8. 3 will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name.
10. 4 if ye ask, having faith, he will manifest the truth to you. 7, 11.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 1. 21 that faith might also increase in the earth.
4. 5 faith, hope, charity, love, &c., qualify him for the work _Sec_.
6. 19, and 12. 8.
8. 10 without faith you can do nothing; ask in faith. 11.
26. 2 all things to be done by common consent, by much prayer and faith.
27. 17 taking the shield of faith, wherewith to quench the fiery darts
of the wicked.
41. 3 by prayer of faith ye shall receive my law.
52. 20 the days have come when according to men's faith it shall be
done unto them.
103. 36 all victory is brought to pass through your diligence and
prayers of faith.
FAITH IN CONTINUAL REVELATION.
Bible.
_Num_. 11. 29 Moses said, would that all the Lord's people were
prophets.
_Prov_. 29. 18 where there is no vision the people perish.
_Mark_ 16. 17 and these signs shall follow them that believe.
_John_ 14. 12 he that believeth on me shall do the works that I do, and
greater.
16. 13 Spirit of truth will teach you all things.
_Acts_ 2. 39 the promise is to as many as the Lord our God shall call.
_Rom_. 1. 17 for therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from
faith to faith.
3. 22 the righteousness of God is unto all, and upon all that believe.
_Eph_. 3. 19 that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
_James_ 1. 5 if any lack wisdom let him ask of God.
1 _John_ 2. 27 the anointing which you have received teacheth you all
things.
Book of Mormon.
1 _Nephi_ 10. 17-19 the gifts and mysteries of God to be unfolded to
all men and in all times, to those who diligently seek them.
12. 18 the Messiah of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record from the
beginning until this time, henceforth and forever.
22. 2 by the Spirit are all things made known to the prophets.
2 _Nephi_ 4. 35 God will give liberally to him that asketh.
26. 13 Christ manifesteth himself by the power of the Holy Ghost, to
all who believe on him.
27. 23 that I am the same yesterday, to-day and forever. _Chap_. 29. 9.
28. 29 wo be to him that shall say, we have received the word of God
and need no more. 30.
29. 6 thou fool that shall say, we have a Bible and need no more. 7-12.
_Alma_ 39. 19 is it not as easy for the Lord to declare these things to
us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?
3 _Nephi_ 27. 29 for he that asketh receiveth; and to him that knocketh
it shall be opened.
_Mormon_ 9. 7-11 God, a God of miracles, revelations and prophecy, the
same yesterday, to-day and for ever. 15-19. _Moroni_ 10. 19.
_Moroni_ 7. 29 have miracles ceased, or have angels ceased to minister
to men because Christ has ascended to heaven? 37, 38.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 1. 11 the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth. 20.
11. 25 wo to him that denieth the Spirit of revelation and prophecy.
20. 11 that God inspires men to do his work in this generation, as well
as in generations of old. 12-17.
26-28 not only those who are but who have been and who shall be, who
believe in the gifts and callings of God, shall be saved.
35 diminishing nothing from the revelations of John, or from the
revelations of God which shall come hereafter, by the power of the Holy
Ghost.
35. 8 will show miracles and wonders unto all who believe on my name.
42. 61 if thou shalt ask thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation.
67, 68.
50. 35 by giving heed to what you have received, and shall hereafter
receive.
59. 4 with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time.
70. 3 revelations which I have given them, and which I shall hereafter
give.
_See sermon by H. C. Kimball, J. of D., Vol. 2, page 220_.
" " " " _3, " 197_.
_O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. W. Crowell, No. 3_.
_A Pamphlet, by O. Pratt, on Faith_.
_Article by F. D. Richards, Mil. Star, Vol. 29, page 681_.
REPENTANCE.
The Nephite prophet, Alma, gives a very comprehensive idea of the
importance of repentance. "Yea, I would that ye would come forth and
harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time, and
the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden
not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be
brought about unto you. For behold, this life is the time for men to
prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for
men to perform their labors. And now as I said unto you before, as ye
have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not
procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this
day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we
do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of
darkness, wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when
ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will
return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which
doth possess your bodies at the time ye go out of this life, that same
spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance,
even until death, behold, ye have become subject to the spirit of the
devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath
withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all
power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked." _Alma_ 34.
