Chapter X: Part 10

Lehi, the head of the first Jewish colony to America, was commanded by the Lord, in a dream, to leave Jerusalem, take his family and go into the wilderness, preparatory to going to a strange land; 1 _Nephi_ 2. 2; _verse_ 4 proves his supreme faith in this dream: "And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness."

This great patriarch, on other occasions, showed his faith in dreams and visions. In these ways the Lord revealed many great things to him and his son Nephi.

The Mosaic dispensation opened by an angel of the Lord appearing unto Moses in a flame of fire "Out of the midst of a bush;" _Exo_. 3. 2.

The Old Testament gives an account of many visions and dreams, but perhaps the most important of the latter is the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, which was interpreted by the prophet Daniel; _Dan_. 2. It is now over twenty-four hundred years since the king of Babylon had that dream, and its fulfilment can be traced in the history of the world down through all these centuries.

The last great event, shown in this dream, was, that in the latter times the God of heaven would set up a kingdom which would break down other kingdoms and stand forever. This is the kingdom that it was the mission of Joseph Smith, Jun., to establish, and which the Latter-day Saints are laboring to build up.

Dreams characterized the opening up of the New Testament dispensation. After the birth of our Savior the wise men, who came from the east to see him, were warned to disobey the command of the wicked king Herod, who sought the life of the young child. The reputed father of the child, Joseph, was warned in a dream to take the child and its mother and flee into Egypt for the same reason. When Herod was dead, Joseph was warned in a dream to take the child and its mother and return into the land of Israel.

This great latter-day dispensation was opened up by a vision. When Joseph Smith, Jun., was a lad, in his fifteenth year, he retired to a secret place to ask the Lord to direct him and give him wisdom. When he kneeled down to offer up the desires of his heart to God, he was nearly overcome by the powers of darkness.

He says, in the narrative of his life written by himself, "Just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me, I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said (pointing to the other), THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, HEAR HIM." _P. of G. P., page_ 47.

An account of one of the most remarkable visions of this dispensation, is recorded in _Doc. & Cov., sec_. 76. The narrative commences as follows: "We, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, being in the Spirit on the sixteenth of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, by the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God--even those things which were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father, through his Only Begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, even from the beginning, of whom we bear record, and the record which we bear is the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision;" _verses_ 11-14. In Joseph Smith's first vision, God the Father bore testimony of Jesus Christ his Son. In this last vision, the Son appeared to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, and revealed to them many great and glorious truths concerning the resurrection, and the final reward of all men according to their works. The account of the vision will repay much careful study.

The Lord said, through his prophet Joel, speaking of the times when Israel should be gathered in the latter days, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions;" 2. 28. Thousands of Latter-day Saints can testify that this prophecy is being fulfilled, and that dreams and visions characterize this as they have all former dispensations of the Priesthood.

Bible.

_Gen_. 15. 12 a horror of great darkness fell on Abraham.

20. 3 God came to Abimelech in a dream by night. 6.

28. 12-15 Jacob's dream in Bethel.

31. 10-12 Jacob's dream of the speckled cattle.

24 God appeared to Laban.

37. 5-8 Joseph's dream of the sheaves.

9. 10 Joseph's dream of the sun, moon and stars.

40. 5-19 the dreams of Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker.

41. 1-32 Pharaoh's dreams and Joseph's interpretation.

46. 2 God spake to Jacob in the visions of the night.

2 _Sam_. 7. 17 according to all this vision did Nathan speak to David.

1 _Kings_ 3. 5-14 Solomon's dream in which he asks the Lord for wisdom.

9. 2 the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.

22. 19-22 Micah's vision of the lying spirit.

_Job_ 4. 12, 13 was secretly brought to me from the visions of the night.

_Jer_. 1. 11-16 visions of a rod, and of a seething pot.

_Ezek_. 1. vision of four living creatures.

2. 9, 10 the visions of the roll of a book.

3. 22, 23 a vision of the glory of the Lord.

_Chap_. 8. vision of the glory of the Lord and of the rebelliousness of Judah.

_Chap_. 9. vision of the destruction of the wicked and of the preservation of the righteous in Jerusalem.

_Chap_. 10. vision of the coals of fire scattered over Jerusalem and of living creatures which Ezekiel had before seen by the river Chebar.

11. 22 vision of the Cherubim.

23 vision of the glory of the Lord departing from Jerusalem.

24, 25 Ezekiel in vision was carried by the Spirit into Chaldea.

37. 1-10 vision of dry bones, their coming together and being covered with flesh and filled with life.

