseness1 the injustice1 the dishonor of it all6 ,happily the early promulgators of this shameful conception of a double standard of morals for the sexes are hidden in the oblivion of the past4 ,let the infamy in which they should rightly share be borne by those who countenance the current acceptance of so vicious a distinction6 ,visualize the spectacle4 ,man1 who is by nature the protector and defender of woman1 ready to stone to social death the adulteress1 in whose sin he was partner6 ,so far as woman sins it is inevitable that she shall suffer1 for retribution is sure whether it be immediate or deferred4 ,but in so far as man's injustice inflicts upon her the consequence of his offenses1 he stands convicted of multiple guilt4 ,and man is largely responsible for the sins against decency and virtue1 the burden of which is too often fastened upon the weaker participant in the crime4 ,horrifying as the condition is1 it is nevertheless a black reality1 that hordes of women prostitute their bodies and souls for money and find no lack of eager buyers4 ,who is the more depraved--the vendor or the purchaser of woman's honor8 ,in many cases a power of discernment and analysis superior to human attainment is essential to a just verdict1 but it appears certain that whatever of palliation through stress of circumstance may be found for the woman1 guilty lust is too generally the primal motive of the man4 ,the low esteem in which strict sexual morality is currently held is an element of positive danger to the nation as a human institution1 to say nothing of the wholesale debauching of souls as an offense against ,divine decree4 ,with such awful examples as history furnishes1 it is a matter of astonishment that governments should be so nearly oblivious to the disintegrating forces springing from violations of the moral law amongst their citizenry4 ,the grandeur of ancient ,greece1 the majesty of ,rome1 once the proud rulers of the world1 have disappeared2 and the verdict of history specifies the prevalence of sexual immorality as among the chief of the destructive agencies by which the fall of those mighty peoples was effected4 ,is our modern nation to bring upon itself the doom of destructive depravity8 ,the forces of disintegration are at work throughout the land1 and they operate as insidiously as does the virus of deadly contagion4 ,a nation-wide awakening to the need of personal sanitation and of rigorous reform in the matter of sexual morality is demanded by the exigencies of the times4 ,the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is the divinely ordained panacea for the ills that afflict humanity1 and pre-eminently so for the dread affliction of sexual sin4 ,note the teachings of the ,master while ,he ministered among men in the flesh--they were primarily directed to individual probity and rectitude of life4 ,the letter of the ,mosaic ,law was superseded by the spirit of personal devotion to the right4 ',ye have heard1' said ,he1 'that it was said by them of old time1 ,thou shalt not commit adultery3 ,but ,i say unto you1 ,that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart4' 7,matt4 #e3 #bg1 #bh47 ,the sin itself may spring from the sensual thought1 the lustful glance2 just as murder is often the fruitage of hatred or covetousness4 ,we accept without reservation or qualification the affirmation of ,deity through an ancient ,nephite prophet3 ',for ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 delight in the chastity of women4 ,and whoredoms are an abomination before me4 ,thus saith the ,lord of ,hosts4' -- #fj -- ,,not ,,good ,,for ,,man ,,to ,,be ,,alone ,companionship of the ,sexes ,,when this earth1 a new unit amongst uncounted worlds1 had developed to a condition suited to human habitation1 ,god created man in ,his own personal1 physical image1 and gave him dominion over the earth and its manifold belongings4 ,beside the man stood the woman1 sharing with him the divinely bestowed honor and dignity of supremacy over all lesser creations2 for the ,lord ,god had said3 ,it is not good that the man should be alone2 ,i will make him an help meet for him4 7,gen4 #b3ah47 ,so begins the first page of human history relating to this planet3 ,in the image of ,god created ,he him2 male and female created ,he them4 ,the earliest recorded commandment to the newly embodied pair provided for the procreation of their kind2 for unto them the ,lord said3 ,be fruitful1 and multiply1 and replenish the earth4 ,that the wedded state thus inaugurated was to be the permanent order of life amongst ,adam's posterity is attested by the further ,scripture3 ,therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother1 and shall cleave unto his wife3 and they shall be one flesh4 7,gen4 #b3bd47 ,inasmuch as the union of the sexes is the only way by which the perpetuity of the race is possible1 such union is essentially as beneficent as it is necessary4 ,lawful1 that is to say righteous1 association of the sexes1 is an uplifting and ennobling function to the participants1 and the heritage of earth-life to preexistent spirits who are thereby advanced to the mortal state4 ,conversely1 all sexual union outside the bonds of legitimacy is debasing and pernicious1 not only to the guilty parties themselves1 but to children who are thus ill-born1 and to organized society in general4 ,the stability of society demands that the divinely established institution of marriage shall be administered under secular law1 whereby the family unit shall be a legalized entity1 with responsibilities and obligations clearly defined1 the rights of husband1 wife and children protected1 property interests safeguarded1 and inheritance regulated4 ,but the marriage covenant is more than a legalized contract4 ,it is a solemn sacrament1 under which the parties are made eligible to the blessing of ,divine approval1 and by which they are answerable both to the law of man and to the ,power that transcends all human institutions4 ,that marriage is honorable is as true today as when the precept was written in the ,epistle to the ,hebrews4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints accept the doctrine of the imperative necessity of wedlock and the sanctity thereof2 and they apply it as a requirement to all who are not prohibited by physical or other disability from assuming the sacred responsibilities of the married state4 ,they hold as part of the birthright of every worthy man the privilege and duty of standing at the head of a household1 the companion of a virtuous wife1 both imbued with the hope of posterity1 which by the blessing of ,god may never become extinct2 and equally ennobling is the desire of every worthy woman to be a wife and mother in the family of mankind4 ,we repudiate and abhor the pernicious doctrine that the sexual relation is but a carnal necessity1 inherent in human kind because of fleshly desire1 or that celibacy is a feature of exalted status more acceptable than marriage in the sight and judgment of ,god4 ,touching this matter the ,lord hath spoken through direct revelation in the current age1 saying3 ,and again1 ,i say unto you1 that whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of ,god1 for marriage is ordained of ,god unto man4 ,wherefore it is lawful that he should have one wife1 and they twain shall be one flesh1 and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation1 and that it might be filled with the measure of man1 according to his creation before the world was made4 7,d,c #di3 #ae-ag47 ,without the power of perpetuating his kind man is in part bereft of his glory2 for small is the possibility of achievement within the limited range of an individual life4 ,grand as may seem to be the attainments of a man who is really great as gaged by the best standards of human estimation1 the culmination of his glorious heritage lies in his leaving offspring from his own body to carry forward the worthy efforts of their sire4 ,and as with the man1 so with the woman4 ,we regard children literally as gifts from ,god1 committed to our parental care1 for whose support1 protection1 and training in righteousness we shall be held to a strict accounting1 remembering the solemn admonition and profound affirmation of the ,christ3 ,take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones2 for ,i say unto you1 ,that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my ,father which is in heaven4 7,matt4 #ah3aj47 ,but the bringing of children into the world is but part of ,god's beneficent plan of uplift and development through honorable marriage4 ,companionship of husband and wife is a divinely appointed means of mutual betterment2 and according to the measure of holy love1 mutual respect and honor with which that companionship is graced and sanctified1 do man and woman develop toward the spiritual stature of ,god4 ,it is plainly the ,divine intent that husband and wife should be each the other's great incentive to effort and achievement in good works4 ,blessed indeed are the wedded pair who severally find in each a help meet for the other4 -- #fa -- ,,till ,,death ,,does ,,you ,,part ,is ,there ,no ,hope ,beyond8 ,,it is not good that man should be alone4 ,this is the word of ,god4 ,it is inscribed on the first page of human history4 ,the affirmation was given special application to the marital state1 whereby the perpetuity of the race would be insured in the distinctive family order4 ,to this end ,therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother1 and shall cleave unto his wife3 and they shall be one flesh4 7,gen4 #b3bd47 ,at the very beginning of man's existence as an embodied spirit1 the ,divine fiat against promiscuity in the association of the sexes was promulgated4 ,anthropologists aver that even in the most primitive communities kinship was recognized as an established feature1 and laws relating to the sexual relationship obtained4 ,the family unit is therefore the universal order amongst mankind1 and is of ,divine establishment4 ,both the ,mosaic code and the law of the ,gospel1 in which it was fulfilled and superseded1 recognized the sanctity of family ties and prescribed regulations for the maintenance thereof4 ,the family institution comprises more than the wedded union of husband and wife with its mutual obligations and responsibilities4 ,the status of parenthood is the flower of family existence1 while marriage was but the bud4 ,under the revealed law parents are as truly answerable to ,god for the adequate discharge of duty to their children as for the faithful observance of the marriage covenant respecting themselves4 ,within the family established and maintained according to the ,divine word1 man and woman find their holiest and most ennobling happiness4 ,individual development--the education of the soul for which earth-life has been provided--is incomplete without the impelling and restraining experiences incident to the responsibilities of the wedded and parental state4 ,is the family relationship to end with death8 ,are husbands and wives to be separated1 and the mutual claims of parents and children to be nullified by the grave8 ,if so1 then surely the sting of death and the victory of the grave are enduring verities2 for the dead would be lost to us and we to them4 ,such a conception affords ample explanation of the prevalence of black at funerals4 ,the sombre pall and sable trappings are all in place if bereavement on earth means everlasting separation4 ,the dread assumption--let us not say belief1 for who does not hope that a brighter destiny awaits us8--has been fostered by custom and ignorance1 and even taught as doctrine by substituting the precepts of men for the word of ,god4 ,it is embodied in the marriage ceremony1 wherein the officiating minister1 addressing the principals at the moment of their supreme concern1 says3 ,i join you in the bonds of matrimony until death does you part4 ,how like the thud of clods upon the casket in an open grave6 ,must we tolerate the shadow of death as an intruding guest at every wedding8 ,verily so1 if marriage be nothing more than an earthly contract1 regulated by law solely as a human institution2 for no legislature1 congress1 or parliament of men1 no synod1 church1 council1 or ecclesiastical hierarchy of human origination1 can legislate or administer ordinances of other than earthly validity4 ,to claim jurisdiction in post-mortal affairs on the basis of human assumption is both sacrilege and blasphemy4 ,the current marriage ceremony1 uniting the parties until death does them part1 is framed in consistency and propriety4 ,as an institution of men it is honorable and legally binding4 ,and so are all the obligations and endowments resulting therefrom1 including the exalting status of parenthood4 ,but all such relationships are to end with death if validated only by man's authority4 ,can we consistently affirm that if the grave terminates the claim of parents upon each other it shall not likewise end the claim of parents upon children1 and of children upon parents8 ,but behold1 there is hope6 ,god has provided a way by which the family unit may survive the grave and endure throughout eternity4 ,it is the ,divine intent that marriage be an eternal union1 and that the relationship between parents and offspring shall be made valid in the hereafter as here4 ,we affirm that the ,holy ,priesthood has been restored to earth by direct dispensation from the heavens1 and this in accordance with prophecy and ,scripture1 and that the authority of this ,priesthood1 when administered as ,god has directed1 is effective both on earth and in heaven4 7,compare ,matt4 #af3ai2 #ah3ah47 ,we affirm that even as baptism1 when administered as our ,lord prescribed1 by those invested with the ,holy ,priesthood1 shall be a means to salvation beyond the grave1 so other ordinances1 including the sealing of wives to husbands and children to parents1 may be authoritatively solemnized so as to be valid after death4 ,to this effect hath the ,lord spoken respecting the everlasting covenant1 which embraces marriage for both time and eternity4 ,therefore1 if a man marry him a wife in the world1 and he marry her not by me1 nor by my word2 and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world1 and she with him1 their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead1 and when they are out of the world4 ,therefore1 they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world4 ,therefore1 when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage4 4 4 4 ,and again1 verily ,i say unto you1 if a man marry a wife by my word1 which is my law1 and by the new and everlasting covenant1 and it is sealed unto them by the ,holy ,spirit of promise 4 4 4 it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them1 in time1 and through all eternity1 and shall be of full force when they are out of the world2 and they shall pass by the angels1 and the ,gods1 which are set there1 to their exaltation and glory in all things1 as hath been sealed upon their heads1 which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds for ever and ever4 7,d,c #acb47 -- #fb -- ,,they ,,neither ,,marry ,nor ,give in ,marriage ,,certain ,sadducees once came to ,christ with a question concerning martial relations following the resurrection4 ,the real point of their inquiry was in part hidden1 or1 in current vernacular1 camouflaged4 ,their chief purpose was that of disputing the doctrine of the resurrection itself1 the actuality of which the ,sadducees as a sect strenuously denied4 ,they cited a case1 presumably hypothetical1 of a woman who had been married1 and then six times remarried under the levirate law1 and seven times widowed1 and who eventually had died1 childless4 ,the question as submitted was3 ,therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven8 ,jesus answered and said unto them1 ,ye do err1 not knowing the scriptures1 nor the power of ,god4 ,for in the resurrection they neither marry1 nor are given in marriage1 but are as the angels of ,god in heaven4 7,matt4 #bb3bh-cj47 ,three of the evangelists make record of the incident2 and the most extended version of our ,lord's reply is given by ,luke 7#bj3cd-ch74 ,from this we gather that while marriage and giving in marriage--that is to say the association of eligible parties in wedlock1 and the authoritative solemnization of the union by a duly qualified official--are necessary and honorable undertakings among mortals1 they to whom the ,savior referred shall neither marry nor be given in marriage in the resurrection1 but at best shall be made equal to the angels4 ,the inquisitorial ,sadducees must have felt the force of the ,master's rebuke in being told that they were in error not knowing the scriptures nor the power of ,god1 for they prided themselves on their learning and superior qualities of understanding4 ,nevertheless1 the reproof was merited1 for had they opened their hearts to the spirit of ,scripture1 had they considered with honest desire to comprehend the words of the ,lord who spoke to them1 whose utterances were and are ,scripture of the highest and most sacred order1 they would have been able to distinguish between ceremonies performed for time only under the regulations of human law1 and ordinances administered by the authority of ,god for both time and eternity4 ,sacred rites that pertain both to the period of mortality and to the life beyond must be solemnized on earth4 ,compliance with the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel1 or the rejection of these1 determines the individual test for which the world was prepared as the abode of men--to prove them herewith1 to see if they will do all things whatsoever the ,lord their ,god shall command them4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #ff47 ,thus1 in the case of the initiatory ordinance1 baptism1 it is essential that it be administered to mankind in the flesh2 for ,scripture nowhere avers that in and after the resurrection men shall be baptized in water for the remission of sins done in mortality4 ,and so is it with respect to marriage4 ,true1 as we have heretofore seen1 the merciful economy of ,god makes possible the vicarious administration of baptism for the disembodied1 that is for the dead prior to their resurrection2 but the actual baptism is to be solemnized by and upon mortal beings1 who1 having been already baptized for themselves1 may officiate for their dead kindred by complying with the revealed laws and regulations4 ,so also the marital union of the worthy dead1 who have lived in lawful and honorable wedlock as regulated by secular law1 may be confirmed and superseded by the ordinance of ,celestial ,marriage1 wherein the family relationship is perpetuated by sealing under the authority of the ,holy ,priesthood1 to be of force and effect in and after the resurrection from the dead4 ,the family relationship was primarily designed to be perpetual2 and only as mankind have forfeited or rejected the ministration of the ,holy ,priesthood has mere temporal union become a necessary yet but partial substitute for the eternal order of marriage4 ,paul's comprehensive precept ,neither is the man without the woman1 neither the woman without the man1 in the ,lord 7#a ,cor4 #aa3aa7 has an application beyond the marital state in mortality4 ,the full measure of progression in eternity is unattainable without the perpetuity of the family organization2 and the family unit must be established on earth through the order of ,celestial ,marriage1 which comprises marriage for time as well as for eternity1 or1 in the case of the dead by the confirmation and extension of earthly wedlock through the vicarious sealing of the parties in ,celestial ,marriage4 ,otherwise1 that is if the marriage of any couple shall have been by secular authority only1 without the authority of the ,holy ,priesthood1 the parties shall find in the resurrection that neither are they married nor can they then be given in marriage4 ,following the visitation of the ,risen ,christ to the ,nephites on the ,western ,continent we read of the marriage institution associated with specific blessings1 indicating the authorized administration of the higher and eternal order of matrimony3 ,and they were married1 and given in marriage1 and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the ,lord had made unto them4 7,book of ,mormon1 #d ,nephi #a3aa47 ,concerning those who are wedded for this life only1 the word of ,god as revealed in the present age is in strict accord with the ,lord's affirmation to the ,sadducees3 ,therefore1 when they are out of the world1 they neither marry1 nor are given in marriage2 but are appointed angels in heaven1 which angels are ministering servants1 to minister for those who are worthy of a far more1 and an exceeding1 and an eternal weight of glory4 7,d,c #acb3af47 -- #fc -- ,,celestial ,,marriage ,eternal ,relationship of the ,sexes ,,neither is the man without the woman1 neither the woman without the man1 in the ,lord4 7#a ,cor4 #aa3aa47 ,this scriptural epigram loses much of its significance if restricted to the period of mortal life4 ,admitting the actuality of individual existence after death1 both during the interval of disembodiment and beyond in the resurrected state1 we must in consistency accept the fact of the eternity of sex4 ,man will be man and woman woman in the hereafter as here4 ,marriage as regarded by the ,latter-day ,saints is ordained of ,god and designed to be an eternal relationship4 ,the ,church affirms it to be not only a temporal and legal contract1 of binding effect during the mortal life of the parties1 but also a solemn covenant that shall endure beyond the grave4 ,in the complete ordinance of marriage as administered within the ,church1 the man and the woman are placed under covenant of mutual fidelity and union not until death does them part1 but for time and for all eternity4 ,a contract as far-reaching as this1 extending not only throughout the period of earth-life1 but beyond death1 requires for its validation an authority superior to any that can be originated by human enactment2 and such authority is found in the ,holy ,priesthood1 which1 given of ,god1 is eternal4 ,only as ,god delegates authority to man1 with promise that administration under that authority shall be acknowledged in heaven1 can any contract be made in this world and be of assured validity after the death of the parties concerned4 ,marriage is properly authorized by legal statute2 and every contract of matrimony entered into as the law provides is honorable1 and unless dissolved by the operation of law is effective during the life of the respective parties thereto4 ,but it is beyond the power of man to legislate for eternity4 ,this is made plain in a revelation given to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints in #ahdc1 part of which follows3 ,all covenants1 contracts1 bonds1 obligations1 oaths1 vows1 performances1 connections1 associations1 or expectations1 that are not made1 and entered into1 and sealed1 by the ,holy ,spirit of promise1 of him who is anointed1 both as well for time and for all eternity1 and that too most holy1 by revelation and commandment 4 4 4 are of no efficacy1 virtue or force1 in and after the resurrection from the dead2 for all contracts that are not made unto this end1 have an end when men are dead4 4 4 4 ,and everything that is in the world1 whether it be ordained of men1 by thrones1 or principalities1 or powers1 or things of name1 whatsoever they may be1 that are not by me1 or by my word1 saith the ,lord1 shall be thrown down1 and shall not remain after men are dead1 neither in nor after the resurrection1 saith the ,lord your ,god4 7,d,c #acb3g1 #ac47 ,in application of this principle and law to the covenants of matrimony1 the revelation continues3 ,therefore1 if a man marry him a wife in the world1 and he marry her not by me1 nor by my word2 and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world1 and she with him1 their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead1 and when they are out of the world2 therefore1 they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world4 ,this holy order of matrimony1 involving covenant and blessing for both time and eternity1 is distinctively known in the ,church as ,celestial ,marriage1 and is administered to those only who are adjudged to be of worthy life1 eligible for admission to the ,house of the ,lord2 for this sacred ordinance together with others of eternal validity may be solemnized only within the ,temples reared and dedicated for such exalted service4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 however1 sanctions and acknowledges legal marriages for mortality alone1 and solemnizes such unions1 as the secular law provides1 between parties who do not enter the ,temple or who voluntarily choose the lesser and temporal order of matrimony4 ,the ordinance of ,celestial ,marriage comprises and includes marriage for time1 and is therefore administered to none who are not legally eligible to marry according to the law of the land4 ,marriage that shall be valid after death must be solemnized here1 as must all other ordinances required of men in the flesh1 and that under the authority given of ,god for earthly administration4 ,the resurrected state of those1 otherwise worthy1 who are wedded for mortality alone and that under laws created by man1 is set forth in both ancient and modern ,scripture as that of angels or ministers1 unblessed by eternal increase3 ,for these angels did not abide my law1 therefore they cannot be enlarged1 but remain separately and singly1 without exaltation1 in their saved condition1 to all eternity1 and from henceforth are not ,gods1 but are angels of ,god1 for ever and ever4 7,d,c #acb3ag47 -- #fd -- ,,there ,,was ,,war ,,in ,,heaven ,primeval ,conflict ,over ,satanic ,autocracy ,,and there was war in heaven2 ,michael and his angels fought against the dragon2 and the dragon fought and his angels1 ,and prevailed not2 neither was their place found any more in heaven4 ,see ,rev4 #ab3g-i4 ,john the ,revelator beheld in vision this scene of primeval conflict between the hosts of unembodied spirits4 ,plainly this battle antedated the beginning of human history1 for the dragon or ,satan had not then been expelled from heaven1 and at the time of his first recorded activity among mortals he was a fallen being4 ,in this antemortal contest the forces were unequally divided2 ,satan drew to his standard only a third of the spirit children of ,god 7,rev4 #ab3d2 ,d,c #bi3cf-ch and #gf3be-bg71 while the majority either fought with ,michael or refrained from active opposition1 and so accomplished the purpose of their first estate4 ,the angels who followed ,satan kept not their first estate 7,jude #f7 and so forfeited the glorious possibilities of an advanced or second estate4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #ff47 ,the victory was won by ,michael and his angels2 and ,satan1 theretofore a son of the morning1 was cast out of heaven1 yea he was cast out into the earth1 and his angels were cast out with him4 7,rev4 #ab3i47 ,about eight centuries prior to ,john's time1 the principal facts of these momentous occurrences were revealed to ,isaiah the prophet1 who lamented with inspired pathos the fall of so great a one as ,lucifer1 and specified selfish ambition as the cause4 ,read ,isa4 #ad3ab-ae4 ,the question at issue in the war in heaven is of first importance to human-kind4 ,from the record of ,isaiah we learn that ,lucifer1 then of exalted rank among the spirits1 sought to aggrandize himself without regard to the rights and agency of others4 ,he aspired to the unrighteous powers of absolute autocracy4 ,the principle for which ,michael1 the archangel contended1 and which ,lucifer sought to nullify1 comprised the individual liberties or the free agency of the spirit hosts destined to be embodied in the flesh4 ,the whole matter is set forth in a revelation given to ,moses and repeated through ,joseph ,smith1 the first prophet of the present dispensation3 ,and ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 spake unto ,moses1 saying3 ,that ,satan1 whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine ,only ,begotten1 is the same which was from the beginning1 and he came before me1 saying--,behold1 here am ,i1 send me1 ,i will be thy son1 and ,i will redeem all mankind1 that one soul shall not be lost1 and surely ,i will do it2 wherefore give me thine honor4 ,but1 behold1 my ,beloved ,son1 which was my ,beloved and ,chosen from the beginning1 said unto me--,father1 thy will be done1 and the glory be thine forever4 ,wherefore1 because that ,satan rebelled against me1 and sought to destroy the agency of man1 which ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 had given him1 and also1 that ,i should give unto him mine own power2 by the power of mine ,only ,begotten1 ,i caused that he should be cast down4 ,and he became ,satan1 yea1 even the devil1 the father of all lies1 to deceive and to blind men1 and to lead them captive at his will1 even as many as would not hearken unto my voice4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 pp4 #ae-af47 ,thus it is shown that before this earth was tenanted by man1 ,christ and ,satan together with the hosts of the spirit offspring of ,god existed as intelligent individuals1 with ability and power of choice1 and freedom to follow the leaders whom they elected to obey4 ,in that innumerable concourse of spirit intelligences1 the ,father's plan1 whereby ,his children would be advanced to their second estate1 was submitted and doubtless discussed4 ,satan's plan of compulsion whereby all would be forcibly guided through mortality1 bereft of freedom to act and agency to choose1 so circumscribed that forfeiture of salvation would be impossible and not one soul could be lost1 was rejected2 and the humble offer to ,jesus the ,firstborn--to live among men as their ,exemplar1 observing the sanctity of man's agency while teaching men to use aright that ,divine heritage--was accepted4 ,the decision brought war1 which resulted in the vanquishment of ,lucifer and his angels1 and they were cast out1 deprived of the boundless privileges incident to the mortal or second estate4 ,ever since the beginning of human existence on earth1 the deposed son of