of Jesus could have any affinity. Rather, is it not evident that the
antagonism of Christianity and paganism had measurably ceased? that
they had assimilated? that they had both so nearly found the same
level, that with a slight pressure of governmental policy they readily
amalgamated?
Not only prophecy but general history, and especially the history of
Christianity by its learned professors, furnish abundant evidence of
its early departure from the pure principles of the Gospel.
The prophetic history of the preparatory work, for the coming of Christ
to reign on the earth in the latter days, is predicated on the apostacy
of the primitive Christian church, the general wickedness of the
nations, and the gathering of the house of Israel.
Since the calling of Abraham, the authenticated personal manifestations
of the Lord to man have been through him and his family. Christ came
to his own chosen people. His earthly mission was commenced and
consummated in the midst of Israel. The Gospel was first preached to
the Jews. His apostles were chosen from his brethren of the seed of
Abraham. The first church of Christ was established at Jerusalem. The
apostles were commanded to remain there until endowed with power from
on high. All the blessings of salvation are promised to mankind through
the seed of Abraham.
When the Lord comes in glory and power, the prophets inform us that he
will come to Zion and Jerusalem, the chief cities of gathered Israel.
The apostle Paul informs us that "God hath set some in the church,
first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues;" 1 _Cor_. 12. 28.
From the above it is evident that, had the church of Christ been on
the earth in the past centuries, it would have been organized like the
primitive church, with apostles and prophets of the house of Israel at
the head of it. More than that, it would have enjoyed all the spiritual
gifts and blessings mentioned in the above chapter.
John the Revelator, in his visions of the latter times, says, "And I
saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting
Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every
nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people;" _Rev_. 14. 6.
No one who has any faith in the Scriptures would assert that the Gospel
preached by Jesus and his apostles was not the "Everlasting Gospel."
If everlasting, it must of necessity be the same wherever found.
If the same Gospel, it would always produce the same results. Its
ordinances would be the same. Its followers would enjoy the same gifts
and blessings. They would call themselves Saints. They would have an
organization that would not vary from the church organized by Jesus and
his apostles. They would have been led by apostles and prophets of the
house of Israel.
Instead of this, the Christian churches and nations have for many
centuries ground the House of Israel with the iron heel of oppression.
They have robbed, driven and slain the covenant people of God, the
chosen people of that same Jesus of Nazareth whose precepts and example
they profess to follow.
The Shiloh came and the sceptre departed from Judah. A series of
terrible oppressions commenced under Roman governors, which resulted
in the destruction of Jerusalem, and of the Jews as a nation; that may
be considered the beginning of the fulfilment of the prediction of our
Savior, "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the
times of the Gentiles be fulfilled;" _Luke_ 21. 24.
The reasonable construction of this passage is, that "The times of
the Gentiles" means the period in which they will bear rule, oppress
Israel, and hold possession of the heritage of the seed of Abraham.
When "The times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled," when the angel,
seen in vision by John the Revelator, shall have brought again to earth
the "Everlasting Gospel," will also be "The times of restitution of all
things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets
since the world began;" _Acts_ 3. 21.
The first century of the Christian era was a very important one in
the world's history. The covenant people of God ceased to exist as a
nation. The civilized world, represented by the Roman empire, with
Paganism as the prevailing religion, began to fill up the measure
of its iniquity by shedding the blood of the apostles, and of the
disciples of Jesus. Pagan philosophy counteracted Gospel influences.
There was a constant tendency in Christianity and paganism to
assimilate. This is evident from the writings of the apostles.
That, after Christianity became the leading element of the Roman
empire, it ceased to be regenerative in its nature, is evidenced by
the fact, that the empire was often scourged with destructive civil
wars which prepared it for dissolution. It was finally crushed by
barbarian hordes. They desolated whole provinces, leaving only remnants
of corrupt peoples, to be measurably regenerated by an infusion of
new blood from the plains of eastern Europe, and western Asia. Both
sacred and profane history have failed to record an instance of a
people who, living under the regenerating influences of the Gospel of
Jesus, and enjoying the favor of God, were broken and destroyed by such
terrible scourges as visited the Roman empire the first five centuries
of the Christian era. Modern nations have risen from its ashes, have
adopted its religion, its customs, its ethics, without inspiration
from heaven, without any further Gospel dispensation, without apostles
and prophets of the house of Israel, and without the guidance of the
Holy Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God, which the Lord has
decreed should only come through the seed of Abraham.
