OUR MODERN ALTARS "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD."
"As I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD."—St. Paul at Athens.
It is a painful and confusing thing to the Christian investigator to be convinced, as he must be, by the fact that millions of conventionally good people in our land, as in all civilized countries, are kneeling "To the Unknown God."
One cannot say how many professed Christians really have a conscious knowledge of the God whom they reverence and whose Son they believe Jesus, the Christ, to be. But one may know without much inquiry that very few of our Christian churchmen have what we may be allowed to call "a working knowledge of God." In other words, they have no definite mental or spiritual conception of the Personality of God. They attribute to Him in a somewhat nebulous way certain characteristics in perfection, such as eternity, holiness, truth, love, mercy, patience, wisdom and power. But why and how these things constitute Personality and obtain manifestation in human affairs, is a riddle more profound that a Delphian oracle or a shadow interrogation point on the face of the Sphinx.
They have simply apprehended that "there must be a God," somewhat as the French cynic said, if none had ever been revealed Man would have invented one from necessity. They have been trained from infancy to think of an awful God and finally, by the religious impulse that always comes to a man strongly at some point in his sentient career, they have professed a binding faith in that God—but still He remains practically and consciously "The Unknown God."
It is one of the most strenuous tasks of modern preaching to secure the serious, studious attention of men and women to the plain correspondence between the Scriptural revelations of God the Father with the known attributes and actions of Christ the Son.
Preachers themselves preach "The Unknown God" because they have not acquired the spiritual discernment to be satisfied that if Christ was "the express image of the Father," then, logically and indisputably "God was in Christ revealing Himself to the world." All through the labors of the apostles in the first age of the church runs the ceaseless insistence that men should not differentiate between the characters of God and Christ, but believe in Christ as an absolute manifestation of God in the flesh. If modern preachers would dwell upon that mighty truth with the same persistence the earth would soon be aflame with the knowledge and the love of God, and Christ would become the true Lord of millions who now do Him only lip service and of millions more who would suddenly see in Him "the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
It is scarcely to be wondered over that gold, society, pleasure, pride and gilded sin in myriad forms can so easily persuade and pervert so many in the modern Christian world, when we realize that they live in so great a fog of ignorance concerning the God whom they perfunctorily profess to believe in and acknowledge they ought to obey in all truth, righteousness and holy conversation.
We need in Atlanta—we need in Georgia—we need in America—the old time faith in a personal and known God, who is our Father in heaven, who has given us His Son for a Savior. A revival of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus will level forever, in and out of the churches, countless thousands of altars "To the Unknown God."
Your appeal for the restoration of "the old time faith in a personal and known God" impels us to respond to your editorial by offering you the very faith for which you so earnestly contend. Your exposition of the personalities, character and attributes of God is true, and your evidence is conclusive and invulnerable. There is no argument to offer in rebuttal, and preachers of so-called Christendom will look in vain for one iota of proof to support the contrary. Their inconsistent, not to say ridiculous, doctrine that God is "incomprehensible without body, parts or passions," in the light of all sound reason and prophetic testimony, must stand alone a self-evident fact of the uninspired source from which it sprang. The "unknown God" whom modern Christians do ignorantly worship, in times past revealed His mind and will to His children upon the earth. And, not only did He manifest Himself in revelation, but in actual person did He converse face to face with certain of His chosen representatives. Between Heaven and earth the channel of communication was constantly open, excepting only, when, through disobedience and transgression men cut themselves off from this privilege of divine favor. God's people expected these manifestations of His kindness. To be led by an inspired man—a prophet of the Almighty—and to receive through him counsel and law, with the seal of divine authority "Thus saith the Lord" attached thereto, was as natural to them as it was to live, because to them, their Father in Heaven was a living, active, comprehensive personal Being. This was a part of the "old time" Faith.
In the meridian of time, Jesus Christ the Son of God, established His Church among men; and when His labors were ended and He returned unto His Father, He left His disciples in possession of the Holy Ghost which was "to guide them into all truth," "bring things past to their remembrance," and to reveal unto them the things of the future; in fact, this messenger was, in the absence of Christ in person, the medium through which God made known His will unto His children upon the earth. No argument is needed to convince any one of the fact that the disciples did enjoy the operations of that Spirit, for the whole New Testament is, in and of itself, proof positive and conclusive, of the literal fulfillment of that promise. One of the "gifts" of the Holy Ghost is prophecy, and upon whomsoever the Lord desired, He conferred this gift, and hence prophets were found in His church. And especially did those at the head enjoy this manifestation because they were God's mouthpieces, and it belonged particularly to their office and calling. The enjoyment of the actual companionship of the Holy Ghost then, together with its perceptible workings, were also parts of that "old time" Faith.
