has its own president or ruler, from the orbit of countless millions to
the smallest division that convenience may require--from the ruler of
many cities to the ruler of the smallest ward of a city. A man's gift
maketh room for him, and bringeth him into the presence of great men.
Now, the strongest tie of government, of union, strength, and happiness
in any confederation whatever, either in heaven or on earth, is that
which springs from parentage, or the paternal tie. The first lesson
of address which God teaches his subjects is to call him Father--our
Father, &c. The father feels the strongest of all attachments to his
children; for them he toils and provides, and to them he gives the
fruit of his labours, and the wisdom and knowledge that flows from his
lips. Every father is expected to look after his own progeny. If it
were not that the hearts of the fathers were turned to the children,
in the last days the earth would be smitten with such a sore and
heavy curse that no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake,
and for the sake of the fathers who have obtained promises concerning
their posterity in the last days, the earth will be preserved as an
inheritance for righteous men. From the dust of mother earth has arisen
a sufficient number of righteous men to secure the endless perpetuity
of its existence among the worlds that God has made. Glory and honour
be to God for this unspeakable favour! Some worlds have passed away and
are not, doubtless because they abode not in the law given them.
According to promise, God has sent Elijah just in the dawn of the
great and notable day of sweeping the wicked with the besom of his
wrath, to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers. The children
are told of kindred ties between them and such as once held the true
priesthood, and wrought righteousness on the earth, and of their
consequent heirship to thrones and dominions through faith. Through
the gift of the Spirit they respond to the same, as good tidings of
great joy. The Spirit of God works in them mightily, that they may
come to the knowledge of their ancestors, that were once in honourable
remembrance before God for their faith and priesthood. By revelation,
and by records and traditions, and by the spirit of adoption, they
will learn their relationship to the heavens; and the vacant links of
lineage between them and their forefathers in the priesthood, will be
sought after on earth, and under the earth, and in the heavens, in
the set times of restitution; for God will gather together in one in
Christ, all things in heaven and upon the earth and under it, in the
dispensation of the fulness of times.
The different federative unions of the whole family of heaven and
earth, when organized according to the law of adoption, have their
own respective patriarch or president to represent them in the grand
council of the just, Jesus Christ being head over all things to the
Church, in all ages, worlds without end. Every dispensation under Him
has its own presidency and grand council, from whence emanate all the
laws that spring from the Apostle and High Priest of our profession in
the heavens.
By the federative laws of adoption, a representation may be had in the
grand council of each dispensation, with more practical facility and
order than otherwise. Jesus is an advocate for the whole human family
before the Father; "and every High Priest taken from among men is
ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both
gifts and sacrifices for sins."
A mediatorial and intercessoral work pervades the priesthood according
to the measure of the grace bestowed. The union of families, not
according to the capricious and changeable institutions of men, but
according to the laws of heaven, upon the basis of virtuous affection,
and upon the confidence of permanent security in righteousness, will
form a solid phalanx against the intrusion of discord and the spirit
of alienation from God. The righteous will be bound together, by the
ties of adoption and kindred, in the "bundle of eternal life." This
united confederation of strength and affection will be peculiarly
needed, in order to endure the shock which society must receive both in
heaven and upon earth, and under the earth, in the last dispensation;
for every tree that the Eternal Father hath not planted shall be hewn
down, and the institutions of men shall come to nought. Every man's
hand shall be against his fellow; and while distrust and discord shall
insinuate their baneful influence into the secret chambers of the most
familiar acquaintance, the Saints shall have peace like a river, and
their union and joy shall abound. Then the nations that have sneered
at prophets will be filled with disquietude and fear! Violence and
rapine will stalk abroad with a bold front! Innocence, and integrity,
and virtue will hide in confusion or be utterly banished! But the
Church--"the pillar and ground of the truth"--will be quiet and
undisturbed! Virtue and innocence, truth and wisdom, will abound within
her gates! She will come up from her tribulations like sheep from the
washing--fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army
with banners!
And when the victory of truth over error is won, all nations will fear
the name of the Lord our God. "The law shall go forth from Zion, and
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." The Jews shall be gathered to
Jerusalem, and the city shall have been built in troublesome times. The
outcasts of Judah shall re-occupy their own land; and the gatherings
of Israel shall be commemorated in everlasting songs and festivals,
because the greatness of the work shall surpass any deliverance
that Israel has ever experienced before from the hand of the Lord.
Therefore, behold the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more
be said, The Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel out of
the land of Egypt. But the Lord liveth that brought up the children of
Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he
had driven them. And I will bring them again into their land, that I
gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith
the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many
hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every
hill, and out of the holes of the rocks, for mine eyes are upon all
their ways. I will cause them to know mine hand and my might, and they
shall know that my name is the Lord. And Satan shall be bound on the
face of the whole earth; and for the first time in the lapse of more
than six thousand years, there shall be made a perfect demonstration
of the majesty and glory of the kingdom of God on the earth; and the
purity, efficiency, and wisdom of his laws.