Bible.
_Isa_. 24. 2 as with the people, so with the priest.
5 the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof.
17 fear and the pit are upon thee, O inhabitants of the earth.
_Dan_. 7. 25 he shall speak great words against the Most High, and
shall wear out the Saints.
8. 10 it waxed great, even to the host of heaven.
11 by him the daily sacrifice was taken away.
12 it cast down the truth to the ground, and it practised and prospered.
23 the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to
the full.
25 through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand. 26.
_Matt_. 24. 10 many shall be offended, and shall betray and hate one
another.
_Acts_ 20. 29 after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among
you. 30.
1 _Tim_. 1. 6 some have turned aside to vain jangling. 7.
19 concerning faith have made shipwreck.
4. 1 in the latter times some shall depart from the faith.
2, 3 speaking lies in hypocrisy, forbidding to marry.
2 _Tim_. 2. 18 who concerning the truth have erred.
3. 1 know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2-7 men shall be lovers of their own selves, without natural affection.
Ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
12 all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
4. 16 at my first answer no man stood with me.
_Titus_ 1. 10, 11 many unruly and vain talkers, deceivers, who subvert
whole houses.
3. 9 avoid foolish questions, contentions, and strivings. 10.
2 _Peter_ 2. 1 who, privily, shall bring in damnable heresies.
_Rev_. 16. 6 for they have shed the blood of the Saints and prophets.
17. 1, 2 the great whore that sitteth upon the waters. _Chap_. 18. 3, 9.
5 the mystery, Babylon, the mother of harlots.
6 the woman, drunken with the blood of the Saints, and the martyrs of
Jesus.
15 the waters which thou sawest are peoples, multitudes and nations.
18 the woman is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the
earth.
18. 2 Babylon is become the habitation of devils, the hold of every
foul spirit.
24 in her was found the blood of the prophets.
19. 2 he hath judged the great whore which did corrupt the earth.
Book of Mormon.
1 _Nephi_ 13. 5 the foundation of a church which is most abominable,
which slayeth the Saints of God. _Chap_. 14. 3, 9, 10. _Chap_. 22. 14.
2 _Nephi_ 28. 18.
9 for the praise of the world they destroy the Saints.
24-34 the Jewish record went forth in purity to the Gentiles, but the
Gentiles took away the most precious parts, for which reason many
stumble.
14. 11 she had dominion over all the earth, and sat upon many waters.
12 the Saints of God were scattered over the earth, and their dominions
were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore.
13 mother of abominations gathered together multitudes to fight against
the Lamb of God.
15 the wrath of God poured out on that abominable church. 16, 17.
15. 13 many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in the
body, the fulness of the Gospel shall come to the Gentiles.
22. 22, 23 the kingdom of the devil built up among the children of men.
2 _Nephi_ 26. 19-22 refers to the time when the children of Lehi (the
American Indians) shall be smitten and driven by the Gentiles, and
gives an unmistakable description of the Christian world of the present
day.
27. 1 in the latter days, all shall be drunken with iniquity.
28. 3 every one that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord,
shall say, I am the Lord's.
4 they and their priests shall contend one with another.
6 they shall say, in this day God is not a God of miracles.
29. 3 a Bible, we have got a Bible; there cannot be any more.
3 _Nephi_ 16. 7 in the latter days shall the truth come unto the
Gentiles. 1 _Nephi_ 15. 13. _Rev_. 14. 6.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 1. 15 they have strayed from mine ordinances and broken mine
everlasting covenant.
16 every man walketh in his own way, after the image of his own God.
17, 18 Joseph Smith, Jun., and others commanded to proclaim these
things, that the sayings of the prophets might be fulfilled.
30 to bring forth the only true and living church, out of obscurity and
darkness.
5. 6 you shall be ordained to deliver my words to the children of men.
29. 21 that great and abominable church shall be cast down.
35. 11 shall not anything be shown forth except desolations on Babylon?
38. 11 for all flesh is corrupted before me.