31-35.
"For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented
of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death;" 2 _Cor_. 7. 10. Of the
sorrow that worketh death was that of Judas; _Matt_. 27. 3-5 In some
passages of the Scriptures repentance signifies a change of purpose
in man, as in the case of the son who refused to work in his father's
vineyard, but afterwards repented and went; 21. 28, 29.
Again, it expresses the sympathy of the Lord for the sufferings of his
people: "For the Lord hearkened because of their groanings by reason
of them that oppressed them;" _Judges_ 2. 18. It sometimes expresses
sympathy in man for the sufferings of others: "And the people repented
them for Benjamin, because that the Lord had made a breach in the
tribes of Israel;" 21. 15.
In the history of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, we are informed
that Pharaoh's heart was hardened, so that he would not let the people
go. We are evidently to understand by this, that on account of the
great wickedness of the Egyptians, the Lord did not soften their hearts
by the gentle influences of his Spirit, but permitted them to pursue
their own chosen way and suffer the consequences.
We read in the Revelations of St. John: "And the rest of the men which
were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their
hands;" 9. 20. "And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains
and their sores, and repented not of their deeds;" 16. 11. These, like
the Egyptians, had passed the day of repentance, and were left to reap
the reward of their wickedness.
On account of their former wickedness, it was all the converted
Lamanites could do to repent; _Alma_ 24. 11.
Repentance is a gift of God: "Then hath God also to the Gentiles
granted repentance unto life;" _Acts_ 11. 18. "If God peradventure will
give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;" 2 _Tim_. 2.
25. "Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth them to repentance;"
_Rom_. 2. 4. That is, the Lord grants to men of his Holy Spirit to
soften their hearts and enlighten their understandings, that they may
see and receive the truth, if they will; but his Spirit will not always
strive with man. Confession of sin, and restitution to the injured
party, was early made a standing law in Israel; _Num_. 5. 6, 7.
Confession is one of the outward evidences of a godly sorrow for sin:
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation;" _Rom_. 10. 10. "Confess
your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be
healed;" _James_ 5. 16.
On account of the magnitude of sins committed, repentance is not always
followed by forgiveness and restoration. For instance, when Peter was
preaching to the Jews, who had slain Jesus and taken his blood on
themselves and their children, he did not say, repent and be baptized
for the remission of sins; but "Repent ye therefore, and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord; and (when) he shall send Jesus
Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must
receive until the times of the restitution of all things;" _Acts_ 3.
19-21. That is, repent now, and believe in Jesus Christ, that you may
be forgiven when he whom you have slain shall come again in the days of
the restitution of all things; and prescribe to you the terms on which
you may be saved.
Bible.
1 _Kings_ 8. 47 if they repent in the land of their captivity.
_Job_ 42. 6 I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.
_Psalm_ 106. 45 repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
110. 4 the Lord hath sworn and will not repent. _Heb_. 7. 21.
_Ezk_. 14. 6 repent and turn from your idols. _Chap_. 18. 30,
24. 14 neither will I spare, neither will I repent.
_Matt._ 3. 2 repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. _Chap_.
4. 17.
8 bring forth fruit meet for repentance. _Luke_ 3. 8.
9. 13 not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. _Luke_ 5. 32.
11. 20 because they repented not. 21. _Luke_ 10. 13.
12. 41 the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation.
_Luke_ 11. 32.
_Mark_ 1. 15 repent ye and believe the Gospel.
6. 12 they went and preached that men should repent.
_Luke_ 13. 3 except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish. 5.
15. 7 over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety-nine that need
no repentance.
16. 30 if one went unto them from the dead they will repent.
17. 3 if thy brother trespass against thee, and repent, forgive him. 4.
_Acts_ 17. 30 times of ignorance God winked at but now commands men to
repent.
26. 20 to the Gentiles that they should do works meet for repentance.
_Rom_. 2. 4 not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance.
