Chapter XII: Front Matter (12)

These words have received a literal fulfillment. In the first place, many have believed "the words which are written," the tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints who have accepted the Book of Mormon as an authentic record bearing ample witness to that fact. This prophecy was uttered over two thousand years ago, and yet the facts incorporated are as plain as if penned subsequent to their accomplishment. The skeptic may say he does not believe in the ancient character of the record, and therefore of the prophecy; but that it originated with Joseph Smith. That would not make the position of the unbeliever much more tenable, as it would be merely shifting the prophetic gift to other shoulders, for the Book of Mormon was published before the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, and consequently before Joseph Smith could possibly have known, by ordinary natural means, that many would believe the words of the book.

But, to the other portion of the prediction. The book or history has been carried to the remnant, by the Gentiles. From shortly subsequent to the organization of the Church a good deal of missionary labor was performed by the elders among {217} the Lamanites, in the hope of bringing them to a knowledge of the Gospel. But all efforts to penetrate their darkened minds appeared futile. The message appeared to fall upon ears of stone. Evidently the time, in the providence of the Almighty, for that race, who had fallen so low in the scale of being, to accept of the knowledge that was had among their fathers, had not arrived.

Suddenly however, as the sun breaks over the eastern horizon, dispelling the gloom of night, a light broke forth among them. Without effort or influence from any human source they came forward in large numbers, declaring they had received heavenly visitations, indicating plainly to them that they must go to the elders of the Church, be baptized by them, by immersion, in water, for the remission of sins, forsake their evil and idle habits, and seek for the counsel of the servants of God. The applications for baptism and instruction were first made to Elder George H. Hill, of Ogden, and Elder W. H. Lee, of Grantsville, as many as three hundred waiting upon the former at one time. The movement appeared to be simultaneous in many places, east, west, north and south. It commenced in the summer of 1874, and has been steadily developing ever since.

For the benefit of these people, who are descendants of a branch of the house of Israel, three large farms have been secured by the Church of Christ, one in Malad Valley, Northern Utah, another in Tooele County, to the westward, and another in Thistle Valley, in the South. They are beginning to cultivate the soil, and take on the habits of civilization, thus commencing to fulfil the predictions of the Book of Mormon concerning them.

The report of a conference held in the town of Ephraim, San Pete County, Utah, U. S. A., by President John Taylor and other authorities, last winter (1879-80), is before us. It tells of a Relief Society in Thistle Valley, composed of white and Indian women in about equal numbers, and of their industry and philanthropy in donating means for the building of a Temple to the Most High. It was also represented, by Elder Spencer, who has the oversight of the Indians in Thistle Valley, that the Lamanitish brethren and sisters were as willing as the white members of the Church to aid in every good work.

These may be viewed as small matters, but they are cited from the midst of a multitude of evidences showing the educational, softening and modifying tendency of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as preached by the servants of God, and which {218} the ancient prophets declared would be received by these hitherto degraded people, the aborigines of America, and lift them to a more enlightened plane of life. It will be seen that the leaven has already commenced to actively work among them, verifying the genuine character of the prophecies concerning them. Whatever manifests the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, supports the claim of Joseph Smith to being a prophet of the Living God.

Before leaving this part of the subject, we will refer to a fact that must strike the reader as a strong evidence of the prophetic correctness of the Book of Mormon, and, consequently, of the genuineness of the claim that Joseph Smith was sent of God. The book states that the Savior gave it as a sign that when the Lamanites (American Indians) should begin to believe its contents, the work of the Father, to prepare the way for the gathering of the _whole_ house of Israel should commence.

We will quote the 7th verse of the 21st chapter of 3rd Nephi, page 527 latest edition B. M.: "And when these things come to pass, that thy seed shall begin to know these things, it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he has made unto the people who are of the house of Israel."

Also the 28th verse: "Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father, among all nations, in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance, and they shall go out from all nations."

As shown in the foregoing, the aborigines have already begun to believe, and to manifest the accuracy of the sign we have but to point to the political events in connection with the East that have occurred during the last five years. In that time there has transpired the Russo-Turkish war, the Berlin Treaty, incorporating political freedom for the Jews in Roumania; the Anglo-Turkish Convention, including the cession of the Island of Cyprus to Great Britain, and the establishment of a British protectorate over that portion of the Ottoman dominion which includes Palestine. These are all occurrences confined within the limited period which has expired since the Lamanites began to believe and receive the Gospel. It requires no straining of points to reconcile these events with the commencement of the preparatory work of the Father for the gathering of the remnants of His ancient people to their own land. The Jews themselves are beginning to recognize this fact. So also are many professing Christians, who, although {219} destitute of authority from Jesus Christ and devoid of the Gospel of faith, repentance, baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost in its fullness, have some faith in the fulfillment of the prophecies relating to the gathering of Israel.