Again: At the head of His Church, Jesus placed a quorum of Twelve Apostles, Peter, James and John standing chief among them. "Ye have not chosen me," said He, "but I have chosen you and ordained you." He called and ordained also, Seventies, Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons to fill certain positions in His Church, all of whom Paul says God himself placed therein in order that He, through them, might edify and perfect the Saints and also to protect them from being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine taught by man; and further, that He might accomplish the work of the ministry. These officers, according to the same author's authoritative testimony were to remain in the Church until the world should come to a unity of the Faith and to a perfect knowledge of God. To have in their midsts these divinely called and inspired men bearing authority direct from God, was another part of the "old time" Faith of the Saints. No word from God has ever been recorded that these offices and callings were unnecessary and useless creations in His Church organization, or that they were in time to be done away and destroyed. All Scripture proves the contrary most clearly and most emphatically. Furthermore, such a contention simply reduces the solemn and deliberate acts of Jehovah to mere folly and idle child's play, and destroys the confidence and faith of man in Him as a Being possessed of that infinite intelligence and wisdom attributed to Him. God placed these officers in the Church, and no one but God can legally remove them. But they have been removed. Their offices have been destroyed. Yes, but unauthorized man and not God is responsible! The modern Christian doctrine advocating the uselessness and nonessentiality of the Apostles and Prophets and other inspired men of God as were formerly set in the Church of Christ, is a companion inconsistency with that of a bodiless, passionless God, and also owes its existence to modern unauthorized and uninspired man. Certainly it was not a part of the "old time" Faith.
Another thing: The men whom Jesus called into His ministry, were sent out "two by two" to preach the Gospel, "without purse or scrip." Taxed pews, contribution boxes, and salaried preachers were unknown among them. These things belong to the modern "profession" of the popular Christian ministry and had nothing whatever to do with the "old time" "calling" of God unto His work. To be sure, the Church had a system of revenue by which the poor were supported and the necessary expenses of maintaining the organization were met, but this was known as the "law of tithing," of which not one penny went to pay a preacher. This custom and practice is another invention of man, ingeniously applied in merchandising a man-made gospel by a self-called clergy, and that, too, in bold contradiction of Holy Writ, which unmistakably declares it to be entirely foreign to the "old time" Faith.
Furthermore: The Gospel, as Jesus and His disciples taught it, embraced four fundamental principles, namely: faith, repentance, baptism by immersion "for the remission of sins," and "the laying on of hands" for the "gift of the Holy Ghost." The faith here spoken of constituted more than a dormant or passive belief. It went further than mere mental assent, and embodied deeds of righteousness. He that had faith was stirred to repentance from his evil ways. That is, he ceased to commit forbidden practices, and instead performed such acts of righteousness as the Gospel required. One of these requirements was to be baptized in water for the remission of sin. The claim that this ordinance was not essential is disproved, not only by the teachings of the Savior and His disciples, but also by their practices. Jesus Himself set the example, and afterwards commanded His disciples to preach in all the world the Gospel, "baptizing them (who believed) in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost," and also declaring that those who would not believe and be baptized "should be dammed." This is not strange at all, when we fully realize that baptism is "the counsel of God," and that it was the preceding step requisite to the companionship of the Holy Ghost which was given "by the laying on of hands."
Paul declared to the Hebrew Saints that these four principles and ordinances were "the doctrine of Christ," and John writes that "whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son." To the consistent mind there should be not the least shadow of doubt as to the fact that the doctrines here laid down belonged to and were an essential part of the "old time" Faith.
