Finally, about twelve thousand who had escaped the exterminating order

of Missouri's mob found a resting place in Illinois, and built up the

beautiful city of Nauvoo. But the refuge was only temporary, for the

bigot and the criminal united in a relentless and bloody warfare upon

them. Less than six years after their expulsion from Missouri, their

Prophet was assassinated in Carthage jail, while in the hands of the

officers of the law, and under the pledged protection of the governor

of the State, Thomas Ford. This was on June 27, 1844. Joseph Smith had

committed no offense; he was guilty of no wrong. "The law cannot reach

him, but powder and ball shall!" was the cry of his murderers. The

blood of the martyred Prophet and his fellow-religionists still cries

to God for vengeance!

The enemies of the Saints, however, were doomed to disappointment, for

the death of the Prophet did not stop the work, or break up the Church

organization. The leadership devolved on the Twelve Apostles, with

Brigham Young as their President; even greater energy was displayed

than before, and the Temple at Nauvoo was soon completed. Fiendish

plots were laid, and barbarous plans adopted to blacken the character

of the "Mormon" people, and make them appear abominable in the eyes

of the public. Numerous atrocities were committed by the mobocrats,

who falsely attributed them to the Saints, and thus aroused public

indignation against them.

Hoping to secure immunity from these unjustifiable attacks, they

consented to move from the State, the mob agreeing to {455} allow them

to remain in peace a given time, so the exodus could be accomplished.

This agreement was soon disregarded by the persecutors, who were

reckless, and impatient to despoil the Saints. When a portion of the

latter had left Nauvoo, the remnant was attacked by an armed force,

and driven into Iowa in a destitute condition. General Thomas L. Kane,

of Philadelphia, who passed that way a few days afterward, related his

experience in a lecture before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

The following is an extract from his address: "Dreadful, indeed, was

the suffering of these forsaken beings; bowed and cramped by cold and

sunburn, alternating as each weary day and night dragged on, they were,

almost all of them, the crippled victims of disease. They were there

because they had no homes, nor hospital, nor poor-house, nor friends

to offer them any. They could not satisfy the feeble cravings of their

sick; they had not bread to quiet the fractious hunger-cries of their

children. Mothers and babes, daughters and grandparents, all of them

alike, were bivouacked in tatters, wanting even covering to comfort

those whom the sick shivers of fever were searching to the marrow.

These were Mormons, famishing in Lee County, Iowa, in the fourth week

of the month of September, in the year of our Lord 1846. The city--it

was Nauvoo, Illinois. The Mormons were the owners of that city, and the

smiling country around. And those who had stopped their plows, who had

silenced their hammers, their axes, their shuttles, and their workshop

wheels; those who had put out their fires, who had eaten their food,

spoiled their orchards, and trampled under foot their thousands of

acres of unharvested bread--these were the keepers of their dwellings,

the carousers in their Temple, whose drunken riot insulted the ears of

their dying."

Out into the trackless American wilds, into an Indian country, the

"Mormons" wended their way, weary and destitute, for more than fifteen

hundred miles, their pathway being marked by the graves of their dead.

The history of their privations and sufferings is harrowing in the

extreme. The lives of not less than a thousand of their number were

sacrificed in the relentless persecutions connected with the exodus

from Illinois. But God opened their way, and as a result of their

unity, humility and faith through severe tribulations and deep sorrows,

they were guided to a refuge in the valley of the Great Salt Lake.

Three years later, in 1850, Congress created the Territory of Utah.

Under the territorial form of government, the governor, secretary,

judges, marshals, postmasters, election and other territorial officers,

are appointed by the President of the United States.

{456} In their new home, the Saints increased in numbers and were

beginning to enjoy some of the comforts of life, as a reward of their

toil, when, in 1857, the national government was induced, through

the misrepresentations of some of its officials, to send an army

against the "Mormons," who prepared for another exodus, and to defend

themselves. But the time required in such an undertaking gave the

government an opportunity to discover that it had been misled and to

change its course. The record of the expedition, with its expenditure

of twenty millions of dollars, stands as a monument of the folly of

judging a matter hastily.

The current of popular opinion, however, had set in strongly against

the Saints, and it is difficult to change it; but the majority of

those with whom they are now in contact are not the lawless element

of Missouri and Illinois, so that the violence of former times is no

longer used against the body of the people where they are known. But

the adverse feeling caused legislation hostile to them. They bowed to

the law, content to leave the issue between those who raised their

hands against them and the God of Israel, in whose justice, mercy and

omnipotence they have perfect confidence. Their Church property was

seized by the government--property which was the voluntary gift of

Church members, for the support of the poor, the building of Temples,

and similar purposes. But with a better understanding of the motives

and lives of the Saints, the government recognized the great wrong

done, and sought to right it. The forfeited property not wasted in

litigation was restored, adverse legislation ceased, friendliness

superseded an unjust, mistaken antagonism, and in 1896 Utah was

admitted to statehood.

PRESENT CONDITION.

The results of the industry, integrity and thrift of the Saints, as

shown by their present condition, are a complete refutation of the

accusations of evil made against them. A corrupt tree cannot bring

forth good fruit. Utah, the chief centre of their gathering place, has

a population of 270,000, seventy-five per cent, being "Mormons." Ninety

percent of the heads of families live in their own houses and on their

own lands. The fruitful orchards, rich fields and farms, successful

industries and beautiful cities, towns and villages, present to the

view a paradise upon earth; while the vigor and cheerfulness of old

and middle-aged and young betoken the health, prosperity and happiness

which are God's own gifts to this people, in whose hearts dwells more

abundantly than in those {457} of any other community that love of God

and of their fellow men which is the fruit of a pure and noble life in

the service of the great Creator.

Not alone in Utah do the Latter-day Saints find a home. Their hundreds

of settlements bedeck the mountain valleys from the province of

Alberta, in Canada, through Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming,

Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, in the United States, to

Chihuahua, in Old Mexico, on either side of a line which reaches

fifteen hundred miles along the backbone of the American continent.

As an ecclesiastical organization, the first officers in the Church are

divinely commissioned Apostles of the Lord Jesus, and divine authority

is possessed by the whole body of Priesthood, down to the office of

Deacon. Almost the entire male membership of the Church is included in

this classification; while there are organizations for the women and

children. Over four hundred districts, or wards, are united in larger

organizations called Stakes of Zion, all combining in a perfect system.

FUTURE DESTINY.

The Saints have an abiding faith in the future glorious destiny of

the work in which they are engaged. From its inception there has been

steady and rapid progress. Its Elders have carried the glad tidings

to the nations as God has given them strength. They have not preached

for money nor divined for hire. Freely they have received; freely they

give. Persecution has followed those who have obeyed the Gospel, just

as it did anciently. But with each wave of adversity the Church has

grown stronger, and its opponents have been restricted in their ability

to inflict injuries on its members. Each successive blow of its foes

has fallen more lightly than the one which preceded it; while the

Saints have been brightened and made better by the experience gained

in drawing nearer to the Lord. No Latter-day Saint has any doubt of

the ultimate triumph of the principles he has received in the Gospel.

They form the plan of life, the power of God unto salvation. The Church

is organized never again to be overcome. Its destiny is to continue

to increase until its Founder and Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, will

establish His eternal kingdom, and righteousness shall rule from the

rivers to the ends of the earth.

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.

The purpose of the Gospel is to lead us back to God, improved by the

knowledge and experience we have gained. {458} There is no truth in

any department of life that is without its pale; no knowledge that is

beyond its reach. Its truth is the sum of all existence, the knowledge

of things that have been, that are, and that will be. God is truth, and

His Gospel is the plan whereby we may be saved in His presence. This

is the doctrine that our Lord and Savior taught; this is the message

given to the Latter-day Saints, and which they proclaim to the world.

They call upon all men to repent and do the will of God. They invite

sincere seekers after truth everywhere. They present to the world an

example of the marvelous power of the Gospel they have obeyed. By their

fruits they show its effects. They have solved the problem of a happy,

prosperous and contented life, free from sin and sorrow, from poverty

and idleness, from hatred and hypocrisy. They present to the rest of

mankind the example of a people who put into practice their belief in

being honest, industrious, true, chaste, benevolent, and in doing good

to all men. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report,

or praiseworthy, they seek after those things.

To all men they bear the message of the Gospel which has made them

thus. They leave no room for deceit and delusion. They claim to have

divine authority and divine principles, and they offer the proof, which

is in the reach of every true, honest, virtuous man and woman. It is

the test which the Lord has commanded them to proffer to mankind, the

same that He applied to Himself: "My doctrine is not mine, but His that

sent me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine,

whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John vii: 16, 17).

