Chapter V: Front Matter (5)

My brethren and sisters, let us take care that having received the Gospel, we are led by the spirit thereof and are kind to one another, and that we cherish the spirit of {77} kindness to the world, even to those who may persecute us, and deride us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely. Do not cherish the spirit of retaliation and revenge in your hearts. "Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord." It is not for us to take vengeance. Let us entertain the kindest feelings we can. Where it is appropriate, let us say as Jesus did, "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do." Oh! I wish that I could say that with regard to some of those who speak evil of us--that they know not what they do; I would cherish in my heart a feeling of sympathy and pity for them; but I know to the contrary. Many of them know what they are doing; and when they speak falsely against us they do it wilfully, with a knowledge that they are telling that which is untrue. But even then we leave them in the hands of our Eternal Father; for He will deal out a righteous judgment to all. We can afford to pity them; for they will reap the consequences of their wicked acts, as sure as the sun rises and sets, and as sure as justice will have its own. Let us be kind to one another. Let us help one another on the road of life, and be a comfort and a blessing to those with whom we associate, instead of a curse. Put away all our evil feelings, our jealousies, our faultfinding, our irritability, our disposition to say and do things that are bad, and let the Spirit that comes from Christ our Redeemer flow down into our souls and quicken and enlighten us. I know that that Spirit is in the Church. I know it is a reality. I know this Church is the Church of Christ, that He has established it, that He is with it, and that His revelations and His Spirit are in it. I know it by experience. I know what I am talking about, just as sure as I know that I am standing here. I know this work will prosper and go on. Barriers may be raised in its way; its enemies may come against it like a flood, and weapons may be formed to attack it; but "no weapon that is formed against it shall prosper, and the tongue that rises in judgment against it God will condemn." The truth will be triumphant; the Gospel will be preached to every creature; the honest will be gathered out; the kingdom of our God will be built up; Christ our Redeemer will come; the earth will be redeemed from sorrow, from sin, and from the power of Satan, and Jesus will "reign in Mount Zion and Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously," and a rich reward shall come to all those who are faithful in Him.

May God help us to perform our part in this great and glorious work, and may we obtain the crown in the kingdom of our Father, for Christ's sake. Amen.

{78}

MORMONISM JUDGED BY ITS EFFECTS.

By Elder C. W. Penrose, In Millennial Star, 1866.

As every tree is known by its fruits, so every principle may be known by its influences, and every system by its effects. "Mormonism" has been introduced into the world upwards of thirty-six years; and although no fair opportunity has been granted, for the development of its influences, yet by its inherent vitality, it has forced itself into notice and power; and its effects have been sufficiently manifested, to enable us to judge the nature of the cause that produced them.

First, let us examine the effects produced upon the minds of those who embrace "Mormonism." One of the promises held out by its advocates, is that those who obey its precepts shall "come to a knowledge of the truth." Now this is a blessing which professing Christians of modern times are sadly deficient of. They believe, they hope, they desire, but do not come to any definite knowledge in relation to God and their position before him. But those who have embraced "Mormonism," in every place where you meet them, whether in Britain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia, Africa, India, America, or the islands of the sea, all testify that they know they have embraced the truth, that their sins are remitted, and that they are accepted of God, and brought into communion with Him. Doubt has fled from them, and faith has grown into knowledge.

Another effect of "Mormonism" is, that it abolishes the fear of death. All its faithful adherents will testify that the terror of death has entirely departed from them. The great mass of mankind are haunted with a dread of entering upon that "undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveler returns." Even to the most pious members of the various "Christian" sects, there is something awful and terrible in death. This fear brings the whole world into bondage; but "Mormonism" bringing knowledge to the mind, liberates it from doubt and fear, and establishes the soul in "the liberty of the Gospel."

"Mormonism" creates or induces faith in the human soul. This faith is exhibited practically. When the "Mormons" are sick, they send for the Elders of the Church, who anoint {79} them with oil, and lay their hands upon them, believing in the promise of God that "the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise them up." In thousands of instances their faith has been effectual; disease has fled before it; the eyes of the blind have been opened, the tongue of the dumb has been unloosed, the ears of the deaf have been unstopped, the lame man has "leaped like the hare," and the spirit of life, invoked by the power of faith, has forced the "King of Terrors" to relax his grasp and retire from his intended victim. Scores of thousands of the "Mormons" have braved the perils of the treacherous sea, and encountered the dangers of the wild prairies, and the mountain heights, in obedience to the commandment of God, because of their faith in His promises to them. Few of them would have left the homes of their forefathers, but for this faith. Numbers of them had a natural and intense dread of the briny deep, until "Mormonism" animated them with faith to go anywhere, or do anything that God commanded them, relying upon His guidance and protection. By the faith with which "Mormonism" has inspired them, the Elders of Israel have gone forth, "without purse or scrip," to the four quarters of the globe, preaching the Gospel of Life and Salvation, looking to God for their daily support, and for wisdom to acquire a knowledge of languages, and customs, and nations, and men; exhibiting in their labors, a faith unparalleled in the history of the world. If believing the promises of God were "accounted for righteousness" in Abraham, so it will be in the Saints of this dispensation, who have proved by their faith and their works, that they are in very deed "the children of Abraham."