But this is not all. There was a power, an active perceptible force of divine origin, which, through the faith of the Saints, manifested itself in speaking in and interpretation of tongues, prophecy, and healing of the sick. These manifestations were the "gifts of the Holy Ghost." Jesus called them "signs," and promised that they should "follow them that believe," the literal fulfillment of which is attested by one continuous stream of examples running all through the New Testament times. God placed them in the Church anciently; the Saints then enjoyed them; and nowhere has He ordered them to be withdrawn or announced that they should cease. However, they are not to be found in so-called Christian churches today, and what more, without one word of Scriptural support, the preachers of modern times maintain that they are superfluous and are no longer needed. Superfluous? Why? No longer needed? Why? Simply because they are not manifest among them, and that this kind of doctrine in a measure explains away the reason for their absence; besides, it conforms best to their man-conceived idea of a god without body, parts or passions. They get from their god exactly what he is capable of giving them—absolutely nothing. To be sure such a being could not speak. He has no mouth. He could not hear, for he has no ears. He could not hate or love, because he has no passions. Summed right down to the actual thing which the definition conveys, the only conclusion is that such a god is no god at all. And since this is the subject of their worship, it isn't unnatural or unreasonable that he or it, or whatever name by which the nonentity might be designated, bestows no signs or gifts upon its worshipers because it is manifestly powerless to act. But one thing sure and certain, these very "gifts" and "signs" were a part of the "old time" Faith. They were the blessings of a Heavenly Father poured out upon those of His children who obeyed the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ. They came from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the same who conversed with our father Adam in the Garden of Eden; the same whose voice at sundry times was heard, and whose person—but not in His mortal consuming glory—on many occasions was seen by nearly all of the prophets spoken of in Holy Writ; the same whose express image, character and personality were duplicated in the person of His Only Begotten Son in the flesh—Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world!
This, kind sir, sets forth in brief, the component parts of the "old time" Faith of the ancients, only one principle of which was contended for in your able editorial copied above. This very faith, we are pleased to declare unto you, is now upon the earth. That same "personal and known God who is our Father in Heaven," in company with His Son Jesus Christ, together in person, visited this earth and conversed face to face with one whom they chose to represent them among men. They gave him authority to act in their names; revealed unto him every principle of the Gospel necessary to man's salvation, and instructed him how to re-establish their Church in the world; and as a startling and invincible testimony of the truth of these things, that Church stands today just as complete in structure, in doctrine and in practice as was the Church organized on the same principle—revelation—in Jerusalem nearly two thousand years ago. That Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and that man, whom the courts of heaven honored by making him the instrument of restoration, was Joseph Smith, the latter day prophet of the true and the living God!
Atlanta, your honor, has not been totally lacking in information upon these matters, because both upon her streets and within several of her humble halls, modern Elders and Seventies, clothed with that same authority possessed by their brethren anciently, have defended the personality of our Father. And this also have they done throughout the whole civilized world. But like their companion missionaries of former times, they have been hated and despised, persecuted and mobbed; and in several instances have they, too, been murdered in cold blood for the Truth, the name of your own fair state sharing this unholy record in common with others in this nation. Modern sanctimonious "High Priests," under the appellation of Christian ministers, like men of their own stripe in olden times, have been the ring leaders in creating this prejudice in the minds of the people, and they are responsible for the war of persecution that has raged and which does now rage relentlessly against the work of God; and should the Master Himself visit the earth today He, beyond all question, would rebuke these modern Scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites in the same language reported by Matthew in his twenty-third chapter.
The religious Jews, in the days of Jesus, ridiculed and hated the religion of God brought unto them, and the so-called religious Christian world of today stands exactly in the same position. It took a brave heart, an independent spirit and a firm reliance in Jehovah to embrace an unpopular truth then and become united with the despised Nazarene, and it requires the same characteristics today to become associated with the Church of God established in this day through the instrumentality of the latter day prophet who received his authority from that same Nazarene.
In conclusion: We offer you the "old time" Faith which has been restored to the earth, with all the principles, gifts, powers and authority of ancient times. It holds out to you the opportunity to be established upon a firm and complete understanding of that "personal and known God who is our Father in Heaven and who has given us His Son for a Savior." And what more, we ask you candidly, and earnestly, to aid us in this revival of the "old time" Faith, that throughout all the universe may be restored a perfect knowledge of God and of His Son Jesus Christ, that henceforth and forever may be lowered, both in and out of the churches, the countless thousands of altars erected to the "unknown God."
A GOSPEL LETTER.
WRITTEN BY SISTER LUCY MACK SMITH, THE MOTHER OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH.
