,holmes4 ,,mr4 ,,durant ,,of ,,salt ,,lake ,,city1 ,,that ,,mormon4 ,,by ,,ben4 ,e4 ,,rich4 ,god attributes to place ,no sanctity1 if none be thither brought ,by men who there frequent4--,,milton ,,salt ,,lake ,,city3 ,,george ,q4 ,,cannon ,,sons ,,co41 ,,printers #ahic4 ,,preface4 ,mormonism is a subject which has been handled by many authors4 ,some have written in its favor1 with prayerful hearts1 seeking the guidance of the ,holy ,spirit as their honest convictions were recorded2 while others have declared against the ,mormons and the man who was the instrument1 in the hands of ,god1 of founding their faith4 ,a few of the latter class have been honest in their attacks1 believing1 perhaps1 that they were doing the ,lord's will in opposing it2 but the majority have been actuated by hatred in all they have said on the subject4 ,the author of this work has endeavored to present1 in plain and simple words1 the faith of the ,latter-day ,saints1 with a desire to aid and interest the young men of ,mormondom1 who have had no missionary experience1 and to fit them to make known their belief to the nations of the earth1 should they be called upon for that purpose4 ,if this book shall benefit them1 and give others a better conception of the ,latter-day ,saints and their religion1 the object in publishing it will have been attained4 ,,the ,,author4 ,,ogden1 ,february1 #ahic4 ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,old ,,and ,,the ,,new4 ,the ,changes ,in the ,sunny ,south1 since the ,war4 ,hospitality of the ,southerner4 ,his ,traits of ,character4 ,politics and ,religion4 ,purpose of the ,description4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,a ,,new ,,arrival ,,in ,,the ,,town4 ,the ,town of ,westminster4 ,harmony ,place1 the ,hotel of the ,marshalls4 ,guests and their social ,methods4 ,mr4 ,charles ,durant1 the ,new ,arrival from the ,west4 ,introduction to the ,family and ,visitors4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,new ,,acquaintances ,,and ,,an ,,agreeable ,,discussion4 ,an ,evening on the veranda4 ,a ,variety of ,subjects ,discussed4 ,politics and ,religion4 ,christian ,america4 ,do ,people ,practice their ,religious ,professions8 ,priests ,addicted to ,money-getting rather than to ,soul-getting4 ,the ,stranger ,interested4 ,proposed ,discussion4 ,search after ,truth4 ,a ,quotation from the ,prayer ,book4 ,a ,difference ,concerning the ,godhead4 ,erroneous ,conception of ,god4 ,oneness of the ,father and the ,son4 ,three ,separate ,identities1 ,united as ,one in all ,things4 ,character of ,each4 ,a ,god with ,body1 ,parts and ,passions4 ,mysteries ,explained4 ,good ,night4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,gaining ,,and ,,losing ,,favor4 ,entirely at ,home4 ,another ,evening on the ,veranda4 ,the ,reverend1 the ,stranger1 and ,churches4 ,the ,baptism of ,christ4 ,baptism by ,immersion4 ,necessity of this ,ordinance4 ,the ,savior's ,example4 ,who are ,true ,christians8 ,laying on of ,hands4 ,the ,reverend ,retires from the ,argument4 ,continued ,discussion4 ,the ,gospel and its ,necessity4 ,men must ,answer for their own ,sins4 ,the ,double ,effect of the ,atonement of ,christ4 ,conditions of ,salvation4 ,a ,definition of ,faith4 ,first ,step ,alone ,is not ,sufficient for ,salvation4 ,scripture ,explained4 ,romans1 ,chapter ,x4 ,the ,stranger's ,errand4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,further ,,discussion ,,of ,,the ,,first ,,principles4 ,the ,second ,step that should be ,taken by the ,convert to ,christianity4 ,true ,repentance1 its ,end and ,aim4 ,forgiveness of ,sin1 ,how obtained4 ,mode1 ,meaning1 and ,significance of ,baptism4 ,who are fit ,candidates for this ,ordinance8 ,little ,children exempt4 ,what shall we do to be saved8 ,the ,answer of ,paul4 ,the ,holy ,ghost1 ,how conferred4 ,the ,signs ,following4 ,conditions of ,salvation named4 ,show ,me ,where ,true ,christians ,live4 ,who is authorized to ,baptize8 ,the ,need of ,authorized ,officers4 ,a ,sign of the ,true ,church4 ,teachers must be called of ,god ,the ,falling ,away ,foretold4 ,christians turned ,heathen1 ,the ,gospel to be restored4 ,prophecies ,concerning this ,event4 ,the ,restoration through ,revelation to ,man4 ,promises to the ,believer4 ,a ,lecture ,arranged for4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,truth ,,again ,,defeats ,,falsehood4 ,a ,pleasant ,conversation4 ,missionary ,hymn4 ,perfect ,happiness1 ,true ,enjoyment1 ,how ,obtained4 ,the ,medium ,course1 ,sensible ,christianity4 ,the ,reverend ,once ,more4 ,his peculiar ,surprise4 ,are ,you from ,salt ,lake ,city8 ,the ,stranger is a ,latter-day ,saint1 or ,mormon4 ,a ,discomfited ,minister4 ,some ,falsehoods ,exposed4 ,the ,articles of ,faith4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,durant's ,experience in ,westminster4 ,his ,labors4 ,meeting in the ,town ,hall4 ,sincere ,congratulations4 ,fears of a ,mob4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,the ,,prophet ,,joseph',s ,,statement4 ,once ,more on the ,veranda4 ,answering ,questions4 ,information from the ,right ,source4 ,complete ,statement of the ,early ,rise and ,progress of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 by the ,prophet1 ,joseph ,smith4 ,the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the ,testimony of ,three ,witnesses4 ,and also the ,testimony of ,eight ,witnesses4 ,concerning the ,restoration of the ,gospel4 ,striking ,illustration4 ,departure from ,westminster4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,that ,,mormon ,,again4 ,a ,new ,member of the ,marshall ,family4 ,meeting an ,esteemed ,friend4 ,a ,delayed ,breakfast4 ,a ,promised ,return4 ,anxious to ,meet the ,missionary4 ,effect of the ,elder's ,testimony4 ,danger of ,being converted to ,mormonism4 ,an ,informal ,meeting ,place4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,missionary',s ,,return4 ,once ,more with his ,friends4 ,experience ,while ,away4 ,account of a ,terrible ,mobbing4 ,peculiar ,feelings ,attending the ,formation of ,new ,friendships4 ,opportunity to introduce a ,new ,principle4 ,the ,doctrine of ,pre-,existence4 ,a ,beautiful ,poem4 ,proofs from the ,scriptures4 ,the ,truth is ,reasonable4 ,a ,walk through the ,village4 ,the ,world my ,home4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,a ,,pleasant ,,interview4 ,an ,evening ,gathering4 ,remarks on the ,faith of the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,what they ,believe4 ,a ,literal ,resurrection4 ,the ,teachings of ,jesus and the ,scriptures on this ,subject4 ,illustrations4 ,now ,accepted ,facts were ,once ,incomprehensible4 ,great ,truths ,yet ,unrevealed4 ,the story of the ,silver ,cup4 ,death-bed ,repentance4 ,the ,repentant ,malefactor did not go to ,heaven with the ,savior4 ,the ,subject explained4 ,where and ,what is ,paradise8 ,preaching to ,departed ,spirits4 ,baptism for the ,dead4 ,the ,welding ,link ,between the ,fathers and their ,children4 ,testimony of a ,prophecy ,fulfilled4 ,organization of the ,church of ,christ4 ,the ,holy ,priesthood4 ,officers of the ,melchisedek and the ,aaronic ,priesthoods4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,a ,,baptism ,,and ,a ,,conversation ,,on ,,marriage4 ,importance of ,baptism4 ,necessity of ,earnest ,preparation4 ,form of the ,ordinance ,given4 ,quotations ,showing the ,gathering to be ,in ,strict ,harmony with the ,bible4 ,the ,marriage ,covenant is ,eternal4 ,the ,union of ,adam and ,eve4 ,what is meant by ,marriage as ,ordained of ,god8 ,necessity of ,authority4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,about ,,the ,,mormons4 ,a ,trip to ,utah4 ,consideration that ,led the ,mormons to ,settle that ,territory4 ,the ,death of the ,prophet ,joseph1 ,how it ,occurred4 ,its ,effect on the ,saints4 ,how ,brigham ,young ,became ,leader of the ,people4 ,the ,exodus from ,nauvoo4 ,testimony of ,historians4 ,good by4 ,off for the ,west4 ,arrival in ,salt ,lake ,city4 ,a ,happy ,meeting4 ,a ,doctrinal ,sermon4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,mr4 ,,brown',s ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,,marshalls4 ,the ,great ,west4 ,along the ,chicago1 ,rock ,island ,pacific4 ,by the ,denver ,rio ,grande over the ,rockies4 ,scenes ,along the ,line4 ,over the ,wasatch into ,utah4 ,delightful ,views4 ,area1 ,population and ,resources of the ,territory4 ,in ,salt ,lake ,city4 ,the ,tabernacle and the ,temple4 ,ecclesiastical ,divisions4 ,natural ,attractions4 ,education4 ,a ,living ,faith4 ,fair ,minded ,people4 ,president ,wilford ,woodruff4 ,greetings4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,conclusion4 ,a ,word ,before we ,separate4 ,important ,questions4 ,what if the ,message be ,true4 ,read1 ,listen1 ,investigate4 ,know this1 that ,every ,soul is ,free4 ,,appendix4 ,,what ,,brigham ,,young ,,said4 ,quotations from the ,sermons of ,president ,brigham ,young4 ,,mr4 ,,durant ,,of ,,salt ,,lake4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,old ,,and ,,the ,,new4 ,there are few if any cities or towns of any consequence in the vast territory known to poesy as the ,sunny ,south1 that do not speak in every street corner1 in almost every building1 and even through the individuals themselves1 of the wondrous changes wrought by the great civil war4 ,those who knew that ,sunny ,south before the sanguinary struggle1 and have since looked upon it1 will most readily appreciate the force of this statement2 while those who have not seen it1 need only be told that where villages existed then1 now thriving towns arise1 or bustling municipalities2 elegant mansions have supplanted log huts or other indifferent abodes of men2 the railway has displaced the stage coach for all time2 newspapers abound where before these were almost unknown1 and--greatest boon of all--the auction block1 whereon human merchandise was publicly vended1 exists only as a memory which itself is rapidly vanishing before the pressure of modern progress and a better civilization4 ,in one respect at least1 however1 there has been little1 if any1 change1 and that is in regard to the best feature of all among the many that are commendable in the true ,southerner--the stranger or wayfarer is received with the same unaffected hospitality as of yore1 and is at liberty1 within reasonable limits1 to avail himself of all the conveniences and enjoyments of whatever home he may find himself the guest4 ,notwithstanding their hospitality1 the people of the ,south are usually disposed to be suspicious of strangers until well acquainted with them1 and they are overly watchful1 jealous and even irritable when once a real or fancied cause for vigilance arises4 ,inheriting traditions and propensities which are inseparable from the climate and the race1 they brook no interference with their peculiar views1 and anything savoring of intolerance or bigotry concerning a cherished ,southernism is summarily suppressed if it can be2 apart from this1 it matters little what the visitor believes or practices in a general way4 ,in politics they incline largely one way1 possibly for the reason that to do otherwise would1 as they look upon it1 threaten them with the domination of the black race1 and this of all things they will not have1 no matter by what means it is prevented4 ,in religion they are protestant with heavy leaning towards the ,baptist doctrines1 not always free from narrowness1 yett fairly tolerant--many evincing a willingness to listen1 and demanding a right to believe or disbelieve1 as their judgment may dictate4 ,those who are unacquainted with the situation would be inclined to say at this point4 ,what a grand field for missionary work6 ,and so it is2 but the great mistake of supposing that the ,south is deficient in the matter of ,christian endeavor or ecclesiastical institutions1 must not be made4 ,far from that6 ,on the contrary1 perhaps religious feeling is more generally diffused1 guarded1 and defended as herein expressed1 than in any other section of the civilized world2 but it is not of the kind from which riots and persecutions grow for no other reason than that it is opposed4 ,there is much else south of the imaginary dividing line of ,north and ,south that might be spoken of to interest1 but which will not be referred to except incidentally in the succeeding chapters4 ,what we have said is for the purpose of giving only so much of a description of the country and people as is necessary to make our little narrative1 the incidents of which are laid there1 more easily understood4 ,as this book deals principally with actual occurrences1 and people in real life1 such a foundation seems to be entirely proper4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,a ,,new ,,arrival ,,in ,,the ,,town4 ,a town pleasantly situated in the south-western part of ,tennessee1 the name of which for the present shall be ,westminster1 was at the time of which we write one of the most cosmopolitan places imaginable for its size--that is1 for a southern town4 ,it contained probably two thousand regular inhabitants1 but these were constantly augmented1 it being at times a rallying point for tourists from every clime1 and the temporary abode of men who1 in the aggregate1 during a season1 came well-nigh representing every shade of opinion1 if not every phase of character4 ,a quiet little hotel1 or perhaps it would be better to say a residence1 with accommodations for a limited number of guests1 was situated near the outskirts1 and so pleasant in all respects were the location1 surroundings and appointments1 that its name1 ,harmony ,place1 did not seem at all inappropriate4 ,in two important respects it was unlike any other hostelry in the town--there was no bar1 and the guests all had an air of respectability in keeping with the house itself4 ,it was kept by a planter1 in ordinary financial circumstances1 whose name was ,marshall2 he was assisted in his duties by a colored roustabout of uncertain ancestry1 a circumscribed present1 and a future wholly undefined4 ,mr4 ,marshall's wife1 and daughter ,claire1 did their part by generously entertaining the visitors4 ,there were at the time of which we write three guests--a lawyer named ,brown1 who had established himself at ,westminster2 a doctor calling himself ,slocum1 who was giving the town a trial with a view to locating in it if the patronage warranted2 and a tourist whose name was given as ,reverend ,fitzallen1 and whose object seemed to be the pursuit of health1 pleasure and information1 and incidentally1 the dissemination of the gospel according to his faith4 ,naturally1 with so limited a circle of patrons1 each having been there for some length of time1 the associations all around were more like those in a family than such as exist between landlord and guests4 ,an evening in the parlor with everybody but the ,ethiopian present1 the daughter singing to her own accompaniment on the piano1 while the doctor turned the music for her1 was often enjoyed1 and there was rarely if ever a discordant circumstance to mar the serenity of these occasions4 ,it was early in ,september1 #ahi--1 the most enjoyable part of the year in ,westminster4 ,a man1 who was readily distinguishable from the town-folk1 not only by his strange face but by his attire1 and by that indescribable air which appears the more plainly the more a stranger tries to discard or conceal it1 made his way leisurely to the gate fronting ,harmony ,place1 and continued his way up the walk leading to the door4 ,he was met by ,mrs4 ,marshall and informed1 in response to his inquiry1 that he could obtain lodgings there4 ,the colored man took the guest's valise and led the way to a room on the second floor4 ,after washing himself and brushing off the dust from his clothes1 the stranger reappeared in the sitting room1 and taking up a paper waited the announcement that refreshments were ready1 which was not long in coming4 ,he was somewhat above medium height1 well proportioned1 not unusually well dressed1 but still appeared presentable in good society1 and had a countenance which1 while not decidedly handsome1 was regular and of that caste which attracts attention2 his voice was quite pleasant1 his natural conversational faculty proved to be good1 and he was so well fortified with current facts and all the pleasantries of the day1 that before the meal was over he was quite in harmony with the hostess1 who was not only happy to answer any question he asked1 but look advantage of every opportunity to propound queries for herself4 ,within an hour from the time of arrival1 the new guest seemed to be nearly as well acquainted as if he had been an inmate of the house for a month at least4 ,this ability of rapidly forming acquaintance is very rare2 and particularly in the case of travelers1 no amount of money or graces can recompense its absence4 ,those who possess it do not need an extended reference to its usefulness to be made aware thereof1 while those who are not in possession of it can never be made fully to understand its value by means of cold type and white paper4 ,the landlady has learned the name of the latest arrival before the reader has--it is ,charles ,durant1 aged thirty1 and he comes from the ,west--a rather indefinite abiding place to those of us who are residents of1 or are familiar with1 that division of our country4 ,it is satisfactory1 however1 to a majority of our eastern and southern brethren who have never placed feet upon the shores of the ,missouri1 or crossed its waters1 and who seem to entertain a vague idea that ,westerners all come from one place1 and are all alike in most respects4 ,later in the day ,durant took a stroll through the suburbs of the town1 and returning was introduced to ,mr4 ,marshall1 to the guests1 as they appeared one by one1 with all of whom he was soon on the most cordial terms1 and finally to the young lady1 the sole representative on earth of her devoted parents1 who1 being twenty years of age1 as pretty as a dream1 well informed1 and altogether attractive1 was not likely to bear their name much longer1 albeit at this time reveling in maiden meditation1 fancy free4 ,it was truly an interesting circle and the interest did not abate in the least by reason of the latest arrival4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,new ,,acquaintances ,,and ,,an ,,agreeable ,,discussion4 ,the evening of the first day that marked the stranger's advent into ,westminster saw the entire personnel of ,harmony ,place on the veranda2 the new moon smiled benignly upon them1 the evening was cool and the ripe harvest of the new-mown hay gave to the air a sweet and wholesome odor4 ,one subject after another was taken up1 discussed and disposed of1 or at least laid aside to give way to some other1 and in each and all of them our hero 7for such we may as well commence to recognize him7 took a part1 and exhibited a fund of information and an aptitude of presentation which gave him the preference without a contest whenever he chose to speak4 ,this became more and more frequent as the night wore on1 for there was no disguising the fact that he was1 like the others1 already one of the household4 ,if any one of the party wondered what it was that he had come for1 how he expected to get it1 or how long he was to stay1 the conjecture never found expression2 for they all experienced so much of general satisfaction in hearing him1 and took such genuine pleasure in his word-painting of western scenes and events1 that they were all willing to have him stay indefinitely4 ,he was literally chosen as one of their number without opposition1 and the mere matters of detail regarding his purposes might be left to the future or be entirely undiscovered2 he was now decidedly the architect of his own fortune so far as retaining the good will of that little group was concerned4 ,the conversation proceeded from point to point until the topics of the quiet gathering assumed more the aspect of an intellectual melange than anything else2 the ,sepoy rebellion made way for the ,dakota blizzard1 the signal failure of the first laying of the ,atlantic cable was shelved to make place for ,webster's artistic destruction of ,dr4 ,parkman1 and ,cromwell's career of conquests and crimes was followed by a brief discussion of the science and practice of silver mining4 7,variety and scope enough1 surely67 ,it must be noticeable that the two subjects which agitate us nationally and sometimes locally more than any others--politics and religion--had so far escaped2 they had not1 however1 been unthought of1 and presently the latter was begun by the minister saying3 ,representing to some extent as ,i do1 the church1 ,i am compelled to admit that in the matters of organization1 discipline and places of worship1 ,america is thoroughly ,christianized4 ,look at the profusion of church buildings wherever you go4 ,to me such rivalry is gratifying in the extreme1 representing as it does the highest type of good citizenship4 ,i partially concur with you1 said the lawyer1 and yet ,i belong to no church at all--do not1 in fact1 endorse ,christianity as a department of civilized life4 ,why1 how is this8 said ,fitzallen1 ,i thought nearly everybody in this country must be orthodox to some extent at least4 ,not so with me1 ,i assure you1 the other replied1 and the strangest part of it is that my 'peculiar views1' as you may call them1 are not the result of neglect or indifference1 but are rather caused by investigation and the peculiar explanations1 or rather lack of explanations1 of those who make the dissemination of religious views their calling4 ,in other words you are an unbeliever4 ,exactly4 ,not totally1 ,i trust4 ,oh1 not necessarily4 ,the creeds which base1 or profess to base1 their tenets upon the ,bible do not1 as it appears to me1 live up to their professions1 and the clergy--meaning no offense whatever--are more addicted to money-getting than to soul-getting4 ,that there may be salvation and a ,supreme ,judge who provides it is to me simply like the traditional ,scotch verdict--not proved4 ,the stranger from the west was listening to all this with the air of one deeply interested4 ,it was as if an opportunity which he desired1 but had not expressed himself concerning1 had come1 and he was not at all reluctant about replying when questioned as to his own views4 ,it came when the churchman1 after announcing his determination to labor with the infidel1 turned to the new-comer and said3 ,i do not know whether you would be for or against me in such a work1 but coming from what we of the ,east are prone to regard as the land where restraints are not severe1 ,i fear you might be disposed to assist him rather than me4 ,well1 gentlemen1 said ,durant1 this topic interests me1 and while ,i and my opinions are unknown to you all1 still ,i will1 if agreeable1 endeavor to throw some light upon the subject at present1 and will seek to do more in that direction hereafter if favored with an opportunity4 ,i am a believer in religion1 laying claim to a testimony from above1 and still ,i often find myself opposed by ministers2 they are generally the very persons who are foremost in opposing me on every side1 strange to say4 ,i cannot imagine why this should be the case1 said ,fitzallen1 if you are as you state1 a true believer in ,christ and have a testimony of ,him4 ,it may seem strange to you1 at which ,i do not wonder4 ,but ,i am afraid ,i am delaying the work you have planned for ,mr4 ,brown's welfare4 ,if you will permit me to ask a few questions during your conversation with him1 ,i may be able to take a general part in it before it closes1 provided1 however1 that should we differ upon any religious views1 it will be in a friendly and pleasant manner4 ,oh1 certainly1 said the churchman1 ,i am sure it will be a pleasure to me to have you join in our conversation as you see fit1 and ,i do not doubt that ,mr4 ,brown and the other gentlemen will look upon it in the same way4 ,the entire party here expressed approval of the proposed discussion1 and the lawyer said3 ,i have not the slightest objections1 and will be glad to have all the light possible thrown upon the different doctrinal points that ,i do not believe1 and mainly because of which ,i am not at present a member of any ,christian church4 ,then1 ,mr4 ,brown1 said ,fitzallen1 let us commence our voyage in search of eternal truth4 ,what particular part of the ,christian faith appears to you as being most difficult to understand8 ,i confess there are many4 ,however1 let us commence with one of the principles of your belief4 ,i will refer to some of the literature of the ,church of ,england4 ,the first article of religion contained in the ,church of ,england ,prayer ,book is3 ',there is but one living and true ,god1 everlasting2 without body1 parts or passions2 of infinite power1 wisdom and goodness2 the maker and preserver of all things1 both visible and invisible2 and in the unity of this ,godhead there are three persons of one substance1 power and eternity1--the ,father1 ,son and the ,holy ,ghost4' ,according to this1 then1 your belief is that the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost are one person1 without body1 parts or passions4 ,you have certainly quoted correctly from the prayer book2 ,i fail to see anything wrong with that4 ,what fault have you to find with it8 ,none whatever if you really believe it1 because there does not seem to me much variance in our conclusions if you believe in such a ,god as this2 ,i can not conceive of a just ,god who has neither body1 parts nor passions4 ,so far as the ,bible is concerned1 ,i fail to see from what part of that book you obtain such a conclusion4 ,well1 ,mr4 ,brown1 using your own language1 'so far as the ,bible is concerned1' let us do as ,isaiah commands1 go 'to the law and to the testimony1' 7,isaiah viii3 #bj7 and ,i will soon convince you that the ,bible plainly sets forth the fact that the ,father and the ,son are one4 ,in fact1 ,jesus ,himself declares that ,he and ,his ,father are one4 7,john x3 #cj47 ,is this not true8 ,excuse me1 said ,durant1 but is it not more reasonable for us to believe ,he meant that ,he and ,his ,father were united in all things as one person8--not that they were actually one and the same identity8 ,certainly not1 said the reverend1 our ,savior meant just what ,he said when ,he declared that ,he and ,his ,father were one4 ,i must certainly differ from you1 said the stranger1 for ,he also asked ,his ,father to make ,his disciples one1 even as ,he and the ,father were one1 as you will see by reference to ,john xvii3 #bj and #ba1 and by your argument it must have been ,his wish for those disciples to lose their separate and distinct identities4 ,i am afraid you are not making a very favorable impression on ,mr4 ,brown's mind4 ,stranger1 said ,mr4 ,brown1 your view of the case1 ,i must confess1 appears to be very reasonable4 ,looking at it from any other standpoint would not be in accord with sound reason4 ,let me ask1 said the preacher1 did not ,jesus say1 ',he that hath seen me1 hath seen the ,father8' 7,john xiv3 #i47 ,yes1 said the westerner1 for as ,paul says1 ',he was in the express image of ,his 7,father's7 person1' 7,heb4 i3 #c71 and this being the case ,jesus might well give them to understand that when they had seen one they had seen the other4 ,when ,jesus went out to pray1 ,he said1 ',o1 my ,father1 if it be possible1 let this cup pass from me3 nevertheless1 not as ,i will but as ,thou wilt4' 7,matt1 xxvi3 #ci47 ,now then1 to whom was our ,savior praying8 ,was ,he asking a favor of ,himself8 ,oh1 no2 ,he was then praying to the ,holy ,spirit4 ,oh1 then by such admission you have separated one of the three from ,jesus1 for in the beginning you declared that the three were one2 and now that we have one of the three separated from the others1 let us see if we can separate the other two4 ,in order to do this1 ,i refer you to the account of the martyrdom of ,stephen4 ,while being stoned to death he looked up to heaven and saw the glory of ,god1 and that ,jesus was standing on the right hand of ,god4 7,acts vii3 #ee47 ,would it not be rather difficult for any person to stand on the right hand of himself8 ,and in order to prove further that ,jesus is a separate person from the ,father1 we will examine into the account of ,his baptism4 ,on coming up out of the water1 what was it that lighted upon ,him in the form of a dove8 7,matt iii3 #af47 ,we are told it was the ,spirit of ,god4 ,exactly6 ,and whose voice was it that spoke from the heavens1 saying1 ',this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased8' 7,matt4 iii3 #ag47 ,now1 mind you1 there was ,jesus1 who had just been raised from the water1 being one person1 the ,holy ,ghost which descended from above and rested upon ,him in the form of a dove1 making two personages2 and does not the idea strike you very forcibly that the voice from heaven belonged to a third person8 ,and then1 again1 ,i will draw your attention to-- ,the churchman was getting warmed up4 ,said he3 ,these are things which we are not expected to understand2 and1 my young friend1 ,i would advise you to drop such foolish ideas1 for-- ,excuse me4 ,did you say 'foolish ideas'8 ,why1 my dear sir1 we are told in the ,bible that1 ',this is life eternal1 that they might know thee1 the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ1 whom thou hast sent4' 7,john xvii3 #c47 ,therefore1 it should be our first duty to find out the character and being of ,god4 ,you say we are not expected to understand these things1 while the ,bible says these are what we must understand if we desire eternal life4 ,it also says we can understand the things of man by the spirit of man1 but to understand the things of ,god we must have the ,spirit of ,god2 and as you profess to be one of ,his servants1 you are supposed to be in possession of the necessary ,spirit to understand the true and living ,god1 also ,jesus ,christ whom ,he sent4 ,you say ,god has no body2 did our ,savior have one8 ,if so1 then ,his ,father had one1 for ,i have just proved by the words of ,paul that ,christ was in the express image of his person4 7,heb4 i3 #c47 ,jesus appeared in the midst of ,his disciples after ,his resurrection1 with a body of flesh and bones1 and called upon ,his disciples to satisfy themselves on this point by touching ,him2 for1 says ,he1 'a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have4' 7,luke xxiv3 #ci47 ,then ,he called for something to eat and ,he did eat 7verses #db1 #dc71 and with this body of flesh and bone ,he ascended into heaven and stood1 as ,stephen says1 on the right hand of ,god4 7,acts vii3 #ee47 ,now1 if ,he has no body1 what became of the one ,he took away with ,him8 ,this is nonsense6 ,you know that ,god is a spirit1 and ,i think we would better not delve too deeply into matters which we are not permitted to comprehend4 ,pray1 listen a while longer1 for ,i have yet more to say in regard to what you call nonsense1 although if it be such1 ,i must insist that it is ,bible nonsense4 ,you say ,god is a spirit2 does that prove ,he has no body8 ,we are also told we must worship ,him in spirit4 ,am ,i to understand from this that we must worship ,him without a body8 ,have you a spirit8 ,yes4 ,have you also a body8 ,yes4 ,were you made in the image of ,god1 body and spirit8 ,so says the good old ,bible4 ,man was created in the image of ,god4 7,gen4 i3 #bf1 #bg47 ,then ,god has a body1 and1 consequently1 must have parts4 ,moses talked with ,him face to face1 as one man talks with another 7,ex4 xxxiii3 #aa71 arid he also saw ,his back parts4 ,he promised 7,num4 xii3 #h7 to speak with ,moses mouth to mouth4 ,we are told in the fifth chapter of ,deuteronomy that ,he has a hand and arm4 ,the ,psalm 7cxxxix3 #af7 tells us ,he has eyes1 and ,isaiah 7xxx3 #bg7 says he has lips and a tongue4 ,john describes ,his head1 hair and eyes4 7,rev4 i3 #ad47 ,and1 as for passions1 we are told in the ,bible that ,he has love1 wrath1 and is a jealous ,god4 ,are these not parts and passions8 ,my dear sir1 it would appear that all who believe in the scriptures must conclude that they are parts and passions1 and that the ,creator is a ,god after whose likeness we are made4 ,well1 ,i had no idea when ,i commenced this conversation with ,mr4 ,brown that ,i was to find such an antagonist in yourself4 ,one would naturally come to the conclusion that you had made the ,bible a study4 ,thank you1 you do me honor4 ,i confess ,i have as a ,christian studied the record2 in fact1 at a very early age my parents required me to commit and remember a very important verse in that good old book4 ,it is found in the fifth chapter of the gospel according to ,st4 ,john1 being the #cith verse1 and reads as follows3 ,search the scriptures1 for in them ye think ye have eternal life3 and they are they which testify of me4 ,that is certainly proper1 but ,i must again warn you against plunging into mysteries which we cannot understand4 ,but ,peter tells us that 'no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation' 7,,ii4 ,peter i3 #bj71 and these are the things which we should seek for information upon2 for lack of explanation by the ministers upon these points is1 to a great extent1 the cause of many persons being in ,mr4 ,brown's frame of mind today4 ,you are scarcely complimentary1 and if your assertion be correct1 perhaps it would be better for me to withdraw and leave ,mr4 ,brown in your hands4 ,i beg your pardon1 my dear sir1 said ,durant1 ,i meant not to offend1 ,i assure you1 and intended only to be in earnest2 ,i will endeavor to be more careful during the rest of the conversation4 ,the lawyer1 who was decidedly impressed at this juncture1 dispelled what might have been a painful silence by saying3 ,well1 ,i declare1 things have taken a very peculiar turn1 ,i seem to be out of the fight altogether4 ,but ,i want to say this1 ,i have heard more that appears to be reasonable from you1 ,mr4 ,durant1 regarding these matters than ever before in my life1 and ,i must also admit that if my early teaching on religious matters had been as reasonable1 ,i almost believe ,i might have been a ,christian4 ,as it was getting late ,mr4 ,marshall here put in a word1 saying3 ,it is now getting quite late and perhaps all would like to retire2 if so1 ,i will conduct you to your rooms4 ,no1 said ,mr4 ,brown2 we must not go to bed yet a while4 ,i never was religiously interested before in my life1 and ,i wish to listen to further discussion between these two4 ,the new-comer was more than willing2 but being somewhat fatigued himself1 and realizing that possibly there might be a sense of weariness in some of the others1 he deemed it best not to continue for the time being1 although asked to do so4 ,he then made a suggestion1 which was unanimously agreed to3 that the subject be taken up on the following evening in the same place2 and so1 with mutual expressions of regard and a kind good night all around1 the party dispersed for the night4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,gaining ,,and ,,losing ,,favor4 ,the western man had not intended to make a stay at the little home hostelry where he was quartered1 and where he had became so thoroughly ingratiated all at once4 ,his mission required a frequent change of base and constant action2 but he realized that nothing was occurring which was so greatly at variance with his general purpose as to materially change it1 and that1 a nucleus for possible future engagements having been established1 he might as well remain where he was until called elsewhere4 ,already he was on the best of terms with all1 even with the colored citizen1 and he was disposed to make himself entirely at home1 as all hands were willing to have him do4 ,the time for the adjourned meeting on the veranda came and not only was a quorum present1 but all of the party were there1 besides two or three neighbors who had learned something of what was taking place4 ,after a few formalities had been engaged in1 the discussion was opened by ,durant suggesting to ,fitzallen that it was a little singular that two men believing in1 and upholding1 the same good book should find anything to dispute about2 such things did happen1 however1 and perhaps it was as well1 since by free discussion error was eradicated and truth made plain4 ,the preacher then asked a question which must seem to the reader to have been too long delayed--,may ,i ask of what church you are a member8 ,certainly1 said the westerner2 but before answering1 will you tell me what church edifice that is to the east of us8 ,that is the ,wesleyan church4 ,and the one a short distance below here8 ,that is the ,episcopalian4 ,what other churches are there in this place8 ,oh1 there are the ,baptist1 the ,catholic chapel1 and the quarters of the ,salvation ,army1 so called4 ,is that all8 ,yes1 ,i believe so1 and ,i think enough1 unless we have omitted naming yours4 ,you certainly have1 for the church of which ,i am a member you have failed to mention at all4 ,indeed8 ,and what is it8 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ1 sir4 ,don't you think it would be well if ,he also had a church in your midst8 ,why1 my friend1 they all belong to ,him4 ,is it possible8 ,i certainly have no recollection of hearing you even mention ,his name in connection with any of them4 ,you may not have heard ,his name1 but they are all1 yes1 even the parading and noise-making ,salvation ,army1 engaged in ,his service4 ,then why not bear ,his name8 ,it is a case in which the name need not be connected with the object1 and still the service rendered and the objects aimed at are all for ,him1 as certainly all who engage in the calling of ,christianity believe1 and as those who practice in the ministry instruct4 ,let us see how this is4 ,your church members believe in the ,lord ,jesus1 accept the word of ,god as an exposition of ,his principles1 as well as a command to them1 and the ministers instruct them accordingly4 ,is that so8 ,it is4 ,then ,i am to understand that all these churches and communicants uphold and practice baptism by immersion as set forth in1 and enjoined by1 the scriptures4 ,no2 that is to say1 some do1 and some do not4 ,what is the probable proportion8 ,oh1 ,i could not say as to that4 ,do not you and the majority of the others accept of other forms of baptism and in many cases of none at all8 ,yes4 ,does not that depart from the teachings of the ,bible and the example set by ,christ ,himself8 ,not necessarily4 ,did not ,he go down into the waters of baptism and receive immersion at the hands of ,john the ,baptist8 ,yes4 ,and did not the injunction go forth which forms the very corner-stone of ,his own ,church--of ,christianity--',repent and be baptized8' ,yes2 but ,he did not say that of necessity all were to be immersed4 ,the ,bible is fertile in parables and much that is said is left to the intelligence of the reader for interpretation4 ,by the same authority ,i have warned you already against 'private interpretations4' ,however1 we need not rest the case entirely upon that4 ,take up your ,bible at your leisure and examine well all accounts given of cases where this ordinance was performed1 and you cannot help admitting that baptism by immersion was the only way in which the ancients accepted that principle4 ,you will see that the word of ,god commands1 in unequivocal language1 the ordinance of baptism by immersion1 and ,his ,son set us the example by going down into the waters4 ,therefore1 those who do not perform this have no claim upon the ,savior's name1 for they obey not ,his ,father's words nor ,his own example4 ,you would hold1 then1 that those who do not conform literally to such example are not ,christians4 ,they may believe in ,christian conduct and practice righteousness within a certain sphere2 they may be upright and just in their dealings and their hearts may be filled with love for their race1 but they cannot establish rules of conduct for themselves and claim to act in the authority and name of ,christ4 ,he has set the pattern and it is for them and for us to follow4 ,i never heard such strange reasoning before1 and it reminds me of a fact upon which ,i have often dwelt--that sophistry and logic may both rest upon the same foundation1 not1 however1 accusing you of dealing in sophistry or claiming that in all respects my words have been those of logic4 ,now1 to follow your theme further in the same vein and employing precisely your method of arriving at conclusions--those who do not1 for instance1 practice the laying on of hands for the healing of the sick1 or for the casting out of real or imaginary devils1 who do not1 for example1 subscribe to all the superstitions and resort to the practices enjoined by the ,bible--which practices must have had reference to a time in which the domain of science was so limited that it could not even comprehend the present--that all such people1 ,i say1 are also outside the pale of ,christianity are pagans1 infidels1 in fact8 ,you state part of the proposition correctly enough1 but your conclusion is unjust--unjust because not a natural outgrowth of the premises stated1 and also unjust because containing a reflection4 ,i meant no reflection at all4 ,so ,i may readily believe4 ,now1 a man may be entirely outside the pale of practical1 or if you prefer it1 modern ,christianity and still be neither a pagan nor an infidel2 while he may be inside it and not practice the things spoken of1 by means of which he would be as much at variance with the requirements of our ,father and ,savior1 perhaps1 as the others named1 and none of them be of necessity bad people1 or among those wholly condemned4 ,then you believe in the actual practice of laying on of hands as well as of baptism by immersion8 ,assuredly ,i do4 ,and practice it1 perhaps8 ,whenever necessary1 yes4 ,well1 for fear you may not wish to try it here1 and it is nearly bed time1 ,i will relieve you of one of the 'devils1' and the power of 'casting out' can be held in reserve for some future occasion4 ,my dear sir1 you do us both injustice4 ,no one would put you in such a category1 and it is not a part of the work of a ,christian to come into a circle as ,i have and engender harsh feelings1 far from it4 ,oh1 no matter4 ,we might talk again at another time1 when ,i may be pleased to continue our remarks1 but not tonight as ,i only intended remaining a short time1 having an important engagement which ,i was compelled to make since ,i saw you last evening2 so1 if you will excuse me1 ,i will wish you all good evening4 ,and so saying1 the churchman1 in not a very pleasant mood1 withdrew4 ,said ,brown3 ,stranger1 ,i am somewhat familiar with the doctrines of different ,christian societies1 and from the way you expressed yourself regarding the personality of ,god1 ,i would like very much to hear your views regarding other differences4 ,if the rest of your views are as reasonable as these you have given expression to1 ,i should like very much to hear them1 and you can now proceed without interruption4 ,do you differ from these ministers very much in other principles8 ,i am afraid the difference on many very important principles is just as great as the difference concerning the personality of ,god4 ,but if you really desire to go with me in this search after the kingdom of ,god1 and the others are willing1 ,i assure you it will give me great pleasure4 ,unanimous approval was expressed at once1 and ,mr4 ,brown continued1 saying3 ,i never before had as great a desire in this direction1 and must confess that my curiosity has become quite aroused4 ,then1 said ,durant1 we will take ,king ,james' translation of the ,holy ,scriptures as the law book1 and ',seek ye first the kingdom of ,god' for our text2 and if we should discover before we have finished that the teachings of men differ greatly from the teachings of ,christ1 ,i will be somewhat justified in saying that religionists have 'transgressed the laws1 changed the ordinance1 broken the everlasting covenant4' 7,isaiah xxiv3 #e4 ,jeremiah ii3 #ac47 ,very well1 said ,mr4 ,brown1 ,i will proceed1 and obtaining the family ,bible