There can be no mistake about it, for if it be not of God, He will not

give the knowledge. But tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints bear

witness that they have received the testimony from Him. It is true,

and we bear you witness now of its truth. Hereby we know that we know

Him, that we keep His commandments. The Apostle John says: "Whosoever

transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father

and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,

receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that

biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John: 9-11).

That we do bring this doctrine, and that it is true, is the testimony

which we now give, and which we will meet before {459} the pleasing bar

of the Great Jehovah, the eternal judge of both quick and dead. And may

the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and

the Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of His power until

all things shall become subject unto Him, be and abide forever with

those who seek to serve Him in spirit and in truth. Amen.

"_When the day comes in which the Kingdom of God will bear rule,

the flag of the United States will proudly flutter unsullied on

the flagstaff of liberty and equal rights, without a spot to sully

its fair surface; the glorious flag our fathers have bequeathed to

us will then be unfurled to the breeze by those who have power to

hoist it aloft and defend its sanctity_."

--_Brigham Young_.

"_How consoling to the mourners, when they are called to part with

a husband, wife, father, mother, child or dear relative, to know

that although the earthly tabernacle is laid down and dissolved,

they shall rise again to dwell in everlasting burnings in immortal

glory, not to sorrow, suffer or die any more; but they shall be

heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ_."

--_Joseph Smith, The Prophet_.

{460}

A WORD ABOUT SUCCESSION. (1907.)

(_From Saturday's "News_.")

A correspondent writing from Parker, Idaho, requests a reply, through

the columns of the "News," to the question, by whom was President

Young ordained to the presidency of the Church? It appears that the

emissaries of the Reorganite faction have discovered in that question

a fruitful source of sophistical controversy, and that they are

triumphantly asking it wherever they go.

The proper reply is, he was ordained by the Prophet Joseph to that

calling, when the Prophet, prompted by the Holy Spirit, conferred upon

the Twelve Apostles the power and authority he himself had received.

The following statement of facts by Elder Joseph F. Smith, Jr., can be

verified by the authentic records of the Church:

The Prophet Joseph earnestly desired that his brother Hyrum should

live to succeed him in the presidency of the Church. In the year 1841,

by command of the Lord, he ordained him to this exalted position, as

is quite evident from the following, section 124, verses 94-5, of the

Doctrine and Covenants:

And from this time forth I appoint unto him (Hyrum Smith) that he

may be a Prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my Church as

well as my servant Joseph.

That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph, and that he

shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto

him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with

the same blessing and glory, and honor, and priesthood, and gifts

of the priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my servant

Oliver Cowdery.

From this revelation we learn that the Lord appointed Hyrum Smith both

as Patriarch and to act in concert with his brother Joseph in the

presidency of the Church. In accordance with this revelation, Hyrum was

so ordained January 24, 1841. This was not in the sense of a counselor

to {461} Joseph, for at this very appointment Hyrum was removed as

counselor to the president, and William Law was ordained in his stead.

Joseph and Hyrum continued to so act from this time forth until their

martyrdom, June 27, 1844. Shortly before the martyrdom the Prophet

tried with all his power to persuade Hyrum not to accompany him to

Carthage, knowing full well the fate that awaited them there. Had Hyrum

stayed behind and thereby remained in mortality, he would, by virtue of

his position and ordination received in 1841, have become the president

of the Church. His brother intended that this should be (_Times and

Seasons 5: 683_), but through his faithfulness to, and love for, his

brother, Hyrum fell a martyr before the Prophet Joseph did.

Now mark! The Lord, who knew that Hyrum should receive a martyr's crown

at Carthage, in the winter of 1843-4, commanded the Prophet to confer

upon the heads of the twelve Apostles every key, power and principle

that the Lord had sealed upon his head. The Prophet declared that he

knew not why, but the Lord commanded him to endow the twelve with these

keys and priesthood, and after it was done, he rejoiced very much,

saying in substance, "Now, if they kill me, you have all the keys and

all the ordinances and you can confer them upon others and the powers

of Satan will not be able to tear down the kingdom as fast as you will

be able to build it up, and upon your shoulders will the responsibility

of leading this people rest." (_Times and Seasons 5: 651_.)

In this manner the Prophet ordained the twelve Apostles, which body

constitutes the second quorum of the Church, equal in authority with

the first presidency. _Doc. and Cov. 107: 23-24_, with the keys of

the kingdom. Brigham Young was president of the twelve, and upon him

devolved the duty of presiding.

Therefore, after the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the twelve

assumed, by authority of their office, the duty to preside over

the Church. Later, when through revelation the quorum of the first

presidency was reorganized with three presidents--Brigham Young and

Counselors Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, they claimed, and

rightfully, that since they were ordained under the hands of Joseph

Smith and from him had received all the keys and powers of the

priesthood which the Prophet held, it would have been superfluous

to have been ordained again. They were in this capacity, however,

sustained by the unanimous vote of the Saints, {462} which was

essential to make such ordination of force in the Church.

There is an abundance of testimony to prove that the Prophet did

so ordain the twelve, some of which can be found in the _Times and

Seasons_, volume 5, pages, 561, 664 and 698; also in the _Millennial

Star_, volume 10, page 115.

We repeat that Brigham Young received all the keys, powers, authority

and priesthood, that were held by Joseph Smith, that enabled him to

preside over the high priesthood, from the Prophet Joseph Smith in

Nauvoo in the winter of 1843-4.

This important question was settled long ago by the entire body of the

Saints who accepted the leadership of the twelve, after the departure

of the Prophet and Patriarch, and sustained President Young in his

office. It was settled by the approval of the Almighty of the marvelous

work he accomplished, and which could not have been done without divine

aid and guidance. To ascribe the mighty deeds Brigham Young performed

through the power of the divine Spirit which rested upon him, to the

spirit that is the originator of secession, rebellion, apostasy, and

falsehood, is to come dangerously near blasphemy. What is it but a

repetition of the sin of the adversaries of our Lord, who, although

they knew that "no man can do the miracles that Thou doest, except

God be with him (_John, 3: 2_); yet proclaimed to the people: "He

hath an unclean spirit." (_Mark 3: 30_.) What is it but to assail the

disciple with a weapon that was in vain directed against the Master?

There was some excuse for difference of opinion on the subject of

succession, immediately after the martyrdom, because the people were

not in possession of full information, but there is no excuse now. To

use a familiar illustration: At the time of an election citizens are

expected to have different opinions as to candidates for office; they

are expected to work for those whose views and principles they support.

But when the question is settled at the polls, loyalty demands that all

accept the verdict and work together for the common interests of the

community. The body of the Latter-day Saints having accepted, as guided

by the Holy Spirit, the leadership of the twelve, there was no longer

any valid reason for seeking the leadership of other shepherds.

The trouble with some of our reorganized brethren is that they look

upon the members of the Church as a flock of sheep, that, like

other property, can be inherited. This is entirely contrary to the

fundamental principles of the Gospel. The Church belongs to Christ. The

leaders and officers are the servants of the Lord and the people of

the Lord. It follows {463} that the Lord raises up whoever He pleases,

to perform the services necessary from time to time. Brigham Young

was every way equipped for the peculiar work needed during his time.

Who could have done what he did? Sidney Rigdon? Lyman Wight? James

J. Strang? Or the founders of the so-called reorganized church? Let

the reader reflect on the facts history records, and then decide for

himself, remembering that every tree is known by its fruit.

"_Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to

be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God, A man

filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family

alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the

whole human race_."

--_Joseph Smith_.

"_If children have sinned against their parents, or husbands

against their wives, or wives against their husbands, let them

confess their faults one to another and forgive each other, and

there let the confession stop, and then let them ask pardon from

their God. Confess your sins to whoever you have sinned against,

and let it stop there_."

--_Brigham Young_.

{464}

THE GOSPEL PIONEER.

BY WM. JEFFERIES, AN ELDER OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY

SAINTS.

FAITH.

Faith is the key to knowledge rare,

God's choice and priceless gift to man;

It is obtained by humble prayer

And practice of the gospel plan.

It opes the door to secrets deep--

Communes with God in nature's sleep.

Prevails with God, till mortal man

The glory of the Lord can scan.