The following very interesting and earnest gospel letter written by Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the Prophet Joseph, to her brother, Solomon Mack and his wife, was presented to President Joseph F. Smith by Mrs. Candace Mack Barker, of Keene, N. H., a granddaughter of Solomon Mack, to whom the letter is addressed. Mrs. Barker stated that it was her desire to place the letter in the hands of those who would appreciate its contents and preserve it as she felt it properly deserved. Readers will agree that the lady made the very wisest selection in choosing President Smith as the holder of this important relic. It is with untold pleasure that we are privileged to present this beautiful sermon which was written so soon after the organization of the Church by one of the greatest and noblest mothers that ever lived, whose life of continued toil and tribulation was spent so constantly in the humble endeavor to help establish the everlasting Gospel revealed from God through her prophet son. Her brother Solomon became a faithful member of the Church, and remained so until the end of his mortal life:
Waterloo, January 6, 1831.
Dear Brother and Sister:
Although we are at a great distance from each other and have not had the pleasure of seeing each other for many years, yet I feel a great anxiety in your welfare, and especially for the welfare of your souls; and you yourselves must know that it is a thing of greatest importance to be prepared to meet our God in peace, for it is not long before He is to make His appearance on the earth with all the hosts of heaven to take vengeance on the wicked and they that know not God. By searching the prophecies contained in the Old Testament we find it there prophesied that God will set His hand the second time to recover His people the house of Israel. He has now commenced this work; He hath sent forth a revelation in these last days, and this revelation is called the Book of Mormon. It contains the fullness of the Gospel to the Gentiles, and is sent forth to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things God hath done for their fathers that they may know of the covenants of the Lord and that they are not cast off forever; and also of the convincing of both Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God and manifests Himself unto all nations. It also contains the history of a people which were led out of Jerusalem six hundred years before the coming of Christ in the flesh. God seeing the wickedness of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, He sent out a prophet named Lehi and commanded him to declare unto the people that unless they repented of their sins that the city would be destroyed, but they would not hear him, but sought to take away his life, therefore the Lord commanded him to take his family, together with another man named Ishmael, and his family, and flee out of the city, and they were led by the hand of the Lord on to this continent and they became very numerous and were a people highly favored of the Lord; but there arose contentions among them and the more wicked part of them being led by one of the sons of Lehi named Laman, arose up in rebellion against their brethren, and would not keep the commandments of God, therefore He sent a curse upon them, and caused a dark skin to come over them, and from Laman our Indians have descended. The more righteous part of them were led by another of the sons of Lehi named Nephi, he being a prophet of the Lord. I cannot give you much of an insight into these things, but I write this that when you have an opportunity of receiving one of the books that you may not reject (it) for God has pronounced a curse upon all who have a chance to receive it and will not, for by it they will be judged at the last day.
There are many in these parts who profess to know God and to be His humble followers, but when this thing is offered them they say we have Bible enough and want no more; but such are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity and understand not the Bible which they love, for all the holy prophets spoke plainly of the gathering of the house of Israel and of the coming forth of this work, and God says He will give us line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; there are more nations than one, and if God would not reveal Himself alike unto all nations He would be partial. We need not suppose that we have all His words in our Bible, neither need we think that because He has spoken once He cannot speak again.
Perhaps you will inquire how this revelation came forth. It has been hid up in the earth fourteen hundred years, and was placed there by Moroni, one of the Nephites; it was engraven upon plates which have the appearance of gold. He being a prophet of the Lord, and seeing the wickedness of the people and knowing that they must be destroyed, and also knowing that if the plates fell into the hands of the Lamanites that they would destroy them, for they sought to destroy all sacred writings, therefore he hid them up in the earth, having obtained a promise of the Lord that they should come forth in His own due time unto the world; and I feel to thank my God that He hath spared my life to see this day.
Joseph, after repenting of his sins and humbling himself before God, was visited by an holy angel whose countenance was as lightning and whose garments were white above all whiteness, who gave unto him commandments which inspired him from on high; and who gave unto him, by the means of which was before prepared, that he should translate this book. And by reading this our eyes are opened that we can see the situation in which the world now stands; that the eyes of the whole world are blinded; that the churches have all become corrupted, yea every church upon the face of the earth; that the Gospel of Christ is nowhere preached. This is the situation which the world is now in, and you can judge for yourselves if we did not need something more than the wisdom of man to show us the right way.
