45. 59 the Lord shall be their king and lawgiver.
56. 18 shall see the kingdom of God come in power and great glory.
58. 22 until he reigns whose right it is to rule.
133. 25 the Savior shall reign over all flesh.
_See Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. 1, page_ 198.
" " _O. Pratt, " " 16, " 312_.
" " " " " _18, " 314_.
" " " " " " " _335_.
_Article Mil. Star, Vol. 1, pages 4 and 73_.
" _by. O. Pratt, Mil. Star, Vol. 28, page 561_.
DESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED.
Passages are numerous in the inspired writings which assert that the
wicked shall be destroyed. The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the latter
times, says, "Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts
with righteousness. And the destruction of the transgressors and of
the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the Lord shall be
consumed;" 1. 27, 28.
The Lord further declared through the same prophet, that, because the
inhabitants of the earth had defiled it, the curse had devoured it;
"And they that dwell therein are desolate;" 24. 5, 6. "For, behold, the
Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for
their iniquity;" 26. 21.
Many of the sayings concerning the destruction of the wicked are
general in their application, to all times in which wickedness is
prevalent. But there are many passages in the inspired writings which
point to the latter times for a general destruction of the ungodly, and
the cleansing of the earth from wickedness.
The following from Isaiah are of this character. "For the indignation
of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies. *
* For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompense
for the controversy of Zion;" 34. 2-8.
"For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and
the slain of the Lord shall be many;" 66. 16.
The Book of _Doc. & Cov_. being a record of revelations concerning
the dispensation of the fulness of times, it says much concerning the
destruction of the wicked, and the redemption of man, and of the earth.
It is evident that the visions of the prophet Joseph were vivid and
well defined on this subject, for the Lord said through him, "The hour
is nigh, and the day soon at hand when the earth is ripe: and all the
proud, and they that do wickedly, shall be as stubble, and I will burn
them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that wickedness shall not be upon the
earth;" 29. 9, 14-21. _Sec_. 64. 24.
The records of the times are a daily testimony of the fulfilment of the
following: "And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars,
and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail
them;" _sec_. 45. 26. And men shall be standing in that generation in
which these things shall appear, "That shall not pass, until they shall
see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the
land;" _verse_ 31.
"Among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices, and curse God and
die. And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many
desolations; yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they
will take up the sword, one against another, and they will kill one
another;" _verses_ 32, 34.
The testimony of the elders is the great preparatory work for the
destruction of the wicked in this dispensation. Their labors are "To
bind up the law and seal up the testimony, and to prepare the saints
for the hour of judgment which is to come;" _sec_. 88. 84. And, after
their testimony, "cometh wrath and indignation upon the people;"
_verse_ 88.
The testimonies that will follow the testimony of the elders are
fearful to contemplate: "For after your testimony cometh the testimony
of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her (the
earth), and men shall fall to the ground, and shall not be able to
stand. And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and
the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of
the waves of the sea, heaving themselves beyond their bounds. And all
things shall be in commotion; and surely men's hearts shall fail them;
for fear shall come upon all people;" _sec_. 88. 89-91.
These testimonies are becoming historical facts. The words of the
ancient prophets are being fulfilled. That Joseph Smith, Jun., saw and
predicted their fulfilment, evidences the divinity of his mission.
Bible.
_Job_ 4. 8 they that sow wickedness reap the same.
18. 5-21 curses on the wicked. _Chap_. 20. 4-29.
_Psalm_ 1. 4, 5 nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
2. 4, 5 the Lord shall have them in derision.
7. 11-16 God is angry with the wicked every day.
9. 17 the wicked shall be turned into hell.
37. 28 the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
35, 36 I have seen the wicked in great power, and he passed away.
_Isa_. 2. 19 they shall go into holes of the rocks and caves of the
earth.
18. 6 the carcasses of the wicked shall be left to the beasts of the
earth.
24 1-12 the earth is made empty, because both priests and people have
gone astray.
