Chapter XXX: Section 19: , that the Church shall receive Joseph's words and commands (4)

A man, to be a servant of God, must be called, authorized, and empowered by the Lord in some way, or how can he be a servant of God? Man does not recognize any other man as his servant unless he has appointed and authorized him in some way, neither does the Lord.

Jesus was sent by His Father. (_John v. 23-24, vi. 38-40, xvii, 21_.) The first officers in the Church of Christ are apostles. (_Eph. iv, 11_.) Jesus was an apostle. (_Heb. iii, v_.) He {481} called other apostles. Said He to His apostles, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit." (_John xv, 16_.) Jesus being sent of God, and being an apostle, he had a right under the authority of His Father, to call and ordain other apostles, and this is the way the apostles obtained the authority of God, to act in the name of Jesus Christ, for the benefit of the human family. Under the direction of the Father and His Son Jesus Christ they had authority to call and ordain others; but without similar authority no man has a right to call and ordain others, or officiate in any of the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron." (_Heb. v, 4_.) And how was Aaron called? The Lord told Moses to take him to assist in performing a certain work. (_Exod. iv, 14-16_.) And no man _taketh_ the honor _unto himself_, for he must be called by the voice of God through a prophet as Aaron was; or by Jesus Christ as His apostles were, or by an angel of God, as in the case of the calling of Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites, (_Judges vi_); or by the Holy Ghost, as were Barnabas and Saul, (_Acts xiii, 2_); or by the direction of the Almighty, through the spirit of inspiration, operating in some legitimate channel.

A man must be called, ordained, authorized and empowered from on high, or he is not a servant of God. And the calling, ordaining, or authorizing, of one man, does not call, ordain, or authorize another. It takes new revelation in each case. God must designate, in some way, the man for His service. A man must go forth with authority to preach, to call to repentance, to baptize for the remission of sins, to impart the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands; and if sins are not remitted, and the Holy Ghost is not imparted, when the conditions are faithfully observed, then the administrator is an impostor, or he is not authorized to preach the fullness of the gospel to the children of men. A man who is commissioned of Jesus Christ to proclaim the fullness of the gospel, and officiate in its ordinances for the benefit of our race, will promise remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost, in the name of Jesus Christ, and his promise never fails when the conditions are faithfully observed; but an impostor dare not make any such a promise to the sons of men. He has no authority from God to do so, and if he did make any such promise, he knows that God would not honor it and fulfill it, for He did not authorize him to make it.

Therefore, ye sons and daughters of men, be careful on this {482} question of authority. Try to learn where the true authority exists. Be assured that the administrations of a person unauthorized of God will be of no benefit to you in time nor in eternity; but the administrations of a man who is sent of God by new revelation, will bless you in this life, and you will realize it; and they will lay the foundation for blessings, glory, honor, power and exaltation, in the celestial worlds for ever and ever.

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

The first or initiatory principles of the gospel, as herein set forth, are but very briefly alluded to the treatment of them herein was not designed to be exhaustive. The object was merely to give a few hints, and by so doing cause curiosity and interest and faith to spring up, and prompt honest research and prayerful investigation, which would lead to humble obedience to the laws of God.

The writer did not prepare this because he had anything new or original to offer. Every man who is warned must warn his neighbor. This is the word of God. My testimony must be heard. I am not justified before the Lord if it is not. I must try to clear my garments of the blood of this generation; hence this little work.

I bear my humble testimony that God has spoken from the heavens in these last days. The true gospel of salvation is being taught to the children of men by the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They taught that gospel to me. I believed it with all my heart. I embraced it with a sincere and honest purpose to do the will of God on the earth. My sins were forgiven through the ordinance of baptism. The Holy Ghost was sent down from heaven and rested mightily upon me through the laying on of the hands of the servants of God. By that spirit I was taught of God, and I learned by revelation through its agency that God lived, that He had spoken from the heavens, and that He had raised up a mighty prophet in the person of Joseph Smith. I knew that the work he had established through that prophet's instrumentality was true, and that nothing could overthrow it. The holy Priesthood was conferred upon me. I preached to others, and officiated in the ordinances of the gospel for their benefit. They also received the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost through my administrations, and rejoiced in the Lord. And I know that all who will yield humble obedience to the principles of the gospel, as taught by the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will receive {483} the remission of sins and the testimony of Jesus through the gift of the Holy Ghost; and by this spirit they shall know of the truth of the doctrines they have obeyed. They shall know that the faithful Elders of Israel are clothed with the authority of Almighty God, and they shall bear testimony of these things to the children of men.