_Chap_. 40. and remainder of Ezekiel is probably a vision of Jerusalem during the Millennium.

_Dan_. 4. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great tree.

_Chap_. 5. the handwriting on the wall of the palace of Belshazzar.

_Chap_. 7. Daniel's vision of the four beasts, and of the sitting of the Ancient of days.

_Chap_. 8. Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat.

_Hab_. 2. 2, 3 write the vision and make it plain upon tables.

_Zech_. 1. 8-11 the vision of the horses among the myrtle trees.

18-21 visions of the horns and carpenters.

2. 1, 2 vision of the measuring line.

_Chap_. 4. vision of the golden candlestick.

_Chap_. 5. vision of the flying roll. 6. 1-8 of the four chariots.

_Matt_. 1. 20 an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream.

_Luke_ 1. 5-19 Gabriel promised Zacharias that his wife Elizabeth should have a son named John.

_Acts_ 9. 12 Saul's vision of Ananias.

10. 10-16 Peter's vision of all manner of beasts. 11. 5-10.

30-32 Cornelius' vision of a man in bright clothing.

16. 9 Paul's vision of a man from Macedonia wanting help.

18. 9, 10 the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision.

22. 17-21 Paul had a trance in the temple.

_Rev_. 1. 12-18 vision of the seven golden candlesticks.

_Chap_. 4. vision of the throne of God, of twenty-four elders and of four beasts.

_Chap_. 5. the book sealed with seven seals.

_Chap_. 6. the opening of the seven seals.

_Chap_. 7. 144,000 of the tribes of Israel sealed in their foreheads, an innumerable multitude stood before the throne.

_Chap_. 8. the opening of the seventh seal and the plagues that follow.

_Chap_. 9. opening of the bottomless pit, the plague of locusts; other woes follow.

_Chap_. 10. the book which John is commanded to eat.

_Chap_. 11. vision of two witnesses who shall be slain and rise after three days. The seventh trumpet sounds.

_Chap_. 12. vision of the woman with child, and of the great red dragon.

_Chap_. 13. the beast with seven heads and ten horns.

_Chap_. 14. the Lamb standing on Mount Zion; the Gospel preached; the fall of Babylon.

_Chap_. 15. the seven angels with the seven last plagues; the seven vials full of wrath.

_Chap_. 16. the angels pour out their vials full of wrath; the coming of Christ.

_Chap_. 17. great Babylon represented by a woman.

_Chap_. 18. the fall of Babylon; the gathering of the Saints.

_Chap_. 19. the blood of the Saints avenged; the marriage of the Lamb; the fowls called to the great slaughter.

_Chap_. 20. Satan bound for a thousand years; he is let loose again; Gog and Magog; the last resurrection.

_Chap_. 21. a new heaven and a new earth; the heavenly Jerusalem.

_Chap_. 22. the river and tree of life.

Book of Mormon.

1 _Nephi_ 1. 6 there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before Lehi.

8 Lehi was overcome by the Spirit and carried away in a vision, in which he saw many things.

3. 2, 3 Lehi commanded, in a dream, to send his sons to Jerusalem for the record of the Jews.

_Chap_. 8. Lehi's vision of the tree with the white fruit, the river and the rod of iron, and of a great and spacious building.

_Chap_. 11. Nephi's vision of the Son of Man, his ministry, sufferings and death.

_Chap_. 12. Nephi's vision of his own seed, the seed of his brethren, and of the promised land.

_Chap_. 13. Nephi's vision of the Gentile nations across the "many waters," of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, and of many other great events that were to take place in the future.

18. 2 Nephi built the ship after the manner the Lord had shown him.

2 _Nephi_ 1. 4 Lehi had a vision in which he knew that Jerusalem was destroyed.

_Mos_. 27. 11-13 an angel of God descended in a cloud and appeared to Alma.

SIGNS AND TOKENS.

Signs may or may not be miraculous manifestations. They may indicate something that has taken place, and also be a token of a continuance of some certain blessing. For instance, the Lord covenanted with Noah, and with every living creature, that he would not again destroy all flesh from the earth with a flood.

As a token of this covenant the Lord said to Noah, "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud." The Lord further assured Noah, "And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth;" _Gen_. 9. 9-17.

They may also indicate that certain things shall take place periodically, as "God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years;" 1. 14.

The prophets have foretold signs that should precede great events that were to take place on the earth. Speaking of the birth of our Savior, the prophet Isaiah says, "The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son;" 7. 14.