"Mormonism" also produces peace of mind in all who are faithful to its principles. That inestimable boon for which millions seek in vain, is found in "Mormonism." It is one of its pre-eminent effects. The soul, freed from its load of long-accumulated guilt, lifted up from the depths of fear and doubt, into a perfect consciousness of its freedom, lit up by the lamp of the spirit of truth, strengthened by a full knowledge of its acceptance with God, feels a soft, gentle calm gathering around it like a heavenly halo, centering to its inmost depths, and establishing therein "the peace of God which passeth all understanding."

The result of these several effects of "Mormonism," united upon the mind, is the grand desideratum of humanity, viz., happiness. The pursuit of happiness is the great motive power of all exertion. The "Mormons" we make bold to say, are the happiest people to be found upon the face of the earth. {80} Living without the fear of death, believing that there is no phase of existence more important than the present, they work to enjoy life today, having no dread of tomorrow. Understanding through the teachings of "Mormonism" that all things in the universe which are calculated to impart joy, are ordained of God for His creatures, they seek lawfully to obtain them, and to use them without abusing them. They can rejoice in the midst of the most trying circumstances. While misrepresented, ridiculed, persecuted, abused, and deprived of their just rights, they richly enjoy the happiness which their enemies ineffectually strive to obtain. The absence of sadness and grief from their countenances is so noticeable, that the pious, long faced, "Miserable sinners" of the various sects declare, with uplifted eyes that "the Mormons have no religion in them." Happiness fills their hearts, gladness smiles upon their faces, and joy sparkles in their eyes.

"Mormonism" has the power of uniting its adherents in a manner very different and far superior to any other system in the world. The unity of the "Mormons" is noticed and acknowledged by their bitterest enemies, while, at the same time, the disunion among all other religious bodies, and political organizations, is admitted and deplored. There is a spirit in "Mormonism," which leads its followers into unity of sentiment, belief and action. No matter how varied their opinions before; no matter how diverse their sentiments, when they embrace "Mormonism," they are "all baptized by one spirit into one body;" they have "one Lord, one faith, and one baptism," and "one hope of their calling." They are inspired with a desire to gather from all the countries of the earth to one place, and to act in concert together, to accomplish one object, viz., to build up the universal kingdom of the one God. This power of unity is so great, that all the efforts made by its opponents to dissolve or weaken it, are perfectly futile, and in fact only serve to defeat their intended object, rendering its unity more compact, and consequently its strength more potent and enduring.

"Mormonism" is the pioneer of intelligence. Mark the path of its travel, whether by its own free will, marching forth to fight its way among the nations, or driven out from the haunts of men, staining its track with its own blood; wherever it has paused for a season, or made a permanent location, newspapers, schools, organizations for improvement, etc., start into life and flourish. It is a friend to all true art and real science, and wars against nothing but that which debases and destroys.

{81} "Mormonism" has taken many thousands of poor, honest people, who were miserably dragging out their almost worthless existence, in poverty and servitude, and placed them in a position to become independent, free and comfortable, with an object in life to stimulate them to virtuous and intelligent action. It has transplanted them from the over-crowded, badly-governed, and vice-reeking countries of the Old World, into the virgin soil, the pure atmosphere, and the free institutions of the New World, and that in a new part, where there is room to move, and where the corruptions of modern civilization find no element on which to flourish. It has given them an inheritance upon the earth, a spot they can call their own, and bequeath to their children, and it has given them a voice in all affairs which concern their well being and progress. It will continue the good work of emancipation, and bring joy and gladness to the honest among the down trodden millions.

"Mormonism" has solved the great problem of the social evil, and has shown the world how a community can exist and thrive, in the nineteenth century, without a "loathsome ulcer" of female prostitution. It has given a practical answer to the difficult question of "adequate female employment," and shown how every woman can have opportunity to "fill the measure of her creation," and become an honorable wife and happy mother, instead of pining in single misery, toiling for a scanty meal, or wasting a short and shameful life, in pandering to the filthy lusts of the worst men.

