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AN EXAMINATION INTO AND AN ELUCIDATION OF THE
GREAT PRINCIPLE OF THE
MEDIATION AND ATONEMENT
OF
OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
BY PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR.
"Wherefore the fruit of thy loins shall write, and the fruit of the
loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the
fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit
of the loins of Judah, shall grow together unto the confounding of
false doctrines, and laying down of contentions."--Gen., 1, 31,
Inspired Translation.
"For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the
north and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall
write the words which I speak unto them: for out of the books which
shall be written, I will judge the world, every man according to their
works, according that which is written. For behold, I shall speak unto
the Jews, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the
Nephites, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the
other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they
shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth,
and they shall write it. And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall
have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words
of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the
lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the
words of the Nephites and the Jews. And it shall come to pass that my
people which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto
the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in
one."--2 Nephi, xxix, 11-14.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
DESERET NEWS COMPANY, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS,
1882.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Introductory--Christ's Testimony with regard to His Sufferings--
Christ came to do the Will of His Father--The Testimony of the
Father at His Baptism and Transfiguration.
CHAPTER II.
The Testimony of Jesus the Spirit of Prophecy--The Declarations of
the Ancient Servants of God--Extracts from the Writings and
Testimonies of Moses, Job, David, Isaiah, Zechariah, Micah and
Hosea, to be found in the Old Testament, with remarks.
CHAPTER III.
Extracts from the New Testament, touching the Personal History of
the Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine of the Atonement--Remarks on
the "Times of Refreshing"--Results accruing to the Redeemer through
His Death on the Cross, etc.
CHAPTER IV.
Extracts from the Pearl of Great Price and Inspired Translation of
Genesis--Record of Moses regarding Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and
Joseph, and of their Faith in the Coming of the Savior.
CHAPTER V.
The Book of Mormon and the Atonement--Extracts from the Books of
Ether, Nephi, Mosiah, Alma, Helaman and Mormon.
CHAPTER VI.
Extracts from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants--Christ's Testimony
of Himself, of His Power and Calling, etc.--Testimony of Joseph
Smith and Sidney Rigdon--Record of John the Baptist--Extract from a
Sermon by President Brigham Young.
CHAPTER VII.
Introduction to the Historical Portion of this Treatise--The
Dealings of God with Adam, Cain and Abel--The Institution of
Sacrifice--The Symbolism of this Rite--The Words of the Angel to
Adam--Lucifer--His Rebellion in Heaven--His Conflict with Michael
for the Body of Moses--He tempts Christ--He is cast into a Lake of
Fire and Brimstone.
CHAPTER VIII.
Seth--His Sacrifice Accepted--Rebellion in the Heavens--The
Gathering of the Patriarchs in the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman--
Sacrifices Offered There.
CHAPTER IX.
Enoch, his Life and Translation--References to Him by Paul and
Jude--Copious Extracts from His Prophecy--The Prophet Joseph Smith
on Enoch and the Doctrine of Translation--The Office of Translated
Saints--Enoch's Future Work--Translation and Resurrection--Christ
the Creator--Summary of the Results of Enoch's Faith in the Saving
Blood of Christ.
CHAPTER X.
Noah--His Sacrifice--God's Covenant with Him--Melchizedek--His
Priesthood--Its Powers--Instances thereof Recorded in the Bible, in
the Book of Mormon and in Latter-days--All Power of the Priesthood
the Result of Faith in Christ, and Impossible without the
Atonement--The Power of the Priesthood the Power of God--The Glory
of God in the Immortality of Man--Christ the Word, the Creator.
CHAPTER XI.
Abraham's Record Concerning the Creation--The Council in Heaven--The
Father's Plan, the Son's Acceptance, Satan's Rebellion--The Agency
of Man--Suggestions Regarding Satan's Plan to Save All Mankind.
CHAPTER XII.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--Sacrifices Offered by Them--Abraham and
the Gospel Covenant--Extracts from the Book of Abraham and the
Writings of Paul.
CHAPTER XIII.
Sacrifices in the Days of Moses--The Institution of the Passover and
the Exodus--The Symbolism of the Paschal Lamb--The Covenant of the
Atonement between Christ and His Father--The Redeemed--Tokens of
Covenants--The Rainbow--The Name of Jesus the Only Name--The
Levites.
CHAPTER XIV.