he continued3 ,and should your assertions prove correct1 it might perhaps account for the increase of infidelity1 and it might also cause others as well as myself to stop and consider4 ,now1 then1 to the 'law and the testimony4' ,give me the chapter and verse1 that ,i may know you make no mistake4 ,the doctor then for the first time took part1 saying3 ,i am also becoming very much interested1 and think ,i shall join you with my ,bible4 ,let us all come into the circle4 ,all right1 we will examine the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ from the ,bible1 principle by principle4 ,in order to have a clear understanding concerning this1 it will be necessary for us to go back to the days of our ,father ,adam4 ,through the transgression of our first parents1 death came upon all the human family1 and mankind could not1 of themselves1 overcome the same and obtain immortality4 ,to substantiate this1 see first1 second and third chapters of ,genesis1 ,romans #eth chapter and #abth verse1 and ,i4 ,corinthians #aeth chapter and #bast and #bbnd verses4 ,but in order that they should not perish1 ,god sent ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ into the world to satisfy this broken law and to deliver mankind from the power of death4 7,john iii3 #af2 ,romans v3 #h2 ,john iv3 #i47 ,and as all became subject to death by ,adam1 so will all men be resurrected from death through the atonement of ,christ 7,i4 ,cor4 xv3 #bj-bc2 ,rom4 v3 #ab-ai2 ,mark xvi3 #ae1 #af71 and will stand before the judgment seat of ,god to answer for their own sins and not for ,adam's transgression4 7,acts xvii3 #ca2 ,rev4 xx3 #ab-ae2 ,matt4 xvi3 #bg47 ,am ,i right as far as ,i have gone8 ,yes1 said the doctor1 ,i have been following you with your quotations1 and find them correct4 ,proceed4 ,then ,i have proved one of the principles of some of the so-called ,christians incorrect1 for they do not believe that the wicked will have the same chance of resurrection as the righteous4 ,jesus ,christ did not die for our individual sins1 only on condition that we conform to the plan ,he has marked out1 which will bring us a remission of our sins4 ,the only way we can prove that we love ,him is by keeping ,his commandments 7,john xiv3 #ae72 therefore1 if we say we love ,god and keep not ,his commandments1 we are liars and the truth is not in us4 7,i4 ,john ii3 #d47 ,i think ,i have proved to your satisfaction that there is something defective with their understanding of the attributes of ,god1 and ,i think ,i can prove also that they do not keep ,his commandments4 ,christ has given us to understand two things which you must remember while on this search after the 'kingdom of ,god4' ,first1 that we must follow ,him2 secondly1 that when ,he left ,his disciples ,he was to send them the ,comforter that would lead them into all truth2 therefore we must follow ,christ and accept all the principles which were taught by ,his disciples while in possession of the ,holy ,spirit1 though it should prove the world to be in error4 ,thus far your arguments are reasonable1 also in accordance with ,holy ,writ2 and as there is no other name given us except ,jesus ,christ whereby we can be saved 7,acts iv3 #ab71 you may now lay before us the conditions2 but give us chapter and verse1 as ,i said before1 that we may know you speak correctly4 ,we will now examine into the conditions2 but first remember that ,god does not send men into the world for the purpose of preaching contrary doctrines1 for this always creates confusion1 and ,god is not the author of confusion1 but of peace4 7,i4 ,cor4 xiv3 #cc47 ,paul has said1 if any man teach another gospel let him be accursed4 7,gal4 i3 #h1 #i47 ,the first condition is this3 ,to believe there is a ,god 7not the kind mentioned in the ,english prayer book71 but the ,god that created man in ,his own image1 and to have faith in that ,god and in ,jesus ,christ whom ,he has sent4 ,go on1 said the party in concert4 ,well1 continued ,durant1 the kind of faith required is that which will enable a man1 under all circumstances1 to say1 ',i am not ashamed of the gospel of ,christ2 for it is the power of ,god unto salvation4' 7,rom4 i3 #af47 ,this is the kind of faith by which ,noah prepared an ark2 by which the worlds were framed2 by which the ,red ,sea was crossed as on dry land2 by which the walls of ,jericho fell down2 it was by this faith that kingdoms were subdued2 righteousness was wrought2 promises were obtained1 and the mouths of lions were closed4 7,heb4 xi3 #cb1 #ch47 ,this faith comes by hearing the word of ,god 7,rom4 x3 #ad71 and the lack of this faith1 and the absence of prayer and fasting1 caused even the apostles to be unsuccessful on one occasion in casting out devils4 7,matt4 xvii3 #ad1 #bj47 ,no wonder1 then1 that without faith it is impossible to please ,god4 7,heb4 xi3 #f47 ,faith1 then1 is the first grand and glorious stepping-stone to that celestial pathway leading towards the eternal rest4 ,the more we search into eternal truth1 the more we discover that ,god works upon natural principles4 ,all the requirements which ,he makes of us are very plain and simple4 ,how natural that the principle of faith should be the primary one of our salvation6 ,with what principle are we more familiar8 ,faith is the first great principle governing all things2 but great and grand as it is1 it is dead without works4 7,james ii3 #ad-ag47 ,we must not expect salvation by simply having faith that ,jesus is the ,christ1 for the devils in purgatory are that far advanced 7,james ii3 #ai47 ,in fact if you will read the entire second chapter of ,james you will see that faith without works is as dead and helpless as the body after the spirit has taken its departure4 ,it is utter folly to think of gaining an exaltation in ,his presence unless we obey the principles ,he advocated 7,matt4 vii3 #ba71 for no one speaks truthfully by saying he is a disciple of ,christ while not observing ,his commandments4 7,john viii3 #ca47 ,in fact1 the only way by which man can truthfully say he loves ,jesus ,christ is by keeping ,his commandments4 7,john xiv3 #ab-ba47 ,is it not recorded in ,holy ,writ1 said the doctor1 that if we believe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ we will be saved8 ,you have referred to the words used by ,paul and ,silas to the keeper of the prison4 ,these disciples were asked by this keeper what he should do to be saved1 and was assured1 as you have quoted1 ',believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and thou shalt be saved1 and thy house4' ,then the disciples immediately laid before them those principles which constituted true belief1 and not until this man and his house had embraced the principles taught by these disciples were they filled with true belief and really rejoiced4 7,acts xvi3 #ha-cc47 ,you see by this example that we must not deceive ourselves by thinking that we can be hearers of the word only and not doers4 7,james i3 #bb1bc47 ,but1 friend1 said the lawyer1 here is a passage found in the tenth chapter of ,romans1 which1 in my opinion1 will be extremely hard for you to explain4 ,the passage referred to reads as follows3 ',if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the ,lord ,jesus1 and shalt believe in thine heart that ,god hath raised ,him from the dead1 thou shalt be saved4' ,now1 then1 it looks to me as if salvation is here promised through faith alone4 ,how do you explain it8 ,very easily4 ,let us thoroughly examine this passage in all its different phases4 ,in the first place1 this letter was written by ,paul to individuals who were already members of the church4 ,they had rendered obedience to the laws of salvation1 and having complied with those requirements were entitled to salvation providing their testimony remained within them like a living spring2 and in order that they should not become lukewarm1 ,paul exhorted them to continue bearing testimony of the divinity of ,christ1 and not let their hearts lose sight of the fact that ,god had raised ,his ,son from the dead1 and inasmuch as they kept themselves in this condition1 salvation would be theirs4 ,this is the only sensible view one can take of this passage4 ,unquestionably1 ,paul was speaking to sincere members of the church1 who had been correctly initiated into the folds of ,christ1 not aliens living #ahjj years after4 ,that appears to be correct1 and is satisfactory2 but further on in the same chapter we find this expression3 ',for whosoever shall call upon the name of the ,lord shall be saved4' ,it appears to me here that reference is not made to those who had embraced the gospel and those who had the faith1 but salvation is made general to whomsoever shall call upon the name of the ,lord4 7,rom4 x3 #ac47 ,exactly1 but the next verse gives an explanation so simple that none can fail to understand it3 ',how1 then1 shall they call on ,him in whom they have not believed8 and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard1 and how shall they hear without a preacher8 ,so1 then1 faith cometh by hearing1 and hearing by the word of ,god4' ,in other words1 if there is faith1 there have been works1 and having true faith1 no person will remain in that condition without complying with further works of salvation to which that faith urges him4 ,i see1 ,i see1 said ,brown1 the others remaining silent1 but interested2 you are right1 but ,i never looked at the matter in that way before4 ,now1 then1 ladies and gentlemen1 said ,durant3 ,i maintain as before stated1 that faith is the first principle of the gospel leading to salvation1 but it will not bring us to the top of the glorious gospel ladder without the other principles4 ,well1 suppose we accept this as the first round in the gospel ladder1 where will we find the second8 ,to explain this question involves1 perhaps1 some little time1 and as it must be near the 'witching hour' of midnight1 ,i would not care to be responsible for extending the sitting beyond1 or even up to1 that time4 ,to give this information is1 in some measure1 my errand among you1 and if desired ,i shall be pleased to meet with you again4 ,before leaving ,i hope to be able to address the citizens publicly1 and will do so if a suitable place can be obtained4 ,both the doctor and the lawyer were disposed to remonstrate against adjournment1 and there seemed to be none who were not willing to remain and hearken unto that which to them was somewhat in the nature of an awakening1 notwithstanding1 as stated1 it was growing late1 and the exercises had been purely colloquial4 ,it might be mentioned that only the more important parts of the conversation have been produced here--for the reproduction of everything in the nature of mere colloquy1 the auxiliary questions1 answers and suggestions1 would make this a large book instead of a small one4 ,besides1 the full conversation would be no more interesting for the particular object to which this book is devoted than would the matter reported4 ,the visitors took their departure with evident regret1 albeit their interest in the occasion was more attributable to unsatisfied curiosity than to concurrence in all that the stranger had said4 ,he can talk ,bible by the yard1 said one4 ,yes1 and show what it means better than a regular minister1 said another4 ,he said he had a mission among us1 chimed in a third2 ,i wonder what it can be8 ,the parting on the veranda was one in which friendly feelings prevailed all around1 and the meeting on the morrow1 when the second of the grand fundamental principles of the gospel was to be explained1 seemed uppermost in every mind4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,further ,,discussion ,,of ,,the ,,first ,,principles4 ,the audience had increased in numbers when the time for the continuance of the gospel exposition arrived4 ,rev4 ,fitzallen was not present2 he had an engagement elsewhere1 was the word he left2 but his absence was compensated for by the presence of two or three others4 ,but little time was spent in formality1 and a beginning was effected by our legal friend saying3 ,mr4 ,durant1 you closed last night with a definition of the first principle in the series of steps to be taken by the convert to ,christianity1 with a promise that tonight we should have the second explained4 ,will you now proceed to fulfill the promise8 ,most willingly1 if it is desired4 ,unanimous approval was at once manifested1 and the western man proceeded4 ,the second follows the first1 just as naturally as the second step follows the first when a child learns to walk4 ,when faith in ,god is once created1 the knowledge that we have at some time1 perhaps many times during our lives1 done things displeasing to ,him1 naturally follows immediately1 therefore repentance makes its appearance as the second principle of the gospel4 ,when ,john came preaching in the wilderness1 as the forerunner of ,christ1 his message to the people was1 ',repent ye3 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand4' 7,matt4 iii3 #b47 ,when ,jesus came into ,galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of ,god1 it was with a message calling them to repentance4 7,mark i3 #ae47 ,when ,he chose ,his disciples and began sending them forth1 it was to call mankind to repentance4 7,mark vi3 #g-ab47 ,when ,he upbraided the cities wherein the most of ,his mighty works were done1 it was because they repented not4 7,matt4 xi3 #bj47 ,true repentance is that which will cause him who stole to steal no more2 that which will keep corrupt communications from our mouths2 that which will cause us to so conduct our walks through life as not to grieve the ,spirit of ,god2 that which will cause all bitterness1 wrath1 anger1 and evil speaking to be put away from us1 and will make us kind one to another1 tender-hearted and forgiving even as ,god for ,christ's sake has forgiven us4 7,ephesians iv3 #bh-cb47 ,when he who has committed a sin shall commit it no more1 then he has repented with that ,godly sorrow which worketh repentance to salvation1 and not with the sorrow of the world1 bringing with it death4 7,,ii4 ,cor4 vii3 #aj47 ,when a sinner repents with such repentance more joy is found in heaven than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance4 7,luke xv3 #g47 ,this1 then1 ladies and gentlemen1 is the second round in the gospel ladder according to the plan given us by the ,master1 and without it1 faith is of no substantial consequence whatever4 ,your reasoning is both logical and just1 said ,brown1 and no one can find fault with those doctrines4 ,this world of ours would certainly be more pleasant if these teachings were followed1 and when a person is filled with that kind of faith1 and has truly repented with such repentance1 it must be manifest that he is entitled to salvation4 ,but he must not stop at that1 the speaker went on1 there are other principles just as important1 just as necessary1 for him to obey4 ,if ,i am in possession of enough faith to convince me that ,i have sinned against you1 and the knowledge of this causes me sincerely to repent1 ,i must not and cannot rest until ,i am satisfied ,i have your forgiveness for the wrong4 ,so it is with sinning against ,god and ,his laws2 ,he has marked out the path of repentance and it is our duty to follow that divine way until we arrive at the sacred altar of forgiveness4 ,sin must be forgiven before it can be wiped out1 and ,god in ,his wisdom selected and placed in ,his ,church water baptism1 as spoken of last night1 for this purpose4 ,it is a means whereby man can receive forgiveness of sin4 ,and do you really believe that baptism brings forgiveness of sin8 queried the lawyer4 ,certainly1 provided1 however1 honest faith and sincere repentance go before it1 and the ordinance is administered in the proper way by one who is endowed with divine authority2 otherwise ,i believe it is of no avail whatever4 ,it seems to me you surround the principle of baptism with more safeguards than anyone else of whom ,i have ever heard4 ,why so8 ,perhaps ,i do1 and yet it should not be the case4 ,every principle of the gospel should be well and carefully protected1 and the failure on the part of man to do this is the main cause of so many different so-called plans of salvation existing among us today1 when there should be only one true and perfect plan1 as found in the days of ,christ4 ,you are certainly giving me ample information on religious conditions4 ,it does seem strange that there should be so many different roads1 leading1 as is claimed1 in one direction4 ,i declare1 ,i never thought of that before4 ,well1 we will try to cover all those points before we finish4 ,let us examine this principle4 ,let us see if the idea of water baptism appears reasonable4 ,the ,lord has wisely and kindly selected this form of ordinance for the remission of sins4 ,it was with this object in view that ,john advocated the principle4 7,mark i3 #d47 ,peter promised it on the day of ,pentecost4 7,acts ii3 #ch47 ,saul also received aid to arise and have his sins washed away4 7,acts xxii3 #af47 ,and so it was taught by different disciples as a means whereby ,god would forgive sins4 ,and as you have already stated1 there are various modes of baptism among different sects4 ,what is your method8 ,the only correct form1 as stated before1 is that explained in the ,bible4 ,baptism was performed anciently by immersion1 in fact no other mode was thought of until centuries after the day of ,christ4 ,the word baptize is from the ,greek baptizo or bapto1 meaning to plunge or immerse1 and such noted writers as ,polybius1 ,strabo1 ,dion ,cassius1 ,mosheim1 ,luther1 ,calvin1 ,bossuet1 ,schaaf1 ,baxter1 ,jeremy ,taylor1 ,robinson1 and others1 all agree that with the ancients immersion1 and no other form1 was baptism4 ,the holy record itself explains the mode so plainly that even a wayfaring man might understand4 ,john selected a certain place on account of there being much water4 7,john iii3 #bc47 ,christ ,himself was baptized in a river1 after which ,he came up out of the water4 7,mark i3 #e-aj47 ,both ,philip and the eunuch went down into the water 7,acts viii3 #ch1 #ci71 and ,paul likens baptism to the burial and resurrection of ,christ1 dying from sin1 buried in water1 and a resurrection to a new life4 7,rom4 vi3 #c-e47 ,jesus declares that a man must be born of the water as well as of the spirit4 7,john iii3 #e47 ,by being immersed we are born of the water1 and we cannot liken baptism to a birth when performed in any other way4 ,how mankind can accept any other form1 in the face of all these facts1 is more than ,i can account for4 ,i think enough has been said to show that ,i am correct in my views regarding the object and mode of baptism1 so now let us enquire who are proper subjects4 ,why1 all who have souls to save1 ,i suppose1 said the doctor4 ,yes1 providing they have obeyed the two principles1 already mentioned2 that is1 faith and repentance2 for ,christ commanded ,his apostles to teach before baptizing4 7,matthew xxviii3 #ai and #bj47 ,the candidate must believe before he can be baptized4 7,mark xvi3 #af47 ,before ,philip baptized the people of ,samaria they believed the ,gospel as he taught it4 7,acts viii3 #ab47 ,when the eunuch asked for baptism at the hands of this same disciple1 ,philip answered3 ',if thou believest with all thine heart1 thou mayest4' 7,acts viii3 #cg47 ,all persons1 then1 who are capable of understanding1 are fit subjects for baptism as soon as they believe and have repented4 ,none are exempt1 not even was ,cornelius of old who was so generous that a report of his good deeds reached the throne of ,god4 ,his prayers were so mingled with faith that they brought down an angel from heaven2 yet through baptism alone was it possible that he could gain membership in the fold of ,christ4 7,acts x47 ,we see1 then1 that all1 except little children1 are proper subjects for this ordinance1 providing1 as stated1 they have faith1 and have truly repented of their sins4 ,and do you claim that little children are exempt8 said the doctor4 ,i do2 baptism is for the remission of sins1 and little children1 being free from sin1 are of necessity exempt4 ,i do not see how you make that doctrine accord with the teachings of the ,bible4 ,did not ,jesus say1 ',suffer little children to come unto me8' ,he did1 but instead of administering the ordinance of baptism unto them1 ,he took them in ,his arms and blessed them1 declaring at the same time that they were pure and free from sin like unto those who were in the kingdom of heaven4 ,a little child is free from sin1 is pure in heart1 humble and merciful1 in fact is the great example of goodness which ,christ points out for us to follow4 7,mark x3 #ac-af47 ,this ordinance1 then1 is for people who are old enough to embrace it intelligently1 not for children who cannot understand its significance1 and who already belong to the kingdom of heaven4 ,we have now examined three of the fundamental principles of the gospel of salvation4 ,there is one more that ,i wish to touch upon1 after which we will discuss a subject that is of more interest to you1 perhaps1 than any of these4 ,the principle which ,i wish to speak of now1 is the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 which in olden times always followed the embracing of the principles we have discussed1 and when once received brought with it some of the gifts of the gospel4 ,when the first sermon was delivered after the crucifixion of ,christ1 at the time when the apostles were endowed with power from on high1 a multitude of people were pricked in their hearts1 and asked ,peter and the rest of the apostles what they should do4 ,peter undertook to answer this all-important question1 and so far as authority to do so was concerned1 we must admit that he1 of all men at that peculiar time1 was fully capable1 for he was in possession of the keys of the kingdom of ,god bestowed upon him by ,christ ,himself4 ,he was the chief apostle and1 with his brethren1 had been endowed with power from above4 ,therefore1 he1 more than any minister of our day1 occupied a place that enabled him to answer correctly1 and with authority4 ,you are stating the case properly1 but what did he tell them8 queried the interested man of law4 ,his answer is found in the second chapter of ,acts1 beginning with the #chth verse4 ,you will observe that as soon as he discovered that they had faith1 he immediately taught them repentance1 then baptism for the remission of sins1 and followed these doctrines with a promise of the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,yes1 commencing at the verse mentioned it says3 ',then ,peter said unto them1 ,repent 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 ,for the promise is unto you1 and to your children1 and to all that are afar off1 even as many as the ,lord our ,god shall call4' ,but how were they to receive the ,holy ,ghost8 ,by the laying on of hands4 ,when ,peter went down into ,samaria for the purpose of bestowing this gift on those whom ,philip had baptized1 he did it by the laying on of hands4 7,acts viii3 #ag47 ,ananias conferred it upon ,paul in the same manner 7,acts ix3 #ag71 and ,paul did the same in the case of those who were baptized at ,ephesus 7,acts xix3 #b-f72 and when people received this birth of the ,spirit 7,john iii3 #e71 they also received the promised blessings2 they were entitled to the signs which ,he promised would follow2 for said ,he1 ',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 thing it shall not hurt them2 they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover4' 7,mark xvi3 #ag1 #ah47 ,we have now discovered the conditions3 faith1 repentance1 baptism for the remission of sins1 and the laying on of hands for the reception of the ,holy ,ghost1 with the promise of ,christ that the signs will follow4 ,can you tell me now1 which of all these different denominations has the gospel of ,jesus ,christ8 ,or as ,wesley has questioned in one of his hymns which we may with profit quote in full3 ',show me where true ,christians live4' ,happy the souls that first believ'd1 ,to ,jesus and each other cleav'd1 ,joined by the unction from above1 ,in mystic fellowship of love4 ,meek1 simple foll'wers of the ,lamb1 ,they liv'd1 and spake1 and thought the same2 ,they joyfully conspir'd to raise ,their ceaseless sacrifice of praise4 ,with grace abundantly endued1 ,a pure believing multitude2 ,they all were of one heart and soul1 ,and only love inspir'd the whole4 ,oh1 what an age of golden days6 ,oh1 what a choice1 peculiar race6 ,wash'd in the ,lamb's all-cleansing blood1 ,anointed kings and priests to ,god4 ,where shall ,i wander now to find ,successors they have left behind8 ,the faithful1 whom ,i seek in vain1 ,are 'minish'd from the sons of men4 ,ye diff'rent sects1 who all declare1 ',lo1 here is ,christ1' or ',christ is there6' ,your stronger proofs divinely give1 ,and show me where true ,christians live4 ,you must remember1 my friend1 that the signs were only given in order to establish the church in the day of the apostles1 but now they are abrogated and are no longer needed4 ',to the law and to the testimony1' replied ,durant and give me chapter and verse to substantiate the assertion you have just made4 ,if you will read the #acth chapter of the #ast ,corinthians1 you will learn that 'whether there be prophecies they shall fail1 and whether there be tongues they shall cease4' ,if you will take pains to read the two verses following1 you will see that 'we know in part1 and we prophesy in part4 ,but when that which is perfect is come1 then that which is in part shall be done away4' ,my friend1 instead of this quotation proving that these things are done away1 it establishes the assertion that they shall remain until perfection shall come4 ,surely no sane man will say that we have come to perfection4 ,i have understood that these gifts were no longer needed4 ,this certainly is the conclusion the ministers of the day have come to4 ,but this is not surprising to me1 for this good old ,bible declares that the time will come when the people will turn from sound doctrine to fables4 7,,ii4 ,tim4 iv3 #d47 ,i must admit that you have convinced me that baptism is a necessity1 and when ,i am baptized1 the ordinance will be performed in the proper manner1 said the doctor4 ,i am pleased to learn that1 but ,i may have another surprise for you yet4 ,may ,i ask1 who do you intend shall baptize you8 ,my minister1 ,i suppose2 why8 ,if the words of the ,bible be true1 there may be a doubt as to whether your minister is authorized to baptize you4 ,do you mean to prove that these men1 ministers of the gospel1 have no authority to officiate in that ordinance8 ,i wonder what you will undertake next1 but proceed1 for ,i am now prepared for surprises4 ,i assure you1 my dear sir1 ,i only wish to refer to a few doctrines from the ,bible which are necessary to be understood by you in order that you may obtain eternal life4 ,thus far we have only examined the first principles of the gospel1 but now we will speak of the officers whom ,christ placed in ,his ,church1 and learn by what means men receive authority to act in the name of ,god4 ,paul tells us that ,god has placed 'first apostles1 secondarily prophets1 thirdly teachers1 after which gifts of healing1' etc4 7,i4 ,cor4 xii3 #bh71 and says the work is built upon the foundation of apostles4 7,eph4 ii3 #bj47 ,he furthermore declares that these officers have been placed in the ,church for the work of the ministry1 and to remain until we all come to a knowledge of the truth4 7,eph4 iv3 #aa-ac74 ,have all mankind come to a knowledge of the truth8 ,if not1 why has the church dispensed with the officers that ,god placed in it for the purpose of bringing all to a unity of the faith8 ,paul tells us that these officers were placed in the ,church to keep us from being tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine which is taught by man4 7,eph4 iv3 #ab-ad47 ,at the present time1 when men declare that they have no need of apostles or prophets1 they are divided1 and subdivided1 and in fact carried about by every doctrine that is promulgated--as ,paul saw that they would be1 if inspired apostles and prophets were not found to lead them4 ,in losing these officers1 the ,church lost her authority1 together with all her gifts and graces1 and the so-called ,christian churches today are disrobed of all her beautiful garments2 and even those who pretend to defend her are crying out that her gifts1 graces and ordinances are useless in this age of the world4 ,did ,christ establish the true order or did ,he not8 ,we say ,he did1 and would ask1 has any man a right to change it8 ,and if any man or even an angel from heaven should alter it in the least1 will he not come under the condemnation that ,paul uttered when he said3 ',though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you1 let him be accursed8' 7,gal4 i3 #h47 ,christ placed these officers and the ordinances in the ,church for the perfection of the ,saints2 and any one teaching contrary to this is a perverter of the gospel1 and an anti-,christ in the full meaning of the word4 ,the difference between the true ,church of ,christ on the one hand1 and the ,catholic ,church1 with all her posterity composing the whole protestant world on the other hand1 amounts to this3 one had apostles1 prophets1 etc41 who led the ,church by inspiration or by divine revelation2 while the others have learned men to preach learned men's opinions2 have colleges to teach divinity instead of the ,holy ,ghost2 instead of preaching the gospel without hire1 their ministers must have large salaries each year1 and they are not certain of the doctrines which they teach1 when they should be in possession of the gifts of knowledge1 prophecy and revelation4 ,now then in what church do we find apostles and prophets8 ,the doctor replied1 ,there are none2 but you must remember there must be a preacher1 for 'how shall they hear without a preacher8' 7,rom4 x3 #ad47 ,and in the next verse he asks1 ',how shall they preach except they be sent8' ,this same apostle says that no man is to take the honor unto himself1 but he that is called of ,god as was ,aaron4 7,heb4 v3 #d47 ,aaron was called by revelation 7,ex4 iv3 #ad-ag72 hence we see that no man is to preach the gospel except he be called by revelation from ,god4 ,as ,i said1 instead of men being called by revelation as the ,bible declares they should be in our day they argue that ,god has not revealed ,himself for almost eighteen hundred years4 ,go and ask your minister if he has been called by revelation1 and he will tell you that such manifestations are not needed now1 which assertion ,i think will prove to you that he has no authority to baptize for the remission of sins4 ,but did not ,jesus say1 ',go ye into all the world and preach the gospel8' ,he did2 but was ,he talking to modern ministers then8 ,when ,he gave ,his apostles authority to preach1 did that give all men who feel disposed to take the honor unto themselves1 the same authority8 ,he gave ,his apostles to understand that they had not chosen ,him1 but ,he had chosen them 7,john xv3 #af72 but in this day men reverse the condition4 ,then again1 ,he sent ,his servants into the world to preach ,his gospel without purse or scrip4 7,luke x3 #d47 ,paul says his reward is this1 ',that when ,i preach the gospel ,i may make the gospel of ,christ without charge1 that ,i abuse not my power in the gospel4' 7,i4 ,cor4 ix3 #ah47 ,now1 go and ask your minister if he does the same1 and ,i think you will find that he must have a salary4 ,then what has become of the gospel8 said the lawyer4 ,paul says that the coming of ,jesus ,christ will not be1 save there be 'a falling away' 7,,ii4 ,thess4 ii3 #c71 and that 'in the last days perilous times shall come4' 7,,ii4 ,tim4 iii3 #a47 ,people 'will not endure sound doctrine1' but will 'heap to themselves teachers having itching ears1 and shall turn from the truth to fables 7,,ii4 ,tim4 iv3 #c1 #d71 and will have a form of godliness but will deny the power thereof4 7,,ii4 ,tim4 iii3 #e47 ,peter also says these false teachers will make merchandise of the souls of men4 7,,ii4 ,peter ii3 #a-c47 ,they are doing so by demanding a salary for preparing sermons to tickle the people's itching ears4 7,micah iii3 #aa7 says1 their heads judge for reward1 their priests teach for hire1 and their prophets divine for money1 yet they lean upon the ,lord and say1 is not the ,lord among us8 ,now1 my friends1 do not the different sects of the day present us with a literal fulfillment of all these sayings8 ,have they not transgressed the laws1 changed the ordinance and broken the everlasting covenant8 7,isaiah xxiv3 #e47 ,john ,wesley in his #idth sermon1 referring to the condition of the church after it had departed from the right way and lost the gifts1 says3 ',the real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost were no longer to be found in the ,christian ,church was because the ,christians were turned heathens again and had only a dead form left4 ,it would appear1 then1 that ,god has forsaken mankind and left us without any hope1 said ,mr4 ,marshall4 ,no1 he has not2 but this falling away1 is the result of mankind forsaking ,god1 by changing ,his gospel and departing from its teachings1 as ,i have already shown4 ,but ,he has promised1 through his servants1 that there would be a dispensation when ,he would gather together all things in ,christ 7,eph4 i3 #aj71 and would restore all things which ,he has spoken by the mouth of all ,his holy prophets since the world began4 7,acts iii3 #bj1 #ba47 ,this dispensation was called the dispensation of the fullness of times4 7,eph4 i3 #aj47 ,daniel1 who received1 by revelation1 the interpretation of ,nebuchadnezzar's dream1 saw what would take place in the latter times1 when the ,god of heaven would set up a kingdom4 7,dan ii3 #dd47 ,john1 the revelator1 while on that desolate island1 ,patmos 7some ninety years after ,christ71 saw how this gospel would be restored3 namely1 that an angel would bring it from heaven 7,rev4 xiv3 #f71 and ,christ says it 'shall be preached in all the world as a witness unto all nations2 and then shall the end come4' 7,matt4 xxiv3 #ad47 ,as ,god is always the same1 and has but one plan for the redemption of the human family1 we may expect to see the same gospel with like promises preached in a similar way4 ,where do we find it as it existed anciently8 ,but as it was in the days of ,noah1 so shall it be also in the days of the coming of the ,son of ,man4 7,matt4 xxiv3 #cg2 ,luke xvii3 #bf1 #bg47 ,noah was sent by the ,lord to foretell the coming of the flood1 but the people rejected his testimony1 in fact1 whenever ,god has revealed ,his mind and will to man in days gone by1 the world1 instead of receiving the same1 have rejected the message and said all manner of evil concerning the prophets1 and in many instances have killed them1 as was the case with ,christ ,himself4 ,now then1 my friends1 we are living in the dispensation of the fullness of times1 when ,god is gathering together all things in ,christ4 ,an angel has come from the heavens and brought the everlasting gospel1 and on the #fth day of ,april1 #ahcj1 ,god--through revelation to man organized the kingdom spoken of by ,daniel1 in the exact pattern of the kingdom as it existed in the days of ,christ1 with apostles and prophets1 and since that day the servants of ,god have been traveling through the world preaching the same1 as a witness that the end will soon come4 ,they call upon mankind to exercise faith in ,god our eternal ,father1 and in ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 also to repent of1 and turn from their sins1 and be baptized by one who has been called of ,god by revelation1 and receive the laying on of hands for the bestowal of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,as servants of ,god they then promise that the convert shall know of the doctrine1 whether it be of ,god or man 7,john vii3 #ag72 and1 furthermore1 that the signs which followed the believers in the days of the ancient apostles will follow the believer at the present time1 for the same cause will always produce the same effect4 ,my friends1 as a servant of ,god1 ,i call upon you to obey these principles and you shall have the promised blessings4 ,the doctor said3 ,much that you say is convincing1 some of it excites curiosity1 and all is entertaining4 ,i will now announce that the ,town ,hall has been obtained for ,saturday night and as that involves a little longer stay than you intended1 ,i suggest that a collection be taken and turned over to you4 ,i beg you1 do nothing of that kind1 said the missionary4 ,if the hall is free1 the lecture shall be also2 and ,i can doubtless spend the time pleasantly enough till then4 ,very well1 if that is your pleasure4 ,there will be such an attendance as this town has rarely seen1 ,i promise you4 ,and then after a few pleasantries in the usual vein1 and a general good night1 the party separated just as the clock struck twelve1 each in the best humor4 ,in view of the coming lecture it was mutually agreed that the veranda gatherings should be discontinued for the present at least4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,truth ,,again ,,defeats ,,falsehood4 ,the meeting was to be held in the ,town ,hall on ,saturday1 and in the meantime our missionary busied himself variously1 but devoted part of the time in getting his lecture arranged and in refreshing his memory on the topics upon which he wished to speak4 ,when not thus employed he took strolls about the country1 or engaged in pleasant bits of conversation with his acquaintances1 and with others whom he happened to meet on the way4 ,he was such a favorite at the ,marshall mansion that the people there were always pleased to have him express a wish for anything1 in order that it might at once be gratified2 but such expressions were very rare and confined to the scope of his actual requirements4 ,on ,friday afternoon he engaged in a pleasant discussion with ,mrs4 ,marshall on some scriptural topic4 ,missionaries all understand the power of song1 ,mr4 ,durant was no exception1 so at one point he sang one of his hymns3 ,how the light from ,zion's mountain ,clears the mists of error's age3 ,clarified in ray and fountain1 ,how its truths our fears assuage6 ,tempest-tossed1 we still are certain ,life is but a pleasant span4 ,hope has painted every curtain ,pictured in the gospel plan4 ,once again to every nation1 ,jesus opens wide the door2 ,here are truths that bring salvation1 ,preached and practiced as of yore4 ,joyful tidings to the people ,from the perfect courts on high2 ,sweetest chimes from tower and steeple ,ring3 ,redemption's drawing nigh4 ,shine1 thou light1 with doubled splendor1 ,spread thy soothing1 restful rings1 ,till the sun of ,zion1 tender ,rise1 with healing in his wings6 ,the daughter was an interested listener1 and at the close broke in with--,it seems to me that there is no such thing as perfect happiness after all4 ,we are always being disappointed in relation to some hope or desire1 and when we engage in that which affords pastime or amusement1 there is invariably a penalty following4 ,is not this true1 ,mr4 ,durant8 ,i could scarcely dispute with a lady1 even if there were grounds for it1 said he1 gallantly4 ,but ,i prefer you would1 she said1 because you appear to know all about these things and ,i desire to learn4 ,why is it1 for instance1 that after enjoying myself greatly at a dance or other late entertainment1 injured nature afterward cries out for revenge1 and takes it8 ,so with all things it seems to me4 ,the pleasure experienced in meeting a dear friend is beclouded by the knowledge that there must be a parting soon2 and death is ever near as if to remind us of the fact that life1 happiness1 honor1 wealth1 youth1 are all fleeting and unsubstantial4 ,very true4 ,why ,claire1 said her mother1 you are becoming a regular pessimist4 ,surely at your age there is no need to borrow trouble about death or anything else4 ,i do not borrow it1 mamma1 it comes4 ,pain follows pleasure1 sorrow treads upon the heals of happiness1 and misfortune is the constant attendant of fortune4 ,there is1 as ,i said1 no perfect happiness1 so it seems to me4 ,pardon me1 said the missionary1 but you did not finish your sentence4 ,shall ,i do so for you8 ,o1 by all means1 replied the girl with eager delight4 ,well1 then1 he continued1 doubtless what you meant to say was that there is no such thing as perfect happiness in either the contemplation or realization of things which in themselves are fleeting and unsubstantial--that is1 the things of the world4 ,every movement of the machinery of a steamer1 for instance1 creates friction1 which in turn indicates an eventual breaking down1 and so it is with all temporal things2 thus we cannot rely upon them for permanent good1 and in addition they are constantly subjecting us to peril4 ,it is impossible to create perfect results out of imperfect conditions2 therefore1 there can be no complete or unbroken happiness come out of earthly surroundings1 for the reason that all such things are changeable and fleeting4 ,and yet there is such a state as perfect joy unclouded and endless4 ,but not in this life1 as you yourself have shown4 ,yes1 in this life4 ,i thought you referred to this life as uncertain and ephemeral and as such curtailed or extinguished its own joys4 ,that is true1 also4 ,but yet endless and supreme delight is to be found in it4 ,where and how1 pray8 ,in observing principles and practicing truths which lead to immortality1 and which confer upon us the title-deeds to homes where pains and penalties are unknown1 where all is peace1 contentment and love4 ,oh1 yes1 ,i did not think of that4 ,in such enjoyment there is no alloy4 ,more than that2 the more it is engaged in1 the more enjoyable it becomes2 it does not cloy1 we cannot become surfeited2 the more we devote our attention and effort to it the greater the desire we have to continue and to increase our experience4 ,this is that perfect happiness with which nothing else can compare4 ,but would you have us dispense with all pleasures--with the refined indulgences1 the innocent pastimes and the intellectual recreations which lighten our burdens at least for the time being1 and have us participate in sacred things only8 ,should there be no buoyancy of spirit1 no diversion1 no relaxation1 in order that there might be no penalty as the result of indulgence8 ,why1 what an--pardon me--absurd idea6 ,of course you do not advance it seriously and should therefore be free from criticism4 ,rather than that such a rule of conduct as you have suggested is the proper one1 it is almost as bad as that in which amusement alone prevails4 ,the medium course1 which enables us to enjoy all that is properly enjoyable in its appropriate season1 and still does not cause us to loose sight of the great aim and end of existence1 is the right one4 ,we should let our pastimes be the incidents in our career1 not the objects of it2 thus they lighten our burdens1 and1 for the time being1 dispel some of the shadows that cross our pathway1 whereas1 if made the purpose of living--the only things to be considered--they become burdensome and even sinful4 ,then the devout ,christian may be happy and jovial without being less a ,christian1 on account of that8 ,yes1 indeed4 ,more--it is pleasing to our ,father for ,his children to be light-hearted1 so long as their pleasures are proper and are enjoyed in moderation4 ,the people from among whom ,i come enjoy themselves as much as other people do1 but do not overlook their devotions1 and above all they remember the ,sabbath day1 to keep it holy4 ,that seems to me1 said ,mrs4 ,marshall1 to be a sensible form of ,christianity4 ,why1 a person1 according to your faith1 can be profoundly religious and yet deny himself no proper amusement4 ,most decidedly2 that is our belief and practice4 ,it seems to me ,i would like to be a member of your ,church1 said the girl1 artlessly1 at which interesting stage of the conversation1 ,rev4 ,fitzallan entered1 who greeted the party stiffly1 his brow having a distinct frown as he looked at the westerner4 ,pardon me1 said the ,clergyman1 after a few commonplaces had passed1 but we 'gather wisdom by the wayside1' and ,i have just acquired some information from that source concerning our friend here from the wilds1 and as it surprised me1 ,i thought it might equally surprise the rest of you1 himself included1 perhaps4 ,evidently the churchman had been engaged in the questionable calling of picking up stray scraps of gossip here and there1 containing as usual some truth mixed with much error4 ,there was obviously trouble ahead4 ,anything concerning me is not apt to be of sufficient consequence to be very interesting1 said ,mr4 ,durant1 and having already stated all ,i thought worth saying about myself and my errand1 there can be little or nothing that is surprising1 ,i am sure4 ,is it not a fact that you are from ,salt ,lake ,city8 ,it is4 ,it is6 ,why you never informed us of this and yet you have been associated with us several days4 ,indeed6 ,may ,i ask you1 ,mrs4 ,marshall1 and you1 ,miss ,marshall1 what part of the country our friend here comes from8 ,the ladies did not know4 ,indeed6 ,why sir1 you have been associated with this family several weeks1 and yet they do not know what particular point you came from4 ,perhaps like myself1 you were never asked4 ,this is evasion1 said the now thoroughly excited churchman4 ,there is no place in my district possessed of such peculiar conditions as would place one of its inhabitants under suspicion because of them4 ,nor in mine either1 that ,i know of1 calmly rejoined ,durant4 ,is not ,salt ,lake ,city the headquarters and residence of a class of people known as ,mormons who hold exclusive sway there8 ,no1 sir4 ,that is what ,i have heard4 ,surely1 ,i am not accountable for what you have heard4 ,there are a great many ,mormons in ,salt ,lake1 and just as many that are not ,mormons2 it is the headquarters of the ,church as you suggest1 but its members are not in exclusive sway there4 ,how can that be8 ,no matter about the means2 the fact itself is what concerns us4 ,the churchman was discomfited and measurably confused2 he was compelled to change his course4 ,you told us1 said he1 that you were an advocate of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ2 should there not be a suffix in these words--,latter-day ,saints8 ,that is correct4 ,and is not ',mormonism' its other name8 ,no1 it has no other name4 ,it is called ',mormonism' by nearly every one not connected with it1 and yet that is not a proper designation4 ,then to yourself you are a ',latter-day ,saint1' and to the world you are a ',mormon8' ,that is it exactly4 ,strange that we should be kept in ignorance of it so long4 ,i have answered every question fairly and in addition have stated everything necessary to a full explanation of my cause and myself4 ,if the doctrine ,i teach be true--and it has stood all tests so far--can you find nothing more than a name to oppose it8 ,i hope sir1 you do not accuse me of innuendo8 ,i accuse you of nothing4 ,come now1 said ,mrs4 ,marshall1 do not be too earnest4 ,well1 madam1 said ,rev4 ,fitzallan1 ,i thought my services in this connection would be received graciously and thankfully4 ,as they are not ,i occupy the position of an intruder and will take my leave4 ,not on my account1 ,i hope1 said ,mr4 ,durant4 ,if there is an intruder here it is ,i1 and it would be my duty to depart4 ,you must not go under such circumstances1 said ,mrs4 ,marshall4 ,the girl's looks seconded her mother's words1 and the irate churchman permitted his passion to overcome his judgment4 ,excuse me1 he said1 but ,i will take my leave4 ,under the circumstances my presence must be altogether unwelcome4 ,i have heard of the fascinating character of some of the features of ,mormonism1 and the persuasiveness of those who advocate it4 ,violation of the laws of ,god and man by practicing polygamy is one of the seductive usages of that creed1 ,i believe4 ,your belief is erroneous1 then1 said ,durant4 ,whatever my people may have believed in the past as to the correctness of doctrines taught by the ,bible and the prophets of old1 they now obey the laws of the land in which they live4 ,marvelous6 ,i have heard otherwise4 ,i have even taken the pains to bring with me a newspaper which ,i received from a traveler1 and in which information of a different character is obtained4 ,it is published in ,salt ,lake ,city and should be correct4 ,here is part of a sermon delivered by a ,mormon ,bishop2 and here an account of several arrests for violating the law against polygamy and kindred offenses1 while an editorial in the same paper comments strongly on the deception and falsity pervading the ,mormon people4 ,there must be a mistake somewhere4 ,no1 there is no mistake at all1 but much falsehood and misrepresentation4 ,it is true that since the law against polygamy was enacted there have been many prosecutions of members of our ,church chiefly because of their inability instantly to sever the happy associations of a lifetime which had been formed before the law went into effect1 or their lack of exact knowledge as to what the law required of them4 ,it was a difficult1 ,i may say an impossible matter1 for them to break away entirely from a part of their families and never go near them1 to give a word of counsel1 or it may be hurriedly to embrace the little ones from whom the law had separated them4 ,when thus found they have been apprehended1 tried1 convicted and punished1 often without an effort to defend themselves4 ,the ,bishop named by the paper1 does not1 and never did exist1 and the sermon referred to was never delivered1 as the same paper has been compelled to admit on several occasions2 and the editor's views1 or rather sayings1 are the words of a man whose chief interest in the community is to fan the flames of discord so that his nefarious business may prosper4 ,his statements are utterly and entirely false4 ,after these remarks the reverend went to his room1 and shortly afterward took his departure4 ,i don't like the ,mormons at all1 and ,i'm just sorry you're one1 said the girl4 ,i too1 am somewhat opposed to that peculiar religion1 but it does seem to me1 after hearing you1 that my dislike arises more from prejudice than from anything else1 said the mother4 ,i have here a card containing the articles of our faith from which you may learn that we are not so evil as we are represented to be4 ,we believe in ,god1 the ,eternal ,father1 and in ,his ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 and in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,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 ,we believe that these ordinances are3 ,first1 ,faith in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 second1 ,repentance2 third1 ,baptism by immersion for the remission of sins2 fourth1 ,laying on of ,hands for the ,gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,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 ,we believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church1 namely3 apostles1 prophets1 pastors1 teachers1 evangelists1 etc4 ,we believe in the gift of tongues1 prophecy1 revelation1 visions1 healing1 interpretation of tongues1 etc4 ,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 ,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 ,we believe in the literal gathering of ,israel and in the restoration of the ,ten ,tribes1 ,that ,zion will be built upon this continent4 ,that ,christ will reign personally upon the earth1 and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory4 ,we claim the privilege of worshiping ,almighty ,god according to the dictates of our conscience1 and allow all men the same privilege1 let them worship how1 where1 or what they may4 ,we believe in being subject to kings1 presidents1 rulers and magistrates1 in obeying1 honoring and sustaining the law4 ,we believe in being honest1 true1 chaste1 benevolent1 virtuous1 and in doing good to all men2 indeed 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 report1 or praiseworthy1 we seek after these1 things4--,joseph ,smith4 ,with this ,durant took from his pocket the card1 and handing it to ,mrs4 ,marshall1 said3 ,examine it at your leisure4 ,and without more adieu he was gone1 leaving the ladies in reflective mood4 ,mr4 ,marshall received the news regarding ,durant1 in silence2 perhaps he had suspected1 or even knew already1 that the stranger was a ,mormon4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,a ,,triumph ,,and ,,an ,,escape4 ,the afternoon preceding the night on which ,charles ,durant was to appear before the public in the ,town ,hall of ,westminster to place the plan of salvation before the people1 and bear his testimony to the eternal truth1 was wearing slowly away4 ,by this time his name was on everybody's lips1 and nearly all knew him4 ,as he walked abroad some would pass him with a frown1 some with a gaze of curiosity1 rarely one would smile1 and less frequently still would he receive a pleasant good-day4 ,if he had delighted in notoriety1 here was certainly a field in which he might enjoy that to the full limit of his desire2 but he wanted nothing of the kind4 ,he was filled with the spirit of his calling which was to spread the truth and labor unto the salvation of men2 and neither the insults of the insolent nor the frowns of opponents could turn him aside from that purpose4 ,he bore within his breast the realization of an upright purpose1 together with the certainty of a reward to come4 ,what were threats and annoyances to him8 ,and yet he sought not persecution that a cheap martyrdom might be gained2 perhaps if warned of a personal danger1 in obedience to a natural impulse1 he would have shunned or gone around it1 but never to the sacrifice of one jot or tittle of principle4 ,his experience of less than a week in ,westminster had been sufficient for a volume of much greater proportions than this little publication1 and yet enough of it is noted here to give a fair idea of what transpired4 ,in that time our hero1 a comparative stranger1 had become well-settled and was welcome in an honorable household1 and this without deception or any special effort to please2 he had dethroned the demon of infidelity in one good man's heart when a skilled churchman's efforts in that direction only threatened to perpetuate the evil2 had caused another good man1 indifferent to gospel measures1 to become actively interested2 had defeated the churchman spoken of1 on his own ground1 and had shown in an unmistakeable manner the fallacy of his doctrine1 and finally1 had brought this showy patron of religion to utter discomfiture without desiring1 intending1 or trying to annoy him in any way2 had set the family named and several of their neighbors to thinking as they had never thought before2 and now1 as a special favor was to address the town people in their chief public building4 ,the ,town ,hall was filled to overflowing1 and when ,durant entered and walked slowly up to the platform1 it is perhaps needless to say he was the observed of all observers4 ,there were some feelings of surprise when ,mr4 ,brown1 the 7late7 infidel1 arose to introduce the speaker of the evening2 he announced before doing so that the lecture would consist of an exposition of the groundwork1 and some advanced principles of the gospel as laid down in the ,bible4 ,nothing will be left to be conjectured or surmised1 he said2 the speaker is familiar with the subject and is capable of doing it justice4 ,i speak advisedly1 having heard him before4 ,i ask your earnest and respectful attention1 and now present to you ,mr4 ,charles ,durant1 of ,salt ,lake ,city4 ,notwithstanding the sacredness of the occasion1 there was a burst of applause when the speaker arose4 ,before him1 on a table1 were the ,bible and two or three other books4 ,he entered upon his subject at once1 first explaining the principles of faith1 repentance and baptism1 citing the ,holy ,book in support of his arguments1 and making every principle plain and lucid as he proceeded4 ,in as extended a manner as he could1 within the time at his disposal1 he developed the philosophy and practice of true ,christianity from the beginning to the present time1 leaving no salient point unmentioned1 and no stone marking the way1 unturned4 ,he occupied two hours1 and there was not a listener but gladly would have remained that much longer4 ,the impression made was deep2 as to whether or not it was lasting1 that depended largely upon the individuals themselves4 ,the lawyer and the doctor and the ,marshalls came forward and grasped the speaker's hand extending sincere congratulations4 ,the preacher was absent4 ,as they left the room1 people could be heard making such remarks as--,well1 that is mighty sound reasoning no matter where it comes from2 a few asked to be introduced and one of these1 an old lady1 said in a low voice1 ,you spoke the truth1 ,i know it2 ,god bless you6 ,as soon as he could make his way to ,durant's side1 the negro1 ,caesar1 said hurriedly--,you want to look a little out as you go home2 ,i heard a lot of fellers down the lane talking1 and they said they would fix that ,mormon4 ,a spontaneous exclamation of surprise and disgust came from the little party of which ,durant was the center4 ,however1 it was left to the lawyer to engage in explosiveness1 and he did it in a manner which left no doubt of what he would do in an emergency4 ,it was finally decided that he and the doctor should lead the way homeward1 with the ,marshall family1 our guest1 a neighbor and the negro1 following leisurely after4 ,the improvised mob was soon encountered and the interview was stormy for awhile1 but before the party in the rear reached the spot1 the tumult was quieted down considerably4 ,the lawyer knew every one in the party and if any violence was offered to the stranger1 he would make it his personal business to see that every one of them answered to the law4 ,this1 coupled with milder and more persuasive methods1 had its effect1 and one by one the rioters dispersed1 at least for the present4 ,mr4 ,durant and his friends walked home without being assaulted by so much as an unpleasant exclamation though he fully expected trouble from the first2 but he determined to continue his labor as he had begun1 leaving the result to ,providence4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,the ,,prophet ,,joseph',s ,,statement4 ,perhaps it was the force of habit as well as the impelling power of desire that caused the group1 with whom we are now so familiar1 again to assemble at the place made somewhat memorable by recent events--the verandah fronting the ,marshall mansion4 ,all the persons hitherto named1 excepting1 of course1 the minister1 were present2 that gentleman had not only taken his departure from the house1 but doubtless from the town also4 ,it was ,sunday evening1 the weather was perfect1 all things seemed conducive to harmony1 and a most pleasurable occasion1 it being perhaps the last they would enjoy together4 ,the doctor and lawyer were so anxious to begin the conversation that they could scarcely wait for all to be seated2 they desired to improve the opportunity1 and learn what they could of other principles of the missionary's faith4 ,mr4 ,durant1 finally said the doctor1 we have listened with much pleasure to different conversations with you since your arrival and these have awakened a lively interest within us1 and as there is nothing to prevent this evening1 we thought it would not be at all unpleasant to you to spend an hour or so in answering what to us appears to be some very important questions concerning the faith of the so-called ,mormons4 ,i assure you it will be pleasant to me1 indeed4 ,i am here for that purpose1 and the more questions ,i have an opportunity to answer1 the better and more successfully will ,i perform my duty4 ,could ,i read your thoughts and know what you desire explained1 ,i assure you nothing would be left untold2 but this not being the case1 ,i rely upon you to make enquiries and will request that you keep nothing back1 and ,i will be honest in giving any information that ,i am capable of imparting4 ,i am now inclined to believe1 said the doctor1 after our experience with you1 that1 like most of the good people of this nation we have been in possession of only one side of the question regarding your people4 ,never having heard1 from your standpoint1 the claims of ,mr4 ,joseph ,smith1 the founder of your ,church1 in regard to his being a prophet1 we would be pleased to learn what he said on this question4 ,this is a frankness which ,i appreciate very much4 ,as a general thing1 the majority of the people1 when desirous of knowing anything concerning us1 are prone to ask any other person on earth than a ,mormon4 ,they do not seem to think for a moment that we ourselves might be able to place them in possession of the most reliable information on the subject4 ,joseph ,smith's claim to being divinely inspired to open up a new dispensation of the gospel1 is here given in his own statement so that you will be getting it direct from the fountain head4 ,by all means1 read it1 said two or three in concert2 there will then be no room for misrepresentation4 ,joseph ,smith has made the following statement regarding the subject1 continued ,durant3 ,owing to the many reports which have been put in circulation by evil designing persons in relation to the rise and progress of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 all of which have been designed by the authors thereof to militate against its character as a ,church1 and its progress in the world1 ,i have been induced to write this history1 so as to disabuse the public mind1 and put all inquirers after truth in possession of the facts as they have transpired in relation both to myself and the ,church so far as ,i have such facts in possession4 ,in this history ,i will present the various events in relation to this ,church1 in truth and righteousness1 as they have transpired1 or as they at present exist1 being now the eighth year since the organization of the said ,church4 ,i was born in the year of our ,lord one thousand eight hundred and five1 on the twenty-third day of ,december1 in the town of ,sharon1 ,windsor ,county1 ,state of ,vermont4 ,my father1 ,joseph ,smith1 senior1 left the ,state of ,vermont1 and moved to ,palmyra1 ,ontario 7now ,wayne7 ,county1 in the ,state of ,new ,york1 when ,i was in my tenth year4 ,in about four years after my father's arrival at ,palmyra1 he moved with his family into ,manchester1 in the same ,county of ,ontario4 ,his family consisted of eleven souls1 namely3 my father1 ,joseph ,smith1 my mother1 ,lucy ,smith 7whose name previous to her marriage was ,mack1 daughter of ,solomon ,mack71 my brothers ,alvin 7who is now dead71 ,hyrum1 myself1 ,samuel ,harrison1 ,william1 ,don ,carlos1 and my sisters ,sophronia1 ,catherine1 and ,lucy1 ,some time in the second year after our removal to ,manchester1 there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion4 ,it commenced with the ,methodists1 but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country2 indeed the whole district of country seemed affected by it1 and great multitude united themselves to the different religious parties1 which created no small stir and division amongst the people1 some crying1 ,lo1 here1 and some1 ,lo there2 some were contending for the ,methodist faith1 some for the ,presbyterian1 and some for the ,baptists'4 ,for notwithstanding the great love which the converts for these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion1 and the great zeal manifested by their respected clergy1 who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling1 in order to have everybody converted1 as they were pleased to call it1 let them join what sect they pleased3 yet when the converts began to file off1 some to one party1 and some to another1 it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more pretended than real1 for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued priest contending against priest1 and convert against convert1 so that all the good feelings one for another1 if they ever had any1 were entirely lost in a strife of words1 and a contest about opinions4 ,i was at this time in my fifteenth year4 ,my father's family was proselyted to the ,presbyterian faith1 and four of them joined that church1 namely1 my mother1 ,lucy1 my brothers ,hyrum1 ,samuel ,harrison1 and my sister ,sophronia4 ,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 pungent1 still ,i kept myself aloof from all those parties1 though ,i attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit2 but in process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the ,methodist sect1 and ,i felt some desire to be united with them1 but so great was the confusion and strife among the different denominations1 that it was impossible for a person1 young as ,i was1 and so unacquainted with men and things1 to come to any certain conclusion who was right1 and who was wrong4 ,my mind at different times was greatly excited1 the cry and tumult was so great and incessant4 ,the ,presbyterians were most decided against the ,baptists and ,methodists1 and used all their 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 hand the ,baptists and ,methodists1 in their turn1 were equally zealous 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 right8 ,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 difficulties1 caused by the contests of these parties of religionists1 ,i was one day reading the ,epistle of ,james1 first chapter1 and fifth verse1 which reads1 ,if any of you lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1 that giveth unto all men liberally and upbraideth not1 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 ,it seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart4 ,i reflected on it again and again1 knowing that if any person needed wisdom from ,god1 ,i did2 for how to act ,i did not know1 and unless ,i could get more wisdom than ,i then had1 would never know2 for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passage so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the ,bible4 ,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 liberally and not upbraid1 ,i might venture4 ,so1 in accordance with this1 my determination to ask of ,god1 ,i retired to the woods to make the attempt4 ,it was on the morning of a beautiful1 clear day1 early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty4 ,it was the first time in my life that ,i had made such an attempt1 for amidst all my anxieties ,i had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally4 ,after ,i had retired into the place where ,i had previously designed to go1 having looked around me 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 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 ,but 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 destruction1 not to an imaginary ruin1 but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world1 who had such a marvelous power as ,i had never before felt in any being4 ,just at this moment of great alarm1 ,i saw a pillar of light exactly over my head 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 me1 ,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 said 7pointing to the other71 ',,this ,,is ,,my ,,beloved ,,son1 ,,hear ,,him4' ,my object in going to enquire of the ,lord1 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 7for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong71 and which ,i should join4 ,i was answered that ,i must join none of them1 for they were all wrong1 and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight2 that those professors were all corrupt4 ,they draw near to me with their lips1 but their hearts are far from me2 they teach for doctrine the commandments of men1 having a form of godliness1 but they deny the power thereof4 ,he again forbade me to join with any of them2 and many other things did he say unto me which ,i cannot write at this time4 ,when ,i came to myself again1 ,i found myself lying on my back1 looking up into heaven4 ,some few days after ,i had this vision1 ,i happened to be in company with one of the ,methodist preachers who was very active in the before mentioned religious excitement1 and conversing with him on the subject of religion1 ,i took occasion to give him an account of the vision which ,i had had4 ,i was greatly surprised at his behavior2 he treated my communication not only lightly1 but with great contempt1 saying it was all of the devil1 that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days2 that all such things had ceased with the apostles1 and that there never would be any more of them4 ,i soon found1 however1 that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion1 and was the cause of great persecution1 which continued to increase2 and though ,i was an obscure boy1 only between fourteen and fifteen years of age1 and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world1 yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me1 and create a hot persecution1 and this was common among all sects2 all united to persecute me4 ,it has often caused me serious reflection1 both then and since1 how very strange it was that an obscure boy of a little over fourteen years of age1 and one1 too1 who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor1 should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day1 so as to create in them a spirit of the hottest persecution and reviling4 ,but strange or not1 so it was1 and was often a cause of great sorrow to myself4 ,however it was nevertheless1 a fact that ,i had had a vision4 ,i have thought since1 that ,i felt much like ,paul when he made his defense before ,king ,agrippa1 and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light and heard a voice1 but still there were but few who believed him2 some said he was dishonest1 others said he was mad1 and he was ridiculed and reviled3 but all this did not destroy the reality of his vision4 ,he had seen a vision1 he knew he had1 and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise2 and though they should persecute him unto death1 yet he knew and would know unto his latest breath that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking to him1 and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise4 ,so it was with me2 ,i had actually seen a light1 and in the midst of that light ,i saw two personages1 and they did in reality speak unto me1 or one of them did2 and though ,i was hated and persecuted for saying that ,i had seen a vision1 yet it was true2 and while they were persecuting me1 reviling me and speaking all manner of evil against me1 falsely1 for so saying1 ,i was led to say in my heart1 ,why persecute for telling the truth8 ,i have actually seen a vision1 and who am ,i that ,i can withstand ,god8 ,or why does the world think to make me deny what ,i have actually seen8 ,for ,i had seen a vision4 ,i knew it1 and ,i knew that ,god knew it1 and ,i could not deny it1 neither dare ,i do it2 at least ,i knew that by so doing ,i would offend ,god and come under condemnation4 ,i had now got my mind satisfied so far as the sectarian world was concerned1 that it was not my duty to join with any of them1 but continue as ,i was until further directed2 ,i had found the testimony of ,james to be true1 that a man who lacked wisdom might ask of ,god1 and obtain and not be upbraided4 ,i continued to pursue my common avocations in life until the twenty-first of ,september1 one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three1 all the time suffering severe persecution at the hands of all classes of men1 both religious and irreligious1 because ,i continued to affirm that ,i had seen a vision4 ,during the space of time which intervened between the time ,i had the vision1 and the year eighteen hundred and twenty-three 7having been forbidden to join any of the religious sects of the day1 and being of very tender years1 and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends1 and to have treated me kindly1 and if they supposed me to be deluded to have endeavored1 in a proper and affectionate manner1 to have reclaimed me71 ,i was left to all kinds of temptations1 and mingling with all kinds of society1 ,i frequently fell into many foolish errors1 and displayed the weakness of youth1 and the corruption of human nature1 which ,i am sorry to say led me into divers temptations1 to the gratification of many appetites offensive in the sight of ,god4 ,in consequence of these things ,i often felt condemned for my weakness and imperfections2 when on the evening of the above mentioned twenty-first of ,september1 after ,i had retired to my bed for the night1 ,i betook myself to prayer and supplication to ,almighty ,god1 for forgiveness of all my sins and follies1 and also for a manifestation to me1 that ,i might know of my state and standing before him2 for ,i had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation1 as ,i had previously had one4 ,while ,i was thus in the act of calling upon ,god1 ,i discovered a light appearing in the room1 which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday1 when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside1 standing in the air1 for his feet did not touch the floor4 ,he had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness4 ,it was a whiteness beyond anything earthly ,i had ever seen2 nor do ,i believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant2 his hands were naked1 and his arms also1 a little above the wrist2 so also were his feet naked1 as were his legs1 a little above the ankles4 ,his head and neck were also bare4 ,i could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe1 as it was open1 so that ,i could see into his bosom4 ,not only was his robe exceedingly white1 but his whole person was glorious beyond description1 and his countenance truly like lightning4 ,the room was exceedingly light1 but not so very bright as immediately around his person4 ,when ,i first looked upon him ,i was afraid1 but the fear soon left me4 ,he called me by name and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of ,god to me1 and that his name was ,moroni4 ,that ,god had a work for me to do1 and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations1 kindreds1 and tongues2 or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people4 ,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 fullness of the everlasting ,gospel was contained in it1 as delivered by the ,savior to the ancient inhabitants4 ,also that there were two stones in silver bows 7and these stones1 fastened to a breast plate1 constituted what is called the ,urim and ,thummim17 deposited with the plates1 and the possession and use of these stones was what constituted ,seers in ancient or former times1 and that ,god had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book4 ,after telling me these things1 he commenced quoting the prophecies of the ,old ,testament4 ,he first quoted part of the third chapter of ,malachi1 and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy1 though with a little variation from the way it reads in our ,bibles4 ,instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our books1 he quoted it thus3 ',for behold1 the day cometh that shall burn as an oven1 and all the proud1 yea1 and all that do wickedly1 shall burn as stubble1 for they that come shall burn them1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts1 that it shall leave them neither root nor branch4' ,and again1 he quoted the fifth verse thus3 ',behold ,i will reveal unto you the priesthood by the hand of ,elijah the prophet1 before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the ,lord4' ,he also quoted the next verse differently3 ',and he shall plant in the hearts of the children1 the promises made to the fathers1 and the of hearts the children shall turn to their fathers2 if it were not so1 the whole earth would be utterly wasted at ,his coming4' ,in addition to these1 he quoted the eleventh chapter of ,isaiah1 saying that it was about to be fulfilled4 ,he quoted also the third chapter of ,acts1 twenty-second and twenty-third verses1 precisely as they stand in our ,new ,testament4 ,he said that prophet was ,christ1 but the day had not yet come when they who would not hear ,his voice should be cut off from among the people1 but soon would come4 ,he also quoted the second chapter of ,joel1 from the twenty-eighth to the last verse4 ,he also said that this was not yet fulfilled1 but was soon to be4 ,and he further stated1 the fullness of the ,gentiles was soon to come in4 ,he quoted many other passages of scripture1 and offered many explanations which cannot be mentioned here4 ,again1 he told me that when ,i got those plates of which he had spoken 7for the time that they should be obtained was not yet fulfilled7 ,i should not show them to any person1 neither the breastplate with the ,urim and ,thummim1 only to those to whom ,i should be commanded to show them2 if ,i did ,i should be destroyed4 ,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 distinctly1 that ,i knew the place again when ,i visited it4 ,after this communication1 ,i saw the light in the room begin to gather immediately around the person of him who had been speaking to me1 and it continued to do so1 until the room was again left dark1 except just around him1 when instantly ,i saw1 as it were1 a conduit open right up into heaven1 and he ascended up till he entirely disappeared1 and the room was left as it had been before this heavenly light had made its appearance4 ,i lay musing on the singularity of the scene1 and marveling greatly at what had been told me by this extraordinary messenger1 when1 in the midst of my meditation1 ,i suddenly discovered that my room was again beginning to get lighted1 and in an instant1 as it were1 the same heavenly messenger was again by my bedside4 ,he commenced1 and again related the very same things which he had done at his first visit1 without the least variation1 which having done1 he informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth1 with great desolations by famine1 sword1 and pestilence1 and that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation4 ,having related these things1 he again ascended as he had done before4 ,by this time1 so deep were the impressions made on my mind1 that sleep had fled from my eyes1 and ,i lay overwhelmed in astonishment at what ,i had both seen and heard2 but what was my surprise when again ,i beheld the same messenger at my bedside1 and heard him rehearse or repeat over again to me the same things as before1 and added a caution to me1 telling me that ,satan would try to tempt me 7in consequence of the indigent circumstances of my father's family7 to get the plates for the purpose of getting rich4 ,this he forbade me1 saying that ,i must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify ,god1 and must not be influenced by any other motive but that of building his kingdom1 otherwise ,i could not get them4 ,after this third visit1 he again ascended up into heaven as before1 and ,i was again left to ponder on the strangeness of what ,i had just experienced1 when almost immediately after the heavenly messenger had ascended from me the third time1 the cock crew1 and ,i found that day was approaching1 so that our interviews must have occupied the whole of that night1 ,i shortly after arose from my bed1 and1 as usual1 went to the necessary labors of the day1 but1 in attempting to labor as at other times1 ,i found my strength so exhausted as rendered me entirely unable4 ,my father1 who was laboring along with me1 discovered something to be wrong with me1 and told me to go home4 ,i started with the intention of going to the house1 but1 in attempting to cross the fence out of the field where we were1 my strength entirely failed me1 and ,i fell helpless on the ground1 and for a time was quite unconscious of anything4 ,the first thing that ,i can recollect1 was a voice speaking unto me1 calling me by name2 ,i looked up and beheld the same messenger standing over my head1 surrounded by light1 as before4 ,he then again related unto me all that he had related to me the previous night1 and commanded me to go to my father1 and tell him of the vision and commandment which ,i had received4 ,i obeyed1 ,i returned back to my father in the field and rehearsed the whole matter to him4 ,he replied to me that it was of ,god1 and to go and do as commanded by the messenger4 ,i left the field and went to the place where the messenger had told me the plates were deposited1 and owing to the distinctness of the vision which ,i had had concerning it1 ,i knew the place the instant that ,i arrived there4 ,convenient to the village of ,manchester1 ,ontario ,county1 ,new ,york1 stands a hill of considerable size1 and the most elevated of any in the neighborhood4 ,on the west side of this hill1 not far from the top1 under a stone of considerable size1 lay the plates1 deposited in a stone box2 this stone 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 round was covered with earth4 ,having removed the earth and obtained a lever1 which ,i got fixed under the edge of the stone1 and with a little exertion raised it up2 ,i looked in1 and there indeed did ,i behold the plates1 the ,urim and ,thummim1 and the breastplate as stated by the messenger4 ,the box in which they lay 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 ,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 arrive 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 so1 until the time should come for obtaining the plates4 ,accordingly as ,i had been commanded1 ,i went at the end of each year1 and at each time ,i found the same messenger there1 and received instruction and intelligence from him at each of our interviews1 respecting what the ,lord was going to do1 and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be conducted in the last days4 ,as my father's worldly circumstances were very limited1 we were under the necessity of laboring with our hands1 hiring by day's work and otherwise as we could get opportunity2 sometimes we were at home and sometimes abroad1 and by continued labor were enabled to get a comfortable maintenance4 ,in the year #ahbd1 my father's family met with a great affliction1 by the death of my eldest brother1 ,alvin4 ,in the month of ,october1 #ahbe1 ,i hired with an old gentleman1 by the name of ,josiah ,stoal1 who lived in ,chenango ,county1 ,state of ,new ,york4 ,he had heard something of a silver mine having been opened by the ,spaniards1 in ,harmony1 ,susquehanna ,county1 ,state of ,pennsylvania1 and had1 previous to my hiring with him1 been digging1 in order1 if possible1 to discover the mine4 ,after ,i went to live with him he took me among the rest of his hands to dig for the silver mine1 at which ,i continued to work for nearly a month without success in our undertaking1 and finally ,i prevailed with the old gentleman to cease digging after it4 ,hence arose the very prevalent story of my having been a money digger4 ,during the time that ,i was thus employed1 ,i was put to board with a ,mr4 ,isaac ,hale1 of that place2 it was there that ,i first saw my wife 7his daughter7 ,emma ,hale4 ,on the #ahth of ,january1 #ahbg1 we were married1 while yet ,i was employed in the service of ,mr4 ,stoal4 ,owing to my still continuing to assert that ,i had seen a vision1 persecution still followed me1 and my wife's father's family were very much opposed to our being married4 ,i was therefore under the necessity of taking her elsewhere1 so we went and were married at the house of ,squire ,tarbill1 in ,south ,bainbridge1 ,chenango ,county1 ,new ,york4 ,immediately after my marriage1 ,i left ,mr4 ,stoal's and went to my father's and farmed with him that season4 ,at length the time arrived for obtaining the plates1 the ,urim and ,thummim1 and the ,breastplate4 ,on the #bbnd day of ,september1 #ahbg1 having gone1 as usual1 at the end of another year1 to the place where they were deposited1 the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge1 that ,i should be responsible for them2 that if ,i should let them go carelessly 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 said1 that when ,i had done what was required at my hand1 he would call for them2 for no sooner was it known that ,i had them1 than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me2 every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose2 the persecution became more bitter and severe than before1 and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible2 but1 by the wisdom of ,god1 they remained safe in my hands1 until ,i had accomplished by them what was required at my hand2 when according to arrangements1 the messenger called for them1 ,i delivered them up to him1 and he has them in his charge until this day1 being the #bnd of ,may1 #ahch4 ,the excitement1 however1 still continued1 and rumor1 with her thousand tongues1 was all the time employed in circulating many tales about my father's family and about myself4 ,if ,i were to relate a thousandth part of them1 it would fill up volumes4 ,the persecution1 however1 became so intolerable that ,i was under the necessity of leaving ,manchester1 and going with my wife to ,susquehanna ,county1 in the ,state of ,pennsylvania2 while preparing to start 7being very poor1 and the persecution so heavy upon us1 that there was no probability that we would ever be otherwise71 in the midst of our afflictions we found a friend in a gentleman by the name of ,martin ,harris1 who came to us and gave me fifty dollars to assist us in our afflictions4 ,mr4 ,harris was a resident of ,palmyra ,township1 ,wayne ,county1 in the ,state of ,new ,york1 and a farmer of respectability4 ,by this timely aid was ,i enabled to reach the place of my destination in ,pennsylvania1 and immediately after my arrival there ,i commenced copying the characters of the plates4 ,i copied a considerable number of them1 and by means of the ,urim and ,thummim ,i translated some of them1 which ,i did between the time ,i arrived at the house of my wife's father in the month of ,december1 and the ,february following4 ,some time in this month of ,february1 the aforementioned ,mr4 ,martin ,harris came to our place1 got the characters which ,i had drawn off the plates1 and started with them to the city of ,new ,york4 ,for what took place relative to him and the characters1 ,i refer to his own account of the circumstances as he related them to me after his return1 which was as follows-- ',i went to the city of ,new ,york1 and presented the characters which had been translated1 with the translation thereof1 to ,professor ,anthon1 a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments4 ,professor ,anthon stated that the translation was correct1 more so than any he had before seen translated from the ,egyptian4 ,i then showed him those which were not yet translated1 and he said that they were ,egyptian1 ,chaldaic1 ,assyric1 and ,arabic1 and he said that they were the true characters4 ,he gave me a certificate certifying to the people of ,palmyra that they were true characters1 and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct4 ,i took the certificate and put it into my pocket1 and was just leaving the house1 when ,mr4 ,anthon called me back1 and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them4 ,i answered that an angel of ,god had revealed it to him4 ',he then said unto me1 ',let me see that certificate4' ,i accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him1 when he took it and tore it to pieces1 saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels1 and that if ,i would bring the plates to him1 he would translate them4 ,i informed him that part of the plates were sealed1 and that ,i was forbidden to bring them2 he replied1 ',i cannot read a sealed book4' ,i left him and went to ,dr4 ,mitchell1 who