The Lamanite prophet, Samuel, foretold to the Nephites in the city of Zarahemla, that for two days and one night preceding the birth of Christ there should be no darkness, and that a new star should arise, such an one as the Nephites had never before beheld; _Hel_. 14. 3, 5. These signs appeared as Samuel predicted; 3 _Nephi_ 1. 13-21.

He also predicted terrible judgments that should destroy the wicked among the Nephites and Lamanites when the Savior should die. Simultaneously with that event there should be thunderings, lightnings, tempests and earthquakes. These should continue for many hours, and darkness should cover the land for three days; _Hel_. 14. 21-27. _Chapters_ 8, 9, and 10, of 3 _Nephi_, give us a very vivid description of these judgments that were predicted by Samuel.

In the sacred writings, many signs are predicted that should precede the coming of the Son of Man, in the latter days. The Jewish apostles of our Savior manifested great interest in this matter. On a certain occasion when Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives, they asked concerning the destruction of Jerusalem; after which they especially inquired, "What is the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?" _P. of G. P., page_ 38.

Jesus first answered them concerning the destruction of the Temple and the Jews. He told his disciples that they should be afflicted and killed, and be hated of all nations for his name's sake. "Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another; and many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many; and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold; but he that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved."

"When you, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem (_Dan_. 12. 11), then you shall stand in the holy place." In this paragraph, continuing on to _page_ 39, Christ says, "In those days, shall be great tribulation on the Jews, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, such as was not before sent upon Israel of God, since the beginning of their kingdom until this time; no, nor ever shall be sent again upon Israel."

After these judgments should come upon Jerusalem and the Jews, then false Christs and prophets should arise, and shew great signs and wonders, insomuch that they would deceive the Elect according to the covenant, if it were possible.

Then he assures his disciples that they shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, but he assures them that will not be the end. For afterwards there will be those who will predict the coming of the Son of Man. He tells his disciples that they need not be deceived with regard to this great event, "For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." That is, the indications of his coming will be so unmistakable that they need not be deceived.

One very significant sign of his coming, he stated would be, that his Elect should be gathered from the four quarters of the earth. Through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith and the Holy Priesthood, this great work is now going on: "And they," that is those who are being gathered, "shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars, * * for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famine, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places; and again, (for the second time) because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Again Jesus gave the assurance that he who was not overcome should be saved: "And again"--that is when the Elect are being gathered and judgments were being poured out upon the nations for the second time--"This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come," or the destruction of the wicked; "and again"--that is for the second time--"shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled. And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken; verily, I say unto you, this generation, in which these things shall be shewn forth, shall not pass away until all I have told you shall be fulfilled. * * * After the tribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn; and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory;" _P. of G. P., pages_ 38-40.

This translation of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, commencing with the last verse of the twenty-third chapter, by Joseph Smith, the Seer, is both very interesting and instructive to the student of theology. It contains much more than can be made to appear in a short sketch like this.

Every dispensation of the Priesthood has been characterized by miracles, by signs, and wonders, and none more than this, the dispensation of the fulness of times. It was to be opened up by an angel who should fly through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to the nations of the earth; _Rev_. 14. 6.

An angel, named Moroni, has come and brought forth to the world the Book of Mormon, which contains the fulness of the everlasting Gospel; _P. of G. P., pages_ 49-53. It is the same Gospel that was preached by Jesus and his apostles. Thus, the saying of the Savior to his disciples upon the Mount of Olives is being fulfilled: "This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come;" _Matt_. 24. 14. Israel is being gathered from the four quarters of the earth in fulfilment of numerous predictions of the ancient prophets.

Jesus, also, told his disciples that they should hear of wars and rumors of wars. "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places;" _verses_ 6, 7. The world is witness that these sayings are being fulfilled.

These are only a few of the many signs and tokens that the coming of the Son of Man in power and great glory is near at hand. Signs and tokens will increase as manifestations that God is at work among the nations. Only those who have faith in God will comprehend their meaning. He has promised his saints that it should be given them to understand the signs of the times; _Doc & Cov_. 68. 11.

The wicked are ever seeking after signs, but they have no faith in the Giver, and therefore their motives are evil. Jesus said, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;" _Matt_. 12. 39. We are promised that signs shall follow the believer; _Mark_ 16. 17-20. This promise is not limited to any specified time or place; but extends to all believers. They are nowhere promised to the unbeliever except for a testimony against them; for the Lord has said, "He that seeketh signs, shall see signs, but not unto salvation;" _Doc. & Cov_., 63. 7.