86. 1-7 an explanation of the parable of the wheat and tares. _Sec_.
88. 94.
133. 14 go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon.
Pearl of Great Price.
_Page_ 3. in a day when men would take many of the words from the book
which Moses should write, the Lord promised to raise up another like
him, when they should be had again among men. 2 _Nephi_ 3. 9.
21. so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and
vengeance.
_See O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. Wm. Crowel, No. 6_.
"_Universal Apostacy," a pamphlet by O. Pratt_.
THE JERUSALEM OF THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE.
The earliest account we have of Jerusalem is in the fourteenth chapter
of Genesis, under the date of 1913 B. C.
When Abram was returning from the slaughter of the five kings,
Melchisedek, king of Salem, brought him refreshments. He was a
righteous prince and a priest of the Most High God; and he blessed
Abram.
Josephus, the Jewish historian, states that this city of Salem was
afterwards called Jerusalem; _Ant. of the Jews, B_. 1., _Chapter_ 10.
It has been the scene of many great events connected with the ministry
of the holy Priesthood on the earth.
Abram was commanded to offer his son Isaac, on one of the mountains in
the land of Moriah; _Gen_. 22. 2. Josephus says, that the mountain on
which Abram built an altar, to offer his son Isaac, was the same on
which king David (Solomon) afterwards built a temple.
The Jebusites retained possession of the city of Jerusalem until 1048
B. C., when it was subdued by David. He first took the stronghold of
Zion; "The same is the city of David." At that time, this was only a
strong outwork or fortification for the defence of the city; 2 _Sam_.
5. 6-9.
In the days of Solomon, Jerusalem became a great and strong city, with
a magnificent temple towering on Mount Moriah.
From its conquest by David, until the death of Solomon, it was the
capital city of Israel, and afterwards of the kingdom of Judah. B. C.
585, Jerusalem was burned by the army of Nebuchadnezzar, and the better
part of the inhabitants of the land were carried captive to Babylon; 3
_Kings_, _chapters_ 24 and 25.
The city was re-established at the end of the seventy years' captivity.
It afterwards played an important part in the history of that part of
Asia.
Almost under the shadow of its walls, our Savior was born. It was
the central place of the scenes of his earthly mission. In it he was
scourged and condemned to death. Just outside of its walls, and in
sight of its towers, and the glorious temple built to his name, the God
of Israel died the death of a malefactor.
It was here, and near here, that he consummated his earthly mission,
and ascended to his Father.
In A. C. 70, the land of Judea, and city of Jerusalem, were made a
desolation by the Roman armies, and the Jews, as a nation, entirely
rooted out of their heritage, and scattered among all nations.
For information on this subject, the student should read, carefully,
Josephus' "_Wars of the Jews_."
Up to this time, in her history, many prophecies were fulfilled. In
her future many more are to be fulfilled, for she is yet to take an
important part in the great work of the latter days. Like the New
Jerusalem of the American continent, this city will descend out of
heaven, after the final change of the earth to its celestial condition;
_Rev_. 21. 10-27.
It is often called Zion in the Old Testament, and will be the capital
city of gathered Israel on the Eastern hemisphere, in the latter days.
There are many passages in the Scriptures relating to this important
city. A few are appended to assist the student in further researches
concerning it.
Bible.
_Deut_. 31. 29 evil will befall you in the latter days, because ye will
do evil.
1 _Kings_ 11. 11-13 Lord declared he would rend the kingdom from
Solomon.
14. 15 Lord shall root up Israel, and scatter them beyond the river.
2 _Kings_ 20. 17, 18 treasures laid up by the fathers, to be carried to
Babylon.
23. 27 I will remove Judah out of my sight, as I have removed Israel.
2 _Chron_. 36. 21 the land shall enjoy her Sabbaths seventy years.
_Jer_. 29. 10.
_Isa_. 4. this chapter evidently refers to the latter days, and to the
Zion of the Western Hemisphere, and to the city of Jerusalem, on the
Eastern.
25. 6-12 in this mountain shall the Lord make a feast of fat things.
He will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people, He will
swallow up death in victory.
32. 9-18 land of Israel to be desolate, until the Spirit is poured out
from on high.
52. 9, 10 sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem.