God, seeing our situation, had compassion upon us, and has sent us this revelation that the stumbling block might be removed, that whosoever would might enter. He now established His Church upon the earth as it was in the days of the Apostles. He has now made a new and everlasting covenant, and all that will hear His voice and enter, He says they shall be gathered together into a land of promise, and He Himself will come and reign on earth with them a thousand years. He is now sending forth His servants to prune His vineyard for the last time, and woe be unto them that will not hear them. There are many who think hard when we tell them that the churches have all become corrupted, but the Lord hath spoken it, and who can deny His words? They are all lifted up in the pride of their hearts and think more of adorning their fine sanctuaries than they do of the poor and needy. The priests are going about preaching for money, and teaching false doctrines and leading men down to destruction by crying peace, peace, when the Lord Himself hath not spoken it.
When our Savior was upon the earth He sent forth His disciples and commanded them to preach His Gospel, and these signs He said should follow them that believed; in My name they shall do many wonderful works; they shall cast out devils; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Now where can we find these signs following them that call themselves preachers of the Gospel, and why do they not follow? It surely must be because they do not believe and do not teach the true doctrine of Christ, for God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and changeth not.
We read that at the day of Pentecost people being pricked in their hearts began to cry, saying, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" and Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost, stood up and said, "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 Holy Ghost." Now this promise was not to them alone for he goes on to say, this "promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call;" therefore the promise extends unto us if we will obey His commands. Peter did not tell them to go away and mourn over their sins weeks and months, and receive a remission of them and then come and be baptized, but he told them first to repent and be baptized, and the promise was that they should receive a remission of their sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost; and this is the Gospel of Christ, and His Church is established in this place and also in Ohio; there have been three hundred added to the Church in Ohio within a few weeks, and there are some added to this Church almost daily. The work is spreading very fast.
I must now close my letter by entreating you as one that feels for your souls to seek an interest in Christ, and when you have an opportunity to receive this work do not reject it, but read it and examine for yourselves. I will now bid you farewell, and I want some of you to come here or write immediately, for we expect to go away to the Ohio early in the spring. If you write this winter you may direct your letters to Waterloo, Seneca county. I want you to think seriously of these things, for they are the truths of the living God.
Please to accept this from your sister, LUCY SMITH.
To Solomon Mack, Gilsum. N. H.
THE RESTORATION OF THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL.
BY ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE.
WHAT is "Mormonism?" and, What is the object of the "Mormon" Elders preaching in the Indian Territory? are questions that are doubtless asked many times. We propose, with your kind attention, to answer these questions, and we ask your prayerful consideration of the same. In the year 1820 there lived in Manchester, Ontario (now Wayne) County, in the State of New York, a young man named JOSEPH SMITH, who received a remarkable vision. There had been a religious revival in the neighborhood where he resided, which had caused him much reflection to know which of the sects to join, as the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians had all taken part in the revival, and when it was over the different ministers all claimed the converts, which made much confusion and bitter feeling. As Joseph was reading the Bible one day, a passage of Scripture, found in the first chapter and fifth verse of James' epistle, which reads, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him," had a powerful influence over him. To use his own words: "Never did any passage of Scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom I did." At last Joseph determined to ask of God. The principle of Faith was now operating upon his mind, and he determined to ask the Eternal Father which of all the sects was right.
It was the morning of a beautiful clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. He went alone to a retired spot, kneeled down, and began to offer up the desires of his heart. He had scarcely done so, when he was seized upon by some invisible power that seemed to bind his tongue so that he could not speak, and which almost overcame him. He was about to give up, but exercising all his power calling upon God, in his heart, to deliver him, he saw a pillar of light exactly above his head, above the brightness of the sun. When the light rested upon him, he was delivered from the power of his unseen enemy, and he saw two glorious personages, whose brightness and glory it is impossible to describe, standing above him in the air; one of them spake unto him, calling him by name, and pointing to the other said, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, HEAR HIM. Joseph asked this other personage which of all the sects was right and which he should join, and was answered that he should join none of them, for they were all wrong. This personage said, "They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; they teach for doctrine the commandments of man, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof;" and also gave him some other information. When Joseph came to himself again, he was lying on his back, looking up into heaven.