Signs are a gift of God, and, to be beneficial to those who receive them, they must come by faith; "Signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God;" _verse_ 10. Hence, they are a blessing to the believer, but not to those who would treat with contempt a manifestation of the power and goodness of God.

Bible.

_Exo_. 4. 17 thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

12. 13 and the blood shall be for a token upon the houses.

_Deut_. 13. 1, 2 if a prophet or a dreamer of dreams give thee a sign or a wonder.

28. 46 they shall be upon thee and thy seed forever for a sign and for a wonder.

_Dan_. 4. 3 how great are his signs, and how mighty his wonders.

6. 27 he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.

_Matt_. 12. 38 Master, we would see a sign from thee.

16. 1 desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 3.

_Mark_ 8. 11, 12 seeking of him a sign from heaven.

13. 4 what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? 22.

_Luke_ 2. 34 for a sign that shall be spoken against.

21. 11 fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 25.

_John_ 2. 18 what sign shewest thou unto us?

4. 48 except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe.

6. 30 what sign shewest thou that we may see and believe thee?

_Acts_ 2. 19 I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath. 43.

4. 30 that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Jesus. 5. 12. _Chap_. 14. 3.

_Rom_. 4. 11 received the sign of circumcision, a seal of righteousness.

1 _Cor_. 1. 22 for the Jews require a sign.

2 _Thess_. 2. 9 with all powers, and signs, and lying wonders.

_Rev_. 15. 1 I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous.

Book of Mormon.

1 _Nephi_ 19. 10 Zenos spake of three days' darkness, a sign of the death of Christ.

11 after Messiah shall come there shall be signs given to all Israel.

_Jacob_ 7. 3, 14 Sherem said, shew a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost.

_Mos_. 3. 15 many signs, wonders, types and shadows shewed he unto them.

_Alma_ 32. 17 many who say, shew us a sign from heaven and we shall believe.

37. 27 all these signs and wonders ye shall retain from this people.

_Hel_. 16. 13 in the nineteenth year of the judges were great signs and wonders.

3 _Nephi_ 2. 1 the people began to forget the signs and wonders they had seen.

8 the Nephites began to reckon time from the appearing of the sign.

11. 2 the people conversed about Jesus Christ and the sign of his death.

21. 2 this is the thing I will give to you for a sign.

7 be a sign to them that the work of the Father hath commenced.

_Ether_ 4. 18 and signs shall follow those that believe.

Doctrine and Covenants.

_Sec_. 39. 23 and they shall be looking forth for the signs of my coming.

45. 16 as ye have asked of me concerning the signs of my coming. 39, 40.

46. 9 not for a sign that he may consume it on his lusts.

58. 64 the Gospel must be preached to every creature, with signs following.

63. 9 faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe. 10, 12.

68. 10 he that believeth shall be blest with signs following.

11 to you it shall be given to know the signs of the times.

84. 65 these signs shall follow those that believe.

88. 93 immediately there shall appear a great sign in heaven, and all people shall see it together.

124. 98 these signs shall follow him.

ANGELS.

Angels have acted an important part in every dispensation of the Priesthood. An angel first preached the Gospel of faith on the Son of God to Adam; _P. of G. P., page_ 9. An angel of the Lord called to Abraham; _Gen_. 22. 11. An angel first attracted the attention of Moses to the burning bush; _Ex_. 3. 2. Their ministrations are often mentioned in the Old Testament history of ancient Israel. They were a prominent feature in the opening history of the New Testament dispensation. An angel appeared to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, and foretold his birth; _Luke_ 1. 11, 12.

The angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary and foretold the birth of the Savior; _verse_ 31. An angel appeared to the shepherds, bringing the joyful news of a Savior's birth; 2. 10, 11. One warned Joseph to flee into Egypt to save the life of the child Jesus, and to return again after the death of Herod; _Matt_. 2. 13-15. According to the writings of the apostles they continued their ministrations, at least until John wrote his Revelation, for he was commanded to write to the angel of each of the seven churches of Asia; _Chapters_ 2. 3.

According to prophecy, angels were to act an important part in the dispensation of the fulness of times. The dispensation was to be opened by one, for John the Revelator says, "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth;" _Rev_. 14. 6.

There is abundant evidence that an angel, calling himself Moroni, came to Joseph Smith, Jun., and taught him the principle and power of revelation from God, made known to him the real condition of the world, and when he had properly instructed him, delivered to him the record from which the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God, containing the fulness of the everlasting Gospel; _P. of G. P., pages_ 49-54.