I bear my humble testimony of these things. God lives. His gospel and authority and plan of salvation are restored to the earth by the administration of holy angels. The heavens are open. Man communes with his God. The Millennium dawn is near. The Son of God will soon come in clouds of heaven in power and great glory. He will reward the righteous, and take vengeance on the wicked, as saith the scriptures. Blessed are they who hear the warning voice of the good shepherds of Israel, for they shall escape the judgments the Lord is about to pour out upon the ungodly; they shall have joy unspeakable in this life; and in the life to come they shall enjoy the blessings of immortality in the presence of the Father and the Son in the celestial worlds.

"_Be virtuous and pure; be men of integrity and truth; keep the
commandments of God, then you will be able more perfectly to
understand the difference between right and wrong--between the
things of God and the things of men; and your path will be like
that of the just, which shineth brighter and brighter unto the
perfect day_."

--_Joseph Smith, The Prophet_.

{484}

GLAD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY.

GEORGE TEASDALE.

"Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead."
--_James ii. 20_.

We take this means of visiting you, at your hearths and homes, to testify to you of the restoration of the Everlasting Gospel and the Holy Priesthood, by the visitation of an holy angel in fulfilment of the predictions of the prophets; to usher in the dispensation of the fullness of times and the establishment of the kingdom of God.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. (_Rom. i, 16, 17_). "And being made perfect He (Christ) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him," (_Heb. v. 9_). Its first principles are, faith, repentance, baptism, and the reception of the Holy Ghost.

FAITH IN GOD.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him" (_Heb. xi. 6_). "He that heareth
my word, and believed on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life"
(_John v. 24_). "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God" (_I. Tim. iv. 10_).

FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

"And this is His commandment; that we should believe on the name of
his son Jesus Christ" (_John iii. 23_). And this is life eternal,
that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
thou has sent" (_John xvii. 3_). "Jesus said unto her, I am the
resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live" (_John ix. 25_). "For the wages of sin is
death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ
our Lord" (_Rom. vi. 23_). "For there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (_Acts iv. 12_).

REPENTANCE.

"Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so
iniquity shall not be your ruin" (_Ezekiel xviii. 30_). "And they
went out and preached that men should repent" (_Mark vi. 12_).
Jesus Christ preached, "repent ye and believe the gospel" (_Mark i.
15_).

{485}

BAPTISM.

"Ye must be born again (_John iii. 7_). "Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, except a man be born of water, and of the spirit he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God" (_John iii. 5_). "Go ye into all the
world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved" (_Mark xvi. 15, 16_). Peter said
unto them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (_Acts ii. 38_). "And now
why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,
calling on the name of the Lord" (_Acts xxii. 16_). "Therefore we
are buried with Him by baptism" (Rom. vi. 4). "Buried with him in
baptism" (_Col. ii. 12_). "The like figure whereunto even baptism
doth now save us" (_I Peter iii. 21_). "One Lord, one faith, one
baptism" (_Eph. iv. 5_).

THE HOLY GHOST.

"And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (_Acts ii. 38_).
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
send in my name, he will teach you all things" (_John xiv. 26_).
"Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy
Ghost. And when Simon saw that when through laying on of the
Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given" (_Acts viii. 17, 18_).
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on
them" (_Acts xix. 6_). "Therefore, leaving the principles of the
doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again
the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards
God. Of the doctrine of baptism, and of laying on of hands" (_Heb.
vi. 2_).

ORGANIZATION.

"Now therefore ye (the Saints) are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the Saints, and of the
household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles
and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone"
(_Eph. ii. 20_).

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of
the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God" (_Eph. iv. 11-13_).

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God
hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, governments, diversities of tongues" (_I Cor. xii. 27, 28_).

"And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called
God, as was Aaron: so also Christ glorified not Himself to be an
high priest; but he that said unto Him, Thou art my Son, to-day
have I begotten thee" (_Heb. v. 4, 5_).

"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ
Jesus" (_Heb. iii. 1_).

WE BELIEVE IN CONTINUOUS REVELATIONS FROM GOD.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
men liberally" (_James i. 5, 6_). No man knoweth the Father but by
{486} revelation from the Son (_Luke x. 22_). "Where there is no
vision, the people perish" (_Prov. xxix. 18_). "Surely the Lord
will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the
prophets" (_Amos iii. 7_).

We believe it is essential to salvation to

OBEY THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.