"Mormonism" has planted itself in a spot given up by all the world to the solitude of barbarism, and has developed the sudden wealth of a vast region supposed to be barren and worthless. Its effects may be seen in the fruitful fields, the lovely orchards, the tasteful dwellings, the handsome stores, the stately public building, tabernacles and school houses, the pleasant shade trees, the sweet scented flowers, and the life bearing water courses, and also may be heard in the hum of industry, the stir of trade, and melody of the song of praise, and the harmony of musical instruments, in more than a hundred towns and cities, where nineteen years ago not a single human habitation could be seen, save the rude wick-e-up of the wandering Indian, nor a sound of human life could be heard except the horrid yell of the red man, shrieking through the affrighted air, and awakening the startled echoes in the stillness of the mountains. Its effects may be seen in the order, peace, unity, sobriety, virtue, intelligence, faith, fortitude, wealth, and happiness of its followers, the most {82} law-abiding, God-fearing, truth-loving and practical people upon the face of the earth.

Are not the fruits borne by the tree of "Mormonism," in the short space of thirty-six years from the planting of the seed, good, sound and abundant? And is not every tree known by its fruits?

"Mormonism" is a stem planted by the hand of the Lord; watered by "the blood of Saints and of Prophets;" it flourishes gloriously. Its roots are striking deeper every day, and its thriftly branches shoot forth vigorously. The blasts of hell cannot wither it; the fire of the world's wrath cannot touch it; but while "every tree that the Father has not planted shall be rooted up," this "plant of renown," which is the "kingdom of heaven," growing up on the face of the earth, shall stretch out its mighty boughs, and yield forth its precious fruit, till the whole earth reposes under its shelter, and the heavenly ones shall "lodge in the branches thereof."

"_We have been driven time after time, and that without cause;
and smitten again and again, and that without provocation; until
we have proved the world with kindness, and the world has proved
us, that we have no designs against any man or set of men; that we
injure no man; that we are peaceable with all men, minding our own
business, and our business only_."

--_Joseph Smith, September, 1, 1838_.

{83}

The "Reorganized" Church vs. Salvation For the Dead.

By Joseph F. Smith, Jr.

"And Saviors shall come up on Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau
and the Kingdom shall be the Lords." Obadiah, 21st verse.

The so-called "Reorganized" church, which is so bitter in its antagonism towards the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has claimed from its beginning to be teaching and practicing the doctrines of the Gospel as they were revealed from God through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Its officers declare that they are walking in the footsteps of the martyred Seer; hewing closely to the line, and observing in all things the commandments which were given from God through his instrumentality, without variation, change, or loss of power from all that pertains to the salvation of the human family in this dispensation of the fullness of times.

Their foundation is built upon the absurd and misty claim that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was established April 6, 1830, through the labors of Joseph Smith the Prophet and the will of God, was "rejected with its dead for transgression of its members," and that the "Reorganized" church is a "new organization" [1] which God raised up to succeed the original--but as they would have us believe, "rejected"--Church.

It is not my purpose to discuss the foolish question of the "rejection of the Church," but to examine the Reorganite position in regard to salvation for the dead; and to show their lack of harmony with the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pertaining to the dead, as those teachings have been revealed through the latter-day Prophet.

It stands to reason that if the Lord rejected His Church _with its dead_ because of transgression, or any other cause {84} whatever, that He would not raise up a substitute church to carry on His work on earth and still keep the dead--who could in no wise be held responsible for the rejection--in suspension, and deny to them the privilege of receiving the ordinances of the Gospel by proxy according to the revealed plan of God as it was ordained from before the foundations of the world were laid, as a means of salvation to those who die without a knowledge of the Gospel. To any reasonable mind this truth would need no argument. Yet the "Reorganized" church declares that the Lord did this very thing; and in the light of the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph as well as those in the ancient Scriptures, which bear on this subject of salvation for the dead, their declaration is fatal to their organization; it stamps it as fraudulent and their officers as impostors. A church without salvation for the dead, according to the revealed will of God to the Prophet Joseph Smith, cannot be the Church of Christ.

When the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith on the night of September 21, 1823, he imparted to the youthful Seer many truths of the greatest importance pertaining to the restoration of the Gospel and the establishment of the Church which, the angel said, was about to take place. These instructions were of such weight that they were repeated twice more that night and again the following day, in order that this young man, upon whose shoulders the burden of the latter day work should rest, might be sufficiently impressed with the greatness and importance of his mission. Among the instructions given by the angel at this time, the doctrine of salvation for the dead had an important part. This heavenly messenger said that the prophecy of Malachi the Prophet was about to be fulfilled, and he quoted the fourth chapter of Malachi, but with this variation:

"For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all
the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble;
for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of hosts, that
it shall leave them neither root nor branch. * * * Behold, I will
reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet,
before the coming of that great and dreadful day of the Lord. And
he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to
their fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their
fathers; if it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted
at his coming." (History of the Church, Vol. I, page 12.)