The angel, John the Baptist, ordained Joseph Smith and O. Cowdery to the Priesthood of Aaron, "Which holds the keys of _the ministering of angels_, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins;" _Doc. & Cov_., 13. From this second angel they received authority to preach the Gospel, revealed by the first angel, and to minister in its ordinances among all nations, thus fulfilling the prophetic vision of St. John.

Angels are to accompany Jesus Christ when he shall come in the glory of his Father; _Matt_. 16. 27. They are to gather the elect from the four quarters of the earth; 24. 31. The inspired writings, and especially the Revelation of St. John, assures us that they will act an important part in the great work of the latter days. There can be no truly Gospel church in which their ministrations are not recognized.

ANGEL OF THE LORD.

Bible.

_Gen_. 16. 7 an angel of the Lord found Hagar by a fountain.

28. 12 angels of God ascended and descended.

_Exo_. 14. 19 the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them.

_Judges_ 2. 4 when the angel of the Lord spake these words to the children of Israel.

6. 11 there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak.

12 an angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon.

13. 3 an angel of the Lord appeared to the mother of Samson.

2 _Kings_ 19. 35 the angel of the Lord smote and killed 185,000 of the Assyrians.

1 _Chron_. 22. 12 the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel.

30 David was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

_Psalm_ 34. 7 the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him.

_Matt_. 28. 2 the angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the door.

_Luke_ 2. 8, 9 the angel of the Lord came upon the shepherds.

_Acts_ 5. 19 the angel of the Lord, by night, opened the prison doors.

8. 26 the angel of the Lord spake unto Phillip.

12. 23 the angel of the Lord smote Herod.

27. 23 there stood by me, this night, the angel of God.

Book of Mormon.

1 _Nephi_ 3. 29 as they smote us with a rod, an angel of the Lord stood before them.

_Mos_. 27. 11-18 the angel of the Lord appeared to Alma and the sons of Mosiah.

_Alma_ 9. 25 that ye may not be destroyed, the Lord hath sent his angel.

10. 7-11 an angel of the Lord appeared to me and said, Amulek!

24. 14 in his mercy he visits us by his angels.

_Hel_. 5. 11 he hath sent his angels to declare the conditions of repentance.

14. 26 angel said to me, there should be thunderings and lightnings for many hours. 28.

Doctrine and Covenants.

_Sec_. 63. 54 in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the wicked.

103. 19, 20 I say not to you as I said to your fathers, mine angel shall go before you.

MINISTERING ANGELS.

Book of Mormon.

_Jacob_ 7. 17 the power of the Holy Ghost and the ministering of angels.

_Moroni_ 7. 25 by ministering of angels, men began to exercise faith in Christ. 29, 30.

Doctrine and Covenants.

_Sec_. 7. 6, 7 I will make him as a flaming fire and a ministering angel.

43. 25 called on you by my servants, and the ministering of angels.

67. 13 not able to abide the presence of God, neither the ministering of angels.

76. 88 the telestial receive it of the ministering of angels.

132. 16 but are appointed angels in heaven, which are ministering servants. 17-20.

136. 37 whom I did call upon by mine angels, my ministering servants.

Miscellaneous passages.

_Gen_. 19. 1 there came two angels to Sodom at even.

48. 16 the angel which redeemed me from all evil bless the lads.

_Exo_. 23. 20 I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way.

_Num_. 20. 16 sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt.

2 _Sam_. 24. 16 when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it.

1 _Kings_ 19. 5 an angel touched Elijah and said, arise and eat.

2 _Chron_. 32. 21 Lord sent an angel which cut off all the mighty men.

_Psalm_ 8. 5 man made a little lower than the angels. _Heb_. 2. 7, 9.

68. 17 the chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels.

78. 25 man did eat angels' food.

_Dan_. 9. 21 Gabriel touched Daniel about the time of the evening oblation. 10. 4-14, 20, 21.

_Matt_. 4. 11 angels came and ministered to Christ.

13. 39 the harvest is the end of the world: the reapers are the angels. 49.

18. 10 their angels do always behold the face of my Father.

24. 36 of that day knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven.

25. 31 Son of Man shall come, and all the holy angels with him.

26. 53 he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels.

_Mark_ 8. 38 when he cometh in the glory of the Father, with the holy angels. _Luke_ 9. 26.

12. 25 nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels.

_Luke_ 1. 19 the angel said to Zacharias, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God.

26 the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee.