Jesus Christ shall come in like manner as he went up. He shall set his
feet upon Mount Olives, and the earth shall quake at his presence.
His nation shall acknowledge their Lord and their God, whom their
fathers had crucified. The city of the New Jerusalem shall come down
out of heaven, even the city of the great King. In this city will be
displayed the skill of the great architect of the world,--the builder
and maker is God. The names of the twelve tribes, and of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb will not be the least distinguishable in this most
extraordinary city that was ever revealed to man.
This vision of the future residence of the apostles and patriarchs,
appears to have been unfolded to the apostle John, in a kind of
farewell visit, and must have ravished his heart with unspeakable
delight and ecstacy. His soul was suffused with joy and rapture, and he
fell prostrate with feelings of worship toward the messenger of such
tidings. Jesus had, indeed, told the apostles that he would go away and
prepare mansions for them. And that there were many mansions. But never
before, probably, had he described the celestial state and residence so
beautifully and minutely as now. The height, and length, and breadth of
the city, and the names of some of the most distinguished personages
who should occupy mansions therein, together with the gates of pearl,
and the foundation walls of all manner of precious stones, were
distinctly shown to him.
The future residence of the Saints, we perceive, is not an ideal thing
without reality. They will need houses for their persons, and for their
families, as much in their resurrected condition as in their present
state; they will be as sensible of the works of art, taste, beauty and
grandeur there as now, and far more so.
In this identical world, where they have been robbed of houses and
lands, and wife and children, they shall have an hundred fold. The
nations of the earth shall bring their glory into the city of their
immortal residence. And the diversified wisdom of Solomon, displayed
above all earthly kings, shall be but a miniature picture of the
visible and tangible glories that will be exhibited to the eyes and
ears of resurrected Saints on the very erarth where they once suffered.
If ever an earthly sovereign sat upon a throne, and swayed a royal
sceptre, and wore a glittering crown of surpassing richness and beauty,
then shall men and women who have suffered loss and shame for the
gospel's sake, be seated upon thrones in the city of the New Jerusalem,
and their mandates shall be heard and obeyed to the ends of the earth;
and the riches, and dominion, and power, and blessing, and glory, that
shall encircle them, no tongue can describe. Oh! wonderful transition,
from darkness to light, and from the degrading bondage of Satan into
the liberty of the sons and daughters of God! Glorious emancipation!
Who can contemplate the recompense of reward without ample satisfaction
for all the withering scorn, and piercing sarcasm, and bloody hatred,
that have been endured? Give me a name that shall never perish,--a
habitation among heaven's kings,--a seat in the council of the just,
where the fairest among the sons of men shall sometimes minister in his
own person, and it shall suffice for having fought a good fight, and
kept the faith once delivered to the Saints. Oh, enchanting prospect of
rapturous delight!
The thought of such amazing bliss
Should constant joys create!
But grovelling unbelief will ask, how can such an immense city be let
down to the earth, or suspended over it, and contiguous to it? I reply,
How can the earth be suspended in vacant space? How could Jesus ascend
up till the eye could see his person no longer? How could Elijah go up
in the chariot of Israel? How could the angel fly through the midst of
heaven, that the prophets Zechariah, John, and Daniel saw speaking to
the young man Joseph? How can Christ come with his ten thousand Saints,
and descend with a shout? How will Saints, by tens of thousands and
millions, be caught up to meet him in the air? How do birds fly in the
air, and vast planets hang on nothing? Oh! marvellous unbelief! shall
not He who organized worlds out of their chaotic state, reorganize
them at His pleasure, so as to suit the capacity and pleasure of
immortalized bodies, that have kept their second estate, and have
obtained right and title to enter the pearly gates of the royal city?
Isaiah says, that the Lord's work, in the last days, shall be a
marvellous work and a wonder. The changes wrought in the condition of
the earth will be very great. The face of its surface will be greatly
changed. There are many islands and lofty barren mountains, and sunken
pestiferous valleys, and sterile plains, that will be revolutionized.
Indeed, far the greatest part of the earth stands covered with water.
The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunken man, and shake terribly
before the coming of the Son of Man. It shall even be turned upside
down; and the approach of Christ shall be indicated by a succession of
great events and changes. But a most extraordinary appearance in the
heavens shall be distinguished, and known as the _sign_ of the coming
of the Son of Man. Whether this sign of the Son of Man will be some
planetary body of an imposing aspect, first making its appearance in
the heavens and gradually approximating to the earth, or whether it
shall be stationary, is not, and probably, will not, be fully revealed,
except to the children of revelation, for that day shall come upon the
nations as a snare.