At that time the full meaning and glory and significance of this instruction were not understood by the Prophet, although it made a deep impression on his mind. On the 3d day of April, 1836, it was fulfilled, for Elijah the Prophet {85} appeared in the Kirtland Temple to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and conferred upon them this Priesthood and the keys of the salvation for the dead stating that--

"Behold the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth
of Malachi, testifying that he (Elijah) should be sent before the
great and dreadful day of the Lord come. To turn the hearts of the
fathers to the children, and the children to their fathers, lest
the whole earth be smitten with a curse. Therefore the keys of this
dispensation are committed into your hands, and by this ye may know
that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the
doors." (Doc. and Cov. 110: 13-16. History of "Reorganized" Church,
Vol. 2, page 47.)

Following the bestowal of this Priesthood with its keys, the spirit of salvation for the dead was poured out in abundance upon the heads of the Prophet and his people whose hearts began to turn toward their dead fathers. After the Church settled in Nauvoo, baptism for the dead was instituted, the Lord, at first, permitting the ordinance to be performed in the Mississippi river, but later revealing to the Saints that the proper place for this and other rites for the salvation of the dead, must be performed in a Temple built purposely for such ordinances, and that only in times of their extreme poverty could these ordinances be performed elsewhere by His people. Such a temple the Saints were commanded to build, and on the 21st of November, 1841, baptisms for the dead, which had been discontinued in the river at Nauvoo by command of God, October 3, 1841, were resumed in the font of the Lord's House, which had been dedicated for that purpose. [2] These ordinances continued to be performed until the Temple was completed and the Saints were driven from Nauvoo. The spirit of Elijah's work, which had rested so mightily upon the Prophet Joseph, continued with Brigham Young and the "Mormon" people during their travels in the wilderness, and when they arrived in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, the first commandment to them from the Lord, was to build a Temple to His name, where the ordinances of salvation for the living and for the dead could be performed. This work was done as speedily as possible and from that day to the present the spirit of Temple building and of Temple work for the salvation of mankind has continued with the Church.

This action on the part of the Church under the leadership of the successors of Joseph Smith is in harmony with the Scriptures and the teachings and commandments given to the {86} Prophet. He declared that baptism for the dead--the opening of the prison house to them that sit in darkness, and the proclamation of liberty to the captives--was the most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting Gospel, and so greatly was he wrought upon by this work that the subject occupied his mind almost constantly before his death. Moreover, a short time before his martyrdom, the Prophet bestowed upon the Twelve Apostles--who constitute the second quorum in the Church--all the keys and all the ordinances and Priesthood necessary for them to hold in order to carry on this great and glorious work of universal salvation.

That the Twelve did receive these keys and powers, we learn from the following quotations from the Times and Seasons. Orson Hyde, one of that quorum, said:

"Before I went east on the 4th of April (1844) last, we were in
council with Brother Joseph almost every day for weeks, said
Brother Joseph in one of those councils, there is something going
to happen; I don't know what it is, but the Lord bids me to hasten
and give you your endowment before the Temple is finished. He
conducted us through every ordinance of the Holy Priesthood, and
when he had gone through with all the ordinances he rejoiced very
much, and said, now if they kill me you have got all the keys,
and all the ordinances and you can confer them upon others, and
the hosts of Satan will not be able to tear down the Kingdom as
fast as you will be able to build it up; and now, said he, on your
shoulders will the responsibility of leading this people rest."
(Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, page 651.)

This testimony is corroborated by the testimony of Elder Wilford Woodruff, which is found in the same volume, page 698, wherein he says:

"And when they (the Twelve) received their endowment, and actually
the keys of the Kingdom of God, and oracles of God, keys of
revelation, and the pattern of heavenly things; and thus addressing
the Twelve (Joseph) exclaimed, 'Upon your shoulders the Kingdom
rests, and you must round up your shoulders and bear it, for I have
had to do it until now.'"

Sister Bathsheba W. Smith, wife of George A. Smith, one of the Twelve to whom these keys were given, was present in the council meetings above referred to, and in an affidavit, dated November 19, 1903, says:

"In the year 1844, a short time before the death of the Prophet
Joseph Smith, it was my privilege to attend a regular prayer circle
meeting in the upper room over the Prophet's store. There were
present at this meeting most of the Twelve Apostles, their wives
and a number of other prominent brethren and their wives. On that
occasion the Prophet arose and spoke at great length, and during
his remarks I heard him say that he had conferred on the heads of
{87} the Twelve Apostles all the keys and powers pertaining to the
Priesthood, and that upon the heads of the Twelve Apostles the
burden of the Kingdom rested, and that they would have to carry it."

Having shown the consistency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with regard to the doctrine of salvation for the dead; and having shown that the keys of this work, and all other keys pertaining to the salvation of mankind have continued with the Church, we will now consider the attitude of the "Reorganization" in relation to this grand and eternal principle of the redemption of the dead.