"Being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto
all them that obey Him" (_Heb. v. ix_).

"Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than
sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as
the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry"
(_I Sam. xv. 22_).

"And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming
fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the
glory of His power" (_II Thess. i. 7-9_).

"If we walk in the light as He (God) is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin" (_I John i. 7_).

"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even
as he is pure" (_I John iii. 3_).

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of the sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of
the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in His
law doth he meditate day and night" (_Psalm i. 1, 2_).

When John, the Revelator, was upon the Isle of Patmos the Lord revealed the principal events that were to happen upon this earth before His second coming. It was "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John" (Rev. i. 1). After showing him the apostasy of the primitive church, and the rise of false systems (_Rev xxii. and xxiii_.) and the fear of God being taught by the precepts of men, as foretold by Isaiah (xxix. 13, 14), he showed him the restoration of the gospel. He said, "and I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell upon the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear, God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water."

Daniel declared that "in the last days, the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that should never be destroyed" {487} (_Dan. ii. 44_). Isaiah (ii. 2, 3) and Micah (iv. 1, 2) have both declared that in the last days, the mountain of the Lord's house should be established in the tops of the mountains, and many should say, let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob, that they might learn of His ways and walk in His paths. It is the testimony of the thousands of Latter-day Saints, gathered to the mountains, that God has restored to the earth the everlasting gospel; that angels have visited the earth, restoring the Holy Priesthood; that Joseph Smith the Prophet-martyr of the nineteenth century, was the man honored of God, with others, to usher in the dispensation of the fullness of times and the restitution of all things, in fulfillment of the prophets.

The Church of Christ was again established upon the earth on the 6th day of April, 1830; and, from that day to the present, has steadily increased, notwithstanding the prejudice, caused by misrepresentation and the "refuge of lies," brought to bear against it, and the persecution it has gone through. It has been guided to the tops of the mountains, and is being established in power, gathering the seed of Israel from all nations where they have been scattered, teaching them "the ways of the Lord," preparing them for the second coming of Christ, and offering a home for the oppressed of all nations.

All mankind are required to repent, to "seek the Lord while He may be found," to be baptized for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, in God's appointed way, by the laying on of hands; that they may know these things are true for themselves, by the revelations of God, and gain a living testimony. "If any man will do His will (that of the Father) he shall know of the doctrine" (_John vii. 17_), and no more be carried about by "every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (_Eph. iv. 14_).

Then flee to Zion for safety; as it is written "come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (_Rev. xviii. 4, 5_), "For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together" (Matt. xxiv. 28).

Your kind, prayerful consideration of these truths is earnestly invited. Search the scriptures; surely the signs of the times proclaim the second coming of our Lord and Savior to be right at hand, but who shall stand when he appeareth?

{488}

SUGGESTIONS TO ELDERS.

BY ELDER B. H. ROBERTS, IN MILLENNIAL STAR, 1888.

In the concluding paragraphs of a revelation on the subject of priesthood, the Lord says:

"Now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved, shall not be counted worthy to stand." (Doc. and Cov., sec. cvii. 99, 100.)

We have no doubt but there is a general desire among the brethren of the priesthood to know their duty and then do it; especially is this the case with the Elders who have been sent to these lands to preach the Gospel. The duties and labors of these brethren are varied, consisting not only of preaching the Gospel, but also administering in all the ordinances and ceremonies pertaining to it. They are required at times to baptize people for the remission of their sins, and to confirm the members of the Church and bestow upon them the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. At other times they are called upon to anoint the sick with oil, or to confirm the anointing performed by others, and rebuke the sickness or disease, and bless with life and health those who are afflicted. Then they are called upon to administer the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and all these things should be done decently, intelligently, and in order that no reproach or derision may be thrown upon the work of God by reason of their awkwardness in any of these things.

Nor is the derision from strangers, who may witness any bungling administration in these ceremonies, the worst evil feared. But any blundering on the part of those who administer is very apt to have an evil effect upon the mind of those receiving the administration, and sometimes the adversary takes advantage of these things and creates doubts or suspicions in those receiving the ordinance as to the validity or power of the administration. We are acquainted with several {489} circumstances where the most disastrous results have grown out of this very thing. Too much care cannot be exercised in these matters.