the morning and his followers have been compassing the captivity of souls4 ,the plan of salvation is the gospel of liberty4 ,and now1 in these the last days1 immediately precedent to the return of ,christ1 who shall come to rule in righteousness on earth1 the arch-fiend is making desperate effort to enthrall mankind under the autocracy of hell4 ,the conflict under which the earth has been made to groan was a repetition of the premundane war1 whereby the free agency of spirits was vindicated2 and the eventual issue of the later struggle was equally assured4 -- #fe -- ,,we ,,lived ,,before ,,we ,,were ,,born ,our ,primeval ,childhood ,,it is a grievous error to assume that mortal birth marks the beginning of one's individual existence4 ,quite as reasonable is it to hold that death means annihilation of the soul4 ,the preexistent or antemortal state of man is as plainly affirmed by ,scripture as is the fact of life beyond the grave4 ,we are too prone to regard the body as the man1 and this mistake breeds the thought that life in the flesh is all there is to existence4 ,there is in man an immortal spirit that existed as an intelligent being before the body was begotten1 and that shall continue to exist as the same immortal individual after the body has gone to decay4 ,divine revelation attests the solemn truth that man is eternal4 ,no one who accepts the ,holy ,bible as the word of ,god can consistently deny the preexistence of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,in the first chapter of the ,gospel written by ,john1 ,christ is designated as the ,word1 and the ,savior's preexistence and primeval ,godship are thus set forth3 ,in the beginning was the ,word and the ,word was with ,god1 and the ,word was ,god4 ,we read further3 ,and the ,word was made flesh1 and dwelt among us4 7,john #a3a and #ad47 ,our ,lord's personal testimony is to the same effect4 ,of the disciples he asked3 ,what and if ye shall see the ,son of ,man ascend up where he was before8 7,john #f3fb47 ,and on another occasion ,he averred ,i came forth from the ,father1 and am come into the world3 again1 ,i leave the world1 and go to the ,father4 7,john #af3bh47 ,in solemn prayer ,he implored1 ,and now1 ,o ,father1 glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which ,i had with thee before the world was4 7,john #ag3e47 ,nevertheless1 as to earthly birth ,christ was born a ,child and lived to maturity as a ,man among men4 ,even as ,his bodily birth was the union of a preexistent spirit with a tabernacle of flesh and bones1 such also is the birth of every human being4 ,everyone of us was known by name and character to the ,father1 who is the ,god of the spirits of all flesh 7,numbers #af3bb2 #bg3af71 in our antemortal or primeval childhood2 and from among the hosts of ,his unembodied children ,god chose for special service on earth such as were best suited to the accomplishment of ,his purposes4 ,in illustration consider the ,lord's definite revelation to ,jeremiah the prophet3 ,before ,i formed thee in the belly ,i knew thee2 and before thou camest forth out of the womb ,i sanctified thee1 and ,i ordained thee a prophet unto the nations4 7,jer4 #a3e47 ,more than twelve centuries before ,jeremiah's time ,god had revealed unto ,abraham the fact of the preexistence of the spirits of mankind1 as also the diverse capacities of those spirits1 and the ,divine purpose in preparing the earth for their habitation4 ,thus runs the record3 ,now the ,lord had shown unto me1 ,abraham1 the intelligences that were organized before the world was2 and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones2 ,and ,god saw these souls that they were good1 and he stood in the midst of them1 and he said3 ,these ,i will make my rulers2 for he stood among those that were spirits1 and he saw that they were good2 and he said unto me3 ,abraham1 thou art one of them2 thou wast chosen before thou wast born4 ,and there stood one among them that was like unto ,god1 and he said unto those who were with him3 ,we will go down1 for there is space there1 and we will take of these materials1 and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell2 ,and we will prove them herewith1 to see if they will do all things whatsoever the ,lord their ,god shall command them2 ,and they who keep their first estate shall be added upon2 and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate2 and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads forever and ever4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 pp4 #fe-ff47 ,our life in the flesh is but one stage in the course of the soul's eternal progress1 a link connecting the eternities past with the eternities yet to come4 ,the purpose of our mortal probation is that of education1 training1 trial1 and test1 whereby we demonstrate whether we will obey the commandments of the ,lord our ,god and so lay hold on the boundless opportunities of advancement in the eternal worlds1 or elect to do evil and forfeit the boon of citizenship in the ,kingdom of ,heaven4 ,the condition upon which mankind may have place in that ,kingdom is compliance with the requirements laid down by ,jesus ,christ the ,redeemer and ,savior of the world1 whose name is the only name which shall be given under heaven1 whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #cc47 -- #ff -- ,,man ,,is ,,eternal ,successive ,stages of ,existence ,,there are four states1 conditions1 or stages in the advancement of the individual soul1 specified in ,sacred ,writ4 ,these are 7#a7 the unembodied1 7#b7 the embodied1 7#c7 the disembodied1 and 7#d7 the resurrected state4 ,in other words1 7#a7 every one of us lived in an antemortal existence as an individual spirit2 7#b7 we are now in the advanced or mortal stage of progress2 7#c7 we shall live in a disembodied state after death1 which is but a separation of spirit and body2 7#d7 and in due time each of us1 whether righteous or sinful1 shall be resurrected from the dead with spirit and body reunited and never again to be separated4 ,as to the certainty of the antemortal state1 commonly spoken of as preexistence1 the ,scriptures are explicit4 ,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ repeatedly averred that ,he had lived before ,he was born in flesh 7see ,john #f3fb2 #h3eh2 #af3bh2 #ag3e72 and as with ,him so with the spirits of all who have become or yet shall become mortal4 ,we were severally brought into being1 as spirits1 in that preexistent condition1 literally the children of the ,supreme ,being whom ,jesus ,christ worshiped and addressed as ,father4 ,do we not read that the ,eternal ,father is the ,god of the spirits of all flesh 7,numb4 #af3bb2 #bg3af71 and more specifically that ,he is the ,father of spirits8 7,heb4 #ab3i47 ,in the light of these ,scriptures it is plainly true that the spirits of mankind were there begotten and born into what we call the preexistent or antemortal condition4 ,the primeval spirit birth is expressively described by ,abraham to whom the facts were revealed1 as a process of organization and the spirits so advanced are designated as intelligences3 ,now the ,lord had shown unto me1 ,abraham1 the intelligences that were organized before the world was2 and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #fe47 ,the human mind finds difficulty in apprehending the actuality of infinite or eternal process1 either from the present onward to and beyond what we call in a relative sense perfection1 on1 on1 without end2 or backward through receding stages that had no beginning4 ,but who will affirm that things beyond human comprehension cannot be8 ,in the antemortal eternities we developed with individual differences and varied capacities4 ,so far as we can peer into the past by the aid of revealed light we see that there was always gradation of intelligence1 and consequently of ability1 among the spirits1 precisely as such differences exist amongst us mortals4 ,that all men are created equal is true in the sense in which that telling epigram was written into the scriptures of the ,nation as a self-evident truth2 for such laws as men enact in righteousness provide for the protection of individual rights on a basis of equality and recognize no discriminating respect of persons4 ,but if applied as meaning that all men are born with equal capacities1 or even inherent abilities in like measure for each1 the aphorism becomes absurd and manifestly false4 ,every spirit born in the flesh is an individual character1 and brings to the body prepared for its tenancy a nature all its own4 ,the tendencies1 likes and dislikes1 in short the whole disposition of the spirit may be intensified or changed by the course of mortal life1 and the spirit may advance or retrograde while allied with its mortal tabernacle4 ,students of the so-called science with a newly coined name1 ,eugenics1 are prone to emphasize the facts of heredity to the exclusion of preexistent traits and attributes of the individual spirit as factors in the determination of character4 ,the spirit lived as an organized intelligence before it became the embodied child of human parents2 and its pre-existent individualism will be of effect in its period of earth life4 ,even though the manifestations of primeval personality be largely smothered under the tendencies due to bodily and prenatal influence1 it is there1 and makes its mark4 ,this is in analogy with the recognized laws of physical operation--every force acting upon a body produces it definite effect whether it acts alone or with other and even opposing forces4 ,the genesis of every soul lies back in the eternity past1 beyond the horizon of our full comprehension1 and what we call a beginning is as truly a consummation and an ending1 just as mortal birth is at once the commencement of earth life and the termination of the stage of antemortal existence4 ,the facts are thus set forth in the revealed word of ,god3 ,if there be two spirits1 and one shall be more intelligent than the other yet these two spirits1 notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other1 have no beginning2 they existed before1 they shall have no end1 they shall exist after1 for they are gnolaum1 or eternal4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #fe47 ,to every stage of development1 as to every human life1 there is beginning and end2 but each stage is a definite fraction of eternal process1 which is without beginning or end4 ,man is of eternal nature and of ,divine lineage4 -- #fg -- ,,in ,,the ,,lineage ,,of ,,deity ,man's ,divine ,pedigree ,,the spirits of mankind are the offspring of ,god4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints so affirms on the basis of scriptural certainty1 and as wholly reasonable and consistent4 ,the preexistent or antemortal state of man has been heretofore demonstrated4 ,god the ,eternal ,father is the actual and literal ,parent of spirits4 ,that many of these spirits in their embodied state manifest more of human weakness than of ,divine heritage1 that they grasp the earthly present with little regard for the heavenly past and with less for the yet greater possibilities of the heavenly future1 is no proof to the contrary of the revealed truth that man belongs to the lineage of ,god4 ,of all the spirit children begotten of the ,eternal ,father throughout the eons past1 ,jesus ,christ was the firstborn4 ,to this solemn truth the ,christ has testified in the current age3 ,and now1 verily ,i say unto you1 ,i was in the beginning with the ,father1 and am the firstborn4 ,and as to the human family in general1 ponder our ,lord's further avowal3 ,ye were also in the beginning with the ,father4 7,d,c #ic3ba1 #bc47 ,the ,scriptures aver that all things existing upon earth1 including man1 were created spiritually prior to their embodiment in earthly tabernacles2 and furthermore1 that mortal man is fashioned after the image of ,god4 ,in short1 all earthly existences are material expressions of preexistent entities4 ,the human body1 so far as it is normal1 undeformed and unimpaired1 is a presentment of the spirit itself4 ,one of the essential and distinguishing characteristics of life is the power to select and utilize in its own tabernacle1 whether plant1 animal1 or human1 the material elements within its reach1 so far as such are necessary to its growth and development4 ,this is true alike of the unborn embryo and of the mature being4 ,man's spirit1 therefore1 is in the likeness of its ,divine and ,eternal ,father1 and in the operations of the functions of life it shapes the body to conform with itself4 ,how could the spirit be otherwise than in the image of ,god if it be divinely begotten and born8 ,the conformation of the body to the likeness of the pre-existent spirit is attested in a revelation to an ancient prophet and seer1 wherein the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 then in the unembodied state1 showed ,himself to ,his mortal servant1 saying3 ,seest thou that ye are created after mine own image8 ,yea1 even all men were created in the beginning1 after mine own image4 ,behold1 this body1 which ye now behold1 is the body of my spirit2 and man have ,i created after the body of my spirit2 and even as ,i appear unto thee to be in the spirit1 will ,i appear unto my people in the flesh4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,ether1 #c3ae1 #af74 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints teaches that the spirit of man being the offspring of ,deity1 and the human body though of earthly composition yet being1 in its perfect condition1 the very image of ,god1 man1 even in his present and so-called fallen condition1 possesses inherited traits1 tendencies1 and powers that tell of his ,divine descent2 and that these attributes may be developed as to make him1 even while mortal1 in a measure ,godlike4 ,if this be not true we have to explain a vital exception to what we regard as an inviolable law of organic nature--that like begets like1 and that perpetuation of species is in compliance with the condition each after his kind4 ,the actuality of the spiritual procreation1 with which mortal birth is analogous1 is expressed in the inspired hymn by a latter-day poetess1 ,eliza ,r4 ,snow3 ,for a wise and glorious purpose ,thou hast placed me here on earth1 ,and withheld the recollection ,of my former friends and birth2 ,yet ofttimes a secret something ,whispered1 ,you're a stranger here2 ,and ,i felt that ,i had wandered ,from a more exalted sphere4 ,i had learned to call thee ,father1 ,through thy ,spirit from on high2 ,but until the ,key of ,knowledge ,was restored1 ,i knew not why4 ,in the heavens are parents single8 ,no2 the thought makes reason stare6 ,truth is reason1 truth eternal ,tells me ,i've a ,mother there4 ,when ,i leave this frail existence1 ,when ,i lay this mortal by1 ,father1 ,mother1 may ,i meet you ,in your royal courts on high8 ,then1 at length1 when ,i've completed ,all you sent me forth to do1 ,with your mutual approbation ,let me come and dwell with you4 -- #fh -- ,,unending ,,advancement ,infinite ,possibilities of ,man's ,estate ,,the spirit of man is in the image of ,god1 whose child it is1 and every human body conforms1 in the measure determined by its perfection or physical defects1 to the spirit that tenants it4 ,furthermore1 we know that the spirit existed in the ante-mortal state1 that after death it lives as a disembodied individual1 and that later it shall be reunited with the body of flesh and bones in an everlasting union through the resurrection inaugurated by our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,if man be the spirit offspring of ,god1 and if the possibilities of individual progression be endless1 to both of which sublime truths the ,scriptures bear definite testimony1 then we have to admit that man may eventually attain to ,divine estate4 ,however far away it be in the eternities future1 what eons may elapse before any one now mortal may reach the sanctity and glory of godhood1 man nevertheless has inherited from his ,divine ,father the possibilities of such attainment--even as the crawling caterpillar or the corpse-like chrysalis holds the latent possibility1 nay1 barring destruction1 the certainty1 indeed1 of the winged imago in all the glory of maturity4 ,progression in mortality1 that is true progression1 advancement of the soul in developing the attributes of godliness1 achievement in righteousness that shall endure beyond death and resurrection1 is conditioned upon compliance with spiritual law1 just as bodily health is dependent upon the observance of what we call natural law4 ,between the two there may be difference of degree1 but not essentially of kind4 ,physical exercise is indispensable to the development of body1 and quite as certainly is spiritual activity requisite to the healthful and normal development of the soul4 ,through valiant service1 by unreserved obedience to the requirements embodied in the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 never-ending advancement is made possible to man4 ,thus1 within the soul are the potentialities of godhood4 ,such high attainment is specifically the exaltation of the soul as distinguished from salvation4 ,not all who are saved in the hereafter shall be exalted4 ,one may refrain in large measure from committing particular sins or sin in general1 and so gain title to a degree of salvation far above the lot of the gross offender1 nevertheless his goodness may be merely passive1 and thus distinctly apart from the active1 aggressive1 positive godliness of him who is valiant in righteous service4 ,the incident of the rich young ,jew who came in quest of instruction as to his duty is in point4 ,see ,matt4 #ai3af-bf4 ,good ,master1 said he1 what good thing shall ,i do that ,i may have eternal life8 ,the ,lord answered ,if thou wilt enter into life1 keep the commandments and in response to further inquiry cited the standard requirements of the ,mosaic ,law4 ,in simplicity1 and seemingly devoid of all sense of self-righteousness1 the young man rejoined3 ,all these things have ,i kept from my youth up3 what lack ,i yet8 ,then ,jesus replied ,if thou wilt be perfect1 go and sell that thou hast1 and give to the poor1 and thou shalt have treasure in heaven3 and come and follow me4 ,the young ruler1 for as such he is designated1 yearned to know what he should do beyond ordinary observance of ,thou shalt and ,thou shalt not of the decalog4 ,he went away sorrowful in contemplation of the sacrifice required of him for the attainment of perfection4 ,love of worldly things was this man's besetting ailment4 ,the ,great ,physician diagnosed his case and prescribed a suitable remedy4 ,through the latter-day prophet1 ,joseph ,smith1 the ,lord has specified the conditions of exaltation in the eternal worlds1 by describing those who thus attain3 ,they are they who received the testimony of ,jesus1 and believed on ,his name and were baptized after the manner of ,his burial1 being buried in the water in ,his name1 and this according to the commandment which ,he has given4 ,that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins1 and receive the ,holy ,spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power4 4 4 4 ,they are they who are ,priests and ,kings1 who have received of ,his fulness1 and of ,his glory1 and are ,priests of the ,most ,high1 after the order of ,melchizedek1 which was after the order of ,enoch1 which was after the order of the ,only ,begotten ,son4 ,wherefore1 as it is written1 they are ,gods1 even the sons of ,god4 7,d,c #gf3ea-eh47 ,and further1 of the supremely blessed we read3 ,then shall they be ,gods1 because they have no end2 therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting1 because they continue2 then shall they be above all1 because all things are subject unto them4 ,then shall they be ,gods1 because they have all power1 and the angels are subject unto them4 ,verily1 verily ,i say unto you1 except ye abide my law1 ye cannot attain to this glory4 7#acb3bj1 #ba47 ,but all shall be subject to the ,eternal ,father and ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 as thus attested3 ,wherefore all things are theirs1 whether life or death1 or things present1 or things to come1 all are theirs and they are ,christ's and ,christ is ,god's4 7#gf3ei47 -- #fi -- ,,the ,,living ,,and ,,the ,,dead ,both to ,hear ,the ,gospel ,,the ,atonement of ,jesus ,christ is the means by which salvation has been placed within the reach of all mankind--poor and rich1 bond and free1 and1 be it added1 living or dead4 ,we have seen in the light of scriptural demonstration that1 except through compliance with the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel as enunciated and prescribed by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 no man can attain a place in the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,what then of the dead1 who have lived and passed without so much as hearing that there is a ,gospel of salvation or a ,savior of the race8 ,are they to be hopelessly and forever damned8 ,if so1 the phrase eternal justice should be stricken from ,scripture and literature1 and infamous injustice substituted4 ,think of the myriads who died before and at the ,deluge1 of the hosts of ,israel who knew only the ,law and died in ignorance of the ,gospel1 and count in with them the millions of their pagan contemporaries2 then think of the generations who passed away during the long dark night of spiritual apostasy1 predicted by prophecy and attested by history2 and contemplate the heathen and but partly civilized tribes of the present day4 ,are these1 to whom no knowledge of the ,gospel has come1 to be under eternal condemnation in consequence8 ,in the hereafter the saved and the lost are to be segregated4 ,the ,scriptures so avouch4 ,therefore1 were there no salvation for these who have died in ignorance of ,christ's ,atonement and ,his ,gospel1 these benighted spirits could never associate with their descendants who have been privileged to live in an age of ,gospel enlightenment1 and who have made themselves eligible for salvation by faith and its fruitage1 obedience4 ,i have read of a heathen king1 who1 through the zealous efforts of missionaries whom he had tolerantly admitted to his realm1 was inclined to accept what had been presented to him as ,christianity and make it the religion of his people4 ,though he yearned for the blessed state of salvation which the new religion seemed to offer1 he was profoundly affected by the thought that his ancestors1 the dead chieftains of his tribe1 together with all the departed of his people1 had gone to their graves unsaved4 ,when he was told that while he and his subjects could reach heaven1 those who had died before had surely gone to hell1 he exclaimed with a loud oath ,then to hell ,i will go with them4 ,he spoke as a brave man4 ,though1 had he been more fully informed he would have known that the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ entails no such dire certainty2 but that1 on the contrary1 the spirits of his noble dead would have opportunity of learning1 in the world of the disembodied1 the saving truth which in the flesh had never saluted their ears4 ,the ,gospel is being preached to the dead4 ,missionary service in the spirit world has been in progress since its inauguration by the disembodied ,christ while ,his crucified body lay in the tomb4 7,john #e3be47 ,christ's promise from the cross to the penitent thief dying by ,his side1 that the man should that day be in paradise with the ,lord1 tells us where the ,savior's spirit went and ministered during the interval between death and resurrection4 ,paradise is not heaven1 if by that name we mean the abode of ,god and the place of the supremely blessed2 for in the early light of the resurrection ,sunday the ,risen ,lord decisively affirmed that ,he had not then ascended to ,his ,father4 7,see ,john #bj3ag47 ,peter tells of the ,lord's ministry among the disembodied3 ,for ,christ also hath once suffered for sins1 the just for the unjust1 that he might bring us to ,god1 being put to death in the flesh1 but quickened by the ,spirit3 ,by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison4 7#a ,peter #c3ah-ai47 ,the terms of salvation are equally binding upon the quick and the dead3 ,for for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead1 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh1 but live according to ,god in the spirit4 7#a ,peter #d3f47 ,the ,atonement would be shorn of its sublime import and effect were its provisions limited to the relative few who have complied with the ordinances of the ,gospel in the body4 ,but the ,scriptures abundantly show that the ,atonement is of universal effect1 reaching every soul1 both in the certainty of resurrection from death and in the opportunity for salvation through individual obedience4 ,with particular reference to redemption from death ,jacob1 a ,nephite prophet1 thus spake3 ,wherefore it must needs be an infinite atonement2 save it should be an infinite atonement1 this corruption could not put on incorruption4 7,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #i3g47 ,obedience to ,gospel requirements is likewise of universal application4 ,it follows that if any man has failed1 either through neglect or lack of opportunity to meet the requirement1 the obligation is not cancelled by death4 -- #gj -- ,,god ,,of ,,the ,,living ,all ,live ,unto ,him ,,but as touching the resurrection of the dead1 have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by ,god1 saying1 ,i am the ,god of ,abraham1 and the ,god of ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob8 ,god is not the ,god of the dead1 but of the living4 ,see ,matt4 #bb3bc-cc4 ,these words of the ,master were addressed to a party of ,sadducees1 who had asked1 though in irony1 concerning certain details of the resurrected state1 all the while holding to their unscriptural dogma that there could not be a resurrection from the dead4 ,the ,lord dismissed their circumstantial instance with terse reproof and brief explanation1 and went direct to the real point of their question--the actuality of the resurrection then future4 ,he cited a ,scripture often quoted in the rabbinical discourses of the time1 daily sung in the refrain of the temple chants1 and of frequent recurrence in their ceremonial orisons3 ,i am the ,god of ,abraham1 and the ,god of ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob4 ,jehovah's affirmation of ,his own identity as expressed in this passage was made to ,moses at ,horeb4 ,see ,exo4 #c4 ,at that time ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 with whom ,he who there spake unto ,moses from amidst the fiery splendor of the burning bush had made covenant of everlasting effect1 were dead4 ,the climax of the ,master's explanatory and positive doctrine was unanswerable3 ,he is not a ,god of the dead1 but of the living3 for all live unto him4 7,luke #bj3ch47 ,small wonder that certain of the ,scribes exclaimed1 ,master1 thou hast well said1 nor that the multitude were astonished at ,his doctrine4 ,to acclaim as one of the distinguishing titles of ,jehovah that ,he was the ,god of the patriarchs whom they most revered1 and yet hold that those worthies were dead in the ,sadducean sense of death1 was inconsistency itself4 ,the real import of death varies with the point of view4 ,looked at from this side of the veil it means bereavement1 departure1 separation1 and as some ignorantly profess to believe1 annihilation4 ,from the other side it is seen in its verity as the disembodiment of the living1 active1 intelligent spirit1 which existed before its entrance into a tabernacle of flesh and bones1 which maintains its individuality after bodily dissolution1 and which is destined to be reembodied in the resurrection4 ,in these several states of existence the spirit is the same being1 with specific powers and functions1 endowed with agency or choice1 and therefore strictly accountable4 ,death of the body in no sense extinguishes the conscious personality of the spirit nor does it terminate individual accountability4 ,peter tells us of disembodied spirits who had lived in the flesh during the ,noachian dispensation1 and who through disobedience and wilful rejection of the ,gospel had incurred bodily destruction1 and imprisonment of their undying spirits throughout the centuries from ,noah to ,christ4 ,unto them the disembodied ,savior went and preached the ,gospel4 ,they were therefore alive1 possessed of understanding1 and capable of accepting or again rejecting the ,gospel of salvation4 ,yet they were all numbered among the dead as man counts the departed2 and for that matter so was the ,christ1 for ,his visitation to those spirits in prison was made during the interval of ,his death on the cross and ,his emergence from the tomb with spirit and body reunited--a resurrected ,soul4 ,the ,nephite prophet ,alma set forth in words of inspired plainness the continuity of intelligent existence after death3 ,now concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection4 ,behold1 it has been made known unto me1 by an angel1 that the spirits of all men1 as soon as they are departed from this mortal body2 yea1 the spirits of all men1 whether they be good or evil1 are taken home to that ,god who gave them life4 ,and then shall it come to pass that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness1 which is called paradise2 a state of rest2 a state of peace1 where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care1 and sorrow4 4 4 4 ,now this is the state of the souls of the wicked2 yea1 in darkness1 and a state of awful1 fearful1 looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of ,god upon them2 thus they remain in this state1 as well as the righteous in paradise1 until the time of their resurrection4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,alma #dj47 ,and as to the individual existence in and after the resurrection1 the same revelator has given us this ,scripture3 ,now1 there is a death which is called a temporal death3 and the death of ,christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death1 that all shall be raised from this temporal death4 ,the spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form2 