51. 17 stand up, O Jerusalem, which has drunk of the cup of his fury.
_Jer_. 25. 11 these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy
years.
18 to make Jerusalem and her kings a desolation, and a curse.
26. 18 Micah prophesied that Zion should be plowed like a field.
50. 4 in those days Israel and Judah, together, shall come, going and
weeping.
51. 19-23 Israel the rod of the Lord's inheritance, with which he will
break in pieces their enemies.
_Ezek_. 38 and 39. these chapters are a prophecy of the gathering of
the nations against Jerusalem in the latter days.
_Zeph_. 1. this chapter is, evidently, a prophecy of the desolation of
Jerusalem.
_Haggai_ 2. 9 the glory of this latter house, shall be greater than
that of the former.
_Zech_. 12. the restoration of Judah.
_Chap_. 14. in the latter days the Lord will deliver Jerusalem from the
nations that will go up to battle against it.
_Matt_. 24. Destruction of Jerusalem foretold. _P. of G. P., page_ 38.
_Luke_ 19. 41-44 Christ foretells the destruction of Jerusalem. _Chap_.
23. 28-30.
_See Article, by C. W. Penrose, Mil. Star, Vol. 30, page 353_.
"_New Jerusalem," a pamphlet by O. Pratt_.
NEW JERUSALEM.
The Jaredite prophet, Ether, predicted, 600 B. C., that a city which
should be called a holy city, should be built on the land of North
America, and that it should be built up unto the remnant of the seed
of Joseph. He further informs us, that it should be called the New
Jerusalem, to distinguish it from Jerusalem which should be built on
the eastern hemisphere; _Ether_ 13. 3-8.
Ether also saw that this New Jerusalem was the one that John the
Revelator saw, in vision, coming down out of heaven. "Until the end
come, when the earth shall pass away, and there shall be a new heaven
and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old, save the old have
passed away, and all things have become new. And then cometh the New
Jerusalem;" _verses_ 8-10. _Rev_. 21. 2.
Our Savior, in his personal ministration among the Nephites, six
hundred years after the predictions of Ether, renews the promise that a
New Jerusalem should be built upon this land.
Speaking to the Nephites, he says: "This people will I establish in
this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your
father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem;" 3 _Nephi_ 20. 22.
The Savior again says, speaking to the Gentiles, that those who shall
come into the covenant, shall "be numbered among this the remnant of
Jacob." "And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and
also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build
a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem; and then shall they
assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon
all the face of the land in unto the New Jerusalem;" 21. 22-24.
We learn from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that this New
Jerusalem is to be the city of Zion, of the latter days. "And it shall
be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place
of safety for the Saints of the most High God; And the glory of the
Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there,
insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called
Zion;" _Doc. & Cov_. 45. 66, 67.
This is, also, the Zion spoken of by the ancient Jewish prophets,
as separate and distinct from the Zion, or Mount Zion, that was in
Jerusalem, in the land of Palestine.
In the following passages, evidently, two distinct places are intended.
"Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation;" _Isa_. 64. 10. "For the
law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem;"
_Micah_ 4. 2.
There are three Zions spoken of in the sacred writings--the Zion on the
American continent, the Zion at Jerusalem, and the Zion of Enoch. For
some account of the Zion of Enoch, _see Pearl of Great Price, pages_
18-22. On the 22d page we learn, that, when Christ shall come, the Zion
of the western hemisphere and the Zion of Enoch shall be united in one.
There the Lord will reside, and it will be the gathered Zion "which
shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made."
Bible.
_Psalm_ 14. 7 oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!
48. 2 beautiful for situation is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north.
11-14.
_Isa_. 1. 27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment.
2. 3 out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem.
40. 9 O Zion that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high
mountain.
49. 19-26 the land of thy destruction shall be too narrow. I will lift
up mine hand to the Gentiles. Kings shall be thy nursing fathers. I
will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh.
51. 11 the redeemed of the Lord shall come to Zion.
52. 1 put on thy strength, O Zion.
59. 20 and the Redeemer shall come to Zion.
64. 10 Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
_Jer_. 3. 14 will take you one of a city and two of a family, and bring
you to Zion.