16. 22 was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.

22. 43 there appeared an angel to Jesus, strengthening him.

_Acts_ 7. 53 who received the law by dispensation of angels.

10. 22 was warned from God, by an holy angel, to send for thee.

_Rom_. 8. 38 I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels.

1 _Cor_. 6. 3 know ye not that we shall judge angels?

_Gal_. 1. 8 though we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel.

2 _Thess_. 1. 7 Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

1 _Tim_. 5. 21 I charge thee before God and the elect angels.

_Heb_. 1. 4 being made so much better than the angels. 7.

2. 5 for unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come? 16.

12. 22 the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.

13. 2 not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

_Rev_. 5. 2 saw a strong angel proclaiming, who is worthy to open the book. 11. _Chap_. 7. 1. _Chap_. 8. 3. _Chap_. 10. 1, 5-10. _Chap_. 11. 15. _Chap_. 12. 7.

14. 6 I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth. 8, 10, 15. _Chap_. 15. 6, 7. _Chap_. 17. 1. _Chap_. 18. 1. 21. _Chap_. 19. 17.

21. 12 had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels. 17.

Book of Mormon.

1 _Nephi_ 13. 40 the angel said, these last records shall establish the truth of the first.

19. 8 he cometh according to the words of the angel, six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem. 10.

2 _Nephi_ 6. 9 scourge and crucify him, according to the words of the angel. 11.

10. 3 the last night the angel said he should be called Christ. 25. 19.

32. 2, 3 angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost.

_Alma_ 9. 21 having been visited by the Spirit of God, having conversed with angels. 12. 29.

13. 22 the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it to all nations. 24-26.

29. 1 Oh, that 1 were an angel, that I might cry repentance to every people.

32. 23 now he imparteth his words, by angels, unto men, women and children.

_Hel_. 16. 14 angels appeared to wise men and declared unto them glad tidings of great joy.

3 _Nephi_ 7. 18 so great was the faith of Nephi, that angels ministered unto him daily.

17. 24 they saw angels descending out of heaven and encircling the little ones.

Doctrine and Covenants.

_Sec_. 38. 12 the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth.

88. 92 and angels shall fly through the midst of heaven sounding the trump of God. 96-107.

112 Michael, the seventh angel, shall gather together his armies.

128. 20 Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets.

129. 1 angels are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones. 5.

130. 4-7 no angels minister to this earth but those that belong to it.

Pearl of Great Price.

_Page_ 9. after many days an angel of the Lord appeared to Adam.

12. the Gospel was preached from the beginning, being declared by angels.

27. the angel of the Lord's presence stood by Abraham.

29. thou didst send thine angel to deliver me from the gods of Elkanah.

38. who cometh in the clouds of heaven, and the holy angels with him.

40. he shall send his angels before him with the sound of a trumpet.

FALLEN ANGELS.

Bible.

_Psalm_ 78. 49 he cast upon them the fierceness of his wrath, indignation and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

_Matt_. 25. 41 depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

2 _Cor_. 11. 14 for Satan, himself, is transformed into an angel of light.

2 _Peter_ 2. 4 if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell.

_Jude_ 6. angels which kept not their first estate he hath reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day.

_Rev_. 9. 11 a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit.

12. 9 the great dragon was cast out, and his angels with him.

Book of Mormon.

2 _Nephi_ 2. 17 must needs suppose that an angel of God fell from heaven.

9. 8 our spirits must be subject to that angel who fell. 16.

_Jacob_ 3. 11 that they may not become angels to the devil.

_Mos_. 26. 27 shall depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

_Alma_ 30. 53 hath deceived me, for he appeared in the form of an angel.

3 _Nephi_ 9. 2 the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain.

_Moroni_ 7. 17 neither do the devil nor his angels persuade men to do good--no, not one.

Doctrine and Covenants.

_Sec_. 29. 28 depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 37.

76. 33 vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer with the devil and his angels. 44.

128. 20 Michael detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light. _Sec_. 129 8.

THE SABBATH DAY.

In the history of creation, as given in the Bible Genesis, we find that the Lord commenced and ended the labor of creating the world in six days or periods of time. That also, he ceased his labors on the seventh day and devoted it to rest.

As we have shown in the article on pre-existence, in this work, these seven periods of creative time were occupied in the creation and perfection of spiritual organizations. These have since given life to the organizations formed out of the crude elements, from which all animal and vegetable life is formed.