sanctioned what ,professor ,anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation4' ,on the #aeth day of ,april1 #ahbi1 ,oliver ,cowdery came to my house1 until when ,i had never seen him4 ,he stated to me that having been teaching school in the neighborhood where my father resided1 and my father being one of those who sent to the school1 he went to board for a season at his house1 and while there1 the family related to him the circumstances of my having the plates1 and accordingly he had come to make inquiries of me4 ,two days after the arrival of ,mr4 ,cowdery1 7being the #agth of ,april17 ,i commenced to translate the ,book of ,mormon1 and he commenced to write for me4 ,we still continued the work of translation1 when1 in the ensuing month1 7,may1 #ahbi17 we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the ,lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins1 as we found mentioned in the translation of the plates4 ,while we were thus employed1 praying and calling upon the ,lord1 a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light1 and having laid his hands upon us1 he ordained us1 saying unto us1 ',upon you1 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' ,he said this ,aaronic ,priesthood had not the power of laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 but that this should be conferred on us hereafter2 and he commanded us to go and be baptized1 and gave us directions that ,i should baptize ,oliver ,cowdery1 and afterwards that he should baptize me4 ,accordingly we went and were baptized--,i baptized him first1 and afterwards he baptized me--after which ,i laid my hands upon his head and ordained him to the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 and afterwards he laid his hands on me and ordained me to the same ,priesthood for so we were commanded4 ,the messenger who visited us on this occasion1 and conferred this ,priesthood upon us1 said his name was ,john1 the same that is called ,john the ,baptist in the ,new ,testament1 and that he acted under the direction of ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john1 who held the keys of the ,priesthood of ,melchisedec1 which ,priesthood1 he said1 should in due time be conferred on us1 and that ,i should be called the first elder and he the second4 ,it was on the #aeth day of ,may1 #ahbi1 that we were baptized and ordained under the hand of the messenger4 ,immediately upon our coming up out of the water1 after we had been baptized1 we experienced great and glorious blessings from our ,heavenly ,father4 ,no sooner had ,i baptized ,oliver ,cowdery than the ,holy ,ghost fell upon him1 and he stood up and prophesied many things which would shortly come to pass4 ,and again1 so soon as ,i had been baptized by him1 ,i also had the spirit of prophecy1 when1 standing up1 ,i prophesied concerning the rise of the ,church1 and many other things connected with the ,church and this generation of the children of men4 ,we were filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and rejoiced in the ,god of our salvation4 ,our minds being now enlightened1 we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understandings1 and the true meaning of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously1 nor ever before had thought of4 ,in the meantime we were forced to keep secret the circumstances of our having been baptized and having received the ,priesthood1 owing to a spirit of persecution which had already manifested itself in the neighborhood4 ,we had been threatened with being mobbed1 from time to time1 and this1 too1 by professors of religion4 ,and their intentions of mobbing us were only counteracted by the influence of my wife's father's family 7under ,divine ,providence17 who had become very friendly to me1 and who were opposed to mobs1 and were willing that ,i should be allowed to continue the work of translation without interruption2 and therefore offered and promised us protection from all unlawful proceedings as far as in them lay4 ,have you any further proofs to offer respecting the divine authenticity of this book you refer to8 ,yes1 we have evidence sufficient to establish its divinity beyond doubt1 before any impartial court on earth4 ,i will read you from one of our books the voluntary testimony of witnesses who have not2 been impeached1 as follows3 ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,three ,,witnesses4 ,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 honor be to the ,father1 and to the ,son1 and to the ,holy ,ghost1 which is one ,god4 ,amen4 ,,oliver ,,cowdery1 ,,david ,,whitmer1 ,,martin ,,harris4 ,can you give us any other evidences respecting this record8 ,yes1 here is also the testimony of eight additional witnesses1 who declare they saw the plates4 ,,and ,,also ,,the ,,testimony ,,op ,,eight ,,witnesses4 ,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 shown 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 shown 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 world1 to witness unto the world that which we have seen2 and we lie not1 ,god bearing witness of it4 ,,christian ,,whitmer1 ,,hiram ,,page1 ,,jacob ,,whitmer1 ,,joseph ,,smith1 ,,sen41 ,,peter ,,whitmer1 ,,jun41 ,,hyrum ,,smith1 ,,john ,,whitmer1 ,,samuel ,h4 ,,smith4 ,there is one point1 said ,brown1 upon which ,i would like to hear further3 it is the restoration1 before mentioned4 ,if these things are true1 then the gospel was not upon the earth at the time of ,joseph ,smith's birth1 and1 as you will admit1 the ,church was organized in the days of ,christ and left on the earth when ,he ascended on high3 the question then arises1 how the ,gospel was it taken from the earth8 ,let me give you another quotation from the ,bible on the subject1 said the ,elder4 ',from the days of ,john the ,baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence2 and the violent take it by force4' 7,matthew xi3 #ab47 ,by parity of reasoning where would our own government be if subjected to similar treatment8 ,suppose1 that instead of ,christ being crucified1 it were the ,president1 that the ,cabinet instead of the ,apostles were murdered1 the ,congress and not the ,seventies were scattered to the four winds1 and our citizens were subjected to the fate of the ,saints of old in being driven beneath the earth--what would then remain of our nation8 ,it exists now proudly and gloriously1 and has existed for more than a century1 but such treatment would leave it to future generations as only an incident in history that is1 it came1 it nourished and it passed away1 just as did the true religion in the early days2 and it might again1 also like the true religion1 be restored1 even as the ,roman ,empire rose1 fell and rose again4 ,i understand4 ,if you have no objections1 ,i would like to read to you the words of a wise man on this subject1 which will illustrate my meaning in a much clearer way than it is possible for me to express it myself4 ,the quotation is not long and you will all especially my legal friend--see the force of his argument4 ,he uses these words3 ',now1 in order to come at this subject in plainness1 let us examine the constitution of earthly governments in regard to the authority and laws of adoption4 ,we will say1 for instance1 the ,president of the ,united ,states writes a commission to ,a4 ,b41 duly authorizing him to act in some office in the government1 and daring his administration1 two gentlemen from ,europe come to reside in this country1 and being strangers and foreigners wishing to become citizens1 they go before ,a4 ,b41 and he administers the oath of allegiance in due form1 and certifies the same1 and this constitutes them legal citizens1 entitled to the privileges of those who are citizens or subjects by birth4 ,after these things ,a4 ,b4 is taken away by death1 and ,c4 ,d41 in looking over his papers happens to find the commission given to ,a4 ,b41 and applying it to his own use1 assumes the vacant office2 meantime1 two foreigners arrive and apply for citizenship1 and being informed by persons ignorant of the affairs of government that ,c4 ,d4 could administer the laws of adoption1 they submit to be administered unto by ,c4 ,d41 without once examining his authority2 ,c4 ,d4 certifies of their citizenship1 and they suppose they have been legally adopted1 the same as the others1 and are entitled to the privileges of citizenship4 ,but1 by and by1 their citizenship is called into question1 and they produce the certificates of ,c4 ,d42 the ,president inquires1 ',who is ,c4 ,d48 ,i never gave him a commission to act in any office1 ,i know him not and you are strangers and foreigners to the commonwealth1 until you go before the legally appointed successor of ,a4 ,b41 or some other of like authority1 who has a commission from the ,president direct in his own name4' ,in the meantime ,c4 ,d4 is taken and punished according to law1 for practicing imposition1 and usurping authority which was never conferred upon him4 ,and so it is with the kingdom of ,god4 ,the ,lord authorized the ,apostles and others1 by direct revelation1 and by the spirit of prophecy1 to preach and baptize1 and build up ,his church and kingdom2 but after awhile they died1 and a long time passed away2 men reading over their commission1 where it says to the eleven ,apostles1 ',go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature1' etc41 have had the presumption to apply these sayings as their authority1 and1 without any other commission1 have gone forth professing to preach the gospel1 and baptize1 and build up the church and kingdom of ,god2 but those whom they baptize never receive the same blessings and gifts which characterized a ,saint1 or citizen of the kingdom1 in the days of the ,apostles4 ,why8 ,because they are yet foreigners and strangers1 for the commission given to the ,apostles never commissioned any other man to act in their stead4 ,this was a prerogative the ,lord preserved unto ,himself4 ,no man has a right to take this ministry upon himself1 but he that is called by revelation1 and duly qualified to act in his calling by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,you give us abundance of authority1 as well as your own testimony and evidence1 said the doctor4 ,you have developed a wide and profound subject for our consideration1 and for one ,i regret that we cannot at once hear you out1 that is1 go to the end of the subject with you1 and know all that you are in possession of in regard to it4 ,right or wrong1 one thing is plainly manifest--that you convey a philosophy each part of which is so reasonable1 consistent and harmonious with every other part1 and with the ground-work itself1 that he who doubts must question himself as to why he doubts4 ,and now1 let me ask1 will it not be practicable for you to remain another day8 ,while it would give me1 personally1 the greatest pleasure to do so1 it must be remembered that ,i am not performing this work for my own individual gratification4 ,the field is a broad one1 and just think how small a portion of it ,i would be able to cover should ,i give way to my present inclinations and remain unduly long in places where everything is so pleasant as here4 ,no1 ,i must go1 but hope to return to this region again4 ,well1 of course you understand your own affairs best1 but you are making such headway here that ,i hoped it might be desirable for you to continue to the end4 ,so it would but for the reasons stated4 ,my train departs at #aa o'clock tomorrow1 and ,i must fill the appointments ,i have made4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,that ,,mormon ,,again4 ,some months had passed away since the ,elder took his departure from ,westminster1 and during this time his name had been on everybody's lips1 both for good and evil4 ,the principles advanced by him had taken such root in the minds of many that it seemed impossible for them to lay the doctrine aside4 ,among this class were the ,marshalls1 who1 by the way1 had increased their family by the addition of a son-in-law1 their daughter ,claire having1 as was anticipated1 changed her name from ,marshall to ,sutherland4 ,herbert ,sutherland was a rising young man of ,westminster1 well and favorably known to most of the people4 ,he had for several years been very much attached to ,miss ,marshall1 and1 as the love was mutual1 of course no one appeared surprised in the least when the wedding took place4 ,joy1 and promise of an unclouded life1 seemed to be the portion of the young couple4 ,breakfast had been waiting for over an hour for ,mr4 ,marshall1 and his good wife had become almost impatient when the gate opened and he entered1 saying to his wife1 ,you must overlook this delay1 as ,i have been detained at the station4 ,while passing1 ,i noticed a familiar friend and could not resist the temptation of spending with him the forty minutes given for transferring baggage1 even when aware that the detention kept you and the breakfast waiting4 ,well ,i declare1 said ,mrs4 ,marshall1 you must have met a very esteemed friend indeed1 to have remained so long at the expense of so many4 ,who was it1 papa8 remarked ,claire2 it's no use asking us to guess1 for you know we are not ,yankees enough for that4 ,one would imagine you had been in the presence of a number of friends1 said ,mr4 ,sutherland1 judging from the pleased expression on your face4 ,well1 why not tell us who it was8 said ,mrs4 ,marshall4 ,it was one whose visit with us was very short1 but whose name has been mentioned since scores of times1 ,mr4 ,marshall answered2 and now we will go to the dining room1 and1 in the meantime1 ,i will tell you what my conversation was with ,mr4 ,charles ,durant1 of ,salt ,lake ,city1 our ,mormon friend4 ,i had learned that he promised while here to visit you again1 remarked ,mr4 ,sutherland1 and is it possible1 he has been so near and yet failed to keep his promise8 ,i did not think this of ,mr4 ,durant1 for1 while ,i have not had the pleasure of his acquaintance1 ,i had formed a very good opinion of him from remarks made by others1 and was in hopes of seeing him myself some day4 ,and so you shall1 answered ,mr4 ,marshall1 ,i tell you he has not forgotten4 ,he is on his way home1 it is true1 but has taken a trip up the country for a few days1 and intends visiting us when he returns4 ,that's better1 said ,sutherland2 ,i do not wish to miss what you people claimed was a treat to you4 ,with this the family adjourned to the dining room1 where ,mr4 ,marshall acquainted them with all the facts received from ,mr4 ,durant4 ,he had performed his work to the entire satisfaction of the president of the ,southern ,states ,mission1 and had been given a leave of absence to return home2 but he had received word while en route that some ,elders had been terribly beaten by a band of fanatics4 ,he was instructed to pay his fellow laborers a visit1 and administer to their wants before continuing his homeward journey4 ,while he had in view a pleasant visit with the ,marshalls1 he could not think of enjoying the same before performing a duty to the brethren in distress4 ,he would be with the ,marshalls in a day or two and would then remain some days in their company4 ,he has promised1 said ,mr4 ,marshall1 to answer all the questions we have been accumulating for him1 and will be pleased indeed to have as many of our neighbors spend the evening with him as we are willing to invite4 ,exactly what ,herbert has been wishing for1 exclaimed ,claire1 knowing so well that ,mr4 ,durant and the ,mormon gospel doctrines have made a deep impression on us1 he has been very anxious to converse with this missionary4 ,yes1 answered ,sutherland1 if all ,i have heard from you is correct1 then ,i am surprised that this peculiar people are despised to such an extent4 ,the principles you have explained to me1 as received from him1 are logical and good1 and ,mr4 ,brown tells me they have had such an influence with him1 that nothing short of a visit to ,salt ,lake ,city will satisfy the longing he has to study the ,mormon question as he desires2 and as for ,claire1 why she has gone over her ,bible and marked the passages quoted by the ,elder1 until the ,sacred ,book looks like a ,chinese record4 ,and better than that1 exclaimed his young wife1 ,i have committed the most of them to memory1 and should he desire an assistant1 ,i can surprise not only him but all of you with my knowledge of those principles4 ,i realize how much happiness ,god has given me in this world1 and how much ,i should endeavor to please ,him1 and have therefore devoted more time to reading ,his word than ever before1 and1 strange to say1 ,i have found passages quoted by ,mr4 ,durant whenever ,i have read1 and the verses marked in my ,bible seem to lead to something else that he has said4 ,his testimony is so deeply rooted in my heart that ,i almost believe his people will yet be my people1 and his faith will be my faith4 ,why1 ,claire1 said her mother1 if you are not careful1 you will be a ,mormon before you are aware4 ,and should you become one1 said her husband1 think of your many friends1 and the opinions they will have of you4 ,well1 ,i haven't joined the ,mormons yet1 said ,claire2 but if ,i do1 it will be because ,i believe them to be right2 and if ,i have your good will1 ,herbert1 and that of papa and mamma1 what care ,i for the opinions of others8 ,well said1 answered ,herbert1 with a smile2 but we will see if we cannot 'corner' your missionary1 get him into an argumentative jail1 if you please1 from which it will be difficult or impossible for him to escape4 ,should he be able to make the gospel he teaches as plain and as reasonable as the doctrines that are set forth in the tracts which he left here1 ,i can see no reason why any earnest1 sincere searcher after knowledge cannot adopt that gospel as a living truth4 ,it was agreed1 thereupon1 that when the promised telegram from ,durant should be received1 giving the date of his arrival1 the neighbors were to be invited1 and the large dining room would be turned into an informal meeting place where the principles of the gospel1 as believed in by the ,mormons1 could be further explained4 ,this was accordingly done4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,missionary',s ,,return4 ,elder ,charles ,durant returned to ,westminster just ten days after the time of his meeting with ,mr4 ,marshall1 at the station4 ,he was heartily welcomed by the family1 and being comfortably seated at the dinner table1 the conversation naturally drifted to a detailed account of his experience since his first visit4 ,his labors had been divided somewhat in two or three different states4 ,he had met with many kinds of people1 and with a variety of treatments1 since leaving the home of the ,marshalls2 he made many friends as well as a few enemies1 but had endeavored to perform his work in a way to meet the approbation of that ,being who had commissioned him to spread ,his word among the children of men4 ,having performed his work to the satisfaction of those under whom he labored1 he was1 as previously stated1 released therefrom1 for a time at least1 and had commenced his journey towards the land of his birth1 where dwelt his loved ones1 when the telegram reached him from the president of the ,mission to the effect that several ,elders had been mobbed in a neighboring county1 and asking that he visit his brethren on his way home1 as stated before4 ,after the meal1 the family adjourned to the sitting room when the missionary was requested to give an account of the mobbing of the ,elders whom he had just visited4 ,he said that they had been laboring for several months holding meetings wherever they could get an opportunity1 and had succeeded in obtaining the permission of the trustees to hold their meetings in a schoolhouse they being solicited to hold religious services by the people1 and explain the gospel to them4 ,a family named ,brooks expressed a desire to be baptized1 and the ,elders had consented to perform the ordinance on a fixed day1 according to their custom1 and in conformity with the plan of salvation as pointed out by ,christ1 the early ,apostles1 and by ,john the ,baptist who baptized openly in the river ,jordan1 and near ,aenon near to ,salim because there was much water there4 ,at the appointed time the ordinance was performed1 a number of persons being present who came for the purpose of sneering at the rite1 and making sport of its sacredness1 which they did1 but which the ,elders paid only little attention to1 being accustomed to the jeers of the wicked4 ,on the same evening there was a pleasant association at the residence of the newly-baptized family1 the time being spent in singing sacred songs1 and in conversation4 ,retiring at #i o'clock1 leaving their bedroom door open owing to the heat1 they were at #aa o'clock rudely awakened1 ordered to get up1 to accompany a mob of about fifteen men to the woods4 ,you are a pretty-looking lot of fellows1 said one of the ,elders as he counted them1 and glanced at their masked faces4 ,what do you consider the ,savior would think of your mission1 if ,he were here8 ,why do you disturb the slumbers of the peaceful citizens at night1 thus hideously masked8 ,if we have transgressed any law1 we are amenable2 take us before your magistrates1 and we will answer to any charge you may prefer4 ,we don't want you to preach any more in this locality1 said one of the masked men4 ,then the best way to stop us is to induce the people to cease attending our meetings4 ,at this juncture the inmates of the house were alarmed1 and ,mr4 ,b4 came in1 taking a glance at each of the disturbers4 ,a voice on the outside was heard to cry3 ,captain6 captain6 enough said1 enough said4 ,the mob then withdrew1 and the ,elders retired again1 still leaving the door unlocked4 ,they remained there the following day1 but subsequently spent some time visiting friends in other districts4 ,in the course of two weeks they returned to the same place4 ,on their way thither1 there were a few who hurled insults at them1 but to this they paid no attention4 ,they arrived at ,mr4 ,brooks' house at #e o'clock in the evening where they met companions1 and where the time was spent in speaking of the gospel1 singing hymns1 and in conversing upon a variety of subjects concerning ,utah and her people4 ,no signs of disturbance appeared1 save an occasional ominous bark of the house dog4 ,the ,elders retired with sweet recollections of home1 to be roughly awakened at #b o'clock at night1 by the harsh cry of ,surrender4 ,they were surrounded by a horde of ruffians1 armed with guns1 pistols and clubs2 and in the most blasphemous language1 were ordered to get up1 the mobbers in the meantime brandishing their weapons in the faces of the ,elders4 ,not obeying orders as rapidly as the mob wished them to1 they were each 7there being four of them71 seized by two of the cowards1 one on either side1 dragged from their beds in an inhuman manner1 and marched along the road1 an eighth of a mile1 dressed only in their thin summer night-clothing4 ,resistance was impossible1 and the attempt of the proprietor of the house to assist them was met with curses1 a blow across the forehead1 with the exclamation3 ,if you show your head out of this house before #f o'clock tomorrow morning1 we will kill you4 ,the train marched on1 the vilest curses and the blackest oaths being uttered against them that mortals can express4 ,there was no charge preferred against them1 and they said3 ,if we have broken any law1 take us before the courts1 but the only reply was3 ,we are law enough for you4 ,what was to be their fate1 they knew not1 until the mob began cutting and trimming limbs of trees from four to six feet long1 having ugly knots4 ,soon the ,elders were ordered to bend over a fallen log about two feet through1 when their doom was made plain to them4 ,they were terribly whipped1 receiving lash after lash upon their backs without a question being asked1 or an opportunity being afforded to appeal from this inhuman treatment4 ,occasionally they raise to say a word1 but are immediately thrust down again by some of the mob using pistols or clubs4 ,in this way three received severe scalp wounds4 ,the woods resound with the lashes and the groans of the tortured2 thirty-five stripes have been laid upon them1 when they are requested to leave the country4 ,too faint to comply1 their hesitancy is construed as a refusal1 and they are once more belabored with redoubled fury1 causing them to cringe beneath the cruel beech-limbs wielded by a sturdy fiend weighing over two-hundred pounds4 ,fifty stripes each1 they received1 and yet they had injured no man6 ,how terrible6 but it was all for the sake of the gospel4 ,finally after such torture1 they were released1 upon promising to leave the country the next day4 ,they returned to their friend and brother6 but in what a lacerated condition4 ,they found him sitting in the door bleeding from his wounds4 ,they dressed each other's wounds as best they could1 then lay down in troubled rest till morning1 when they departed to the place where ,elder ,durant met them1 perhaps never to return4 ,while rehearsing not only his own experience but that of his wounded brothers1 no one listened with more marked attention than ,claire's husband4 ,from the moment he was introduced to ,durant1 at the depot1 they became very much attached to each other1 and1 as expressed by ,mr4 ,sutherland1 it seemed as if they had always been acquainted4 ,later1 while these two were conversing upon the veranda1 ,mr4 ,sutherland interrupted the ,elder by asking3 ,how do you account for the peculiar feelings attending the formation of new friendship1 ,mr4 ,durant8 ,have you not noticed that upon many occasions when introduced to a person1 you feel as well acquainted as if you had known him for years8 ,yes1 replied ,elder ,durant1 ,i have noticed it often1 and have frequently wondered if occasions where such feelings are manifested were really the beginning of acquaintance4 ,i have certainly been very much impressed with this sensation at times when ,i have been absolutely certain of its being the first meeting1 replied ,sutherland2 for instance1 to be frank1 it is the case with you4 ,i am certain beyond question that you and ,i have never met previous to this day1 and yet ,i followed you while giving the account of your labors and the troubles of your brethren1 with as much interest as if you were my own brother2 and ,i have felt all day long that we have always been acquainted4 ,mr4 ,sutherland1 said the ,elder1 who knows but before now we have been better acquainted than you are with any gentleman in your village1 and that we have merely forgotten our former associations together8 ,i do not understand your meaning1 said ,sutherland1 ,i am certain we have never seen each other before1 and consequently ,i cannot comprehend your idea when you intimate that perhaps we have been well acquainted4 ,you came from the ,west1 while ,i have always lived here1 where you have never dwelt except during your former visit to ,mr4 ,marshall's home1 and how1 therefore1 can it be possible for us ever to have met before8 ,i do not claim for an instant that such is the case1 ,mr4 ,sutherland1 but the idea afforded me such a splendid chance to open a conversation upon a principle believed in by my people1 that ,i could not resist the opportunity of saying what ,i did1 and1 as you say you are desirous of learning all you can about our views upon religious principles1 you1 yourself1 gave me a thought1 serving as a text1 for dwelling upon one of the most important of these4 ,if that is the case1 ,i am very glad4 ,what is the principle8 ,you know that all ,christians believe that after death there is life8 ,of course1 or why should they take the pains to prepare for death8 ,but what has that to do with having met you before8 ,neither that nor what ,i am going to say has anything whatever to do with it1 but1 ,mr4 ,sutherland1 if it is reasonable for you and me to believe we shall live after death1 why should it be unreasonable for us also to believe that our spirits existed before the birth of our earthly tabernacles8 ,there is certainly something connected with the intelligence of man that should appeal to us as if to say that the spirit is older than the body1 and emanated from a more exalted place than this earth of ours4 ,why1 ,mr4 ,durant1 exclaimed ,sutherland in astonishment1 ,i never heard such a doctrine as that4 ,let me ask1 have you ever read the ,bible to any great extent8 ,yes1 ,i have always been a lover of the ,divine ,record1 and have spent many hours in its perusal4 ,i am glad to hear this1 and ,i think1 as we proceed1 you may change your mind regarding never having heard such a doctrine as pre-existence4 ,you will perhaps admit that while reading1 you failed to understand fully what you read4 ,as an introduction to this grand and glorious principle1 let me read a beautiful poem ,i have here from the pen of one of the gifted women of ,utah2 she is dead now1 and the intelligent spirit1 sent from ,god to dwell in her earthly tabernacle1 has been recalled by the ,being who sent it1 or1 as the ,bible declares1 'has returned to ,god who gave it4' ,her name was ,eliza ,b4 ,snow ,smith1 and that name1 as well as this poem1 will live while time endures3 ,o my ,father1 thou that dwellest ,in the high and glorious place6 ,when shall ,i regain thy presence1 ,and again behold thy face8 ,in thy holy habitation1 ,did my spirit once reside8 ,in my first1 primeval childhood1 ,was ,i nurtured near thy side8 ,for a wise and glorious purpose ,thou hast placed me here on earth1 ,and withheld the recollection ,of my former friends and birth2 ,yet oft-times 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 ,but1 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 reason2 truth eternal ,tells me1 ,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 court 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 ,that is one of the most beautiful compositions ,i have ever listened to1 ,mr4 ,durant4 ,the words appear to carry a strange conviction with them4 ,can it be true8 and if so1 are we here as school children1 sent by exalted parents1 to become acquainted with sorrow in order to understand happiness8 ,either this is the case1 or else our faith in a hereafter is a myth4 ,you prove to me that our birth is the commencement of the intelligence of man1 and you also convince me that death is its end4 ,but we have enough given in the scriptures to convince us that birth is not the beginning1 and likewise that death is not the end4 ,christ said ,he came forth from the ,father 7,john xvi3 #bh71 and it was ,his prayer that the glory which ,he had before coming would be ,his when ,he returned4 7,john xvii3 #e47 ,in ,his teachings to ,his ,apostles ,he must have familiarized them with this exalted principle of pre-existence1 for upon one occasion they came to ,him with a question1 concerning a blind man3 ',who did sin1 this man or his parents1 that he was born blind8' 7,john ix3 #b47 ,surely had this been a foolish question1 ,christ would have corrected them1 but ,he answered them in a manner leading us to understand that it was a principle firmly believed in by them all2 and comprehending this1 as certainly they did1 they1 more than our generation1 could intelligently lisp the prayer taught them by the ,master3 ',our ,father who art in heaven4' ,our ,divine ,record says that ,god is the ,father of the spirits of all flesh 7,num4 xvi3 #bb71 in whose hand is the soul of every living thing 7,job xii3 #aj72 and we find in it that when death comes1 the spirit of man will return to ,god who gave it4 7,eccl4 xii3 #g47 ,job was asked by the ,lord where he was when the foundation of the earth was laid 7,job4 xxxviii3 #c-g71 and the ,almighty declared ,he not only knew but ordained ,jeremiah to be a prophet before his earthly birth4 7,jer4 i3 #e47 ,from these passages1 and many others that might be cited1 it should be very easy for ,christians to understand that there is a natural and a spiritual body4 7,i4 ,cor4 xv3 #dd47 ,mr4 ,durant1 said ,sutherland1 whether this principle is true or otherwise1 it cannot be gainsaid that you have scripture to support it4 ,why should we not have1 ,mr4 ,sutherland8 ,it is truth1 and it is only natural that the truth should appear reasonable4 ,as quoted1 ,god asks ,job3 ',who laid the corner stones of this earth1 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of ,god shouted for joy8' 7,job xxxviii3 #g47 ,now ,i sincerely believe that we were there1 that we helped to compose that large congregation of sons of ,god1 and that we did shout for joy at beholding the time approaching when we also would have the privilege of visiting an earth where our ,father would give us an opportunity to become possessed of bodies which should eventually be eternal abiding places for our spirits2 that when we came to this school we should have our judgments taken away1 or1 in other words1 that all recollection of our former existence should be withdrawn1 in order that we might be able to use the greatest gift of all1 which is 'free agency1' to do good or evil and become to a certain extent ,gods in embryo1 and then when we returned home from this school our ,father could reward us1 his children1 according to our works4 ,your explanation carries with it conviction4 ,i have been very much interested and desire to talk further with you on this subject1 but fear ,i am doing you an injustice by requiring you to speak so much4 ,i must not forget that the neighbors are coming in tonight1 and ,i should therefore not weary you4 ,you need not fear1 ,i assure you3 ,i have been talking now upon these principles for two years2 it is my mission1 and ,i am well pleased to find people who are willing to hear4 ,i am very anxious to listen1 ,i can assure you1 replied ,mr4 ,sutherland4 ,let us walk through the village1 you can view our improvements1 and perhaps shake hands with many whom you met when here before2 we might then return in time for supper1 and rest awhile before our evening chat4 ,this proposition was agreed to1 and taking their hats1 the two men went out4 ,the first person met on the ramble was our medical friend1 who1 learning of ,mr4 ,durant's intended return1 was hastening to the ,marshall residence to welcome him4 ,the greeting which the young missionary received from his true and lasting friend was unaffected and sincere1 meaning more than language can express4 ,questions and answers regarding the missionary's trip1 and matters1 which to the general reader would amount to mere commonplace1 were exchanged by the conversation1 and must have been interesting to them1 for it was continued during the whole of what proved a very long walk4 ,i begin to feel quite like a resident here1 said the ,elder1 though1 perhaps1 ,i ought to say that my acquaintance is not the only cause for that feeling1 for ,i try to be at ease wherever ,i go4 ,and succeed ,i should say4 ,if your experience elsewhere has been anything like that at ,westminster4 ,yes1 indeed1 and in so doing ,i find no little comfort in the words of an eminent man who is classed as a 'pagan1' an agnostic1 and so on1 but who1 ,i verily believe1 was as much a ,christian at heart as most of us certainly much more so than many who engage in the promulgation of ,christianity as a profession3 ',the world is my home1 and humanity my kindred4' ,by this time they had reached the home of ,mr4 ,marshall1 and after supper1 preparations were made for the evening gathering4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,a ,,pleasant ,,interview4 ,in the evening ,elder ,durant not only had the pleasure of meeting all his old friends of the previous visit1 but was honored with the presence of a large number of persons whom he had not seen before4 ,some of them had attended the meeting he held in the ,town ,hall on his first visit1 while others had only heard of him through the ,marshalls4 ,when all were comfortably seated in the large dining room1 ,mr4 ,sutherland by way of introducing the missionary to his new friends1 said3 ,my friends and neighbors1 we have assembled here this evening for the purpose of listening to ,mr4 ,durant on the religious faith of a people who claim to have the keys of a new dispensation committed to them4 ,if their claim is correct1 then it is of the utmost importance to the whole human race4 ,if ,god has indeed spoken from the heavens1 it is the duty of ,his children to listen2 on the other hand1 if this claim of the ,mormons be founded on a myth1 then it is our duty to do all in our power to disprove their declarations1 and deny that they have any divine commission whatever to proclaim the principles of salvation4 ,you who have the privilege of listening to him will know whether his arguments are sound and scriptural1 or otherwise2 and can therefore exercise the right1 which you all have1 of judging for yourselves4 ,we will1 therefore1 ask our friend from the valleys of the ,west to give us1 in as few words as possible1 an outline of what ,mormonism teaches1 after which all may act with the utmost freedom in asking questions upon anything the gentleman may say1 or upon any principle believed in by his people4 ,now1 ,mr4 ,durant1 we are anxious to hear you1 and you will find us attentive listeners4 ,the ,elder arose and in a few well-chosen words expressed his thanks to the ,marshalls for their kindness1 as well as to ,mr4 ,sutherland1 and all his friends who had taken an interest in him4 ,he was pleased to answer questions pertaining to his faith1 and with all sincerity bore testimony that the ,mormons were less understood by the people of this and other nations than any other sect in ,christendom4 ,their mission is one of peace on earth and good will to man1 not withstanding they had been represented as having objects quite the reverse4 ,their faith teaches the reason why man is here in this probation2 whence man came1 and whither he goes1 after his departure by death4 ,it teaches that the destiny of man is mighty1 that his exaltation is to be great2 that what man is1 ,god once was2 that what ,god is1 man can be4 ,mormonism teaches men to believe in ,god1 the ,eternal ,father1 and in ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 and in the ,holy ,ghost1 who bears record of them forever4 ,as a people1 we believe that all mankind1 through the transgression of our first parents1 were brought under the curse and penalty for transgression2 but that through the atoning sacrifice1 sufferings1 and death of ,jesus ,christ1 all are to be redeemed from any effects of original transgression2 that 'as by the offense of one1 judgment came upon all men unto condemnation2 even so1 by the righteousness of one1 the free gift came upon all men unto the justification of life4' 7,rom4 v3 #ah47 ,we believe that little children are innocent1 and not under transgression2 that they are incapable of obeying any law1 not understanding good or evil2 and ,jesus says1 ',of such are the kingdom of heaven2' but then1 when they arrive at the years of maturity1 and know good from evil1 and are capable of obeying or disobeying law2 if they then transgress1 they will be condemned for breaking a known law4 ,we believe that no man will be condemned for not obeying a law that he does not know2 and that consequently millions of the human family who have never heard the gospel1 are more blessed than those who have had that privilege1 and have refused to accept it2 that mankind will be judged according to the deeds done in the body4 ,we believe in the sufferings1 death and atoning sacrifice of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ1 and in ,his resurrection and ascension on high1 and in the ,holy ,ghost1 which is given to all who obey the gospel4 ,we believe1 first1 it is necessary to have faith in ,god1 and that1 next1 it is necessary to repent of our sins to confess and to turn away from them1 and make restitution to all whom we have injured1 as far as it is in our power4 ,we believe that the third necessity is to be baptized by immersion in water1 in the name of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 'for remission of sins1' and that this ordinance must be performed by one having authority1 or otherwise it is of no avail4 ,the fourth is1 to receive the laying on of hands1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost2 and this ordinance must also be administered by the ,apostles or the ,elders1 whom the ,lord ,jesus has called to lay on hands1 nor then is it of any advantage except to those persons who have complied with the before-named three conditions4 ,we believe that the ,holy ,ghost is the same now1 as it was in the apostolic days1 and that when a church is organized1 it is its privilege to have all the gifts1 powers and blessings which flow from the ,holy ,spirit3 ',such1 for instance1 as the gifts of revelation1 prophecy1 visions1 the ministry of angels1 healing the sick by the laying on of hands in the name of ,jesus1 the working of miracles1 and1 in short1 all the gifts mentioned in the scriptures1 or enjoyed by the ancient ,saints4' ,we believe that inspired apostles and prophets1 together with all the officers as mentioned in the ,new ,testament1 are necessary in the ,church in these days4 ,we believe that there has been a general and awful apostasy from the religion of the ,new ,testament1 so that all the known world have been left for centuries without the church of ,christ among them2 without a priesthood authorized of ,god to administer ordinances2 that every one of the churches has perverted the gospel1 some in one way and some in another4 ,for instance1 almost every church has ignored the doctrine of 'immersion for the remission of sins4' ,those few who have practiced it have abolished the ordinance of the 'laying on of hands' upon baptized believers for the gifts of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,again the few who have practiced the last ordinance have perverted the first1 or have denied the ancient gifts1 powers and blessings which flow from the ,holy ,spirit1 or have said to the inspired apostles and prophets1 we have no need of you in the body4 ,those few1 again1 who have believed in1 and contended for1 the miraculous gifts and powers of the ,holy ,spirit1 have perverted the ordinances4 ,thus all the churches preach false doctrines and distort the gospel1 and instead of having authority from ,god to administer its ordinances1 they are under the curse of ,god for corrupting it4 ,paul says 7,gal4 i3 #h71 ',though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you1 let him be accursed4' ,we believe that there are a few sincere1 honest and humble persons who are striving to do according to the best of their understanding1 but1 in many respects1 they err in doctrine because of false teachers and the precepts of men1 and that they will receive the fullness of the gospel with gladness as soon as they hear it4 ,we believe in the ,bible1 ,book of ,mormon1 and in living and continued revelation2 but we also believe that no new revelation will contradict the old4 ,the gospel in the ,book of ,mormon is the same as that in the ,new ,testament1 so that no one who reads it can misunderstand its principles4 ,it has been revealed by the angel to be preached as a witness to all nations1 first to the ,gentiles and then to the ,jews1 then cometh the downfall of ,babylon4 ,thus fulfilling the vision of ,john1 which he beheld on the ,isle of ,patmos1 7,rev4 xiv3 #f1 #g1 #h71 ',and ,i saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell upon the earth1 and to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 saying with a loud voice1 fear ,god and give glory to ,him1 for the hour of ,his judgment is come2 and worship ,him that made the heaven and earth1 and the sea and the fountains of water4' ,and there followed another angel saying1 ',babylon is fallen1 is fallen1 that great city1 because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornications4' ,many revelations and prophecies have been given to this ,church since its rise1 which