We think it proper to state, incidentally, that since the original translation into English, the Book of Mormon has been translated into and published in Welsh, Danish, French, German, Italian, the language of the Sandwich Islanders, and Swedish. It has also been translated into and a portion of it published in the Spanish language.

Joseph Smith, the great latter-day prophet, announced to the world fifty years ago, that the fullness of the Gentiles would come in and Israel be restored to the lands of their inheritance in the same generation existing when he made the prediction; or, that there were persons then living who would not sleep in death until all should be fulfilled in relation to the covenant made with the house of Jacob. But it is not till now, when the tree is so plainly putting forth its buds, that some of the more orthodox Bible believers among the sects are beginning to observe the portentous character of the signs of the times.

The fulfilled predictions of Joseph Smith are very numerous. But we are only enabled in the present writing, to comparatively do little more than touch upon his prophetic character. A prophet "is a person illuminated, instructed, or inspired by God to announce future events." We have, we believe, succeeded in showing that such was the calling for which Joseph was divinely selected.

Among the subjects upon which Joseph Smith was called to exercise the prophetic gift was the wars that were, in this generation, to produce upon the earth, the most terrible scenes of destruction and carnage. We here present an extract from a revelation given Dec. 25th, 1832:

"Verily, thus saith the Lord, concerning the wars that will shortly
come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which
will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls.
The days will come that war will be poured out upon all nations,
beginning at that place.

"For behold the Southern States shall be divided against the
Northern States, and the Southern States will call upon other
nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and
they also shall call upon other nations, in order to defend
themselves against other nations; and thus war shall be poured out
upon all nations.

We presume our reader is aware that the first shot of the American war of the rebellion was fired in South Carolina, {220} and that during the progress of that fratricidal and bloody conflict, the Southern Confederacy sent Messrs. Mason and Slidell to the Court of St. James, with full powers to treat with the British Government to secure the aid of the latter in accomplishing the object of the secession from the Union of States. These are matters of history. These two representatives of the Confederacy were brought into more than ordinary notoriety by the fact of their having been taken, by federal authority, from the deck of a British vessel, but subsequently liberated on demand of the government of Great Britain.

The fact that Joseph Smith prophesied the breaking out of the American war, together with some striking details connected with it, twenty-nine years before its occurrence, cannot be denied, the prediction having been published to the world almost ever since it was enunciated. This stamps him as a foreteller of future events. As the declaration is given with such exactness, it could not have been the result of mere human ingenuity or foresight. In fact, so absent was the general anticipation of such a disaster that the production was treated with ridicule, contempt and scorn, as soon as published. From whence came Joseph's gift to foresee and foretell? It must have emanated from a power and intelligence greater than that naturally possessed by man. It is evident that his mind was illuminated by the God of Heaven.

The other portion of the prediction relating to Great Britain will also be fulfilled, as well as every word that has been uttered by the gift and power of the Most High. She will yet call upon other nations. The tocsin of war will sound and armed hosts will meet in the crash of battle, for war will be poured out upon all nations. This is the great day of preparation for the controversy of the Lord of Hosts with the inhabitants of the earth. Europe is alive with armed men. She is bristling with bayonets and fearful of the approach of the inevitable conflict.

Perplexity and distress already appear. These are but the beginning of sorrows. Knowing what is coming upon the earth, a day of calamity, we call upon all men and women to receive the message of the Gospel, restored to the earth in this generation, through the instrumentality of a prophet. We call upon all to repent, be baptized by one holding authority by immersion in water for the remission of sins, and receive the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of hands. We testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, that this is the will of God, manifested in these days, by revelation and commandment.

Liverpool, England, April 6th, 1880.

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THE GOSPEL OPENS COMMUNICATION WITH JEHOVAH.

Paragraphs from a sermon delivered by President John Taylor, June 12, 1853.

We contemplate with joy that the heavens have been opened, that truth has been revealed; and the power of God developed; that angels have manifested themselves, that the glory of the eternal world has been made known, and that we have been made participators in that light, glory, and intelligence which God has been pleased to reveal for the blessings, salvation and exaltation of the human family in this time and throughout all eternity.

We believe that God has set His hand in these last days to accomplish His purposes, to gather His elect from the four winds, even to fulfill the words which He has spoken by all the holy prophets, to redeem the earth from the power of the curse, to save the human family from the ruins of the fall, and to place mankind in that position which God designed them to occupy before this world came into existence, or the morning stars sang together for joy.