2 _Cor_. 7. 9 but that ye sorrowed to repentance.
10 Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of.
_Heb_. 6. 1 not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead
works. 6.
12. 17 he found no place of repentance though he sought it.
2 _Peter_ 3. 9 that any should perish, but all should come to
repentance.
_Rev_. 3. 8 remember how thou hast received; hold fast and repent.
19 those I love I chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent.
Book of Mormon.
1 _Nephi_ 10. 18 the way is prepared for all men if they will repent.
22. 28 shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel, if they will
repent.
2 _Nephi_ 2. 21 he gave commandment that all men should repent.
9. 24 if they will not repent and be baptized they must be damned.
30. 2 the Gentiles that will repent are the covenant people of the Lord.
_Jacob_ 3. 3 except ye repent the land is cursed for your sakes.
_Mos_. 4. 10 believe that you must repent of your sins, and forsake
them. 18.
12. 8 unless they repent I will utterly destroy them. 12.
18. 7 Alma preached repentance at the waters of Mormon.
20 he commanded they should preach nothing but repentance and faith.
26. 22 shall be baptized unto repentance.
27. 24 Alma said I have repented of my sins and been redeemed.
29. 19 were it not for the interposition of the Creator because of
their repentance.
_Alma_ 5. 31-33 repentance necessary to salvation. 49-56.
7. 9 the Spirit saith repent, prepare the way of the Lord.
9. 12 except ye repent ye can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God.
12. 15 power to save all that bring forth fruit meet for repentance.
24 this life a probationary state for repentance.
22. 6 will repent ye shall be saved.
26. 22 to him that repenteth is given to know the mysteries of God.
27. 23 because of their sore repentance on account of their many
murders.
29. 1, 2 that I were an angel to cry repentance to all people.
34. 31-35 to delay repentance until death is to become subject to the
devil.
42. 4 there was a probationary time granted to man for repentance. 5,
13.
16 repentance could not come unto men except there was a punishment.
_Hel_. 5. 11 he hath power to redeem them from their sins because of
repentance.
7. 17 O repent ye! why will ye die?
19-24, 28 the Nephites warned of great destruction, unless they would
repent.
8. 7 the things he saith will come to pass unless we repent. 26
10. 11 Nephites to be smitten unless they would repent. 17.
11. 8-17 the Lord turned away the famine from the Nephites because of
repentance.
12. 22-24 that men might be saved, hath repentance been declared.
13. 2 Samuel preached repentance to the people of Zarahemla. 6.
14. 17, 18 the resurrection of Christ brings to pass the conditions of
repentance.
3 _Nephi_ 9. 2 wo to the inhabitants of the earth unless they repent.
13, 22.
10. 6 how oft will I gather you if ye will repent. _Matt_. 23. 37.
16. 13 if the Gentiles will repent they shall be numbered with my
people.
18. 16 as I pray, ye shall pray among those who repent and are
baptized. 30-32.
23. 5 he who repents and is baptized shall be saved.
26. 17 whoso repents and is baptized shall be filled.
_Mormon_ 2. 8 although destruction hung over the Nephites they would
not repent. 10-13.
3. 22 I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent.
5. 22 how can ye stand before the power of God except ye repent? 24.
7. 3 ye must come to repentance or ye cannot be saved. 5, 7, 8
_Ether_ 2. 11 may repent and not continue in your iniquities, until the
fulness come.
5. 5 if so be they repent and come unto the Father.
7. 23 there came prophets warning the people to repent. 25, 26
8. 23 that things may be shown to you that ye may repent.
11. 1 many prophecies of the destruction of the people, unless they
should repent. 6, 8, 12, 20.
12. 3 Ether exhorted the people to believe in God unto repentance.
_Moroni_ 6. 7 if they repented not their names were blotted out. 8.
8. 24 repentance is unto those who are under the curse of a broken law.
25.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 1. 32, 33 from him that repents not shall be taken the light he
has received. _Sec_. 5. 21.
3. 10 God commanded Joseph Smith, Jun., to repent.
5. 19 a desolating scourge shall go forth if they repent not.
19. 4 every one must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless. 3, 15.