A thorough knowledge of the first principles is absolutely essential to

the acquirement of a complete understanding of any art or science. For

example: How can the student of arithmetic extract the cube root of any

given number, or find the fifth power of another, without a knowledge

of the first or key principles of the science of numbers? Now, if this

is true of the arts and sciences, which, in the abstract, do not tend,

directly, to save a person in the presence of God, how much more is it

true in regard to the great science of theology, which must be well

understood and faithfully practiced, to a given extent, in order to

become a joint-heir with Jesus to the glory of the Father? And what

science more important than this great science of all sciences? None.

And a knowledge of its first principles ranks higher in importance to

mortals than any other knowledge attainable by Adam's fallen race;

for a knowledge of them, and honest obedience to them, together with

subsequent faithfulness, will secure a person a knowledge of the Father

and the Son, whom to know is life eternal--the greatest gift of God to

man. Hence the great importance of a thorough knowledge of the first

principles of the great science of salvation, which I will now make a

feeble attempt to briefly explain.

The first initiatory principle of the glorious plan of salvation

{465} is faith. The Apostle Paul thus defines this principle: "Now

faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things

not seen." (_Heb. xi, 1_.) Modern inspiration defines it thus: "Faith

is the assurance which men have of the existence of things which

they have not seen, and the principle of action in all intelligent

beings." (_Doc. & Cov. Lec. I, Sec. i., 9_.) And the substance of these

quotations--between which there is no conflict--I understand to be

this: Faith is the assurance which men have of the existence of things

not seen by them in the past, of the existence of things unseen by them

at present, of the existence of things to be seen or unseen by them in

the future, and the great first cause, or moving principle of action,

and consequently, of power, in all intelligent beings, whether they

are mortal or immortal. Now do not be startled, kind reader, at this

explanation. The great apostle to the Gentiles says. "Through faith

we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." (_Heb.

xi, 3_.) This is plain. Who framed the world? God, of course; and Paul

says He did it through faith; therefore, the assertion is correct, that

faith is the principle of action and power in all intelligent beings

whether they are mortal or immortal.

Faith is produced by evidence. This is true of a false faith as

well as of a true faith. A false faith is the product of untrue or

incorrect evidence, and a true faith is produced by truthful evidence;

and, though there may be instances in which true evidence may fail

to produce faith in the skeptical and unbelieving; and wherein false

evidence may fail to create faith even in the over-credulous; yet when

faith, be it true or false, is created, I reassert that it is produced

by true or untrue evidence. In the attempt to inspire faith in these

propositions, I will summon a few of the ancient worthies, who, like

Abel, though dead, speak to us in their inspired testaments, giving us

evidence which should be faith-creating.

When the Son of God tabernacled in the flesh, He went about doing good,

healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, and doing

many mighty works in fulfillment of the mission He was sent on by His

Father; and while doing these things He was scoffed at, spit upon,

reviled, and persecuted, and finally crucified on Calvary--suspended

between Heaven and earth as though fit for neither. Bible-believers

need no evidence adduced here to prove this, for the facts stated are

plain and prominent in the New Testament scriptures, and are well known

to them, no doubt.

On the day after the crucifixion, the Chief Priests and Pharisees felt

somewhat troubled and anxious, and "came {466} together unto Pilate,

saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet

alive, after three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the

sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by

night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, he is risen from

the dead: so that the last error shall be worst than the first. Pilate

said unto them, ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you

can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and

setting a watch." (_Matt. xxvii, 62-66_.)

How vain the schemes and operations of frail man! A few more hours

pass away. The angel of the Lord came down from heaven, filled with

the power of God, and armed with the keys of the resurrection. The

watch which had been set, or the keepers, "became as dead men." The

resurrection power of God was exercised. The lifeless, mangled body

of the lowly Nazarene was celestialized. The active spirit, which had

been on an important mission to the Antediluvians, entered its immortal

house, and the triumphant Jesus came forth from the silent tomb, the

first fruits of the resurrection, and the glorious conqueror of death,

hell and the grave.

As soon as some of the watch had recovered sufficiently, they "came

unto the city, and shewed unto the Chief Priests all the things that

were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken

counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, say ye, His

disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this

come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you."

So they took the money, and did as they were taught; and this saying

is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. (_Matt. xxviii,

11-15_.) And, according to the generally accepted chronology, Matthew

wrote this account about five years after the events occurred.

Here prejudice, dishonesty and opposition to the purposes of Jehovah,

prompted bribery, and bribery being assured protection from the human

penalty for such a crime, published to the world a lie--a lie, too,

respecting the most important event that had ever transpired upon this

earth, as effecting the redemption of the fallen race of our great

progenitor, Adam. Matthew says: "And this saying is commonly reported

among the Jews until this day;" and I may add, to this day, too, for

the Jews not only rejected the Messiah and put him to death, and

subsequently believed the story of bribed and perjured Roman soldiers,

but they still "deny the accomplishment of the prophecies in the person

of Christ; alleging that the Messiah is not yet come;" and this also

effects their belief in the first {467} resurrection, which is past,

although, according to the thirteenth article of their creed, they

believe there will be a "resurrection of the dead when God shall see

fit."

This false evidence, given to the Jewish nation, produced in that tribe

of Israel a false faith, which exists to-day, and which will continue

to exist to a great extent among them, with all its dire consequences,

till He shall come in power and glory and "stand upon the mount of

Olives;" (_Zech. xiv, 4_.) and they shall "look upon" Him whom their

fore-fathers "pierced;" (_Zech. xii, 10_.) and the inquiry shall be

made: "What are those wounds in thine hands?" And he shall inform them

that those were the wounds "with which he was wounded in the house of

His friends." (_Zech. xiii, 6_.)

In view of these things how necessary it is that tradition should be

truth. In the beginning the Lord said: "In the day thou eatest thereof

thou shalt surely die;" and the serpent said: "Ye shall not surely

die;" and both declarations went to posterity, some believing one and

some the other. At the resurrection of the Son of God, the soldiers

said: "His disciples stole him while we slept," and many believed them.

Others said: "He rose again and ascended to His Father," and a few

believed this testimony; and I will now introduce an illustration of

this true evidence and true faith.

The Son of God had risen from the tomb. The first to discover this was

several women, and the first evidence of the fact to them was, "they

found not the body" in the sepulcher. The next was the testimony of

"two angels in shining garments." Said they: "Why seek ye the living

among the dead? He is not here, but is risen," and they quoted the

Savior's prediction of Himself, that He should be crucified, and on the

third day He should rise again, which the women remembered. These women

reported to the eleven apostles, who could hardly believe the report,

but Peter visited the sepulcher, and found that the body of Jesus was

not there. Jesus showed Himself to some on the way to Emmaus, after

which, and on the same day, He appeared to the eleven apostles, who

were somewhat terrified, and He said unto them: "Why are ye troubled?

And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet,

that it is I myself, handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and

bones, as ye see me have." He further said: "Have ye here any meat?

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And

he took it and did eat before them." He also referred them to His own

words, to the words of Moses and the prophets, which were fulfilled

in His crucifixion and resurrection, {468} and said He, "Ye are all

witnesses of these things." He then instructed them to tarry at

Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high, lifted up His

hands and blessed them, and ascended into heaven. (_Luke xxiv_.)

Here was an accumulation of evidence that Jesus was resurrected from

the dead. He was with the apostles more or less for forty days after

His resurrection. (_Acts i, 3_.) They _knew_ most unmistakably that

Jesus had been resurrected. The evidences were accumulative. They knew

also by the revelations of God. They were prepared to testify. The

day of Pentecost arrived. The Holy Ghost descended upon them in great

power--it filled them; and they stood forth boldly, as the champions of

the risen Jesus, as His friends and true representatives, and as men of

God, filled with truth and the revelations and power of God, to give

the lie to a bribed and perjured soldiery, and all their accessories,

and to proclaim the truth concerning the resurrection, the atonement,

the redemption, and the true plan of salvation for the exaltation

of the obedient of all mankind. And Peter, as the chief apostle, is

represented as testifying the most in this matter, and among other

things he said this: "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all

witnesses." (_Acts ii_.)

Here were eleven men in one body, besides others, who were _all_

witnesses of the resurrection of the Savior of the world. Compare

their testimony with the testimony of scared, bribed, and perjured

guards--and what a testimony the latter was! "His disciples stole his

body while we slept!" What wondrous wisdom, consistency, and veracity,

characterized the suggestors and buyers of this infamous subterfuge!