I know, that as other men, we have our trials, afflictions, sorrows and privations; we meet with difficulties; we have to contend with the world, with the powers of darkness, with the corruptions of men, and a variety of evils; yet, at the same time through these things we have to be made perfect. It is necessary that we should have a knowledge of ourselves, of our true position and standing before God, and comprehend our strength, our weakness, our ignorance and intelligence, our wisdom and our folly, that we may know how to appreciate true principles, and comprehend, and put a proper value upon all things as they present themselves before our minds. It is necessary that we should know our own weaknesses, and the weaknesses of our fellow-men; our own strength, as well as the strength of others; and comprehend {222} our true position before God, angels and men; that we may be inclined to treat all with due respect, and not to over-value our own wisdom or strength, nor deprecate it, nor that of others, but put our trust in the living God, and follow after Him, and realize that we are His children, and that He is our Father, and that our dependence is upon Him, and that every blessing we receive flows from His beneficent hand.

It was necessary when the Savior was upon the earth, that He should be tempted in all points, like unto us, and "be touched with the feeling of our infirmities," to comprehend the weaknesses and strength, the perfections of poor fallen human nature. And having accomplished the thing He came into the world to do; having had to grapple with hypocrisy, corruption, weakness, and imbecility of man; having met with temptation and trial in all its various forms, and overcome, He has become a "faithful High Priest" to intercede for us in the everlasting Kingdom of His Father. He knows how to estimate and put a proper value upon human nature, for He having been placed in the same position as we are, knows how to bear with our weaknesses and infirmities, and can fully comprehend the depth, power, and strength of the afflictions and trials that men have to cope with in this world, and thus understanding and by experience, He can bear with them as a father and an elder brother.

Confusion, disorder, weakness, corruption, and vice of every kind are abounding, and the whole world seems to be confused and retrograding. The human family have departed from the principles which God has laid down for their guidance, direction and support; they have forsaken Him the fountain of living waters, and hewn out to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Have we united with this Church because we expect to become more honorable in the eyes of the world? No. I think this work would have been the last ship we should have boarded, if that had been what we sought.

Nothing but a sterling desire to do the will of God will cause men to endure the contumely and reproach of their fellow men, and associate themselves with the people denominated Latter-day Saints or "Mormons."

If I knew no other religion than the religions that are propagated abroad, I would not be a religious man at all, but I would lay it all aside, as something beneath my notice, and worship God as the great Supreme of the Universe, according to my own judgment, independent of the opinions of man, {223} and without having any regard to the ridiculous dogmas taught in the world.

We believe that angels have appeared, that the heavens have been opened. We believe in the eternal principles, in an eternal Gospel, an eternal Priesthood, in eternal communications and associations. Everything associated with the Gospel that we believe in is eternal.

If hell is a place of misery, and heaven a place of happiness, I want to know how to escape the one, and obtain the other. If I cannot know something about these things which are to come in the eternal world, I have no religion, I would not have any, I would not give a straw for it. It would be too low and groveling a consideration for a man of intelligence, in the absence of this knowledge. If there is a God, I want a religion that supplies some means of certain tangible communication with Him. If there is a heaven, I want to know what sort of a place it is. If there are angels, I want to know their nature, and their occupation, and of what they are composed. If I am an eternal being, I want to know what I am to do when I get through with time; whether I shall plant corn and hoe it, or be engaged in some other employment. I do not want any person to tell me about a heaven that is "beyond the bounds of time and space," a place that no person can possibly know anything about, or ever reach, if they did. I do not wish any person to frighten me nearly to death, by telling me about a hell where sinners are roasted upon gridirons, and tossed up by devils upon pitchforks, and other sharp-pointed instruments. These notions are traditionary, and have come from the old mother church.

I love to view the things around me; to gaze upon the sun, moon and stars; to study the planetary system, and the world we inhabit; to behold their beauty, order, harmony, and the operations of existence around me. I can see something more than that mean jargon, those childish quibbles, this heaven beyond the bounds of time and space, where they have nothing to do but sit and sing themselves away to everlasting bliss, or go and roast on gridirons. There is nothing like that to be found in nature--everything is beautifully harmonious, and perfectly adapted to the position it occupies in the world. Whether you look at birds, beasts, or the human system, you see something exquisitely beautiful and harmonious, and worthy of the contemplation of all intelligence. What is man's wisdom in comparison to it? I could not help but believe there was a God, if there was no such thing as religion in the world.

{224} If the Kingdoms of God were governed by the same confused order of things that are characteristic of the governments of this world, we would have had planet dashing against planet in wild confusion, and millions of their inhabitants sent to desolation in a moment.