So far as the ceremony connected with baptism is concerned, the words to be used are given in the Scriptures (see Book of Mormon, III Nephi xi, 24-26, Doc. and Cov., sec. xx, 72-74); so also in blessing the sacrament; but in the matter of confirming people members of the Church and bestowing upon them the Holy Ghost, anointing or blessing the sick, naming and blessing children, or even of ordaining men to the priesthood and assigning to them their position or office in that priesthood, we know of no formula that is given in the Scriptures. The matter seems to be left to the good taste and judgment of those who administer, without binding them to any set forms. On the whole, we rather like the idea of these things being so left, since we can see it gives more liberty for the operations of the spirit of God; that is, the mind of the administrator being free from stereotyped forms, he is at liberty to pronounce whatever the Spirit of the Lord may put into his heart to say. And where the Elder has learned his duty and has given these matters careful consideration, a beautiful and powerful administration is usually the result.

But, unfortunately, it sometimes happens the Elders who have never learned well their duty nor considered these things carefully, are called upon to administer; and neither judgment nor good taste is liable to dictate what they should say; and much evil may result from their not knowing how to perform properly these duties.

For the benefit of the young and inexperienced Elders, and for the older ones, too, who may have been careless hitherto in respect to these matters, we offer the following suggestions:

While the form of words are for any ordinance, as in baptism and the administration of the sacrament, it should be carefully learned by the Elders, that they may be always ready when called upon to officiate. And where no formula is given, then the objects to be accomplished by the ordinance should be noted, and such a form of words fixed in the mind as will in the most direct and simple manner attain those objects. We say direct and simple because these are qualities, excellencies, we may say, which enter into all the administrations in the Gospel. They are characteristics of the whole plan of salvation. In proof of this we ask what could be more simple or direct, than the ceremony said at baptism: "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of {490} Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." There is not a superfluous word in it, nor is anything omitted necessary to be said. So with the prayer that is given to be said in blessing the bread and water to be used in the sacrament. So, too, these characteristics of directness and simplicity are found in the great model prayer taught by the Savior to His disciples, and to our own mind this beautiful simplicity and directness of everything associated with the Gospel is part of its divinity, and one of the greatest evidences that it emanated from God, who sustains and governs the great universe by the simplest means. In those ordinances, then, where the form of words to be used is left for the administrator to choose, we would say let such a choice be made as will keep those administrations in harmony with the whole spirit of the Gospel--let simplicity mark their outline; and let such words be employed as will at once accomplish the object of the ordinance. To illustrate: In confirming a person a member of the Church, the Elder, calling the person by name, as he should do, and then in the name of the Messiah, sometimes says: "We lay our hands on your head _to_ confirm you a member of the Church, etc., _and that you may_ receive the Holy Ghost," and then goes on and pronounces a number of blessings on the person; but he neither, technically speaking, confirms him a member of the Church nor bestows on him the Holy Ghost. It would be much better to make use of such words as will at once accomplish the object. Say, for example, after calling the person by name, "In the name of Jesus Christ we confirm you a member of the Church, etc., and say unto you, receive ye the Holy Ghost." That really covers the ground. But if an Elder's heart is filled with blessing for the persons to whom he administers, and the Spirit prompts him to pronounce blessings upon them for their encouragement, or the strengthening of their hope and faith and virtue; or if he is prompted to tell them what particular gift the Holy Ghost will develop within them, or to admonish them against evil, all well and good; with one of old we say, "Quench not the Spirit, neither despise prophecy," but let good taste and judgment and the Spirit of God preside in these things.

Now, as to administering to the sick. Here, from the very nature of things, the manner of administration is left to the judgment of the Elders officiating. Still there are general outlines that may be pointed out even here. The law of the Lord to the Saints is that if any of them are sick, they are to call for the Elders of the Church; and they shall pray {491} for them, and anoint them with oil, and the promise is made that the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and God will raise them up. (James 5: 13-16.)

It is customary for the Elders, when called upon for two or more of them to go, and anoint with oil, and it is understood that another will confirm the anointing, and perhaps will be moved upon to rebuke the disease and bless the sick with life and health. But the one who anoints the sick sometimes not only does what he is appointed to do, but a great deal more. He both anoints and confirms the anointing, and pronounces every conceivable blessing upon the head of the one to whom he administers. This would be all right, if he were alone, but when another is to follow him it is most perplexing to that Elder, as he feels that there is nothing for him to do. Let those who are called upon to anoint do that, and do it in the name of the Lord, and to the end that the person may be restored to health; but let him leave the rebuking of the sickness and the confirming of the anointing to him who shall be assigned to perform that part of the ceremony.