What elevated manhood was exhibited by these valiant military cat-paws

of the ancient anti-Christians! What do men know of things which

transpire when they are fast asleep? A parallel need not be sought for

only in the history of the highly-enlightened anti-"Mormons" of the

nineteenth century.

What was the result of the inspired testimonies of these eleven

apostles--Peter standing forth boldly as their principal, and

proclaiming the truth in much power? Why, many were convinced by the

power of the Holy Ghost, and the inquiry was made by them: "Men and

brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, repent and be

baptized every one you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission

of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Now, did any

of them show further evidence of conviction? Yes, about three thousand

souls were added to the church by baptism, on that day, and the Lord

added to the church daily such as {469} should be saved. (_Acts ii_.)

Herein was true evidence and true faith clearly illustrated, and I will

now draw an illustration from modern times.

In the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and twenty, the Lord spoke

from the heavens to the boy, Joseph Smith, then in his fifteenth year.

After a seven years' training, and particularly during the last four

of the seven, the Lord by His angel delivered to him the sacred plates

from which was translated the Book of Mormon. Nearly three years

additional schooling was given him in the science of theology, during

which time he translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power

of God; and, on the 6th day of April, 1830, he, by command of God,

organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Previous to

this time, he had testified more or less, of his visions and calling,

but from now till his cruel martyrdom in 1844, he boldly proclaimed

his divine mission, and taught the true gospel to the children of men.

Others associated themselves with him in this glorious testimony and

proclamation. Many believed their words, and cast their lot with the

much-persecuted people of God. This testimony and proclamation of the

elders of Israel have continued; a people have been gathered together

in the tops of the mountains, in fulfillment of the words of Isaiah

(_Chap. ii_); and of the words of Micah (_Chap. iv_); and in Utah and

other Territories; in many States of the American Union; and in many

other parts of the earth can be found much true faith, as the result of

correct evidence given by inspiration in these last days.

But while this work of presenting true evidence and inspiring true

faith has been going on, the adversary has not been idle. It has been

declared that Joseph Smith was _not_ a true prophet, but an impostor.

That the Book of Mormon was _not_ translated from plates given to

Joseph by an angel of God, but was simply a Spaulding romance. That, in

short the whole system of Mormonism is a monster humbug and imposture,

and all its adherents are either deceivers or deceived. Editors,

incited by popular clamor and prejudice, and priests, inspired by their

sable master, have befouled the filthy stream of misrepresentation, by

publishing dirty falsehoods and sending them broadcast on the earth

during the last half a century, till millions of the human family are

prejudiced and misled; and their responsibility in this matter is equal

to that of their prototypes, the ancient Scribes, priests, and elders

who framed the lie and paid their dupes to testify to it--that Jesus

was not resurrected, but that His disciples stole the body while {470}

they slept; and heaven's condemnation rests upon them for thus using

the power of press and pulpit. Hence, to-day there is a vast amount of

false faith on the earth, which has been produced by incorrect evidence

concerning some of the most important events which have transpired

preparatory to the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds of heaven in

power and great glory.

These facts, culled from ancient and modern history, I consider

sufficient to prove clearly to honest hearts and enlightened minds,

that faith is produced by evidence--a false faith by false evidence,

and a true faith by true evidence.

In the foregoing an attempt has been made to show that faith is

produced by evidence; that this is true both of a false faith and a

true one; and that the results are good or bad according as the faith

is true or false. And in doing this the principle of faith itself has

been taught more or less, but a few more remarks are necessary.

Faith in _God_ is necessary. "But without faith it is _impossible_ to

please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that

He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (_Heb. xi, 6_.) And

who can expect to receive salvation _from_ God, if they do not believe

_in_ Him?

Faith in Jesus Christ is necessary. "He that believeth on the Son hath

everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life:

but the wrath of God abideth on him." (_John iii, 36_.) Who can expect

the glorious benefits of the atonement, if they do not believe in the

Savior of the world, nor in the great atonement which He made for poor

fallen man?

Faith in the servants of God is necessary, also. When Jesus sent His

servants forth to preach the gospel, He said unto them: "He that

heareth you heareth me, and he that despiseth you despiseth me, and he

that despiseth me despiseth Him that sent me." (_Luke x, 16_.) "He that

receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth Him that

sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall

receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in

the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward."

(_Matt. x, 40, 41_.) "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear

your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the

dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable

for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for

that city." (_Matt. x, 14, 15_.) Neither God the Father nor God the Son

travel among us now to preach and administer {471} for the benefit of

Adam's race, but they authorize mortal men to do this work; hence it is

necessary to receive them, treat them kindly, and have faith in them as

the representatives of the Father and the Son.

Faith in the plan of salvation is necessary. The principles of the

gospel must be believed in order to obtain their benefits; some of

those principles are set forth briefly in this little pamphlet; and

when these are tested and proven to be of divine origin, conferring

many glorious blessings upon those who obey them, others can be found

suitable to advanced students in the Lord's school of divinity. The

gospel is unchangeable and eternal. It is filled with blessings that

are temporal, spiritual and eternal. It is free for all. "And this

gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness

unto all nations, and then shall the end come." (_Matt. xxiv, 14_.) "I

marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the

grace of Christ, unto another gospel, which is not another, but there

be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But

though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you

than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we

said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel

unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (_Gal. i,

6-9_.)

Blessed are they who believe and live the fullness of the gospel of

Jesus Christ, for they shall obtain eternal life in the celestial

kingdom of God!

REPENTANCE.

Repentance is an evidence

Of living, saving faith in God.

The sinner manifesting sense

In turning from the path he trod--

Not a sentimental sorrow,

Felt to-day and gone to-morrow;

But--by God's help I will do right,

And shun all wrong with all my might.

Repentance is the second principle of the gospel of the Son of God. And

here it would be well, perhaps, to dispose of an objection which some

may raise in regard to this being the second principle of the gospel.

There are religionists who hold and teach that repentance precedes

faith, and this error I will briefly refer to and correct.

In the first place, let the test of reason be applied. If a man does

not believe in the existence of a God; nor in the {472} existence of

the laws of God; nor in the penalties for violating those laws; nor in

his own existence after what is believed by him to be the death of both

body and spirit; nor consequently, if he does not believe in either the

power or opportunity to punish him for what some people may call sin,

but which he does not believe is a sin against anybody or anything;

will he be likely to be sorry for anything he has done? Will he reform

through hope of reward or fear of punishment, or both combined? Will

such a man repent of his sins? Every reasonable man, who studies this

principle, will answer with an emphatic, No!

But if a man is taught that there is a God; that He has revealed laws

for the government of the actions of His earthly children; that those

laws embody rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience;

that there is an existence after death has separated body and spirit;

that none can escape the results of their acts, that all will be

judged, and then rewarded or punished, according to the deeds done

in the body; and if he believes these teachings, _then_ he will be

likely to cease to do evil and learn to do well--he will repent of his

sins, and strive to serve his God faithfully. But if, after he _has_

been taught as before stated, he should fail to believe, _then_ he

will _not_ repent, for he is not prompted by that living faith which

produces sincere repentance. And this conclusion is legitimate and

clear, no doubt, to the unbeclouded and unprejudiced mind of every

intelligent and reasonable man.

But the testimony of inspiration as well as reason shall be given in

this matter, and this should be conclusive. After the crucifixion of

the Savior, Peter became president of the church. To him were given the

keys of the kingdom, and he, certainly, understood the order of the

principles of the gospel, just as well as an arithmetician understands

the order of the first principles of arithmetic. And what position

did he give repentance? Did he make it precede faith? On the day of

Pentecost Peter preached to the assembled multitude. He taught the word

of God; he quoted the Old Testament scriptures; he showed that some

of them were fulfilled; he testified that Jesus was the Christ; he

declared that they had crucified the Son of God; he taught the glorious

principle of the resurrection; said he: "This Jesus hath God raised up,

whereof we are _all witnesses_." and he told them "that God hath made

that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." This

testimony of Peter, which was accompanied by the convincing power of

the Holy Ghost, inspired them with faith in what he taught and prompted

the question: "Men and brethren, {473} what shall we do?" Said Peter,

in reply: "Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of

Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift

of the Holy Ghost." They _had_ faith. The preaching had created it.

Peter knew this. And he _then_ taught them the second, third and fourth

principles of the gospel in their order, viz.: Repentance, remission of

sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost, thus establishing the order

of those principles beyond all cavil or controversy, and for all time,

for the benefit of Bible-believers in all their generations throughout

the earth.