Man is an intelligent being, but how far does his intelligence fall short of that which regulates the world! He cannot even govern himself, he never was able to do it, and never will be able until he receives that wisdom and intelligence which comes from God. If every man can obtain intelligence of that kind, and from that source, which governs the world, and supplies all its wants; if he can receive it from God, as his instructor, he is then able to govern himself, possessing intelligence which he now knows nothing about; and intelligence which indeed is worthy of God and man. If I cannot have a portion of that intelligence and that wisdom, if the great Eloheim cannot impart a portion of that spirit to me, and teach me the same lessons that He understands, I want nothing to do with a system of theology at all.

I believe in every true principle that is imbibed by any person or sect, and reject the false. If there is any truth in heaven, earth, or hell, I want to embrace it, I care not what shape it comes in to me, who brings it or who believes in it, whether it is popular or unpopular. Truth, eternal truth, I wish to float in and enjoy.

If any man under the heavens can show me one principle of error that I have entertained, I will lay it aside forthwith, and be thankful for the information. On the other hand, if any man has got any principle of truth, whether moral, religious, philosophical, or of any other kind, that is calculated to benefit mankind, I will promise him I will embrace it, but I will not partake of his errors along with it.

If you have got a thing that nobody can overturn, but can be sustained everywhere; that bids defiance to the wisdom and intelligence of the world to find one fault in it, you must say it is right, until it is proven to be wrong.

If I have got principles which are out of the power of man to prove false, I consider they are right, and I stand upon them as a sure foundation.

The world is confused, it is in darkness and ignorance, and knows nothing about God, His purposes, designs, or the object of His creations. God knows how to touch my understanding, and how to touch theirs; and if they live and die without a knowledge of God, and His law, we are told that they will be judged according to the light they have, and not {225} according to that they have not. Those that have lived without law, will be judged without law.

If a man cannot stand up in the defense of truth, to the death, it is not worth having, and he is not a man who is acknowledged or considered worthy among the Saints.

Those who have received pure and heavenly principles, and lived up to them, and kept the celestial law of God, will enjoy a celestial Kingdom. Those who have not attained to this perfection but can obey a terrestrial law, will receive a terrestrial glory, and enjoy a terrestrial Kingdom, and so on. But I believe, furthermore, that there are eternal grades of progression, which will continue worlds without end, and to an infinity of enjoyment, expansion, glory, progression, and of everything calculated to ennoble and exalt mankind.

"_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, The Prophet_.

"_If we are here by chance, if we happened to slip into this world
from nothing, we shall soon slip out of this world to nothing;
hence nothing will remain_."

--_Brigham Young_.

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A WORD OF ADVICE.

By Elder P. P. Pratt, in Millenial Star, 1846.

As the Elders and others in the Kingdom of God go forth in the discharge of their duties, in proclaiming the word of the Lord and in administering in the ordinances of the Kingdom of God, they will doubtless find the enemy always on the alert to ensnare them if possible and bring them and their mission into contempt. There will be found a great need for wisdom on all occasions, that the enemy may not gain the advantage over them.

In the first place we would advise the Elder, or whatever else he may be, never to lose sight of his high calling of God in Jesus Christ--never to forget the authority of that portion of the Priesthood which has been conferred upon him. We do not give this advice in order that the brother might be puffed up with the idea of the dignity of his calling, by no means; neither will the contemplation of it produce that effect, for inasmuch as we are called of God according to the order of His Kingdom, therefore, we of ourselves have not assumed the office which we hold, neither do we usurp an authority to which we have no legal claim; and since it is entirely of the Lord and not of ourselves, we shall be led to glorify Him and look for the assistance of His spirit in discharging the varied duties of the same.

But now if an officer of the Church be brought into contact with some one opposed to the work of the Lord, and he forgets his Priesthood and calling, what is the result? He is left to his own resources as an individual, which in many cases may not equal those of his adversary, and thus he may suffer an apparent defeat in the eyes of others, and the influence of the principles of truth may be lessened thereby.