Another remark, in passing, respecting anointing. The law of the Lord is that the sick should be anointed with oil. We know of no commandment that they should take the oil internally, and through the anointing the Spirit of the Lord will be conducted to the whole system and renovate it and make it whole, and there is no need of taking it internally. Then again some potter around with a spoon as if they were afraid that a drop too much might be used. Never mind the spoon. Pour on oil from the vessel in which it was consecrated, and don't be too careful in using it. Aaron was anointed with oil, according to David, until it ran down upon his beard on the skirts of his garments, and we have no account of his complaining about it. We do not make this reference in order to have the Elders too lavish in the use of oil, but we do think more than a drop or two should be used, and it should not be used as if they were afraid of it.

We have not made these remarks for the purpose of binding up the Elders in their feelings when administering in the ordinances we have named, but to the end that they may learn their duty in respect of these things, and have greater liberty of the Spirit in the administrations, which can only come by having a consciousness of the ability to do them properly and well.

{492}

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

BY ELDER ORSON F. WHITNEY, IN MILLENNIUM STAR, 1882.

The Gospel of Christ is the science of salvation. Like any other genuine science, it is based upon eternal truth, and is the compiled, epitomized result of experience, profound research and intelligent reflection. It is the condensed product of divine wisdom, the _summum bonum_ of celestial knowledge, the key to all heavenly mysteries, and the only way that leadeth unto everlasting life. It embraces all truth, whether known or unknown. It incorporates all intelligence, both past and prospective. No righteous principle will ever be revealed, no truth can possibly be discovered, either in time or in eternity, that does not in some manner, directly or indirectly, pertain to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the way of salvation in this life; it is the means of exaltation in the life to come. It can never be dispensed with, for it will never cease to be necessary. It is a medium of never-ending exaltation and advancement. It encompasses all virtue, and precludes all vice. Error cannot invade its dominions, nor truth transcend its boundaries. Eternal life, because it includes all other gifts, is called the greatest gift of God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, because it comprehends all principles of progression, is the only means by which eternal life may be attained and perpetuated.

The principles which compose the Gospel--not merely the first principles, but all that have been or will ever be revealed--are self-existent and everlasting in their nature. They have existed from all eternity, and will endure through all the eternities to come, for they are absolute, essential, uncreated truths, without beginning of days or end of years, the same yesterday, today and forever. Concerning the time, place and method of their compilation--if we may with propriety assume such an event ever to have occurred--the legislative process of appropriation, arrangement and systemization, whereby these self-existent laws were rendered subservient to the designs of Deity, and made applicable to and operative in {493} the salvation and exaltation of human souls and worlds, it is not man's present province to inquire. Such a question would necessarily involve the consideration of the beginning of God's limitless creations, the beginning of things which to us have no beginning, a subject so vast and incalculably comprehensive as to be beyond the conception of any intellect of inferior capacity to that Master mind which designed and organized the heavens and the earths, and numbered by and known unto whom, alone, are all the creations which His mighty hand hath made. It should, therefore, suffice us to know that the Gospel in its present form is of inconceivable antiquity; that ages on ages before the foundations of this earth were laid, ere the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy, at the hour of its nativity, this everlasting scheme has been adopted by the heavenly powers as the means of its predestined sanctification; and moreover that through the application and operations of this same unchangeable, puissant plan, millions on millions of worlds, with all their countless hosts of human and other inhabitants, had been redeemed and glorified prior to the period when this little planet, our mother earth, was numbered among the creations of God.