Repentance, then, is the second principle of the great gospel plan

of salvation, as taught by Jesus Christ and His apostles. And what

is repentance? Is it merely sorrow for sin? No. Sorrow is a part of

it, but it must be the right kind of sorrow. There is a sorrow which

leadeth unto death, and a sorrow which produces true repentance. Read

the testimony of the apostle Paul on this point: "For a godly sorrow

worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow

of the world worketh death." (_II Cor. vii, 10_.)

Real sorrow for sin produces true repentance, and a genuine repentance

is a forsaking of sin, coupled with a burning desire and a strong

determination to keep the commandments of God, which will be shown

in reformation of life and conduct, in a prayerful spirit, and a

reliance upon God for strength to overcome in every hour of trial and

temptation. Isaiah taught repentance in these words: "Let the wicked

forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him

return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God

for He will abundantly pardon." (_Isa. lv, 7_.)

The scriptures contain much evidence showing what true repentance is,

and what its fruits are; and they present us with evidence concerning

the repentance which is not genuine, as instance Simon the sorcerer. He

had believed Philip's preaching, and had been baptized; but Peter found

him "in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity," and called

upon him to repent of his "wickedness."

Repentance means forsaking sin. Let him that steals _steal no more_.

Let him that has done wrong in any way, do so no more, but do right

before God and man. In the language of the able Apostle, Orson Pratt,

"It would be of no use for a sinner to confess his sins to God, unless

he were determined to forsake them; it would be of no benefit to him

to feel sorry that he had done wrong, unless he intended to do wrong

no more, it would be folly for him to confess before God that he had

injured his fellow-man, unless he were determined to do {474} all

in his power to make restitution. Repentance, then, is not only a

confession of sins, with a sorrowful, contrite heart, but a fixed,

settled purpose to refrain from every evil way."

BAPTISM.

Earth's noon arrived! The Savior came!

And was by John of ancient fame,

Baptized in Jordan's sacred tide,

A righteous law to thus abide--

Example setting to all men

How they must all be born again:

Born of water--people hear it!

If God's kingdom they'd inherit.

There are several things connected with baptism which should be well

understood before the candidate yields obedience to it. The mode, the

object and the necessity of it.

First, then, the mode. Is sprinkling the correct way to baptize? Jesus

was the great exemplar. Was He sprinkled? John the Baptist baptized by

immersion. Did John baptize in the right way? Certainly he did. Would

Jesus have gone to an impostor for baptism? Would He have demanded

baptism by immersion of John, if sprinkling were the correct method?

And if immersion had been the _incorrect_ method, would the Spirit of

God have descended like a dove upon Him, and His Father have uttered

His approval in these words: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well

pleased?" I think not. John baptized a great many in the river Jordan.

He baptized Jesus there. "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up

straightway out of the water." (_Matt. iii, 16_.) "John baptized in

Aenon near to Salim because there was much water there." (_John iii,

23_.) Philip, acting under the direction of the apostles, baptized

by immersion. In baptizing the eunuch, "They went down both into the

water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they

were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away

Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more." (_Acts, viii, 38, 39_.)

If sprinkling were all that was necessary, Paul and Silas need not

have taken the jailor and his household out of their house just after

midnight to baptize them; for they could have performed the ordinance

in the house, and a half pint of water would have been plenty for

the purpose. (_Acts, xvi_.) Paul tells the Romans, "that so many of

us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death;

_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

{475} 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. vi, 3, 4, 5_.)

Now why represent the death of the Savior, by becoming dead unto

sin? Or His burial, by being buried in water in baptism? Or His

resurrection, by being raised from the liquid grave in baptism, to walk

in newness of life?--Why all this, if sprinkling were the proper mode

of baptism? And these remarks and quotations apply to the erroneous

principle of pouring as well as to sprinkling. Does either sprinkling

or pouring represent a death, a burial, or a resurrection? Not in the

least. But immersion does, and it _is_ an actual burial in water.

Jesus said to Nicodemus: "Except a man be born of water and of the

spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (_John iii, 5_.)

Does sprinkling or pouring represent a birth? No! but immersion does.

Coming out of the element of water into the element of air, is a fair

representation of a birth, and the words of the Apostle, Orson Pratt,

are very appropriate here. He wrote thus upon this subject: "As the

embryo must first be immersed in water before it can receive the

quickening of the human spirit, so a man must _first_ be immersed in

water before he has the promise of the quickening or life-giving power

of the Holy Spirit. As the infant is born, or comes forth from the

watery element into a new kingdom or world of existence, so a man in

baptism comes forth from the liquid element of water into the kingdom

of God's dear Son, which is a new state of existence."

The New Testament scriptures do not furnish any authority for

administering baptism by a sprinkling or pouring; but the evidences

therein contained show most conclusively, that immersion was the

proper mode of baptism as administered to Jesus, and practiced by His

apostles--and who but God has authority to change this ordinance? And

where is the proof that He has ever changed it? It cannot be found; and

immersion stands to-day, unchanged and unchangeable, as the proper mode

of administering the gospel ordinance of baptism for the benefit of

believing and repentant candidates for salvation in the kingdom of God.

The object of baptism next claims our attention. And what is this

ordinance administered for? Is it simply "an outward sign of an inward

grace?" Baptism was instituted _for the remission of sins_. John went

"into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance

for the remission of sins." (_Luke iii, 3_.) After the crucifixion

of the Savior, He {476} appeared unto the Eleven and gave them the

mission to preach the gospel to every creature; (_Luke xvi, 15-18_.)

and on the day of Pentecost, after being filled with the Holy Ghost,

according to the promise of the Father, they commenced their great

mission. On this occasion they preached to the assembled thousands of

many nationalities, baptism _for the remission of sins_, and about

three thousand souls were baptized on that day for the special purpose

of obtaining _the remission of their sins_. The testimony of Paul

concerning himself is this: that Ananias said unto him: "Arise, and be

baptized, and wash away thy sins." (_Acts xxii, 16_.)

Thus it is clearly established, and that, too, by evidence which no

Bible-believer can controvert, that the ordinance of baptism was

established _for the remission of sins_.

The necessity of baptism must be understood. It is taught by some

that the observance of this ordinance is optional on the part of the

candidate for celestial glory. This is dangerous doctrine. There is

no authority for it in the scriptures, Jesus and His apostles never

taught it. It is contrary to their teachings. Jesus never included a

non-essential principle in the great plan of salvation. Had not baptism

been necessary, He would not have said to His apostles: "He that

believeth and is baptized shall be saved," (_Mark xvi, 16_). Neither

would He have said to them: "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations,

_baptizing_ them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Ghost." (_Luke xxviii, 19_.)

Baptism is as necessary as remission of sins. It was instituted and

placed in the great system of salvation as the ordinance of remission.

It was taught, accepted and administered as such, on the day of

Pentecost, to the joy of three thousand souls.

Paul, after the light of heaven shone upon him, and the Lord said unto

him: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" was blind, repenting,

fasting and praying for three days; and why did not the Lord have

compassion upon the poor sinner in this deplorable condition, and

forgive him, without sending him to Ananias to have the ordinance of

baptism administered to him? Because Paul was a sinner. He needed

remission of sins. He needed the birth of the water to admit him into

the kingdom. And Jesus honored the law of remission by sending him to

one who could administer it effectually, which Jesus never would have

done if it had not been necessary for Paul's salvation. (_Acts ix_.)

It is believed by many that a good man will certainly be saved without

baptism--the Lord would not be just if he did {477} not save him,

even if he were not baptized. Now, I presume that but few men can be

found who are better, in a great many respects, than was Cornelius

of old. He was "a devout man, and one that feared God with all his

house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway."

(_Acts ix., 2_.) The Lord had so much respect for him on account of his

goodness, that He sent an angel to him, who said to him: "Thy prayers

and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." (_Acts x, 4_.)

Certainly, he was a good man; and, according to the notions of many

religionists, such a man ought to be saved, and will be, independent

of any ordinances. But wait a little. What more did the angel say unto

him? Said he: "And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose

surname is Peter; he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by

the sea-side, he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." (_Acts x,

3, 4_).

What! Is it possible that a good man like Cornelius needed to do

anything more than he was doing, in order to be accepted and justified

before God? It appears that the Lord thought so; and it was of such

importance, too, that He sent an angel to tell him what his further

duty was. And what was it? Peter preached the gospel to him and his

household, after his arrival among them. The Holy Ghost fell upon them

to bear testimony to Peter's words, and as an evidence to Peter of the

favor they enjoyed with the Lord, and then "he commanded them to be

baptized in the name of the Lord." (_Acts x, 4, 8_.)

