The subject of Apostasy occupies the minds of people of modern
times but very little. This, however, is not surprising when we
consider their views regarding the Church of Christ; for they claim a
continuation of divine authority and the plan of salvation from the
apostolic age to the present time, the idea prevailing among them
being, that the Bible alone is a sufficient guide without immediate and
continued revelation. In this respect, the position of the Latter-day
Saints differs widely from that of all other religious organizations.
The Saints bear no relationship to any, but declare in words of
soberness, that our Heavenly Father has restored the Gospel by modern
revelations to the Prophet Joseph Smith. This being true, there must
have been a departure from the proper order of the Gospel.
To prove that this has been the case, we will refer to statements of
Holy Writ. In II Peter i:20, it is said, "Knowing this first, that no
prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation, for the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God
spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." The Savior said, when
addressing His disciples: "And then shall many be offended, and shall
betray one another, and shall hate one another, and many false prophets
shall rise and deceive many, and because iniquity shall abound, the
love of many shall wax cold." (Matthew xxiv:10-12.)
To this testimony of Matthew, concerning the words of the Savior, in
relation to the subject under consideration, there will be found the
corresponding testimonies of Mark and Luke. It will be remembered
also, that the testimony of the Lord was in answer to a very important
question. When He had foretold the overthrow of the temple, His
apostles asked Him: "When shall these things be, and what shall be
the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" The appearance
of false prophets; the deception of man; the martyrdom of the
apostles; the betrayal of the Saints; the love of many waxing cold;
the overwhelming prevalence of iniquity; the universal discord and
contentions of the nations, all were prominent events to transpire
before the advent of the Savior to reign in power and glory upon the
earth. To this we will add the words of Paul: "Now we beseech you,
brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering
together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled,
neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the
day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that
day will not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man
of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." (II Thes. ii:1-4.)
It is evident from the foregoing that some were likely to be deceived
with regard to the time of His second coming. Paul, to prevent their
being misled by false teachers who were likely predicting the Savior's
advent, testified that there should come a "falling away first." The
language is so pointed that one can readily see that nothing but a
departure from the unchangeable plan of salvation could fulfill this
prediction. We read in the Scriptures that "God hath set some in the
Church, first apostles; secondarily, prophets," and other officers;
all of whom were divinely inspired "for the work of the ministry,"
with spiritual gifts following the baptized believers. Only a short
time elapsed, however, before these officers, principles, gifts and
blessings, mentioned in the New Testament, were not to be found on the
earth: and when we examine the religious institutions of the present
time, these things, which God set in the Church, are not found, save
with the Latter-day Saints. The present generation then, as those of
many centuries past have been, are witnesses to the verification of the
words we have quoted.
When Paul was about to depart from Miletus, he called to him the Elders
of the Church from the city of Ephesus, and in his farewell address
warned them, as appears in the following words: "For I know this,
that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not
sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them?" (Acts xx:29, 30.)
As an evidence that this prophecy was being verified as early as the
time of the apostle John's banishment on the Isle of Patmos, this
appears in the second chapter of Revelations, first and fifth verses:
"Unto the angel of the Church of Ephesus write: These things saith he
that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the
midst of the seven golden candlesticks; Remember, therefore, from
whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else
I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out
of this place, except thou repent." By reading the second verse we
discover that false teachers had arisen among the people, professing to
be apostles, thus verifying the words of Paul. Following closely the
context, we discover that similar reproofs were meted out to most of
the branches of the Church in Asia, because they were departing from
the truth.
Peter, the presiding apostle, also has spoken very plainly regarding
the apostasy. Beginning with the first verse of the second chapter
of his second epistle, we read: "But there were false prophets also
among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you,
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord
that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And
many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of
truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with
feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long
time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." From this
we learn not only that false teachers should arise among the people,
but that they should succeed in deceiving the people, causing them to
follow pernicious ways. In connection with this part of the subject,
Paul says to Timothy: "For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from
the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (II Timothy iv:3, 4.) Thus
it is clearly stated, not only that men should arise "speaking perverse
things," and by their evil designs succeed in making innovations upon
the teachings of the apostles, but that the people themselves would be
so allured from the way of life, as to heap unto themselves these false
teachers, and many would adhere to their spurious doctrines. The terms
"heap" and "many" do not signify a few but a great number.