In our own experience with the ministers of the day, we have found them very desirous of evading the great first principles of salvation, by calling for evidence of the truth of the Book of Mormon, which were we to furnish, as might be done, both with regard to internal and external evidence, as well as the researches of travelers accumulating a mass of {227} proof as abundant as can be brought in testimony of anything, yet it would be deemed insufficient. And why? We answer, because spiritual things are spiritually discerned; and as no man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him, even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God. And inasmuch as the Book of Mormon is a divine record, so assuredly would the individual be unable to discern the same. But he might reply that he believed the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and was satisfied with the evidence adduced in their favor; yes, and so would he have believed in the Book of Mormon had it been in existence with him and he had been taught to reverence it in a manner similar to the Bible; or we would carry it farther and say, had the person's lot been cast in Turkey, he would have grown up in a full belief in the authenticity of the Koran of Mahomet. But it is not such an evidence as this that can give satisfaction to the Saint of God. Multitudes express their belief and full confidence that Jesus was the Savior of men, but it is a conviction that has been instilled into the mind in early youth, and has grown with their growth; yet still it is not an evidence that will satisfy a child of God.

We read that no man can say that Jesus is the Christ, but by the Holy Ghost, and on the same principle no man can speak as to the true nature of the Scriptures, Book of Mormon, or any other sacred record, but on the same principle; we might therefore reason with persons until doomsday, who are not in the covenant, and yet fail to convince them.

We see then the absurdity of being led into a snare of this kind; it is neither more nor less than this, as it were laying aside our Priesthood and the duties of it, to endeavor by our own abilities to convince a man that we hold before him the light of truth, at the same time that he has no organs of vision to discern it.

But there is a ground on which the servant of the Lord can stand securely; he can speak of the alienated condition of mankind, he can teach the great law of adoption into the Kingdom of God, and he can bear a faithful testimony of the reality of Christianity and of the signs following the believer. He may enlarge on his _knowledge_ of the Scripture by the reception of that spirit by which alone the truth can be known, and if he be successful in securing obedience to the first principles of truth, the work will be accomplished with regard to establishing the truth of the Book of Mormon, as well as every other portion of sacred writ.

We have not made these remarks because evidence cannot {228} be adduced, but to show the irrationality of endeavoring to make a man see without eyes, or in other words, without the capability of discerning truth when placed before him.

Let, therefore, every servant of the Lord bear with him at all times a consciousness of his Priesthood and calling, and when he is so circumstanced as to find it of no avail, his labor in that quarter is finished; for if he be not successful in the discharge of his legitimate authority and duty, it will be utterly in vain to seek to effect conviction in any mind by falling back upon his own acquired resources.

If we know anything of our own assurance we would most assuredly say that the power by which success is accomplished is to be found in connection with a proclamation of the _fullness_ of the Gospel. Christianity has been presented to mankind as a mere speculative theory, without the power of godliness accompanying it, and when on the contrary it is presented in all its glorious fullness and reality to the honest-hearted, it becomes an agency of power which will either prove effective, or it will be in vain to resort to other means.

Let individuals but conceive for once the glorious reality of truth, stripped of every mixture of error, and they will turn in disgust from the mere theoretical and heartless system with which beforetime they may have been associated.

We do not think it will be out of place here to give a word of caution, though we have frequently done it before, in relation to the exercise of wisdom in all the public labors of the servants of the Lord.

Let them watch narrowly that Satan deceives them not by causing them to lose sight of the object of their mission and calling in the proclamation of salvation, and leading them to enlarge and dilate upon the erroneous systems of the day. Perhaps there is no habit in which the servant of the Lord becomes so blinded as this when he has once indulged in it.

The absurdities in connection with modern creeds and systems are so numerous that they appear apparently endless in the contemplation, and if the devil can so far deceive a person as to lead him to forget the Gospel and turn his attention to them, he will take their attention, then he will take care that he lacks not for matter on the subject. There is nothing to be accomplished by such a mode of proceeding, save to exasperate the feelings of individuals, and prevent them from receiving at our hands the word of life which we have to offer.

We make these remarks as cautionary to all, and when we call to mind, as the result of our own experience, the individuals {229} who were the most prone to indulge in such a course, we find them now ranked among the apostates from the truth; and as their spirit at that time was to destroy rather than to build up, so it is with them now, and they will seek to overthrow the Kingdom of God with as much zest as they once labored to overthrow the varied systems around them.

But it may be asked, have we not in the Christian warfare, power to pull down the strongholds of sin and Satan? Truly we have; but how is it most effectively accomplished? We answer by the establishment of the principles of truth, by exhibiting the glorious Gospel of salvation, and until the hearers themselves shall appreciate its truth and beauty and turn in disgust from the deformity of those systems with which they have been connected.

Let us draw a parallel case: We know that the Kingdom of God in these last days shall be established, that it shall be built up and never come to an end; but while conscious of this important fact, would it be our business to go to every court in Europe or the world and decant upon the evils of their various governments, and that in consequence of the false principles upon which they are based, they must come to destruction; certainly wisdom would not dictate such a course, but instead thereof, let us who have embraced truth seek to build up the Kingdom by a proclamation of those principles which shall fit men to become citizens of the same, and teaching the great principle of gathering, that they may be delivered from judgment, and in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem find salvation therefrom.