Some few days after he had this remarkable vision, he happened to be in company with one of the Methodist preachers, and he told him the vision he had seen. The preacher became very angry, told Joseph it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that such things had ceased with the Apostles. Joseph soon found that telling the vision excited a great deal of prejudice against him amongst professors of religion, and was the cause of much persecution. Thus commenced the persecutions of the Latter-day Saints, called "Mormons." The men who "taught for doctrine the commandments of man" commenced lying about and misrepresenting an obscure boy, because he had truthfully said he had seen a vision and he knew it. He also had learned that the testimony of the Apostle James was true. This we would also do well to give heed to, for we all lack wisdom and should be encouraged to ask of God, so that we may not be led astray by false teachers, but have the Spirit of Truth to guide and lead us into all truth.
About three years after receiving this remarkable vision he received a visitation from a messenger from heaven. This personage informed him his name was Moroni. He had on a robe of the most exquisite whiteness; his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. He told Joseph God had a work for him to do, and that his name should be had for good and evil amongst all nations. Moroni, the angel, told him there was a book that had been hid up in the earth, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the inhabitants who formerly lived upon this continent, and the source from when they sprang; also, that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in this record, as delivered by Jesus Christ to the ancient inhabitants, the fathers of the American Indians, and the "other sheep" spoken of by the Savior, in the tenth chapter of John and the sixteenth verse, "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice." Moroni quoted several prophecies of the Old Testament Prophets, that were about to be fulfilled, he said, concerning the destruction of the wicked and the second coming of the Messiah, etc.; and also told him that many judgments were coming on the earth with great desolations by famine, sword and pestilence, in this generation. With the plates that were hid up there were two stones in silver bows (and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim), and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted Seers in ancient or former times, and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the record. Following the instructions of this messenger, who was one of the Prophets, and who had hid up this record, Joseph translated the plates by the power of God.
Three men were chosen special witnesses, to whom the angel showed the plates. Their names were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. They declare "that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, and we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon;" they also heard the voice of the Lord declare the record had been translated by the power of God. It is called the Book of Mormon. Mormon, who was the father of Moroni, made an abridgment of the ancient records, and it is that abridgment that we now have in the Book of Mormon. It is from this Prophet's name that the Gentile or unbelieving nations have called the people who believe in this book "Mormons," or anything to do with the people who thus believe, "Mormonism;" and they have very much belied them. But it does not matter what unbelievers say, or how much the people may be misrepresented by wicked men, the facts exist—Mormon made an abridgment of the history of his people on gold plates, and JOSEPH SMITH, the Prophet-martyr of the nineteenth century, translated them by the power of God, and it exists and bears its own truthful evidence. No one has ever read the book with an honest, prayerful heart, but has been convinced of its divine origin. The prophecies or predictions of its own Prophets are being fulfilled to-day. These Prophets were amongst some of the most remarkable men that ever lived.
During the time Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon, a young man named Oliver Cowdery was writing for him. They came to the place where it is recorded that the Lord Jesus visited the people and established His Church upon this continent. Upon translating the mode and object of baptism as the Savior gave instructions, they greatly desired this blessing, but knew not how to obtain it. They went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, which was mentioned in the translation. While they were praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and laid his hands upon their heads as they knelt in prayer, and ordained them to the Aaronic Priesthood, saying, "Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys to the ministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism, by immersion, for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." He said this Aaronic Priesthood had not the power of laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that they would receive this power or authority hereafter. This messenger, or angel, said his name was John, the same that is called John the Baptist, in the New Testament, and that he acted under the direction of Peter, James and John, the ancient Apostles, who held the keys of the Melchisedec Priesthood or authority. Joseph states this same messenger "commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and afterwards that he should baptize me;" accordingly they carried out the instructions which were given unto them by baptizing each other in the order designated by the angel. On coming out of the water, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they stood up and prophesied concerning the rise of the Church of Christ in this generation, and many other things, being filled with the Holy Ghost and rejoicing in their salvation.
As the messenger had promised, in due time, the Melchisedec Priesthood and Apostleship was restored under the hands of Peter, James and John, and the "Gospel of the kingdom" began to be preached, and as the members of the Church of Christ began to multiply it was Organized by divine revelation with Apostles, Prophets, and Teachers, followed by miracles, gifts of healing, helps and governments, until the Church of Christ was fully organized upon the earth. But it has had to pass through the most bitter persecution, and the blood of the martyrs has had to flow. Mobs, led on by ministers of religious societies, have committed acts of violence against the Saints of the Most High, that testify in unspeakable language "they are all wrong," for no member of the Church of Christ could have a persecuting spirit—"By their fruits shall ye know them."