These quotations from the Holy Scriptures bear especially upon the
internal eruptions that occurred in the Church, causing many to depart
from the straight and narrow path which leadeth unto life eternal.
Those causes which create internal division and discord in the midst of
the Saints are the worst of all, for "a house divided against itself
cannot stand."
Having shown that many of the ancient Saints departed from the plan
of salvation, we will now proceed to examine another branch of the
subject, namely: The External Events in Connection with the History of
the Church which Conspired to Overthrow the People of God. From the
quotations here given, stating that "the love of many waxed cold; many
shall follow their pernicious ways," etc., it may be asked, "What shall
become of the few who were faithful? Did not they confer the authority
upon a people in some remote corner of the earth? And from thence has
it not continued, as the true Church, down to the present time?" In
answer to these queries we shall refer to declarations of Holy Writ.
When the Savior made His appearance in the flesh there were many
religious denominations extant, some of which professed a firm belief
in the Bible--the Old Testament--and notwithstanding the ancient
prophets plainly foretold the birth and ministry of the Savior, the
religious element bitterly opposed Him and denounced new revelation,
as manifested through the Redeemer. This peculiar perversity of the
human family has been displayed prominently whenever the Almighty
has introduced a new dispensation of the Gospel. The Lord, fully
understanding the result of such bitter persecution, said to His
apostles: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall
kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my namesake." (Matt.
xxiv:9.)
The vile treatment to which the ancient apostles were subjected and the
martyrdom of many of them, is known to all acquainted with the history
of those inspired men; and scriptural evidence as to their having been
informed thereof in advance is quite abundant. The Savior says in Mark,
thirteenth chapter, ninth verse: "But take heed to yourselves; for they
shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be
beaten; and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake,
for a testimony against them." Another witness to this testimony of our
Savior has also left us the following: "And ye shall be betrayed both
by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends, and some of you
shall they cause to be put to death."
It is a remarkable fact that, in every age of the world when the
Lord has committed a dispensation of the Gospel to men upon the
earth, the heavenly message has been rejected by the great majority
of the human family, and the envy and hatred of many have been such
as to instigate measures of violence against the humble servants of
the Lord. Especially is this true when applied to the professedly
religious element, and more directly to those who aim to be public
instructors of the people. Notice the action taken by the Pharisees,
Sadducees and other religious classes regarding the ancient Saints;
while the devotees of these sects were divided on points of doctrine
and disagreed upon the writings of the prophets, they combined their
efforts to overthrow the Lord's chosen people. The Savior, indicating
the class who would imbrue their hands in the blood of the prophets,
said: "These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be
offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time
cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God's
service." (John xvi:1, 2.) This could not apply to the atheistic world,
for it denies the existence of God. It could not mean the infidel
class, for while they may not deny the existence of a Supreme Being,
they disavow all forms of worship. The Savior's prediction was directed
to the religious world, and from the facts of the case, it seems
especially applicable to that portion of it which claimed to believe in
the writings of the ancient prophets. Immediate revelation from heaven
has always come in contact with the vain traditions and religious
crafts of men, so that the strictest professors of religion anciently
were, and are now, among the foremost in persecuting the Saints and
seeking to deprive them of the rights and privileges which other men
enjoy. In connection with the evidence found in the Holy Scriptures on
this part of the subject, the thousands of Latter-day Saints who have
suffered by the hand of oppression in this dispensation of the Gospel,
are living witnesses.