There is an honor, a dignity, and a responsibility connected with the Priesthood which we would wish should never be forgotten; it is nothing less than to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ and when successful in that embassy the reward shall be to shine as the stars in the firmament and as the sun forever and forever.

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A PROPHET OF LATTER DAYS.

BY ELDER EDWIN F. PARRY, LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

A GLORIOUS THOUGHT.

Would it not be joyful news to the seeker after truth to be assured that a prophet had been raised up in latter days? How glorious would be the thought that the Lord had again spoken from heaven! The direct word of God to man in this age ought to be sufficient to settle all disputes concerning the way of salvation.

SHOULD PROPHETS BE EXPECTED IN OUR DAY?

Is it in accordance with scripture to expect prophets to come in these latter days? Let us search the scriptures and learn what they teach.

GOD'S WORD INDICATES THAT A PROPHET SHOULD COME.

The Bible is a record of God's dealings with His prophets in past ages. It shows that He always raised up such men whenever He intended to perform any special work among mankind. One of the ancient prophets declared:

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret to
his servants the prophets." (Amos 3: 7)

The whole book of divine scripture confirms these words of Amos. Whenever it mentions an important event in the world's history it speaks of a prophet in connection with it.

PROPHETS SENT TO ANNOUNCE ALL IMPORTANT EVENTS

Before destroying the earth with a flood the Lord sent Noah to cry repentance unto the people, that they might escape destruction if they would obey him. In all following ages of which the Bible speaks to the Lord sent prophets to warn the people before He brought destruction upon them. The Savior says,

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But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of
man be." (Matthew 24: 37).

This being true we are to expect that some prophet will be sent to warn the world of the destruction of the wicked. That the wicked will be destroyed at that time is evident. St. Paul says that when the Savior comes He will take "vengeance upon them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thessalonians 1:8).

POSITIVE PROMISE OF THE LORD TO SEND A MESSENGER.

The Prophet Malachi, speaking in the name of the Lord, says:

Behold, I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way
before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his
temple." (Malachi 3:1).

This is another proof that a divine messenger is to be sent to
prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. That this passage does
not refer to His first coming is shown by the following verse,
which reads,

"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when
he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers'
soap." (Malachi 3: 2).

NECESSITY OF PROPHETS AND APOSTLES IN THE CHURCH.

The words of Jesus show that inspired prophets and apostles are necessary in His Church. He commanded His disciples in these words,

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: TEACHING THEM
TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU." (Matthew
28: 19, 20).

If all things whatsoever Jesus commanded are to be taught today how can one teach them unless he be inspired of God? It needs a prophet to reveal these things anew to mankind, for the Bible does not contain ALL the teachings and doings of the Savior. St. John in speaking of the doings of Jesus, says that "even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." (John 21: 25).

CHURCH FOUNDED UPON PROPHETS AND APOSTLES.

The Apostle Paul gives us to understand that Christ's church is founded upon apostles and prophets:

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and
are {232} BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS,
JESUS CHRIST BEING THE CHIEF CORNER STONE." (Ephesians 2: 19, 20).

POWER GIVEN APOSTLES AND PROPHETS.

Apostles and prophets in olden times were men who received power from the Lord to act in His name.

"And when he called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them
power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all
manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (Matthew 10: 1).

"Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
(Matthew 18: 18).

They were also men who "spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (II Peter 1: 21).

OBJECT OF INSPIRED MEN IN THE CHURCH.

St. Paul tells why apostles and prophets and other officers are in the Church.

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ: . . that we henceforth be
no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (Ephesians 4: 12, 14).

HOW LONG THEY SHOULD REMAIN.

He shows plainly that these inspired officers should remain in the Church of Christ "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God." (Ephesians 4: 13). As that condition has not yet been attained, there is still need of apostles and prophets to bring mankind to the "unity of the faith." This desirable state cannot be brought about without living apostles and prophets, who are inspired of God. People are divided in their opinions about the meaning of many things written by ancient apostles and prophets, and they will not unite without receiving new revelation to enlighten them. Some may be led to think prophets are no longer needed in the Church because of the words of Paul:

"Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail. . . For we know
in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect
is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." (I
Corinthians 13: 8, 9, 10).

The time he speaks of, "when that which is perfect is come," has not yet arrived. When it does come prophecies may fail or be "done away;" but that time will be when "they {233} shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 31: 34; Hebrews 8: 11).

IS THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE FULL?