Now, suppose that Cornelius and his house had disregarded Peter's

command to be baptized, could they have been saved? No. Why? Because

the angel told him that Peter should tell him words whereby he and all

his household should be saved. (_Acts xi. 14_). It is very evident,

therefore, that baptism for the remission of sins is necessary unto

salvation.

Infant baptism, as it is erroneously termed, or infant sprinkling,

should receive a brief notice here. This is not authorized in the

scriptures, neither have any of the New Testament writers alluded to

it. Some have supposed because in a few instances whole households

were baptized, that possibly there were some infants among them. But

this supposition is a very weak foundation upon which to establish an

important principle of salvation. In the households of Lydia, Cornelius

and the jailor, there were no infants--at least, we cannot learn that

there were from the history given of them in the Acts of the Apostles.

In fact, the evidence is to the contrary. In the case of the jailor,

Paul and Silas _taught_ him, and _all_ that were in his house, the word

of the Lord. (_Acts xvi, 32_.) In the {478} household of Cornelius,

the Holy Ghost fell upon them which heard the words of Peter, and

they _spoke_ with tongues and _magnified_ God. (_Acts x_.) And in the

household of Lydia it is evident there were no infants any more than

there were in the other two households, for these reasons: The gospel

is to be _preached_ to individuals. What is the use to _preach_ to

infants? They cannot understand it; they cannot have faith in it; they

cannot repent, for they have not sinned; it is no use to baptize them,

for there are no sins to remit. Sin is a transgression of the law.

They have not transgressed any law, therefore, they are without sin.

And even had infants any sins to remit, they could not be remitted by

baptism alone, for faith and repentance must be exercised in connection

with baptism, but infants cannot exercise either. Therefore, it is

unreasonable to suppose that the apostles would attempt to teach

or baptize infants in the households referred to, or in any other

households--they knew better than to act so foolishly in the sight of

God.

There are others who have supposed that the baptism of infants is

in the place of circumcision. But this is merely a conjecture of

impostors to deceive the ignorant. The scriptures do not substitute

infant baptism for circumcision. There is no connection or similarity

between the two principles. They are no more alike than truth and

error, or darkness and light, or heaven and hell. Circumcision is an

ancient ceremony or operation performed exclusively on male infants

at eight days old; but baptism is an immersion in water, of both male

and female, when they have reached an age to be capable of sinning,

believing the gospel when it is taught them, and repenting of their

sins, so that they may have their past sins remitted according

to the laws of God. These evidences should be conclusive to all

Bible-believers.

LAYING ON OF HANDS FOR IMPARTING THE HOLY GHOST

True faith in God, repentance true,

Sins remitted by immersion;

The humble soul is born anew,

And the spirit takes possession.

By laying on of holy hands,

Of God's own servants here on earth;

Those who've obeyed the Lord's commands,

Will realize the Spirit's birth.

After the candidate for eternal life has been baptized for the

remission of his sins, and has sought unto the Lord in faith, honestly

repenting of his sins, and has obtained the forgiveness {479} of all

his past transgressions, he is entitled to the gift of the Holy Ghost.

He should seek for it, for the Lord has promised that he shall receive

it, but He has established a certain ordinance through which He bestows

this precious gift. That ordinance is the "Laying on of hands." Many

may question this, but the scriptures should decide the matter. Let

us see how Paul received the Holy Ghost. Ananias received a mission

to visit Paul, and entered into the house where he was staying, "and

_putting his hands on him_ said: Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus,

that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that

thou mightest receive thy sight, and be _filled with the Holy Ghost_."

(_Acts ix. 17_.) But why not fill him with the Holy Ghost without

any administration of Ananias, seeing that he had faith, and was

repenting and fasting and praying before the Lord? Because the Lord had

established an order in the plan of salvation. He had authorized His

servants to observe that order in ministering the spirit as well as the

water, and they were to minister the spirit by the _laying on of hands_.

How did Paul administer the spirit? It is possible that he obtained his

first lesson, in the administration of baptism and the laying on of

hands, from Ananias when he himself was baptized and confirmed; but,

whether this was his first lesson or not, he, no doubt, learned to

administer the ordinances of the gospel correctly. And when he came to

Ephesus and found about twelve men who had been baptized "unto John's

baptism," "they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus," "and when

Paul _laid his hands upon them_, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they

spake with tongues, and prophesied." (_Acts xix. 1-6_.) Thus, we see

Paul administered the Holy Ghost by "the laying on of hands."

When Philip preached to the Samaritans, they believed and were baptized

both men and women. "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem

heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them

Peter and John, who when they were come down, prayed for them that they

might receive the Holy Ghost; (for as yet he was fallen upon none of

them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then laid

they their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (_Acts

viii, 14-17_.)

Now, as they were apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, faithful men

whose prayers God would hear and answer, why did not the Lord bestow

upon those Samaritans the gift of the Holy Ghost in answer to the

earnest prayers of His faithful servants, without the ordinance of the

laying on of hands? {480} Because that would have been contrary to the

law laid down for the ministering of the spirit. Peter and John were

anxious that the Lord should bless their administration for the benefit

of those baptized believers. They desired that the Holy Ghost should

rest down upon them in mighty power. But they could not exercise the

authority of the apostleship in and of themselves, and independently

of the Lord, hence they prayed for themselves, no doubt, and that the

Samaritans "might receive the Holy Ghost." _Then_ they performed the

proper ordinance, God honored the administration in answer to their

prayer, and those baptized believers "received the Holy Ghost." (_Acts

viii, 17_).

The laying on of hands, then, is the Lord's ordinance for imparting the

Holy Ghost to His believing, repentant, and baptized children, and He

has never made it void, or authorized any man to change it, or to teach

the inhabitants of the earth that it is done away and no longer needed.

AUTHORITY TO PREACH AND ADMINISTER.

God's Priesthood once dwelt here on earth,

And gave to men their gospel birth;

Many who held it martyrs fell;

On earth in peace it could not dwell.

But thanks to God He has again,

Bestowed His Priesthood upon men;

And His decree has now gone forth--

It shall henceforth remain on earth!

The authority to preach the gospel and administer its ordinances,

is a very important matter to be considered in connection with the

first principles of the gospel. If those ordinances are administered

by divine authority, the blessings of God will attend those

administrations; but if they are not, it is unreasonable to expect the

Lord will bestow such blessings; hence, it is well to ascertain who is

in the possession of the authority of God, to act in the name of His

son Jesus Christ, as ministers of salvation and eternal life to the

children of men here on the earth.

A man, to be a servant of God, must be called, authorized, and

empowered by the Lord in some way, or how can he be a servant of God?

Man does not recognize any other man as his servant unless he has

appointed and authorized him in some way, neither does the Lord.

Jesus was sent by His Father. (_John v. 23-24, vi. 38-40, xvii, 21_.)

The first officers in the Church of Christ are apostles. (_Eph. iv,

11_.) Jesus was an apostle. (_Heb. iii, v_.) He {481} called other

apostles. Said He to His apostles, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have

chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit."

(_John xv, 16_.) Jesus being sent of God, and being an apostle, he had

a right under the authority of His Father, to call and ordain other

apostles, and this is the way the apostles obtained the authority of

God, to act in the name of Jesus Christ, for the benefit of the human

family. Under the direction of the Father and His Son Jesus Christ

they had authority to call and ordain others; but without similar

authority no man has a right to call and ordain others, or officiate

in any of the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "No man taketh

this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron."

(_Heb. v, 4_.) And how was Aaron called? The Lord told Moses to take

him to assist in performing a certain work. (_Exod. iv, 14-16_.) And

no man _taketh_ the honor _unto himself_, for he must be called by the

voice of God through a prophet as Aaron was; or by Jesus Christ as His

apostles were, or by an angel of God, as in the case of the calling

of Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites, (_Judges vi_); or by

the Holy Ghost, as were Barnabas and Saul, (_Acts xiii, 2_); or by the

direction of the Almighty, through the spirit of inspiration, operating

in some legitimate channel.

A man must be called, ordained, authorized and empowered from on

high, or he is not a servant of God. And the calling, ordaining, or

authorizing, of one man, does not call, ordain, or authorize another.