While the revelator John, who was the last remaining member of the
quorum of the Twelve Apostles on the Eastern Hemisphere, was in
banishment upon the Isle of Patmos, he saw the image of a beast,
representing a power that should arise in the earth, make war upon the
Saints and overcome them. And they worshipped the dragon which gave
power unto the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is
like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And he opened
his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His
tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to
make war with the Saints, and to overcome them; and power was given Him
over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." This declaration of the
Scriptures is very broad, indicating clearly that the Saints should be
overcome, and the power of the beast should be so extensive as to cover
all "kindred, tongues and nation," thus leaving the people destitute of
divine authority and bereft of the glorious plan of redemption.
By turning to the second chapter of Daniel, we learn something with
regard to the period of time when this power which made war with the
Saints and overcame them should flourish in the earth. The metallic
image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in His dream consisted of gold, silver,
brass, iron and clay, so we are told in the interpretation given by
Daniel the prophet. It represented several kingdoms, beginning with
Babylon, which we learn from history flourished in the fifth and sixth
centuries before Christ; and second, the Medio-Persian government,
from about 580 to 331 B. C.; third, the Macedonian kingdom, founded by
Alexander the Great, from 331 B. C., to 161 B. C.; fourth, the Roman
Empire, established in 161 B. C., and which flourished until 483 A.D.
This last named government was represented in the metallic image by
the two legs of iron, which resembled very much the two divisions of
the Roman Empire, the one having its seat of government at Rome, the
other at Constantinople. These subsequently subdivided into the petty
governments of modern Europe, having in them the elements of strength
and weakness, as indicated by the feet and toes of the image, which
were part of iron and part of clay. It will be observed by the dates
given above that it was during the time of the Roman Empire that our
Lord and Savior was born into the world. As early as the banishment of
the apostle John, about 96 A. D., we discover that nearly all apostles
forming the chief quorum of officers in the Church of Christ had been
martyred. We are informed in Mosheim's Ecclesiastical Institutes that
the year 70 A. D. Vespasian and his son Titus besieged the city of
Jerusalem with an army, destroyed the city and the temple and slew many
of the inhabitants, this event having been predicted by the Savior, and
recorded in Matthew, twenty-fourth chapter.
In speaking of this power that should destroy the Saints, Daniel the
prophet, says, "And he shall speak great words against the Most High
and shall wear out the Saints of the Most High." We might illustrate
how literally these prophecies were verified by the following example:
Previous to the late Civil War in the American Union, the South
organized a republican form of government with the requisite officers
to constitute such a government. In a short time, however, the Northern
States engaged in war with the South and overcame them, so that the
confederacy of that section ceased to exist. Suppose a stranger should
visit the South at the present time and inquire of some person in that
region of country if they have a republic entirely independent of the
North, and on being answered "We have," the visitor queries, "Where
is your president?" "Well, he is done away with, because no longer
needed." He is asked, "Where is your vice-president?" "Oh, we have
none." "Where is your congress?" "Well, that was dissolved long ago and
has not existed since." "Pray, then," says the stranger, "What have
you left?" "Well, we have a judge, and a policeman, besides the book
which gives a history of the officers you inquire about." Such answers,
however absurd and inconsistent, are very similar to those offered by
the religious world of today who claim to have the Church of Christ;
but when asked where are their apostles, they answer, "We have none,
they are done away with." "Have you prophets?" "Oh, no! They are no
longer needed." "Do the members of your church enjoy the gifts of the
Holy Spirit that Jesus promised should follow believers?" "Certainly
not, they have passed away centuries ago, and we have no occasion for
them now." "Well, then, what have you left?" "Why, we have a pastor
and a deacon, and then we have the good Book, the Holy Bible, that
describes the officers you mention."
It is very clear, from the condition of affairs, that we have briefly
described, that at some period in the past, the Church of Jesus Christ
was taken from the earth and the human family left without the direct
and authorized administration of the plan of salvation. The prophecies
we have quoted show, first, that such an event was to transpire some
time in the future; second, about the period of time in which many of
these predictions were verified, and, third, the means of power by
which the Saints were overcome.