The following words of St. John are supposed by some to imply that no more revelation is to be given:

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the
prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things,
God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.
(Revelation 22: 18).

The apostle here only warns man against adding to the words of the prophecy of his book. He says nothing about the Bible as a whole; nor does he say that God will not add any more revelations to His word.

WITHOUT MODERN REVELATION BIBLE PROPHECIES CANNOT BE FULFILLED.

The Bible contains many predictions concerning marvelous events to take place in latter days, just before or at the time of the second coming of Christ.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is to be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations. (Matthew 24: 14; Revelation 14: 6).

The Lord's elect is to be gathered from the uttermost parts of the earth. (Mark 13: 27; Isaiah 11: 11, 12).

The house of the Lord is to be established in the top of the mountains. (Isaiah 2: 2, 3; Micah 4: 1, 2).

The Lord is to set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor left to other people. (Daniel 2: 44).

The gifts of the gospel as enjoyed in the days of Christ's former apostles are to be restored. (Isaiah 35: 5, 6).

According to the ancient predictions, many other great things are to take place in latter days. But how can they be accomplished unless the Lord directs what is to be done by revealing "His secret unto His servants the prophets," and by sending His messenger to "prepare the way" before Him?

Sufficient proof has been given to show that apostles and prophets should be in the Church of Christ, and that we should expect prophets to be raised up by the Lord in these latter days.

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TREATMENT OF PROPHETS IN PAST AGES.

The scriptures furnish abundant evidence to prove another peculiar fact respecting the Lord's holy prophets. That is, they have always been misunderstood, reviled, persecuted and spoken evil of. Jesus says to His disciples,

"Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my
sake. . . . FOR SO PERSECUTED THEY THE PROPHETS WHICH WERE BEFORE
YOU." (Matthew 5: 11, 12).

Our Savior Himself met with the same kind of treatment. He is spoken of as a "stumbling stone and rock of offense."

JESUS A STUMBLING STONE.

The Gospel narrative as given by the four evangelists, shows very clearly that He was indeed a stumbling stone to the Jewish nation. He did mighty miracles before their eyes. They were in possession of the prophecies concerning His coming and ministry; but He did not fulfill their preconceived and erroneous ideas of what they expected of Him, and so they refused to accept Him as their Redeemer.

MANY PROPHETS REJECTED.

The Prophet Noah was rejected by all in his day except his own family. His message, no doubt, was regarded as a very strange and extraordinary one. It was hard to accept. No such thing as a flood covering the entire earth was known up to that time, and how could they accept his warning only through simple faith?

When Moses, under the direction of the Lord, undertook to free the Israelites from bondage in Egypt the people whom he was sent to deliver murmured against him, notwithstanding the Lord performed such mighty wonders in their behalf.

When Jeremiah and Ezekiel predicted the downfall of Jerusalem in their day they were not believed. The historian Josephus says that Zedekiah, the king, refused to believe the prophets because Jeremiah foretold that he, the king, should be taken captive to Babylon, while Ezekiel said he should not see Babylon. These two prophecies seemed to disagree, so Zedekiah made this apparent disagreement an excuse for not believing either of the two prophets. Yet they were both correct in their utterances. The king was taken to Babylon, but he never saw the city, for his eyes were put out before he arrived there.

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PERSECUTION TO FOLLOW ALL INSPIRED TEACHERS.

The words of Jesus to His disciples about the prophets before them being persecuted convey the idea that those who should follow would get the same reception.

"If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." (John
15: 20).

So says the Savior to His apostles; and so it was. They were persecuted and put to death. It is reasonable to believe that other prophets might be treated in a similar manner. If it is to be as in the days of Noah at the time of the coming of the Son of man, then we may expect that the great majority of mankind will reject the message of salvation proclaimed to them by the prophets which the Lord will send.

CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM SCRIPTURES QUOTED.

The scriptures pointed out in the foregoing clearly show these facts:

1. THAT PROPHETS ARE SENT BY THE LORD TO ANNOUNCE ALL IMPORTANT EVENTS CONNECTED WITH HIS PURPOSES.

2. THAT A PROPHET SHOULD BE RAISED UP IN LATTER DAYS TO PREPARE FOR CHRIST'S SECOND COMING.

3. THAT APOSTLES AND PROPHETS ARE ALWAYS NECESSARY IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

4. THAT THE TRUE CHURCH IS BUILT UPON APOSTLES AND PROPHETS.

5. THAT THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE WAS NOT COMPLETED IN FORMER DAYS.

6. THAT WITHOUT NEW REVELATION THE BIBLE PROPHECIES CANNOT BE FULFILLED

7. THAT IN ALL PAST AGES PROPHETS HAVE BEEN PERSECUTED.

WAS JOSEPH SMITH A PROPHET?