have been printed and sent forth to the world4 ,these also contain the gospel in great plainness1 and instructions of infinite importance to the ,saints4 ,they also unfold the great events that await this generation1 the terrible judgments to be poured forth upon the wicked1 and the blessings and glories to be given to the righteous4 ,we believe ,god will continue to give revelations by visions1 by the ministry of angels1 and by the inspiration of the ,holy ,ghost1 until the ,saints are guided into all truth4 ,we believe that wherever the people enjoy the religion of the ,new ,testament1 there they enjoy visions1 revelations1 the ministry of angels1 etc4 ,and that wherever these blessings cease to be enjoyed1 there they also cease to enjoy the religion of the ,new ,testament4 ,we believe that ,god has established ,his church in order to prepare a people for ,his second coming in the clouds of heaven1 in power and great glory2 and that then the ,saints that are asleep in their graves will be raised and reign with ,him on earth a thousand years4 ,we believe that great judgments await the earth on account of the wickedness of its inhabitants1 and that when the gospel shall have been sufficiently proclaimed1 if they reject it they will be destroyed2 that plagues1 pestilence and famine will be multiplied upon them2 that thrones will be cast down1 empires overthrown1 and nations destroyed2 that when the ,spirit of ,god ceases to restrain the people1 the world will be full of blood1 carnage and desolation2 that peace will be taken from the earth and from among all people1 religious and irreligious4 ,it shall be as with the people1 so with the priest1 etc4 ,we believe that the ,lord will gather ,his people from among all nations unto a land of peace1 and give them pastors after ,his own heart1 who shall feed them with knowledge and understanding1 and they shall be the only people upon the earth that shall not be at war with one another4 ,we believe that the ,ten ,tribes of ,israel1 with the dispersed of ,judah1 shall soon be restored to their own lands1 according to the covenants which ,god made with their ancient fathers1 and that when this great work of restitution shall take place1 the power of ,god shall be made manifest in signs1 and wonders1 and mighty deeds1 far exceeding anything that took place in the exodus from ,egypt4 ,jerusalem will be rebuilt1 together with the glorious temple1 and the ,lord shall visit ,his ,saints in ,zion4 ,in that day the name of the ,lord shall become great unto the ends of the earth1 and all nations shall serve and obey ,him1 for the wicked shall have perished out of the earth4 ,we believe in all principles of truth that have been revealed2 in all that are now being revealed1 and are prepared to receive all that ,god will reveal4 ,we believe that the gospel1 now being preached by the ,latter-day ,saints1 is to call the honest in heart out of ,babylon1 that they partake not of her sins nor receive of her plagues4 ,we believe in morality1 chastity1 purity1 virtue and honesty1 and wish to promote the happiness of our fellow-men4 ,the ,elder's words were listened to with marked attention4 ,he expressed a willingness to answer questions1 and a desire to have as many asked1 concerning the religious principles believed in by his people1 as the listeners were pleased to propound4 ,mr4 ,durant1 said ,sutherland1 when the former was seated1 ,i have not only listened to all you have said with the greatest interest1 but have taken pleasure in reading the tracts left while on your former visit1 and whether your faith is correct or otherwise1 it will be a difficult task to disprove any of your arguments by the ,sacred ,record4 ,i wish to ask you a few questions regarding some of the principles you have not touched upon1 and which ,i understand to be a part of your faith4 ,i am informed that you believe in a literal resurrection of the body8 ,is this correct8 ,certainly1 answered the ,elder promptly4 ,how could we lay any claim whatever to a ,christian belief in the resurrection unless we believed in a literal resurrection8 ,well you certainly would not be compelled to believe in a literal resurrection in order to lay claim to having a ,christian belief in that principle1 for all ,christians are surely not believers in it4 ,all true ,christians must follow ,christ's teachings regarding this principle as well as all others1 or else how can they be considered true ,christians8 ,christ is the resurrection and the life4 7,john xi3 #be47 ,he was also the first fruits of the resurrection4 7,acts xxvi3 #bc47 ,he1 therefore1 is our great pattern4 ,we know ,he was put to death 7,matt4 xxvii3 #ej72 that ,his body was laid in the tomb 7,matt4 xxvii3 #fj72 that when ,his friends visited that tomb the body was gone2 that an angel declared that the body had been resurrected 7,matt4 xxviii3 #f72 that ,he appeared to ,his apostles with the body which had been crucified1 even bearing the prints of the cruel nails in ,his hands1 and the marks of the spear in ,his side1 and to satisfy ,thomas1 ,he asked to be handled that no mistake might be made regarding its being a literal resurrection of the same body ,he had before the crucifixion 7,john xx3 #bg1 #bh74 ,this was the resurrection of our ,master1 and inasmuch as ,he has commanded us to follow ,him1 why should ours not be the same8 ,but you will admit that if ,christianity is true and ,christ is really the ,savior1 that there is a great difference between ,his resurrection and that of those who have died since4 ,his body had only just been interred2 there had not been sufficient time for it to decay in the grave1 and ,he was ,god ,himself1 while the bodies of others decay1 and are scattered1 in some cases at least1 to the four winds1 answered ,brown4 ,how about the statement regarding the resurrection of others1 who1 the scriptures declare1 came forth from their graves at the time of ,christ's resurrection8 7,matt4 xxvii3 #eb47 ,they certainly must have slumbered for a long time4 ,i cannot understand1 said ,brown how it could be possible for a literal resurrection of the body to occur after decay had taken place1 and the body had returned as dust to the earth4 ,mr4 ,brown1 the ,elder said1 you will candidly admit that there are many things now accepted as truths which at one time seemed to you incomprehensible8 ,no doubt1 ,i do1 answered ,brown4 ,yes1 you do1 most decidedly3 ,for instance1 when you first learned of the wonders of the telephone1 you could scarcely credit them2 when you were informed that you could converse with a friend who stood miles away1 you not only doubted1 but perhaps disbelieved1 yet you doubt no longer1 for your eyes have seen1 and your ears have heard4 ,is not this true8 ,it is2 what the eye has seen or the ear has heard1 one must certainly believe4 ,but is not that a vastly different proposition8 ,not at all2 you are only less familiar with the methods or principles upon which the resurrection depends1 that is all4 ,when we have more of the intelligence of heaven1 and can understand more regarding the great principle by which the resurrection is brought about1 it will appear simple enough4 ,god permits a ray of intelligence to come from heaven2 it reaches the mind of man1 it gives us knowledge of the telegraph1 by which our messages flash from nation to nation in the twinkling of an eye1 and opens to our understanding many other wonders of modern science4 ,we may not understand fully how it is done1 but we know it is accomplished1 and we therefore believe what we once disbelieved4 ,another ray reaches us1 and we have an understanding of the telephone1 the phonograph1 the electric cars2 and through the effects of these discoveries1 we open our eyes in wonderment6 ,yet these flashes of intelligence are nothing compared with the mighty fire of wisdom in the heavens from whence these originate4 ,they may be new to us1 but are thoroughly understood by ,him who sent them4 ,they are all gifts from the ,father of our spirits1 and only small gifts at that1 compared with what ,he has in store for us4 ,how can you imagine for an instant1 exclaimed ,mr4 ,sutherland1 that it can be possible for all the particles of our bodies to be gathered together again after they have been scattered8 ,i do not1 and cannot pretend to1 answer this question4 ,it will require more intelligence than ,i have1 to answer it4 ,but this ,i firmly believe2 that no particle1 that is1 none of the component parts1 of my body will ever go to make up the body of anything else1 except perhaps for a time1 and that it matters not whether my body be burned or permitted to decay and return to mother earth1 every particle will be collected and brought together again1 at the time of the resurrection which will be literal in every sense of the word4 ,let me relate a little anecdote which illustrates my position4 ,a person had received1 as a birthday gift1 a beautiful silver cup from a friend4 ,this cup was prized very much1 not only on account of its beauty1 but because of the love the receiver had for the giver4 ,in a short time the one making this present was called away1 the cold hand of death was laid upon him4 ,then the cup increased a hundred fold in value to the owner1 and nothing could influence him to part from it4 ,years afterward1 the owner of the present carried it to the place where he was employed1 for the purpose of exhibiting it to a fellow workman4 ,during the day1 in passing the shelf where it rested while he was engaged in moving some valuable goods1 he carelessly knocked the cup from the shelf1 and it fell into a vessel of fluid4 ,thinking at the moment that the vessel contained nothing but water1 the owner waited until his arms were released from the valuable load they contained1 before seeking to remove the cup from the place into which it had fallen4 ,when he returned1 he found1 to his sorrow1 that his cup had disappeared4 ,upon investigation1 imagine his sorrow1 when he discovered that the vessel contained nitric acid instead of water1 and that the cup had been eaten up by the fluid4 ,he thought of how he had valued that keepsake1 how much he revered the memory of the giver1 and how foolish he was to bring the prize from his home that morning4 ,at this moment1 his employer happened along1 and noticing his grief enquired for the cause4 ,after listening to the poor man's story1 and learning that the cup was made in a neighboring town1 he rather startled the sorrowing man with this remark3 ',don't feel bad1 my man1 ,i promise1 you shall again have your cup4' ,the workingman1 thinking his words meant that he should receive the amount of its real value1 or another cup1 explained that it was not its cost1 neither would another cup fill its place4 ,it was the loss of this particular article1 which came from the hands of a friend who had since died1 that caused him grief4 ',never mind1 ,i say1 whether you believe my words or not1 ,i promise1 and will make good that promise1 that you shall again have your cup1 and it shall be made of the same identical silver1 having the same form1 and being composed of nothing but the same metal4 ,i don't mean the same kind1 but the very same silver you dropped into that fluid4' ,and with this he took a few hand fulls of common salt1 flung them into the liquid1 and there formed in the solution a white solid2 this he removed1 dried and heated in a crucible1 and the result was a lump of silver of the highest lustre4 ',now1 you see1' said the kind-hearted man1 'how easy it is to restore when you understand the method by which it is done4 ,all the silver composing that cup of yours is now in my hands4 ,how easy it is for me to have it remoulded in the same moulds6 and who will say you have not the same cup resurrected from the grave8' ,can you not understand1 said ,durant1 that this laborer was in the same condition as the poor mortals who are in painful ignorance of the way and means by which the resurrection will take place8 ,and yet how simple when once understood4 ,the cup had been buried in that world of liquid1 it had dissolved and had been scattered throughout the world in which it was buried1 and to a person unacquainted with the laws governing such things1 was lost forever4 ,if man1 who is as a babe compared with ,god in intelligence1 could resurrect a cup from that little world1 do you not think it possible for ,god1 who is the fountain-head of intelligence and power1 to restore your body after it has been scattered through out this little world of ours8 ,and as the restoring of that cup appeared very simple to that laboring man1 so ,i believe the resurrection of the body will appear very simple to us when we are on the other side1 and fully understand the laws1 methods and powers which govern the restoration4 ,at this moment a ,mr4 ,williams1 who had been a very attentive listener during the entire evening1 arose and said3 ,mr4 ,durant1 to all appearances you have proved every argument made with some quotation from the ,bible2 your mode of reasoning appears very logical1 but ,i have here a passage which seems to conflict with the argument that baptism is positively essential to salvation4 ,if so1 answered the ,elder1 ,i will be pleased to listen4 ,really1 if you have found an argument1 from the sayings of ,christ or ,his apostles1 which promises salvation without baptism1 you have certainly made a great discovery4 ,well1 ,i think the discovery has been made1 answered ,williams1 and it seems strange that a gentleman who has made the ,bible as much of a study as you have1 has never been able to comprehend it4 ,thanks1 but now for the argument2 do not build your hopes too high1 perhaps you misunderstand your own reading of the ,sacred ,record4 ,well1 that remains to be seen4 ,you have disclaimed all belief in death-bed repentance bringing salvation1 and you are1 as well1 a disbeliever in salvation without baptism4 ,now to the law and the testimony once more4 ,examine the account of the crucifixion1 as recorded in ,luke #bcrd chapter1 beginning with the #cith verse4 ,christ upon that occasion had a male factor on either side of ,him2 one railed on ,him saying1 ',if though be ,christ1 save thyself and us1' while the other1 being filled with repentance and being converted1 rebuked his companion in sin and implored the blessed ,redeemer3 ',lord remember me when thou comest to thy kingdom4' ,christ1 witnessing the repentance of this malefactor1 even at the last moment of his life1 presented him with the gift of salvation before giving up the ghost3 ',verily ,i say unto thee1 today shalt thou be with me in paradise4' ,these were the words used by the ,captain of our salvation2 the promise was granted without baptism1 and he was carried to heaven with our ,savior2 and yet in the very face of this testimony you proclaim the doctrine that without baptism salvation cannot be obtained4 ,christ did not offer that malefactor salvation on that occasion1 neither was he carried to heaven with the ,redeemer4 ,i desire to convince you1 ,mr4 ,williams1 if you will accept the statement in the ,bible1 and ,i believe you will1 that ,christ did not go to ,his ,father until some time after this1 and that the paradise referred to is not the haven of salvation that we all hope to reach4 ,mr4 ,durant1 if you convince me of this1 ,i will have nothing more to say1 replied ,mr4 ,williams4 ,very well1 then1 pay strict attention to the words you have just quoted which contain the promise that in your opinion insures the penitent malefactor entrance to the presence of the ,father3 ',today shalt thou be with me in paradise4' ,three days after these words were spoken1 we discover ,mary weeping as she bowed down at the sepulcher where ,christ's remains had been deposited1 and upon recognizing her ,lord1 who stood by her side and addressed her1 she received this command1 ',touch me not1 for ,i am not yet ascended to my ,father4' ,rather a strange and startling declaration for the ,savior to make1 was it not1 when the promise to the thief1 made three days previously was to the effect that upon that day they should both be in ,his presence8 ,why1 ,mr4 ,durant1 exclaimed ,claire1 ,i can't understand it at all2 ,he did certainly make the promise1 and yet from ,his words1 spoken three days after1 it appears that ,he had not yet been to ,his ,father4 ,can it be that one of our ,savior's promises has really fallen to the ground unfulfilled8 ,not in the least1 ,mrs4 ,sutherland2 it is merely another one of those cases where we read but fail to understand4 ',the letter killeth but the ,spirit giveth life1' you know4 ,christ kept ,his word with the malefactor1 and ,he also spoke truthfully to ,mary4 ,he and the sinner undoubtedly went on the day mentioned to paradise1 but the great mistake1 made by many1 lies in believing that paradise is heaven4 ,well1 if paradise is not heaven1 what is it8 ,if they went to some other place1 where is that place8 exclaimed ,mr4 ,williams4 ,i believe it was heaven4 ,i do not doubt your statement for a moment4 ,prof4 ,a4 ,hindercoper1 a ,german writer1 says3 ',in the second and third centuries every branch and division of the ,christian church1 so far as their records enable us to judge1 believed that ,christ preached to the departed spirits4' ,this is in harmony with the belief of the ,latter-day ,saints1 as well as in harmony with the ,bible4 ,peter speaking upon this subject answers your question by saying3 ',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 prison2 which sometimes were disobedient1 when once the longsuffering of ,god waited in the days of ,noah1 while the ark was a preparing1 wherein few1 that is1 eight souls were saved by water4' ,christ undoubtedly understood that ,his mission would not end with ,his crucifixion1 but as ,he finished ,his mission to mortals by opening to them the gospel gates1 it would be the beginning of ,his mission1 for a similar purpose1 with those on the other side of the vail1 and realizing that ,his mission there would begin immediately upon ,his release here1 and that the malefactor would meet him there1 ,he made the promise mentioned3 ',today shalt thou be with me in paradise4' ,peter declares that they were visited and preached to in order that they might be judged according to man in the flesh1 but live according to ,god in the spirit4 7,i4 ,peter iv3 #f47 ,bishop ,alford1 speaking of the declaration made by the chief apostle1 said3 ',i understand these words 7,i4 ,peter iii3 #ai7 to say that our ,lord in his disembodied state1 did go to the place of detention of departed spirits1 and did there announce his work of redemption2 preach salvation in fact1 to the disembodied spirits of those who refused to obey the voice of ,god when the judgment of the flood was hanging over them4 ,that seems reasonable1 and it has given me a pew idea and something to consider1 said ,williams1 but how about the ordinances you claim are necessary for all8 ,how can those who did not hear the gospel before they died1 receive the ordinances8 ,now we believe that those who embraced the gospel in the spirit world will be saved2 and believe with the scriptures that a vicarious work must be performed for them by the living4 ,this doctrine was evidently understood by the saints in the days of the apostles4 ,paul informs us that the first gospel ordinance of all dispensations1 baptism1 was administered by proxy among the former-day ,saints4 ,while teaching the ,corinthian saints about the resurrection1 7,i ,cor4 xv3 #bi7 he asks them3 ',else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead1 if the dead rise not at all8' in other words1 of what use is baptism for the dead1 if there is no resurrection8 showing that the doctrine of baptism for the dead was evidently neither new nor strange to the people to whom the apostle was writing4 ,christ died for the dead as well as the living3 ,for to this end ,christ both died1 and rose1 and revived1 that he might be the ,lord both of the dead and the living4 7,rom4 xiv3 #i47 ,but do you mean that living persons shall be baptized for the dead8 ,certainly4 ,before the great day of the ,lord shall come 'that shall burn as an oven1 and when all the proud1 yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble2 and the day that cometh shall burn them up1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts1 that it shall leave them neither root nor branch1' 7,mal4 iv3 #a17 an important event is to take place1 as we learn from the same prophet1 verses #e and #f3 ',behold ,i will send you ,elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the ,lord2 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' ,the coming of ,elijah1 to inaugurate this great work must evidently be to some one who is prepared to receive him4 ,his mission1 'to turn the heart of the fathers to the children1 and the heart of the children to their fathers' is very comprehensive1 and pertains to the whole family of ,adam1 there being no discrimination between the living and the dead1 between those who have lived in the past and those who shall live in the future4 ,there must be a welding link between the fathers and their children1 and that welding link is baptism for the dead4 ,we testify that ,elijah has come2 that he appeared to ,joseph1 the seer1 and ,oliver ,cowdery1 in the ,kirtland ,temple1 on the #crd of ,april1 #ahcf1 and said3 ',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 come 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 ,therefore1 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' ,ordinances for the salvation of the dead require temples1 or sacred places1 especially constructed for their administration2 for this reason1 we build temples1 and also1 that we may perform other ordinances for the dead and the living4 ,i have heard that the organization of your ,church is unusually complete4 ,how is it organized8 asked one of the visitors present4 ,it is organized on the foundation of ,apostles and ,prophets4 ,we have therefore various quorums of these in the ,church organized by revelation for the efficient and harmonious performance of church duties4 ,there is the ,first ,presidency1 chosen from those who hold the ,high ,priesthood and ,apostleship1 consisting of a ,president and two counsellors4 ,the duty of the ,president is to preside over the whole ,church1 and he is sustained by the whole people as a seer1 a revelator1 a translator1 and a prophet4 ,what is meant by ,priesthood8 ,you must have two ,priesthoods then1 as you speak of the ,high ,priesthood1 indicating there must be a lower one8 ,the ,church is governed by the ,holy ,priesthood1 which is divided into two grand heads the ,aaronic or lesser and the ,melchisedek or higher4 ,the ,melchisedek ,priesthood1 so called because ,melchisedek was such a great ,high ,priest1 and also to avoid the too frequent use of ,jehovah's name1 as this ,priesthood was formerly called after the order of ,his ,son1--holds the right of presidency1 to receive revelations from heaven and to enjoy the spiritual blessings2 while the ,aaronic ,priesthood1 so called because it was conferred upon ,aaron and his seed forever1 holds the keys of the ministering of angels1 and to administer in the outward ordinances of the ,church4 ,the offices of the ,melchisedek ,priesthood include ,apostles1 ,seventies1 ,patriarchs or ,evangelists1 and ,elders1 and the ,aaronic ,priesthood includes ,bishops1 ,priests1 ,teachers and ,deacons4 ,next to the quorum of the ,first ,presidency is the ,twelve ,apostles1 then the ,high ,council1 the ,seventies1 the ,high ,priests1 the ,elders1 and the quorums of the ,lesser ,priesthood4 ,each calling has its own duties to be performed1 and the organization is such that one does not come in conflict with the other4 ,the company now parted for the evening1 each hoping that an opportunity might be given to hear the ,elder again4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,a ,,baptism ,,and ,a ,,conversation ,,on ,,marriage4 ,it will be remembered that on the evening of ,mr4 ,durant's speech in the ,town ,hall at ,westminster1 an old lady came to him at the close of the meeting and whispered a ,god bless you to him4 ,the truths uttered by him had made a deep impression upon her and were working to bear fruit4 ,she had now made application to be baptized1 convinced1 as she was1 of the truths of the gospel1 and that this servant of ,god was authorized1 by direct calling from ,him through revelation1 to perform the solemn ceremony4 ,it was agreed1 therefore1 that the baptism should take place on an afternoon some time before the day of his departure to his home in the ,west4 ,he made it a point to obtain a conversation with the lady1 and show to her the importance of the step she was about to take4 ,it is no simple or indifferent affair4 ,it is a contract with ,god1 fraught with wonderful results1 to the person who makes it1 that will either lead to rich blessings or to condemnation4 ,when one man makes a contract with another1 the breaker of such a contract must be willing to suffer the ignominy attending his deceit4 ,in baptism1 the subject makes a solemn vow with his ,creator1 and1 rising from the waters in which he is buried in the likeness of the death of ,christ1 he should thenceforth walk in newness of life1 and should not serve sin4 ,he is made free from sin1 and becomes a servant to ,god1 he has his fruit unto holiness and the end is everlasting life4 7,romans vi47 ,the earnestness of the new convert's faith and repentance was inquired into1 and it was pointed out to her that she should prepare herself to receive the testimony of the ,spirit1 which is made known to different individuals in different ways not always by unusual manifestations1 but frequently by the calm self-consciousness of peace that comes from a performance of righteous acts1 in which the ,spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of ,god1 heirs and joint heirs with ,christ4 ,we must not look for approval from friends1 relatives or people of the world1 in taking this step1 but be prepared to suffer with ,christ that we may be also glorified with ,him1 and exclaim with ,paul3 ,i reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us4 7,rom4 viii3 #ah47 ,like ,christ1 one must bear the cross upon the lone way1 full of hope1 confidence and zeal1 knowing that the end is everlasting life4 ,having said this much1 and given many other incidental instructions1 that would thoroughly impress the new convert with the sacredness and importance of the step about to be taken1 ,mr4 ,durant1 members of the ,marshall family1 and a number of strangers1 anxious to witness the ceremony1 made their way1 on a pleasant afternoon1 to a beautiful wood where a stream wound its clear1 slow waters in fantastic forms to empty into one of the large rivers4 ,the autumn tints1 the sun casting its warm influence to the earth through the gray atmosphere1 the rustle of the wind in the falling leaves1 and the beauty of nature all around1 made the scene grand and romantic4 ,some who had gone along to make sport of the ,mormon baptism1 were awed into strange silence by the beauty of the scene1 and by the solemnity and scripture-like simplicity of the ceremony4 ,after a word of prayer had been offered1 in which ,mr4 ,durant invoked the blessings of ,god upon the ordinance about to be performed1 and asked that all disturbing spirits might be banished1 he took the lady by the hand and waded with her out into the water1 and1 in the stillness which followed 7those upon the shore unconsciously remaining uncovered71 he was heard to say1 as he held the old lady's hands in his left1 and raised his right hand into the air3 ,julia ,howard1 having been commissioned of ,jesus ,christ1 ,i baptize you in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,amen4 ,then he immersed her in the water1 and both came forth again out of the water4 ,the company soon dispersed1 and upon arrival at her home1 the new convert was confirmed1 she preferring this to having that ordinance performed upon the water's edge1 which is frequently done4 ,mr4 ,durant placed his hands upon her head1 and by virtue of his calling and authority1 confirmed her a member of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and1 in the manner of the apostles of old1 bestowed upon her the gift of the ,holy ,ghost which he promised should be a light to her all her days4 ,the ,elder was about to leave1 having welcomed the new member and congratulated her upon the step she had taken1 when he was somewhat surprised by a remark she made in which she expressed a desire to gather with the ,saints4 ,the spirit of gathering had already rested upon her1 and he explained to her the importance of this principle of the gospel4 ,the ,father desires that ,his children shall be gathered in unto one place where their hearts shall be prepared against the day when tribulation and desolation shall come upon the wicked4 ,the ,psalmist referred to this subject and exclaimed3 ,gather my ,saints together who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice4 7,ps4 #a3 #e47 ,isaiah1 looking to the future1 saw that in the last days the mountain of the ,lord's house should be established in the tops of the mountains to which all nations should go4 7,isaiah ii3 #b47 ,here the ,lord was to give them one heart1 and make an everlasting covenant with them4 7,isaiah xxxii3 #cg-dd47 ,and in that day the ,lord should set ,his hand again the second time to recover the remnants of ,his people4 7,isaiah xi3 #aa-af47 ,john1 the revelator1 saw this time1 and heard a voice from heaven saying3 ,come out of her ,babylon my people1 that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues4 7,rev4 xviii3 #d47 ,it was1 therefore1 in strict accordance with the scriptures that she should have the desire to gather1 as well as that the ,saints should have an assembling place where they might learn to walk in the paths of ,god more strictly than in the world4 ,there are ordinances1 too1 to be performed in the holy temples1 for the living and the dead1 that cannot be done elsewhere4 ,it is not well1 however1 that this act of gathering should be considered thoughtlessly and in haste1 but rather with deliberation and careful forethought4 ,in the conversation1 ,elder ,durant had incidentally remarked1 that marriage was not only for time but also for all eternity4 ,the newly wedded couple1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,sutherland1 who had remained to witness the confirmation1 were naturally interested in this1 and the subject was further inquired into by them4 ,what is the belief of the ,latter-day ,saints in relation to marriage8 said ,mr4 ,sutherland4 ,we believe1 said ,durant1 that marriage is ordained of ,god1 and is binding for eternity1 when properly performed by a servant of ,god having authority4 ,then it would appear that you believe in the family relation continuing throughout eternity8 ,certainly1 why not8 ,everything that is done by the ,lord receives the impress of eternity4 ,that being the case1 marriage1 being sanctioned and ordained of ,him1 is also eternal if performed by one having power as the ancient apostles had1 to bind on earth and it should be bound in heaven4 ,it then becomes a work of ,god1 and1 as the ,preacher exclaims3 ',i know that whatsoever ,god doeth it shall be forever2 nothing can be put to it1 nor anything taken from it4' 7,eccles4 iii3 #ad47 ,can you think of anything more comforting than that the loving ties formed in this world are to endure through out the ages of eternity8 ,it is certainly more pleasant than to dwell upon a union that shall last only 'till death do you part2' but what proofs have you that your view of the matter is correct8 ,in the first marriage that was ever performed1 when the ,creator joined together ,adam and ,eve as the parents of the human race1 we have no record of its being done to last only 'till death do you part1' and we do not learn that ,he set any limit to the continuance of their marriage relations4 ,why should we doubt that the gift of ,eve to ,adam1 was designed to be eternal8 ,they were married before the ,fall1 before death came into the world4 ,they were eternal beings not subject to death2 death was not considered when ,god gave her to be his companion and helpmeet4 ,why then should we conclude that death should void the contract or separate them any more than that it should destroy the spirit8 ,if their spirits could be restored with resurrected bodies1 why should not the eternal work of ,god in joining them as one remain unbroken8 ,the whole second chapter of ,genesis breathes the spirit of everlasting union between ,adam and ,eve4 ,in the eighteenth verse we are told by the ,lord that1 'it is not good that the man should be alone4' ,adam1 the man1 was created an eternal being1 and when ,god said that it was not good for him to be alone1 we must conclude it was not good that he should be alone in immortality2 so the ,lord gave him ,eve for no particular period of his life1 but evidently1 as she was also an eternal being1 to be his wife forever the union to last as long as they should last eternally4 ,that seems reasonable1 and it is a pleasant hope you have1 said ,claire4 ,with us it is more than a hope2 it is knowledge4 ,there are other passages of scripture which bear upon the inseparable connection between man and wife1 in marriage as ordained of ,god4 ,paul 7,eph4 v3 #bb7 says3 ',the husband is the head of the wife even as ,christ is the head of the ,church4' ,christ remains forever the head of the ,church1 and even so the husband remains the head of the wife eternally4 ,what do you mean by saying 'in marriage as ordained of ,god8' ,is not all marriage ordained of ,him8 said ,mr4 ,sutherland4 ,by marriage as ordained of ,god1 ,i mean marriage performed in the way ,he has appointed1 by a man whom ,he has authorized to act in ,his stead4 ,what man does of himself1 without authority from ,god1 must be like him limited to this life4 ,now1 like the authority to baptize1 this authority to marry in the way ,god has ordained1 must come by revelation from ,him1 for no man can take these honors to himself4 ,to find this authority1 we must look for it among a people who believe in revelation1 and not among churches who declare that the heavens are sealed1 and that no further revelation is necessary4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,about ,,the ,,mormons4 ,the day upon which the ,mormon ,elder was to leave his missionary field to return to his home in the mountains1 was rapidly approaching4 ,mr4 ,brown1 the lawyer1 had become so interested in the missionary and his peculiar people that this gentleman determined to accompany him to ,utah1 to see for himself what he had heard so much concerning4 ,on the evening before their departure1 all the old friends were gathered at the ,marshall residence1 or hotel1 and quite naturally the conversation turned to the contemplated trip to ,utah1 and from that to the motives which led the ,mormons to settle in that territory4 ,what were the considerations that led to the settling of ,utah by the ,mormons8 asked one of the members of the little company4 ,persecution by their enemies was the primary cause1 said the ,elder4 ,after the death of the ,prophet ,joseph1 they were driven from their homes in ,nauvoo1 and hence sought a new abiding place in the ,west4 ,how did the death of ,joseph1 the ,prophet1 occur8 asked ,mr4 ,brown4 ,he was murdered in cold blood by masked men4 ,you understand that all innovations on existing conditions have been opposed from time immemorial4 ,the gospel has particularly been combatted in all ages1 as its history amply illustrates4 ,the people of their time did not tolerate ,christ and ,his apostles1 and ceased not persecuting them as long as they lived upon the earth4 ,they were all at last put to death4 ,the truths which the ,latter-day prophet taught were the same as were expounded by the ,savior and his followers1 and opposition to these came as naturally as that a similar cause produces a similar effect4 ,the prophet was finally martyred for the testimony which he bore4 ,he had been brought continually before the courts which1 however1 could prove no guilt against him1 for he was innocent of any other offense than that of preaching the gospel of ,christ1 and bearing his testimony that the ,god of heaven had again spoken to man4 ,some three days previous to his assassination1 he went to the city of ,carthage1 in ,illinois1 ,nauvoo being then the abiding place of the ,saints1 to deliver himself up to the pretended requirements of the law4 ,the governor of the state had pledged his word1 as the chief executive1 that the prophet should be protected1 but no effort was made to fulfill this pledge1 and so ,joseph and his brother ,hyrum were shot in ,carthage jail1 on the #bgth of ,june1 #ahdd1 by an armed mob1 composed of about two hundred persons who had painted themselves black4 ,did this murder of their prophet have the effect of discouraging the ,saints1 or rather1 did they feel disposed to abandon the cause for which they had so far battled8 ,it is very natural that they felt discouraged and that some wavered in their course1 but the great majority were inclined to continue with unfaltering zeal in the work1 because they knew for themselves that the true gospel had been restored1 and that they were engaged in the work of ,god4 ,and here let me remark that the strength of the ,church consists in the personal knowledge and testimony of the members4 ,the ,spirit of ,god fills each member with unfaltering faith1 and he builds his superstructure of religious belief on personal knowledge1 imparted to him1 by the power of the ,spirit1 through revelation4 ,this testimony remains as long as the person lives uprightly and honorably before the ,lord1 doing nothing to grieve it away4 ,instead of scattering and abandoning the ,church1 leaving it to die1 as was expected and desired by its enemies1 and which would doubtless have been the case if it had not been divinely established1 the people gathered strength and1 through the assistance of ,god1 and the leadership of ,apostle ,brigham ,young1 forsook their homes in their beloved ,nauvoo1 crossed the trackless plains1 scaled the mountains1 and in the midst of a desolate wilderness founded a commonwealth which has attracted the attention and the admiration of the whole world4 ,how did ,brigham ,young come to be the leader of the people8 asked ,mr4 ,sutherland4 ,he was the president of the ,twelve ,apostles1 the quorum next in authority to the ,first ,presidency1 upon whom naturally rested the keys of the kingdom1 upon whom1 in fact1 was conferred the power or authority that the prophet had received from on high4 ,sidney ,rigdon and others sought the honor of leading the ,church1 but the ,lord1 through the manifestations of ,his ,spirit1 chose ,brigham ,young for the place1 as president of the ,twelve ,apostles1 the people sustaining him by their vote1 at a meeting held in the grove near the temple at ,nauvoo1 on the #hth of ,august1 #ahdd4 ,he was afterwards1 ,december1 #ahdg1 chosen president of the whole ,church4 ,he felt the power of his calling1 and made preparations for the great exodus of the people to the ,west1 which had been considered during the lifetime of the prophet1 but which was now made absolutely necessary by the persecution of the enemies of the ,church4 ,in #ahde1 anti-,mormon delegates from nine counties of ,illinois met1 at ,carthage1 and demanded the removal of the ,saints4 ,the ,council of ,apostles agreed to their demands1 knowing full well that there was no alternative between exodus or extermination by massacre4 ,in ,february1 #ahdf1 the exodus began by the ,saints crossing the ,mississippi ,river1 the remnant following on ,september #agth of the same year1 and the movement triumphantly continued1 with interruptions1 under severest difficulties and hardships1 until the pioneers1 on ,july #bdth1 #ahdg1 entered the valley of the ,great ,salt ,lake4 ,something of the hardships which they endured1 and of the magnitude of their undertaking1 the historians have graphically pictured4 ,tullidge says3 ',the ,mormons were setting out under their leader from the borders of civilization1 with their wives and their children1 in broad daylight1 before the very eyes of ten thousand of their enemies1 who would have preferred their utter destruction to their 'flight1' notwithstanding they had enforced it by treaties outrageous beyond description1 inasmuch as the exiles were nearly all ,american born1 many of them tracing their ancestors to the very founders of the nation4 ,they had to make a journey of fifteen hundred miles over trackless prairies1 sandy deserts and rocky mountains1 through bands of war-like ,indians1 who had been driven1 exasperated1 towards the ,west2 and at last1 to seek out and build up their ,zion in valleys then unfruitful1 in a solitary region where the foot of the white man had scarcely trodden4 ,these1 too1 were to be followed by the aged1 the halt1 the sick and the blind1 the poor1 who were to be helped by their little less destitute brethren1 and the delicate young mother with her newborn babe at her breast1 and still worse1 for they were not only threatened with the extermination of the poor remnant at ,nauvoo1 but news had arrived that the parent government designed to pursue their pioneers with troops1 take from them their arms1 and scatter them1 that they might perish by the way1 and leave their bones bleaching in the wilderness4 99 99 99 ,in the centuries hence1 when the passing events of this age shall have taken their proper place1 the historian will point back to that exodus in the ,new ,world of the ,west1 as one quite worthy to rank with the immortal exodus of the children of ,israel4' ,bancroft says3 ',of their long journey many painful incidents are recorded4 ,weakened by fever or crippled by rheumatism1 and with sluggish circulation1 many were severely frostbitten4 ,women were compelled to drive the nearly worn-out teams1 while tending on their knees1 perhaps1 their sick children4 ,the strength of the beasts was failing1 as there were intervals when they could be kept from starving only by the browse or tender buds and branches of the cottonwood1 felled for the purpose4 ',at one time no less than two thousand wagons could be counted1 it was said1 along the three hundred miles of road that separated ,nauvoo from the ,mormon encampments4 ,many families possessed no wagons1 and in the long processions might be seen vehicles of all descriptions1 from the lumbering cart1 under whose awning lay stretched its fever-stricken driver1 to the veriest makeshifts of poverty1 the wheel-barrow or the two-wheeled trundle1 in which was dragged along a bundle of clothing and a sack of meal all of this world's goods that the owner possessed4 ',on arriving at the banks of the ,missouri1 the wagons were drawn up in double lines and in the form of squares4 ,between the lines1 tents were pitched at intervals1 space being left between each row for a passage way1 which was shaded with awnings or a latticework of branches1 and served as a promenade for convalescents and a playground for children4' ,but it would be too long a story1 to follow the exiles in their vicissitudes through the whole of their weary march across the uninhabited wilderness that lay between them and their future home1 in the then wild valleys of the mountains1 and to speak of their struggles for existence after they arrived there4 ,they passed through many severe afflictions in building up the country and in settling the territory4 ,the crops were often destroyed by grass-hoppers1 crickets1 untimely frosts1 and drought1 but in each difficulty1 the ,lord overruled circumstances for good and prospered the people1 providing the necessaries of life4 ,settlements were established at various points north and south of ,salt ,lake ,city1 and the thrift of the people1 seasoned with the blessings of ,god1 soon caused cities and villages to spring up in all directions4 ,president ,young1 himself1 often went to seek locations