both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame1 even as we now are at this time2 and we shall be brought to stand before ,god1 knowing even as we know now1 and have a bright recollection of all our guilt4 ,now this restoration shall come to all1 both old and young1 both bond and free1 both male and female1 both the wicked and the righteous4 7,alma #aa47 -- #ga -- ,,beyond ,,the ,,grave ,repentance ,possible ,even ,there ,,in view of scriptural affirmation that between ,his death and resurrection ,christ visited and ministered to the spirits who had been disobedient1 and who1 because of unexpiated sins were still held in duress1 it is pertinent to inquire as to the object and scope of the ,savior's ministry among them4 7,see #a ,peter #c3ah-ai2 and #d3f47 ,his preaching to the spirits in prison must have been purposeful and positive4 ,moreover1 it is not to be assumed that ,his message was other than one of relief and mercy4 ,those to whom ,he went had long been in a state of durance1 deprivation and suffering4 ,to them came the ,redeemer to preach1 not to further condemn1 to show them the way that led to light1 not to intensify the darkness of their despair4 ,had not that visit of deliverance been long predicted8 ,centuries earlier ,isaiah had voiced the word of ,jehovah concerning the state of proud and wicked spirits3 ,and they shall be gathered together1 as prisoners are gathered in the pit1 and shall be shut up in the prison1 and after many days shall they be visited4 7,isa4 #bd3bb2 see also #db3f1 #g47 ,david1 conscious of his own transgression1 but thrilled with contrition and hope1 sang in measures of mingled sorrow and joy3 ,therefore my heart is glad1 and my glory rejoiceth3 my flesh also shall rest in hope4 ,for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell4 7,psa4 #af3i-aj47 ,inasmuch as ,christ preached the ,gospel to the dead1 ,his ministry must have included the affirmation of ,his own atoning death1 the inculcation of faith in ,himself and in the whole plan of salvation1 which includes as a fundamental essential1 contrite repentance acceptable unto ,god4 ,peter specifies the purpose of the ,savior's introduction of the ,gospel to departed spirits as that they might be judged according to men in the flesh1 but live according to ,god in the spirit4 7#a ,pet4 #d-f47 ,through latter-day revelation we learn that among the inhabitants of the terrestrial world1 or lesser kingdom of glory1 are they who are the spirits of men kept in prison1 whom the ,son visited1 and preached the gospel unto them1 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh2 who received not the testimony of ,jesus in the flesh1 but afterwards received it4 7,d,c #gf3gc-gd47 ,progression1 then1 is possible beyond the grave4 ,advancement is eternal4 ,were it otherwise1 ,christ's ministry among the disembodied would be less than fable and fiction4 ,equally repugnant is the thought that though the ,savior preached faith1 repentance and other principles of the ,gospel to the imprisoned sinners in the realm of spirits1 their compliance was impossible4 ,it is not difficult to conceive of disembodied spirits being capable of faith and repentance4 ,death has not destroyed their status as individual intelligences4 ,as they hear the glad tidings of the ,gospel some will accept1 and others1 the obstinate and rebellious1 will reject and for a further period will have to languish in prison4 ,besides the principles of the ,gospel there are certain ordinances involving material works1 which are indispensable to salvation4 ,among these the ,scriptures specify baptism by immersion in water1 and the reception of the ,holy ,ghost by the imposition of authorized hands4 ,how can a man be baptized when he is dead8 ,the answer is that the necessary ordinances may be administered vicariously for the dead to their living representatives in the body4 ,thus1 as a man may be baptized in his own person for himself1 he may be baptized as proxy for his ancestral dead4 ,herein we find point and explanation of ,paul's challenging question to the doubting ,corinthians3 ,else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead1 if the dead rise not at all8 why are they then baptized for the dead8 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bi47 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints affirms that the ,divine plan of salvation is not bounded by the grave2 but that the ,gospel is deathless and everlasting1 reaching back through all the ages that have sped1 and forward into the eternities of the future4 ,vicarious service by the living in behalf of the dead is in line with and a result of the supreme vicarious sacrifice embodied in the ,atonement wrought by the ,savior of the world4 ,largely for the administration of ordinances in behalf of the dead the ,latter-day ,saints build and maintain ,temples1 wherein the living posterity enter the waters of baptism and receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 as representatives of their departed progenitors4 ,this labor was foretold through ,malachi as a necessary and characteristic feature of the last dispensation1 preceding the advent of ,christ in glory and judgment4 ,thus1 the dead fathers and living children are turned toward one another in the affection of a kinship that is to endure throughout eternity4 7,see ,mal4 #d3e-f47 ,we solemnly aver that on ,april #c1 #ahcf1 ,elijah the ancient prophet came to earth and committed unto the restored ,church the authority and commission to administer in behalf of the dead4 7,see ,d,c #aaj3 #ac-af47 -- #gb -- ,,opportunity ,,here ,,and ,,hereafter ,free ,agency and ,its ,results ,,repentance and other good works1 whereby the saving grace of ,christ's ,atonement may be made of individual effect for the remission of sins1 are possible to the dead2 and furthermore1 the required ordinances of the ,gospel may be administered to the living in behalf of the departed4 ,let it not be assumed that the doctrine of vicarious labor for the disembodied implies1 even remotely1 that the administration of ordinances in behalf of the dead operates in the least degree to interfere with the right of choice and the free exercise of agency on their part4 ,they are at liberty to accept or reject ministrations intended for their benefit2 and so they will accept or reject in accord with their penitent or unregenerate condition1 even as is the case with those whom the ,gospel message reaches in mortality4 ,though baptism be authoritatively administered to a living person as proxy for a dead ancestor1 that spirit will derive no immediate advancement nor salvation thereby if he has not yet attained faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 or if he be still unrepentant4 ,even as ,christ has made salvation possible to all1 though few there be who accept the prescribed conditions in the flesh1 so vicarious ordinances may be administered for many in the spirit realm who are not yet prepared to avail themselves of the opportunities thus placed within their reach4 ,it is evident that labor in behalf of the dead is two-fold2 that performed on earth would remain incomplete and futile but for its supplement and counterpart beyond the veil4 ,missionary work is in progress there--work compared with which the evangelistic labor on earth is relatively of small extent4 ,there are preachers and teachers1 ministers invested with the ,holy ,priesthood1 all engaged in proclaiming the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ to spirits still sitting in darkness4 ,this great labor was inaugurated by the ,savior during the brief period of ,his disembodiment4 ,it is reasonable and consistent to hold that the saving ministry so begun was left to be continued by others duly authorized and commissioned2 just as the work of preaching the ,gospel and administering therein among the living was committed to the ,apostles of old through their ordination by the ,lord ,himself4 ,missionary service in the spirit world is primarily effective among two classes3 7#a7 those who have died in ignorance of the ,gospel--i4 e41 those who have lived and died without law1 and who therefore cannot be condemned until they have come to the knowledge and opportunity requisite to obedience2 and 7#b7 those who failed to comply with the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel in the flesh1 and who through the experiences of the other world have come to the contrite and receptive state4 ,it is unreasonable and vitally opposed to both letter and spirit of ,holy ,scripture to assume that neglect or rejection of the call to repentance in this life can be easily remedied by repentance hereafter4 ,forfeiture through disobedience is a very real loss1 entailing deprivation of opportunity beyond all human computation4 ,refusal to hear and heed the word of ,god is no physical deafness1 but a manifestation of spiritual disease resulting from sin4 ,death is no cure for such4 ,the unrepentant state is a disorder of the spirit1 and1 following disembodiment1 the spirit will still be afflicted therewith4 ,what ages such an afflicted one may have to pass in prison confines before he becomes repentant and therefore fit for cleansing1 we may not know4 ,the unrepentant hosts who rejected the ,gospel in the days of ,noah remained in thraldom until after the crucifixion of ,christ4 7,see #a ,peter #c3ah-bj47 ,the prophet ,amulek admonished the people to repent while opportunity permitted4 ,consider his inspired appeal3 ,for behold1 this life is the time for men to prepare to meet ,god4 4 4 4 ,ye cannot say1 when ye are brought to that awful crisis1 that ,i will repent1 that ,i will return to my ,god4 ,nay1 ye cannot say this2 for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life1 that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world4 ,for behold1 if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance1 even until death1 behold1 ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil1 and he doth seal you his4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,alma #cd3cb-ce47 ,revelation in the current age confirms the earlier ,scriptures in emphasizing the fact that mortality is the probationary state1 and that the individual achievements or forfeitures in this life will be of eternal effect1 notwithstanding the merciful provision made for advancement in the hereafter4 ,the celestial kingdom of glory and eternal communion with ,god and ,christ is provided for those who obey the ,gospel when they learn of it4 ,the lower or terrestrial state will be the inheritance of such as received not the testimony of ,jesus in the flesh1 but afterwards received it4 ,yet lower is the telestial abode of the less deserving2 and deepest of all1 the awful banishment of the sons of perdition4 7,see ,d,c #gf47 -- #gc -- ,,the ,,spirit ,,world ,paradise and ,hades ,,it is a common practise to designate the place1 the time1 or the state of existence following death as the hereafter2 indeed1 that term is defined by lexicographers as the future life4 ,the application is a broad one1 too broad to be regarded as descriptive except in the matter of sequence4 ,nevertheless1 the expression is a convenient one1 and is practically synonymous with the poet's phrase the great unknown4 ,its usage is a confession of uncertainty or ignorance of what awaits us beyond2 and as to duration it embraces eternity1 without divisions or periods either as to condition or time4 ,holy ,scripture is more definite1 and like ,paul's commanding call1 on ,mars' ,hill1 to the worshipers of the unknown ,god1 summons us to hear and learn the truth4 ,the world of the disembodied was known to the ,hebrews as ,sheol and to the ,greeks as ,hades2 and these terms1 meaning the unseen or unknown world1 are translated ,hell in our version of the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 respectively4 ,in a few ,new ,testament passages referring to the state of the damned1 ,gehenna is the original of the term ,hell4 ,paradise first appears in the ,bible in the ,savior's utterance from the cross promising the penitent thief a place there 7,luke #bc3dc72 and the word occurs subsequently but twice4 ,paradise is distinctively the abode of the righteous during their period of disembodiment1 and is in contrast with the prison tenanted by disobedient spirits4 7#a ,peter #c3ai1 #bj47 ,the several places or states mentioned above have reference to the existence of disembodied spirits1 and therefore embrace only that period of the hereafter between death and resurrection4 ,beyond the spirit world1 with its ,paradise and its prison1 lies the eternity of the resurrected state1 in the which men shall endure1 with spirits and bodies reunited1 redeemed from the thraldom of death1 and1 according to the record of their mortal lives1 saved or condemned4 ,the hereafter1 therefore1 comprises severally the disembodied and the reembodied existences of the individual2 and these must be distinctly segregated in any rational conception of the future life based on ,scripture4 ,read the testimony of the prophet ,alma3 ,now concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection4 ,behold1 it has been made known unto me1 by an angel1 that the spirits of all men1 as soon as they are departed from this mortal body2 yea1 the spirits of all men1 whether they be good or evil1 are taken home to that ,god who gave them life4 ,and then shall it come to pass that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness1 which is called paradise2 a state of rest2 a state of peace1 where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care1 and sorrow1 etc4 ,and then shall it come to pass1 that the spirits of the wicked1 yea1 who are evil2 for behold1 they have no part nor portion of the ,spirit of the ,lord2 for behold1 they chose evil works rather than good2 therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them1 and take possession of their house2 and these shall be cast out into outer darkness2 there shall be weeping1 and wailing1 and gnashing of teeth2 and this because of their own iniquity2 being led captive by the will of the devil4 ,now this is the state of the souls of the wicked2 yea1 in darkness1 and a state of awful1 fearful1 looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of ,god upon them2 thus they remain in this state1 as well as the righteous in paradise1 until the time of their resurrection4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,alma #dj3aa-ad47 ,it is evident that the final judgment of mankind is to be reserved until after the resurrection2 while in another sense judgment is manifest in the segregation of the disembodied1 for in the intermediate state like will seek like1 the clean and good finding companionship with their kind1 and the wicked congregating through the natural attraction of evil for evil4 ,the essential features of the intermediate state are deducible from the ,lord's parable of the rich man and ,lazarus4 ,read ,luke #af3ai-ca4 ,while it would be critically unfair to affirm doctrinal principles on the incidents of an ordinary story1 we cannot admit that ,christ would teach falsely even in parable2 and therefore we accept as true our ,lord's portrayal of conditions in the spirit world4 ,that righteous and unrighteous dwell apart between death and resurrection is made clear4 ,paradise1 or1 as the ,jews liked to designate that blessed abode1 ,abraham's bosom1 is not the place of final glory1 any more than the hell to which the rich man's spirit went is the final habitation of the lost4 ,between the two1 however1 there is a great gulf fixed4 ,to that intermediate state of existence men's works do follow them 7,rev4 #ad3ac72 and the dead shall find that in their bodiless state their condition is that for which they have prepared themselves while in the flesh4 -- #gd -- ,,how ,,long ,,shall ,,hell ,,last8 ,the ,duration of ,punishment ,,we are accustomed to speak broadly of salvation and condemnation in the hereafter as reward and punishment1 respectively4 ,the ,scriptures justify this usage1 and furthermore make plain the fact that reward or punishment will be a natural and inevitable heritage resulting from individual righteousness or sin4 ,the ,eternal ,judge of the quick and the dead is bound by ,his own inviolable laws--and no less so than by ,his ,divine attributes of justice and mercy--to exalt every deserving soul1 and to validate and enforce the loss and suffering consequent to wilful wickedness4 ,verily1 the ,lord ,god is no respecter of persons1 condoning the unexpiated sins of favorites and inflicting punishment upon others for but equal guilt4 ,such an unbelievable condition would mean injustice and vindictiveness4 ,everlasting blessedness is thoroughly consistent with justice4 ,the souls that attain to salvation and eternal life shall have glory added upon their heads forever and ever4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #ff47 ,but the thought of never-ending punishment as the fate of all who die in their sins is repugnant2 and rightly so4 ,as reward for righteous living is to be proportionate to deserts1 so punishment for sin must be graded according to the offense4 ,the purpose of punishment is disciplinary1 reformatory1 and in support of justice4 ,god's mercy is as truly manifest in the expiatory suffering1 which ,he allows1 as in the endless joys of salvation1 which ,he bestows4 ,as to the duration of punishment1 we may take assurance that it shall be measured to the individual in just accordance with the sum of his iniquity4 ,that every sentence for sin must be interminable is as directly opposed to a rational conception of justice as it is contradictory of the revealed ,word of ,god4 ,it was mercifully foreordained that even the prisoners thronging the pit should in due time be visited 7,isa4 #bd3ba-bb71 and be offered means of amelioration 7#db3g74 ,david sang right rapturously1 ,thou wilt not leave my soul in hell4 7,psa4 #af3aj47 ,true1 the ,scriptures speak of endless punishment1 and depict everlasting burnings1 eternal damnation1 and the sufferings incident to unquenchable fire1 as features of the judgment reserved for the wicked4 ,but none of these awful possibilities are anywhere in ,scripture declared to be the unending fate of the individual sinner4 ,blessing or punishment ordained of ,god is eternal1 for ,he is eternal1 and eternal are all ,his ways4 ,his is a system of endless and eternal punishment1 for it will always exist as the place or condition provided for the rebellious and disobedient2 but the penalty as visited upon the individual will terminate when through repentance and expiation the necessary reform has been effected and the uttermost farthing paid4 ,even to hell there is an exit as well as an entrance2 and when sentence has been served1 commuted perhaps by repentance and its attendant works1 the prison doors shall open and the penitent captive be afforded opportunity to comply with the law1 which he aforetime violated4 ,but the prison remains1 and the eternal decree prescribing punishment for the offender stands unrepealed4 ,so it is even with the penal institutions established by man4 ,to this effect hath the ,lord spoken in the current age3 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 ,christ the ,lord2 yea1 even ,i am ,he1 the beginning and the end1 the ,redeemer of the world4 4 4 4 ,and surely every man must repent or suffer1 for ,i1 ,god1 am endless4 ,wherefore1 ,i revoke not the judgments which ,i shall pass1 but woes shall go forth1 weeping1 wailing and gnashing of teeth1 yea1 to those who are found on my left hand4 ,nevertheless it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment1 but it is written endless torment4 ,again1 it is written eternal damnation 4 4 4 for1 behold1 ,i am endless1 and the punishment which is given from my hand1 is endless punishment1 for ,endless is my name4 ,wherefore eternal punishment is ,god's punishment4 ,endless punishment is ,god's punishment4 ,the revelation continues3 ,therefore ,i command you to repent--repent lest ,i smite you by the rod of my mouth1 and by my wrath1 and by my anger1 and your sufferings be sore--how sore you know not6 how exquisite you know not6 yea1 how hard to bear you know not6 ,for behold1 ,i1 ,god1 have suffered these things for all1 that they might not suffer if they would repent4 ,but if they would not repent1 they must suffer even as ,i1 which suffering caused myself1 even ,god1 the greatest of all1 to tremble because of pain1 and to bleed at every pore1 and to suffer both body and spirit3 and would that ,i might not drink the bitter cup and shrink--,nevertheless1 glory be to the ,father1 and ,i partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men4 7,d,c #ai47 ,the inhabitants of the telestial world--the lowest of the kingdoms of glory prepared for resurrected souls1 shall include those who are thrust down to hell and who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection4 7#gf3hb-he47 ,and though these may be delivered from hell and attain to a measure of glory with possibilities of progression1 yet their lot shall be that of servants of the ,most ,high1 but where ,god and ,christ dwell they cannot come1 worlds without end4 7v4 #aab47 ,deliverance from hell is not admittance to heaven4 -- #ge -- ,,salvation ,,and ,,exaltation ,advancement ,worlds ,without ,end ,,improvement1 advancement1 progression1 here and hereafter1 are basal principles of the ,divine plan with respect to the souls of men4 ,earth-life with its varied experiences of joy and sorrow1 of success and failure1 of temptation and resistance thereto1 all the bitter and the sweet of mortal existence may be turned to eventual good in the development of the individual soul4 ,we hold as reasonable1 scriptural1 and true1 that advancement in righteous achievement and power for good shall be a feature of the future life1 both during the period of disembodiment and in and after the resurrection from the dead4 ,nevertheless1 ability to progress in eternity is largely conditioned by the thoroughness of our education in the school of mortality4 ,our status in the hereafter will be found to be primarily dependent upon the merits or demerits of our life here2 and beyond as in this world ability to advance will be varied and graded4 ,wilful neglect here may forfeit both ability and opportunity there4 ,hence1 though in the mercy of ,god the ,gospel is being preached in the spirit world1 and vicarious administration of the essential and saving ordinances is provided for1 to the end that the repentant dead might be judged according to men in the flesh1 but live according to ,god in the spirit 7#a ,peter #d3f71 disembodied spirits may be incapacitated and ineligible even for repentance1 and for the benefits of baptism administered in their behalf upon earth1 until they shall have learned in the spirit world the primary lessons that they ignored or rejected while in the flesh4 ,to this effect spake ,alma the prophet3 ,there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent2 therefore this life became a probationary state2 a time to prepare to meet ,god2 a time to prepare for that endless state1 which has been spoken of by us1 which is after the resurrection of the dead4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,alma #ab3bd47 ,for behold1 this life is the time for men to prepare to meet ,god2 yea1 behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors4 ,and now as ,i said unto you before1 as ye have had so many witnesses1 therefore1 ,i beseech of you1 that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end2 for after this day of life1 which is given us to prepare for eternity1 behold1 if we do not improve our time while in this life1 then cometh the night of darkness1 wherein there can be no labor performed4 ,ye cannot say1 when ye are brought to that awful crisis1 that ,i will repent1 that ,i will return to my ,god4 ,nay1 ye cannot say this2 for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life1 that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world4 ,for behold1 if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance1 even until death1 behold1 ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil1 and he doth seal you his2 therefore1 the ,spirit of the ,lord hath withdrawn from you1 and hath no place in you1 and the devil hath all power over you4 7#cd3cb-ce47 ,some degree of salvation shall be granted to every soul who has not forfeited all claim thereto4 ,but ,salvation as a graded state provided for all who have not sinned unto the incurring of the dread penalty of the second death is far exceeded by the ,exaltation provided for the valiant righteous4 ,of such as are worthy of a measure of salvation1 yet who have failed to lay hold on the higher blessings and privileges of eternal life1 including the perpetuity of the family relation through the sealing ordinances administered under the authority of the ,holy ,priesthood1 title to which is to be won by individual effort by and through the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,lord has spoken in this dispensation1 saying that they are appointed angels in heaven1 which angels are ministering servants1 to minister for those who are worthy of a far more1 and an exceeding1 and an eternal weight of glory4 ,for these angels did not abide my law1 therefore they cannot not be enlarged1 but remain separately and singly1 without exaltation1 in their saved condition1 to all eternity1 and from henceforth are not ,gods1 but are angels of ,god1 for ever and ever4 7,d,c #acb3af-ag47 ,progression in eternity is to be along well defined lines2 and thus the inheritors of any specific order or kingdom of glory may advance forever without attaining the particular exaltation belonging to a different kingdom or order4 ,of those who shall belong to the ,telestial or lowest kingdom of glory we read3 ,but behold1 and lo1 we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the ,telestial world1 that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven1 or as the sand upon the sea shore2 and heard the voice of the ,lord1 saying3 ,these all shall bow the knee1 and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne for ever and ever4 ,for they shall be judged according to their works1 and every man shall receive according to his own works1 his own dominion1 in the mansions which are prepared4 ,and they shall be servants of the ,most ,high1 but where ,god and ,christ dwell they cannot come1 worlds without end4 7#gf3aji-aab47 -- #gf -- ,,deity ,,as ,,exalted ,,humanity ,man ,is a ,god in ,embryo ,,we read of our ,lord's presence at a winter festival in ,jerusalem1 the ,feast of ,dedication4 ,as ,he stood in ,solomon's ,porch ,he was assailed with questions from some of the more prominent ,jews2 and ,his answers so stirred their priestly wrath that they essayed to stone ,him to death4 ,read ,john #aj3bb-db4 ,the chief cause of their anger lay in ,christ's affirmation of ,his actual relationship to the ,father as the veritable ,son of ,god4 ,to the assault of the infuriated and sin-blinded ,jews ,jesus responded with these words3 ,many good works have ,i showed you from my ,father2 for which of those works do ye stone me8 ,and the answering howl of the mob was3 ,for a good work we stone thee not2 but for blasphemy2 and because that thou1 being a man1 makest thyself ,god4 ,blasphemy was the blackest crime in the ,mosaic category2 and the prescribed penalty was death by stoning4 ,the essence of this capital offense lay in falsely claiming for one's self or attributing to man the authority belonging to ,god1 or in ascribing to ,deity unworthy attributes4 ,jesus had proclaimed to the angry ,jews ,his inherent power to grant eternal life unto all who would believe on ,him and do the things ,he taught4 ,hence the frightful charge of blasphemy hurled at the ,son of ,god1 who spake as the ,father gave commandment4 ,our ,lord reminded them that even human judges of their own1 being empowered by ,divine authority and therefore acting in the administration of justice as representatives of ,deity1 were called gods 7see ,psalm #hb3a1 #f72 and then1 with sublime pertinence asked3 ,say ye of him1 whom the ,father hath sanctified1 and sent into the world1 ,thou blasphemest2 because ,i said1 ,i am the ,son of ,god8 ,the actuality of the relationship between ,jesus the ,son and ,god the ,father as set forth in the ,scriptures cited is in accord with ,scripture in its entirety2 and that humankind are veritably children of that same ,father1 ,jesus ,christ being the ,firstborn of the spirits1 and therefore our ,elder ,brother1 is attested by the same high and unquestionable authority4 ,the ,jews denied and blasphemously decried the ,godship of ,christ because ,he was to them a man1 the reputed son of a carpenter1 and ,his mother1 brothers and sisters were known to them as familiar townsfolk4 ,christ emphatically affirmed that ,he was following ,his ,father's footsteps1 as witness ,his words on another occasion1 when the ,jews tried to kill ,him because ,he had said that ,god was his ,father1 making himself equal with ,god4 ,then answered ,jesus and said unto them1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,the ,son can do nothing of himself1 but what he seeth the ,father do3 for what things soever he doeth1 these also doeth the ,son likewise4 ,read ,john #e3ag-bc4 ,in the verse following1 ,jesus declared that unto ,him the ,father showed all things that ,he1 the ,father1 did4 ,in connection with the same occurrence ,he declared1 ,my ,father worketh hitherto1 and ,i work4 ,it is plain that ,jesus ,christ recognized the literal relationship of ,sonship which ,he bore to the ,father2 and moreover1 that ,he was pursuing a course leading to ,his own exaltation1 a state then future1 which course was essentially that which ,his ,father had trodden aforetime4 ,to the ,father's supremacy ,he repeatedly testified1 and expressly stated1 ,my ,father is greater than ,i4 7,john #ad3bh47 ,jesus ,christ lived and died a mortal ,being1 though distinguished in certain essential attributes from all other mortals because of ,his status as the ,only ,begotten of ,god ,his ,father in the flesh4 ,yet ,jesus ,christ has attained the supreme exaltation of ,godship1 and has won ,his place at the right hand of the ,eternal ,father4 ,ponder the significance of ,his words3 ,for as the ,father hath life in himself2 so hath he given to the ,son to have life in himself4 7,john #e3bf47 ,the teachings of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints on this affirmation by the ,lord ,jesus were set forth by ,joseph ,smith the prophet in this wise3 ,as the ,father hath power in ,himself1 so hath the ,son power in ,himself1 to lay down ,his life and take it again1 so ,he has a body of ,his own4 ,the ,son doeth what ,he hath seen the ,father do3 then the ,father hath some day laid down ,his life and taken it again2 so ,he has a body of ,his own4 ,and further3 ,god ,himself was once as we are now1 and is an exalted ,man1 and sits enthroned in yonder heavens4 ,that is the great secret4 ,if the veil was rent to-day1 and the ,great ,god who holds this world in its orbit1 and who upholds all worlds and all things by ,his power1 was to make ,himself visible--,i say1 if you were to see ,him to-day1 you would see ,him like a man in form--like yourselves in all the person1 image1 and very form as a man2 for ,adam was created in the very fashion1 image1 and likeness of ,god1 and received instruction from1 and walked1 talked and conversed with ,him1 as one man talks and communes with another4 ,we read further3 ,the ,father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's2 the ,son also4 7,d,c #acj3bb47 ,our belief as to the relationship of humanity to ,deity is thus expressed3 ,as man is ,god once was2 as ,god is man may be4 -- #gg -- ,,be ,,ye ,,perfect ,is ,it ,possible8 ,,some knowledge of the attributes of ,god is essential to intelligent worship4 ,granted that finite man cannot comprehend infinity2 yet consistency forbids us carrying this self-evident truth to the extent of saying that because ,god is infinite man can have no conception of ,his nature or character4 ,if ,god be but a vast formless nonentity1 filling all space and therefore illimitable1 substanceless1 devoid of body and parts1 incapable of emotions and passions1 ,he is not my ,father1 ,i am not ,his son4 ,to the contrary1 the ,scriptures affirm that humankind are the children of ,god1 fashioned after ,his likeness in both spirit and body2 and conversely1 ,he must be of definite form and feature1 possessed of a body perfect in all its parts1 and ,he likewise perfect in all ,his acts4 ,on the night of the betrayal1 while comforting the sorrow-stricken ,eleven by solemn and lofty discourse1 ,jesus said unto them3 ,ye believe in ,god1 believe also in me4 4 4 4 ,if ye had known me1 ye should have known my ,father also3 and from henceforth ye know him1 and have seen him4 ,the faithful ,philip broke in with an appealing request3 ,lord1 shew us the ,father1 and it sufficeth us4 ,the ,lord's response was an unequivocal avowal that ,he was ,his ,father's exact presentment1 so that whosoever had seen ,him had seen unto what and whom the ,father was like4 ,note the explicit and withal pathetic words of the heavy-hearted ,christ3 ,have ,i been so long time with you1 and yet hast thou not known me1 ,philip8 ,he that hath seen me hath seen the ,father2 and how sayest thou then1 ,shew us the ,father8 ,see ,john #ad3a-aj4 ,jesus ,christ1 the ,man1 was and is in the express likeness of ,his ,father's ,person2 and1 since the consummation of ,his mission in the flesh and ,his victory over death whereby comes the resurrection1 ,he has been exalted to the ,father's state of glory and perfection4 ,see ,heb4 #a3a-d4 ,though the thoughts and activities of ,god be as far above the ways of men as the heavens are above the earth1 they are nevertheless of a kind with human yearnings and aspirations1 so far as these be the fruitage of holiness1 purity1 and righteous endeavor4 ,though our planet be but as a drop of the ocean compared with the many greater orbs1 it is not the least of all2 and what we have come to know of other worlds is primarily based on analogy with the phenomena of our own4 ,notwithstanding that ,deity is perfect and humanity grossly imperfect1 we may learn much of the ,higher by a study of the lower in its true and normal phases4 ,as an impressive and profound climax to one division of the sublime discourse1 ,the ,sermon on the ,mount1 the ,master said3 ,be ye therefore perfect1 even as your ,father which is in heaven is perfect4 7,matt4 #e3dh47 ,what led up to this utterance1 calling for the explanatory therefore by which the relation of premises and conclusion is expressed8 ,a studious reading of the entire chapter gives answer4 ,following the ,beatitudes and certain well defined admonitions and precepts1 the ,lord made plain the distinction between the ,law under which ,israel had professedly lived from ,moses down1 and the higher requirements of the ,gospel taught by ,christ4 ,again and again the introductory1 ,ye have heard that it was said by them of old time1 is followed by the authoritative1 ,but ,i say unto you4 ,obedience to the ,gospel1 which comprises all the essentials of the ,law1 was enjoined as the means by which man may become perfect1 even in the sense in which the ,father in heaven is perfect4 ,it is a significant fact that when ,jesus ,christ1 a resurrected and glorified ,being1 visited the ,nephite branch of the ,house of ,israel on the ,western ,continent1 ,he included ,himself with the ,father as the existent ideal of perfection1 as thus appears3 ,therefore ,i would that ye should be perfect even as ,i1 or your ,father who is in heaven is perfect4 7,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #ab3dh74 ,the road to exaltation and perfection is opened through the ,gospel of ,christ4 ,we cannot rationally construe our ,lord's admonition as implying an impossibility4 ,we are not required to assume that man in mortality can attain the perfection of an exalted and glorified personage1 such as either the ,father or ,jesus ,christ4 ,however1 man may be perfect in his sphere as more advanced intelligences may be in their several spheres2 yet the relative perfection of the lower is vastly inferior to that of the higher4 ,we can conceive of a college freshman attaining perfection in his class2 yet the honors of the upper classman are beyond2 and graduation1 though to him remote1 is assured if be do but maintain his high standing to the end4 ,after all1 individual perfection is relative and must be gaged by the law operative upon us4 ,in #ahcb the ,lord thus spake through ,his prophet ,joseph ,smith3 ,and again1 verily ,i say unto you1 that which is governed by law is also preserved by law1 and perfected and sanctified by the same4 7,d,c #hh3cd47 ,the law of the ,gospel is a perfect law2 and the sure effect of full obedience thereto is perfection4 ,of those who attain exaltation in the celestial kingdom ,christ has declared3 ,these are they who are just men made perfect through ,jesus the ,mediator of the new covenant1 who wrought out this perfect ,atonement through the shedding of his own blood4 7#gf3fi47 -- #gh -- ,,the ,,glory ,,of ,,god ,,is ,,intelligence ,knowledge ,is ,power in ,heaven as on ,earth ,,in a revelation to ,abraham the ,lord made known the existence of spirits appointed to take bodies upon the earth4 ,these spirits were designated as the intelligences that were organized before the world was2 and elsewhere in the same record spirits are called intelligences4 ,see ,pearl of ,great ,price1 pp4 #fe1 #ff4 ,this usage of the term has gained a place in modern ,english1 as lexicographers agree4 ,the ,standard ,dictionary gives us the following as one of the specific definitions of intelligence3 ,an intelligent being1 especially a spirit not embodied2 as the intelligences of the unseen world2 the ,supreme ,intelligence4 ,the word is current as connoting 7#a7 the mental capacity to know and understand2 7#b7 knowledge itself1 or the thing that is known and understood2 and 7#c7 the person who knows and understands4 ,beside these there are other minor usages4 ,in the revelation above cited the ,lord impressed upon ,his ancient prophet and seer the fact that some of the spirits were more intelligent than others2 and then proclaimed ,his own ,divine supremacy by the declaration3 ,i am the ,lord thy ,god1 ,i am more intelligent than they all4 4 4 4 ,i rule in the heavens above1 and in the earth beneath1 in all wisdom and prudence1 over all the intelligences thine eyes have seen from the beginning4 ,i came down in the beginning in the midst of all the intelligences thou hast seen4 ,in such wise did ,god make known anciently the power by virtue of which ,he is supreme over all the intelligences that exist--the fact that ,he is more intelligent than any and all others4 ,in the heavens as upon the earth the aphorism holds good that ,knowledge is ,power1 providing that by knowledge we mean application1 and not merely mental possession1 of truth4 ,in a revelation through ,joseph ,smith the prophet given in #ahcc1 the character of ,divine authority and power is thus sublimely summarized3 ,the ,glory of ,god is ,intelligence4 7,d,c #ic3cf47 ,the context of the passage shows that the intelligence therein referred to as an attribute of ,deity is spiritual light and truth2 and that man may attain to a measure of this exalting light and truth is thus made certain3 ,he that keepeth ,his commandments receiveth truth and light1 until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things4 4 4 4 ,intelligence1 or the light of truth1 was not created or made1 neither indeed can be4 ,all truth is independent in that sphere in which ,god has placed it1 to act for itself1 as all intelligence also4 ,the antithesis of light and truth is darkness and falsehood2 the former is summarized as righteousness1 the latter as evil4 ,reverting to the figure of mortality as a school for embodied spirits1 we must admit that every pupil who ignores or rejects the truth as presented to him through the revealed word and his own experience is culpably responsible for his ignorance4 ,not all knowledge is of equal worth4 ,the knowledge that constitutes the wisdom of the heavens is all embraced in the ,gospel as taught by ,jesus ,christ2 and wilful ignorance of this1 the highest type of knowledge1 will relegate its victim to the inferior order of intelligences4 ,another latter-day ,scripture may be cited as an inspired generalization embodying an eternal truth relating to our subject3 ,it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance4 7,d,c #aca3f47 ,can it be otherwise8 ,if a man be ignorant of the terms on which salvation is predicated he is unable to comply therewith1 and consequently fails to attain what otherwise might have been his eternal gain4 ,the ignorance that thus condemns is responsible ignorance1 involving wilful and sinful neglect4 ,lack of the saving knowledge that one has had no opportunity to acquire is but a temporary deficiency2 for ,eternal ,justice provides means of education beyond the grave4 ,every one of us will be judged according to the measure of light and truth we have had opportunity to acquire4 ,even the untutored heathen who has lived up to his highest conceptions of right shall find means of progression4 ,part of the blessing to follow the second advent of ,christ is thus stated3 ,and then shall the heathen nations be redeemed1 and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection2 and it shall be tolerable for them4 7#de3ed47 ,the intelligence that saves comprises knowing and doing what is required by the ,gospel of ,christ2 and such intelligence will endure beyond death4 ,whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life1 it will rise with us in the resurrection4 ,and if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another1 he will have so much the advantage in the world to come4 7#acj3ah1 #ai47 ,intelligence as to ,godly things1 which are summarized in the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 leads to an ever increasing understanding and comprehension of ,god ,himself1 and this is knowledge supreme2 for as the praying ,christ affirmed3 ,this is life eternal1 that they might know thee the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ1 whom thou hast sent4 7,john #ag3c47 -- #gi -- ,,when ,,ignorance ,,is ,,sin ,opportunity ,entails ,accountability ,,it is an aphorism of the courts that ignorance of the law is no valid excuse for crime4 ,if this rule be just it must rest upon the assumption that knowledge of what the law demands or forbids is an inherent and natural possession1 or that it is so readily accessible that no one is justified in failing to become informed4 ,the normal individual of a civilized community requires no specific instruction to know that theft1 falsification1 drunkenness1 adultery or murder is fundamentally wrong1 since each of these crimes is a violation of his conscience and a pronounced offense against public weal4 ,if1 however1 he enter restricted territory within which registration is legally demanded1 and he1 not knowing of the requirement1 fails to register1 he is technically a law-breaker subject to the penalties prescribed4 ,true1 his offense is that of omission or non-compliance and his ignorance may or may not be taken into account as a mitigating circumstance1 this depending1 perhaps1 upon local conditions and the discretion of the magistrate as warranting leniency or demanding the full measure of punishment4 ,as thus in the ordinary affairs of men so with regard to the laws of ,god1 framed for the governance of souls and providing for their salvation4 ,one's inherent consciousness warns him against criminal actions but fails to inform him of certain definite requirements1 without compliance with which he is debarred from admission to the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,there is no inborn knowledge by which man knows that baptism by immersion in water1 and the higher baptism of the ,spirit through the imposition of hands are essential to salvation2 nevertheless our ,lord's words to ,nicodemus are alike binding upon every soul3 ,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the ,kingdom of ,god4 7,john #c3e47 ,is it less reasonable with respect to spiritual requirements than in secular matters to expect of every one an acquaintance with the law as it applies to himself1 providing1 of course1 such knowledge is accessible to all8 ,but some may honestly assert inability to apprehend the necessity of obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel1 even though they had informed themselves as to the letter of the prescribed conditions4 ,such may ask3 ,are men to suffer penalty in the hereafter because they cannot understand what is required of them in mortality8 ,the degree of their culpability is to be determined by the fundamental cause of their ineptitude in matters spiritual4 ,failure to comprehend may be due to bias or to lack of desire to know4 ,the record of our ,lord's ministry presents an instance in point1 coupled with a remedy for the spiritual disorder by which ignorance was fostered and truth ignored4 ,it was at the ,feast of ,tabernacles4 ,read ,john #g3ad-ah4 ,the ,jews were greatly troubled over ,his teachings2 a few believed1 more doubted and questioned1 and some were so resentful as to want to kill ,him4 ,the more honest in the multitude desired to know for themselves whether the ,master spoke by the power and authority of ,god or as a man1 for as a man only was ,he generally regarded4 ,jesus answered them1 and said1 ,my doctrine is not mine1 but his that sent me4 ,if any man will do his will1 he shall know of the doctrine1 whether it be of ,god1 or whether ,i speak of myself4 ,are you unable to realize that baptism is essential to salvation8 ,perhaps the cause lies in the fact that you have never developed the essential condition of faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 or1 perchance1 you have never repented of your sins4 ,faith and repentance1 as the ,scriptures aver1 are prerequisites to effective baptism2 and it is as unreasonable to expect a faithless unrepentant sinner to comprehend the essentiality of baptism as to expect one untrained in the rudiments of arithmetic to understand algebra4 ,wilful ignorance of ,gospel requirements is sin4 ,man is untrue to his ,divine lineage and birthright of reason when he turns away from the truth1 or deliberately chooses to walk in darkness while the illumined path is open to his tread4 ,positive rejection of the truth is even graver than passive inattention or neglect4 ,yet to every one is given the right of choice and the power of agency1 with the certainty of his meeting the natural and inevitable consequence4 ,we learn of three principal states or graded kingdoms into which souls shall enter under ,divine judgment--the ,celestial1 the ,terrestrial1 and the ,telestial--and the inheritance of each soul shall be determined by his measure of obedience to the laws of ,god1 as the ,lord's revelation through the prophet ,joseph ,smith attests3 ,for he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory4 ,and he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory4 ,he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory2 therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory4 7,d,c #hh3bb-bd47 -- #hj -- ,,knowing ,,and ,,doing ,knowledge ,may ,help to ,condemn of ,save ,,by way of summary and climax to ,his lofty yet simple1 and withal unparalleled discourse1 since named ,the ,sermon on the ,mount1 ,jesus ,christ thus spake3 ,therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine1 and doeth them1 ,i will liken him unto a wise man1 which built his house upon a rock3 ,and the rain descended1 and the floods came1 and the winds blew1 and beat upon that house2 and it fell not3 for it was founded upon a rock4 ,and every one that heareth these sayings of mine1 and doeth them not1 shall be likened unto a foolish man1 which built his house upon the sand3 ,and the rain descended1 and the floods came1 and the winds blew1 and beat upon that house2 and it fell3 and great was the fall of it4 7,matt4 #g3bd-bg2 compare ,luke #f3dg-di47 ,this ,sermon has stood through the centuries in a class of its own4 ,the address is before us as a living preceptor thrilled with the spirit of sincerity and action as opposed to wordy profession and careless neglect4 ,the closing sentences quoted above express1 in language suited alike to child and sage1 a generalization of deep import--that actions not words alone1 works not empty belief1 doing not merely knowing what to do1 are conditions indispensable to the salvation of the soul4 ,many of those who were so signally privileged and blessed as to personally hear the ,master were astonished at ,his doctrine and deeply moved by the simple and convincing presentation3 ,for he taught them as one having authority1 and not as the scribes4 7,matt4 #g3bi47 ,our ,lord was qualified to teach as ,he did1 not only1 by reason of the sufficing fact that ,he bore the ,father's commission1 but because ,he had done and was doing just what ,he required of others4 ,the authority of ,divine precept was united in ,him with that of unimpeachable example4 ,the burden of all scriptural direction relating to the attainment of a place in the ,kingdom of ,god is3 ,do the works that are prescribed4 ,ever consistent1 unchangeable as the ,father ,himself1 our ,lord affirmed the same necessity of works when ,he ministered among the ,nephites on the ,american continent soon after ,his ascension from the ,mount of ,olives in ,palestine4 ,having declared that ,his doctrine was the doctrine of the ,father1 the ,resurrected ,christ thus proclaimed3 ,whoso believeth in me1 and is baptized1 the same shall be saved2 and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,and whoso believeth not in me1 and is not baptized1 shall be damned4 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 that this is my doctrine1 and ,i bear record of it from the ,father2 and whoso believeth in me believeth in the ,father also1 and unto him will the ,father bear record of me2 for he will visit him with fire and with the ,holy ,ghost4 4 4 4 ,and again ,i say unto you1 ,ye must repent and be baptized in my name1 and become as a little child1 or ye can in no wise inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 that this is my doctrine1 and whoso buildeth upon this1 buildeth upon my rock1 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them4 ,and whoso shall declare more or less than this1 and establish it for my doctrine1 the same cometh of evil1 and is not built upon my rock1 but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation1 and the gates of hell standeth open to receive such1 when the floods come and the winds beat upon them4 7,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #aa3cc-dj47 ,the accumulated experience of the world sustains the soundness of the principle thus emphasized in the ,savior's teachings4 ,an alien immigrant to our shores may desire to attain the full status of citizenship2 but desire alone will never enfranchise him4 ,he must first learn the legal requirements1 and then comply therewith in every detail4 ,a student of the ,scriptures may have learned1 and that to his own complete conviction1 that faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 repentance of sin1 baptism by water and of the ,spirit1 are the prescribed conditions of citizenship in the ,kingdom of ,god2 but that knowledge serves only to make him the more blameworthy if he fails to act4 ,even a letter-perfect memorization of all ,scripture if unaccompanied by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel is invalid as title to salvation1 and does but intensify the guilt incident to wilful neglect4 ,opportunity to avail one's self of the saving provisions of the ,gospel may not always be within individual reach1 for neglect may forfeit the ability to repent4 ,the ,word of the ,lord to the world today is thus proclaimed3 ,i the ,lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance4 ,nevertheless1 he that repents and does the commandments of the ,lord shall be forgiven1 and he that repents not1 from him shall be taken even the light which he has received2 for my ,spirit shall not always strive with man1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts4 7,d,c #a3ca-cc47 -- #ha -- ,,will ,,many ,,or ,,few ,,be ,,saved8 ,our ,place ,beyond the ,grave ,,in the course of our ,lord's last journey from ,galilee to ,jerusalem1 which proved to be ,his solemn march to ,calvary and the tomb1 ,he threaded the towns and villages of the region1 teaching and preaching by the way4 ,multitudes were impressed by ,his lofty precepts and ,his simple exposition of plain1 every-day religion2 and many questions were submitted to ,him1 some based on curiosity or even less worthy motives1 others inspired by genuine interest4 ,then said one unto him1 ,lord1 are there few that be saved8 7,luke #ac3bc47 ,the inquiry was and is of great moment4 ,we observe as a striking and significant fact1 that while the ,lord nowise treated the query as improper1 yet ,he gave no specific or direct answer4 ,indeed1 so far as the record enables us to judge ,he purposely left the question unanswered2 though ,he gave a most impressive sermon in connection therewith4 ,note again the question1 and part of the response3 ,then said one unto him1 ,lord1 are there few that be saved8 ,and he said unto them1 ,strive to enter in at the strait gate3 for many1 ,i say unto you1 will seek to enter in1 and shall not be able4 ,as the succeeding verses tell1 the instruction was enlarged upon to show that neglect or procrastination in obeying the requirements of salvation may result in dire jeopardy to the soul4 ,moreover1 the people were warned that their ,israelitish lineage would not save them2 for many who were not of the covenant people would believe and be admitted to the ,lord's presence1 while unworthy ,israelites would be thrust out4 ,so is it that ,there are last which shall be first1 and there are first which shall be last4 7,verse #cj47 ,uplifting and invaluable as this teaching is1 it has1 nevertheless1 but an indirect bearing upon the clean-cut question3 ,will many or but few be saved8 ,the people to whom ,jesus was speaking were incapable of understanding a plain answer to the question1 and would have been misled thereby4 ,for1 had ,he said ,few they would have construed the reply to mean that only a few1 and they the ,jews1 would find a place in ,abraham's bosom1 while all the rest would be consigned to sheol4 ,had the ,lord answered ,many they would have taken ,his word to mean that the great majority shall attain supreme bliss in the kingdom of heaven1 and only a few are to find a place in hell4 ,either inference is untrue4 ,later1 on the night of the betrayal1 the ,lord said to the sorrowful ,apostles3 ,in my ,father's house are many mansions2 if it were not so ,i would have told you4 ,here we find conclusive refutation of the old and still current superstition1 that but two states1 conditions1 or places--heaven and hell--are established for souls in eternity4 ,salvation is graded2 and every soul shall inherit the condition for which he is prepared4 ,paul comprehended this great truth1 as appears from his declaration that in the resurrection some souls shall be of the celestial order1 comparable in glory to the sun2 others shall attain but a terrestrial state1 of which the brightness of the moon is typical2 while the graded conditions of others shall be as the varying light of the stars4 ,see #a ,cor4 #ae3da1 #db4 ,here we have two kingdoms of glory distinctively specified--the celestial and the terrestrial1 and a third to which no name is given4 ,modern revelation is in strict accord with ,holy ,writ of ancient record1 and is explicit in affirming the graded conditions that await the souls of men4 ,as made known in #ahcb through the prophet ,joseph ,smith 7see ,d,c1 ,sec4 #gf7 there are three main kingdoms or degrees of glory in the hereafter--7#a7 the ,celestial1 of which the sun is relatively typical1 7#b7 the ,terrestrial1 as far below the first as the moon is inferior to the sun in effulgence1 and 7#c7 the ,telestial1 which is the kingdom referred to by ,paul but without name4 ,the ,celestial inheritance is for those who have accepted the ,gospel of ,christ and have rendered valiant service in the cause of righteousness2 those who have yielded obedience to all the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,into the ,terrestrial order shall enter those who have failed to lay hold on the privileges of eternal life while in the flesh2 honorable men of the earth perhaps1 according to human standard1 yet blinded by the craftiness of false teachers1 false philosophy1 science falsely so called4 ,these shall inherit glory1 but not a fulness thereof4 ,the ,telestial state is provided for those who have rejected the ,gospel and testimony of ,christ1 and who merit condemnation4 ,these are they who are liars1 and sorcerers1 and adulterers1 and whoremongers1 and whosoever loves and makes a lie4 ,among them shall be varied degrees1 even as the stars differ in glory4 ,far below this condition is that of the sons of perdition--those who have sinned in full consciousness1 those who have shed innocent blood4 ,the comparative few who reach this state of extreme degradation are doomed to dwell with the devil and his angels in eternity1 where their worm dieth not1 and the fire is not quenched1 which is their torment4 ,thus1 those who attain even the ,telestial state are saved from the depths of perdition2 while the inheritors of the higher glories are saved from the condition of the less exalted4 ,consider anew the question asked of ,christ3 ,lord1 are there few that be saved8 ,and the answer revealed in the present age3 ,but behold1 and lo1 we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world1 that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven1 or as the sand upon the sea shore4 7,d,c #gf3aji47 -- #hb -- ,,the ,,graves ,,shall ,,be ,,opened ,and the ,dead ,shall ,live ,,why should it be thought a thing incredible with you1 that ,god should raise the dead8 7,acts #bf3h47 ,so asked ,paul of ,king ,agrippa when arraigned before him a prisoner in bonds approximately thirty years after our ,lord's resurrection4 ,at that time the ,apostles and the saints generally suffered severe persecution because of their persistent testimony of the ,christ1 crucified and risen4 ,the powerful ,sadducees denied the actuality of a resurrection2 their opponents1 the ,pharisees1 professed a belief in the resurrection1 but all save those who had been converted to ,christianity through faith and repentance denounced the solemn testimonies of ,christ's resurrection as fiction and falsehood4 ,that the spirit of ,jesus ,christ returned from the abode of the disembodied and reentered the body till then reposing in the sepulchre is specifically affirmed in ,holy ,writ4 ,in the early dawn of that most memorable ,sunday in history ,he was seen by ,mary ,magdalene and then by others1 some of whom were permitted to reverently touch ,his feet4 ,in the evening ,he stood amongst the ,apostles and quieted their fears by the assuring demonstration3 ,behold my hands and my feet1 that it is ,i myself3 handle me1 and see2 for a spirit hath not flesh and bones1 as ye see me have4 7,luke #bd3ci47 ,that the body they beheld was the identical body in which the ,lord had lived amongst them was evident from the presence of the wounds made by the crucifiers4 ,to further assure the devoted company that ,he was no shadowy form1 no immaterial being1 but a living ,personage with bodily organs1 internal as well as outward1 ,he asked3 ,have ye here any meat8 ,they brought broiled fish and other food1 and ,he did eat before them4 ,christ was the first of all men to emerge from the tomb with spirit and body reunited1 a resurrected immortalized ,soul4 ,therefore1 is ,he rightly called the firstfruits of them that slept1 as also the firstborn from the dead1 and the first begotten of the dead4 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bj2 ,col4 #a3ah2 ,rev4 #a3e47 ,the victory over death thus achieved by the foreordained ,redeemer of the race was positively and abundantly foretold4 ,that a literal resurrection shall come to all who have or shall have lived and died on earth is quite as