When men come into this Church merely through having their judgments convinced, they still must have the Spirit of God bearing witness to their spirits, or they will leave the Church, as sure as they are living beings. The Saints must become one, as Jesus said His disciples should be one. They must have the Spirit testifying to them of the truth, or the light that is in them will become darkness, and they will forsake this kingdom and their religion. I wished to bear this testimony.—J. of D., Vol. VII., p. 55.
There will not be so many people that will go into that awful place that burns with fire and brimstone, where they sink down, down, down to the bottom of the bottomless pit, as the Christians say, not near so many as the Christian world would have go there. That gives me great joy, notwithstanding all the perils and persecution we have suffered through the wickedness of the wicked. Liars, sorcerers, whoremongers, adulterers, and those that love and make a lie, will be found on the outside of the walls of the city; but they will never get into the bottom of the bottomless pit. Who will go there and become angels of perdition and suffer the wrath of an offended God? Those who sin against the Holy Ghost.—J. of D., Vol. VII., p. 144.
The eloquence of angels never can convince any person that God lives, and makes truth the habitation of His throne, independent of that eloquence being clothed with the power of the Holy Ghost; in the absence of this, it would be a combination of useless sounds.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 90.
Embrace a doctrine that will purge sin and iniquity from your hearts, and sanctify you before God, and you are right, no matter how others act.—J. of D., Vol. IV., p. 78.
Every time you kick "Mormonism," you kick it up stairs: you never kick it down stairs. The Lord Almighty so orders it.—J. of D., Vol. VII., p. 145.
If you want to see the principle of devilism to perfection, hunt among those who have once enjoyed the faith of the holy gospel and then forsaken their religion. We have the best and the worst.—J. of D., Vol. VII,, p. 145.
Darkness and sin were permitted to come on this earth. Man partook of the forbidden fruit in accordance with a plan devised from eternity, that mankind might be brought in contact with the principles and powers of darkness, that they might know the bitter and the sweet, the good and the evil, and be able to discern between light and darkness, to enable them to receive light continually.—J. of D., Vol. VII., p, 158.
I will not say, as do many, that the more I learn the more I am satisfied that I know nothing; for the more I learn the more I discern an eternity of knowledge to improve upon.—J. of D., Vol. VII., p. 162.
This American continent will be Zion, for it is so spoken of by the prophets. Jerusalem will be rebuilt and will be the place of gathering, and the tribe of Judah will gather there; but this continent of America is the land of Zion.—J. of D., Vol. V., p. 4.
One-third part of the spirits that were prepared for this earth rebelled against Jesus Christ, and were cast down to the earth, and they have been opposed to him from that day to this, with Lucifer at their heard. He is their great General Lucifer, the Son of the Morning, He was once a brilliant and influential character in heaven, and we will know more about him hereafter.—J. of D., Vol. V., p. 55.