28. 22 a consumption determined upon the whole earth.
29. 20 for the terrible one is brought to nought.
21 that make a man an offender for a word.
63. 1-6 the wicked kingdoms shall be broken. _Jer_. 25. 30-38. _Dan_.
2. 44.
_Jer_. 23. 19, 20 a whirlwind shall fall on the head of the wicked.
_Mal_. 4. 1 the day cometh that shall burn them up, saith the Lord of
hosts.
_Matt_. 13. 49 the angels shall sever the wicked from the just.
_Luke_ 21. 25, 26 signs in the sun and moon and stars. Men's hearts
failing them.
1 _Peter_ 4. 17 judgment must first begin at the house of God.
_Rev_. 2. 23 I will kill her children with death.
8. 7 the plagues of hail, fire and blood, 8.
_Chap_. 9. the plagues of the last days.
_Chap_. 16. the seven vials of wrath poured out.
_Chap_. 17. the great mystery, Babylon.
18. 1-24 the fall of Babylon.
19. 20, 21 the destruction of the beast and the false prophet.
Book of Mormon.
1 _Nephi_ 11. 36 all nations to be destroyed that fight against the
apostles of the Lamb.
14. 3 the great and abominable church destroyed.
6 wo to the Gentiles! if they harden their hearts against the Lamb of
God.
17 the wrath of God poured out upon the mother of harlots.
22. 13 that great and abominable church shall be drunken with her own
blood.
14 those that fight against Israel shall be turned one against another.
23 all churches not built up in righteousness to be consumed as stubble.
2 _Nephi_ 6. 15 those who do not believe in Christ shall be destroyed.
9. 16 the filthy shall go into everlasting fire.
27 wo unto him that has the commandments of God, and transgresseth them.
26. 3-6 terrible destruction of the wicked at the crucifixion of
Christ. 3 _Nephi, Chapters_ 8. 9. 10.
27. 1, 2 in the last days all nations shall be drunken with iniquity,
and be visited with terrible destruction.
_Mos_. 15. 26 those who have known the commandments of God, and not
kept them, shall have no part in the first resurrection.
16. 1, 2 when all shall see that the judgments of God are just, the
wicked shall be cast out.
_Alma_ 5. 57 the names of the wicked shall be blotted out.
9. 28 those who have been evil shall reap the damnation of their souls.
11. 41 the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made.
12. 16 he that dieth in his sins, shall die as to things pertaining to
righteousness. 17, 18.
40. 13 those who choose evil to be cast into outer darkness 14, 26.
41. 4 those who work evil shall have evil restored to them. 5.
_Hel_. 14. 18 those who do not repent are hewn down and cast into the
fire.
3 _Nephi_ 20. 23 every soul that will not hear that prophet shall be
cut off. _Deut_. 18. 15. _Acts_ 3. 22, 23.
_Mormon, Chapters_ 2-6. great destruction of the Nephites for their
wickedness.
_Ether_ 11. 7 great destruction of the Jaredites for their wickedness.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 35. 11 without faith nothing shall be shown except desolation on
Babylon.
56. 1 in the day of visitation and of wrath on the nations.
63. 6 the day of wrath shall come upon them as a whirlwind. 32, 33.
_Sec_. 87. concerning the wars that shall come to pass, beginning at
South Carolina.
88. 79 the wars and perplexities of nations.
97. 21-24 the Lord's scourge shall pass over by night and by day.
101. 14 mine indignation is soon to be poured out upon all nations. 89.
103. 2 on whom I will pour out my wrath without measure.
112. 24 vengeance cometh speedily on the inhabitants of the earth. 25,
26.
130. 12 the beginning of the wars of the latter times to be in South
Carolina.
133. 2 the Lord shall come down with a curse to judgment.
136. 35 now cometh the day of their calamity.
Pearl of Great Price.
_Page_ 20. the blood of the righteous to be shed in the meridian of
time, in the days of wickedness and vengeance.