When Adam was formed out of these elements, and the Lord made every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, to grow out of the ground, another series of creative days, or periods of time, commenced. The six days of labor, which, according to present reckoning, is supposed to be about six thousand years, has nearly passed away.

The Christian world anticipate the time when antagonisms will cease, and there will be a time of universal peace, called the Millennium. While the Christian sects may entertain various theories as to how this millennium will be brought about, and what will be its practical results, to the Latter-day Saints it assumes a well defined outline, as delineated in the sacred books.

Typical of these great, creative sabbaths, the Lord has commanded man to rest every seventh day, according to his reckoning, as measured by one revolution of the earth on its axis. The sabbath was instituted for man's especial benefit, for the Savior, when on the earth, declared that "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath;" _Mark_ 2. 27.

There is nothing to indicate that the sabbath was a new institution at the time Israel came out of Egypt, but, being the beginning of a new dispensation, the institution was strengthened by direct commandment. In about one month after their deliverance from Egypt, when the Lord had commenced to feed them on manna, they were commanded to gather on the sixth day enough for the seventh day also. This obviated the necessity of gathering food on the sabbath, for the Lord said, "To-morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord;" _Exo_. 16. 23.

In the third month after Israel came out of Egypt, amidst a wonderful display of his glory and power upon Mount Sinai, the Lord gave to Israel ten commandments, one of which was, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it;" 20. 8-11. This commandment is very sweeping and comprehensive, and the Lord makes it typical of the creative, sabbatic period of time.

In the Pentateuch the passages are quite numerous in which the children of Israel are reminded of the importance of keeping this commandment. The importance of keeping the sabbath day holy is urged upon Israel in the following passage, if possible, with still more force than in the Decalogue: "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a SIGN between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you;" 31. 12-18.

A very important feature of this subject is expressed in the last verse. The keeping of the sabbath day was to be a _sign_ throughout the generations of Israel, that the people continually remembered that it was the Lord that sanctified them through keeping his commandments.

In _verse_ 14, the Lord says, "Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you. Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people." The command is repeated in a little different form in _verse_ 15.

The sabbath was to be a perpetual covenant between the Lord and the children of Israel. "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant;" _verse_ 16. In _verse_ 17 they are commanded to observe it as a sign that they remember that the Lord made heaven and earth, and rested on the seventh day.

In these quotations from _Exo_. 31, and in the Decalogue the most positive and weighty reasons are given by the Lord to the fathers of the house of Israel, for keeping the sabbath day. The obligation is evidently as binding upon the Latter-day Saints as it was upon their fathers, and they in like manner will reap the reward of obedience.

Israel was also required to give the land rest. "Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard;" _Lev_. 25. 3, 4. After seven sabbaths of years had been numbered, making forty-nine years, then the fiftieth year was to be a year of Jubilee. This was a year of general release from all bondage. "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family;" _verse_ 10. Both the forty-ninth and fiftieth were years of rest for the land. This chapter should be well studied for information with regard to the sabbatic year.

The Lord, in his revelations through his prophet Joseph, has commanded the saints to keep the sabbath day holy. "For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High. * * * And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full;" _Doc. & Cov_., 59. 10, 13. In _verse_ 15-17, great blessings are promised as the result of keeping this commandment. To keep the sabbath holy is again positively enjoined upon the saints "And the inhabitants of Zion shall, also, observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy;" _Sec_. 68. 29.

Bible.

_Lev_. 19. 3 shall fear every man his father and mother, and keep my sabbaths. 30.

26. 34 then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths as long as it is desolate.

_Num_. 15. 32-36 a young man stoned for breaking the sabbath.

_Neh_. 10. 31 the people covenanted not to buy victuals on the sabbath.

13. 15-22 Nehemiah sharply reproved the people for laboring on the sabbath.

_Isa_. 56. 2 blessed is the man that keepeth the sabbath.

3-7 the eunuch and the stranger that keep the sabbath shall be blessed.

58. 13, 14 great blessings promised to those who keep the sabbath. _Jer_. 17. 21-27.

_Sam_. 2. 6 caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion.

_Ezek_. 20. 12 I gave my sabbaths to be a sign between me and them.

22. 26 have hid their eyes from my sabbaths.

_Matt_. 12. 8 for the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.

10-12 lawful to do good on the sabbath day.

ISRAEL A CHOSEN PEOPLE.

The name, Israel, is used to designate the descendants of Abraham through Isaac his son, and Jacob his grandson. The Lord gave the name to Jacob the father of twelve sons, the heads of the tribes of Israel. "And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name; and he called his name Israel;" _Gen_. 35. 9, 10.