There are other prophecies in the Bible which plainly show that the
extent of the ancient apostasy would be universal and continue in
the earth until a certain period in the history of the human family,
which will, with other items, form the subject matter for our next
consideration. As the predictions of the prophets relating to the past
have been so literally verified, this fact should promote, in the
hearts of the people, great faith in the words of the Lord, as these
are given in the Bible.
We have shown that the Church established by the Savior in all its
pristine beauty and purity was taken from the earth. As none of the
religious denominations, existing between the time of the ancient
apostles and the nineteenth century have received a new commission from
heaven, that fact is proof that the effect of the primitive apostasy
has extended without interruption to the present age of the world.
Dr. Mosheim is the author of four large volumes of religious history
comprehending about eighteen centuries of the Christian era. This work
has been translated by Dr. Murdock with copious notes, or extracts,
from the writers who lived contemporary with the times of which he
writes. From the translation of Mosheim's Ecclesiastical Institutes we
make a few quotations.
In speaking of the second century of the Christian era, Mosheim says
(Vol. 1, p. 142): "For the noble simplicity and the majestic dignity
of the Christian religion were lost, or at least impaired, when these
philosophers presumed to associate their dogmas with it and to bring
faith and piety under the dominion of human reason." On pages 182
and 183 of the same volume we are informed that, to conform to the
customs of Jews and Pagan priests, rites and ceremonies were added
to the simplicity of correct worship, and a "large part therefore of
the Christian observances and institutions even in this century had
the aspect of Pagan mysteries." Passing on to the third century on
page 257, we have the following: "All the monuments of this century
which have come down to us, show that there was a great increase of
ceremonies." Page 259: "Baptism was publicly administered twice a year
to candidates who had gone through a long preparation and trial."
Of the fourth century we learn from p. 345 that the regard for Platonic
philosophy was embraced and mingled with the doctrine of the Savior:
"Hence it is that we see on every hand evident traces of excessive
veneration for Saints in heaven; of belief in a fire to purify souls on
leaving the body; of partiality for priestly celibacy; the worship of
images and relics, and for many other opinions which, in the process
of time, almost banished the true religion or at least very much
obscured and corrupted it." Of the fifth century, an account is given
of impostors perpetrating artifices to make people think they were
miracles and thereby induce them to embrace Christianity. Religious
teachings, we are informed, "were substantiated, not so much by the
declarations of the Holy Scriptures, as by the authority and logical
reasonings of the ancient doctors." Page 455: "The whole Christian
Church was in this century overwhelmed with these disgraceful fictions."
We might proceed with similar quotations relative to subsequent
centuries intervening between the fifth and the time of the
Reformation, but the foregoing will suffice to show that religious
matters grew worse from one age to another, presenting to the world a
mass of religious confusion. Although there may have been honorable
men who protested against these evils, it is evident that genuine
authority and the principles of the Gospel in their purity could not be
derived from such a corrupt source. We are informed in the Scriptures
that an evil tree will not produce good fruit nor a bitter fountain
send forth sweet waters. As neither Luther, Melancthon, Huss, Zwingli,
Calvin nor any of the reformers of that age received revelation from
heaven authorizing them to establish the Church, we find that the
world was still without the plan of salvation, and that the products
of the Reformation, as religious bodies, are the offspring of the
mother church, described in the Scriptures as the "mother of harlots
and abomination of the earth." This unnatural mother, like some of the
fashionable women of modern times (whose husbands and illicit patrons
are zealously opposing the Latter-day Saints), endeavored to procure
abortion, but failing in this, she tried to destroy her children after
birth. Both attempts being futile, the children grew to years of
maturity and in turn gave birth to other children, and so on until now
there are several generations of them living. These offspring, being
without natural affection, have been and still are quarreling with each
other and casting missiles at their mothers and grandmothers as the
case may be.