History of Sacrifices and the Law of Moses among the Nephites--
References to the Books of Nephi, Jacob, Mosiah and Alma--The
Testimony of Jesus regarding the Law of Moses.
CHAPTER XV.
The Offering of Sacrifice in the Times of the Restitution of all
Things--Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith thereon--The Sons of
Levi--Malachi's Prophecy--The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.
CHAPTER XVI.
Brief Retrospect of the History of Sacrifice and its Symbolism--The
Passover and the Lord's Supper--Christ's Relation to Both these
Ordinances--The Last Supper.
CHAPTER XVII.
The Atonement and the Resurrection--Adam and Christ--Why a Law was
Given unto Adam--The Results of Disobedience to that Law--Testimony
of our First Parents--"Adam fell that Man might be"--The Fall a
Necessary Portion of the Plan of Salvation--God's Plan a Merciful
Plan--The Plan of Lucifer--Man's Free Agency--The Chain Complete.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Christ as the Son of God--A Comparison between His Position, Glory,
etc., and those of other Sons of God--His Recognition by the
Father--Christ called the Very Eternal Father.
CHAPTER XIX.
Man as Man--His Excellency and His Limitations--Salvation and
Eternal Progression Impossible without the Atonement--In Christ
_only_ can All be made Alive.
CHAPTER XX.
Christ to be Subject to Man--His Descent below all Things--Man's
Condition had there been no Atonement--The Sons of God--Man's
Inability to Save Himself--Christ's Glory before the World Was--
Necessity for an Infinite Atonement--The Father and Son have Life in
Themselves.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Relation of the Atonement to Little Children--Jesus Assumes the
Responsibility of Man's Transgression, and Bears the Weight of his
Sins and Sufferings--The Inferior Creatures and Sacrifice--The
Terrors and Agonies of Christ's Passion and Death--The Tribulations,
Earthquakes, etc., when He gave up the Ghost--Universal Nature
Trembles--The Prophecies of Zenos and Enoch--The Testimony of the
Centurion--Heirship, and the Descent of Blessings and Curses.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Operations of the Priesthood in the Heavens and upon the Earth,
in Time and Eternity--The Heirs of the Celestial Kingdom--Those who
Die without Law--The Judges of the Earth--Priests and Kings--Christ
the King of Kings--Condition of Patriarch Joseph Smith, Apostle
David Patten and Others--Moses and Elias--The Visits of Angels and
their Testimonies--Peter, James and John--The Angel in the Book of
Revelation.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Laws of God Unchangeable, Universal and Eternal--Examples and
Definitions--Evolutionists--Kingdoms and Light--Christ the Creator,
etc.--Deviations from General Laws--Every Kingdom has a Law Given.
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Results of the Atonement--The Debt Paid--Justice and Mercy--
Extracts from the Teachings of Alma and Others.
CHAPTER XXV.
The Resurrection--The Universality of the Atonement--The Promises to
those who Overcome--The Gospel--Its First Principles--Faith,
Repentance, Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost--Its
Antiquity--It is Preached in Various Dispensations, from Adam until
the Present--The Final Triumph of the Saints.
THE MEDIATION AND ATONEMENT
OF
OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
CHAPTER I.
Introductory--Christ's Testimony with regard to His Sufferings--
Christ came to do the Will of His Father--The Testimony of the
Father at His Baptism and Transfiguration.
In the last chapter of St. Luke's Gospel is to be found a deeply
interesting account of several events that took place on the day that
the Redeemer was resurrected. Amongst other incidents, he relates that
on that day two of the disciples took a melancholy journey from
Jerusalem to the neighboring village of Emmaus. Whilst they walked,
the sadness of their hearts found expression on their tongues, and
they mournfully rehearsed to each other the story of the crucifixion
of their Master. By and by, they were joined by an apparent stranger,
who, though none other than the resurrected Savior, was not recognized
by them. In answer to His inquiries, they repeated the sad history of
the days just passed, and expressed the disappointment that His death
had brought, for they trusted that it had been He who should have
redeemed Israel. Then Jesus said unto them, "O fools, and slow of
heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ
to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And
beginning at Moses, and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in
all the scriptures the things concerning Himself."--Luke, xxiv, 25-27.