21. the Lord to come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and
vengeance. The earth shall rest; but before that day there shall be
great tribulations among men.
22. Enoch saw the coming of the Son of man in the last days, but,
before that day, he saw great tribulation among the wicked. He saw that
the sea was troubled, and men's hearts failed them with fear for the
judgment of Almighty God.
38. the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
before the destruction of Jerusalem.
39. before the coming of the Son of Man in the last days, nation
shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall
be famine, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. The
Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to all nations, for a witness,
and again shall the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the
prophet be fulfilled.
_See History of Joseph Smith, July 2, 1839_.
" " " _May 18, 1843_.
_O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. Wm. Crowel, No. 11_.
_P. P. Pratt's Voice of Warning_.
MIRACLES.
To mortal man the creation of the earth was a mysterious, miraculous
work. "God said let there be light and there was light." To the
uninspired the production of that light remains a supernatural
manifestation of power. From that time to this the Creator has been the
same wonder working God.
The Mosaic dispensation opened up with mighty miracles in the land of
Egypt. To Israel, for fifteen hundred years, the Lord God was a God of
miracles.
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, well understood the power of the
Priesthood as manifested in the history of his fathers, when he said
to Jesus, "No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be
with him;" _John_ 3. 2.
The Jews had faith in miracles as a witness that a man was sent of God.
"Many of the people believed on him, and said, when Christ cometh,
will he do more miracles than these which this _man_ hath done?" 7.
31. The Gospel dispensation, like the Mosaic, which preceded it, was
one of miraculous manifestations. When Jesus sent out his disciples to
preach the Gospel he said to them, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,
raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give;"
_Matt_. 10. 8.
The Book of Mormon evidences that the Mosaic dispensation, among
the Nephites, was also one of miraculous manifestations. The Gospel
dispensation, among them, was preceded and ushered in, by miraculous
wonders which involved the destruction of the wicked, and increased the
knowledge and faith of those who had the testimony of Jesus.
We have the testimony of the writings of Moses, of the prophets, of
ancient Israel on both continents, of both Gospel dispensations as
recorded in the New Testament and Book of Mormon, that the God of
Israel, and of former day saints, was a God of miracles, of signs, and
wonders. We have the testimony of many thousands of Latter-day Saints,
that God manifests himself to them as he did to his people anciently.
The Revelation of St. John assures us, that there will be many
miraculous manifestations of the power of God in the last days. The
sacred records everywhere evidence, that God is a God of miracles. No
people can claim to be saints of the Most High without the testimony of
miracles.
At the same time there may be miraculous manifestations that are not
of God, for in the latter times one of the beasts which John saw, will
have power to do great wonders and deceive them that dwell on the
earth; _Rev_. 13. 13, 14.
John also saw the spirits of devils working miracles; 16. 14. The
magicians worked miracles in common with Moses and Aaron, but Aaron's
rod swallowed up their rod. Thus it will ever be. The devil may have
great power over the elements, and over the hearts of men, but the Lord
will come off conqueror. The elect will never be deceived for they will
discern the difference between the two powers. Whoever is sent of God
will work miracles in the name of Jesus, and no man can work miracles
in the name of Jesus, "Save he were cleansed every whit from his
iniquity;" 3 _Nephi_ 8. 1-3.
There are two classes of miracles. One, manifesting the power of God
in the destruction of the wicked, the other a means of preserving,
blessing, and confirming the saints in the faith. If there be no faith
God can do no miracles; _Ether_ 12. 12. The apostle Paul declared that
the power to work miracles was one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit;
1 _Cor_. 12. 10. Hence we may conclude that this gift will be ever
manifest where the Holy Ghost is conferred by the authority of the Holy
Priesthood.
Bible.
_Gen_. 15. 17 a smoking furnace and a burning lamp passed between the
pieces.
19. 11 the men of Sodom smitten with blindness.
24, 25 the Lord destroyed the cities of the plain.