strongly attested in ,scripture4 ,two general resurrections are specified2 these we may distinguish as the first and the final1 or as the resurrection of the just and that of the unjust respectively4 ,hear the words of ,christ ,himself relating to the dead and their assured coming forth3 ,for the hour is coming1 in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice1 ,and shall come forth2 they that have done good1 unto the resurrection of life2 and they that have done evil1 unto the resurrection of damnation4 7,john #e3bh1 #bi47 ,the first resurrection began with that of ,jesus ,christ and was continued thereafter as we read3 ,and the graves were opened2 and many bodies of the saints which slept arose1 ,and came out of the graves after his resurrection1 and went into the holy city1 and appeared unto many4 7,matt4 #bg3eb1 #ec47 ,the resurrection of the just is to be made general at the time of the ,lord's approaching advent in glory2 but a fixed gradation is established as ,paul averred3 ,but now is ,christ risen from the dead1 and become the firstfruits of them that slept4 ,for since by man came death1 by man came also the resurrection of the dead4 ,for as in ,adam all die1 even so in ,christ shall all be made alive4 ,but every man in his own order3 ,christ the first-fruits2 afterward they that are ,christ's at his coming4 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bj-bc47 ,the ,millennium is to be inaugurated by a glorious redemption of the righteous from the power of death2 and of them it is written3 ,blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection3 on such the second death hath no power1 but they shall be priests of ,god and of ,christ1 and shall reign with him a thousand years4 7,rev4 #bj3f47 ,of the unworthy we read in thrilling contrast3 ,but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished4 ,of the imminence of ,his coming and in further specification of the distinction between the resurrection of the just and that of the unjust the ,lord has said through revelation in the current age3 ,hearken ye1 for1 behold1 the great day of the ,lord is nigh at hand4 ,for the day cometh that the ,lord shall utter his voice out of heaven2 the heavens shall shake and the earth shall tremble1 and the trump of ,god shall sound both long and loud1 and shall say to the sleeping nations1 ,ye saints arise and live2 ye sinners stay and sleep until ,i shall call again4 7,d,c #dc3ag1 #ah47 ,the ,book of ,mormon is explicit in description of the literal and universal resurrection3 ,now1 there is a death which is called a temporal death2 and the death of ,christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death1 that all shall be raised from this temporal death2 ,the spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form2 both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame1 even as we now are at this time2 and we shall be brought to stand before ,god1 knowing even as we know now1 and have a bright recollection of all our guilt4 ,now this restoration shall come to all1 both old and young1 both bond and free1 both male and female1 both the wicked and the righteous2 and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost2 but all things shall be restored to its perfect frame1 as it is now1 or in the body1 and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of ,christ the ,son1 and ,god the ,father1 and the ,holy ,spirit1 which is one eternal ,god1 to be judged according to their works1 whether they be good or whether they be evil4 7,alma #aa3db-dd47 -- #hc -- ,,resurrection ,,of ,,the ,,dead ,when ,shall ,it ,be8 ,,the eventual resurrection of every soul who has lived and died on earth is a scriptural certainty4 ,the resurrection consists of a literal and material reembodiment of spirits1 following their post-mortal experience in the spirit world1 whether this shall have been the freedom and joy of ,paradise or the restraint and remorse of the prison house4 ,we are destined to exist through the eternities beyond the resurrection with spirit and body reunited4 ,only in such union is a fulness of glory1 opportunity1 and achievement possible4 ,thus spake the ,lord ,jesus ,christ to the ,church in #ahcc3 ,for man is spirit4 ,the elements are eternal1 and spirit and element1 inseparably connected1 receiveth a fulness of joy4 ,and when separated1 man cannot receive a fulness of joy4 7,d,c #ic3cc-cd47 ,the word of ancient ,scripture affirms beyond any reasonable question or doubt that ,jesus ,christ1 who has been exalted to authority and power by the side of ,his and our ,eternal ,father1 exists as a ,spirit clothed in an immortalized body of flesh and bones2 for in such a body did ,he manifest ,himself after ,his resurrection2 and in that same body did ,he ascend from ,olivet in the full sight of the apostles1 while angelic attendants solemnly proclaimed3 ,this same ,jesus1 which is taken up from you into heaven1 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven4 7,acts #a3aa47 ,when the ,savior does so return1 ,his body will be found to bear the marks of the cruel piercings received on ,calvary2 and ,he shall say3 ,these wounds are the wounds with which ,i was wounded in the house of my friends4 ,i am he who was lifted up4 ,i am ,jesus that was crucified4 ,i am the ,son of ,god4 7,d,c #de3eb47 ,the ,eternal ,father is likewise a ,spirit tabernacled in an immortalized body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's4 7,d,c #acj3bb47 ,so shall it be with every one of ,god's spirit-children who has been born in flesh2 he shall be resurrected in flesh2 for1 through the infinite ,atonement1 physical death is but a temporary separation of spirit from body4 ,but though a fulness of joy eternal is possible only to resurrected beings1 not all shall find that ineffable happiness4 ,to the contrary1 many shall be consigned to anguish and remorse unspeakable1 because of their misdeeds in the body and their unrepentant state during the period of disembodiment4 ,the resurrection from the dead was inaugurated by ,christ1 who had power over death1 and who laid down ,his body and took it up again as and when ,he willed4 7,john #aj3ag-ah47 ,other resurrections of the righteous dead followed4 7,matt4 #bg3eb-ec2 and ,book of ,mormon1 #c ,nephi #bc3i-aj47 ,this1 the first resurrection1 or that of the just1 has been in operation since4 ,john the ,baptist1 and both ,peter and ,james1 each of whom met a martyr's death1 have severally appeared upon the earth and ministered in their resurrected bodies in these latter times4 7,d,c #ac2 and #bg3h-ac47 ,in this circumstance the continuance of service in the ,holy ,priesthood1 through both mortal and resurrected beings1 is profoundly exemplified4 ,moroni1 a ,nephite prophet who died about #dbj ,a4,d41 appeared as a resurrected man to ,joseph ,smith in #ahbc1 and at later times1 and committed to the latter-day prophet the original record from which the ,book of ,mormon has been translated4 7,see ,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #hh47 ,christ affirmed that there would be a resurrection of the just and a later resurrection of the unjust1 or resurrection unto life and damnation1 respectively4 7,john #e3bi47 ,apostolic ,scriptures are definite in segregating individual resurrections1 in that every man shall come forth in his own order according to worthiness4 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bj-bc2 ,rev4 #bj3d-f47 ,the imminent but yet future advent of ,jesus ,christ is to be accompanied by a general resurrection of the just1 while the yet unregenerate dead shall remain in their unrepentant state of duress until the ,lord's blessed reign of a thousand years on earth shall have passed4 ,then1 in a period following shall come the resurrection of the wicked4 ,the ,book of ,mormon makes plain that the resurrection of both just and wicked shall precede the last judgment3 ,and they the dead shall come forth1 both small and great1 and all shall stand before his bar1 being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death1 which death is a temporal death4 ,and then cometh the judgment of the ,holy ,one upon them4 7,mormon #i3ac-ad47 ,no spirit shall remain disembodied longer than he deserves1 or than is requisite to accomplish the just and merciful purposes of ,god4 ,the resurrection of the just began with ,christ2 it has been in process and shall continue till the ,lord comes in glory1 and thence onward through the ,millennium4 ,the final resurrection1 or that of the wicked1 the resurrection to condemnation1 is to be yet later4 -- #hd -- ,,reaching ,,after ,,the ,,dead ,lest ,we ,forget ,,the ,latter-day ,saints are deeply concerned in the identification of their dead1 back through the generations to the remotest extent possible4 ,this is exemplified by the persistent ardor of the people in the compilation and preservation of genealogical records1 the collating of items of lineage1 and the formulation of true family pedigrees1 by which the facts as to the relationship of ancestors to posterity may be determined4 ,in this specific activity the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is not working alone2 for it is a notable fact that during the last seven or eight decades1 interest in genealogical matters has developed to a degree theretofore unknown in modern history4 ,the living are reaching backward to learn of their dead4 ,and in this movement1 as in many other distinguishing features of particular epochs1 a power superior to man's unguided purpose is operative4 ,the immediate motive in such undertakings may vary with the individual4 ,many1 doubtless1 are eager to trace their pedigree to an illustrious source according to human estimate of eminence2 and of these some find disappointment4 ,as literature attests1 many spurious pedigrees have been fabricated4 ,it was probably against such that ,paul inveighed in his terse admonition to both ,timothy 7#a ,tim4 #a3d7 and ,titus 7#c3i7 and through them to the ,church1 to eschew fables and endless genealogies1 from the discussion of which only contention would result4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints have a specific1 and1 indeed1 unique purpose in genealogical investigation4 ,they seek not nobility nor aristocracy of ancestry1 but the facts1 let the line lead where it may2 and the shadow of falsification would be fatal to their object4 ,every believer in individual existence beyond the grave--and everybody believes in or fears the certainty of such a state--hopes and yearns for the blessed condition we call salvation4 ,on the authority of ,scripture the ,church proclaims that through the ,atonement of ,christ1 all mankind may be saved1 by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel2 and conversely1 that without compliance with the laws and ordinances prescribed by ,jesus ,christ no man can have place in the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,who can doubt this basal and portentous truth in the light of the ,savior's definite and unqualified affirmation to the learned ,jew1 ,nicodemus1 respecting baptism by water and of the ,spirit 7see ,john #c3e71 which requirements are among the fundamental laws and ordinances of the ,gospel8 ,in ,his comprehensive declaration our ,lord made no discrimination of classes1 drew no distinction between the living and the dead4 ,but what of the unnumbered hosts who have lived and died without a knowledge of the indispensability of baptism1 or1 though they knew yet never had opportunity to be baptized by one holding the authority of the ,holy ,priesthood to so administer8 ,are they irrecoverably lost8 ,a frightful thought6 ,when ,death is reaping so rank a harvest through war1 pestilence1 and famine1 can we bear to believe it8 ,what of those beloved fathers1 husbands1 brothers1 sons--yours or some others'--who have fallen on the blooddrenched fields beyond the seas--are they1 because unbaptized1 to be forever shut out from the ,kingdom of ,god1 even though they have died martyrs to the cause of the ,divine purpose in the vindication of the liberties of mankind8 ,verily1 ,no6 ,the living may be baptized for the dead1 as they were in earlier dispensations4 ,ponder the profound significance of ,paul's climacteric question relating to the actuality of the resurrection3 ,else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead1 if the dead rise not at all8 ,why are they then baptized for the dead8 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bi47 ,those still in the flesh may officiate vicariously for their departed progenitors2 but for this service the genealogy of the dead is indispensable4 ,furthermore1 vicarious ordinances are administered only in sacred ,temples1 reared1 dedicated1 and maintained for this ministry2 for so the ,lord has directed4 ,hence the ,latter-day ,saints are diligently seeking out the records of their dead and are ministering for them in holy ,temples4 ,this we hold to be the bounden duty of the living in behalf of the departed1 the discharge of which is as truly essential to our exaltation as to theirs4 ,for their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation1 as ,paul says concerning the fathers 'that they without us cannot be made perfect'2 neither can we without our dead be made perfect4 7,d,c #abh3ae2 see also ,hebrews #aa3dj47 -- #he -- ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,the ,,lord ,why do the ,latter-day ,saints ,build ,temples8 ,,the ,latter-day ,saints are known and distinguished as a ,temple-building people4 ,they1 in common with religious bodies in general1 build houses of worship1 which for the different sects range from humble chapels to great churches1 imposing synagogs1 spacious tabernacles and stately cathedrals2 but for none of these edifices is the claim advanced that they are ,temples in the true and specific sense of the term4 ,be it remembered that ,temples are not designed for purposes of general assembly or congregational worship as are church buildings in general1 but for the administration of sacred ordinances4 ,it is both interesting and instructive to note that this characteristic applies alike to heathen temples and to exclusive sanctuaries reared to the name of the true and living ,god4 ,in pagan temples of olden time1 the altar of sacrifice stood at the entrance2 and though devotees thronged about the altar1 none but the officiating priests were admitted to the actual shrine within the temple itself4 ,so also with the ,tabernacle of the ,congregation1 which was a portable sanctuary1 constructed by the ,israelites in their migration from ,egypt2 and so with the imposing ,temples of ,solomon1 ,zerubbabel and ,herod1 in each of which were spacious courts enclosed by outer walls1 with altar and other equipment1 within which courts the people congregated2 but the sanctuary itself was a relatively small structure1 reserved for the most holy ordinances and ceremonial ministry4 ,similarly the ,temples erected and maintained by the ,latter-day ,saints are reserved for the solemnizing of sacred ordinances1 and are distinctively other than meeting-houses used for public worship4 ,true to the ,divine commission laid upon ,israel1 the ,nephite colonists erected a ,temple on the ,western ,continent as early as #egj ,b4 ,c41 about thirty years after their exodus from ,jerusalem4 ,the ,book of ,mormon informs us that this structure was patterned after the ,temple of ,solomon1 though greatly inferior in size and splendor4 7#b ,nephi #e3af47 ,the ,latter-day ,saints build ,temples because they are commanded so to do through the direct word of modern revelation2 and in this divinely imposed labor they recognize the purposes of ,god with respect to the salvation and possible exaltation of mankind4 ,through the ,atonement wrought by ,jesus ,christ the eventual resurrection of all who have lived and died is assured4 ,this deliverance from the power of death is an essential element of ,redemption2 and ,christ is the one and only ,redeemer of the race4 ,by compliance with the prescribed terms as embodied in the ,gospel1 men may be saved from the blighting effects of sin4 ,this condition constitutes ,salvation2 and since provision therefor is made effective through the ,atonement1 ,christ is the one and only ,savior of the race4 ,great and glorious as is the boon of ,redemption from the grave1 greater and more glorious as are the conditions prescribed for the soul's ,salvation1 the revealed ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ provides yet more transcendent blessings in the plan for ,exaltation1 whereby resurrected man may advance from one stage of relative perfection to another1 with powers of eternal increase and never ending progression4 ,the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel so far as required for ,salvation--specifically the individual exercise of saving faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 true repentance1 submission to baptism by immersion at the hands of one having authority1 and to the higher baptism of the ,spirit by the authoritative imposition of hands for the bestowal of the ,holy ,ghost--these requirements may be met and the saving effects thereof secured by the living without ,temples4 ,but baptism for the dead1 as also the endowments incident to the ,holy ,priesthood with its boundless possibilities of advancement1 in short1 administration of the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel of ,christ requisite to ,exaltation in the eternal worlds1 can be solemnized only in ,temples erected and dedicated for these holy purposes1 for so the ,lord hath declared4 ,see ,d,c #abd3bh-da4 ,as indicated above1 ,temples are not for the benefit of the living alone4 ,existing ,temples are maintained for the salvation and exaltation of both living and dead2 and the ordinances administered therein in behalf of the dead outnumber many fold the administrations for the living4 ,vicarious service for the departed is peculiar to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and rightly so1 for to this ,church has the commission for this high ministry been given4 ,in the last chapter of ,malachi we find a vivid description of the condition of mankind in the last days1 and a prophecy of gladsome promise4 ,on ,april #c1 #ahcf1 in the first ,temple erected in modern times1 that at ,kirtland1 ,ohio1 a glorious manifestation was given to ,joseph ,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery1 in the course of which ,elijah ministered in person to the two modern prophets1 saying3 ,behold1 the time has fully come1 which was spoken of by the mouth of ,malachi1 testifying that he 7,elijah7 should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the ,lord come1 to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children1 and the children to the fathers1 lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse4 ,therefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands1 and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the ,lord is near1 even at the doors4 7,d,c #aaj3ad-af47 ,the requirements of the ,gospel are universally applicable1 to bond and free1 to living and dead4 ,in the plenitude of ,divine mercy provision is made whereby the myriads who have died without a knowledge of the required conditions1 or without opportunity of compliance therewith1 may be ministered for by their living posterity4 ,thus the departed fathers1 if they be repentant in the spirit world1 may be made partakers of the blessings provided through the ,atonement of ,christ4 ,for for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead1 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh1 but live according to ,god in the spirit4 7#a ,peter #d3f47 #a ,footnotes #a4 ,see the author's ,the ,house of the ,lord1 #ccc pp41 with illustrations of modern ,temples1 ,the ,deseret ,news1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah4 -- #hf -- ,,the ,,second ,,death ,spiritual ,banishment ,like ,unto the ,first ,,in the ,revelation written by ,john1 the second death is referred to several times1 and always as the dread fate of the ungodly or wilfully wicked4 ,physical death is associated with sorrow2 and the anguish of bereavement is often so deep that only the assurances of immortality and the certainty of a resurrection can effectively palliate or relieve4 ,the mere mention or thought of a second death is horrifying4 ,what is this frightful eventuality8 ,and is it to be the lot of the many or the few8 ,we have seen that a means of redemption is provided even for those who are cast into hell2 and that every soul shall be resurrected in due time1 whether he be righteous1 or foul with sin4 ,the second death1 therefore1 whatever its nature or extent1 is a feature of the final judgment1 at which each shall stand in his resurrected body of flesh and bones to receive the sentence of honor or of shame4 ,we are without scriptural warrant for assuming that the second death is another separation of body and spirit1 or that the spirit shall undergo dissolution and cease to be4 ,the spirit of man is eternal2 and the resurrected body shall be everlasting4 ,the soul knows not annihilation1 neither loss of personality in an impossible ,nirvana4 ,you will be yourself and ,i myself throughout eternity1 with quickened senses1 amplified powers of perception and vastly increased capacity for happiness or suffering4 ,neither heaven nor hell can be gaged by the yard-stick of human conception4 ,in what then does the second death consist8 ,john wrote of an event following the resurrection of the wicked and the pronouncement of judgment3 ,and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire4 ,this is the second death4 7,rev4 #bj3ad47 ,the lake of fire as elsewhere explained by the ,revelator is the abode of ,satan and those over whom he has gained power4 ,the second death therefore is final consignment to the dominion of ,satan1 and1 of necessity1 banishment from the presence of ,god and ,christ4 ,the condition of death that ,adam brought immediately upon himself through disobedience was essentially a spiritual change1 whereby he was shut out from the presence of ,god2 and this befell him in the very day of his transgression1 as he had been warned it would4 ,bodily death1 though an unescapable result1 was nevertheless secondary1 and was deferred until ,adam had reached the age of #icj years4 ,as eternal life consists in knowing ,god and ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ 7,john #ag3c2 ,d,c #acb3bd71 so eternal condemnation or spiritual death is essentially banishment from the ,divine presence1 with corresponding forfeiture of glory and power appertaining to exaltation4 ,the word of latter-day revelation1 relating to ,adam's spiritual death1 and to the final or as we call it1 the second death1 which is reserved for the ungodly1 runs as follows3 ,wherefore ,i the ,lord ,god caused that he should be cast out from the ,garden of ,eden1 from my presence1 because of his transgression1 wherein he became spiritually dead1 which is the first death1 even that same death1 which is the last death1 which is spiritual1 which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when ,i shall say1 ,depart1 ye cursed4 7,d,c #bi3da47 ,the ,lamanite prophet1 ,samuel1 had a clear understanding of the matter1 as thus expressed3 ,but behold1 the resurrection of ,christ redeemeth mankind1 yea1 even all mankind1 and bringeth them back into the presence of the ,lord4 ,yea1 and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance1 that whosoever repenteth1 the same is not hewn and cast into the fire2 but whosoever repenteth not1 is hewn down and cast into the fire1 and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death1 yea1 a second death1 for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,helaman #ad3ag-ah47 ,we are assured that all who win place and part in the first resurrection--distinctively the resurrection of the just--shall be exempt from the second death1 and shall find their way open to exaltation in the presence of ,god4 ,there is a place or condition of punishment even deeper than hell4 ,this is prepared for those who have sinned most grievously1 who have received the testimony of ,christ and afterward wilfully and with consciousness of what they were doing1 have surrendered themselves to the power and service of ,satan4 ,they are they who are the sons of perdition1 of whom ,i say that it had been better for them never to have been born4 4 4 4 ,these are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone1 with the devil and his angels1 and the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power4 7,d,c #gf3cb-cg47 -- #hg -- ,,antiquity ,,of ,,the ,,gospel ,as ,old as ,adam ,,the old ,anglo-,saxon words god and spel1 from which our ,anglicized term ,gospel is a lineal descendant1 signified in combination the good news of ,god4 ,in a theological sense1 and indeed according to common usage1 ,the ,gospel is thus defined3 ,good news or tidings1 especially the announcement of the salvation of men through the atoning death of ,jesus ,christ4 7,stand4 ,dict47 ,it is noteworthy that the word does not occur in the ,old ,testament1 which is usually regarded as the record1 in part1 of the ,semitic peoples1 and of ,god's dealings with them through the medium of the ,mosaic ,law4 ,the definite distinction between this ,law and the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is strikingly illustrated by the segregation of the ,holy ,bible into ,old and ,new ,testaments4 ,the teachings of ,christ and later those of the ,apostles emphasized the superiority of the ,gospel over the ,law1 which latter was likened by ,paul to a schoolmaster whose function was to discipline1 train and instruct1 in preparation for the greater revelation of the ,gospel4 ,see ,gal4 #c3bc-bi4 ,these and other kindred facts have led to the erroneous assumption that the ,gospel was first revealed to mankind when ,christ came in the flesh4 ,nevertheless1 the ,gospel1 comprising not alone precepts but the accompanying authority of the ,holy ,priesthood to administer ordinances1 was preached to men in the earliest period of human history4 ,the necessity of 7#a7 faith in the then unembodied but chosen and ordained ,savior of mankind1 7#b7 the indispensability of repentance as a means leading to remission of sins1 7#c7 the ,divine requirement of baptism by immersion in water1 and 7#d7 spiritual baptism through the power of the ,holy ,ghost--which constitute the fundamental principles and ordinances of the ,gospel--was preached and administered to ,adam1 the patriarch of the race1 and by him to his posterity4 ,through a revelation to ,moses this is recorded of ,adam1 following the ,fall3 ,and after many days an angel of the ,lord appeared unto ,adam saying 4 4 4 ,thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the ,son1 and thou shalt repent and call upon ,god in the name of the ,son for evermore4 ,and in that day the ,holy ,ghost fell upon ,adam1 which beareth record of the ,father and the ,son1 saying3 ,i am the ,only ,begotten of the ,father from the beginning1 henceforth and for ever1 that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed1 and all mankind1 even as many as will4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #bj47 ,as wickedness increased among men ,god cursed the earth with a sore curse and was angry with the wicked1 with all the sons of men whom ,he had made4 ,for they would not hearken unto ,his voice1 nor believe on ,his ,only ,begotten ,son1 even ,him whom ,he declared should come in the meridian of time1 who was prepared from before the foundation of the world4 ,and thus the ,gospel began to be preached1 from the beginning1 being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of ,god1 and by ,his own voice1 and by the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 7p4 #bf47 ,the prophet ,enoch testified further3 ,but ,god hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent4 ,and ,he called upon our father ,adam by ,his own voice1 saying3 4 4 4 ,if thou wilt turn unto me1 and hearken unto my voice1 and believe1 and repent of all thy transgressions1 and be baptized1 even in water1 in the name of mine ,only ,begotten ,son1 who is full of grace and truth1 which is ,jesus ,christ1 the only name which shall be given under heaven whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men1 ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 7p4 #cc74 ,enoch taught the same ,gospel and administered baptism to repentant believers1 and ,noah1 duly ordained1 labored in similar ministry3 ,and it came to pass that ,noah continued his preaching unto the people1 saying3 ,hearken1 and give heed unto my words4 ,believe and repent of your sins and be baptized in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 even as our fathers1 and ye shall receive the ,holy ,ghost1 that ye may have all things made manifest2 and if ye do not this1 the floods will come in upon you2 nevertheless they hearkened not4 7p4 #dh74 ,so1 from ,adam to the ,deluge1 which came because of the unbelief and apostasy of the race1 the ordinances of the ,gospel were known and administered4 ,reverting to ,biblical ,scripture we read that the ,gospel was preached unto ,abraham1 with the assurance that all who would abide therein should be accounted as ,abraham's children4 ,see ,gal4 #c3f-ah4 ,through the prophet ,joseph ,smith a fuller account of ,jehovah's promise to ,abraham is given us1 the ,lord saying3 ,i will bless them through thy name2 for as many as receive this ,gospel shall be called after thy name1 and shall be accounted thy seed1 and shall rise up and bless thee1 as their father2 and the particularity of the blessing wherein all families of the earth might share through the lineage of ,abraham was to be the blessings of the ,gospel1 which are the blessings of salvation1 even of life eternal4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #eh74 ,as ,abraham's posterity became sinful1 the lesser law1 which when codified came to be known as the ,law of ,moses1 was prescribed instead of the ,gospel1 which had been preached aforetime and which was later taught by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,following the apostolic administration apostasy again darkened the world2 and now1 in the current