for these sites1 and was very frequently present when a city or town was founded4 ,truly1 a wonderful people with a strange and fascinating history4 ,i am more enthusiastic than ever in my determination to see them and their gathering place1 said ,mr4 ,brown4 ,the evening was far spent1 and the company prepared to retire1 after the usual leave-taking on such occasions4 ,they all wished the missionary and ,mr4 ,brown a pleasant journey4 ,the parting was affecting1 for the people had learned to love the ,elder1 and he1 in turn1 had a strong and living interest in them4 ,many missionaries can testify of the binding influence such friends have upon their affections1 and people who have learned to love the ,elders are frequently as loth to part with them as with members of their own families4 ,this case was no exception4 ,durant thanked them all for their kindness to him1 and blessed them for their hospitality1 expressing a desire to see them gathered with the ,saints1 if ,god should open their hearts to an adoption of the gospel truths4 ,early on the following morning1 the ,elder and ,mr4 ,brown set their faces to the ,west1 and with the present facilities for travel1 expected soon to be in the land of the ,mormons4 ,as they passed over the vast plains1 large rivers1 rolling and rugged hills1 and pleasant valleys1 their conversation was often directed to the great difference between travel as the pioneers endured it1 and as it is now enjoyed in the trains of palace coaches4 ,on a pleasant ,saturday evening1 after a four days' journey1 they arrived in ,salt ,lake ,city1 where ,durant met his family all feeling well4 ,the meeting between husband and wife and children1 after such a long separation1 was happy in the extreme1 and it was with thankful hearts that they kneeled by the family altar1 praising ,god in fervent prayer for ,his kind mercies in preserving them to meet once more4 ,during the afternoon of the next day1 ,sunday1 they all attended meeting1 where an ,elder delivered the following discourse1 which ,mr4 ,brown listened to with marked attention3 ,,my ,,brethren1 ,,sisters ,,and ,,friends3 ,i am thankful for the privilege of speaking to you a short time this afternoon4 ,i am anxious to explain1 whenever opportunity affords1 the nature of our faith4 ,in this free country1 where we congratulate ourselves in enjoying and allowing the greatest freedom to everybody1 ,i presume we will1 all of us1 speaker and congregation1 exercise the privilege of explaining and reflecting upon the things that may be said1 so that our friends1 ,i trust1 will leave us understanding a little more about the nature of our religion than when they came to the meeting4 ,our visiting friends have1 doubtless1 heard about the ,latter-day ,saints4 ,they have had the opinions of men who have spoken in the pulpits1 and who have written books about the ,mormons1 and they1 very likely1 have come here under certain impressions in regard to the ,mormons' faith4 ,i am sorry to say that experience has taught me that the public generally have been deceived4 ,i am gratified sometimes in listening to acknowledgements of this kind from those who have heard for themselves1 and have thus been able to judge intelligently as to whether the reports which they have heard from our enemies are correct or not4 ,it seems strange1 but it is nevertheless true1 that many people who wish to know the faith of the ,saints go to their enemies to learn of them4 ,i do not know whether our kind friends have thought of the inconsistency and injustice of such a course as this4 ,if ,i wished to learn what the ,roman ,catholics believed in1 ,i do not think at present that ,i would go to the ,protestant ,church to learn it2 or if ,i wished to learn what any denomination of professing ,christians believe1 ,i do not think it would be just for me to go to some other denomination to ascertain it4 ,in the first place1 other churches might be led perhaps unwittingly1 perhaps intentionally to misrepresent the faith of their neighbors1 and ,i might be deceived through their misrepresentations4 ,on the other hand1 there is no need of my going to any one church to learn the faith of another people1 because ,i can go just as easily to their own church to listen to their explanations1 and thus be sure of getting information of their peculiar views1 without trusting to the misrepresentations of their neighbors4 ,now ,i submit that such a course as this is right2 it is just1 and accords with our impressions of a fair and just hearing and consideration from the parties most interested1 as to whether their faith be correct or not4 ,of course we have no disposition1 as ,latter-day ,saints1 even if we had the power1 to constrain any person to believe our doctrines4 ,we have not the power2 we have not the disposition4 ,we simply wish to explain the nature of that religion of which we are ministers--laboring under a feeling of anxiety to deliver the message with which we have been sent1 that our friends may have the privilege of receiving or rejecting it1 just as they think proper4 ,i approach the examination of this subject1 because ,i believe that many of our kind1 honest1 well-wishing friends--those who desire to serve ,god according to ,his will and pleasure--are under the impression that there exists a confusion so general1 and errors so prevalent1 that religion seems to be losing its hold upon the minds of the people4 ,and1 of course1 we who have faith in ,god and in ,his revealed word1 as contained in the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 deplore a state of things that indicates a departure from that respect and reverence which we wish to see existing and manifested on the part of the people towards the ,supreme ,being4 ,what is the reason that people are becoming irreligious8 ,what is the reason that people talk of sacred things lightly8 ,what is the reason that men who have heretofore been respected as ministers of religion are now little thought of8 ,it is simply because the religions that are taught are losing their hold upon the minds and affections of the people2 because the religions that are taught do not supply the want that men and women feel2 because the word preached by most ministers carries with it no power to convince people as to the truthfulness of the doctrines that are presented1 or the sinful condition of the people to whom they are taught4 ,the present condition of the ,christian world does not present that union1 that love1 that we expect from the perpetuation of the doctrines that ,christ taught1 and it is this fact1 understood by many1 that increases their doubts and strengthens their objections to what is called ',christianity4' ,the ,new ,testament teachings lead us to expect a state of unity in the ,christian ,church4 ,the admonitions of the ,apostles were to the effect that the ,saints in early days should be united together1 that they should understand alike1 that they should speak the same things1 that they should be of the same mind and of the same judgment4 ,such are the words of the ,apostle1 to be found in ,i4 ,cor4 i3 #aj4 ,now1 my friends1 does such a state of things exist around us in connection with the ,christian churches that we might expect from the nature of a perfect religion1 introduced by ,christ8 ,does there exist1 at the present time1 a state of things so perfect as to agree with the expectations raised from the teachings of ,st4 ,paul in this scripture that ,i have quoted8 ,i think not4 ,i am safe1 ,i believe1 in stating--and ,i think our friends are prepared to agree with me--that there does not exist amongst the ,christian denominations that unity and that oneness of faith1 peace1 kindness and love which1 by reading the ,new ,testament1 we might expect to appear amongst them as the true fruits of ,christianity4 ,and it is upon this ,i wish to make a few remarks before proceeding to explain to you1 from the ,bible1 the nature of our faith4 ,of course the existence of a number of denominations called ',christian' cannot be denied4 ,but we are told that all the ,christian churches exhibit to us one church2 that if one denomination does not teach the whole perfect plan of religion revealed by the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 all the churches put together do2 although there may be divisions existing amongst the members of these denominations4 ,unless we accept this view we must object to ,christianity on the ground that we cannot find which of all the ,christian denominations teach the truth4 ,here is one church called ,christian that teaches certain doctrines1 another more or less in its teachings contradicts them1 a third teaches doctrines that are in conflict with the other two1 and so we might go through them all1 and speak in like terms of those who think honestly enough that they are serving ,god4 ,now1 my friends1 ,i will ask this question--,first1 ,is it reasonable to suppose that ,god would sustain two distinct religious churches as ,his churches8 ,is it reasonable to suppose that ,god would set up two distinct religious bodies1 the ministers of which teach different doctrines8 ,after learning from the ,bible so much indicating the anxiety of ,god's inspired servants for a time of perfect unity1 ,i say it is not reasonable to suppose it4 ,and just so long as two distinct religious systems exist1 teaching different doctrines and preaching different principles1 there exists a conflicting influence1 divisions1 feelings1 perhaps very strong1 if the difference in doctrine is very decided4 ,if it is not reasonable1 what are we to do8 ,how can we account for such a condition of things8 ,this leads to the position we occupy4 ,we want to know something more4 ,is it true that the bodies called ',christian' at present represent the ,church of ,christ8 ,or is it true that they have ignored some things belonging to the perfect doctrine of ,christ1 and taken as their guide1 their own conclusions in regard to what is right1 which leads to this division of doctrine8 ,how is it8 ,but ,i will endeavor to show that it is unscriptural1 as well as unreasonable1 for us to receive different ,christian bodies as the ,church of ,christ4 ,i will direct your attention to a few passages from the word of ,god4 ,jesus1 when ,he sent the ,apostles to preach in the first place1 said to them1 ',go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature4' ,not any system that might be termed a gospel4 ,there was no choice left to anybody4 ,he spoke definitely in regard to the gospel plan1 which ,he1 the ,son of ,god1 came to the earth to set up4 ,paul1 in the first chapter of ,galatians1 eighth verse1 says1 ',though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you1 let him be accursed4' ,paul1 one of the ,apostles1 taught the gospel1 the same gospel that ,peter1 ,james1 ,john and others taught4 ,they all taught the same system4 ,and ,paul said1 in another place1 that he went up1 by revelation1 to ,jerusalem1 taking ,barnabas and ,titus with him1 and communicated the gospel which he preached among the ,gentiles 7,gal4 ii3 #a1 #b71 thus showing that he taught the same thing everywhere4 ,you see1 ,paul's words and practice show that he did not admit of the least change or alteration from the gospel as taught by ,christ1 and preached by the ,apostles to the people4 ,in another place it is said1 ',whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of ,christ1 hath not ,god4 ,he that abideth in the doctrines of ,christ1 he hath both the ,father and the ,son' 7,,ii4 ,john ix471 showing us that he taught strictly the necessity of abiding in that form of doctrine which had at first been delivered4 ,i quote these passages to show you that the gospel which ,christ and the ,apostles first taught was intended to be taught continually1 without change1 and that none had a right1 not even an angel from heaven1 to preach any other gospel than that which had been delivered at the first4 ,do you agree with this8 ,because ,i am about to examine1 in detail some of the doctrines that will readily show to you the difference between the ministers of the true gospel and the ministers of the so-called gospel that is preached at the present time4 ,but are you prepared to come to the conclusion1 with me1 that it is the old gospel1 ,christ's gospel1 the doctrines of the apostles that we ought to seek and follow1 if we expect eternal life8 ,or do you think you are safe in following the teachings of men1 who have made great changes from such ancient gospel1 with the following passage before you8 ,if there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine1 receive him not into your house1 neither bid him ,god speed4 7,,ii4 ,john #ajth verse47 ,do you think you can obtain ,god's blessing by being members of a church or churches that teach doctrines opposed to what ,christ taught8 ,how is this8 ',well certainly1' says one--a ,bible believer--'of course ,i wish to have the religion of the ,bible4 ,i would like to have the religion of ,christ4 ,i do not admit of any departure4' ,this is right4 ,this is consistent4 ,of course if there is a question as to whether ,god has made any change in ,his primitive faith1 revealed through ,christ1 we shall consider it2 for ,i am willing also to make a change if ,god has authorized it4 ,i am quite willing to accept any doctrine that ,god has revealed from heaven for my salvation4 ,i confess to you that ,i have no disposition whatever to maintain private views or speculations which may have been engendered on my own part through reflection4 ,i wish the doctrine of ,christ1 as ,christ taught it1 as the apostles taught it1 and ,i will not1 with the light that ,i possess1 depart one particle from the letter and spirit of that ancient plan4 ,and if there are any friends here who have heard that the ,elders of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints do not believe in the ,bible1 let them judge4 ,there are no practices pleasing to ,god1 or likely to bring ,his blessings upon the heads of the children of men1 except those inculcated by ,him1 through ,his servants by the power of revelation from heaven1 so that we will not depart from the book4 ,we will not teach doctrines that are opposed to this book1 but we are prepared to show our friends1 in the spirit of kindness1 that doctrines opposed to those contained in this book are displeasing to ,god1 and are not calculated to bring peace and salvation to the children of men4 ',but1' says one1 'what matters it whether we go this road that you point out or some other8 ,you know if we can get to heaven one way1 is not that as good as another8 ,we will try to illustrate this idea4 ,if a man wish to go to ,london1 says the inquirer1 may he not go the road that leads towards the south1 or a road that leads towards the north1 as the case may be2 what matters it so that he gets to ,london8 ,it would not matter in the least4 ,he might go the road that led to the north or that which led to the south1 and by making a shorter or longer journey1 as the case might be1 he might get to ,london4 ,but you see there is no parallel between this figure and the facts in regard to religion because there are not two ways to get to heaven4 ,that is the difference4 ,there are two ways to get to ,london probably1 perhaps more1 but you see there is only one way to get to heaven1 so that when we admit1 as an illustration1 a figure of this kind1 we start with an error and it leads us astray4 ,the ,bible speaks of one way4 ,it speaks of two ways4 ,it speaks of a broad road that leads to destruction1 and it speaks of a narrow way that leads to eternal life4 ,so you see there is only one way that leads to heaven1 and if any one persuades us that the wide road will lead us there1 he deceives us1 for there is only one way1 and it is narrow4 ,the ,bible is very plain upon this1 because the doctrines are steadfast and sure1 and the words are plain that there is but one way that leads to life and glory4 ,now that is the way we want to find out4 ,jesus came1 ,he said1 to do ,his ,father's will1 not ,his own4 ,he called ,apostles and ordained them1 and ,he said1 ,as ,i have been sent1 so send ,i you4 ,go and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,that was their business4 ,but ,he said1 ',tarry ye first in ,jerusalem1 until ye are endowed with power from on high4' ,jesus called the ,apostles4 ,he ordained them ,himself4 ,he instructed them personally1 and ,he commissioned them to preach the gospel to every creature4 ,but ,he wished them to tarry at ,jerusalem until they received power from on high2 a certain gift which ,god had promised that they might be qualified1 in every sense1 to discharge the important duty devolving upon them1 of administering words of salvation to a fallen world4 ,the ,apostles did this4 ,they gathered in ,jerusalem4 ,they were there on the day of ,pentecost1 and whilst there1 in the upper room1 the endowment of which ,jesus spoke was given unto them4 ,the ,holy ,ghost came upon them1 in the upper room1 as a mighty rushing wind1 and it sat upon them as cloven tongues of fire4 ,and1 whilst under that influence1 the ,apostles who were sent to preach the gospel1 stood up1 at least ,peter did1 as the mouth-piece of the rest1 at that time to preach the gospel that ,christ sent them to declare4 ,now1 what was it8 ,let us lay a good foundation as we proceed4 ,were they qualified to preach it8 ,i do not think any ,christian will doubt it4 ,if they were not prepared to teach the gospel of the ,son of ,god1 then ,i would have no hope1 my friends1 of hearing it in this life4 ,never4 ,jesus ,himself chose them4 ,he ordained them2 ,he instructed them1 and after all this1 as you will find in the #bnd chapter of the ,acts of the ,apostles1 #ast1 #bnd and #crd verses1 they assembled in ,jerusalem1 and had fulfilled unto them the promise of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 receiving the endowment of which ,i have been speaking4 ,i think that all my friends here are certainly prepared to accept the words that ,peter spoke1 and acknowledge them to be true4 ,what did ,peter say8 ,first1 he preached ,christ and ,him crucified4 ,you see the people1 who had gathered together on the day of ,pentecost1 were people1 who had no faith in ,christ4 ,they had rejected ,him and ,his instructions4 ,they had been of those who persecuted ,christ and the ,apostles4 ,they were of those who had either personally or in their sympathies sustained the crucifixion of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,therefore1 ,peter1 knowing this1 stood up and preached to them1 first ,christ and ,him crucified1 and he was successful4 ,who can doubt it8 ,peter1 a servant of ,god1 ordained by the ,son of ,god4 ,peter1 upon whom the ,spirit of ,god rested as tongues of fire1 as the scriptures have it4 ,this man stood up and argued the point1 and explained about ,jesus4 ,and who can doubt the result8 ,i am sure we would have been disappointed if we had been told in the ,bible that ,peter was not successful4 ,he was successful4 ,many believed on him1 and the result of their belief was that they said1 ',men and brethren1 what shall we do8' 7,acts ii3 #cg47 ,no wonder they asked that question4 ,people who had either helped to crucify the ,lord1 or who had rejoiced when ,he was crucified1 as many of them did1 to be convinced that that same ,jesus whom they had assisted to crucify was indeed the ,lord1 the ,christ2 and when they were convinced of this they cried out1 ',men and brethren1 what shall we do8' ,peter was prepared to tell them4 ,he had the very instructions that were needed1 and the words of ,peter are applicable today1 my friends1 to you and to me1 so far as we have not obeyed them4 ,we are believers in ,christ1 ,i trust4 ,we have fortunately made our appearance in this life1 in the midst of a people who at least believe in the divinity of ,christ1 and we have received impressions favorable to this end2 therefore the words of ,peter1 spoken to those who believed in the divinity of ,christ1 are applicable to us1 and are the words of salvation to us1 if that ancient gospel is not changed4 ,what were the words8 ,he says1 ',repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 for the remission of sins1 and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4' 7,acts ii3 #ch47 ,was that the gospel8 ,yes1 unless the ,apostles disobeyed the instruction of ,christ1 because they were sent to preach the gospel1 and they were endowed that they might preach it perfectly and represent ,god1 the ,maker of heaven and earth1 in the words and spirit by which they presented it unto the people4 ,now1 my friends1 faith in ,christ was the first principle of the gospel2 repentance of sins was the second principle2 baptism for the remission of sins was the third principle1 and then the reception of the ,holy ,ghost1 by the laying on of hands1 as taught by ,peter on that day in ,jerusalem4 ,is there any objection to this8 ',none at all1' says one1 'that is scriptural2 we cannot object to it4' ,a ,bible believer cannot object to it4 ,but what is becoming of us if such doctrines are not taught8 ',well1' says one1 are they not taught8' ,no4 ',faith in ,christ is taught1' and 'repentance of sins is taught1' although by some people the latter is taught first1 before faith in ,christ4 ,some teach that we must repent of our sins before we can have faith in ,christ4 ,this is a mistake4 ,we cannot possibly repent of sin committed1 unless we are convinced that we have committed the sin4 ,we cannot repent of laws broken1 which ,christ has taught through ,his ,apostles unless we are first convinced that ,jesus was divine1 and had the authority to teach them2 so that faith in ,christ and ,his divine mission must be the foundation of our practice as ,christians4 ,and the first effect that faith in ,christ produces1 is repentance of the sins which we have committed4 ,so repentance is the second principle of the gospel4 ,but we differ a little more about the third principle4 ,just read your ,bible1 and you will find that ,peter taught baptism for the remission of sins 7,acts ii3 #ch74 ,again1 ,john the ,baptist1 who was the forerunner of ,christ1 baptized for the remission of sins 7,mark i3 #d74 ',john was sent from ,god4' ,you will find this in the #ast chapter of the gospel according to ,st4 ,john1 #fth verse4 ,john himself said1 in the #ccrd verse of the same chapter1 ',he that sent me to baptize with water1 the same said unto me1' referring to the instruction he received from the ,father regarding ,christ4 ,both passages assert this1 that ,john the ,baptist was sent by ,god to baptize with water1 and we are taught in the ,bible that he did teach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins4 ,that is just what we might expect4 ,john was ,god's servant4 ,so was ,peter4 ,they both taught the same doctrine4 ,john taught baptism1 and ,peter told the people to be baptized every one of them4 ,you will remember the servant of ,god who was sent to speak to ,paul1 to instruct him just after his conversion4 ,he went to him1 and when the scales fell from the eyes of ,paul1 or ,saul1 this man of ,god said to him3 ',why tarriest thou8 arise1 and be baptized1 and wash away thy sins1 calling upon the name of the ,lord' 7,acts xxii3 #af74 ,be baptized and wash away his sins8 ,yes4 ,now1 that agrees exactly with the doctrine of ,peter1 and the doctrine of ,john the ,baptist4 ,they were all three servants of ,god1 and they all taught the same doctrine1 and those who heard and believed that doctrine possessed the selfsame faith2 so that so far as baptism is concerned1 the ancient ,saints did teach and practice the selfsame doctrine--baptism for the remission of sins4 ,i want to talk a little about this4 ,one says1 ',well1 ,i have always been taught that baptism was a doctrine of ,christ anciently1 but ,i have been under the impression that it was not necessary to salvation4' ,that may be1 my friends1 we have been taught a great many things1 and good ,christian people have believed a great many things that ,christian people have rejected since4 ,but that is no reason why we should change the ,bible doctrine4 ,the thing is right here4 ',well1' says one1 ',i thought we were not able of ourselves to do anything to help to save ourselves4' ,this requires proper understanding4 ,if baptism brings the remission of sins1 and baptism is not attended to by us1 we cannot obtain the blessing4 ,certainly not4 ,god gives us bread to eat1 but ,he does not present it to us4 ,a man sows seed in the ground and he sees to it and he harvests it and it is threshed and prepared and placed before us in the shape of flour1 but we have no disposition to deny that it is the gift of ,god4 ,if it were not for ,god's goodness we should have no bread4 ,if it were not for the gift of ,god we could not attend to the ordinance that brings remission of sins4 ,we have not power1 of ourselves1 to bring within our reach a single saving principle belonging to the plan of eternal life4 ,it is all ,god's free gift4 ,it is all in consequence of ,his mercy1 and ,his charity1 and ,his goodness and love1 and pleasure manifested to us that we have any privilege at all that will help to make us better1 or that will bring us into ,his ,church and kingdom and give us a right to say that we are really ,his children4 ,the fact that ,he has laid down ordinances1 through which a remission of sins is brought to us does not warrant us in saying that we do it of ourselves1 and when people talk like this it is likely to deceive4 ,now1 my friends1 the ,bible says1 in the place ,i have quoted1 that baptism is for the remission of sins4 ,do we believe this8 ,if we do1 you know1 we must also come to the conclusion necessarily that we cannot have a remission of sins without it4 ,if ,god has placed the ordinance of baptism in ,his ,church1 as part of ,his divine system for a certain purpose1 the object cannot be obtained without it4 ,the means which ,god reveals for certain purposes must be used4 ,we cannot say1 and it would be unreasonable in us to say1 that when ,god speaks from heaven in regard to any particular thing1 we can ignore ,his advice when we please and accept something that suits us4 ,it is wrong1 and it is this disposition that has led to the present deplorable state of things4 ',well1' says one1 ',i have thought that baptism was for an outward sign of an inward grace1 or of membership in the ,church4' ,another error1 you see6 ,the ,bible does not say anything about that4 ,of course the act of a person embracing the principles of the gospel and becoming a member of the ,church1 may be a sign1 but baptism was not set in the ,church for that purpose4 ,it was taught in the ,church and administered for the remission of sins and nothing else4 ,and no man or woman can obtain a place in ,god's kingdom1 or enjoy ,his presence here or hereafter1 unless their sins are washed away in baptism1 as ,paul's were washed away when he accepted the advice of the good and inspired man1 ,ananias1 who instructed him4 ,when ,i think of the importance of this offer which ,god has made1 my heart is filled with thankfulness instead of a disposition to discard what ,he has taught4 ,it is strange1 and we can only account for it on the ground of the waywardness of men naturally1 to think that we would attempt to do things in opposition to the will of ,god4 ,is there a more important blessing offered to mankind than the remission of sins8 ,have we any hope of enjoying the glory of ,god in our present sinful condition8 ,surely not1 for nothing sinful or unholy can enter the courts of glory4 ,then if ,god has so put in ,his ,church an ordinance for the purpose of enabling us1 like ,saul1 to wash away our sins1 why not be prepared to receive it with joy instead of cultivating or encouraging a disposition to ignore it8 ,baptism for the remission of sins is the third principle of the gospel of ,christ4 ,then comes the ordinance of the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,peter says1 on the day of ,pentecost1 to which we have directed your attention1 ',and ye shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4' ,what did that consist of8 ,the gift of ,god's ,spirit4 ,the reception of ,god's power1 a portion of ,his power4 ,the reception of an influence which leads those who possess it near to ,god in their feelings and in their faith4 ,a feeling which produces not only that inward consciousness of acceptance with ,god as ,his son or daughter1 but a power which gives outward manifestations of its divinity4 ,jesus did promise to the apostles when he sent them out first1 that ',these signs shall follow them that believe4' ,here are ,his words1 ',go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved4 ,he that believeth not shall be damned1 and these signs shall follow them that believe4' ,the words of ,christ1 in the last chapter of ,mark1 #aeth and following verses4 ',well1' says one1 'you know we do not believe in miracles now4 ,these signs were miracles1 but we do not believe in them now4' ,that may be1 my friends4 ,this is the very reason why we are here1 because there is such a great disbelief in the ,bible2 because there is a disposition to ignore the ,bible2 because there is a disposition to ignore the promises of ,christ2 and we wish to show you the things that are denied2 we wish to point out to you the doctrines our fathers have denied2 that our teachers have denied1 and we wish to show you that they are in the ,bible1 the word of ,god1 in the book which some have gone so far as to assert that we do not believe in4 ,but is it true that the promises of ,god were fulfilled anciently in regard to this matter8 ,yes6 ,in the #aith chapter and #gth verse of the ,acts of the ,apostles1 you will find an instance related of the ,apostles laying their hands on some that had been baptized1 and they spake with tongues4 ,this was one of the gifts that was manifested1 in consequence of their receiving that spirit which produced them4 ,see also ,mark #afth and #bjth4 ,you must not consider that1 in teaching these doctrines1 we are advancing something of ourselves1 something new4 ,if we were teaching new doctrine you would have a right to call us to account and ask us for the proof4 ,we are teaching old doctrine4 ,we are teaching the ,new ,testament doctrines1 instead of those of our ,christian friends4 ,we have no spirit of enmity in the least degree1 towards any living soul1 and when we refer to the faith of our ,christian friends remember1 it is simply to make the difference between their views and ours more distinct to you4 ,i say instead of our friends calling us to account1 it is the ,latter-day ,saints who have the right to come out and say to their ,christian friends1 ',see here1 why do you deny signs which ,christ said should follow believers8 ,what believers did ,christ speak about8 ,why believers in ,his gospel1 ,he taught us that these signs should follow believers4 ,well then1 if our ,christian friends deny that1 we have the right to call them to account4 ,if ,christ said that these miracles manifestations of ,almighty power should follow the believers1 ,i say what reason have you to deny it8 ,the question is not now whether the ,latter-day ,saints possess the power or not4 ,the question at issue at present is not whether the teachers of the ,church of ,england have the power or not4 ,the question is1 ,does ,christ promise that power to believers in the gospel8 ,i say ,he does1 and ,i say that those who deny that such powers should follow believers1 teach that which is contrary to the word of ,christ and contrary to the facts that appeared in connection with the teachings and administration of the doctrines of ,christ4 ,so that it is not the ,latter-day ,saints that introduce a new doctrine1 and we say to our friends1 ,hear us1 we beseech you4 ,hear the message we have to deliver1 for ,god has sent us to teach the old religion1 the religion of ,jesus1 the simple plan which was revealed from heaven in ancient days1 to save the children of men4 ,peter said1 on the day of ,pentecost1 speaking of the gospel and its attendant blessings1 'for this promise is unto you4' ,that is1 to the people who stood before him1 'to your children and unto all that are afar off even as many as the ,lord our ,god shall call4' ,you see it was not confined to the members of the church in the first place1 as some would have us believe4 ,the promise of the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost was made to the children of those who heard ,peter1 and to all who were afar off1 even as many as the ,lord our ,god should call4 ,and if it be true that ,god is calling sinners to repentance now1 we should see the same power manifested today1 that is1 if we have the true gospel4 ,there can be no doubt of this4 ,which will you have1 my friends1 the doctrine of the ,bible or the doctrines of men8 ,if you accept the doctrines of the ,bible you will have to become ,latter-day ,saints1 and of course that would be out of the question for a good many4 ,but we cannot find these doctrines anywhere else1 and that is a perplexity4 ,what shall we do about them8 ,when ,i am speaking to you ,i think of the position ,i occupied myself1 when ,i heard the ,latter-day ,saints first4 ,i went to their meeting1 not expecting to hear anything that would interest me by any means1 but ,i heard the ,bible doctrine taught4 ,i could not deny it4 ,i found ,i had been mistaken4 ,i did not incline in my heart to fight against ,god1 but considerations came up4 ,if ,i become a ,latter-day ,saint1 people will call me a ,mormon4 ,if ,i embrace these doctrines1 my friends will point at me the finger of scorn4 ,if ,i become a ,latter-day ,saint my good neighbors will say ,i am deceived and led astray1 and that ,i have embraced a doctrine that is in opposition to the teachings of ,christ4 ,of course these things flashed through my mind when ,i considered and read the ,bible to ascertain positively whether these ,mormons taught the truth or not4 ,i thought this--well6 ,i have been religious for the purpose of making my peace with ,god1 but ,i have been mistaken and led astray by men whom ,god had not sent to preach the gospel2 but now ,i have found the truth1 the old promises relating to ,god's power1 all things as at the beginning1 have been restored1 and ,i have the promise of obtaining a place with the righteous1 according to the mind and will of my ,heavenly ,father4 ,let friends say what they please1 let them say ,i am deceived1 but ,i believe this ,bible is true4 ,let them say whatever they may in regard to my faith2 no matter4 ,i thought of the time of ,christ4 ,they called ,christ hard names2 and of the ,apostles they spake a great deal of evil4 ,in fact the ,bible says they called them all manner of evil1 and although ,i expected my friends would denounce me1 still when ,i thought of what ,christ had suffered1 ,i was reconciled and instead of fighting against ,god1 ,i was willing to accept ,his doctrine1 in order to obtain ,his blessings4 ,i state to you my friends that since the day ,i entered this ,church ,i have rejoiced exceedingly4 ,i have found proofs upon proofs4 ,i have had reason to rejoice in consequence of the manifestations of ,god's power1 confirmatory of the doctrines1 and ,i can say that the ,church of ,christ is set up1 its doctrines are taught1 its practices are practiced1 its promises are fulfilled1 and the evidences of its divine power are manifested in the midst of this people4 ,i would like to say a few words in regard to another point4 ,i have just said that ,i had been taught a religion by men whom ,god had not sent4 ,i would like to explain4 ,you will excuse us if we seem to be very extreme in our views4 ,we have taken the liberty to teach you the truth1 just as we have it1 and when we say something that comes in contact with what you have received1 excuse us4 ,there is no bad feeling at all1 or unfriendliness in the least4 ,but we believe in persons being invested with the proper authority to preach the gospel4 ,paul says1 speaking of the authority of the ,holy ,priesthood1 ',no man taketh this honor unto himself1 but he that is called of ,god as was ,aaron4' 7,heb4 v3 #d47 ',faith cometh by hearing1 and how can we hear without a preacher8' 7,rom4 x3 #ad-ag4 7 ',no man taketh this honor unto himself1 except he be called of ,god as was ,aaron4' ,now that is very plain1 and what does it mean8 ,simply what it says4 ,that no man has a right to administer in the ordinances of religion except he be sent of ,god as was ,aaron1 for how can a man preach except he be sent8 7,rom4 x3 #ae47 ,if that be admitted1 of course the next question of importance is1 ,how was ,aaron sent8 ,by turning to the history we have of ,god's dealing with ,moses1 in reference to the gathering of the ,israelites1 from ,egpyt1 you will find that ,god instructed ,moses to call ,aaron to be his helper4 7,ex4 iv3 #ae1 #af47 ,here is the proof4 ,no man can preach the gospel simply because he feels inclined within himself to be a preacher4 ,no man can preach the gospel--that is with ,god's approval and authority--unless ,god commission him4 ,god commissioned every one of his preachers in ancient times4 ,he spoke from heaven4 ,he directed those who held this authority to call others4 ,christ called the ,apostles as ,he was called4 ,his ,father called ,him2 ,he called the ,apostles1 and ,he said1 ',as my ,father hath sent me1 even so send ,i you4' 7,st4 ,john xx3 #ba74 ',he that receiveth you receiveth me2 and he that receiveth me receiveth ,him that sent me4' ,the authority was here1 you see4 ,god called ,moses2 ,he instructed ,moses to call ,aaron2 so that ,aaron stood exactly in the same relation to ,god as did the ,apostles2 the latter being called of ,god the ,father through ,christ4 ,that would be evident1 because one whom ,god had authorized to act as ,his servant was instructed by ,him to call ,aaron4 ,now1 you observe1 no man has a right to exercise the authority of the priesthood unless he is called of ,god as was ,aaron4 ,are the preachers--those who commonly preach in connection with the churches of the present day called of ,god as was ,aaron8 ,or1 in other words1 are they called by revelation from ,god8 ,this is the question4 ,we do not doubt the propriety of their being called in this way1 because the ,bible says they ought to be4 ,do our ,protestant ministers1 at the present time1 profess to be sent of ,god as was ,aaron8 ,is there a minister connected with the ,christian denominations of the present day who professes to be sent of ,god by direct revelation8 ,not one4 ,it does not require any argument at all4 ,they do not profess that they have heard from ,god4 ,they say that ,god has not spoken since the last book of the ,new ,testament was written4 ,they say it is a sin1 and they find fault with the ,latter-day ,saints because we believe that ,god does speak2 that ,he has a right to speak2 and it is necessary we should have ,his approval and commission in order to qualify us to attend to the business of ,his ,church4 ,so that our present ,christian teachers do not profess to be called of ,god as was ,aaron4 ,they deny all revelation at present1 or since the ,bible was written4 ,you know the ministers1 among their other errors1 receive pay for preaching4 ,that is an innovation also4 ,the ancient apostles1 and seventies1 and bishops1 and so on1 were not paid for preaching4 ,but our present ministers are4 ,the preachers of this ,church1 with whom ,i am connected1 are not paid for preaching4 ,they preach without money1 without purse1 and without scrip4 ,now the preachers of the present churches make a business of preaching4 ,they learn to be preachers4 ,they are brought up to be preachers in consequence of their parents or guides finding in this way a place where they may make a living4 ,such ministers sometimes acknowledge one kind of revelation4 ,not that ,god tells the people about ,his will1 or that ,he manifests ,his power1 but they sometimes tell us they have received a call from one congregation to another4 ,but there is one peculiarity about it1 viz3 the congregation that calls them is a congregation that almost invariably offers them more money than the congregation to which they have been attached4 ,this is the only instance of any kind of revelation being acknowledged by our ,christian teachers4 ,god has not spoken1 say they1 by inspired men1 since the days of the ancient apostles4 ,he has not spoken directly to the church4 ,he has not authorized a single man to preach1 but sometimes a call is given from less money to more4 ,and though they are feeling full of love and affection for the congregation with which they have labored for years1 yet they are sorry and regret so much that that call must be heeded1 which takes them from among their old friends to a new congregation4 ,but1 you see1 the new congregation offers the most money1 and that cannot be disregarded4 ,my friends1 these are a few of the doctrines of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,are we displeased with anybody8 ,no1 not at all4 ,all are at liberty to believe what they please4 ,but we are placed under obligations to deliver the message which ,god has sent4 ,we say we are not solely dependent on the ,bible1 because ,god has sent the gospel4 ,we do not wish you to think that we regard the ,bible lightly4 ,of course you will have noticed1 from our remarks1 that this is not so4 ,but we say from the ,bible alone we could not have discovered the true way of life1 any more than thousands of our friends have been able to do so4 ,why millions of people have read the ,bible but have not discovered some of these doctrines4 ,they have been lead to preach the things contained therein1 and if they had discovered the doctrine1 this ,bible cannot lay on hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,that part of the work that is necessary for man's salvation must be done by one whom ,god authorizes4 ,therefore the ,bible alone is not sufficient4 ,it contains the truth4 ,it is the word of ,god4 ,it contains the instruction of the apostles4 ,but it does not contain the divine authority that is necessary to commission a man to baptize or administer in any ordinance pertaining to the house of ,god4 ,now1 my friends1 may ,god bless you4 ,and my brethren and sisters1 may the ,holy ,spirit1 which leads unto all truth1 abide upon us1 and may we who have found the truth have a disposition to retain it4 ,may we have the moral courage to say1 ',let ,god be served4 ,let ,his truth be obeyed4' ,let the ,almighty be honored1 and if other people choose to follow their own fancies1 or the deceptions presented before them by men whom ,god has not sent1 as for us and our house1 let us serve ,god4 ,may ,god bless us1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ4 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,mr4 ,,brown',s ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,,marshalls4 ,mr4 ,brown soon became acquainted with a number of leading ,mormon ,elders who in formed him more concerning the history of the peculiar people1 among whom he was a visitor4 ,the sights in and around the city were viewed by him1 and he had time to inspect the most important buildings and places of interest4 ,according to promise1 he wrote a letter to the ,marshalls giving some of his impressions of the country and the people1 and his epistle is here reproduced in full3 ,,dear ,,friends3 ,i am at length in the land of the ,mormons in the city of the ,saints by the dead sea of ,america4 ,i have been well received1 and am pleased beyond measure with what ,i have seen and heard4 ,it is a wonderful ,west4 ,our country as a whole surpasses the inexperienced conception of ,europeans1 and places their cramped-up districts1 and tiny1 although beautiful nations1 in the position of play-things when compared with the vastness of ,america--rustic1 rough1 and rude as even its oldest places appear4 ,then what shall we say of the wide ,west--until recently an unknown region--with its variety of natural wonders1 its wild mountains1 