Nothing could be more at variance with all correct ideas concerning the character and attributes of the great Creator, than to suppose the plan of life and salvation to be the peculiar property of any one planet, of any one people or of any particular period of human history. The simple fact of there being but one such plan in existence--a point which is not conceded as self-evident, is susceptible of the plainest possible proof--should be sufficient to refute all such attenuated notions. For, with this fact once admitted, and a moment's reflection being given to the bewildering myriads of worlds which the Creator has called into existence, the numberless multitudes of His creatures which people them, and the almost universally acknowledged love, providence, care, protection and solicitude which the eternal parent continually evinces for the humblest of His offspring and all the workmanship of His hands, where is the soul so narrow and so bigoted, not to say irreverent and profane, that would dare to deliberately ascribe to such being--a being so wise, powerful, impartial, merciful and magnanimous as God is known and recognized to be--so unwise, weak, petty, puny, unjust and unmerciful a policy as the one we have in reference! And yet, strange to say, there are millions of souls who have held, and other millions who still hold--unless we marvelously misinterpret them {494}--opinions of this very character. There are many doubtless who would declare, without giving the matter a second thought, that the foregoing arguments in support of the scope and antiquity of the Gospel were nothing more nor less than stupid nonsense and blasphemous presumption, and in the same breath would asseverate the truth and consistency of the petty theory which we denounce--and we maintain with good reason--as false and flimsy in every particular, wholly unfounded in reason or in revelation, and altogether unworthy of belief. There are those who, not content with the supposition that the Gospel is solely the property of this planet, are as resolutely of the opinion that it dates its origin from that momentous period in the history of the world when the Son of God came down to perform His mighty mission, in the midst of the children of men, and that previous to that memorable epoch there had been no such plan known, in any age, by any portion of the human family. Consequently their position, if they have any, must be that the all-wise Legislator who framed the only code of laws whereby eternal life is made obtainable, allowed four thousand years to pass away, taking with them into endless torment, multitudes of His begotten sons and daughters, many of them among the most righteous men and women that have ever walked the earth, before He placed within the reach of fallen humanity the only way possible for men to be saved. Such a theory might have done for the dark ages, or at the present time may suit the narrow views of such as "know not God nor the things of God," but to all whose understandings have been quickened and enlightened by the high-soaring, deep-searching Spirit of Truth, such absurd notions are not overfraught with sense and consistency.

The idea which seems to prevail that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that marvel of all that is wise, just, comprehensive and powerful, was devised for the redemption of a solitary world, or for the benefit of one, to the exclusion of another portion of its inhabitants, is on a par with the ancient but long since exploded hypothesis that the sun, moon and stars were only temporary luminaries, hung up in the midst of the firmament, for the purpose of lighting this little earth through its mortal probation, and which, like so many lamps, whose "occupation would be gone," having survived the necessity of their invention, would be extinguished and put away forever, as soon as the earth had completed its temporal career. But happily the light of divine truth, beaming through the atmosphere of science, has dispelled that senseless delusion. {495} Furthermore, it is now known, thanks be to God for reopening the long closed oracles of eternity, that not only are there other worlds than this, but like this, those other worlds are inhabited, peopled by beings similar to the occupants of earth, the population of one planet differing only from those of others in the various degrees of perfection which they have severally attained through the principles of the Gospel of unceasing progression. By those who have bowed in humility before the fountain of all truth and intelligence, and taken a fresh draught of the renovating waters of life, it is now understood that that God who never spoke or wrought in vain, or created anything to subserve a puerile purpose, instituted the plan of salvation for the temporal and spiritual regeneration, not only of His offspring upon this planet, but likewise of those upon multitudes of similar planets, which have been or will yet be brought forth, redeemed and celestialized by the application of its wonder-making power. It is now definitely known that the Everlasting Gospel did not originate on this earth at all, nor for the first time appear in the midst of mankind when John the Baptist came forth proclaiming its initiatory principles in the wilderness of Judea. However strange it may have appeared to the bigoted and benighted Jews, who for centuries, through unbelief and hardness of heart, had been deprived of its gifts and blessings, it was not by any means "a new thing under the sun." Its introduction in those days was simply a restoration of the Gospel, and that highly favored period was but one among many such dispensations, and neither the first nor the last which the descendants of Adam were destined to receive. It was simply the dispensation of the meridian of time, during which the sacrificial Lamb, "slain from the foundation of the world," descended from celestial glory to pay the penalty of man's original sin, and by the retroactive and proactive virtue of His atonement, make it possible, through obedience to His Gospel, for all men in all ages to be saved.