TESTIMONY OF HIS WORKS.

The passages of scripture already given prove beyond question that a prophet is to be raised up to prepare the way before the coming of the Lord. If the Bible prophecies are to be fulfilled we are certainly justified in believing that this should be the case.

So far as known only one man of the nineteenth century claimed to be the inspired messenger sent to prepare the way {236} of the Lord. His name was Joseph Smith. He was born on the 23rd day of December, 1805, in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, (U. S. A.)

JUDGING BY THE FRUITS.

Let us test the claims he made by the teachings of the scriptures, and see if they are worthy of acceptance.

"Beware of false prophets," says the Savior; then He adds, "Ye shall know them by their fruits. . . A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." (Matthew 7: 15, 16, 18).

This test which the Savior gives is a good one to be guided by.

JOSEPH SMITH'S CLAIM.

Joseph Smith claimed that when between fourteen and fifteen years of age, while praying for religious guidance, he had a vision in which he saw both God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. He described them as two glorious personages in the form of man and exactly resembling each other in features. They told him that all religious denominations at that time were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was acknowledged of God as His church and kingdom; and they promised that the fullness of the Gospel should at some future time be made known unto him.

HIS CLAIM COMPARED WITH SCRIPTURE.

There is nothing contrary to scripture in this claim. That God is a personage in form like a man harmonizes with what the Bible says:

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created
he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1: 27).

That Jesus Christ was in feature like His Father is stated by St. Paul:

"Being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his
person." (Hebrews 1: 3).

That holy beings appear to men is also scriptural. The Savior appeared to Paul. (Acts 22: 6-11). Cornelius saw in vision an angel of God. (Acts 10: 1-6).

That the various churches of the day were believing incorrect doctrine and were not acceptable unto the Lord, is also {237} apparent when their teachings are compared with the doctrines of the Bible. [1]

PREDICTIONS THAT THE GOSPEL SHOULD BE RESTORED.

That the fullness of the Gospel should be restored to the earth in latter days is predicted in the scriptures. When Jesus was asked by His disciples what should be the sign of His second coming, and of the end of the world, He replied

"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for
a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matthew
24: 14).

The Apostle John in reference to events that should take place in latter days, says:

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and
to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with
a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his
judgment is come." (Revelation 14: 6, 7).

The Prophet Daniel foretells that the kingdom of God shall be set up "in the latter days." He says,

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not
be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume
all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." (Daniel 2: 44).

The Prophet Isaiah predicts that the Gospel blessings shall be enjoyed in the last days, when the house of Israel is to be gathered. If the miraculous blessings of the Gospel are restored then it will be evident that the fullness of the Gospel will be also be restored. Isaiah says concerning the time when "the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads:"

"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the
deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart,
and the tongue of the dumb sing." (Isaiah 35: 5, 6).

Speaking of what the Lord will do when Israel is gathered in the latter days, Jeremiah records these the Lord's words:

"I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed
you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3: 15).

If pastors according to the Lord's heart are to feed the people with knowledge and understanding, they will surely reveal {238} to the people the true Gospel of Christ. That these scriptural passages have reference to the restoration of the fullness of the Gospel in latter days will be made more plainly apparent as we proceed, and show their actual fulfillment.

JOSEPH SMITH TREATED THE SAME AS ANCIENT PROPHETS.

As soon as Joseph Smith made known what he had seen in this vision, he was ridiculed, reviled and persecuted. This persecution and manifestation of hatred towards him continued throughout his life. Being only fourteen years of age when it commenced it certainly could not have been because of any wrong he had done. As with the Savior, he was hated without a cause, and in fulfillment of the words of Jesus, he was persecuted for righteousness' sake. This treatment given him is of itself an outward proof that he was an inspired man.

ACCOUNT OF SOME OF HIS WORKS.

Some years later this young man received other visions and instructions, an account of which is herewith given in his own language:

"On the evening of the 21st of September, A. D., 1823, while I was
praying unto God, and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious
promises of scripture, on a sudden, a light like that of day, only
of a far purer and more glorious appearance arid brightness, burst
into the room: indeed the first sight was as though the house was
filled with consuming fire. The appearance produced a shock that
affected the whole body. In a moment a personage stood before me
surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with which I was
already surrounded. This messenger proclaimed himself to be an
angel of God sent to bring the joyful tidings that the covenant
which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled,
that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was
speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel in
all its fullness, to be preached in power unto all nations, that a
people might be prepared for the millennial reign.

"I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the
hands of God to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious
dispensation.