appalling peaks and lonely valleys1 industries1 mines of wealth1 gorges1 streams1 plains6 ,it is grand1 notwithstanding its development is yet in its infancy4 ,its possibilities for future greatness are inconceivable even to the hardy pioneer4 ,we came over the ,chicago ,rock ,island and ,pacific ,railway from ,kansas ,city1 via ,denver4 ,the ,state of ,kansas1 with its beautiful eastern cities1 and its wonderful plains and new and thriving settlements in the western part1 was presented to our view from the comfortable palace coaches of this well-equipped road4 ,from ,denver1 where one sees the ,rocky ,mountains1 cloven with fantastic ravines1 and horrible chasms1 dressed with rough and shaggy woods1 and capped with everlasting ice and snow1 we proceeded to ,pueblo1 and thence over the ,denver ,rio ,grande ,railway1 to ,grand ,junction1 ,colorado4 ,it is no exaggeration to say that the mountain scenery along this route is the most magnificent in the world2 while the mid-continent region1 which this road traverses1 is doubtless the most picturesque portion of our country4 ,very appropriately1 this road1 with its western connection--the ,rio ,grande ,western--has been named1 ',the ,scenic ,line4' ,having passed ,grand ,junction1 we soon enter ,utah1 and find ourselves in a country of bluffs1 cliffs1 wonderful formations1 and deserts1 which become wearisome in spite of the novelty of the scene4 ,nothing1 however1 could be more romantic than the worn battlements and rocky tablets1 between which1 for miles and miles1 the road winds its way4 ,nearing ,castle ,valley1 we attained a higher level1 where the cliffs came nearer and were more precipitous1 with the spaces between more green4 ,we are climbing towards the heights of the ,wasatch--the western bulwark of the ,rockies just passed4 ,ahead is the ,castle ,gate1 'the most inspiring as a single object1 of all the marvelous scenes between the plains and the ,salt ,sea4' ,we soon entered fairly into the ,spanish ,fork ,canyon1 the sides of which are neither rough nor cliff-bound1 but1 rather1 are steep and rounded1 covered with soft walls of greenery1 and groves of aspen and oak4 ,nearing the valley1 we beheld ,mt4 ,nebo1 over-topping other pyramids of the ,wasatch range4 ,westward lies the volcanic mountain ranges and the arid deserts of ,utah and ,nevada2 but at our feet1 stretches forth a lovely valley1 with the fresh1 clear waters of the ,utah ,lake in the center4 ,we passed on through miles of fertile farmland1 and between us and the pretty lake were fine meadows1 upon which sleek herds were grazing4 ,a semi-circle of ,mormon settlements lie at the feet of the encompassing hills1 except upon the western side1 where no water is found4 ,provo is the largest of the cities in this valley4 ,a short ride1 and we crossed the summit of a low mountain range1 separating the valley1 we had just passed over1 from the the ,great ,basin4 ,the train followed along the ,jordan river which empties the waters of the ,utah ,lake into the ,great ,salt ,lake4 ,salt ,lake ,valley lies before us1 with the city of the ,saints1 and the wonderful saline sea to the north1 the peaks of the ,wasatch1 to the north and the east2 and about us1 on every side1 the marks of industry1 thrift and prosperity1 set in a framework of surprisingly beautiful scenery4 ,the valley is extremely pretty when seen at the best season of the year4 ,in autumn1 when ,nature1 by the early frosts1 has delicately tinted the leaves with brilliant hues1 the mountains and the hillsides are very attractive2 the contrast between the vegetation of the hills and the colors of the valley1 is an interesting feature in the panorama spread before the delighted observer4 ,utah contains a population of about #bjj1jjj2 it has an area of #he1jjj square miles1 much of which is mountains4 ,the ,great ,salt ,lake is about forty by ninety miles in size1 and contains several islands4 ,fish abound in the numberless small streams that flow from and through the picturesque canyons of the ,wasatch4 ,the sterility of the country was removed by a system of irrigation from the mountain streams which fertilized the earth1 causing it to yield in abundance1 and to 'blossom as the rose4' ,when you remember the population and the area1 it will readily appear that there is great room for more inhabitants1 and yet it must be remembered that only a small portion of the ground is fit for cultivation1 the greater part being wild hills or sandy desert4 ,the numerous valleys are like fruitful oases in a wilderness of rugged mountains1 which latter serve as reservoirs for the snows of winter1 that supply the summer rills with water4 ,the valley1 sometimes called the ,great ,basin1 has an elevation of from four to five thousand feet1 being surrounded and intersected by mountain ranges1 which rise from five to seven thousand feet above the level of the basin4 ,the ,wasatch range extends along the east side of the valley2 at its western base is a narrow strip of land1 the most fruitful in the ,territory4 ,in many other parts the soil is alkaline and sterile4 ,in other districts there are fertile basins1 with soil of good quality1 yielding in places from fifty to ninety bushels of grain to the acre4 ,there are immense deposits of coal1 iron1 and other valuable minerals1 among them being gold1 silver1 copper1 zinc1 lead1 sulphur1 alum and borax4 ,salt works have been established in different places along the shores of the great lake1 the water of which contains about #af per cent1 solid matter1 #ig per cent1 of which is common salt4 ,in the chasms and ravines of the mountain streams are found cedar1 pine1 quaking asp1 oak and maple1 but timber is difficult of access4 ,this1 however1 is compensated for by the immense deposits of coal in the neighborhood1 and in the ,territory itself1 and by the railroad facilities the ,territory now enjoys for shipping timber from ,oregon and ,california4 ,the hardships of early times1 which are now well-known in history1 have given way to prosperity1 and the hidden resources of the hills and dales are appearing to bless the children of the ,mormon pioneer4 ,thriving towns and cities extend from north to south1 from east to west1 over the whole territory1 and ,mormon colonies are planted along the ,rocky ,mountains1 from ,mexico in the south1 to ,canada in the north4 ,their industry is proverbial2 they view the building of cities1 hamlets and villages as a divine call1 taking hold of the often perilous labor with the invincible determination born of religious zeal and duty4 ,salt ,lake ,city has a population of about fifty thousand1 but it must not be understood that all these are ,mormons4 ,the tide of prosperity that has come to this people1 has brought with it thousands of citizens from all parts of the ,united ,states1 until the population is as mixed1 in a religious sense1 as that of any of the states of the ,union2 churches of all the ,christian denominations1 the halls of the agnostic1 the synagogue of the ,jew1 and the gathering place of the infidel1 are alike represented4 ,among the buildings of interest1 in ,salt ,lake ,city1 is the tabernacle1 a remarkable edifice1 and the great center of attraction4 ,it was completed in #ahgj1 is an oval-shaped building1 with a major diameter of #bcc feet1 and a heighth of #gj feet1 having a huge dome-shaped roof resting on pillars of sand stone4 ,it seats about nine thousand people1 and contains one of the largest organs in the world4 ,here services are held every ,sabbath1 when the ,elders of the ,church1 leaders of the people1 instruct the gathered thousands in the religion which1 to my mind1 is the only scriptural on now preached1 and certainly the only one among them all having practical life and vitality4 ,it contains the germs of power that will leaven the whole religious world1 scoff and deride as they may4 ,the famous temple1 erected at a cost of several millions1 begun in #ahec1 now nearly completed1 is built of gray granite1 with walls more than six feet in thickness2 ,it has a length of #bjj and a width of #ajj feet2 the main walls rise to a height of #ajj feet2 there are three towers and numerous minarets1 on each end of the building1 the center east tower being surmounted by a figure representing an angel blowing a trumpet1 proclaiming the restoration of the gospel in the latter days4 ,the cap-stone was placed on this tower1 amid great rejoicing1 in ,april1 #ahib1 when it was decided to finish the building1 and dedicate it in ,april1 #ahic1 the occasion of the annual conference of the ,church1 which is also the anniversary of its organization 7,april #fth1 #ahcj7 in ,new ,york ,state1 with six members4 ,this great building is of elegant design1 grand proportions and unique pattern1 a marvel of beauty1 strength and solidity4 ,temples1 of which there are several in the ,territory--one in ,logan1 one in ,manti1 one in ,st4 ,george--are designed for use in performing holy ordinances for the living1 and vicarious work by the living for the dead1 as you understand the faith of the ,saints1 and as ,elder ,durant has often referred to and explained in his conversations with you4 ,a ,stake is a division of the ,church1 presided over by a council of three ,high ,priests1 and in ,utah generally corresponds geographically to the division of counties1 while in other states and territories1 it often embraces larger districts4 ,the stakes are divided into wards1 in each of which a bishop and his two counselors exercise supervision4 ,these again are subdivided into districts where presiding ,elders or teachers look after the interests of the ,church members4 ,there are thirty-three stakes of ,zion1 with something over three hundred wards4 ,each stake has a general assembly building1 while each ward1 besides1 has a structure for religious worship4 ,the ,assembly ,hall1 erected at a cost of #ij1jjj1 dedicated ,january #ith1 #ahhb1 erected near the temple1 is the meeting place for the ,salt ,lake ,stake of ,zion4 ,much like a church in appearance1 it is #abj by #fh feet in size1 seating three thousand people1 and is one of the most conspicuous buildings in the city4 ,the walls are built of rough-hewn granite taken from the same quarrie that has supplied material for the temple4 ,there are many other fine buildings in the city1 besides natural attractions1 as1 for instance1 ,garfield ,beach1 where bathing is the pleasantest in ,america1 the ,hot ,springs1 the ,warm ,sulphur ,springs1 the gas wells1 etc4 ,there are seventy miles of electric street railway1 and a hundred miles of streets4 ,these avenues are #acb feet in width1 having in many places rows of shade trees on either side4 ,salt ,lake ,city covers as large an area as many other cities with five times its population1 and1 excepting the business part1 is largely composed of villas4 ,other principal cities are ,ogden1 ,logan and ,provo4 ,ogden1 thirty-seven miles north of ,salt ,lake1 is the railroad city of the territory1 and shows the results of the thrift and industry of its inhabitants on every side4 ,many beautiful natural attractions surround it--its warm springs and rugged canyons being admired by all who see them4 ,but ,i have not space in this already long letter to describe the mines1 the manufacturing1 industrial and commercial establishments which abound in this city and in the territory4 ,neither can ,i take time to more than merely refer to the schools1 public and private1 and to the educational facilities of the people4 ,it has often been asserted that the ,mormons are opposed to education1 but the schools in every hamlet and city bear witness to the falsity of the assertion4 ,no territory or state of the ,union1 of equal age with ,utah1 has finer school buildings1 or is more advanced in matters of education1 and to the ,mormons may be ascribed the honor of having built and heartily supported the system that has made this possible4 ,i see on every side among the ,mormons1 people who are honest in their convictions1 who have a living faith and put their faith and teachings into practice1 who are industrious and thrifty1 kind to the poor1 sober1 virtuous4 ,there are no signs of abject poverty anywhere in this city1 and much less among the hundreds of country settlements2 idleness is discountenanced by the ,mormons1 until among them as a people there are no beggars1 tramps or drones4 ,a few more words1 and ,i will not tire you with more this time4 ,while1 of course1 ,i do not agree with all the doctrines of the ,church1 ,i consider the people as a whole are fair minded1 and broad in their views4 ,i have met the chief men of the ,mormon ,church1 and have had a number of pleasant interviews with them4 ,i find them men of grave and reverend demeanor1 very religions in thought and deed1 but not given to cant4 ,they have not the sanctimonious airs that are so frequently noticed in religious ministers4 ,wilford ,woodruff is the present head of the ,church1 the fourth man who has occupied that position--his predecessors having been3 ,joseph ,smith1 ,brigham ,young and ,john ,taylor4 ,mr4 ,woodruff is several years beyond four score1 but is hale and hearty1 very affable in manner and interesting in conversation4 ,he is a man of sturdy build1 with a kindly1 honest1 intelligent face1 and a manner especially winning and agreeable4 ,you know that ,i have contended that the leaders of this movement were insincere1 but when ,i met them and talked with them1 when ,i marked the unwavering faith of that good1 venerable old man1 ,i changed my mind4 ,in some things1 he may be mistaken1 but he is an honest worshipper of ,god4 ,i must not close without remembering ,mr4 ,durant to you4 ,he was overjoyed to find his family all well upon his arrival4 ,during my stay in this territory1 ,i have remained at his home a part of the time1 and have been very kindly treated4 ,with love to all1 ,i am your friend1 ,,walter ,t4 ,,brown4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,conclusion4 ,kind reader1 a word before we separate3 if you are not a member of what is commonly called the ,mormon ,church1 having read the foregoing pages1 you must certainly acknowledge that you know more concerning its doctrines1 from a ,mormon standpoint1 than you ever knew before4 ,we have tried to present to you1 in a plain and very simple manner1 some of the first principles of our faith1 the true gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,what do you think of them8 ,will they1 or will they not1 stand scrutiny8 ,it is left with you to answer1 and as ,god has blessed you with free agency1 it is your privilege to judge and decide4 ,do not treat these doctrines indifferently1 nor carelessly throw them aside4 ,should they be true1 the message is of the utmost importance to you4 ,surrounded with so many proofs1 the faith of the ,latter-day ,saints should demand your further investigation4 ,books1 tracts1 and sermons1 in great numbers1 and within easy reach1 are at your command4 ,read1 listen1 investigate6 ,thousands have done so before1 and bear testimony to having received a knowledge of the divine truth1 as herein presented4 ,i part from you with the words of the poet true as any to be found3 ,know this1 that every soul is free1 ,to choose his life and what he'll be1 ,for this eternal truth is given1 ,that ,god will force no man to heaven4 ,he'll call1 persuade1 direct aright-- ,bless him with wisdom1 love1 and light-- ,in nameless ways be good and kind1 ,but never force the human mind4 ,freedom and reason make us men2 ,take these away1 what are we then8 ,mere animals1 and just as well ,the beasts may think of heaven or hell4 ,,appendix4 ,,what ,,brigham ,,young ,,said4 ,it is not only a privilege1 but a duty for the ,saints to seek unto the ,lord their ,god for wisdom and understanding1 to be in possession of the spirit that fills the heavens1 until their eyes are anointed and opened to see the world as it really is1 to know what it is made for1 and why all things are as they are4 ,it is one of the most happifying subjects that can be named1 for a person1 or people1 to have the privilege of gaining wisdom enough while in their mortal tabernacle1 to be able to look through the whys and wherefores of the existence of man1 like looking through a piece of glass that is perfectly transparent2 and understand the design of the ,great ,maker of this beautiful creation4 ,let the people do this1 and their hearts will be weaned from the world4--,journal of ,discourses ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #aaa4 ,this people are to the world an object of derision and hatred2 to ,god1 of care and pity4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #cej4 ,there is not a person in this community that can bring to mind or mention the time when ,i exhibited one particle of sorrow or trouble to them4 ,i calculate to carry my own sorrows just as long as ,i live upon this earth2 and when ,i go to the grave1 ,i expect them all to go there1 and sleep with me in silence4--,journal of ,discourse1 ,vol ,i41 p4 #ca4 ,if people act from pure motives1 though their outward movements may not always be so pleasant as our traditions would prefer1 yet ,god will make those acts result in the best good to the people4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #bef4 ,no man can be exalted unless he be independent4--,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #aaa4 ,there are but few of us but what have been honored with as convenient a place for a birth as was ,jesus4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #aca4 ,you remember reading in the last book of the ,new ,testament1 that in the beginning ,god cursed the earth2 but did ,he curse all things pertaining to it8 ,no1 ,he did not curse the water1 but ,he blessed it4 ,pure water is cleansing it serves to purify2 and you are aware that the ancient ,saints were very tenacious with regard to their purification by water4 ,from the beginning the ,lord instituted water for that purpose among others4 ,i do not mean from the beginning of this earth alone2 and although we have no immediate concern in inquiring into the organization of other earths that do not come within reach of our investigation1 yet ,i will say that water has been the means of purification in every world that has been organized out of the immensity of matter4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #afb4 ,the blood will not be resurrected with the body1 being designed only to sustain the life of the present organization4 ,when this is dissolved and we again obtain our bodies by the power of the resurrection1 that which we now call the life of the body1 and which is formed from the food we eat and the water we drink1 will be supplanted by another element2 for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of ,god4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #afc4 ,if we accept salvation on the terms it is offered to us1 we have got to be honest in every thought1 in our reflections1 in our meditations1 in our private circles1 in our deal1 in our declarations1 and in every act of our lives1 fearless and regardless of every principle of error1 of every principle of falsehood that may be presented4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #abd4 ,there is no such thing as a man being truly rich until he has power over death1 hell1 the grave1 and him that hath the power of death1 which is the devil4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bga4 ,all men should study to learn the nature of mankind1 and to discern that divinity inherent in them4 ,a spirit and power of research is planted within1 yet they remain undeveloped4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #a4 ,i am hated for teaching people the way of life and salvation for teaching them principles that pertain to eternity1 by which the ,gods were and are1 and by which they gain influence and power4 ,obtain that influence1 and you will be hated1 despised1 and hunted like the roe upon the mountains4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #c4 ,never accuse a man or a woman of evil1 until you find out the cause4 ,never judge by the outward appearance4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #afi4 ,do not get so angry that you cannot pray2 do not allow yourselves to become so angry that you cannot feed an enemy4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #bbh4 ,do not offend ,god by not doing as ,he wants you to4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #bcf4 ,if you could crowd an individual or a community into heaven without experience1 it would be no enjoyment to them4 ,they must know the opposite2 they must know how to contrast1 in order to prize and appreciate the comfort and happiness1 the joy and the bliss they are actually in possession of4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #bid4 ,we have to learn to submit ourselves to the ,lord with all our hearts1 with all our affections1 wishes1 desires1 passions1 and let ,him reign and rule over us and within us1 the ,god of every nation2 then ,he will lead us to victory and glory2 otherwise ,he will not4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #ceb4 ,there is only one thing to fear1 and that is1 that you will not be faithful to the kingdom of ,god4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #bbh4 ,my ,christian brethren in the world say it is a piece of folly a species of extreme nonsense1 to believe that water will wash away sins4 ,it is no matter to me what they say2 it is a commandment of the ,lord2 there is no mistake in it1 it tells for itself4 ,he says1 ,do thus and so1 and your sins shall be washed away4 ,i care not how they are taken away2 whether an angel takes them to the ,lord to get forgiveness1 whether they sink to the bottom of the stream1 or float on the top1 and be scattered to the four winds2 ,he says1 ,go into the water and be baptized1 and they shall be washed away2 which is enough for me4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bci4 ,when the wicked have power to blow out the sun1 that it shines no more2 when they have power to bring to a conclusion the operations of the elements1 suspend the whole system of nature1 and make a footstool of the throne of the ,almighty1 they may then think to check1 ,mormonism in its course1 and thwart the unalterable purposes of heaven4 ,men may persecute the people who believe its doctrine1 report and publish lies to bring tribulation upon their heads1 earth and hell may unite in one grand league against it1 and exert their malicious powers to the utmost1 but it will stand as firm and immovable in the midst of it all as the pillars of eternity4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #hh4 ,the time will come when the kingdom of ,god will reign free and independent4 ,there will be a kingdom on the earth that will be controlled upon the same basis1 in part1 as that of the ,government of the ,united ,states2 and it will govern and protect in their rights the various classes of men1 irrespective of their different modes of worship2 for the law must go forth from ,zion1 and the word of the ,lord from ,jerusalem1 and the ,lord ,jesus will govern every nation and kingdom upon the earth4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #cbi4 ,keep your spirits under the sole control of good spirits1 and they will make your tabernacles honorable in the presence of ,god1 angels1 and men4 ,if you will always keep your spirits in right subjection1 you will be watching all the time1 and never suffer yourselves to commit an act that you will be sorry for1 and you can see that in all your life you are clear4 ,do not do anything that you will be sorry for4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #cbh4 ,the ,lord will not reveal all that we at times wish ,him to4 ,if a school master were to undertake to teach a little child algebra1 you would call him foolish1 would you not8 ,just so with our ,father2 ,he reveals to us as we are prepared to receive4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #ccj4 ,the philosophers of the world will concede that the elements of which you and ,i are composed are eternal1 yet they believe that there was a time when there was no ,god4--,j4 of ,d1 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #e4 ,you will find that this probation is the place to increase upon every little we receive1 for the ,lord gives line upon line to the children of men4 ,when ,he reveals the plan of salvation1 then is the time to fill up our days with good works4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #e4 ,when you embark to fill up the end of your creation1 never cease to seek to have the ,spirit of the ,lord rest upon you1 that your minds may be peaceable1 and as smooth as the summer breezes of heaven4 ,never cease a day of your life to have the ,holy ,ghost resting upon you4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol1 ,i1 p4 #fi4 ,when ,i have served my ,god and my brethren1 when ,i have performed every act required of me1 until nothing remains to be done1 but to lie down and rest1 to seek recreation1 then it becomes my lawful privilege1 and not before4--,journal of ,discourses1 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #aab4 ,if you want to apostatize1 apostatize1 and behave yourselves4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #hd4 ,the duty of the mother is to watch over her children1 and to give them their early education1 for impressions received in infancy are lasting4 ,you know1 yourselves1 by experience1 that the impressions you have received in the dawn of your mortal existence1 bear1 to this day1 with the greatest weight upon your mind4 ,it is the experience of people generally that what they imbibe from their mothers in infancy is the most lasting upon the mind through life4 ,this is natural1 it is reasonable1 it is right4 ,i do not suppose you can find one person among five hundred who does not think his mother to be the best woman that ever lived4 ,this is right1 it is planted in the human heart4 ,the child reposes implicit confidence in the mother1 you behold in him a natural attachment1 no matter what her appearance may be1 that makes him think his mother is the best and handsomest mother in the world4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #fg4 ,i never passed ,john ,wesley's church in ,london without stopping to look at it4 ,was he a good man8 ,yes2 ,i suppose him to have been1 by all accounts1 as good as ever walked on this earth1 according to his knowledge4 ,has he obtained a rest8 ,yes1 and greater than ever entered his mind to expect2 and so have thousands of others of the various religious denominations4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #e4 ,persecution and hatred by those who love not the truth are a legacy bequeathed by the ,savior to all his followers2 for ,he said they should be hated of all men for ,his name's sake4 ,if we had ceased to be persecuted and hated we might fear2 but the prospect is encouraging4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #db4 ,when ,i hear persons say that they ought to occupy a station more exalted1 than they do1 and hide the talents they are in possession of1 they have not the true wisdom they ought to have4 ,there is a lack in them1 or they would improve upon the talents given4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #afb4 ,take a course to let the ,spirit of ,god leave your hearts1 and every soul of you would apostatize4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #ee4 ,truth is obeyed when it is loved4 ,strict obedience to the truth will alone enable people to dwell in the presence of the ,almighty4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #ee4 ,when men come into this ,church merely through having their judgments convinced1 they still must have the ,spirit of ,god bearing witness to their spirits1 or they will leave the ,church1 as sure as they are living beings4 ,the ,saints must become one1 as ,jesus said ,his disciples should be one4 ,they must have the ,spirit testifying to them of the truth1 or the light that is in them will become darkness1 and they will forsake this kingdom and their religion4 ,i wished to bear this testimony4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #ee4 ,there will not be so many people that will go into that awful place that burns with fire and brimstone1 where they sink down1 down1 down to the bottom of the bottomless pit1 as the ,christians say1 not near so many as the ,christian world would have go there4 ,that gives me great joy1 notwithstanding all the perils and persecution we have suffered through the wickedness of the wicked4 ,liars1 sorcerers1 whoremongers1 adulterers1 and those that love and make a lie1 will be found on the outside of the walls of the city2 but they will never get into the bottom of the bottomless pit4 ,who will go there and become angels of perdition and suffer the wrath of an offended ,god8 ,those who sin against the ,holy ,ghost4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #add4 ,the eloquence of angels never can convince any person that ,god lives1 and makes truth the habitation of ,his throne1 independent of that eloquence being clothed with the power of the ,holy ,ghost2 in the absence of this1 it would be a combination of useless sounds4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #ij4 ,embrace a doctrine that will purge sin and iniquity from your hearts1 and sanctify you before ,god1 and you are right1 no matter how others act4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #gh4 ,every time you kick ,mormonism1 you kick it up stairs3 you never kick it down stairs4 ,the ,lord ,almighty so orders it4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #ade4 ,if you want to see the principle of devilism to perfection1 hunt among those who have once enjoyed the faith of the holy gospel and then forsaken their religion4 ,we have the best and the worst4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii11 p4 #ade4 ,darkness and sin were permitted to come on this earth4 ,man partook of the forbidden fruit in accordance with a plan devised from eternity1 that mankind might be brought in contact with the principles and powers of darkness1 that they might know the bitter and the sweet1 the good and the evil1 and be able to discern between light and darkness1 to enable them to receive light continually4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p1 #aeh4 ,i will not say1 as do many1 that the more ,i learn the more ,i am satisfied that ,i know nothing2 for the more ,i learn the more ,i discern an eternity of knowledge to improve upon4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #afb4 ,this ,american continent will be ,zion1 for it is so spoken of by the prophets4 ,jerusalem will be rebuilt and will be the place of gathering1 and the tribe of ,judah will gather there2 but this continent of ,america is the land of ,zion4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #d4 ,one-third part of the spirits that were prepared for this earth rebelled against ,jesus ,christ1 and were cast down to the earth1 and they have been opposed to him from that day to this1 with ,lucifer at their heard4 ,he is their great ,general ,lucifer1 the ,son of the ,morning1 ,he was once a brilliant and influential character in heaven1 and we will know more about him hereafter4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #ee4 ,it is the man who works hard1 who sweats over the rock1 and goes to the canyons for lumber1 that ,i count more worthy of good food and dress than ,i am4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #ii4 ,chastisements are grievous when they are received2 but if they are received in patience1 they will work out salvation for those who cheerfully submit to them4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #abd4 ,mourning for the righteous dead springs from the ignorance and weakness that are planted within the mortal tabernacle1 the organization of this house for the spirit to dwell in4 ,no matter what pain we suffer1 no matter what we pass through1 we cling to our mother earth1 and dislike to have any of her children leave us4 ,we love to keep together the social family relation that we bear one to another1 and do not like to part with each other2 but could we have knowledge and see into eternity1 if we were perfectly free from the weakness1 blindness and lethargy with which we are clothed in the flesh1 we should have no disposition to weep or mourn4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #aca4 ,first reform in your moral character and conduct one towards another1 so that every man and woman will deal honestly and walk uprightly with one another1 and extend the arm of charity and benevolence to each other1 as necessity requires4 ,be moral and strictly honest in every point1 before you ask ,god to reform your spirit4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #fa4 ,if we could see our heavenly ,father1 we should see a being similar to our earthly parent1 with this difference3 our ,father in heaven is exalted and glorified4 ,he has received ,his thrones1 ,his principalities and powers1 and ,he sits as a governor1 as a monarch1 and overrules kingdoms1 thrones and dominions that have been bequeathed to ,him1 and such as we anticipate receiving4 ,while ,he was in the flesh1 as we are1 ,he was as we are4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #ed4 ,when we have done with the flesh1 and have departed to the spirit world1 you will find that we are independent of those evil spirits4 ,but while you are in the flesh you will suffer by them1 and cannot control them1 only by your faith in the name of ,jesus ,christ and by the keys of the eternal priesthood4 ,when the spirit is unlocked from the tabernacle it is as free1 pure1 holy and independent of them as the sun is of this earth4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,,iv11 p4 #acd4 ,the spirit of every man and woman that gets into the celestial kingdom must overcome the flesh1 must war against the flesh until the seeds of sin that are sown in the flesh are brought into subjection to the law of ,christ4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p1 #aig4 ,natural philosophy is the plan of salvation1 and the plan of salvation is natural philosophy4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #bjc4 ,there is no spirit but what was pure and holy when it came here from the celestial world4 ,there is no spirit among the human family that was begotten in hell2 none that were begotten by angels1 or by any inferior being4 ,they were not produced by any being less than our ,father in heaven4 ,he is the ,father of our spirits1 and if we could know1 understand and do ,his will1 every soul would be prepared to return back into ,his presence4 ,and when they get there1 they would see that they had formerly lived there for ages2 that they had previously been acquainted with every nook and corner1 with the palaces1 walks and gardens2 and they would embrace their ,father1 and ,he would embrace them4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #bfh4 ,the kingdom of our ,god that is set upon the earth1 does not require men of many words and flaming oratorical talents1 to establish truth and righteousness4 ,it is not the many words that accomplish the designs of our ,father in heaven2 with ,him it is the acts of the people more than their words4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #bj4 ,we are placed on this earth to prove whether we are worthy to go into the celestial world1 the terrestrial or the telestial1 or to hell4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #bfi4 ,serve ,god according to the best knowledge you have1 and lie down and sleep quietly2 and when the devil comes along and says1 ,you are not a very good ,saint1 you might enjoy greater blessings and more of the power of ,god1 and have the vision of your mind opened1 if you would live up to your privileges1 tell him to leave2 that you have long ago forsaken his ranks and enlisted in the army of ,jesus1 who is your captain1 and that you want no more of the devil4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #bgj4 ,the spirit of truth will do more to bring persons to light and knowledge than flowery words4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #ba4 ,many people are unwilling to do one thing for themselves in case of sickness1 but ask ,god to do it all4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #be4 ,i would rather be chopped to pieces at night1 and resurrected in the morning each day throughout a period of three score years and ten1 than be deprived of speaking freely1 or be afraid of doing so4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cfd4 ,a man never can be a polished scoundrel1 until he can figure in polished society4 ,it proves the truth of the saying1 that it takes all the revelations of ,god1 and every good principle in the world to make a man perfectly ripe for hell4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cfb4 ,let the past experience be buried in the land of forgetfulness1 if the ,lord will2 but if this is done at all1 it will be by showing kindness towards us in the future4 ,if they wish us to forget the past1 let them cease to make and circulate falsehoods about us1 and let all the good people of the ,government say1--,let us do this people good for the future1 and not try to crush them down all the day long by continuing to persecute them4 ,if we are here by chance1 if we happened to slip into this world from nothing1 we shall soon slip out of this world to nothing1 hence nothing will remain4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #fj4 ,the devil is just as much opposed to ,jesus now as he was when the revolt took place in heaven4 ,and as the devil increases his numbers by getting the people to be wicked1 so ,jesus ,christ increases ,his numbers and strength by getting the people to be humble and righteous4 ,the human family are going to the polls by and by1 and they wish to know which party is going to carry the day4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #ch4 ,if we are a company of poor1 ignorant1 deluded creatures why do they not show us a better example8--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cfe4 ,if children have sinned against their parents1 or husbands against their wives1 or wives against their husbands1 let them confess their faults one to another and forgive each other1 and there let the confession stop2 and then let them ask pardon from their ,god4 ,confess your sins to whoever you have sinned against1 and let it stop there4 ,if you have committed a sin against the community1 confess to them4 ,if you have sinned in your family1 confess there4 ,confess your sins1 iniquities and follies where that confession belongs1 and learn to classify your actions4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #gi4 ,nothing less than the privilege of increasing eternally1 in every sense of the word1 can satisfy the immortal spirit4 ,if the endless stream of knowledge from the eternal fountain could all be drunk in by organized intelligence1 so sure immortality would come to an end1 and all eternity be thrown upon the retrograde path4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cej4 ,god is our ,father1 and ,jesus ,christ is our elder brother1 and both are our everlasting friends4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #aic4 ,the only true believers are they who prove their belief by their obedience to the requirements of the gospel4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bcd4 ,a flock of sheep consisting of thousands must be clean indeed if some of them are not smutty4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bac4 ,the gospel of salvation is perfectly calculated to cause division4 ,it strikes at the root of the very existence of mankind in their wickedness1 evil designs1 passions and wicked calculations4 ,there is no evil among the human family1 but at the foundation of which it strikes effectually1 and comes in contact with every evil passion that rises in the heart of man4 ,it is opposed to every evil practice of men1 and consequently it disturbs them in the wicked courses they are pursuing4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bce4 ,the ,god ,mr4 ,baptist believes in is without body1 parts or passions4 ,the ,god that his brother ,mormon believes in is described in the ,bible as being a personage of tabernacle1 having eyes to see1 for he that made the eye shall he not see8 ,having ears to hear1 for his ears are open to hear the prayers of the righteous4 ,he has limbs that ,he can walk1 for the ,lord ,god walked in the garden in the cool of the day4 ,he conversed with ,his children1 as in the case of ,moses at the fiery bush1 and with ,abraham on the plains of ,mamre4 ,he also ate and drank with ,abraham and others4 ,that is1 the ,god the ,mormons believe in1 but their very religious ,christian brethren do not believe in the ,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac and ,jacob1 which is the ,god the ,bible sets forth1 as an organized corporeal being4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bch4 ,it is a mistaken idea to suppose that others can prevent me from enjoying the light of ,god in my soul2 all hell cannot hinder me from enjoying ,zion in my own heart1 if my individual will yields obedience to the requirements and mandates of my heavenly ,master4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #caa4 ,children have all confidence in their mothers2 and if mothers would take proper pains1 they can instill into the hearts of their children what they please4 ,you will1 no doubt1 recollect reading1 in the ,book of ,mormon1 of two thousand young men1 who were brought up to believe that1 if they put their whole trust in ,god1 and served ,him no power would overcome them4 ,you also recollect reading of them going out to fight1 and so bold were they1 and so mighty their faith1 that it was impossible for their enemies to slay them4 ,this power and faith they obtained through the teachings of their mothers4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #fg4 ,that moment that men seek to build up themselves1 in preference to the kingdom of ,god1 and seek to hoard up riches1 while the widow and the fatherless1 the sick and afflicted around them are in poverty and want1 it proves that their hearts are weaned from their ,god4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bgc4 ,it is as much as we can do to keep the ,christians of the nineteenth century from cutting our throats because we differ from them in our religious belief4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #afe4 ,if ,i could net master my mouth1 ,i would my knees1 and make them bend until my mouth would speak4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #afd4 ,all who live according to the best principles in their possession1 or that they can understand1 will receive peace1 glory1 comfort1 joy1 and a crown that will be far beyond what they are anticipating4 ,they will not be lost4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #aib4 ,i will not ask any person to embrace anything that is not in the ,new ,testament until they have asked ,god if it is true or untrue1 who will satisfy them if they ask in faith nothing doubting4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bdd4 ,do not seek for that which you cannot magnify1 but practice upon that which you have in your possession4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bci4 ,it would be as easy for a gnat to trace the history of man back to his origin as for man to fathom the first cause of all things1 lift the veil of eternity1 and reveal the mysteries that have been sought after by philosophers from the beginning4 ,what1 then1 should be the calling and duty of the children of men8 ,instead of inquiring after the origin of the ,gods instead of trying to explore the depths of eternities that have been1 that are1 and that will be instead of