Is it a thing so strange and unaccountable to the Christian world, that such men as Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and other ancient worthies who walked and talked with God, as friend to friend, and were clothed upon with the fullness of the authority of His Holy Priesthood, should have been vouch-safed the precious privilege of yielding obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ--"the only name given under heaven whereby man can be saved?" Were Peter, James, John, Paul and others who happened to be living upon the earth when the Savior came and were permitted to partake of the blessings {496} which flow from obedience to the principles of eternal life, more worthy of that privilege than their predecessors, the more ancient patriarchs and prophets of God? Such an idea is repugnant to reason, and utterly unentitled to credence or respect. Let those continue to cherish such thoughts who persist in rejecting the genuine faith and perpetuate the narrowness of their minds by shutting out the soul expanding influences of the gift of the Holy Ghost. For our own part we prefer to know otherwise, to rejoice in the conviction obtained through compliance with the Gospel of the Son of God, that this same everlasting, unchangeable plan of redemption, without which no man can be elevated to the presence of his Maker, was known to the human family at various times during the intervening ages between the creation and the coming of Christ, and in every instance was revealed and established for the identical purposes which induced its institution in the days of the Savior, and for which it has again, for the last time, been brought back to earth in this the dispensation of the fullness of times. It is true that the Holy Bible, which all Christians profess to believe, and which so far as correctly translated, the Latter-day Saints actually do believe, though plainly foretelling the Gospel's restoration in the latter days, is more or less silent upon the subject of the dispensations preceding the meridian of time. But it is also true that that good old book is silent upon a great many other important points, thanks to the interpolations, erasions, alterations and rejections of uninspired translators, commentators and compilers, to whose unauthorized, blind and blundering administrations in the premises, are largely due the endless divisions, discords and differences, which have raked and rent asunder the religious world for centuries. But independent of the taciturnity of the Scriptures, and aside from the incontrovertible evidence furnished by modern revelation, we respectfully submit to the consideration of all candid, unbiased believers in God and the Gospel of Salvation, whether the views we maintain, compared with the opinions we oppose, are not more consistent with reason, more harmonious with the Spirit of Holy Writ, and more perfectly in unison with all advanced ideas respecting the wisdom, power, justice, mercy and magnanimity of Almighty God?

From the foregoing observations concerning the character, origin, object, powers and possibilities of the great science of salvation, the inquiring mind would naturally be led to the consideration of the question, What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? or, in other words--since the impracticability of completely {497} answering so comprehensive an interrogation has already been shown--what are its initiatory principles? At the risk of wearying some of our veteran readers, already conversant with the subject, but with a sincere desire to benefit them, as well as others who are less fortunate with respect to the information involved, we here propose to present a brief digest of what are familiarly known to the Latter-day Saints as the first principles of the Gospel; the code of laws which constitute the beginning of salvation's endless system; the preface, as it were, to the book of everlasting progression; the four primitive archways by which the path of eternal progress is attained, and through which the souls of all men must pass in order to reach the celestial presence of their Maker. These four principles, it will be seen, are serial and progressive in their nature, each one naturally leading into its successor, paving the way before and preparing the soul for its reception.

FAITH.

The Holy Bible informs us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Such a declaration even from a source less sacred, need occasion no surprise whatever; for without faith it is impossible to do anything. From the smallest act to the mightiest achievement, all things are the effects of faith. It is the cause of every consequence, the power by which all things possible are performed. Nothing was ever accomplished either in heaven or on earth that was not preceded and accompanied by the exercise of faith. The insect creeps, the bird flies, the fish swims, by faith; the flowers spring, the grasses grow, the trees bloom and bear, by faith; the infant prattles, the man toils, the God creates, upholds, redeems and glorifies His workmanship, by faith. It is the main-spring of life, the motive power of creation, the active principle of the entire universe. Hence it is necessarily the first principle of the Gospel, the initial element of salvation, the basic principle or foundation law upon which all other laws and principles rest. The soul that would attain salvation must first believe salvation possible. He must believe in God as the Giver of salvation. He must believe in Christ, as its Author and Mediator. He must believe in the Gospel, as the medium through which salvation is secured, and in the divine authority of the individual who as a servant of God administers the ordinances of the Gospel in His behalf. Having exercised faith to the extent thus indicated, he is in a position to undertake the succeeding {498} venture, to ascend the next step higher upon the grand stairway leading to eternal life.

REPENTANCE.

Sin cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. It is so entirely opposed, so essentially antagonistic to the spirit of righteousness, that the two cannot possibly dwell together. God does not look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. Consequently the soul which aspires to His presence, which expects to behold His face and be able to endure His glory, must be previously cleansed and purified from all sin. Now, no soul was ever successful in getting rid of its sins that did not first sincerely repent of them. No fault was ever corrected that was not first discovered and confessed; no habit was ever reformed that had not first been freely acknowledged; and no sin can in any wise be remitted until its perpetration has been truly repented of, and its perpetrator is resolutely resolved against its repetition. It is useless for any accountable being to say that he is without sin. The Scriptures declare that all men are sinful and that no man can truthfully claim exemption from the universal imputation. Little children (under eight years) are not responsible for their acts, and being sinless and therefore unable to repent, are redeemed by the blood of Christ from the foundation of the world. But all accountable souls, to whom the Gospel of salvation is sent, must repent of and forsake their evil ways, habits, deeds and desires, if they wish to make any headway in the pursuit of the precious prize of everlasting exaltation.