26 Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt.
_Exo_. 3. 2 the angel appeared to Moses in a burning bush.
4. 3 Moses' rod transformed into a serpent.
6 Moses' hand became leprous.
_Chapters_ 7-12 a history of the wonders which the Lord wrought, in the
deliverance of Israel out of Egypt.
13. 21, 22 the Lord went before Israel in a pillar of a cloud by day.
14. 19, 20 the pillar of a cloud covered the Egyptians with darkness.
21-30 Israel passed through the Red Sea, but the Egyptians were
destroyed.
15. 25 the waters of Marah sweetened.
16. 10 the glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud.
13-15 Israel fed on quails and manna.
23, 24 a double quantity of manna sent for the Sabbath.
17. 6 water brought forth from the rock in Horeb.
19. 16 thunderings and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mount.
18 Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke.
24. 15, 16 a cloud covered the mount six days.
17 the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire.
18 Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
34. 28 Moses was in the mount forty days without food. _Deut_. 9. 18.
40. 34 a cloud covered the tent of the congregation.
38 the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire by
night.
_Lev_. 10. 1, 2 Nadab and Abihu destroyed. _Num_. 3. 4.
_Num_. 11. 1-3 the fire of the Lord burnt among Israel.
31-33 quails sent into the camp of Israel and a great plague.
12. 10 Miriam struck with leprosy. 14, 15 healed of leprosy.
14. 37 the spies who brought an evil report died of a plague.
16. 16-35 Korah and company destroyed. _Chap_. 26. 10.
46-50 the Lord sent a plague among the congregation.
17. 8 the rod for the tribe of Levi budded.
20. 11 Moses smote the rock and the water came out.
21. 6-9 the plague of fiery serpents.
22. 28 the Lord opened the mouth of Baalam's ass. 2 _Peter_ 2. 16.
25. 9 24,000 of Israel destroyed by a plague.
_Deut_. 29. 5 the clothes of Israel did not grow old.
31. 15 the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud.
_Josh_. 3. 14-17 the waters of Jordan divided and Israel passed through.
6. 20 the walls of Jericho fell down.
7. 14-21 the theft of Achan discovered.
10. 11 the enemies of Israel destroyed by hailstones.
12-14 the sun stood still and the moon stayed.
_Judges_ 6. 21 fire consumed the flesh and unleavened bread of Gideon.
36-40 the sign given by a fleece of wool.
7. 6, 7 three hundred of Gideon's men lapped water.
14. 5, 6 Samson slew a lion. 19.
15. 14 the cords on the arms of Samson became as flax burnt with fire.
15 Samson slew a thousand Philistines with the jaw bone of an ass.
19 water came out of the jaw-bone for Samson.
16. 29, 30 Samson slew many Philistines at the time of his death.
1 _Sam_. 5. 4 Dagon falls and is broken before the ark of God.
6, 7 the men of Ashdod smitten on account of the ark.
9-12 the cities of Gath and Ekron smitten on account of the ark.
28. 11-14 the witch of Endor brought up Samuel.
2 _Sam_. 6. 7 the Lord smote Uzziah for taking hold of the ark.
24. 12-25 the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, which destroyed seventy
thousand men. 1 _Chron_. 21. 14.
1 _Kings_ 8. 11 the glory of the Lord had filled the house. 2 _Chron_.
5. 13, 14.
13. 4-6 Jeroboam's hand dried up and restored again.
24 a prophet slain by a lion, for disobedience.
17. 6 Elijah fed by ravens,
14-16 the widow's barrel of meal and cruise of oil that did not fail by
using.
21, 22 the widow's child brought to life.
18. 38 the fire of the Lord consumed Elijah's offering.
41-46 rain came in answer to the prayer of Elijah.
19. 6-8 Elijah fed by an angel, after which he fasted forty days.
20. 35, 36 a man slain by a lion for not obeying a prophet.
22. 20-23 the Lord put a lying spirit into the prophets of Ahab.