It takes new revelation in each case. God must designate, in some

way, the man for His service. A man must go forth with authority to

preach, to call to repentance, to baptize for the remission of sins, to

impart the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands; and if sins are not

remitted, and the Holy Ghost is not imparted, when the conditions are

faithfully observed, then the administrator is an impostor, or he is

not authorized to preach the fullness of the gospel to the children of

men. A man who is commissioned of Jesus Christ to proclaim the fullness

of the gospel, and officiate in its ordinances for the benefit of our

race, will promise remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost,

in the name of Jesus Christ, and his promise never fails when the

conditions are faithfully observed; but an impostor dare not make any

such a promise to the sons of men. He has no authority from God to do

so, and if he did make any such promise, he knows that God would not

honor it and fulfill it, for He did not authorize him to make it.

Therefore, ye sons and daughters of men, be careful on this {482}

question of authority. Try to learn where the true authority exists.

Be assured that the administrations of a person unauthorized of

God will be of no benefit to you in time nor in eternity; but the

administrations of a man who is sent of God by new revelation, will

bless you in this life, and you will realize it; and they will lay the

foundation for blessings, glory, honor, power and exaltation, in the

celestial worlds for ever and ever.

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

The first or initiatory principles of the gospel, as herein set forth,

are but very briefly alluded to the treatment of them herein was not

designed to be exhaustive. The object was merely to give a few hints,

and by so doing cause curiosity and interest and faith to spring up,

and prompt honest research and prayerful investigation, which would

lead to humble obedience to the laws of God.

The writer did not prepare this because he had anything new or original

to offer. Every man who is warned must warn his neighbor. This is the

word of God. My testimony must be heard. I am not justified before the

Lord if it is not. I must try to clear my garments of the blood of this

generation; hence this little work.

I bear my humble testimony that God has spoken from the heavens in

these last days. The true gospel of salvation is being taught to

the children of men by the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints. They taught that gospel to me. I believed it with

all my heart. I embraced it with a sincere and honest purpose to do the

will of God on the earth. My sins were forgiven through the ordinance

of baptism. The Holy Ghost was sent down from heaven and rested

mightily upon me through the laying on of the hands of the servants of

God. By that spirit I was taught of God, and I learned by revelation

through its agency that God lived, that He had spoken from the heavens,

and that He had raised up a mighty prophet in the person of Joseph

Smith. I knew that the work he had established through that prophet's

instrumentality was true, and that nothing could overthrow it. The

holy Priesthood was conferred upon me. I preached to others, and

officiated in the ordinances of the gospel for their benefit. They also

received the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost through

my administrations, and rejoiced in the Lord. And I know that all who

will yield humble obedience to the principles of the gospel, as taught

by the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will

receive {483} the remission of sins and the testimony of Jesus through

the gift of the Holy Ghost; and by this spirit they shall know of the

truth of the doctrines they have obeyed. They shall know that the

faithful Elders of Israel are clothed with the authority of Almighty

God, and they shall bear testimony of these things to the children of

men.

I bear my humble testimony of these things. God lives. His gospel

and authority and plan of salvation are restored to the earth by the

administration of holy angels. The heavens are open. Man communes

with his God. The Millennium dawn is near. The Son of God will soon

come in clouds of heaven in power and great glory. He will reward the

righteous, and take vengeance on the wicked, as saith the scriptures.

Blessed are they who hear the warning voice of the good shepherds of

Israel, for they shall escape the judgments the Lord is about to pour

out upon the ungodly; they shall have joy unspeakable in this life; and

in the life to come they shall enjoy the blessings of immortality in

the presence of the Father and the Son in the celestial worlds.

"_Be virtuous and pure; be men of integrity and truth; keep the

commandments of God, then you will be able more perfectly to

understand the difference between right and wrong--between the

things of God and the things of men; and your path will be like

that of the just, which shineth brighter and brighter unto the

perfect day_."

--_Joseph Smith, The Prophet_.

{484}

GLAD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY.

GEORGE TEASDALE.

"Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead."

--_James ii. 20_.

We take this means of visiting you, at your hearths and homes, to

testify to you of the restoration of the Everlasting Gospel and the

Holy Priesthood, by the visitation of an holy angel in fulfilment of

the predictions of the prophets; to usher in the dispensation of the

fullness of times and the establishment of the kingdom of God.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. (_Rom. i, 16, 17_). "And

being made perfect He (Christ) became the author of eternal salvation

unto all them that obey him," (_Heb. v. 9_). Its first principles are,

faith, repentance, baptism, and the reception of the Holy Ghost.

FAITH IN GOD.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that

cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him" (_Heb. xi. 6_). "He that heareth

my word, and believed on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life"

(_John v. 24_). "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach,

because we trust in the living God" (_I. Tim. iv. 10_).

FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

"And this is His commandment; that we should believe on the name of

his son Jesus Christ" (_John iii. 23_). And this is life eternal,

that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom

thou has sent" (_John xvii. 3_). "Jesus said unto her, I am the

resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were

dead, yet shall he live" (_John ix. 25_). "For the wages of sin is

death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ

our Lord" (_Rom. vi. 23_). "For there is none other name under

heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (_Acts iv. 12_).

REPENTANCE.

"Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so

iniquity shall not be your ruin" (_Ezekiel xviii. 30_). "And they

went out and preached that men should repent" (_Mark vi. 12_).

Jesus Christ preached, "repent ye and believe the gospel" (_Mark i.

15_).

{485}

BAPTISM.

"Ye must be born again (_John iii. 7_). "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 iii. 5_). "Go ye into all the

world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth

and is baptized shall be saved" (_Mark xvi. 15, 16_). Peter said

unto them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of

Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (_Acts ii. 38_). "And now

why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,

calling on the name of the Lord" (_Acts xxii. 16_). "Therefore we

are buried with Him by baptism" (Rom. vi. 4). "Buried with him in

baptism" (_Col. ii. 12_). "The like figure whereunto even baptism

doth now save us" (_I Peter iii. 21_). "One Lord, one faith, one

baptism" (_Eph. iv. 5_).

THE HOLY GHOST.

"And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (_Acts ii. 38_).

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will

send in my name, he will teach you all things" (_John xiv. 26_).

"Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy

Ghost. And when Simon saw that when through laying on of the

Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given" (_Acts viii. 17, 18_).

"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on

them" (_Acts xix. 6_). "Therefore, leaving the principles of the

doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again

the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards

God. Of the doctrine of baptism, and of laying on of hands" (_Heb.

vi. 2_).

ORGANIZATION.

"Now therefore ye (the Saints) are no more strangers and

foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the Saints, and of the

household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles

and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone"

(_Eph. ii. 20_).

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,

evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of

the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the

body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of

the knowledge of the Son of God" (_Eph. iv. 11-13_).

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And 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" (_I Cor. xii. 27, 28_).

"And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called

God, as was Aaron: so also Christ glorified not Himself to be an

high priest; but he that said unto Him, Thou art my Son, to-day

have I begotten thee" (_Heb. v. 4, 5_).

"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,

consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ

Jesus" (_Heb. iii. 1_).

WE BELIEVE IN CONTINUOUS REVELATIONS FROM GOD.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all

men liberally" (_James i. 5, 6_). No man knoweth the Father but by

{486} revelation from the Son (_Luke x. 22_). "Where there is no

vision, the people perish" (_Prov. xxix. 18_). "Surely the Lord

will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the

prophets" (_Amos iii. 7_).

We believe it is essential to salvation to

OBEY THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.

"Being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto

all them that obey Him" (_Heb. v. ix_).

"Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than

sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as

the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry"

(_I Sam. xv. 22_).

"And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus

shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming

fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not

the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with

everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the

glory of His power" (_II Thess. i. 7-9_).

"If we walk in the light as He (God) is in the light, we have

fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin" (_I John i. 7_).

"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even

as he is pure" (_I John iii. 3_).

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of the sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of

the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in His

law doth he meditate day and night" (_Psalm i. 1, 2_).

When John, the Revelator, was upon the Isle of Patmos the Lord revealed

the principal events that were to happen upon this earth before His

second coming. It was "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave

to him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to

pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John"

(Rev. i. 1). After showing him the apostasy of the primitive church,

and the rise of false systems (_Rev xxii. and xxiii_.) and the fear of

God being taught by the precepts of men, as foretold by Isaiah (xxix.

13, 14), he showed him the restoration of the gospel. He said, "and I

saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting

gospel to preach to them that dwell upon the earth, and to every

nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice,

Fear, God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come:

and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the

fountains of water."

Daniel declared that "in the last days, the God of heaven would set

up a kingdom that should never be destroyed" {487} (_Dan. ii. 44_).