endeavoring to discover the boundaries of boundless space1 let them seek to know the object of their present existence1 and how to apply1 in the most profitable manner for their mutual good and salvation1 the intelligence they possess4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bhd4 ,the being whom we call ,father was the father of the spirit of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and ,he was also ,his father pertaining to the flesh4 ,infidels and ,christians1 make all you can of this statement4 ,the ,bible1 which all ,christians profess to believe1 reveals that fact1 and it reveals the truth upon that point1 and ,i am a witness of its truth4 ,the apostles who were personally acquainted with ,jesus ,christ did know and understand what they wrote1 and they wrote the truth4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bhf4 ,when the spirit leaves the body it goes into the spirit world1 where the spirits of men are classified according to their own wills or pleasure1 as men are here1 only they are in a more pure and refined state of existence4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p #bhh4 ,salvation is an individual operation4 ,i am the only person that can possibly save myself4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cab4 ,there is not a truth on earth or in heaven that is not embraced in ,mormonism4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bdd4 ,i am here to testify to hundreds of instances of men1 women and children being healed by the power of ,god through the laying on of hands3 and many ,i have seen raised from the gates of death1 and brought back from the verge of eternity2 and some whose spirits had actually left their bodies1 returned again4 ,i testify that ,i have seen the sick healed by the laying on of hands1 according to the promise of the ,savior4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bdj4 ,there never was a time when there were not ,gods and worlds1 and when men were not passing through the same ordeals that we are now passing through4 ,that course has been from all eternity and it is and will be to all eternity4--,j4 of ,d1 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #ccc4 ,when you tell me that ,father ,adam was made as we make adobies1 from the earth1 you tell me what ,i deem an idle tale4 ,when you tell me that the beasts of the field were produced in that manner1 you are speaking idle words1 devoid of meaning4 ,there is no such thing in all the eternities where the ,gods dwell2 mankind are here because they are the offspring of parents who were first brought here from another planet1 and power was given them to propagate their species1 and they were commanded to multiply and replenish the earth4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bhe4 ,we will round up our shoulders and bear up the ponderous weight1 carry the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth1 gather ,israel1 redeem ,zion and continue our operations until we bind ,satan1 and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our ,lord and ,his ,christ1 and no power can hinder it4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #ahi4 ,the ,mormon ,elders will tell you that all people must receive this gospel the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 and be baptized for the remission of sins1 or they cannot be saved4 ,let me explain this to you4 ,they cannot go where ,god and ,christ dwell1 for that is a kingdom of itself the celestial kingdom4 ,jesus said1 ,in my ,father's house are many mansions1 or kingdoms4 ,they will come forth in the first1 second or some other resurrection1 if they have not been guilty of the particular sins ,i have just mentioned2 and they will enjoy a kingdom and a glory greater than they had ever anticipated4 ,when we talk about people's being damned1 ,i would like to have all understand that we do not use the term damnation in the sense that it is used by the sectarian world4 ,universal1 salvation or redemption is the doctrine of the ,bible2 but the people do not know how or where to discriminate between truth and error4 ,all those who have done according to the best of their knowledge1 whether they are ,christians1 ,pagans1 ,jews1 ,mohammedans1 or any other class of men that have ever lived upon the earth1 that have dealt honestly and justly with their fellow beings1 walked uprightly before each other1 loved mercy1 tried to put down iniquity1 and done as far right as they knew how1 according to the laws they lived under1 no matter what the laws were1 will share in a resurrection that will be glorious far beyond the conception of mortals4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bhh4 ,do you not know that the possession of your property is like a shadow1 or the dew of the morning before the noonday sun1 that you cannot have any assurance of its control for a single moment8 ,it is the unseen hand of ,providence that controls it4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #aad4 ,no person can be a saint1 unless he receives the holy gospel1 for the purity1 justice1 holiness1 and eternal duration of it4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #aad4 ,i will do the work the ,lord has appointed unto me4 ,you do the same and fear not1 for the ,lord manages the helm of the ship of ,zion2 and on any other ship ,i do not wish to be4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #ahi4 ,how often to all human appearance1 has this kingdom been blotted out from the earth1 but the ,lord has put ,his hand over the people1 and it has passed through and come out two1 three and four times larger than before4 ,our enemies have kicked us1 and cuffed us1 and driven us from pillar to post1 and we have multiplied and increased the more1 until we have become what we are this day4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #aia4 ,the devil has put the whole world on the watch against us4 ,it is impossible for us to make the least move without exciting1 if not all the world1 at least a considerable portion of it4 ,they are excited at what we do1 and strange to relate1 they are no less excited at what we do not do4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #ahi4 ,do you suppose that this people will ever see the day that they will rest in perfect security1 in hopes of becoming like another people1 nation1 state1 kingdom or society8 ,they never will4 ,christ and ,satan never can be friends4 ,light and darkness will always remain opposites4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #ahh4 ,when evil is present with us1 we must overcome it1 or be overcome by it4 ,when the devil is in our hearts1 tempting us to do that which is wrong1 we must resist him1 or be led captive by him4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol1 ,i41 p4 #ib4 ,the speculation ,i am after1 is to exchange this world1 which1 in its present state1 passes away1 for a world that is eternal and unchangeable1 for a glorified world filled with eternal riches1 for the world that is made an inheritance for the ,gods of eternity4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cbg4 ,do the righteous of this people cause persecution to come upon themselves8 ,no1 ,do the principles of the gospel create prejudice and persecution against them8 ,no4 ,but it is the disposition of the wicked to oppose the principles of truth and righteousness which causes it4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i4 p4 #ahf4 ,to saint and sinner1 believer and unbeliever1 ,i wish here to offer one word of advice and counsel by revealing the mystery that abides with this people called ,latter-day ,saints2 it is the ,spirit of the living ,god that leads them2 it is the ,spirit of the ,almighty that binds them together2 it is the influence of the ,holy ,ghost that makes them love each other like little children2 it is the ,spirit of ,jesus ,christ that makes them willing to lay down their lives for the cause of truth1 and it was that same ,spirit that caused ,joseph1 our martyred prophet to lay down his life for the testimony of what the ,lord revealed to him4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #ade4 ,i have nothing to fear in all the persecutions or hardships ,i may pass through in connection with this people1 but the one thing1 and that is to stray from the religion ,i have embraced and be forsaken by my ,god4 ,if you or ,i should see that day1 we shall see at once that the world will love its own2 and affliction1 persecution1 death1 fire and the sword will cease to follow us4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #add4 ,money is not real capital1 it bears the title only4 ,true capital is labor and is confined to the laboring classes4 ,they only possess it4 ,it is the bone1 sinew1 nerve and muscle of man that subdue the earth1 make it yield its strength and administer to his varied wants4 ,this power tears down mountains and fills up valleys1 builds cities and temples1 and paves the streets4 ,in short what is there that yields shelter and comfort to civilized man that is not produced by the strength of his arm making the elements bend to his will4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bed4 ,though the enemy had power to kill our prophet1 that is1 kill his body1 did he not accomplish all that was in his heart to accomplish in his day8 ,he did to my certain knowledge1 and ,i have many witnesses here that heard him declare that he had done everything he could do--he had revealed everything that could be revealed at present1 he had prepared the way for the people to walk in1 and no man or woman should be deprived of going into the presence of the ,father and the ,son and enjoying an eternal exaltation if they would walk in the path he had pointed out4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #acb4 ,so long as you are able to walk and attend to your business1 it is folly to say that you need ardent spirits to keep you alive4 ,the constitution that a person has should be nourished and cherished2 and whenever we take anything into the system to force and stimulate it beyond its natural capacity1 it shortens life4 ,i am physician enough to know that4 ,when you are tired and think you need a little spirituous liquor1 take some bread and butter1 or bread and milk1 and lie down and rest4 ,do not labor so hard as to deem it requisite to get half drunk in order to keep up your spirits4 ,if you will follow this counsel1 you will be full of life and health1 and will increase your intelligence1 your joy and comfort4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #ccg4 ,all ,i desire to live for is to see the inhabitants of the earth acknowledge ,god1 bow down to ,him1 and confess ,his supremacy1 and ,his righteous covenant4 ,to ,him let every knee bow1 and every tongue confess1 and let all creation say ,amen to ,his wise providences4 ,let every person declare ,his allegiance to ,god1 and then live to it1 saying1 ,as for me and my house we will serve the ,lord4 ,as for me1 and all ,i have1 it is the ,lord's1 and shall be dedicated to ,him all my days4 ,if this can be done1 happiness is here1 angels are here1 ,god is here and we are wrapped in the visions of eternity4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #id4 ,the principle opposite to that of eternal increase from the beginning1 leads down to hell2 the person decreases1 loses his knowledge1 tact1 talent and ultimately1 in a short period of time is lost2 he returns to his mother earth1 his name is forgotten4 ,but where1 ,o6 where is his spirit8 ,i will not now take the time to follow his destiny2 but here strong language could be used1 for when the ,lord ,jesus ,christ shall be revealed after the termination of the thousand years' rest1 ,he will summon the armies of heaven for the conflict1 ,he will come forth in flaming fire1 ,he will descend to execute the mandates of an incensed ,god1 and amid the thunderings of the wrath of ,omnipotence1 roll up the heavens as a scroll and destroy death and him that has the power of it4 ,the rebellious will be thrown back into their native element1 there to remain myriads of years before their dust will again be revived1 before they will be reorganized4 ,some might argue that this principle would lead to the reorganization of ,satan1 and all the devils4 ,i say nothing about this only what the ,lord says1 that when ,he comes ,he will destroy death and him that has the power of it4 ,it cannot be annihilated2 you cannot annihilate matter4 ,if you could it would prove there was empty space4 ,if philosophers could annihilate the least conceivable amount of matter1 they could then prove there was the minutest vacuum1 or empty space but there is not even that much1 and it is beyond the power of man to prove that there is any4--,j of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #aah4 ,because of the weakness of human nature1 it must crumble to the dust4 ,but in all the revolutions and changes in the existence of men1 in the eternal world which they inhabit1 and in the knowledge they have obtained as people on the earth1 there is no such thing as principle1 power1 wisdom1 knowledge1 life1 position or anything that can be imagined1 that remains stationary they must increase or decrease4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cej4 ,men should act upon the principle of righteousness because it is right1 and is a principle which they love to cherish and see practiced by all men4 ,they should love mercy because of its benevolence1 charity1 love1 clemency and of all of its lovely attributes1 and be inspired thereby to deal justly1 fairly1 honorably1 meting out to others their just deservings4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #aai4 ,practical religion is what we all need to prepare us to enjoy that which we have in our anticipations that which we hold in our faith4 ,merely the theory of any religion does people but little good4 ,this is the great failing of ,bible ,christians1 as they are called4 ,they have the theory of the religion of which the ,bible testifies1 but the practical part they spurn from them4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #cda4 ,all those who wish to possess true riches1 desire the riches that will endure4 ,then look at the subject of salvation where you will find true riches4 ,they are to be found in the principles of the gospel of salvation1 and are not to be found anywhere else4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p1 #bfi4 ,suppose we say there was once a beginning to all things1 then we must conclude there will undoubtedly be an end4 ,can eternity be circumscribed8 ,if it can1 there is an end of all wisdom1 knowledge1 power and glory all will sink into eternal annihilation4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cec4 ,which would produce the greatest good to man1 to give him his agency and draw a vail over him1 or to give him certain blessings and privileges1 let him live in a certain degree of light1 and enjoy a certain glory1 and take his agency from him1 compelling him to remain in that position1 without any possible chance of progress8 ,i say the greatest good that could be produced by the all-wise ,conductor of the universe to ,his creature1 man1 was to do just as ,he has done4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cea4 ,the ,lord does not thank you for your alms1 long prayers1 sanctimonious speeches and long faces1 if you refuse to extend the hand of benevolence and charity to your fellow creatures1 and lift them up1 and encourage and strengthen the feeble1 while they are contending against the current of mortal ills4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bde4 ,the ,holy ,ghost takes of the ,father and of the ,son and shows it to the disciples4 ,it shows them things past1 present and to come4 ,it opens the vision of the mind1 unlocks the treasures of wisdom1 and they begin to understand the things of ,god2 their minds are exalted on high2 their conceptions of ,god and ,his creations are dignified1 and ,hallelujah to ,god and the ,lamb in the highest1 is the constant language of their hearts4 ,they comprehend themselves and the great object of their existence4 ,they also comprehend the designs of the wicked ones1 and the designs of those who serve him2 they comprehend the designs of the ,almighty in forming the earth and mankind upon it1 and the ultimate purpose of all ,his creations4 ,it leads them to drink at the fountain of eternal wisdom1 justice and truth2 they grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth as it is in ,jesus ,christ until they see as they are seen1 and know as they are known4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bda4 ,the character of a person is formed through life1 to a greater or less extent1 by the teachings of the mother4 ,the traits of early impressions that she gives the child1 will be characteristic points in his character through every avenue of his mortal existence4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #fg4 ,it is necessary that we should be tried1 tempted and buffeted to make us feel the weakness of this mortal flesh4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cei4 ,directly behind a frowning ,providence oftentimes are concealed the greatest blessings that mankind can desire4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #aih4 ,i am at the defiance of the rulers of the greatest nation on the earth1 with the ,united ,states all put together1 to produce a more loyal people than the ,latter-day ,saints4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 #a41 p4 #cfa4 ,all there is of any worth or value in the world is incorporated in our glorious religion1 and designed to exalt the minds of the children of men to a permanent1 celestial and eternal station4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cda4 ,i may have thousands of wealth locked up today1 and hold checks for immense sums on the best banking institutions in the world1 but have ,i any surety that ,i shall be worth a cent tomorrow morning8 ,not the least4 ,the ,lord ,almighty can send fire and destruction when ,he pleases1 destroying towns and swallowing up cities in the bellowing earthquake4 ,he can set up kingdoms and make communities wealthy1 and bring them to poverty at ,his pleasure4 ,when ,he pleases1 ,he can give them wealth1 comfort and ease1 and on the other hand torment them with poverty1 distress and sore afflictions4 ,who can realize this8 ,all the world ought1 and especially the ,saints4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #cdj4 ,the ,lord ,almighty can do ,his own work and no power of man can stay the potency of ,his wonder-working hand4 ,men may presume to dictate to the ,lord2 they come to naught1 but ,his work moves steadily forward4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #aih4 ,when ,i cannot feed myself through the means ,god has placed in my power1 it is then time enough for ,him to exercise ,his providence in an unusual manner to administer to my wants4 ,but while we can help ourselves1 it is our duty to do so4 ,if a saint of ,god be locked up in prison1 by his enemies1 to starve to death1 it is then time enough for ,god to interpose1 and feed him4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #ajh4 ,it has been1 and is now1 believed by numerous individuals1 that the brute creation1 by increase in knowledge and wisdom1 change their physical or bodily organization1 through numerous states of existence1 so that the minutest insect1 in lapse of time1 can take to itself the human form1 and visa versa4 ,this is one of the most inconsistent ideas that could be possibly entertained in the mind of man2 it is called the transmigration of souls4 ,it is enough for me to know that mankind are made to improve themselves4 ,all creation1 visible and invisible1 is the workmanship of our ,god1 the ,supreme ,architect and ,ruler of the whole1 who organized the world1 and created every living thing upon it1 to act in its sphere and order4 ,to this end has ,he ordained all things to increase and multiply4 ,the ,lord ,god ,almighty has decreed this principle to be the great governing law of existence1 and for that purpose are we formed4 ,furthermore1 if man can understand and receive it1 mankind are organized to receive intelligence until they become perfect in the sphere they are appointed to fill1 which is far ahead of us at present4 ,when we use the term perfection1 it applies to man in his present condition1 as well as to heavenly beings4 ,we are now1 or may be1 as perfect in our sphere as ,god and angels are in theirs1 but the greatest intelligence in existence can continually ascend to greater heights of perfection4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #ib4 ,we read in the ,bible1 that there is one glory of the sun1 another glory of the moon1 and another glory of the stars4 ,in the ,book of ,doctrine and ,covenants these glories are called telestial1 terrestrial1 and celestial1 which is the highest4 ,these are worlds1 different departments1 or mansions1 in our ,father's house4 ,new those men1 or those women1 who know no more about the power of ,god1 and the influences of the ,holy ,spirit1 than to be led entirely by another person1 suspending their own understanding1 and pinning their faith upon another's sleeve1 will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory1 to be crowned as they anticipate2 they will never be capable of becoming ,gods4 ,they cannot rule themselves1 to say nothing of ruling others1 but they must be dictated to in every trifle1 like a child4 ,they cannot control themselves in the least1 but ,james1 ,peter1 or somebody else must control them4 ,they never can become ,gods1 nor be crowned as rulers with glory1 immortality1 and eternal lives4 ,they never can hold sceptres of glory1 majesty1 and power in the celestial kingdom4 ,who will8 ,those who are valiant and inspired with the true independence of heaven1 who will go forth boldly in the service of their ,god1 leaving others to do as they please1 determined to do right1 though all mankind besides should take the opposite course4 ,will this apply to any of you8 ,your own hearts can answer4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cab4 ,suppose the devil does tempt you1 must you of necessity enter into partnership again with him1 open your doors1 and bid him welcome to your house1 and tell him to reign there8 ,why do you not reflect1 and tell master devil1 with all his associates and imps1 to be gone1 feeling you have served him long enough4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p1 #cbc4 ,if true principles are revealed from heaven to men1 and if there are angels1 and there is a possibility of their communicating to the human family1 always look for an opposite power1 an evil power1 to give manifestations also2 look out for the counterfeit4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii11 p4 #bdj4 ,when death is passed1 the power of ,satan has no more influence over a faithful individual2 that spirit is free1 and can command the power of ,satan4 ,the penalty demanded by the fall has been fully paid2 all is accomplished pertaining to it1 when the tabernacle of a faithful person is returned to earth4 ,all that was lost is passed away1 and that person will again receive his body4 ,when he is in the spirit world1 he is free from those contaminating and condemning influences of ,satan that we are now subject to4 ,here our bodies are subject to being killed by our enemies our names to being cast out as evil4 ,we are prosecuted1 hated1 not beloved2 though ,i presume that we are as much beloved here as the spirits of the saints are in the spirit world by those spirits who hate righteousness4 ,it is the same warfare1 but we will have power over them4 ,those who have passed through the vail have power over the evil spirits to command1 and they must obey4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bdj4 ,oppression1 persecution1 afflictions1 and other trials and privations are necessary as a test to all professing to be ,saints1 that they may have an opportunity to witness the workings of the power which is opposed to truth and holiness4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bdb4 ,let the spirit that comes from the eternal world1 which at the outset is pure and holy1 with the influence ,god gives to it1 master all the passions of the body1 and bring it under subjection to the will of ,christ4 ,that course makes us ,saints4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bdc4 ,whether a truth be found with professed infidels1 or with ,universalists1 or the ,church of ,rome1 or the ,methodists1 the ,church of ,england1 the ,presbyterians1 the ,baptists1 the ,quakers1 the ,shakers1 or any other of the various and numerous different sects and parties1 all of whom have more or less truth1 it is the business of the ,elders of this ,church 7,jesus1 their elder brother1 being at their head17 to gather up all the truths in the world pertaining to life and salvation1 to the gospel we preach1 to mechanism of every kind1 to the sciences1 and to philosophy1 wherever it may be found in every nation1 kindred1 tongue1 and people1 and bring it to ,zion4 ,the people upon this earth have a great many errors1 and they have also a great many truths4 ,this statement is not only true of the nations termed civilized those who profess to worship the true ,god1 but is equally applicable to pagans of all countries1 for in their religious rites and ceremonies may be found a great many truths which we will also gather home to ,zion4 ,all truth is for the salvation of the children of men--for their benefit and learning for their furtherance in the principles of divine knowledge4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bhc4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints understand the ,bible as it reads1 but the generality of modern ,christians disagree with us1 and say it needs interpreting4 ,they cannot believe our ,lord means what ,he says in the #afth chapter of ,mark1 when ,he tells ,his ,apostles to go 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 believe1 etc4 ,now1 say they1 we cannot believe that as it is written1 but we have a very pretty interpretation which suits us much better than the plain text4 ,and furthermore we have a sweeping argument that will destroy all your system from beginning to end1 and prove there is to be no more revelation4 ,let us look at the passage here referred to4 ,john1 while upon the ,isle of ,patmos1 had a revelation which1 he wrote1 and he concluded the same by saying1 ,for ,i testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book1 if any man shall add unto these things1 ,god shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book2 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy1 ,god shall take away ,his part out of the book of life1 and out of the holy city1 and from the things which are written in this book4 ,when this book1 the ,bible1 was compiled1 it was selected by the council of ,carthage from a pile of books more than this pulpit could hold1 which has been printed1 and bound in almost all shapes and sizes1 and called the ,bible4 ,john's revelation was one of the many books destined by that council to form the ,bible4 ,and the saying which we have quoted1 and which constitutes the sweeping argument of modern ,christians against new revelation1 only alludes to this particular book1 which was to be kept sacred1 as the word of the ,lord to ,john1 and not to the whole ,bible2 nor does it prohibit the ,saints in his day1 or the ,saints in any future time1 from getting new revelation for themselves4 ,that is not all2 if we turn to the writings of ,moses1 we find the same sentiment1 and almost the same language used4 ,moses says1 ,ye shall not add unto the word which ,i command you1 neither shall ye diminish ought from it1 that ye may keep the commandments of the ,lord your ,god which ,i command you4 ,so if such quotations are given with the intent to shut the heavens1 and put an end to all new revelation1 then the revelations given to prophets who arose after ,moses1 and the revelations given to ,jesus ,christ and ,his ,apostles1 including ,john and his revelation on the ,isle of ,patmos1 all amount to nothing1 and are not worthy of our notice4 ,this sweeping argument1 when it is examined1 sweeps away rather too much2 besides1 ,john's gospel and his epistle to his bretheren were written after he wrote his revelation on the ,isle of ,patmos2 consequently he would destroy his own system2 but it sets forth the ignorance and short-sightedness of those who have not the testimony of ,jesus1 which is the spirit of prophecy4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bdb4 ,let us dedicate ourselves1 our families1 our substance1 our time1 our talents1 and everything we have upon the face of this world1 with all that will hereafter be entrusted to us1 to the ,lord our ,god2 let the whole be devoted to the building up of ,his kingdom upon the earth4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bjj4 ,teach your families how to control themselves2 teach them good and wholesome doctrine1 and practice the same in your own lives4 ,this is the place for you to become polished shafts in the quiver of the ,almighty4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #dg4 ,when a man is capable of correcting you1 and of giving you light1 and true doctrine1 do not get up an altercation1 but submit to be taught like little children1 and strive with all your might to understand4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #dg4 ,we believe the ,new ,testament1 and consequently1 to be consistent1 we must believe in new revelation1 visions1 angels1 in all the gilts of the ,holy ,ghost1 and all the promises contained in these books1 and believe it about as it reads4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #bdb4 ,the ,millennium consists in this every heart in the ,church and kingdom of ,god being united in one2 the kingdom increasing to the overcoming of everything opposed to the economy of heaven1 and ,satan being bound1 and having a seal set upon him4 ,all things else will be as they are now1 we shall eat1 drink1 and wear clothing4 ,let the people be holy1 and the earth under their feet will be holy4 ,let the people be holy and filled with the ,spirit of ,god1 and every animal and creeping thing will be filled with peace2 the soil of the earth will bring forth in its strength1 and the fruits thereof will be meat for man4 ,the more purity that exists1 the less is the strife2 the more kind we are to our animals1 the more will peace in crease1 and the savage nature of the brute creation vanish away4 ,if the people will not serve the devil another moment whilst they live1 if this congregation is possessed of that spirit and resolution1 here in this house is the ,millennium4 ,let the inhabitants of this city be possessed of that spirit1 let the people of the territory be possessed of that spirit1 and here is the ,millennium4 ,let the whole people of the ,united ,states be possessed of that spirit1 and here is the ,millennium1 and so will it spread over all the world4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bjc4 ,the power which belongs to the true riches is gained by pursuing a righteous course1 by maintaining an upright deportment towards all men1 and especially towards the household of faith1 yielding to each other1 giving freely of that which the ,lord has given to you1 thus you can secure to yourselves eternal riches2 and gain influence and power over all your friends1 as well as your enemies4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #bgc4 ,were ,i to say to a son1 ,the whole earth is in my hands to dispose of as ,i will3 ,i can make you the sovereign of the universe--the possessor of the gold1 the silver1 the mountains1 the valleys1 the rivers1 the lakes the seas1 and all that float upon them and that live upon the face of the whole earth2 for it is mine to give to you1 my son1 if you will serve me one month faithfully2 ,i require nothing of you that will give you the least pain6 all ,i require is strict obedience to my law4 ,my son faithfully serves me during twenty-nine days1 and on the thirtieth day1 for the value of a straw1 or for a mess of pottage he sells his right and title to all ,i had promised him4 ,this comparison falls very far short of showing the loss a ,saint sustains when he turns away from his ,god and his religion4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #acc4 ,as long as the spirit and body hold together1 my tongue shall be swift against evil1 the ,lord ,almighty being my helper4 ,though it may be in ,mormon ,elders1 among the people in or out of the ,church1 if they come in my path where ,i can chastize them1 the ,lord ,almighty being my helper1 my tongue shall be swift against evil2 and if evil come1 let it come4 ,if for this my body shall fall1 let it fall2 when they have destroyed the body1 then they have no more that they can do2 that is the end of their power1 and of the power of the devil on this earth2 but ,jesus ,christ has power to destroy both soul and body in hell4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #db4 ,were ,i to make war upon an innocent people1 because ,i had the power to possess myself of their territory1 their silver1 gold1 and other property1 and be the cause of slaying1 say fifty thousand strong1 hale1 hearty men1 and devolving consequent suffering upon one hundred thousand women and children1 who would suffer through privation and want1 ,i am very much more guilty of murder than is the man who kills only one person to obtain his pocket-book4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii1 p4 #acg4 ,there is one virtue1 attribute1 or principle1 which1 if cherished and practiced by the ,saints1 would prove salvation to thousands upon thousands4 ,i allude to charity1 or love1 from which proceed forgiveness1 long suffering1 kindness1 and patience4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #acc4 ,if a man drinks at the fountain of eternal life1 he is as happy under the broad canopy of heaven1 without a home1 as in a palace4 ,this ,i know by experience4 ,i know that the things of this world1 from beginning to end1 from the possession of mountains of gold down to a crust of johnycake1 makes little or no difference in the happiness of an individual4 ,the things of this world add to our natural comfort1 and are necessary to susiain mortal life4 ,we need these comforts to preserve our earthly existence2 and many suppose1 when they have them in great abundance1 that they have all that is needed to make them happy4 ,they are striving continually1 and with all their might1 for that which does not add one particle to their happiness1 though it may not add to their comfort1 and perhaps to the length of their lives1 if they do not kill themselves in their eagerness to grasp the gilded butterfly4 ,but those things have nothing to do with the spirit1 feeling1 consolation1 light1 glory1 peace1 and joy that pertain to heaven and heavenly things1 which is the food of the everlasting spirit within us4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii1 p4 #ace4 ,do not be so full of religion as to look upon every little overt act that others may commit as being the unpardonable sin that will place them beyond the reach cf redemption and the favors of our ,god4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii1 p4 #acf4 ,our religion teaches us truth1 virtue1 holiness1 faith in ,god and in ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ4 ,it reveals mysteries2 it brings to mind things past and present--unfolding clearly things to come4 ,it is the foundation of mechanism2 it is the spirit that gives ,intelligence to every living being upon the earth4 ,all true philosophy originates from that fountain from which we draw wisdom1 knowledge1 truth1 and power4 ,what does it teach us8 ,to love ,god and our fellow creatures1 to be compassionate1 full of mercy1 long-suffering and patient to the froward and to those who are ignorant4 ,there is glory in our religion that no other religion that has ever been established upon the earth1 in the absence of the true ,priesthood1 ever possessed4 ,it is the fountain of all intelligence2 it is to bring heaven to earth and exalt earth to heaven1 to prepare all intelligence that ,god has placed in the hearts of the children of men to mingle with that intelligence which dwells in eternity1 and to elevate the mind above the trifling and frivolous objects of time1 which tend downward to destruction4 ,it frees the mind of man from darkness and ignorance1 gives him that intelligence that flows from heaven1 and qualifies him to comprehend all things4 ,this is the character of the religion we believe in4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #adj4 ,i say shame on that man who will give way to his passions and use the name of ,god or of ,christ to curse his ox or his horse1 or any creature which ,god has made2 it is a disgrace to him4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bda4 ,that a man is willing to die for his religion is no proof of its being true2 neither is it proof that a religion is false when one of its votaries apostatizes from it4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii1 p4 #adj4 ,i may heap up gold and silver like the mountains2 ,i may gather around me property1 goods and chattels1 but ,i could have no glory in that compared with my religion2 it is the fountain of light and intelligence2 it swallows up the truth contained in all the philosophy of the world1 both heathen and ,christian2 it circumscribes the wisdom of man2 it circumscribes all the wisdom and power of the world2 it reaches to that within the veil4 ,its bounds1 its circumference1 its end1 its height and depth are beyond the comprehension of mortals1 for it has none4--,j41 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #ci4 ,if you have gold and silver1 let it not come between you and your duty4 ,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bjb4 ,when the breath leaves the body1 your life has not become extinct2 your life is still in existence4 ,and when you are in the spirit world1 everything there will appear as natural as things now do4 ,spirits will be familiar with spirits in the spirit world--will converse1 behold1 and exercise every variety of communication one with another as familiarly and naturally as while here in tabernacles4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bci4 ,if we are faithful to our religion1 when we go into the spirit world1 the fallen spirits ,lucifer and the third part of the heavenly hosts that came with him1 and the spirits of wicked men who have dwelt upon this earth1 the whole of them combined will have no influence over our spirits4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bdj4 ,the thrones and kingdoms of earth are frequently changing hands4 ,adventurers rise up or go forth and establish new governments1 and in a few short years they are cast down to give place to more successful powers4 ,all earthly things are changing hands4 ,the gold1 the silver1 and other property pass from my hands to yours1 and from yours to the hands of others4 ,shame on a people that place their affections upon this changing matter6 ,love ,god and the things that change not4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #ccg4 ,the child who has his father's razor1 or any other article dangerous for him to handle1 and about the use of which he has no knowledge1 when deprived of it1 his trials are equal to ours1 according to his capacity4 ,we seldom think of the trials of our little ones when we say to them1 you must not have this or that2 you must do so and so to receive my smiles and approbation2 you must not think for a moment that your judgment1 wisdom1 experience1 and wishes are to be compared with mine4 ,does not the ,father of all living conduct ,himself in this wise towards ,his children8 ,he has revealed to us that ,he will prepare us for glory1 for life eternal1--will preserve our identity forever1 if we will be guided by him4 ,but we must be obedient to him1 for ,he understands more than we do4 ,we should destroy ourselves if we were suffered to take our own way2 hence we are taught to suffer the ,father to point out our path to an eternal duration hereafter1 where our present afflictions will appear as flimsy as the shadows of the morning that flee upon the approach of day4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,vii41 p4 #bge4 ,if a man is worth millions of bushels of wheat and corn1 he is not wealthy enough to suffer his servant girl to sweep a single kernel of it into the firs2 let it be eaten by something1 and pass again into the earth1 and thus fulfill the purpose for which it grew4--,j4 of ,d4 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bec4 ,the man who lays up his gold and silver1 who caches it away in a bank1 or in his iron safe1 or buries it up in the earth1 and comes here1 and professes to be a ,saint1 would tie up the hands of every individual in this kingdom1 and make them his servants if he could4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bec4 ,if ,i am not smart enough to take care of what the ,lord lends me1 ,i am smart enough to hold my tongue about it1 until ,i come across the thief myself4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #bee4 ,when ,i have gold and silver in my possession1 which a thief may steal1 or friends borrow1 and never pay me back again1 or which may take the wings of the morning1 and ,i behold it no more1 ,i only possess the negative of the true riches4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #bff4 ,if this people will do as they are told1 will live their religion1 walk humbly before their ,god1 and deal justly with each other1 we will make you one promise1 in the name of ,israel's ,god1 that you will never be driven from the mountains4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i41 p4 #cai4 ,it is folly in the extreme for persons to say that they love ,god1 when they do not love their brethren4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #big4 ,speaking as the world view men and things1 in the eyes of the vast majority of mankind1 the devil is the greatest gentleman that ever made his appearance on this earth4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #cdg4 ,i hope as ,i grow old1 to grow wise4 ,as ,i advance in years1 ,i hope to advance in the true knowledge of ,god and godliness4 ,i hope to increase in the power of the ,almighty1 and in influence to establish peace and righteousness upon the earth1 and to bring all the sons and daughters of ,adam and ,eve1 even all who will hearken to the principles of righteousness1 to a true sense of the knowledge of ,god and godliness1 of themselves1 and the relation they sustain to heaven and heavenly beings4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #cbf4 ,it would be better if you and ,i never should have anything pertaining to this world1 than to lose the spirit of the gospel and love the world4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p1 #cdb4 ,the difficulty with the whole world in their divisions and subdivisions1 is that they have no more confidence in each other than they have in their ,god1 and that is none at all4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #bif4 ,there never was that necessity2 there never has been a time on the face of the earth1 from the time that the church went to destruction1 and the ,priesthood was taked from the earth1 that the powers of darkness and the powers of earth and hell were so embittered1 and enraged1 and incensed against ,god and godliness on the earth1 as they are at the present4 ,and when the spirit of persecution1 the spirit of hatred1 of wrath1 and malice ceases in the world against this people1 it will be the time that this people have apostatized and joined hands with the wicked1 and never until then4--,j4 of ,d41 ,vol4 ,,iv41 p4 #cbg4