2 _Kings_. 1. 9-14 two companies, of fifty men each, destroyed by fire.
2. 8 the waters of Jordan divided, and Elijah passed through.
11 Elijah went up in a chariot with horses of fire.
14 Elisha smote the waters of Jordan with the mantle of Elijah.
20-22 the waters of Jericho healed by Elisha.
23, 24 forty-two children torn by bears, because they mocked Elisha.
3. 16-20 the armies of Israel and Edom supplied with water.
4. 1-7 the widow's pot of oil increased, so as to pay the debts of her
husband.
32-37 the son of the Shumanite brought to life
38-41 the poison removed from the pot of pottage.
42-44 one hundred men miraculously fed.
5. 14 Naaman healed of leprosy by washing in Jordan.
27 the servant of Elisha cursed with the leprosy of Naaman.
6. 5-7 an axe floats in the water.
17 the servant of Elisha saw horses and chariots of fire.
18 the Syrians smitten with blindness.
13. 21 a dead man raised by coming in contact with the bones of Elisha.
19. 35 an angel of the Lord smote the Assyrians. 2 _Chron_. 32. 21.
20. 11 the shadow went back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz.
2 _Chron_. 7. 1 fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice.
20. 23, 24 the Lord destroyed a great army in defence of Judah.
21. 14-19 Jehoram smitten with disease of the bowels.
26. 19 king of Judah struck with leprosy for burning incense.
_Job_ 1. 16 the fire of God hath burned up the sheep and servants.
_Dan_. 3. 13-27 the three Israelites delivered from the fiery furnace.
6. 16-24 Daniel delivered from the den of lions.
_Matt_. 8. 2, 3 leper healed. 13 centurion's servant healed.
14, 15 Jesus healed Peter's wife's mother.
26 Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea.
28-34 devils entered into the herd of swine.
9. 2-8 a man sick with palsy, healed.
20-22 a woman healed of an issue of blood.
23-25 the ruler's daughter raised from the dead.
27-31 blind man healed. 32-34 devil cast out.
12. 13 withered hand restored. 15 the multitudes healed.
22 blind and dumb lunatic healed.
14. 14 Jesus healed the sick of the multitude.
17-21 the multitude fed on five loaves and two fishes.
25-27 Jesus walked on the water.
36 as many as touched the hem of Jesus' garment were healed.
15. 28 the Canaanitish woman's daughter healed.
30, 31 Jesus healed some blind and dumb of the multitude.
35-38 the multitude fed on seven loaves and a few fishes.
17. 14-18 Jesus cures a lunatic.
27 tribute money taken from a fish.
20. 30-34 two blind men restored to sight.
21. 14 Jesus healed the blind and lame in the temple.
19 the fig tree cursed.
27. 45 three hours of darkness at the crucifixion.
51 vail of the temple rent. 28. 2 a great earthquake.
_Mark_ 1. 23-26 unclean spirit rebuked.
4. 39 Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea.
7. 32-35 the deaf man healed and his speech restored.
8. 22-25 blind man received his sight.
_Luke_ 1. 20-22 Zacharias struck dumb.
2. 9 the glory of the Lord shone round about them.
7. 10 centurion's servant healed.
14, 15 widow's son raised from the dead.
21 many cured of their infirmities and plagues.
13. 11-13 the woman healed of a spirit of infirmity.
14. 2-4 man healed of the dropsy.
17. 12-14 ten lepers healed.
_John_ 2. 6-10 water turned into wine.
4. 49-53 nobleman's son healed.
5. 8, 9 the impotent man healed.
9. 6, 7 the blind man healed by washing in the pool of Siloam.
11. 43, 44 Lazarus raised from the dead.
_Acts_ 3. 6-8 a lame man healed.
5. 3, 10 Ananias and wife killed for lying.
15, 16 the sick of the multitude healed.
18, 19 an angel delivered the apostles from prison.
8. 7 unclean spirits cast out, and many healed.