or last dispensation1 the ,gospel has been restored anew with all its ancient authority1 power1 and blessings4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints proclaims these glad tidings to the world4 ,this ,gospel is new only in the fact of its restoration to earth according to prophecy4 ,it is the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 which was preached to and by ,adam1 ,enoch1 ,noah1 ,abraham and a host of other men of ,god who ministered anciently2 it is the ,gospel that was taught by the ,savior ,himself and by ,his ,apostles2 it is the ,eternal ,gospel brought again to earth in preparation for the advent of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 -- #hh -- ,,the ,,origin ,,of ,,sacrifice ,coeval with the ,race ,,that the offering of material things as sacrifices to ,deity dates from ,adamic days is attested in ,genesis #d3c-e1 wherein we read that both ,cain and ,abel made offerings unto the ,lord4 ,the ,biblical record shows that the practise continued to and beyond the ,deluge1 and throughout the patriarchal and ,mosaic dispensations among the ,semitic peoples1 who were distinguished as ,jehovah worshipers4 ,non-scriptural history is no less definite in making the sacrifice of animals an essential feature of pagan ceremonial1 even in the earliest times of which we have account4 ,that ,noah1 ,abraham1 ,jacob and other patriarchs and prophets builded altars and sacrificed thereon is admitted by all to whom the ,holy ,bible is authentic2 and the ,mosaic code regulated the ordinance of sacrifice while silent as to its origin or even its establishment in ,israel4 ,that pagan sacrifices were originally in imitation of the ,semitic practise is highly probable1 though both may have been derived from a common and1 as generally regarded1 a prehistoric pattern4 ,this conception is no whit weakened by the corruptions and abominations incident to heathen idolatry1 which reached the extreme of atrocity in the immolation of human victims on the altars of defilement and sacrilege2 for1 without the directing and restraining power of ,divine revelation1 unauthorized innovations and unholy extremes were inevitable4 ,israelitish sacrifices may be conveniently classified as bloody and bloodless1 the former comprising all offerings involving the ceremonial slaughter of animals1 and the latter consisting in the offering of vegetables or their manufactured products4 ,the bloody sacrifices were early associated with the idea of expiation1 or propitiation for sin1 the offerer1 whether an individual or the community as a whole1 acknowledging guilt and craving propitiation through the death of the animal made to serve as proxy for the human offender4 ,the animal victim intended for sacrificial death had to be chosen in accordance with specific requirements4 ,thus1 it was to be of the class designated as clean1 and within this class only domestic cattle and sheep and certain birds--pigeons and turtle-doves--were acceptable4 ,furthermore1 it was essential that the selected animal be without physical defect or blemish2 and thus all that were deformed1 maimed or diseased were absolutely excluded4 ,physical defects were held as typical of spiritual blemish1 or sin2 and ,god cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance4 ,these requirements of relative perfection on the part of the victim were in accord with the fact that the slaughter of animals as a priestly rite by ,divine direction was in pre-figurement of the then future sacrifice of the ,christ ,himself1 whose atoning death would mark the consummation of ,his ministry in mortality4 ,while the animal victims slain on ,israel's altars figuratively bore the sins of the people1 who by their observance of the sacrificial rite sought propitiation for their offenses1 or reconciliation with ,god1 from whom they had become estranged through transgression1 ,jesus ,christ actually bore the burden of sin and provided a way for a literal reconciliation of sinful man to ,god4 ,the principal sacrifice in the ,mosaic dispensation was that of the ,passover2 and the superseding of the type by the actual is forcefully expressed by ,paul3 ,for even ,christ our pass-over is sacrificed for us4 7#a ,cor4 #e3g47 ,theologians1 ,bible scholars generally1 and ethnologists as well1 admit the absence of all record both in the ,bible and in profane history concerning the origin of sacrifice4 ,the writer of the article ,sacrifice in one of our ,bible ,dictionaries 7,cassell's71 which article is in line with other learned commentaries1 says1 following an array of facts3 ,on these and other accounts it has been judiciously inferred that sacrifice formed an element in the primeval worship of man2 and that its universality is not merely an indirect argument for the unity of the human race1 but an illustration and confirmation of the first inspired pages of the world's history4 ,the notion of sacrifice can hardly be viewed as a product of unassisted human nature1 and must therefore be traced to a higher source and viewed as a ,divine revelation to primitive man4 ,that ,divine revelation to primitive man is now before the world2 and the much-talked-of historical difficulty as to the origin of sacrificial rites is definitely solved by revelation from ,god to man in the current age1 whereby parts of the ancient ,scriptures not contained in the ,bible have been restored to human knowledge4 ,as the natural and inevitable consequence of his transgression1 ,adam forfeited the high privilege of holding direct and personal association with ,god4 ,in his fallen state the man was commanded by the voice of the ,lord to offer in sacrifice the firstlings of his flocks4 ,and after many days an angel of the ,lord appeared unto ,adam1 saying3 ,why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the ,lord8 ,and ,adam said unto him3 ,i know not1 save the ,lord commanded me4 ,and then the angel spake1 saying3 ,this thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the ,only ,begotten of the ,father1 which is full of grace and truth4 ,wherefore1 thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the ,son1 and thou shalt repent and call upon ,god in the name of the ,son for evermore4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4#bj47 ,this1 then1 was the origin of the sacrificial ordinance on earth4 ,its purport as the prototype of the atoning death of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 to be effected approximately four millenniums later1 was revealed to ,adam1 who1 through obedience1 attained salvation4 ,with the ,savior's sacrificial death the significance of animal sacrifices was superseded as part of the ,israelitish ritual4 ,the law of sacrifice is still operative however2 and the acceptable offering is thus specified in the present age3 ,thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the ,lord thy ,god in righteousness1 even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit4 7,d,c #ei3h47 -- #hi -- ,,simplicity ,,of ,,the ,,gospel ,none ,need ,err ,therein ,,salvation of the soul consists essentially in the attainment of a state of blessedness beyond the grave1 and therefore comprises immunity from the penalties incident to condemnation4 ,both salvation and condemnation involve graded conditions1 or degrees1 every soul receiving according to his just deserts1 based on his works done in the flesh1 be they good or evil4 ,our individual status in the hereafter1 both during the period of disembodiment and in the resurrection from bodily death1 will be determined by the record of our earthly life1 which will be fully declared by what we actually are4 ,in the judgment of souls conflict of testimony or evidence will be impossible4 ,every fact bearing upon our condition of worthiness or guilt1 of cleanliness through righteousness or defilement through sin1 will be known4 ,to each of these asseverations the ,holy ,scriptures of both former and current time bear abundant and unequivocal testimony4 ,the same high and unimpeachable authority1 embodying the very words of ,divine decree1 declares that only by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is salvation in the ,kingdom of ,god possible unto man4 ,consider the fundamental rite1 which is baptism4 ,the words of the ,christ to the timid but truth-seeking rabbi of ,jerusalem are as free from ambiguity as language makes possible3 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 ,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god4 7,john #c3e47 ,this solemn affirmation was made to ,nicodemus at the time of great excitement and controversy in ,judea and neighboring provinces over the activities of ,john the ,baptist1 who was boldly preaching the necessity of baptism at his own hands as of one having particular authority1 and who was administering baptism by immersion to all repentant applicants4 ,john further declared that the watery baptism in which he officiated would be followed by a higher endowment to be administered by a ,mightier ,one than himself1 and this he designated the baptism of fire and the ,holy ,ghost4 ,our ,lord's declaration to the uninformed master of ,israel set the seal of an authority higher than ,john's on the absolute necessity of baptism as conditioning man's attainment of salvation4 ,the crucified and resurrected ,christ left this parting command and commission with the ,apostles3 ,go ye therefore1 and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost 7,matt4 #bh3ai72 and further declared3 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that believeth not shall be damned4 7,mark #af3af47 ,to the ,nephite branch of the ,israelitish stock on the ,american continent the ,lord taught the same doctrine in language and style as simple as before3 ,and again ,i say unto you1 ,ye must repent1 and be baptized in my name1 and become as a little child1 or ye can in no wise inherit the kingdom of ,god4 7,book of ,mormon1#c ,nephi #aa3ch47 ,in full harmony with these ancient injunctions1 the ,lord has said to the ,church in the present dispensation3 ,go ye into all the world1 preach the gospel to every creature1 acting in the authority which ,i have given you1 baptizing in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved1 and he that believeth not shall be damned4 7,d,c #fh3h1 #i47 ,could ,scripture be simpler or plainer8 ,without baptism administered by the requisite authority1 salvation in the kingdom of ,god is impossible1 else the ,word of ,god is void4 ,but baptism to be effective must be preceded by repentance of sin4 ,when unrepentant sinners came to ,john the zealous ,baptist denounced them in stinging epithet as a generation of vipers and laid upon them the condition to make themselves acceptable by bringing forth fruits meet for repentance4 ,but to repent of sin in humility and contrition1 with the earnest purpose and soulful desire of making amends for offenses done and thereby to become reconciled with and acceptable to ,god1 one must have unqualified trust and faith in ,him4 ,the basal principles and fundamental ordinances of the ,gospel1 through which alone the saving efficacy of the ,atonement wrought by ,jesus ,christ is made certain in assuring individual salvation1 are ranged in the following order1 as the ,scriptures prove3 7#a7 ,faith in ,god the ,eternal ,father1 and in ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ as the ,redeemer and ,savior of humankind1 and in the ,holy ,ghost2 7#b7 repentance in full purpose of heart--active1 vital repentance that shall lead and impel to good works and renunciation of sin2 7#c7 baptism by immersion in water2 and 7#d7 bestowal of the ,holy ,ghost through the laying on of hands--both ordinances being administered by men duly authorized to officiate by ordination to the ,holy ,priesthood4 ,the man of thoughtful mind and contrite heart cannot fail to find inexpressible comfort and profound cause for devout thanksgiving and praise through contemplating ,god's infinite mercy in having made so simple and easy these indispensable conditions of salvation4 ,had the terms been such as only vast wealth could meet1 or the requirements so intricate or strenuous that great physical strength or high intellectual ability were necessary to accomplish the feat of compliance1 then indeed the mortal or fallen state of the race would be deplorable beyond conception2 and1 withal1 justice would be eliminated from the category of ,deity's attributes4 ,but lo6 ,the ,gospel plan is so simple that the child may comprehend1 and he that runs may read4 -- #ij -- ,,the ,,will ,,of ,,god ,though ,opposed1 ,yet ,eventually ,supreme ,,do you believe that whatever is is right8 ,i do not2 ,i cannot believe it4 ,if right means accordance with the will of ,god surely there is much wrong in the world4 ,but1 it is argued1 ,god is omnipotent1 and therefore has power to direct all things as ,he wills4 ,granted4 ,nevertheless both scriptural and secular history1 as also the turbulent course of current events combine to show that transgression of ,divine law is as old as the race1 and as persistent4 ,god has given to man agency and liberty of action4 ,it is the will of ,god that this birthright of human freedom shall be inviolate2 but it is contrary to the ,divine intent that man shall abuse his agency1 and misconstrue his liberty as license for wrong-doing4 ,and as with the individual1 so with communities and nations4 ,in the course of ,israel's troubled journey from ,egypt1 where they had dwelt as in a hours of bondage1 to ,canaan the land of their promised inheritance1 the ,lord gave them many laws and established ordinances1 with promise of blessing for compliance1 and warning of calamity if they proved disobedient4 ,as the sacred record progresses1 the fact is made plain that ,israel had chosen the evil alternative1 forfeiting the blessings and reaping the curses4 ,in the days of ,samuel the ,israelites clamored for a king4 ,they were tired of the theo-democracy under which they had prospered1 and wanted to be like all nations1 a monarchy1 with a king wearing a crown1 swaying a scepter1 and sitting enthroned in state4 ,read #a ,samuel1 chapter #h4 ,this condition had been foreseen and foretold3 nevertheless the people erred in their demand1 and the ,lord yielded under protest4 ,there is real pathos in ,his words to the prophet3 ,they have not rejected thee1 but they have rejected me1 that ,i should not reign over them4 ,they had their king1 and a long succession of monarchs1 some of whom proved to be veritable tyrants1 and the people groaned under the oppression against which they had been forewarned4 ,was it the will of ,god1 think you1 that ,israel should sin8 ,can it be the ,divine will that any man or nation shall come under the thrall of iniquity8 ,is it the will of ,god that man shall make of himself a drunken sot1 with reason dethroned1 and naught but his brutish passions alert8 ,or that man shall oppress his fellows by unrighteous dominion1 robbing them of the rights upon which ,god ,himself refuses to infringe even though those rights be grossly misused8 ,is it the will of ,god that woman's virtue shall be bartered for gold1 and that vice shall stalk unchallenged through the world8 ,to hold that these abominations accord with the ,divine will is to make ,god responsible for them1 and therefore the author of sin4 ,the very thought is blasphemous4 ,god's omnipotence is manifest in the over-ruling by which eventual good results from immediate evil4 ,the crime of the ages1 consummated on the slopes of ,calvary1 has proved to be the means of salvation to the world2 but the awful guilt of the betrayal1 of the false testimony and the crucifixion is no whit diminished by the glorious outcome4 ,through the successive captivities and the general dispersion of ,israel1 which came as the consequence of infidelity to ,jehovah1 a knowledge of the true and living ,god has been diffused among even benighted and idolatrous peoples4 ,and thus the nation's calamity has been made to serve ,divine purposes4 ,i cannot look upon the frightful carnage and inhuman atrocities of the world war as a manifestation of the direct will of ,god4 ,this dreadful conflict was brought on through lust of power and greed of gain4 ,it sprang from an unholy determination to rob mankind of ,god-given rights1 and to subject the race to autocratic domination4 ,it is a repetition of the issue at stake in the primeval struggle1 when ,michael1 the champion of free agency1 led his hosts against ,lucifer's myrmidons1 who sought to rule by might4 7,see ,rev4 #ab3g-i47 ,in the free exercise of agency and the right of decision our nation deliberately and solemnly entered the great conflict in the interests of righteousness4 ,out of the seething carnage shall crystallize the lustrous gems of peace and the liberties of men2 and thus enriched the world shall be the more prepared to receive the ,christ1 whose coming is near1 and whose dominion shall be holy1 whereby the rights of all men shall be respected and assured4 ,god's power and glory shall be manifest in eventual victory for the right1 and in the good that shall spring from present evil4 ,but in the eternal accounting1 responsibility for the crime whereby war was precipitated shall weigh upon the man1 men1 nation or nations who did the devil's bidding in the attempt to enthrall mankind4 ,thus the hand of ,god is potent in the furtherance of right2 and though ,his will be violated and ,his commandments transgressed1 evil shall be followed by good4 ,divine displeasure is directed against all who confess not ,his hand in all things1 and obey not ,his commandments4 7,d,c #ei3ba47 -- #ia -- ,,god',s ,,foreknowledge ,not a ,determining ,cause ,,prophecy is one of the specified gifts of the ,spirit1 and one of the distinguishing graces of the ,church of ,christ4 ,if there be prophecy there must be prophets1 men through whom the purposes of ,god are made known to the people at large4 ,prediction of events more or less remotely future is a prophetic function1 though constituting but part of the gift of prophecy4 ,divine revelation of what is to come is proof of foreknowledge4 ,god1 therefore1 knows1 and has known from the beginning1 what shall be1 even to the end of the world4 ,the transgression of ,adam was foreknown1 even before the man was embodied in flesh2 and because of the results entailed upon humankind a ,redeemer was chosen1 even the ,lamb slain from the foundation of the world4 ,the earthly life1 ministry1 and sacrificial death of the ,savior were all foreseen1 and their certainty was declared by the mouths of holy prophets4 ,the apostasy of the ,primitive ,church1 the long centuries of spiritual darkness1 the restoration of the ,gospel in these latter days in a land specifically prepared as the abode of a liberty-loving nation--each of these epoch-marking events was known to ,god1 and by ,him was revealed through prophets empowered to speak in ,his name4 ,but who will venture to affirm that foreknowledge is a determining cause8 ,god's omniscience concerning ,adam cannot reasonably be considered the cause of the ,fall4 ,adam was free to do as he chose to do4 ,god did not force him to disobey the ,divine command4 ,neither did ,god's knowledge compel false ,judas to betray the ,christ1 nor the recreant ,jews to crucify their ,lord4 ,surely the omniscience of ,god does not operate to make of men automations2 nor does it warrant the superstition of fatalism4 ,the chief purpose of earth life1 as a stage in the course of the soul's progression1 would be nullified if man's agency was after all but a pretense1 and he a creature of circumstance compelled to do as he does4 ,a mortal father who knows the weaknesses and frailties of his son may by reason of that knowledge sorrowfully predict the calamities and suffering awaiting his wayward boy4 ,he may foresee in that son's future a forfeiture of blessings that could be won1 loss of position1 self-respect1 reputation1 character1 and honor4 ,even the dark shadows of a felon's cell and the night of a drunkard's grave may loom in the visions of that fond father's soul4 ,yet1 convinced by experience of the son's determination to follow the path of sin1 he foresees the dread developments to the future1 and writhes in anguish because of his knowledge4 ,can it be truthfully said that the father's foreknowledge is even a contributory cause of the evil life of his boy8 ,to so hold is to say that a neglectful parent1 who will not trouble himself to study the character of his son1 who shuts his eyes to sinful ways1 and rests in careless indifference as to the probable future1 will by his very heartlessness benefit the boy1 because the father's lack of forethought diminishes the son's tendency toward dereliction4 ,by way of further illustration1 consider the man versed in meteorology1 who by due consideration of temperature1 air-pressure1 humidity1 and other essential data1 is able to forecast weather conditions4 ,he speaks with the assurance of long experience in foretelling a storm4 ,the storm comes1 bringing benefit or injury1 contributing to the harvest perhaps or destroying the ripening grain2 but1 whether it be of good or ill effect1 can he who prophesied of the approaching storm be held accountable for its coming8 ,it may be argued1 however1 that in these illustrative instances neither the mortal parent nor the human forecaster had power to alter the respective course of events1 while ,god can direct and over-rule as ,he wills4 ,but1 be it remembered that ,god has granted agency unto ,his children1 and does not control them in its exercise by arbitrary force4 ,he impels no man toward sin2 ,he compels none to righteousness4 ,the ,father of our spirits has a full knowledge of the nature and disposition of each of ,his children1 a knowledge gained by observation and experience in the long ages of our primeval childhood1 when we existed as unembodied spirits1 endowed with individuality and agency--a knowledge compared with which that gained by earthly parents through experience with their children in the flesh is infinitesimally small4 ,in that surpassing knowledge ,god reads the future of child and children1 of men individually and of men collectively4 ,he knows what each will do under given conditions1 and sees the end from the beginning4 ,his foreknowledge is based on intelligence and reason4 ,he foresees the future of men and nations as a state that naturally and surely will be2 not as a state of things that must be because ,he has arbitrarily willed that it shall be4 ,known unto ,god are all his works from the beginning of the world4 7,acts #ae3ah47 ,he willed and decreed the mortal state for ,his spirit offspring1 and prepared the earth for their schooling4 ,he provided all the facilities necessary to their training1 and thus proclaimed ,his purpose3 ,for behold1 this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man4 7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #g47 -- #ib -- ,,are ,,men ,,created ,,equal8 ,individualism is ,eternal ,,democracy holds as a distinguishing and fundamental principle the recognition of individual rights and privileges4 ,the living units of a democratic system are citizens1 not subjects4 ,before the law1 so far as it be administered in justice1 all citizens are on a plane of equality4 ,in the exercise of the elective franchise1 for example1 the ballot of the poor man1 the unscholarly1 the weak1 sick or maimed1 counts just as much as that of the millionaire1 the university graduate1 or the athlete4 ,all this is inherent in democracy as a political system4 ,if through corrupt administration a citizen suffers deprivation of his rights1 the fault1 grievous though ti be1 is not chargeable to the system but to the officials who have misused the authority delegated to them4 ,in this sense it is affirmed in the ,declaration of ,independence1 as the first of the truths therein set forth as self-evident1 and as assuring to all their inalienable rights that all men are created equal2 and in this sense the affirmation is irrefutable4 ,no other foundation could support a stable structure of government by the people4 ,but it is manifest folly to carry this conception of the legal equality of citizenship to the extreme of assuming that all men are alike in capacity1 ability1 or power4 ,as long as mankind live in communities there will be leaders and followers1 men of prominence1 and of necessity others who are relatively obscure1 men of energy and idlers1 and consequently masters and servants4 ,doubtless much of the existing disparity among men1 such as the inequitable distribution of wealth1 the unrighteous acquisition of power and its iniquitous exercise1 is pernicious--evil in the sight of ,god and ominously wrong under the laws of man4 ,nevertheless1 attempts to right such wrongs by illegal force1 and to establish a false equality by promiscuously taking from one to give to another1 tend toward disruption and anarchy4 ,we are confronted by this profound fact3 ,individualism is an attribute of the soul1 and as truly eternal as the soul itself4 7#a7 ,in the unembodied1 preexistent or antemortal state1 we were decidedly unequal in capacity and power4 7#b7 ,we know we are not equal here in the world of mortals4 7#c7 ,assuredly we shall not be equal after death1 either in the intermediate state of disembodiment or beyond the resurrection4 ,we read that ,jeremiah was chosen from among his fellows and ordained before he was born to be a prophet unto the nations 7,jer4 #a3e7 2 and a similar fore-ordination is indicated by ,isaiah 7#di3a1 #e47 ,abraham definitely avers that among the unembodied spirits there were differences1 some were noble and great and others less adapted to the duties of rulership3 ,now the ,lord had shown unto me1 ,abraham1 the intelligences that were organized before the world was2 and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones4 ,and ,god saw these souls that they were good1 and he stood in the midst of them1 and he said3 ,these ,i will make my rulers4 7,pearl of ,great ,price p4 #fe-ff47 ,the ,god of spirits recognized particular qualifications in some1 and selected them to be leaders among men4 ,let us not assume that the rulers thus divinely chosen are necessarily those whom men would later elect to be their leaders4 ,many of ,god's great ones have been and are counted among the despised of earth4 ,so it was with the ,christ ,himself1 and so with many of ,his prophets1 apostles and revelators unto mankind4 ,born into the flesh with diverse capacities1 subjected here to varied environment1 which may be favorable or opposed to the development of inherent tendencies toward either good or evil1 we as a race are creatures of disparity1 inequality1 and heterogeneous circumstance4 ,but all color of injustice disappears in the light of assurance that1 in the judgment of souls1 every condition shall be weighed in the accurate balances of ,justice and ,mercy4 ,but what of the hereafter--shall we not be made equal there8 ,not in the sense that our individuality shall be subverted or radically changed4 ,we shall find beyond more gradations in society than we have ever known on earth4 ,but the basis of classification will be essentially different4 ,here we are rated according to what we have--of wealth1 learning1 political or other influence due to circumstance2 there we shall find our place according to what we really are4 ,ponder the significance of our ,lord's assurance of the many mansions in the ,father's kingdom 7,john #ad3a-c7 and consider ,paul's summary of varied glories4 7#a ,cor4 #ae3dj-da47 ,through later ,scripture we are told of distinct kingdoms or worlds of graded order1 comparable to the sun1 moon1 and stars respectively4 ,there are the ,celestial1 the ,terrestrial1 and the ,telestial kingdoms1 in which the souls of men shall abide and serve as their attainments in righteousness or their disqualification through sin shall determine4 ,concerning the inhabitants of the ,telestial world1 the lowest of the specified kingdoms of glory1 we read3 ,for they shall be judged according to their works1 and every man shall receive according to his own works1 and every man shall receive according to his own works1 his own dominion1 in the mansions which are prepared4 7,d,c #gf3aaa47 -- #ic -- ,,ethics ,,and ,,religion ,a ,distinction ,with a ,difference ,,undoubtedly there are many people who1 while of earnest intent and practise1 of worthy1 honorable1 and moral life1 neither profess religion nor confess belief in it4 ,at least1 so they would say if questioned4 ,closer analysis would probably show that by religion these good people had understood ,church membership or actual affiliation with some religious organization4 ,and their conception is not irrational nor fundamentally wrong2 though such membership or affiliation is no assurance of personal religion4 ,the foundation of all religion is a real belief1 or1 more accurately1 faith1 in the existence of a ,supreme ,being upon whose beneficence man is dependent and to whom he is accountable for his conduct4 ,with this belief1 man cannot fail to recognize the superlative duty of learning ,god's will and of living according to ,his revealed word and law4 ,mankind being by nature gregarious1 and indeed unsuited to solitary existence1 will congregate according to community interests1 beliefs and aspirations4 ,in the tribal organizations of peoples whom we call semi-civilized1 there is generally a distinctive religion for each tribe2 even though it be but a phase of paganism2 and their unenlightened souls are held together by their generic conception of worship4 ,among larger and more advanced nations differences in religious conceptions are manifest1 and people associate in rival sects and churches4 ,voluntary membership in any such body is at least a profession of belief in its distinguishing tenets4 ,but beside these there are many who aver that ethics is sufficient1 and that a moral life will insure salvation in the world to come4 ,granted that religious profession without morality is but mockery and hypocrisy4 ,nevertheless1 between the merely ethical and the really religious life1 there is vital distinction4 ,to assume that an ethical or even a strictly moral course of conduct is all-sufficient for the soul's salvation would be to repudiate ,scripture1 deny the essential efficacy of the ,atonement1 dethrone the ,christ1 and eliminate ,god from earthly affairs4 ,such an assumption proclaims the stupendous error that mortal man is competent to save himself--on his terms1 and according to a standard established by human agency4 ,religion is more than a code of morals4 ,man can no more be saved by ethics than can he live by bread alone4 ,the spiritual nutriment1 without which no soul can develop to the exalted status of eternal life1 consists of every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,god4 ,the very purpose for which this earth was created as an abiding place for the spirit-children of ,god during their brief period of embodiment in flesh was to test and prove them herewith to see if they will do all things whatsoever the ,lord their ,god shall command them4 7,pearl of ,great ,price p4 #ff47 ,it is conceivable that ethics may measurably satisfy the conscience of one who really believes that mortal life is the sum total of existence2 though ,i seriously doubt that such a being exists4 ,if he lives1 he is dangerously liable to stifle conscience1 and to follow the easier though pernicious prompting to eat1 drink and be merry whilst he may1 taking no thought for the morrow of eternity4 ,but1 it is fair to ask1 shall not morality count in the judgment to come8 ,beyond question1 ,yes4 ,god's word so declares4 ,the clean minded who1 however1 fail to comply with the specified laws and ordinances of the ,gospel of ,christ1 are not to be cast into the society of the spiritually filthy2 neither are they to be exalted with the valiant who have righteously obeyed the requirements of the ,gospel4 ,there is a hell to which shall go the liars1 and sorcerers1 and adulterers1 and whoremongers1 and whosoever loves and makes a lie4 ,furthermore1 there is a kingdom prepared to receive the honorable men of the earth who were blinded by the craftiness of men--the unfortunate and deluded who have followed after human theories and precepts to the ignoring of ,god and ,his word1 the misled devotees of science falsely so called4 ,and above all else is the state of eternal life and exaltation provided for those who1 while in the flesh1 lived the religion of ,christ1 who received the testimony of ,jesus1 and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial2 for these are they who are just men made perfect through ,jesus the mediator of the new covenant1 who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood4 7,d,c #gf47 ,the ,lord's affirmation is definite3 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 for if his belief be vital he will make the morality that ,christ taught the foundation of his religion4 ,but he that believeth not shall be damned1 whatever his standard of ethics may be4 7,see ,mark #af3af47 -- #id -- ,,religion ,,active ,,and ,,passive ,effort ,essential to ,salvation ,,religion to be worth while must be a vital element of life and work4 ,it is of both temporal and spiritual significance1 value and effect4 ,it has to do with individual morality1 with mutual dealings and associations of men even in ordinary1 every-day affairs1 with the great problems involved in family unity and efficiency and with the little things that make or mar the home1 with work and play1 with the duties of citizenship1 statesmanship and public service generally4 ,all these relationships are human and earthly1 and the honorable discharge of duties arising therefrom approaches ethical perfection4 ,but man's standard of ethics is of necessity unstable1 variable and1 withal1 unsatisfying to the soul having a healthful hunger for spiritual nourishment4 ,who of us has not felt at times the spontaneous yearning and aspirations incident to our deep inborn conviction of life beyond death8 ,we may weaken these emotions by persistently ignoring them2 we may effectively stifle them by rude force2 we may render them dormant by the poisonous anodyne of false philosophy and the boastful pride of man's mis-called wisdom2 but kill them we can not1 for they were divinely implanted and are deathless4 ,and as there is a hereafter1 in which every soul of us shall live in continuation of the eternal existence of which earthlife is but a span1 so surely shall our status there be determined by the deeds done in the body1 whether they be good or evil4 ,religion1 then1 has to do not only with this life but with that to come4 ,we are but sojourners on earth2 and1 profoundly important as is this mortal experience1 it is1 after all1 mainly a probation1 and essentially a preparation for eternity4 ,it is temporarily easier to be passive than aggressive1 whether we claim for our guiding code man's rules of ethics or the clear-cut requirements of the ,gospel of ,christ4 ,there are more good men on earth than men who are good for much4 ,the ,gospel demands something greater than avoidance of actual sins of commission4 ,the culpability of neglect and omission may justly condemn the soul4 ,wilful spurning of ,divine opportunity may work eternal loss4 ,though the ,scriptures affirm the possibility of progression after death1 nowhere do we find ground for assuming that failure to obey the ,gospel on earth will be nullified by immediate remission beyond4 ,we have no basis for computing the ages that shall be requisite to make amends there for wanton failure here4 ,there is a time in the eternal existence of souls which has been specifically made the time of repentance and test2 and that is the period of mortality4 ,paul's forceful admonition is of universal application3 ,lay hold on eternal life while opportunity is found 7#a ,tim4 #f3ab1 #ai74 ,for1 be it remembered that the ,lord has spoken concerning the wilfully unrepentant3 ,from him shall be taken even the light which he has received1 for my ,spirit shall not always strive with man1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts4 7,d,c #a3cc47 ,sin is conducive to lethargy in things spiritual2 the ,gospel inspires to life and activity4 ,contentment with the things of this world1 so long as they go to suit us1 with no thought of what shall follow1 is the devil's lullaby4 ,in the moment of supreme complacency when we are expressing by word1 act1 thought1 or through sheer inaction1 the stultifying soliloquy ,soul1 take thine ease1 may come the summoning decree3 ,thou fool1 this night thy soul shall be required of thee4 ,read ,luke #ab3af-ba4 ,when will men awaken to the imperative yet persuasive summons to repentance8 ,are not the awful vicissitudes of the days of war and death sufficient to arouse us to some realization of the solemnities of eternity8 ,as a nation we have valiantly waged war for the vindication of the rights1 privileges1 and liberties of men4 ,as individuals we are summoned by the call of ,god to resist iniquity1 and to make peace and reconciliation with ,him through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,only through active1 vital faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 effective repentance of wrong-doing1 baptism by immersion for the remission of sins1 and the bestowal of the gift of the ,holy ,ghost or the higher baptism of the ,spirit1 can salvation be attained in the ,kingdom of ,god1 for so the ,holy ,scriptures aver4 ,the pleading call of the ancient prophet is yet in force4 ,hear ye1 and heed3 ,now ,i say unto you1 that ye must repent1 and be born again3 for the ,spirit saith1 ,if ye are not born again1 ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven2 therefore come and be baptized unto repentance1 that ye may be washed from your sins1 that ye may have faith on the ,lamb of ,god1 who taketh away the sins of the world1 who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,alma #g3ad47 -- #ie -- ,,remember ,,the ,,sabbath ,,day ,a ,law unto ,man from the ,beginning ,,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints accepts ,sunday as the ,christian ,sabbath and proclaims the sanctity of the day4 ,we admit without argument that under the ,mosaic ,law the seventh day of the week1 ,saturday1 was designated and observed as the ,holy ,day1 and that the change from ,saturday to ,sunday was a feature of the apostolic administration following the personal ministry of ,jesus ,christ4 ,greater to us than the question of this day or that in the week1 is the actuality of the weekly ,sabbath1 to be observed as a day of special and particular devotion to the service of the ,lord4 ,the ,sabbath was prefigured if not definitely specified in the record of the creation1 wherein we read1 following the account of the six days or periods of creative effort3 ,and ,god blessed the seventh day1 and sanctified it3 because that in it he had rested from all his work which ,god created and made4 7,gen4 #b3c47 ,in the early stages of the ,exodus the ,israelites were commanded to lay in a double portion of manna on the sixth day1 for the seventh was consecrated as a day of holy rest2 and this was signalized by the ,lord's withholding manna on the ,sabbath day4 ,see ,exo4 #af3bc-cj4 ,there is no proof that ,sabbath observance by ,israel at this early date was an innovation2 and it may be reasonably regarded as a recognition of an established order by reenactment in the new dispensation4 ,later1 when the decalog was codified and promulgated on ,sinai1 the ,sabbath law was made particularly explicit1 and the ,lord's rest was cited as its foundation3 ,remember the sabbath day1 to keep it holy4 ,six days shalt thou labour1 and do all thy work3 ,but the seventh day is the sabbath of the ,lord thy ,god3 in it thou shalt not do any work1 thou1 nor thy son1 nor thy daughter1 thy manservant1 nor thy maidservant1 nor thy cattle1 nor thy stranger that is within thy gates3 ,for in six days the ,lord made heaven and earth1 the sea1 and all that in them is1 and rested the seventh day3 wherefore the ,lord blessed the sabbath day1 and hallowed it4 7,exo4 #bj3h-aa47 ,the keeping of the ,sabbath as a day of surcease from toil and of particular devotion came to be a national characteristic of the ,israelites1 whereby they were distinguished from pagan nations2 and rightly so1 for the observance of the ,holy ,day was specified as a distinctive sign of the covenant between ,jehovah and ,his people4 ,see ,exo4 #ca3ac4 ,in the course of ,israelitish history successive prophets admonished and rebuked the people for neglect or profanation of the ,sabbath4 ,nehemiah ascribed the affliction of the nation to the forfeiture of ,divine protection through ,sabbath violation 7see ,neh4 #ac3ae-bb72 and by the mouth of ,ezekiel the ,lord reaffirmed the significance of the ,sabbath as a mark of ,his covenant with ,israel1 and sternly upbraided those who observed not the day4 7,see ,ezek4 #bj3ab-bd47 ,to the detached branch of ,israel1 which1 as the ,book of ,mormon avers1 was transplanted to ,american soil1 ,sabbath observance was no less an imperative requirement4 ,see ,jarom #a3e2 ,mosiah #ac3af-ai2 #ah3bc4 ,long before the birth of ,christ the original purpose of the ,sabbath and the spirit of its service had come to be largely lost sight of among the ,jews2 and rabbinical rules had introduced numerous technicalities1 which made of the day one of discomfort and severity4 ,this condition was strongly denounced by our ,lord in reply to the many criticisms heaped upon ,him because of the healings and other good works wrought by ,him on the ,sabbath4 ,the sabbath was made for man1 and not man for the sabbath1 said ,he1 and then continued with the profound affirmation3 ,the ,son of man is ,lord also of the sabbath4 7,mark #b3bg1 #bh47 ,christ came not to destroy the ,law of ,moses but to fulfil it2 and through ,him the law was superseded by the ,gospel4 ,the ,savior rose from the tomb on the first day of the week2 and that particular ,sunday1 as also the next1 was rendered forever memorable by the bodily visitation of the resurrected ,lord to the assembled ,apostles and others4 ,to the believers in the crucified and risen ,savior ,sunday became the ,lord's ,day 7,rev4 #a3aj71 and in time took the place of ,saturday as the weekly ,sabbath in the ,christian churches4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ teaches that ,sunday is the acceptable day for ,sabbath observance1 on the authority of direct revelation specifying the ,lord's ,day as such4 ,in this1 a new dispensation1 and verily the last--the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times--the law of the ,sabbath has been reaffirmed unto the ,church4 ,it is to be noted that the revelation1 part of which follows1 was given to the ,church on a ,sunday 7,august #gth1 #ahca47 ,and that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world1 thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day4 ,for verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors1 and to pay thy devotions unto the ,most ,high4 ,nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times4 ,but remember that on this the ,lord's day1 thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the ,most ,high1 confessing thy sins unto thy brethren1 and before the ,lord4 ,and on this day thou shalt do none other thing1 only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect1 or1 in other words1 that thy joy may be full4 7,d,c #ei3i-ac47 ,we believe that a weekly day of rest is no less truly a necessity for the physical well-being of man than for his spiritual growth2 but1 primarily and essentially1 we regard the ,sabbath as divinely established1 and its observance a commandment of ,him who was and is and ever shall be1 ,lord of the ,sabbath4 -- #if -- ,,the ,,foolishness ,,of ,,god ,and the ,wisdom of ,men ,for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness2 but unto us which are saved it is the power of ,god4 4 4 4 ,because the foolishness of ,god is wiser than men2 and the weakness of ,god is stronger than men4 7,cor4 #a3ah1 #be47 ,so spake ,paul in olden days1 and he knew whereof he spake4 ,rich in the learning of ,jews and ,greeks1 ripe in scholarship and experience1 he possessed breadth of foresight and depth of insight far exceeding the average capacity of men2 and to these superior qualifications of mind must be added the transcendent spiritual endowments of the apostle1 the prophet1 the seer1 the revelator4 ,his abnegation and humility are no less striking than the incontestable sincerity and genuineness of his avowals4 ,inspired philosopher as he was1 he discriminated with keen perception and clear vision between knowledge and wisdom1 and with masterly skill contrasted the fallible teachings of men with the unshakable averments of prophecy4 ,the ,greeks of ,paul's time prided themselves on their learning1 philosophy1 and science1 much of which last was falsely so called4 ,by such the preaching of the cross1 the teachings of the ,gospel1 the precepts of eternal life were accounted but vain babblings4 ,those pagan ,greeks were mindtrained but spirit-dwarfed4 ,and that type of misshapen monstrosity is not yet extinct4 ,the brutal protagonists of autocratic tyranny1 whose barbarous kultur impels to crimes innumerable and atrocities indescribable1 profess to regard the might of righteousness as but maudlin sentiment and puerile weakness4 ,boastful of material achievements and the temporary success of their diabolical system of selfishness and arrogance1 they blaspheme the name and power of the living ,god1 whose will it is that every soul be free4 ,the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is the embodiment of the ,divine will and purpose4 ,that ,gospel enjoins obedience to righteous law as the guaranty of individual liberty4 ,it endures as the unchanging expression of eternal wisdom1 though by carnally-minded sinners ridiculed as foolishness4 ,as early as #ahcc1 in a revelation through the prophet ,joseph ,smith1 the ,lord declared that both strong drinks and hot drinks were injurious to the body4 ,in that period the use of alcoholic beverages was common1 and the consumption of hot drinks1 particularly as tea and coffee1 was well nigh universal4 ,promulgation of the ,divine warning against these harmful customs was treated as a fad born of fanaticism4 ,inexorable fact has compelled acknowledgment of the ,word of ,wisdom 7see ,d,c1 ,sec4 #hi7 as the pronouncement of ,nature's ,god4 ,prohibition of the use of intoxicants has become a question of supreme international importance4 ,the efficiency of armies and navies is seen to be gravely conditioned thereby4 ,some of the world's most eminent surgeons aver that the habitual use of hot drinks is one of the most effective causes of gastric ulcer and cancer1 which are classed among the deadliest of maladies4 ,the same revelation voices a direct inhibition against the use of tobacco by man1 and this avowal1 now branded as extreme and uncalled for1 is destined yet to become the basis of secular enactment4 ,the immoderate use of flesh foods was specified by ,divine utterance as harmful4 ,the exigencies of war enforced restriction of meat eating1 and the nation was bettered thereby4 ,unchastity1 the dominant vice of the ages1 has been tolerated as an irrepressible feature of the social system1 and this notwithstanding the warning fiat of ,jehovah against marital infidelity and sexual sin in all its hideous phases4 ,the imperative demand for efficiency in this crucial age of stress and struggle has literally forced a measured though lamentably inadequate acceptance of the ,divine requirement1 for the statistical data of incapacity due to so-called social diseases are so astounding and show a condition so frightful as to make plain that the very foundations of civilization are jeopardized4 ,men have been prone to turn deaf ears to the voice of ,god1 delivered through the prophets always in season to avert threatening calamities2 and have rested in the lethal contentment of self-confident ability to deal in their own way with the problems of life4 ,how surpassingly wiser would it be1 as shown in the light of our dearly-bought experience1 to acknowledge the wisdom of ,god's beneficence1 and profit thereby4 ,prophecy is direct and sure1 science laggard and tentative4 ,one is the advance message from ,god1 the other man's belated and ofttimes distorted version of the truth4 ,mormonism proclaims the ,gospel of ,christ as the panacea for the ills of men and nations4 ,its proclamation to the world is the assurance of peace on earth and good will among men1 through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,the veriest moiety of the wisdom of ,god transcends the accumulated knowledge of men in its entirety4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is calling aloud to every nation1 kindred1 tongue and people3 ,have faith in ,god4 ,deal justly with one another4 ,make amends for past wrongs before opportunity is forfeited4 ,strive to enter in at the gate to the ,kingdom of ,god while yet you may1 for verily the time is short1 and the coming of the ,lord is near4 ,repent and be baptized1 every one of you1 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 by which ye shall be guided in the paths of truth and inherit salvation at the great and terrible day of the ,lord which is nigh1 even at your doors4 -- #ig -- ,,freedom ,,through ,,obedience ,release from ,autocracy of ,sin ,,come unto me1 all ye that labour and are heavy laden1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,take my yoke upon you1 and learn of me2 for ,i am meek and lowly in heart3 and ye shall find rest unto your souls4 ,for my yoke is easy1 and my burden is light4 7,matt4 #aa3bh-cj47 ,a blessed invitation indeed6 ,seemingly faint at heart over the unbelief of the people1 our ,lord had sought strength in prayer4 ,with the soulful eloquence characteristic of the anguish-laden communion which at recurrent periods ,he had with the ,father1 the ,savior voiced ,his reverent gratitude that ,god had imparted a testimony of the truth to the humble and lowly whom ,he likened unto trusting babes1 rather than unto men proud in their learning and arrogant in self-assumption4 ,then turning to the common people1 the multitude who had just witnessed ,his miracles and listened to ,his lofty yet simple precepts1 ,he urged anew their acceptance of ,him and ,his ,gospel in one of the grandest outpourings of spiritual emotion recorded for man to read4 ,his summoning yet pleading call was addressed to priestridden and ,rome-governed ,jews4 ,many of them yearned for release from thraldom1 but the national spirit had been so broken that most of them had become inured to vassalage and tolerant of bondage4 ,the priestly hierarchy was boastful of its status1 and strove effectively to deceive the people into the belief that they were free while sweating under the burdens of unrighteous exaction4 ,what had ,christ to offer in mitigation of their grievous state8 ,certainly not the emancipation for which false rabbinical precept had led them to look--the reestablishment of the throne of ,david as an earthly kingdom1 destined to subjugate all other nations by force of arms and make supreme the scepter of rehabilitated ,israel4 ,christ's kingdom was not1 is not1 nor ever shall be a merely secular or political dominion4 ,his throne and crown are not of earthly make4 ,the people of ,israel had brought themselves into bondage4 ,their vanished glory and fallen status had been foretold as an alternative fate1 which would fall upon them if they departed from the covenant and proved recreant to the ,god of their fathers4 ,but more burdensome than ,roman mastership was the literal serfdom of priestly misrule4 ,rome was tolerant and conciliatory1 while those who for the time sat in ,moses' seat gloried in the shackles they had riveted upon the people through a blasphemous misapplication of the ,law4 ,to the overladen and weary ,jews came the offer of rest and peace4 ,the ,lord pleadingly invited them from drudgery to pleasant service1 from the well-nigh unbearable burdens of ecclesiastical exaction and traditional formalism to the liberty of true worship1 from slavery to freedom4 ,but they would not4 ,the ,gospel ,he offered was and is the embodiment of liberty1 untainted by selfish license4 ,true1 it entailed obedience and submission2 but even if such could be likened unto a yoke1 what was its burden in comparison with the incubus under which they groaned8 ,the offer1 the call1 the invitation is in full force and effect today4 ,transgression of the law is primarily or indirectly the cause of all suffering4 ,obedience to righteous law is the price of liberty4 ,in such obedience lies happiness4 ,by a government of the people1 administered in equity1 every man is under wholesome restriction in compliance with which he finds privilege and protection4 ,irresponsibility is directly opposed to enduring freedom4 ,but what are the restraints of democracy in contrast with enslavement under autocratic rule8 ,how easy the yoke1 how light the burden1 and how glorious the blessings of righteous government6 ,the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is the expression of the eternal truth that shall make men free4 ,it prescribes obedience1 compliance1 voluntary submission as the conditions of enfranchisement in the kingdom of ,god4 ,in its conflict with sin the ,gospel neither slays nor makes men prisoners4 ,its weapons are persuasion1 invitation1 and awakening summons4 ,its antagonists suffer self-inflicted punishment1 bring upon themselves imprisonment within the bars of lost opportunity1 and formulate their own sentence of eventual banishment as alien enemies of the truth4 ,liberty through obedience was the theme of ,benjamin1 the ancient prophet and king who thus addressed his penitent people1 respecting their acknowledgment of ,christ as the ,author of salvation3 ,and under this head1 ye are made free1 and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free4 ,there is no other name given whereby salvation cometh2 therefore1 ,i would that ye should take upon you the name of ,christ1 all you that have entered into the covenant with ,god1 that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,mosiah #e3h47 ,and unto the repentant and obedient of the present day the ,lord has spoken through the prophet ,joseph ,smith3 ,abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free2 entangle not yourselves in sin1 but let your hands be clean1 until the ,lord come4 7,d,c #hh3hf47 ,the ,lord has spoken1 saying to all men and nations3 ,come unto me in faith1 doubting not2 repent of your sins2 be baptized for the remission thereof2 and ye shall receive the ,holy ,ghost and ,he shall guide you in the truth that shall make you free4 -- #ih -- ,,he ,,went ,,and ,,washed ,and ,came ,seeing ,,the ninth chapter of ,john contains an absorbingly graphic account of a man who had been born blind1 yet who was made to see through the ministrations of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,as in every other miracle wrought by the ,savior1 the outward or visible procedure in this case was strikingly simple4 ,jesus anointed the sightless eyes with clay1 and said unto the man3 ,go1 wash in the pool of ,siloam4 ,the sequel is thus tersely recorded3 ,he went his way therefore1 and washed1 and came seeing4 ,the man had been a mendicant1 a blind beggar1 and as such was a familiar character in his neighborhood4 ,word of the miracle spread and a great stir arose among both the common folk and the learned ,pharisees4 ,the day of the healing was the ,sabbath1 and the hypercritical ,pharisees laid stress on this point as proof that ,he who had given sight to the blind man was obviously a sinner1 for ,he had healed on the ,holy ,day1 whereon all manner of work was forbidden4 ,with the assurance characteristic of a sincere mind that knows whereof it speaks1 and with incisive directness1 the happy recipient of our ,lord's bounty replied3 ,whether he be a sinner or no1 ,i know not3 one thing ,i know1 that1 whereas ,i was blind1 now ,i see4 ,then the inquisitors questioned the man anew as to the precise means by which his eyes had been opened2 but he refused to repeat what they had already treated with derision1 and ironically inquired if they were about to join the disciples of the ,healer4 ,this served but to increase their anger4 ,they boasted of being disciples of ,moses1 but as for ,christ1 whom they referred to as this fellow1 they furiously declared that they knew not whence ,he came4 ,they were enraged that an illiterate beggar should answer so boldly in their scholarly presence2 but the man was more than a match for them all4 ,his rejoinder was maddening because it flouted their vaunted wisdom1 and1 withal1 was unanswerable4 ,why1 herein is a marvellous thing1 said he1 that ye know not from whence he is1 and yet he hath opened mine eyes4 ,now we know that ,god heareth not sinners3 but if any man be a worshipper of ,god1 and doeth his will1 him he heareth4 ,since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind4 ,if this man were not of ,god1 he could do nothing4 ,unable to cope in argument or demonstration with the erstwhile sightless beggar1 those blinded ,pharisees could at least exercise their official authority1 however unjustly1 by excommunicating him from the congregation of the synagog1 and this they promptly and wickedly did4 ,the case in all its bearings is typical of current conditions1 as indeed it has been of men in all ages4 ,physical blindness is a grievous affliction1 and relief therefrom correspondingly gladsome4 ,but it is of the body only1 and though permitted to endure till death1 it shall end4 ,for that deeper darkness--blindness of mind and heart--the grave is no curative4 ,as between the sightless beggar and the sin-proud ,pharisees1 the latter were by far the blinder4 ,he reverently rejoiced in the gift of sight1 for he knew that he had been blind and that afterward he saw2 they boasted of their vision1 though living in darkness1 and refused enlightement4 ,wo unto the blind that will not see2 for they shall perish4 7,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #i3cb47 ,the requirements of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ are the same today as in the meridian of time when the ,master taught among men in ,person4 ,likewise are there now many blind eyes1 some of which are opened through the enlightenment of obedience1 while others grow more and more darkened by the spreading cataract of false teaching1 skepticism1 and wilful sin4 ,away with the benighting ,pharisaism that sets the precepts of men above the revealed word of ,god6 ,for spiritual blindness so induced1 the ,divine ,healer offers sure relief4 ,oh1 sightless man1 anoint thine eyes with the balm of compliance with the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel as enunciated by the ,redeemer of men4 ,do but desire the light with repentant heart and with the deep full earnestness of a living faith1 and then1 in the waters of baptism be washed1 and ye shall come1 seeing4 ,of deep import are these words of the ,lord given unto an ancient ,hebrew seer3 ,and the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil1 which blindeth the eyes1 and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men1 and leadeth them away into broad roads1 that they perish1 and are lost4 7,book of ,mormon1 #a ,nephi #ab3ag47 ,man is not the author of the plan of salvation2 and blind indeed are they who suppose that precepts1 theories or systems originated or contrived by man can substitute or supersede the means divinely appointed for the redemption of mankind4 ,to the groping1 sightless soul is offered the unction of faith and the ability to repent2 and in the ,siloam of baptism shall be received the enlightenment that guides the soul1 once blind1 now seeing1 along the path leading to eternal life4 -- #ii -- ,,the ,,rod ,,of ,,iron ,a ,dependable ,support ,,unto ,lehi1 a prophet of ,jerusalem1 who by ,divine command had gone with his family from the city into the wilderness1 came the word of the ,lord in vision4 ,the man stood by a tree1 the fruit of which he found to be sweet1 and desirable to make one happy2 for1 as he ate of it his soul was filled with peace and joy unspeakable4 ,near the tree1 separating it from a spacious plain wherein great concourses of people had gathered1 flowed a turbulent river of muddy1 filthy water4 ,the head of