Isaiah (ii. 2, 3) and Micah (iv. 1, 2) have both declared that in the

last days, the mountain of the Lord's house should be established

in the tops of the mountains, and many should say, let us go up to

the house of the God of Jacob, that they might learn of His ways and

walk in His paths. It is the testimony of the thousands of Latter-day

Saints, gathered to the mountains, that God has restored to the earth

the everlasting gospel; that angels have visited the earth, restoring

the Holy Priesthood; that Joseph Smith the Prophet-martyr of the

nineteenth century, was the man honored of God, with others, to usher

in the dispensation of the fullness of times and the restitution of all

things, in fulfillment of the prophets.

The Church of Christ was again established upon the earth on the 6th

day of April, 1830; and, from that day to the present, has steadily

increased, notwithstanding the prejudice, caused by misrepresentation

and the "refuge of lies," brought to bear against it, and the

persecution it has gone through. It has been guided to the tops of the

mountains, and is being established in power, gathering the seed of

Israel from all nations where they have been scattered, teaching them

"the ways of the Lord," preparing them for the second coming of Christ,

and offering a home for the oppressed of all nations.

All mankind are required to repent, to "seek the Lord while He may

be found," to be baptized for the remission of their sins, that they

may receive the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, in God's appointed way, by

the laying on of hands; that they may know these things are true for

themselves, by the revelations of God, and gain a living testimony.

"If any man will do His will (that of the Father) he shall know of the

doctrine" (_John vii. 17_), and no more be carried about by "every wind

of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby

they lie in wait to deceive" (_Eph. iv. 14_).

Then flee to Zion for safety; as it is written "come out of her, my

people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not

of her plagues" (_Rev. xviii. 4, 5_), "For wheresoever the carcass is,

there will the eagles be gathered together" (Matt. xxiv. 28).

Your kind, prayerful consideration of these truths is earnestly

invited. Search the scriptures; surely the signs of the times proclaim

the second coming of our Lord and Savior to be right at hand, but who

shall stand when he appeareth?

{488}

SUGGESTIONS TO ELDERS.

BY ELDER B. H. ROBERTS, IN MILLENNIAL STAR, 1888.

In the concluding paragraphs of a revelation on the subject of

priesthood, the Lord says:

"Now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which

he is appointed, in all diligence. He that is slothful shall not be

counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows

himself not approved, shall not be counted worthy to stand." (Doc. and

Cov., sec. cvii. 99, 100.)

We have no doubt but there is a general desire among the brethren

of the priesthood to know their duty and then do it; especially is

this the case with the Elders who have been sent to these lands to

preach the Gospel. The duties and labors of these brethren are varied,

consisting not only of preaching the Gospel, but also administering in

all the ordinances and ceremonies pertaining to it. They are required

at times to baptize people for the remission of their sins, and to

confirm the members of the Church and bestow upon them the Holy Ghost

by the laying on of hands. At other times they are called upon to

anoint the sick with oil, or to confirm the anointing performed by

others, and rebuke the sickness or disease, and bless with life and

health those who are afflicted. Then they are called upon to administer

the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and all these things should be done

decently, intelligently, and in order that no reproach or derision may

be thrown upon the work of God by reason of their awkwardness in any of

these things.

Nor is the derision from strangers, who may witness any bungling

administration in these ceremonies, the worst evil feared. But any

blundering on the part of those who administer is very apt to have an

evil effect upon the mind of those receiving the administration, and

sometimes the adversary takes advantage of these things and creates

doubts or suspicions in those receiving the ordinance as to the

validity or power of the administration. We are acquainted with several

{489} circumstances where the most disastrous results have grown out of

this very thing. Too much care cannot be exercised in these matters.

So far as the ceremony connected with baptism is concerned, the words

to be used are given in the Scriptures (see Book of Mormon, III Nephi

xi, 24-26, Doc. and Cov., sec. xx, 72-74); so also in blessing the

sacrament; but in the matter of confirming people members of the

Church and bestowing upon them the Holy Ghost, anointing or blessing

the sick, naming and blessing children, or even of ordaining men to

the priesthood and assigning to them their position or office in that

priesthood, we know of no formula that is given in the Scriptures. The

matter seems to be left to the good taste and judgment of those who

administer, without binding them to any set forms. On the whole, we

rather like the idea of these things being so left, since we can see

it gives more liberty for the operations of the spirit of God; that

is, the mind of the administrator being free from stereotyped forms,

he is at liberty to pronounce whatever the Spirit of the Lord may put

into his heart to say. And where the Elder has learned his duty and has

given these matters careful consideration, a beautiful and powerful

administration is usually the result.

But, unfortunately, it sometimes happens the Elders who have never

learned well their duty nor considered these things carefully, are

called upon to administer; and neither judgment nor good taste is

liable to dictate what they should say; and much evil may result from

their not knowing how to perform properly these duties.

For the benefit of the young and inexperienced Elders, and for the

older ones, too, who may have been careless hitherto in respect to

these matters, we offer the following suggestions:

While the form of words are for any ordinance, as in baptism and the

administration of the sacrament, it should be carefully learned by the

Elders, that they may be always ready when called upon to officiate.

And where no formula is given, then the objects to be accomplished by

the ordinance should be noted, and such a form of words fixed in the

mind as will in the most direct and simple manner attain those objects.

We say direct and simple because these are qualities, excellencies,

we may say, which enter into all the administrations in the Gospel.

They are characteristics of the whole plan of salvation. In proof of

this we ask what could be more simple or direct, than the ceremony

said at baptism: "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize

you in the name of {490} Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Amen." There is not a superfluous word in it, nor is anything omitted

necessary to be said. So with the prayer that is given to be said in

blessing the bread and water to be used in the sacrament. So, too,

these characteristics of directness and simplicity are found in the

great model prayer taught by the Savior to His disciples, and to

our own mind this beautiful simplicity and directness of everything

associated with the Gospel is part of its divinity, and one of the

greatest evidences that it emanated from God, who sustains and governs

the great universe by the simplest means. In those ordinances, then,

where the form of words to be used is left for the administrator to

choose, we would say let such a choice be made as will keep those

administrations in harmony with the whole spirit of the Gospel--let

simplicity mark their outline; and let such words be employed as will

at once accomplish the object of the ordinance. To illustrate: In

confirming a person a member of the Church, the Elder, calling the

person by name, as he should do, and then in the name of the Messiah,

sometimes says: "We lay our hands on your head _to_ confirm you a

member of the Church, etc., _and that you may_ receive the Holy Ghost,"

and then goes on and pronounces a number of blessings on the person;

but he neither, technically speaking, confirms him a member of the

Church nor bestows on him the Holy Ghost. It would be much better to

make use of such words as will at once accomplish the object. Say, for

example, after calling the person by name, "In the name of Jesus Christ

we confirm you a member of the Church, etc., and say unto you, receive

ye the Holy Ghost." That really covers the ground. But if an Elder's

heart is filled with blessing for the persons to whom he administers,

and the Spirit prompts him to pronounce blessings upon them for their

encouragement, or the strengthening of their hope and faith and virtue;

or if he is prompted to tell them what particular gift the Holy Ghost

will develop within them, or to admonish them against evil, all well

and good; with one of old we say, "Quench not the Spirit, neither

despise prophecy," but let good taste and judgment and the Spirit of

God preside in these things.

Now, as to administering to the sick. Here, from the very nature of

things, the manner of administration is left to the judgment of the

Elders officiating. Still there are general outlines that may be

pointed out even here. The law of the Lord to the Saints is that if

any of them are sick, they are to call for the Elders of the Church;

and they shall pray {491} for them, and anoint them with oil, and the

promise is made that the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and God

will raise them up. (James 5: 13-16.)

It is customary for the Elders, when called upon for two or more of

them to go, and anoint with oil, and it is understood that another

will confirm the anointing, and perhaps will be moved upon to rebuke

the disease and bless the sick with life and health. But the one who

anoints the sick sometimes not only does what he is appointed to do,

but a great deal more. He both anoints and confirms the anointing, and

pronounces every conceivable blessing upon the head of the one to whom

he administers. This would be all right, if he were alone, but when

another is to follow him it is most perplexing to that Elder, as he

feels that there is nothing for him to do. Let those who are called

upon to anoint do that, and do it in the name of the Lord, and to the

end that the person may be restored to health; but let him leave the

rebuking of the sickness and the confirming of the anointing to him who

shall be assigned to perform that part of the ceremony.