Abraham was a direct descendant of Shem, the son of Noah, and his native land was Ur of the Chaldees; _chap_. 11. "Now the Lord said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed;" 12. 1-3.

The promise to Abram, that he should become a great nation, has been fulfilled in his chosen seed occupying the land of Palestine, as such, for fifteen hundred years. It will again be fulfilled when they become a nation on that land forever.

The history of the eastern hemisphere for the two thousand years which intervened between the calling of Abraham and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, witnesses that every nation that fought against Israel, or in any way oppressed them, passed away. Time will show the same general result, from the destruction of Jerusalem to the millennium.

The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the time when the Lord should favor Israel, said, "All they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish;" 41. 11. "I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood;" 49. 26. "I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: but I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over;" 51. 22, 23.

The first Nephi saw the final result, as between Israel and their enemies, some six hundred years before the birth of our Savior. Speaking of the time when they should be brought out of captivity, and gathered to the lands of their inheritance, he says, "And the blood of that great and abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, shall turn upon their own heads; for they shall war among themselves, and the sword of their own hands shall fall upon their own heads, and they shall be drunken with their own blood. And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord;" 1 _Nephi_ 22. 13, 14.

The sacred and profane history of the world evidences that all people, outside of the covenant seed of Abraham, when brought into association with that seed, have exhibited an instinctive antagonism to them. As a result, there are few nations that have not oppressed them, when there has been opportunity.

The quotations made on this subject, and many more not noticed, show that Israel will rule over all these in the future. As a result the future princes of the earth will be of that lineage. Then will be fulfilled another very important promise which the Lord made to Abraham: "Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;" _Gen_. 22. 17.

The promise in the following, _verse_ 18, which is also repeated in a number of places in the sacred writings, is a very important one: "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." It was through the lineage of Abraham that Jesus came in the flesh to redeem the world. It was only to the seed of Abraham that he personally ministered while in the flesh.

He was born in Bethlehem of Judea, almost under the walls of Jerusalem; _Luke, chap_. 2. He grew up in Nazareth, a city of Galilee; _verse_ 39. He was baptized in Jordan, the chief river of the land of promise; _Matt_. 3. 13. His chosen twelve disciples were of the house of Israel. They were sent first to preach the Gospel to the house of Israel: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel;" _Matt_. 10. 5, 6.

All the labors of Christ's earthly mission were in the midst of Israel. Among them he was slain for the sins of the world; his body was laid in a tomb cut in the rock of the promised land; in the midst of those with whose fathers he had covenanted he ascended up to his Father.

After his resurrection he told his disciples that Christ must needs suffer and rise from the dead, "That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem;" _Luke_ 24. 47.

So necessary did Jesus consider it, that the blessings and power of the Gospel should go forth to the world from the house of Israel, that just before his ascension he commanded his disciples, "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high;" _verse_ 49.

Jesus once said to his Jewish disciples, "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd;" _John_ 10. 16. While ministering among the Nephites, after his resurrection, he told them what he had said to his disciples at Jerusalem, and also that they were the other sheep which he referred to.

He further said to the Nephites, "And they (that is his disciples at Jerusalem) understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understand not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching; * * and they understand me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice; that I should not manifest my self unto them, save it were by the Holy Ghost. But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me;" 3 _Nephi_ 15. 22-24.

In another place the Lord told the Nephites how the promise to Abraham, "In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed," would be fulfilled. "And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles;" 20. 27.

Thus we are assured that Jesus never has ministered in person to the Gentiles, and there are no promises for the future to them which involve such administration. In this dispensation, all the blessings of the everlasting Gospel have been restored to the earth, through the agency of the house of Israel. Of them a people will be prepared, and through them a kingdom will be established, over which the Savior will reign on the earth. Then Israel will be the head of nations, and the promise made to Abraham, "Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies," will fully be realized.

For further information on this subject see the following subjects in this work: _Gathering of Israel, Apostacy of the Primitive Church_, and _Millennial Reign_.

Bible.

_Exo_. 3. 6 I am the God of thy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

15 this is my name forever, and my memorial unto all generations.

6. 7 will take you to me for a people, and will be to you a God.

19. 5 ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.

6 ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests and an holy nation.

23. 22 I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

29. 45 I will dwell among the children of Israel, and be their God.

_Num_. 6. 27 they shall put my name upon Israel, and I will bless them.

24. 9 blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

_Deut_. 7. 15 I will lay them on all them that hate thee.