The Prophet Joseph Smith, through false charges, had to endure over forty vexatious lawsuits, in all of which he was honorably acquitted; until at last the mob said, "If the law cannot reach him, powder and ball shall," and he and his brother Hyrum, the Patriarch of the Church, were murdered in cold blood; and this because they were true and faithful to the trust given them by the Eternal Father, and the wicked in their hatred to the principles of righteousness that he preached, being of the same spirit as that possessed by the men who crucified the Messiah, were led on to shed the blood of innocence, by which they exalted the martyrs to a throne and brought upon themselves the damnation of hell. For the shedding of innocent blood there is no forgiveness. (See I John, iii, 15.)
But although the world has been opposed to the establishment of the Kingdom of God upon the earth, the Lord has sustained and protected His people and established their feet in the fastnesses of the Rocky Mountains, as foretold by the Prophets Isaiah and Micah: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isaiah, ii, 2, 3; Micah, iv, 1, 2.) And they are steadily increasing, because they teach correct principles, they tell the truth and offer the TRUTH to the people, for, having authority, they have the power to preach the everlasting Gospel.
God, our Eternal Father, the Father of the spirits of all flesh, requires us all to believe on His only begotten, Jesus Christ, the author of our eternal salvation, the only name given under heaven whereby we can be saved. We must have faith in God, believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Then seek unto Him by faith and prayer, asking Him in the name of Jesus Christ for such things as we treed. Then we are required to repent, "cease to do evil," and "learn to do well," being willing and obedient, putting away from us all our wickedness, worship Him that made the heavens and the earth, the sea and the fountains of waters. Then we are required to be baptized by immersion for the remission of sins (Acts, ii, 38), that we may be prepared to receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands of those who have the authority (see Acts, viii, 17, and xix, 6; Hebrews, vi, 2), then walk in newness of life; for none can assist in this latter-day work unless they are humble, full of love, having faith, hope and charity, being temperate in all things intrusted to their care.
Hear what Jesus Christ said to the disciples upon this continent:
"Behold verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine. And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me, and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men everywhere to repent and believe in me; and whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me, believeth in the Father also, and unto him will the Father bear record of me; for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in no wise receive these things. And again, I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi, xi, 31-38.)
Now the reason why the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are here from Zion, is to tell you these glad tidings of great joy, that light has come into the world and the knowledge of God is restored to the earth. We bear testimony that the angel that John saw on the Isle of Patmos, flying "in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters," (Rev. xiv, 6, 7,) has come, and that the "gospel of the kingdom" is being preached, as foretold by the Messiah. (See Matt., xxiv, 14.) And we are calling upon all men to have FAITH IN GOD, repent of their sins and be baptized; then we promise those who humble themselves like little children, as the Savior has said, that they shall receive the Holy Ghost and know that these things are true. Christ said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall KNOW of the doctrine." (John, vii, 16, 17.)
We are the friends of the people and their servants for Christ's sake, and we entreat them, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God, obey the Gospel and be saved from death, hell and the grave, for there is but "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." (See Ephesians, iv, 4-16.) This TRUE FAITH is restored to the earth, and we know it. In conclusion, we will give you the words of the Prophet Mormon for your consideration, and we pray God, our Eternal Father, that His Spirit and blessing may be upon every honest hearted person unto whom this shall come, or who shall read these words:
"And now behold, I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words, that they may know of the things of their fathers; yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel; and these are the words which I speak. Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel. Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved. Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again, save it be that God shall command you. Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up. And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment seat. And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day, hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises, with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end. Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you. For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that, ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this, ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvellous works which were wrought by the power of God among them; and ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen." (Book of Mormon, Mormon, vii chapter.)
Prayerfully consider these things, and when you are converted, and sincerely repent, we are your servants to baptize you for the remission of your sins, and lay hands upon you for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
"Baptism is a sign of God, to angels and to heaven, that we do the will of God; and there is no other way beneath the heavens whereby God hath ordained for man to come to Him to be saved and enter the Kingdom of God, except faith in Jesus Christ, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and any other course is in vain; then you have the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost."
—Joseph Smith.