At first the founders of the "Reorganized" church appeared to favor it and declared that when the "Reorganization" was established that this principle would be practiced, for as the "rejection of the church produced an effect on the dead," said they, "as well as on the living, so will the reorganization." [3] But when the "reorganization" took place the change that was promised in regard to the dead was not fulfilled, and since that time to the present day--over forty-five years--baptism for the dead, Temple building and Temple work, have never been, by that organization, practiced or entertained. In fact they have turned about face and have rejected peremptorily the doctrine of baptism for the dead and now declare that _it is not binding on them_.

In a resolution adopted by that church, April 9, 1886, the following startling declaration was made:

"That as to the alleged 'Temple building and ceremonial endowments
therein,' that we know of no Temple building, except as edifices
wherein to worship God, and no endowment except the endowment of
the Holy Spirit of the kind experienced by the early saints on
Pentecost day.

"'Baptism for the dead' referred to belongs to those local
questions of which the body has said by resolution:

"'That the commandments of a local character, given to the first
organization of the church are binding on the Reorganization only
so far as they are either reiterated or referred to as binding by
commandment to this church.' And that principle has neither been
reiterated nor referred to as a commandment." [4]

In February, 1904, the president of that "organization" declared that baptism for the dead was a _permissive rite_, [5] and that it was taken from the Church, "and if subsequently it was to be engaged in," said he, "and enjoyed by the same people, it must be restored again by revelation and command, and could not be assumed as being held over by suffrance. We do not {88} know of any revelation or command authoritatively promulgated renewing the privilege."

His statement is a flat acknowledgment that he does not hold the keys of this work and that they can only be received by revelation. That he does not hold the keys is true. That he did not receive them from his father he admits, [6] and William Marks, William W. Blair and Zenas H. Gurley, who "ordained" him to his office of president of the "Reorganized" church, never held them. They could only be obtained from the Prophet Joseph Smith, and from him, as has been shown, the Twelve received them in 1844. "Young Joseph" might truthfully have gone further and declared that if the privilege was taken away, before it could again be practiced with authority and power that the keys of the Priesthood which were held by Elijah would again have to be restored. His statement is an unqualified admission that the work of Elijah was performed in vain. He challenges that prophet's statement, _that the time had fully come_. He acknowledges that, in spite of all the efforts of the "Reorganization" in the attempt to save souls, the whole earth is in danger of being "_smitten with a curse_" and "_utterly wasted_" at the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, _which is "near, even at the doors_." If this statement of the president of the "Reorganized" church is true, then the members of his church stand in jeopardy every hour; darkness covers the face of the earth; there is no salvation for the children of men; the word of the Lord has failed, and destruction awaits the earth and her inhabitants.

In declaring that baptism for the dead was a "_permissive rite_" he shows a willful lack of understanding pertaining to the great eternal plan of salvation which was revealed through his Prophet father. In declaring that baptism was a local commandment to the Saints at Nauvoo, _not binding on the members of the "Reorganization_" the members of his church acknowledge that the hand of Jehovah is not guiding them; that they are floundering in the mire of unbelief and ignorance. They make light of one of the "_most glorious subjects belonging to the everlasting Gospel_."

Yes, the authorities of the "Reorganized" church have declared by conference resolution that baptism for the dead _is {89} not binding_ on them because it was a _local commandment_, and "_has never been reiterated nor referred to as a commandment_!"

Judged by the Reorganite standards of faith and doctrine will this statement bear the light of investigation? Baptism a _local commandment, not binding on the Saints_! "To the law and the testimony," said Isaiah, "if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

In section 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants (sec. CX Reorganite edition), verse 17, in a revelation [7] to the Prophet Joseph Smith, we read the following:

"I will give you a quotation from one of the Prophets, who had his
eye fixed on the restoration of the priesthood, the glories to be
revealed in the last days, and in an especial manner this _most
glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel_,
viz.: the baptism for the dead; for Malachi says, last chapter,
verses 5, 6, 'Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet, before
the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall
turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a
curse.'"

Not only is the Priesthood which was revealed by Elijah the Prophet, pertaining to the "most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting Gospel," but it is of the most importance, for the Prophet Joseph says:

"The _greatest responsibility_ in this world that God has laid upon
us, is to _seek after our dead_. The apostle says they without us
cannot be made perfect. Now I will speak of them: I say to you,
Paul, you cannot be perfect without us; It is necessary that those
who have gone before, and those who come after us should have
salvation in common with us, and thus hath God made it _obligatory_
to man. Hence God said he would send Elijah." (Times and Seasons,
6: 616.)