31. 6-14 arise, let us go up to Zion. Behold, I will bring them from
the north country. They shall come with weeping. They shall come and
sing in the heights of Zion. The virgin shall rejoice in the dance.
50. 4, 5 the children of Israel shall come, they and the children
of Judah together. They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces
thitherward.
_Joel_ 2. 32 for in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, shall be deliverance.
3. 16 the Lord shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from
Jerusalem.
_Obad_. 21. Saviors shall come up on Mount Zion.
_Zeph_. 3. 14 sing, O daughter of Zion, rejoice, O daughter of
Jerusalem.
16 said to Jerusalem, fear not; and to Zion, let not thine hands be
slack.
_Zech_. 1. 17 the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and choose Jerusalem.
2. 10, 11 the Lord will dwell in the midst of Zion, and many nations
shall be joined to him.
_Rom_. 11. 26 there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer.
_Rev_. 14. 1 a Lamb stood on Mount Zion.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 28. 9 no man knoweth where the city shall be built.
35. 24 Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish. 39. 13. _Sec_.
49. 25.
38. 4 have taken the Zion of Enoch into my own bosom.
42. 9 shall be revealed when the New Jerusalem shall be prepared. 35,
62, 67.
48. 4, 5 the place for the city to be revealed to certain men.
57. 2 Missouri the place for the city of Zion. 3, 14.
58. 7 bearing record of the land on which the Zion of God shall stand.
59. 3 blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion.
63. 24 should assemble themselves together on the land of Zion.
29-31 land of Zion to be obtained by purchase, or by blood. 36.
64. 34 the obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion.
68. 25 inasmuch as parents have children in Zion.
29 the inhabitants of Zion shall keep the Sabbath day holy. 30-32.
72. 15 every man that cometh to Zion must lay all things before the
bishop.
76. 66 there are they who are come unto Mount Zion.
82. 13 Kirtland consecrated for a stake of Zion. 14. _Sec_. 94. 1.
_Sec_. 96. 1.
85. 1 duty of the Lord's clerk to record what transpires in Zion.
89. 1 a word of wisdom for the church and Saints in Zion.
90. 8 that they might be perfected in their ministry, for the salvation
of Zion.
93. 53 obtain a knowledge of history, countries, lands, etc., for the
salvation of Zion.
97. 10 my will that an house be built in Zion, like the pattern given.
21 this is Zion, the pure in heart. 25.
100. 13 Zion shall be redeemed, although she is chastened for a little
season.
101. 18 the pure in heart shall return to build up Zion. 19-21, 41.
70-75 land around the land of Zion to be bought with money. 103. 22-24.
103. 15-20 the redemption of Zion must needs come by power.
29-35 concerning the redemption of Zion, by gathering together the
strength of Israel.
105. 5 Zion must be built according to the law of the celestial kingdom.
124. 2 Nauvoo planted as a corner stone of Zion. 6. 60.
136. 18 Zion shall be redeemed in mine own due time.
31 Saints to be tried, that they may receive the glory of Zion.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
In the churches established by our Savior and his apostles, the Holy
Ghost manifested itself in the development of a variety of gifts. Of so
great importance did the apostle Paul consider these gifts, to the well
being and edification of the Saints in Rome, that he wrote, "For I long
to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end
ye may be established;" _Rom_. 1. 11.
The inspired writings do not indicate that these gifts were limited to
any period of time, or to any one dispensation, but they are spoken
of by the apostles, as ever characterizing the operations of the Holy
Spirit.
In the twelfth chapter of the apostle Paul's first epistle to the
Corinthians, we are assured that "there are diversities of gifts by the
same spirit;" _verse_ 4. "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given
to every man to profit withal;" _verse_ 7. From this we learn that
the presence of the Spirit in a man is manifested by some gift. It is
evident from the general tenor of this chapter, that these gifts will
always be manifest in the church of Christ, for its members will ever
have the Holy Ghost abiding in them, and, where that is, the gifts of
the Spirit will be manifest.
The Book of Mormon speaks very plainly of the necessity of these gifts
in the church. "Again I speak unto you, who deny the revelations of
God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations,
nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and
the interpretation of tongues. Behold I say unto you, he that denieth
these things, knoweth not the Gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read
the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them;" _Mormon_ 9. 7, 8.