But it is revealed that an extraordinary sign in the heavens shall make
its appearance, announcing, with sublime and terrific grandeur, the
near approach of the Son of Man. The calamitous state of the nations,
convulsed with the sword, pestilence and famine, with which God will
plead with all flesh before the Son of Man shall come; followed also
with great convulsions of nature, will lead many to practise wild and
visionary impositions, pretending that Christ _has_ indeed come, and
that he has been seen in the wilderness, or in the secret chamber,
&c. But let it be understood distinctly, that even as a remarkable
_star_ escorted the Son of Man in his first advent, and became not only
visible but stationary over the very point of earth where Jesus was
born--marvellous indeed!--even so, and much more visible will be his
second coming.
The brilliancy of the lightning, extending over the whole heaven, from
east to west, will not be more manifest to the inhabitants of the earth
than the approach of the Son of Man at his second coming. Still many
will behold, wonder, and despise, and perish; because it is written,
that whosoever shall reject that prophet shall be destroyed from
among the people. The false signs and wonders that shall be got up in
opposition to the true, will deceive and harden the nations, and they
will not discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth him
not.
Even the sign of the coming of the Son of Man may be contemplated by
multitudes, barely as an unaccountable phenomenon; and familiarity
with the sight of it will beget indifference, hardness of heart, and
contempt for all such like things.
Your humble servant,
ORSON SPENCER.
LETTER XIV.
SUMMARY AND FINAL APPEAL.
_Liverpool, December_ 13, 1847.
Reverend and Dear Sir,--Having given you an epitomised view of the
doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in a
short series of Thirteen Letters, I now make this SUMMARY AND FINAL
APPEAL to you, and to all persons to whom the foregoing Letters may
come.
Before parting with you, I will endeavour to obviate some objections
that might be supposed to arise, and give some further confirmatory
proof of the truths that have been advanced.
You may be ready to inquire with great earnestness, can it possibly be
that the religious world have been so grossly mistaken and actually
deluded for so many centuries? can so many divines of celebrated
learning and devotion have been all this time in error? Is it possible
that that illiterate young man, Joseph Smith, should be the first,
after the lapse of so many ages, to break the spell of darkness,
and pierce the clouds of error, and let in the sunshine of eternal
truth upon the whole world? Is it possible that he whom we have been
accustomed to regard as the blackest impostor--about whose moral
character there hang so many shades of suspicion? can _he_ be, in very
deed, a true prophet of God?
I do not wonder at your inquiries; but I do marvel that any good man
should have a lingering doubt. Your inquiries and objections I will
briefly answer.--Why should not the religious world be mistaken? do
not the great mass of the human family profess to be religious? are
not the millions of China and Asia religious? Here is nearly one half
of the human family ardently devoted to their religion--they are
sincerely devoted to their religion--the multitudes of their pagodas,
and the great expense and sacrifice attending their worship, prove
incontestibly their sincerity; and the long antiquity of their religion
has rendered it venerable as yours.
You readily say, that the myriads of Asia are deceived and mistaken.
But may they not retort upon you and say--how is it that we, whose
religion is so ancient and so universally believed, should be (all of
us) in such gross error? Now, may not the reply that would fit them
be applicable to the advocates of modern christianity? They are all
the children of Adam as much as you, and as much the offspring of our
common parent. Their rulers and divines are as respectable among their
own countrymen as yours are among your countrymen. It is no worse for
modern christendom to be in error than for paganism. Paganism can
boast of more learning and oratory, and of more universal, enduring,
and mighty governments than modern christianity! Paganism can boast of
more union and stability than modern christianity. But I am no advocate
of either paganism or modern christianity. I believe that the whole
world lieth in darkness, in consequence of transgressing the laws of
God. Modern christianity has had a fair trial for success. Kings and
potentates with vast and populous dominions, have been arrayed on
its side. _Eighteen hundred years_ have testified to its ragged and
crippled march. The sovereigns of Europe and rulers of America are
on its side. But what a haggard picture of union does the theatre
of modern Christianity present! A garment of as many colours as the
various religious creeds of modern christianity, would constitute a
phenomenon fit to be carried about as a curiosity.
In Catholic countries there is the largest share of unity of creeds.