When they reached Emmaus, with characteristic eastern hospitality,
they constrained the stranger to abide with them. He consented, and as
they sat at meat He took bread, and blessed it, brake and gave unto
them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him, and He vanished
out of their sight. "And they rose up the same hour, and returned to
Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together and them that were
with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to
Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how He was
known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus
himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto
you."
After the Savior had convinced the disciples then present of His
identity, and had partaken of some broiled fish and an honey comb, He
said unto them, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I
was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written
in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms,
concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and
thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third
day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in
his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are
witnesses of these things."
One great and very striking statement is here made by the Lord
Himself, to the effect that it behooved Christ to suffer, and the
question at once presents itself before us, why did it behoove Him? Or
why was it necessary that He should suffer? For it would seem from His
language, through His sufferings, death, atonement and resurrection,
"that repentance and remission of sins" could be preached among all
nations, and that consequently if He had not atoned for the sins of
the world, repentance and remission of sins could not have been
preached to the nations.
A very important principle is here enunciated, one in which the
interests of the whole human family throughout all the world are
involved. That principle is the offering up of the Son of God, as a
sacrifice, an atonement and a propitiation for our sins. Jesus said,
He came not to do His will, but the will of His Father, who sent Him.
He came, as we are told, to take away sin by the sacrifice of Himself;
and not only did He come, but He came in accordance with certain
preconceived ideas that had been entertained and testified of by
Prophets and men of God in all preceding ages, or from the days of
Adam to the days of John the Baptist, the latter being His precursor
or forerunner, who indeed, when he saw Him coming, made the
declaration, Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the
world. At His baptism the Spirit of God bore witness to this testimony
and descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove, or, rather, the form
of a dove was the sign of the Holy Spirit; whilst a voice was heard
from heaven proclaiming: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased."
This manifestation of God's acknowledgment of His beloved Son was
spoken of by personal witnesses who bore record to the facts.
Matthew testifies: "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto
John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need
to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering
said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to
fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was
baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens
were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove, and lighting upon him: And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This
is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."--Matthew, iii, 13-17.
Whilst Mark relates, "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus
came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And
straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and
the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. And there came a voice
from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased."--Mark, i, 9-11.
And John, in his Gospel, states that John the Baptist bare record,
saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it
abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize
with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit
descending and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with
the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record, that this is the Son of
God."--John, i, 32-34.
We have this great truth of the open recognition of Jesus, by His
Father, as His beloved Son, again enunciated when the three Apostles,
Peter, James and John, were on the Mount, and Jesus was transfigured
before them. It is declared that "a bright cloud overshadowed them:
and behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."--Matthew, xvii, 5.
The Son, thus openly acknowledged, came not to earth to do His own
will, but the will of His Father. The will of the Father appears to
have been that the Son should suffer, for He, Himself, prayed: "O my
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless,
not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Matthew, xxvi, 39.) Or, as the New
Translation by the Prophet Joseph Smith has it, "O my Father, if this
cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, thy will be done."
The Father did not let it pass from Him; He therefore drank it, and
finally, on the cross He said, "It is finished," and bowed His head
and gave up the Ghost.
In regard to this Jesus Himself testifies. First to the Nephites:
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the Prophets testified shall come
into the world; and behold, I am the light and life of the world; and
I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me,
and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world,
in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from
the beginning."--iii Nephi, xi, 10, 11.
And again, in this dispensation, He bears witness: "For behold, I,
God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if
they would repent, but if they would not repent, they must suffer even
as I, which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to
tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer
both body and spirit: and would that I might not drink the bitter cup
and shrink, nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and
finished my preparations unto the children of men."--Doc. and Cov.,
xix, 16-19, page 118.
The saying of our Savior, to which we have already alluded, "Thus it
is written and thus it behooved Christ to suffer," is a very important
one, and it would seem to be necessary, in the consideration of our
subject, for us to obtain, from the writings of the servants of God
that we have, an understanding what these statements were; how
extensively they were corroborated by the sacred records; and what is
said with regard to the necessity of Christ's sufferings thus referred
to: and, furthermore, we may notice the reason why they should be thus
necessary.
In making this examination, we will first quote from the writings of
the Old and New Testaments, and, although we are informed by later
revelations that "many parts which are plain and most precious" have
been taken away therefrom, yet there is a large amount of testimony
left in this valuable and sacred record, which plainly exhibits that
the principle of the atonement was fully understood by the Prophets in
former ages.