Moreover, at the conference of the Church held October 3, 1841, he presented,

"Baptism for the dead as the only way that men can appear as
saviors on Mount Zion. The proclamation of the first principles of
the Gospel was a means of salvation to men individually, and it was
the truth, not men, that saved them; but men by actively engaging
in rites of salvation _substitutionally_, become instrumental in
bringing _multitudes of their kin_ into the kingdom of God. * * *
There is {90} a way to release the spirit of the dead; that is by
the power and authority of the Priesthood--by binding and loosing
on earth.

"This doctrine appears glorious inasmuch as it exhibits the
greatness of divine compassion, and benevolence in the extent of
the plan of human salvation. This glorious truth is well calculated
to enlarge the understanding, and to sustain the soul under
troubles, difficulties, and distresses. * * *

"This doctrine, he said, presents in a clear light the wisdom and
mercy of God, in preparing an ordinance for the salvation of the
dead, being baptized by proxy, their names recorded in heaven, and
they judged according to the deeds done in the body. _This doctrine
was the burden of the Scriptures. Those Saints who neglect it, in
behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their
own salvation_." (Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, pages 577-578, also
History of "Reorganized" Church, Vol. 2, pages 545-546.)

Now, whom shall we believe? The "Reorganized" church that has rejected baptism for the dead, declaring it to be a _local commandment not binding on them_, or the Prophet Joseph Smith who declares that it is the burden of the Scriptures, and that if we neglect it it is at the peril of our own salvation?

The significance of this principle is even more emphatically expressed in section 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants (CX Reorganite edition). Let me quote:

Verse 5. "You may think this order of things to be very particular,
but let me tell you, that they are only to answer the will of
God, by conforming to the ordinance and preparation that the Lord
ordained and prepared before the foundation of the world, for the
salvation of the dead, _who should die without a knowledge of the
Gospel_."

Verse 8. "For out of the books shall your dead be judged, according
to their own works, whether they themselves have attended to the
ordinances in their own _propria persona_ or by means of their own
agents, according to the ordinance which God has prepared for their
salvation from before the foundation of the world, according to the
records which they have kept concerning their dead."

Verse 15. "And now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let
me assure you that these are principles, in relation to the dead
and the living, that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining
to our salvation, for their salvation is necessary and essential
to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers, 'that they
without us cannot be made perfect, neither can we without our dead
be made perfect.'"

Verse 18. "It is sufficient to know * * * that the earth will be
smitten with a curse, unless there is a welding link of some kind
or other, between the fathers and the children, upon some subject
or other, and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for
the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can
they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made
perfect without those who have died in the Gospel also; for it is
necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fullness
of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that
a whole and complete and perfect union and welding together of
dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place,
and be revealed, from the days of Adam even to the present time;
and not {91} only this, but those things which never have been
revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept
hid from the wise and prudent shall be revealed unto babes and
sucklings in this the dispensation of the fullness of times."

From the original manuscript history of the Prophet Joseph Smith, now in the Historian's office, Salt Lake City, I obtain the following under date of January 20, 1844:

"Preached at the southwest corner of the Temple to several thousand
people, although the weather was somewhat unpleasant. My subject
was the sealing of the hearts of the fathers to the children, and
the hearts of the children to the fathers."

Of this discourse a synopsis was reported by Elder Wilford Woodruff, from which the Prophet Joseph records the following in that history:

"The Bible says, 'I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the
coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn
the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a
curse.'

"Now, the word _turn_ here should be translated _bind_, or seal.
But what is the object of this important mission? or how is it to
be fulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah
is to come, the Gospel to be established, the Saints of God to be
gathered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on
Mount Zion.

"But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building
their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and
receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings,
anointings, ordinations, and sealing powers upon their head, in
behalf of all their progenitors, who are dead, and redeem them
that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted
to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds
the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the
fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah. And I would to God
that this Temple was now done, that we might go into it, and go to
work and improve our time, and make use of the seals while they are
on earth.

"_The Saints have not too much time to save and redeem their dead_,
and gather together their living relatives, that they may be saved
also, _before the earth will be smitten_, and the consummation
decreed falls upon the world.

"I would advise all the Saints to go to with their might and gather
together all their living relatives to this place, that they may
be sealed and saved, that they may be prepared against the day
that the destroying angel goes forth; and if the _whole Church_
should go to _with all their might to save their dead_, seal their
posterity, and gather their living friends, and spend none of their
time in behalf of the world, _they would hardly get through before
night would come when no man can work_."

On the 12th of May, 1844, the Prophet Joseph said:

"It is not only necessary that you should be baptized for your
dead, but you will have to go through all the ordinances for them,
same as you have gone through to save yourselves. There will be
144,000 {92} saviors on Mount Zion, and with them an innumerable
host that no man can count."