In the midst of this religious spectacle, however, there are and have
been many honorable people who have realized the fallen condition of
the world and were honest enough to acknowledge the same. From Elder
John Morgan's Tract No. 1, we make the following extracts: "Roger
Williams refused to continue as pastor over the oldest Baptist church
in America on the grounds that there was no regularly constituted
church on earth nor any person authorized to administer church
ordinances, nor can there be until new apostles are sent by the Great
Head of the Church for whose coming I am seeking." (See Picturesque
America, page 502.) Smith's Bible Dictionary also says: "We must not
expect to see the Church of Holy Scriptures actually existing in its
perfection on the earth. It is not to be found thus perfect either in
the collected fragments of Christendom or still less in any one of
these fragments." The names of sixty-five learned divines and biblical
scholars are on the preface page as contributors to and endorsers of
this book.
Mr. Wesley states that the reason the gifts are no longer in the
church, is because the love of many waxed cold and the Christians had
turned heathens again and had only a dead form left. (See volume 1,
sermon 94.)
The situation of the religious world is beautifully depicted in poetic
verse on page forty-one of the Latter-day Saints' Hymn Book, in a hymn
from Wesley's collection. In speaking of the golden age of the apostles
and prophets, when the Saints were endowed with spiritual gifts and
graces, the writer says:
"Where shall we wander now to find
Successors they have left behind?
The faithful whom we seek in vain
Are 'minished from the sons of men.
Ye different sects who all declare:
'Lo! here is Christ' or 'Christ is there!'
Your stronger proofs divinely give,
And show me where true Christians live."
I will now quote from the Bible to illustrate how plainly the prophets
foretold what the writers from whom I have quoted clearly show to have
been verified: "Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will
send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread nor a thirst for
water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from
sea to sea and from the north even to the east they shall run to and
fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." (Amos viii:
11, 12.) We learn from this that the time was coming when men should
seek to the four points of the compass, and in all directions, and yet
fail to find the word of God; but we find the Bible in every direction,
and that is said to contain the word of the Lord. Very true, but that
word was directed to past generations and is a record of the dealings
of our Heavenly Father with His children in bygone days.
The sacred record states: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He
revealeth His secrets unto His servants the Prophets." (Amos iii:7.)
From this we learn that if there are no prophets of the Lord, then
our Heavenly Father is doing nothing in a religious sense among the
people of this earth; but if He is doing a work among them for their
redemption, then there must be prophets. By this it will be easy to
ascertain whether the prediction of Amos has been verified or not.
Who, previous to the year 1827, for many centuries has found in his
researches an inspired prophet who could stand in the midst of the
people and say, "Thus saith the Lord?" Have not the people denied the
prophets and visions of heaven? We learn from the nineteenth chapter of
Revelations that "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Therefore, if any have had this testimony they have been inspired with
the spirit of prophecy. And again, we are informed by the Savior, as
written in the sixteenth chapter of John, that the "Spirit of truth
shall guide into all truth," and "show you things to come." Who has
seen things to come? And where is the word of the Lord? Surely not with
those who deny prophets and apostles.
We learn from the twenty-fourth chapter of Isaiah that the effects of
this ancient apostasy would be so universal as to cover all classes of
society, affecting not only the religious and social circles, but the
business transactions of the human family. In the second verse he says:
"And it shall be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the
servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress;
as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender so with the
borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to
him." By reading the fifth verse of the same chapter we learn that even
the earth upon which we dwell is seriously effected. Isaiah says: "The
earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have
transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting
covenant."
As a testimony to the fulfillment of this prophecy, thousands of people
in the American Union are witnesses to the fact, that in many parts the
land will not produce such prolific crops as it would several years
ago, but is gradually growing weaker and losing its virtue. Many places
once fruitful are now turned aside as being too poor to cultivate, and
are occupied by hedge grass, sassafras bushes and growths of small
pine. Such is the rapid decline of the strength of the soil. I have
been informed that in one state some of the people, desiring to learn
why the soil was losing its virtue, took quantities of earth from
different points and had it analyzed. The analysis revealed the fact
that the soil had lost its salt and was therefore comparatively of
but little worth, only to be trodden under the foot of man. This test
of the soil in one section is a fair sample of the same condition of
the land in many other places. These are the terrible effects, Isaiah
informs us, of the inhabitants of the earth transgressing "the laws,"
changing "the ordinances," and breaking the "everlasting covenant."