20. 29 all men must repent and endure in faith, or they cannot be saved.
29. 17 1 will take vengeance on the wicked for they will not repent.
44 they cannot be redeemed because they repented not. 49.
33. 10 repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
39. 18 inasmuch as they repent, I will stay mine hand in judgment.
42. 77 if not married, they shall repent and ye shall receive them.
43. 20 call on the nations to repent. Prepare, for the great day of the
Lord. 21, 22.
54. 3 if your brethren desire to escape their enemies let them repent.
63. 15 repent speedily, lest judgment come on them as a snare.
68. 24 if he repent he shall be forgiven, according to the covenants.
75. 29 the idler shall not have place in the church, except he repent.
84. 57 to remain under condemnation, until they repent. 76.
90. 34 your brethren in Zion begin to repent and the angels rejoice. 35.
98. 21 will chasten them if they do not repent and observe all things.
109. 21 when thy people transgress, they may speedily repent and return
unto thee. 29.
50 that wicked mob may repent, if repentance can be found. 53.
124. 50 visit on the heads of those who hindered my work, if they
repent not. 52, 116.
133. 16 he commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent.
136. 35 their sorrow shall be great unless they repent speedily.
Pearl of Great Price.
_Page_ 9. said to Adam, thou shalt repent and call upon God.
13. Adam called on his sons to repent.
14. the sons of Adam called on all men to repent.
16. God hath made known to our fathers that all men must repent. Teach
it to your children that all men must repent.
18. the Lord said to Enoch, say to this people repent, lest I smite
them with a curse. He called on all but the people of Cainaan to repent.
23. if men do not repent I will send in the floods upon them For it
repenteth Noah that I have created them.
_History of Joseph Smith, Sept. 1, 1835_.
_A Pamphlet by O. Pratt, on Repentance_.
BAPTISM.
NECESSITY OF BAPTISM.
That Gospel baptism is necessary to salvation, is abundantly evidenced
in the sacred writings. Christ, the highest authority known to man,
asserted this most emphatically when he said to Nicodemus, "Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God;" _John_ 3. 5.
So important did the Savior consider baptism, that when he went to John
to be baptized, and John forbade him, he replied to him, "Suffer _it
to be so_ now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness;"
_Matt_. 3. 13-15. In this he taught John the doctrine that a fulness of
righteousness or salvation, could not be received without it.
The prophet Nephi, who lived nearly 600 years before the birth of our
Savior, clearly understood the necessity of baptism. Said he, "And now,
if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by
water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we,
being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water;" 2 _Nephi_ 31. 5.
The prophet Mormon, who lived nearly 1,000 years after Nephi, also
taught the necessity of following the example of our Savior in being
baptized, first, by water; _Mormon_ 7. 10.
In the opening up of the latter-day dispensation, the Lord said to his
prophet Joseph, "Whosoever believeth on my words them will I visit with
the manifestation of my Spirit, and they shall be born of me, even of
water and of the Spirit;" _Doc. & Cov_. 5. 16.
The Lord, in a revelation to Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon,
speaking of those who should be worthy to come forth in the
resurrection of the just, says, "They are they who received the
testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after
the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name;" 76.
51.
Bible.
_Matt_. 28. 19 go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them.
_Mark_ 16. 16 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.
_John_ 1. 33 he that sent me to baptize with water.
_Acts_ 2. 41 then they that gladly received his word were baptized.
1 _Cor_. 12. 13 for by one spirit are we all baptized into one body.
_Gal_. 3. 27 as many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on
Christ.
_Eph_. 4. 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
1 _Peter_ 3. 21 the like figure whereunto even baptism doth now save us.
Book of Mormon.
2 _Nephi_ 31. 11 the Father said, repent, and be baptized.
17 the gate by which ye shall enter is repentance and baptism.
_Alma_ 5. 62 be baptized unto repentance.
9. 27 cometh to redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance.
3 _Nephi_ 18. 5 one shall be ordained to break bread, and give to those
who are baptized in my name.
28. 18 uniting to the church those who believe on their preaching,
baptizing them.
_Mormon_ 9. 29 see that ye are not baptized unworthily.