We learn from the foregoing quotations the following important facts pertaining to the salvation of the dead:

1. Salvation in behalf of the dead is the binding or sealing of the
hearts of the fathers and the children, the welding link. (Doc. and
Cov., 128: 18, Reorganite edition CX: 18.)

2. It is the most glorious subject belonging to the everlasting
Gospel. (Doc. and Cov., 128: 17, Reorganite edition CX: 17.)

3. It is the greatest responsibility in this world that God has
laid upon us--to seek after our dead. (Times and Seasons, Vol. 6,
page 616.)

4. It is obligatory to man. (Times and Seasons, Vol. 6, page 616.)

5. Without it the whole earth and its inhabitants would be smitten
with a curse. (Malachi 4: 6. Doc. and Cov. 128: 18, Reorganite
edition, CX: 18.)

6. It is an eternal doctrine prepared before the foundation of the
world. (Doc. and Cov. 128: 5, 8, 18, Reorganite edition CX: 5, 8,
18.)

7. It is the burden of the Scriptures. (Times and Seasons, Vol. 2,
page 578, Reorganite church history, Vol. 2, page 546.)

8. If we neglect it it is at the peril of our own salvation. (Times
and Seasons, Vol. 2, page 578, Reorganite church history, Vol. 2,
page 546.)

9. Through it we become saviors on Mount Zion, and may save
multitudes of our kin. (Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, page 577,
Reorganite church history, Vol. 2, page 545.)

10. We without our dead and our dead without us cannot be saved
with a perfect salvation. (Doc. and Cov. 128: 18, Reorganite
edition CX: 18.)

11. We cannot lightly pass this doctrine over as pertaining to our
salvation. (Doc and Cov. 128: 15, Reorganite edition CX: 15.)

12. The time granted to the Saints to redeem their dead and gather
and seal their living relatives before the earth shall be smitten
with a curse, is none too long." (History of Joseph Smith, January
20, 1844.)

Now, my Reorganite friends, in the face of this how dare you presume to circumscribe, limit and profane this doctrine of salvation for the dead? Why do you call this eternal and most glorious principle a "_permissive rite_," a "_local commandment_?" and declare before God that _it is not binding on you_? God has declared it to be ordained before the foundations of the world were laid for the salvation of the dead who die without a knowledge of the Gospel--an eternal principle, the burden of the Scriptures, obligatory to man. Are you in harmony with the word of God? Were your leaders inspired to declare in the face of Jehovah's commands that this eternal principle was a "_local commandment_" not given to _them_ as a _commandment_? Binding only on the Saints at Nauvoo? Do you not fear and tremble for your own salvation in neglecting {93} the salvation of your dead? If the Jews who lived in the days of Christ will have to answer for "all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias," because they neglected the salvation of their dead as well as their own salvation, pray tell, what will your punishment be? (See Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, pages 760-761.) Remember that _you_ without _your dead_ cannot be made perfect.

Confronted by this evidence, for you to declare that your leaders are inspired and that yours is the Church of Christ, is most preposterous!

That the salvation of the dead is a Bible doctrine practiced by the ancient Saints, we learn from the writings of Peter (I Peter 3: 18-20) and Paul (I Cor. 15: 29), and the Revelator John (Rev. 22: 12). Isaiah prophesied of it (Is. 42: 6, 7 and 61: 1, 2), and our Redeemer taught it to the Jews (John 5: 28, 29), not as a _local commandment_, but as an eternal Truth and a principle of the greatest importance to the whole human family. And for that reason "Christ also hath suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit, by which also he went and preached (not in vain) unto the spirits in prison."

The keys of the Priesthood belong to the presiding officer of the Church and must be held in order that the ordinances of a perfect salvation may be administered to the Saints and in behalf of the dead. The keys of the Priesthood could only be received from the one who held them, the Prophet Joseph Smith, who received them from the heavens. Any man claiming to be the President of the High Priesthood without these keys is an imposter. We have been given a key by which the impostor may be detected, for we have the word of the Lord that,

"The great and grand secret of the whole matter, and the _summum
bonum_ of the whole subject that is lying before us, consists in
obtaining the power of the Holy Priesthood. For him to whom these
keys are given there is _no difficulty_ in obtaining a knowledge
of facts in relation to the salvation of the children of men, both
as well for the dead as for the living." (Doc. and Cov. 128: 11,
Reorganite edition CX: 11.)

This declaration from the Lord through the Prophet Joseph Smith is most explicit. We may ask: Has the president of the 'Reorganized' church obtained this Priesthood? No, he has not! Then there is no wonder that he cannot obtain "_knowledge of the facts_ in relation to the salvation of the children of men, both as well for the dead as for the living." {94} If he had obtained the keys would it be possible for him to lead his people for more than forty-five years without a _knowledge_ of this power which the Lord through the Prophet declares _is not difficult for him who holds the keys and the powers of the Holy Priesthood_, and which is the "sealing and binding power, and in one sense of the word the keys of the kingdom which consists in the keys of knowledge?" If he held these keys would it be possible that this grand and glorious principle would have been neglected for so long a time when his father the Prophet declared that in this day there was "not too much time to save and redeem" the dead and gather the living relatives that they also may be saved, before the consummation decreed falls upon the world? Would it be possible, if he held these keys, for him to declare that this doctrine was a _local commandment_, a _permissive rite_, not binding on the Saints? Verily No!