Among other important features wherein the everlasting covenant has
been broken is that pertaining to the marriage contract, which,
agreeable to the laws of heaven, is binding through time and eternity,
not recognizing death, which is said to be the "wages of sin," as
having power to sever that which is joined together by the power
and authority of God. The world is now following the pattern of the
Sadducees (who denied the resurrection), and therefore pronounce the
ceremony of marriage "until death do you part."
Another prophecy which vividly portrays the religious state of affairs
in the last days is that contained in (II Timothy iii:1-6) as follows:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without
natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers
of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof; from such turn away."
This is so plain that no one need to doubt its verification. It clearly
sets forth the very evils that are now prevalent in all the civilized
nations of the earth. While this statement of evils may apply to the
world at large, it is evident that it was directed specially to a
certain class of people--not to infidel nor atheist, nor yet to the
heathen nations, which are unacquainted with the name of the Savior
and with what is termed Christianity, but to those religious bodies
which, as Paul declares, "have a form of godliness, but deny the power
thereof." It plainly describes the situation of the Christian world
at the present time, who, while they have various forms of worship,
deny the gifts of vision, prophecy, healing, tongues and nearly all
the manifestations of the power of the Lord, as enjoyed by the ancient
Saints. In fine, they deny the Gospel, for that, says Paul, "is the
power of God unto salvation." The apostle, it appears, would not
attribute to them even true forms of worship, for he says they have a
"form of godliness." "From such," says Paul, "turn away."
If all would receive this admonition and "turn away" from these
powerless forms, what would become of the churches that are now extant?
With the foregoing positive predictions upon this subject, and the
facts before us in verification of the same, we can testify that the
words of Isaiah have been fulfilled, wherein he says: "Behold the
darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people;" and that
nothing short of more revelation direct from heaven could place the
present generation in possession of the everlasting Gospel.
Having shown that many of the ancients fell away from that Gospel; that
the faithful remainder were warred against by the enemies of truth,
and that the last of the saints who held the Priesthood were overcome,
leaving no successors to continue the works of the ministry; it is
therefore made clear that the plan of salvation was taken away from the
earth, that the results of the ancient apostasy were universal and have
extended down without interruption to the present century.
The gloom that these serious events would cast upon the minds of the
honest in heart who saw this sad picture unfolded to the gaze of the
world, and which would effect their posterity in future generations,
was greatly relieved when they beheld, while rapt in heavenly vision,
angels from the mansions of glory descending to the earth with the
Gospel message in all its purity and holiness, to deliver to the sons
of men, causing the "poor among men to rejoice in the Holy One of
Israel." The apostle John, while in banishment upon the Isle of Patmos,
said: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven having the
everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to
every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud
voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is
come; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the
fountains of water." (Revelation, xiv:6, 7.) There are now thousands of
honest-hearted people upon the earth who testify that the angel spoken
of in the foregoing quotation visited Joseph Smith, the prophet, and
delivered to him the everlasting Gospel. Scattered Israel is coming
to a knowledge of the truth while the day spoken of by Jeremiah is
dawning. "O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, my refuge in the day
of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto Thee from the ends of the
earth, and shall say, surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity,
and things wherein there is no profit." (Jeremiah xvi:19.)
These predictions are being fulfilled and will be fulfilled to the very
letter; and as the apostasy and its effects were universal, so will
the restoration of the Gospel be universal, extending to every nation,
kindred, tongue and people, until Satan shall be bound and the voice of
"peace on earth and to men good will" shall be heard from the rivers to
the ends of the earth; when "the earth shall be full of the knowledge
of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea;" and when "they shall teach
no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying,
know the Lord; for all shall know Me, from the least of them unto the
greatest."