BAPTISM BY IMMERSION.

Baptism is symbolical of the burial and resurrection of Christ, and as an ordinance of the Gospel was instituted for the remission of sins. The only proper mode of its administration is by immersion, whereby the two events above mentioned may be illustrated. "We are buried with Him by baptism into death," says Paul, "that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together (buried in water) in the likeness of His death, we shall be also (by coming forth out of the water) in the likeness of His resurrection." Even as Christ, by descending into death, put off the mortality in which He was clothed, and rose triumphant to a higher sphere of action, so we by going down {499} into the liquid grave, put away the sins and follies of the flesh, and are brought forth to "a life divinely new." Hence it is that baptism is also called a birth, and Christ, in declaring to Nicodemus that a man must be "born of the water and of the spirit," plainly signified emergence from the womb of the waters as a prerequisite to His entrance into the Kingdom of God. He not only pointed this out as the way in which others should walk, but by submitting to baptism himself, He set the example of "fulfilling all righteousness," and was greeted from the heavens, as the result of His obedience, by the voice of God, declaring: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Nevertheless, water of itself cannot wash away sins. Not even immersion, though in strict accordance with the method prescribed, could have the slightest effect upon the soul of the penitent sinner, unless performed by a person holding authority from on High. God recognizes no administrations but those of His chosen and commissioned servants, clothed upon with the power of the Holy Priesthood, as was John the Baptist; "called of God as was Aaron," and sent forth by the voice of divine revelation to open wide the portals of eternal life to all who are willing to walk in that straight and narrow way which, on account of worldly pride and perversity, but few souls are able to find. But all repentant believers, who are baptized in the proper manner and by the proper authority, are acceptable in the sight of high heaven, and can confidently rely upon the promise made by Peter to the believing portion of the Pentecostal multitude: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the

GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST."

The Spirit of God, in certain measure, is universally distributed. It is the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. By it and through it all things live, move and have their being. It

"Warms in the sun, refreshes in the breeze, Glows in the stars, and
blossoms in the trees, Lives through all life, extends through all
extent, Spreads undivided, operates unspent."

But the Gift of the Holy Ghost--bestowed by the "laying on of hands" upon every faithful, penitent, baptized believer in the true Church of Christ--is a special endowment for {500} special purposes. It may possibly be a superior quality, or it may be only an increased quantity of that universal essence which pervades all animated nature throughout the illimitable realms of space. But be that as it may, it is certain that this Gift, this Comforter, this Spirit of Truth, which sustains the soul, enlightens the mind, leads into all truth, and enables the spirit of man to comprehend the otherwise incomprehensible things of God, is an important addition to the original possession and like it is susceptible of further increase, cultivation and development. Through obedience and righteousness it may be made to grow and expand, until sin is entirely banished, until the eye is made single to the glory of God, and the whole body is filled with life and light. By disobedience and unrighteousness it will readily decrease and diminish until the light of the soul is utterly extinguished, and darkness, despair and spiritual death ensue. A fullness of God's Holy Spirit should, therefore, be the grand object of human existence, for by it alone can the soul of man be eternally exalted and glorified. Still there are various kinds of "fullness," even as there are different degrees of glory, corresponding to the various merits and capacities of those who rise in the resurrection. The fullness which each soul obtains will be of that particular glory--either Celestial, Terrestrial or Telestial--by which its body is quickened from the grave. The "fullness of the Father" constitutes Celestial exaltation, and this, though not a thing to be suddenly attained, should be the soul-absorbing aim and ambition of every son and daughter of God. We should begin to acquire it now, for all may rest assured that the dispensation of these eternal awards will be strictly in accordance with and regulated by the deeds done in the body. Christ, our Savior, it appears, acquired and possessed a fullness while on earth. But pure and spotless though He was, He did not receive that fullness at first, but afterwards received it. By constantly growing in grace and godliness, living from day to day by every word that proceeded forth from the mouth of God, He gradually became entitled to the steadily increasing possession of the Holy Spirit, till finally "it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell." We all have it in our power to do and become likewise. He is our great Guide and Exemplar. As He was pure, we must be pure; as He was obedient, we must likewise be; as He became perfect and was found free from all fault or blemish before the throne of God, even so we must become, if we expect to be conformed to His image, inherit His celestial glory, possess a fullness of His {501} Spirit, become heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, and have an eternal residence in those heavenly mansions prepared for the righteous and the faithful before the foundation of the world.