9. 1-8 miraculous conversion of Saul.
17, 18 Saul receives his sight. _Chap_. 22. 13.
34 Eneas healed of the palsy.
40, 41 Dorcas raised from the dead.
12. 7-10 Peter delivered from prison by an angel.
21-23 Herod smitten by an angel.
14. 8-10 impotent man healed by Paul.
16. 16-18 Paul cast the spirit of divination out of a damsel.
26-30 Paul and Silas delivered from prison.
19. 11, 12 many miracles wrought by Paul.
20. 10-12 the young man restored who fell from an upper window.
28. 3-5 Paul received no injury from a viper on his hand.
8 Paul heals the father of Publius. 9.
Book of Mormon.
1 _Nephi_ 1. 6 a pillar of fire appeared before Lehi.
16. 10 the Lord prepared a director to guide Lehi in his travels.
17. 45 the Lord spake to the brothers of Nephi and the earth shook.
52-55 the brothers of Nephi dare not touch him for many days.
18. 12 after Nephi was bound the compass ceased to work.
21 compass worked in the hands of Nephi. Through prayer the storm
ceased.
_Mos_. 27. 11 the angel of the Lord spake to Alma and the earth shook.
_Alma_ 36. 7.
19 Alma became dumb. _Alma_ 36. 10.
_Alma_ 8. 31 Alma and Amulek could not be slain.
14. 26-29 Alma and Amulek delivered from prison.
15. 6-11 Zeezrom healed through the ministration of Alma.
17. 36-39 through a miraculous manifestation of strength, Ammon saved
the flocks of Lamoni.
18. 42 King Lamoni overcome by the power of God.
19. 1-12 miraculous conversion of Lamoni.
13-32 account of the conversion of the servants and wife of Lamoni.
22. 17-25 miraculous conversion of the king of the land of Nephi.
_Hel_. 5. 20-52 Nephi and Lehi delivered from prison.
_Chap_. 9. miraculous manifestations connected with the murder of the
chief judge.
16. 6, 7 miraculous preservation of the prophet Samuel.
3 _Nephi_, _Chapters_ 8, 9 and 10. an account of the destruction of the
wicked on the American continent, at the death of Christ.
19. 25 the countenance and garments of Jesus exceeding white.
20. 3-7 miraculous furnishing of bread and wine for sacrament.
26. 14-16 tongues of the Nephite children loosed.
18 many saw and heard remarkable things.
_Chap_. 28. account of the three Nephite disciples who were to remain
on the earth.
4 _Nephi_ 1. 30 the disciples delivered from prison.
_Ether_ 3. 1-6 the Lord prepared stones to give light in the Jaredite
vessels.
8-16 the brother of Jared saw the Lord.
RECORDS OF THE JAREDITES.
The book of Ether, now forming a part of the Book of Mormon, is an
abridgment of the original book of Ether, the last historian of the
Jaredites. It was written by Moroni, during the period of thirty-six
years, between the destruction of his people at the great battle of
Cumorah, A. C. 384, and the time of closing up the Nephite records,
about A. C. 421.
At the time of writing it, approximately one thousand years had passed
away since the people, of whom it gives a short account, were destroyed
by a civil war which was carried to the extreme of extermination.
The account occupies about thirty-eight pages of the present edition
of the Book of Mormon. It can only be considered an outline sketch of
a people who occupied North America, probably a little over sixteen
hundred years.
The Lord told the brother of Jared, the leader of this early American
colony, that "There shall be none greater than the nation which I will
raise up unto me of thy seed, upon all the face of the earth;" _Ether_
1. 43.
We cannot doubt but what this prophetic blessing of the Lord upon them,
when they were about to commence their long and tedious journey from
the tower of Babel, was amply fulfilled.
Their history informs us that they, in time, occupied the continent
from the Isthmus of Darien to the great lake on the north, and that the
states of their vast empire occupied the shores of both the eastern and
western oceans.