The Lord declared in 1842, that He was about to restore to earth many things pertaining to the Priesthood (Doc. and Cov. 127: 5, Reorganite edition CIX: 5), and that only in Temples could the fullness of the Priesthood be restored (Doc. and Cov. 124: 28, Reorganite edition CVII: 10). Did the word of the Lord fail? Did the Lord make a mistake? If the contention of the "Reorganized" church is true, He did. But Latter-day Saints know better. On our part we will accept the word of the Lord.

Since the "Reorganized" church does not build Temples, and knows of "no temple building except as edifices wherein to worship God and no endowment except the endowment of the Holy Spirit of the kind experienced by the early Saints on Pentecost day," it is to be expected that their president should be ignorant of the "fullness of the Priesthood" and therefore experience great "_difficulty_ in obtaining knowledge." If the elders of that church had read in the CVII section of their Doctrine and Covenants (L. D. S. edition 124: 39-42) they would have discovered that the doctrine of "ceremonial endowments" is there taught most plainly:

"Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and
your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn
assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices, by the sons
of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places, wherein
you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for
the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for
the glory, honor and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained
by the ordinances of my holy house, which my people are always
commanded to build unto my holy name.

"And verily I say unto you, let this house (Nauvoo Temple) be {95}
built unto my name, that I may _reveal mine ordinances therein_,
unto my people; for I deign to reveal unto my Church, things which
have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world; things
that pertain to the dispensation of the fullness of times; and _I
will show unto my servant Joseph all things_ pertaining to this
house and _the Priesthood thereof_."

Now, if all the foregoing passages are true--and they must be if Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, which he was--then these things pertaining to the Priesthood were revealed to him; and salvation for the dead is just as binding on us and just as important as salvation for the living. One depends upon the other, and they are binding on all the children of men. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cannot teach one without the other, for they are inseparable. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Repent, therefore, and receive the Gospel, save yourselves with your dead by becoming saviors on Mount Zion, before the consummation decreed falls upon the earth; and by hearkening to these things, you will not be "smitten with a curse", nor "utterly wasted" when the dreadful day of the Lord does come.

"Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and
not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let
your hearts rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break
forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal
praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained before the world
was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison;
for the prisoner shall go free!" (Doc and Cov. 128: 22, Reorganite
Doc. and Cov. 110: 22.)

An Editorial From the Times and Seasons Written by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The great designs of God in relation to the salvation of the human
family are very little understood by the professedly wise and
intelligent generation in which we live; various and conflicting
are the opinions of men concerning the plan of salvation; the
requisitions of the Almighty; the necessary preparations for
heaven; the state and condition of departed spirits; and the
happiness, or misery that is consequent upon the practice of
righteousness and iniquity according to their several notions of
virtue, and vice. The Mussulman condemns the heathen, the Jew and
the Christian, and the whole world of mankind that rejects his
Koran as infidels, and consigns the whole of them to perdition.
The Jew believes that the whole world that rejects his faith, and
are not circumcised are Gentile dogs, and will be damned. The
heathen are equally as tenacious about their {96} principles,
and the Christian consigns all to perdition who cannot bow to
his creed and submit to his _ipse dixit_. But while one portion
of the human race are judging and condemning the other without
mercy, the great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of
the human family with a fatherly care, and paternal regard. He
views them as His offspring; and without any of those contracted
feelings that influence the children of men, causes "_His sun_ to
rise on the evil and the good, and sends _His rain_ on the just
and the unjust." He holds the reins of judgment in His hands; He
is a wise lawgiver, and will judge all men not according to the
narrow contracted notions of men, but "according to the deeds
done in the body whether they be good or evil;" or whether those
deeds were done in England, America, Spain, Turkey, India: He will
judge them "not according to what they have not, but according to
what they have;" those who have lived without law will be judged
without law, and those who have a law will be judged by that law;
we need not doubt the wisdom and intelligence of the great Jehovah.
He will award judgment or mercy to all nations according to their
several deserts, their means of obtaining intelligence, the laws by
which they are governed; the facilities afforded them of obtaining
correct information; and His inscrutable designs in relation to the
human family; and when the designs of God shall be made manifest,
and the curtain of futurity be withdrawn, we shall all of us
eventually have to confess, that the Judge of all the earth has
done right.