the stream was visible in the distance1 and from this to the tree1 alongside the river's treacherous bank1 ran a narrow path1 paralleling which was a rod of iron1 firmly secured1 and so placed that one could hold to it while treading the pathway4 ,numerous people were observed moving toward the head of the stream1 striving to lay hold on the iron rod1 but dense mists of darkness arose1 and enshrouded them1 so that many became bewildered1 and1 abandoning their purpose of reaching the tree1 were lost in the murky depths of the river4 ,of the more faithful and determined1 he saw and testified3 ,and it came to pass that ,i beheld others pressing forward1 and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron2 and they did press forward through the mist of darkness1 clinging to the rod of iron1 even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree4 7,book of ,mormon1 #a ,nephi #h3bd2 read chaps4 #h and #ae74 ,an explication of the vision was given through inspiration4 ,the tree shown to the prophet was the tree of life1 and its fruit the salvation of the soul4 ,of the rod of iron it is written3 ,that it was the word of ,god2 and whoso would hearken unto the word of ,god1 and would hold fast unto it1 they would never perish2 neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness1 to lead them away to destruction4 7#a ,nephi #ae3bd74 ,the river of foul waters typified the great gulf separating the wicked from the tree of life1 and also from the saints of ,god1 and the state of loss and condemnation1 which shall be the inevitable fate of the wilfully and unregenerate wicked4 ,the present is an age of whirl and swirl1 in which many reach out confusedly and despairingly for support1 buffeted by the waves of theologic dogma1 swept hither and thither by the creeds and precepts of men1 blown about by the winds of conflicting doctrines1 bewildered by the mists of darkness1 which are the temptations of the devil1 which blindeth the eyes and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men4 7#ab3ag74 ,the rod of iron is the ,word of ,god unto man1 the same yesterday1 today1 and forever4 ,faith in ,god1 and in ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ as the ,redeemer and ,savior of men1 and contrite repentance of sin mark the beginning of the narrow path4 ,we must hold fast to the rod1 for the mists of darkness are dense and confusing2 and it is easy to let go1 to slip and slide and fall4 ,but with firm hand on the rod1 stedfast feet on the path1 we are led into the clear and purifying waters of baptism1 without whose invigorating ablution we are unable to progress4 ,cleansed and strengthened we press on1 even though the mists thicken2 and by the enlightening baptism of the ,spirit1 which is administered by the authorized laying on of hands1 we reach the tree1 entitled to live thereafter gladdened and made strong by its sweet and nourishing bounty4 ,the rod of iron is still in place1 fast1 secure1 a dependable support for every soul who strives with full purpose of heart to reach the tree of life4 ,clinging thereto we make sure progress1 though the filthy waters beat hard by the narrow path4 ,let go1 and we slip1 then slide1 and if we fail through strenuous effort and the aid of an outstretched helping hand to regain our grasp1 we are swept away1 carried by the torrent of confusion and uncertainty1 perhaps into the engulfing ,charybdis of fatalism or the dread ,scylla of atheistical despair4 ,mark you1 that rod is unbendable1 unbreakable1 immovable4 ,the pathway endures1 is never in need of repairs by addition1 new construction1 or reinforcement4 ,these are no product of man's skill4 ,it is sadly true1 however1 that men have essayed to make roads1 the while proclaiming that their broad highways lead to the tree of life4 ,but never has one such thoroughfare been constructed to the promised destination2 nor can it be4 ,for a time these manmade roads are alluring in their macadamized smoothness1 but they crumble and are worn into pitfalls1 unsightly and dangerous4 ,enter ye in at the strait gate3 for wide is the gate1 and broad is the way1 that leadeth to destruction1 and many there be which go in thereat3 ,because strait is the gate1 and narrow is the way1 which leadeth unto life1 and few there be that find it4 7,matt4 #g3ac1 #ad74 -- #ajj -- ,,liar ,,and ,,murderer ,from the ,beginning ,,the ,scriptures are equally definite in affirming the existence of both individual ,gods and devils4 ,of the former we recognize three1 the ,holy ,trinity1 comprising ,god the ,eternal ,father1 ,god the ,son who is our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ1 and ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 these three individual ,personages constituting the presiding council having supreme power and authority throughout the universe1 and collectively known as the ,godhead4 ,the devils are many1 and their chieftain is ,satan1 who though unembodied is as truly an individual being as is any one of us4 ,he is the personage who in the primeval world bore the exalted title of ,lucifer1 a son of the morning1 and who with his rebellious horde was cast out1 prior to the peopling of the earth4 7,see ,rev4 #ab3g-i2 also ,d,c #bi3cf-ch1 and #gf3be-bg2 and ,isa4 #ad3ab-ae74 ,on the best authority1 that of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 we learn something of the character of this fallen son of the morning1 the antagonist of righteousness1 and the enemy of ,god and man4 ,in denouncing the false beliefs and evil practises of certain unregenerate ,jews1 ,christ spoke in these definite and forceful terms3 ,ye are of your father the devil1 and the lusts of your father ye will do4 ,he was a murderer from the beginning1 and abode not in the truth1 because there is no truth in him4 ,when he speaketh a lie1 he speaketh of his own3 for he is a liar1 and the father of it4 ,and because ,i tell you the truth1 ye believe me not4 7,john #h3dd-de74 ,a liar and a murderer from the beginning6 ,he it was who beguiled the mother of the race1 and that by the most dangerous of all falsehoods1 the half-truth1 in the use of which he is a past master4 ,he it was who taught the awful secret of murder to the fratricide1 ,cain1 baiting the hook of infamous temptation with the lie1 that1 by slaying his brother1 ,cain would come into possession of ,abel's flocks1 and have much gain beside4 7,see ,pearl of ,great ,price1 pp4 #bb and #bc74 ,he it was who deceived ,israel1 by inducing them to revolt against the theo-democracy under which they had prospered1 and to clamor for a king4 ,under kingly rule the nation was brought into vassalage and obscurity4 ,primordially he and his angels were cast out into the earth1 and here they have since been1 going up and down in the world1 seeking whom they may deceive4 ,he is the author of sophistry and degrading skepticism1 and of the whole foul mass of the philosophy and science falsely so called1 by which mankind are led to doubt the word of ,god1 to becloud the ,scriptures with vain imaginings and private interpretations1 and to narcotize the mind with the poison of human invention as a substitute for revealed truth4 ,he is an adept at compounding mixtures of truth and falsehood1 with just enough of the one to inspire a dangerous confidence1 and of the other a toxic portion4 ,beware of his prescriptions1 his tonics and medicaments4 ,remember that water may be crystal clear1 and yet hold in solution the deadliest of poisons4 ,he it is who has deceived peoples1 tribes1 and races1 into servile submission to self-constituted rulers1 and made of the masses slaves of autocrats1 rather than to assert and maintain their rights as free men1 whatever the effort and sacrifice be4 ,he it is who seeks to lead men captive at his will1 to destroy their power of agency and choice1 to dupe them into bartering their birthright of freedom for the nauseating pottage of present expediency4 ,he it is who has cajoled men into the unscriptural conception that there are ways1 many and variable1 by which salvation is attainable1 other than the one and only way provided by the ,savior of souls4 ,he is the arch-deceiver1 the master sophist1 the prime dissembler1 the prince of hypocrites4 ,concerning the devil's plan of subverting the rights of man1 and of those who support it1 ,moroni1 the last of the ,nephite prophets1 wrote3 ,whoso buildeth it up1 seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands1 nations1 and countries2 and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people1 for it is built up by the devil1 who is the father of all lies2 even that same liar who beguiled our first parents2 yea1 even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning2 who hath hardened the hearts of men1 that they have murdered the prophets1 and stoned them1 and cast them out from the beginning4 7,book of ,mormon1 ,ether #h3be74 ,though great be ,satan's power1 deliverance therefrom is provided through compliance with the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 at whose advent1 now near at hand1 the promised millennium of peace shall be inaugurated1 a blessed feature of which is that the devil shall be rendered impotent to further subjugate the souls of men1 and that he should deceive the nations no more1 till the thousand years should be fulfilled4 7,rev4 #bj3c74 -- #aja -- ,,on ,,the ,,devil',s ,,ground ,prisoners to ,satan ,,in the decisive issues of war there are victors and vanquished2 the casualties comprise killed1 wounded1 and prisoners4 ,generally1 capture by the enemy is the form of individual calamity most dreaded by the gallant soldier who knows he is fighting for the right1 and particularly so if the foe be ruthless or treacherous4 ,in the battle of life as a whole1 analogous conditions and categories obtain4 ,the slain may have fallen in honor2 for the disabled there is hope of recovery2 but the fate of the captured is one of apprehension or dread certainty1 ofttimes of horror4 ,when one is taken prisoner as the result of venturesome curiosity1 reckless exposure1 or disobedience to orders1 he must bear the blame as well as the suffering consequent on capture4 ,many are prisoners because thoughtlessly1 wilfully1 or defiantly1 they have trespassed upon the devil's ground1 without warrant of duty or justifiable excuse4 ,the soldier's part is to keep within the lines until ordered forward in attack to dislodge the foe4 ,hosts of capable souls have heedlessly put themselves into the enemy's power by yielding to the treacherous invitation to fraternize with sin4 ,such a one is made welcome in the camp of the foe1 and1 at first a visitor1 he sooner or later awakens to the fact that he is a prisoner1 and withal a deserter from the ranks of patriotism and honor4 ,the young man1 rich in hope and promise1 sets out to see the world for himself--just to see1 that's all1 he says--and is overpowered in the grog-shop trench or the wanton's den--a prisoner in the power of a merciless and exulting foe4 ,solemn as the sound of doom1 piercing as the blast of angel's trump1 is the ,lord's affirmation3 ,whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin4 7,john #h3cd47 ,who can find so much as excuse to think of himself as a freeman when he knows he is a slave--to base passion1 to dishonorable desire1 to hypocrisy and crime8 ,the prisoner's fate is as commonly the result of negative sin--of neglect1 indolence1 failure to do--as it is the consequence of ill-directed activity and positive transgression4 ,refusal to comply with the prescribed laws and ordinances of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is to permit or invite capture by the arch-enemy of souls4 ,obedience is the test of allegiance1 and he whom we obey1 the leader we elect to follow1 is the master who directs our destiny1 whether in the liberty of righteousness or the serfdom of sin4 ,know ye not1 wrote ,paul of old to the proud ,romans1 that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey1 his servants ye are to whom ye obey2 whether of sin unto death1 or of obedience unto righteousness8 7,rom #f3af47 ,the certainty of capture by the enemy through passive irresolution or aggressive violation of ,divine law1 together with the actuality of the captive state was set forth by a ,hebrew prophet on the ,western ,hemisphere centuries before the birth of ,christ1 as follows3 ,for the kingdom of the devil must shake1 and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance1 or the devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains1 and they be stirred up to anger and perish4 ,for behold1 at that day this latter1 modern1 present day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men1 and stir them up to anger against that which is good4 ,and others will he pacify1 and lull them away into carnal security1 that they will say1 ,all is well in ,zion2 yea1 ,zion prospereth1 all is well2 and thus the devil cheateth their souls1 and leadeth them away carefully down to hell4 ,and behold1 others he flattereth away1 and telleth them there is no hell2 and he saith unto them1 ,i am no devil1 for there is none2 and thus he whispereth in their ears until he grasps them with his awful chains1 from whence there is no deliverance4 ,yea1 they are grasped with death1 and hell2 and death1 and hell1 and the devil1 and all that have been seized therewith1 must stand before the throne of ,god1 and be judged according to their works1 from whence they must go into the place prepared for them1 even a lake of fire and brimstone1 which is endless torment4 7,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #bh3ai-bc47 ,it is evident from the foregoing and from the following1 that captivity to the devil shall extend into the eternities as the state of those who have failed to establish their status as citizens in the ,kingdom of freedom3 ,for behold1 if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance1 even until death1 behold1 ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil1 and he doth seal you his2 therefore1 the ,spirit of the ,lord hath withdrawn from you1 and hath no place in you1 and the devil hath all power over you2 and this is the final state of the wicked4 7,alma #cd3ce47 -- #ajb -- ,,what ,,doth ,,it ,,profit ,a ,,man8 ,worldly ,gain--,eternal ,loss ,,for what shall it profit a man1 if he shall gain the whole world1 and lose his own soul8 ,or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul8 7,mark #h3cf-cg74 ,these are questions put by the ,teacher of teachers4 ,they are related2 we may consider them as one4 ,simple1 like unto all the ,master's teachings--for high precept and profound philosophy are embodied in the interrogatory--the question is searching1 peremptory1 challenging4 ,who that hears or reads can brush it aside8 ,compelling in its incisive brevity1 it is of haunting directness4 ,once considered1 even cursorily1 it will not down2 once admitted to the inner consciousness1 it will not out4 ,the baubles of earth are set over against the priceless jewels of heaven2 the fleeting things of mortality are put in contrast with the enduring verities of eternity4 ,granted that this is a material world1 and that experience in material affairs is a pervading and indispensable element in the curriculum of life's school1 it is no less truly a fact that earth-life is neither the beginning nor the end of individual existence and progression4 ,material belongings1 relative wealth or poverty1 physical environment--the things on which we are prone to set our hearts and anchor our aspirations1 the things for which we sweat and strive1 ofttimes at the sacrifice of happiness and to the forfeiture of real success--these after all are but externals1 the worth of which in the reckoning to come shall be counted in terms of the use we have made of them4 ,is the plow more than the field to be furrowed1 or the sickle than the ripened grain8 ,can gold stay the hunger pangs better than the nourishing food that the money may buy8 ,the context with which occurs the crucial interrogation quoted above points the question sharply3 ,whosoever will come after me1 let him deny himself1 and take up his cross1 and follow me4 ,for whosoever will save his life shall lose it2 but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's2 the same shall save it4 ,the cross to be taken up may be heavy1 perhaps to be dragged because too burdensome to be borne4 ,we are apt to assume that self-denial is the sole material of our cross2 but this is true only as we regard self-denial in its broadest sense1 comprising both positive and negative aspects4 ,one man's cross may consist mostly in refraining from doings to which he is inclined1 another's in doing what he would fain escape4 ,one's besetting sin is evil indulgence2 his neighbor's a lazy inattention to the activities required by the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 coupled perchance with puritanical rigor in other observances4 ,but the great question1 striking home to every thoughtful soul1 is that of the ,master--,for what is a man profited1 if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul8 7,matt4 #af3bf74 ,it is possible then for a man to lose his own soul4 ,to deny is to reject the ,lord's own doctrine4 ,the safeguard against such incalculable loss is specifically indicated--to follow the ,savior2 and this can mean only keeping ,his commandments1 whatever the temporary suffering or worldly sacrifice may be4 ,the occasion of ,christ's question with its accompanying brief but forceful discourse was this3 ,he had reiterated to the disciples1 with greater directness than ever before1 the facts of ,his approaching death and the ignominy that would be forced upon ,him4 ,peter1 impetuous and impulsive as ever1 exclaimed ,be it far from thee ,lord3 this shall not be unto thee4 ,in that remark1 though well-intended and bold1 lay the suggestion that ,jesus should avert the impending tragedy to ,himself1 and save ,his own life4 ,the ,lord's reply to ,peter was a rebuke of the severest kind4 ,then followed the avowal that one who saves his life at the cost of righteous duty shall lose it1 and the comforting assurance that he who is ready to sacrifice his life in the ,master's service shall find it4 ,if this be true with life as the stake1 how more so shall it be with wealth1 station1 worldly power1 or pet but false theory and doctrine1 as the thing to be gained or lost8 ,consider the words of ,jacob the ,nephite3 ,o the vainness1 and the frailties1 and the foolishness of men6 ,when they are learned they think they are wise1 and they hearken not unto the counsel of ,god for they set it aside1 supposing they know of themselves--wherefore1 their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not4 4 44 ,behold1 the way for man is narrow but it lieth in a straight course before him2 and the keeper of the gate is the ,holy ,one of ,israel2 and ,he employeth no servant there2 and there is none other way1 save it be by the gate1 for ,he cannot be deceived2 for the ,lord ,god is ,his name4 ,and whoso knocketh1 to him will ,he open2 and the wise1 and the learned1 and they that are rich1 who are puffed up because of their learning1 and their wisdom1 and their riches2 yea1 they are they1 whom ,he despiseth2 and save they shall cast these things away1 and consider themselves fools before ,god1 and come down in the depths of humility1 he will not open unto them4 7,book of ,mormon1 #b ,nephi #i74 -- #ajc -- ,,the ,,garden ,,of ,,god ,and the ,weeds of ,human ,culture ,,but ,he answered and said1 ,every plant1 which my heavenly ,father hath not planted1 shall be rooted up4 7,matt4 #ae3ac47 ,this significant and comprehensive avowal by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ while in the flesh was spoken by way of rejoinder to a report from certain disciples that the ,pharisees were offended at ,his doctrine4 ,some of the learned scribes and punctilious ,pharisees had voiced the criticism that our ,lord's disciples were in transgression because they ignored the tradition respecting the ceremonial washing of hands4 ,the ,master's rebuke was incisive and severe4 ,he demanded of the casuistical complainers3 ,why do ye also transgress the commandment of ,god by your tradition8 ,and ,he cited the glaring instance of the then current violation of the ,divine command respecting the honor due to parents from their children1 as occasioned by the hierarchic vagary of the ,corban practise1 by which undutiful children were enabled to escape their filial obligations4 ,then1 calling to the multitude ,he loudly proclaimed1 in denunciation of the unlawful exaction of arbitrary rule3 ,hear and understand3 ,not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man2 but that which cometh out of the mouth1 this defileth a man4 ,who that heard could fail to note the clear differentiation between man-made rules and ,divine law1 between human tradition and the commandments of ,god8 ,then followed the sweeping declaration cited above4 ,what were the plants of ,pharisaical tradition but noxious tares1 doomed to be rooted up and burned8 ,only the wheat of ,divine planting shall be gathered into the garner of the ,lord4 ,but1 as so impressively taught in parable1 the wholesome grain and the poisonous tares are allowed to grow together for a season1 lest perchance the premature extirpation of the weeds imperil the wheat4 ,nations and kingdoms rise and fall1 sometimes by ,god's immediate direction and through the instrumentality of men foreordained to the occasion1 sometimes by ,divine permission or allowance incident to the exercise of individual or national agency4 ,i cannot believe that ,god ever planted the noisome fungus of tyranny or kingly despotism4 ,nevertheless it has been permitted to flourish rankly in the soil of ignorance and false tradition2 and its spores have been surreptitiously scattered even in the fields of fair freedom's flowers4 ,with ,god as with man there is a time of seeding and a time of harvest4 ,only now has the world been even measurably prepared for government based on the consent of the people1 for the kind of government that shall yet be established in other lands as it has been already developed in ,america4 ,fifty1 twenty1 aye1 even ten years ago1 to have attempted forcibly to uproot the weeds of autocracy would have endangered the precious wheat of real democracy4 ,there is a dominant element of timeliness in all the works of ,god4 ,verily ,he doeth all things well1 and in propitious season4 ,have you never read that in the last days all things shall be in commotion8 ,we live in the predicted time of shaking1 when every unstable structure shall totter1 and only such as are established upon an eternal foundation shall stand4 ,the writer of the ,epistle to the ,hebrews so understood1 as witness his admonitory precept3 ,see that ye refuse not him that speaketh4 ,the reference is to ,christ4 ,for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth1 much more shall not we escape1 if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven3 ,whose voice then shook the earth3 but now he hath promised1 saying1 ,yet once more ,i shake not the earth only1 but also heaven4 ,and this word1 ,yet once more1 signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken1 as of things that are made1 that those things which cannot be shaken may remain4 7,heb4 #ab3be-bg47 ,the things of ,god are not to be shaken even by the boom of man's heaviest artillery2 they shall abide in spite of bomb and shell4 ,but the works of human craft shall be shattered4 ,not only so as to material structures1 but likewise man's sophistries1 erroneous theories1 conjectures1 philosophy1 and such science as is falsely so called4 ,institutions of human origin may persist long years1 but shall surely come to an end4 ,in and after the resurrection they shall have neither place nor name4 ,institutions established by the authority of heaven alone can endure4 ,to administer in the ordinances of ,god requires an authority distinctively different from any that man can originate or arrogate to himself4 ,let ,caesar regulate the things of ,caesar1 if you will1 but let not ,caesar essay to administer the things of ,god4 ,the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is eternal1 it shall never be destroyed nor shaken4 ,the laws of ,god are immutable and compliance therewith1 in mode as well as in spirit1 is indispensable to salvation4 ,thus hath the ,lord decreed3 ,behold6 mine house is a house of order1 saith the ,lord ,god1 and not a house of confusion4 ,will ,i accept of an offering1 saith the ,lord1 that is not made in my name6 ,or1 will ,i receive at your hands that which ,i have not appointed6 ,and will ,i appoint unto you1 saith the ,lord1 except it be by law1 even as ,i and my ,father ordained unto you1 before the world was6 ,i am the ,lord thy ,god1 and ,i give unto you this commandment1 that no man shall come unto the ,father but by me1 or by my word1 which is my law1 saith the ,lord4 ,and everything that is in the world1 whether it be ordained of men1 by thrones1 or principalities1 or powers1 or things of name1 whatsoever they may be1 that are not by me1 or by my word1 saith the ,lord1 shall be thrown down1 and shall not remain after men are dead1 neither in nor after the resurrection1 saith the ,lord your ,god4 ,for whatsoever things remain are by me2 and whatsoever things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed4 7,d,c #acb47 -- #ajd -- ,,the ,,last ,,dispensation ,today is the ,sum of all the ,yesterdays ,,the student of history recognizes distinct epochs1 periods and ages in the chronicles of events1 and classifies his subject-matter accordingly4 ,single facts and isolated occurrences may be of immediate importance2 but when studied in relation to one another they take on a vastly augmented significance4 ,this is equally true with respect to both secular and sacred history4 ,in the latter field1 which comprises the record of ,god's direct dealings with man and the unfolding of the ,divine purpose as attested by prophecy and its fulfilment1 the existence of progressive plan and orderly design is strikingly apparent4 ,holy ,writ affirms a succession of dispensations1 each characterized by distinctive features of ,divine authority and commission revealed to man4 ,illustrative of these dispensations are the ,adamic1 the ,noachian1 the ,abrahamic1 and the ,mosaic4 ,in due course came the ,meridian dispensation1 glorified by the personal ministry of our ,lord1 the ,christ2 and this was immediately succeeded by the ,apostolic dispensation4 ,both ,christ and the ,apostles foretold a great falling away1 a general apostasy1 a long era of spiritual darkness1 which was to be succeeded by a new dispensation distinguished by the restoration of the ,gospel and the establishment of the ,church of ,christ on earth for the last time4 ,the ,scriptures affirm that the new dispensation is to comprise all the authority1 powers1 and gifts of earlier dispensations1 and is therefore distinctively a time of restitution1 reorganization1 and restoration4 ,it is appropriately named the ,last ,dispensation1 and the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times4 ,the comprehensiveness of this period of restoration was forcefully expressed by ,paul3 ,that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in ,christ1 both which are in heaven1 and which are on earth4 7,eph4 #a3aj47 ,peter1 addressing the penitent ,jews1 who were pricked to the heart because of their guilty consciousness of having consented to the ,lord's death1 held out to them hope of forgiveness in a time then far future1 the time of restitution of which the prophets had spoken4 ,ponder his profound admonition and assuring promise3 ,repent ye therefore1 and be converted1 that your sins may be blotted out1 when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the ,lord2 ,and he shall send ,jesus ,christ1 which before was preached unto you3 ,whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things1 which ,god hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began4 7,acts #c3ai-ba47 ,the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times has been inaugurated4 ,the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is again preached upon earth1 and the ,holy ,priesthood is made operative by direct bestowal from the heavens1 for the administration of the ordinances without which no man can enter the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,in the year #ahbj1 ,god the ,eternal ,father1 and ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ manifested ,themselves as bodily ,personages to ,joseph ,smith2 and from the mouth of the resurrected and glorified ,savior the youthful prophet received the glad tidings that the predicted time of restoration had arrived4 ,thus was ushered in the ,last ,dispensation4 ,the darkness incident to the long night of apostasy was dispelled2 the glory of the heavens once more illumined the world2 the silence of centuries was broken2 the voice of ,god was heard again by man4 ,visitations of other heavenly personages followed4 ,john the ,baptist1 who held the keys of the ,lessor or ,aaronic ,priesthood1 appeared as a resurrected being and conferred upon ,joseph ,smith authority to minister in the ordinance of baptism for the remission of sins4 ,peter1 ,james and ,john ordained him to the ,higher or ,melchizedek ,priesthood1 including the ,holy ,apostleship2 ,moses brought to earth the commission of gathering scattered ,israel2 ,elijah transmitted the appointment of vicarious service in behalf of the dead4 7,see ,mal4 #d3e1 #f47 ,the great consummation shall be realized in the return of ,christ to earth1 in power and glory1 to rule and reign1 as the holy prophets have foretold4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints appeals to the world to heed the fast ripening signs of the ,lord's coming1 to repent and be baptized1 by which means alone is salvation through ,christ attainable4 ,heed ye the merciful warning of the ,lord1 our ,savior3 ,wherefore1 be faithful1 praying always1 having your lamps trimmed and burning1 and oil with you1 that you may be ready at the coming of the ,bridegroom3 ,for behold1 verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 that ,i come quickly4 ,even so4 ,amen4 7,d,c #cc3ag-ah47