_Moroni_ 6. 1-4 explains who are fit subjects for baptism.
8. 4-22 the reasons given why little children are not fit subjects for
baptism.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 68. 8 preach the Gospel to every creature, baptizing in the name
of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
112. 29 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that
believeth not and is not baptized shall be damned.
128. 12 baptism by immersion necessary to answer to the likeness of the
dead, that one principle might accord with the other. Also in likeness
of the resurrection of the dead, in coming forth out of their graves.
This passage explains and beautifully accords with _Rom_. 6. 4, and
_Col_. 2. 12.
Pearl of Great Price.
_Page_ 16. the Holy Spirit promised to Adam, if he would repent and be
baptized. Explanation of the necessity of being born of water and of
the Spirit.
17. gives an account of the baptism of Adam.
MODE OF BAPTISM.
Not only is the necessity of baptism taught us by the highest possible
authority, but, as well, the manner in which that ordinance is to be
administered.
Adam, the Father of the race, set an example for all his children to
follow. "And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our
father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the
Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid
under the water, and was brought forth out of the water. And thus he
was baptized; and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was
born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man;" _P. of G.
P_., p. 17.
Christ went where John was baptizing in the river Jordan, to be
baptized of him, and "when he was baptized, went up straightway out
of the water;" _Matt_. 3. 16. That he was immersed, or buried in the
water, is evident from the sayings of the Apostle Paul, "Therefore we
are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together
in the likeness of his death, we shall be also _in the likeness of his
resurrection_;" Rom_. 6. 4, 5. "Buried with him in baptism, wherein
also ye are risen with _him_ through the faith of the operation of
God;" _Col_. 2. 12.
The meaning of these passages is evident. If we would come forth in the
resurrection in the likeness of Christ, we must, like him, be buried
in the water, and come forth out of the water, in the likeness of his
burial and resurrection.
The Nephites knew no other mode of Gospel baptism than immersion. Said
Jesus to his Nephite disciples, "And then shall ye immerse them in the
water, and come forth again out of the water;" 3 _Nephi_ 11. 26.
When our Savior sent forth his Jewish disciples to preach the Gospel,
he authorized them to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost; _Matt_. 28. 19. He instructed his Nephite disciples to
use the following words, "Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I
baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen;" 3 _Nephi_ 11. 25.
Quite explicit instructions on this subject are given to the Latter-day
Saints in the _Doc. & Cov_.: "The person who is called of God, and has
authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water
with the person who has presented him or herself for baptism, and shall
say, calling him or her by name--Having been commissioned of Jesus
Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then shall he immerse him or her in the water,
and come forth again out of the water;" 20. 73, 74.
Under date of May, 1829, we find the following account of the baptism
of J. Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery, being the first baptisms in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "Accordingly we went and
were baptized, I baptized him first, and afterwards he baptized me,
after which I laid my hands upon his head and ordained him to the
Aaronic Priesthood, afterwards he laid his hands on me and ordained me
to the same Priesthood--for so were we commanded. * * * It was on the
fifteenth day of May, 1829, that we were ordained under the hand of
the Messenger, and baptized. Immediately on our coming up out of the
water, after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious
blessings."
Bible.
_Matt_. 3. 6 all baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
3. 13 then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John.
_John_ 3. 23 John was baptizing in Enon near Salem, because there was
much water there.
_Acts_ 8. 38, 39 Philip went down into the water with the eunuch.
22. 16 arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins.
1 _Cor_. 10. 2 all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
_Titus_ 3. 5 by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy
Ghost.
Book of Mormon.
_Mos_. 18. 12-17 a description of the manner in which Alma baptized the
Lamanites in the waters of Mormon.
26. 15 blessed are they who were baptized in the waters of Mormon.
_Alma_ 4. 4 many were baptized by Alma in the river Sidon.
3 _Nephi_ 11. 23-28 conditions for and form of baptism.
19. 11-13 Nephi, and his brethren, went down into the water, and came
up out of the water.
Pearl of Great Price.
_Page_ 17. Adam was laid under the water, and brought forth out of the
water.