In Protestant countries every city, town, and village presents the
picture of religious collision and jargon. Now, these contending parts
must necessarily be wrong, for God is not the author of confusion, but
of peace. And if the constituent parts are wrong, the aggregate must
also be wrong. But whether the balance of wisdom and virtue lies with
Christians or Pagans, one thing is certain, that no man, by searching,
can find out God or know the Almighty unto perfection! The world by
wisdom know not God. No man can ever know God unless God reveals
himself to him. Those whom God selects to communicate revelations to
men are not the wise and mighty, but rather such as are accounted
weak, and foolish, and unholy. This is the description of men that
God generally chooses to do his work on the earth. Again, it is said
that the doctrines of the Latter-day Saints may be good enough, but
their characters are too reprehensible. Testimony from many reliable
sources is against them; and we have seen with our own eyes a want of
that fervent piety that ought to distinguish a people entrusted with
the ordinances and gifts of salvation.--This, I think, is the most
weighty and popular objection that is urged by the opposers of the
Latter-day Saints:--if they were a respectable people, their doctrines
could better be endured. Now I propose to consider this objection,
and canvass it thoroughly, in order that no man shall ever raise the
same objection again, with any hope of success; but before I try their
character, let us inquire what is the proper standard or rule by which
character is to be tested.
Some people consider that no man can have a good character who is
not religious,--this is a common opinion among religious people. An
infidel, say they, is odious, and feels no responsibility; and no one
is religious unless his faith harmonizes with their own religious
creed. In some countries, what would be accounted moral and virtuous,
would in others be stamped as immoral, unvirtuous, and sacrilegious.
Another, more plausible, says, "let all men do as they would be done
by," and then their characters will be good. This, however, is a very
vague rule indeed; for instance, the Emperor Charles Fifth of Germany,
says: "If I were as great a heretic as Martin Luther or John Calvin,
I ought to be banished, or even put to death." Thus the Emperor
conscientiously carries out the rule, and orders the famous Reformer
(heretic) to be put to death. The above rule, unaccompanied by the
spirit of revelation, is often defective and made the pretext for deeds
of blood-guiltiness. What, then, is the true and infallible standard of
character? I answer, it is revealed in the Gospel. God is the only good
being and standard of goodness; such as comply with his revealed will
are good, and do good, and there is no iniquity in them.
Compliance with the divine will is the only true standard of character.
To this test, then, let us bring the character of the Latter-day
Saints, and that of their opposers. What is the faith of each? Let us
inquire. According to their faith, so will be their works or their
character. Says James, I will show my faith by my works. You may not
only know a man's faith by his works, but his works are also known by
his faith. If his faith is bad, his works will be also bad; and if his
works are bad, his character is bad.
It was the faith of Christ to receive the revelations of God his father
unto obedience in all things. This faith led him to work the works of
God, which were healing the sick, prophecying, casting out devils,
speaking in tongues, and doing many miracles, and revealing the will of
his Father. But the pious Jews, chief priests, &c., had another sort
of faith: they believed in the God of Abraham and Moses, but believed
that the age of miracles was past, and they forbid to prophecy and
speak with tongues. Their faith was, that there was no further need
of new revelation, and that the canon of Scripture was full. They
believed that the Sanhedrim established by Moses was sufficient for
the perfection and government of the Church, without apostles, and
prophets, and various gifts. Their faith was not the faith of God,
nor of immediate revelation (although they said they believed in old
revelations); neither was it the faith of miracles, and prophecyings,
and tongues, and healing.
What, then, was the faith of those pious men that sent their
missionaries over sea and land, and preached eloquently, and wept
copiously over the pathetic doctrines of Abraham and Moses? Why, to
be plain, sir, it was the faith of devils; and their anti-revelation
doctrines were the doctrines of devils. Their works were of the devil,
because their faith was opposed to immediate revelation, and their
character was like their works--bad and abominable in the eyes of God,
and saints, and holy angels; and yet these same pious Jews claim that
they were the only true Christians! What a pity (thought they) that
this arch impostor should succeed in misleading and deluding so many
followers. It was due to his wickedness that he got killed, and it was
a pity that his doctrines did not die with him. Doubtless some Solomon
Spaulding story was current to prove that he was born of a harlot, and
her husband, like another Judge Hale, was ready to swear that he was
not the father of the child.
Now, sir, from the foregoing thirteen Letters, you will see plainly
what is the acknowledged faith of the Latter-day Saints. It is
precisely the same with the faith of the ancient apostles and prophets.
They have proved before the face of mankind, and in the sight of
angels, that they believe the doctrines set forth in these Letters and
in the Scriptures, by persecutions, banishment, loss of goods, houses,
and lands; yea, even of life itself; for they are a spectacle unto all
men, and their characters are good in the sight of God, and angels, and
saints, because they keep the commandments and ordinances of God, even
unto death--not counting their lives dear unto them, in order that they
may be found in the same faith for which apostles and prophets have
contended earnestly and bled freely.
Their character is that of _compliance with the revealed will of God_,
the only true standard of character. They have preached the word to
the nations of the earth, under privations, and abuses, and perils
hitherto unknown, since the days of the apostles. It is no vanity to
say, there is none like them in all the earth. They fear God and work
righteousness.