The Holy Ghost takes of the Father and of the Son and shows it to the disciples. It shows them things past, present and to come. It opens the vision of the mind, unlocks the treasures of wisdom, and they begin to understand the things of God; their minds are exalted on high; their conceptions of God and His creations are dignified, and "Hallelujah to God and the Lamb in the highest," is the constant language of their hearts. They comprehend themselves and the great object of their existence. They also comprehend the designs of the wicked ones, and the designs of those who serve him; they comprehend the designs of the Almighty in forming the earth and mankind upon it, and the ultimate purpose of all His creations. It leads them to drink at the fountain of eternal wisdom, justice and truth; they grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ until they see as they are seen, and know as they are known.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 241.
The character of a person is formed through life, to a greater or less extent, by the teachings of the mother. The traits of early impressions that she gives the child, will be characteristic points in his character through every avenue of his mortal existence.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 67.
It is necessary that we should be tried, tempted and buffeted to make us feel the weakness of this mortal flesh.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 359.
Directly behind a frowning Providence oftentimes are concealed the greatest blessings that mankind can desire.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 198.
I am at the defiance of the rulers of the greatest nation on the earth, with the United States all put together, to produce a more loyal people than the Latter-day Saints.—J. of D., Vol. 1., p. 361.
All there is of any worth or value in the world is incorporated in our glorious religion, and designed to exalt the minds of the children of men to a permanent, celestial and eternal station.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 341.
I may have thousands of wealth locked up today, and hold checks for immense sums on the best banking institutions in the world, but have I any surety that I shall be worth a cent tomorrow morning? Not the least. The Lord Almighty can send fire and destruction when He pleases, destroying towns and swallowing up cities in the bellowing earthquake. He can set up kingdoms and make communities wealthy, and bring them to poverty at His pleasure. When He pleases, He can give them wealth, comfort and ease, and on the other hand torment them with poverty, distress and sore afflictions. Who can realize this? All the world ought, and especially the Saints.—J. of D., Vol. I, p. 340.
The Lord Almighty can do His own work and no power of man can stay the potency of His wonder-working hand. Men may presume to dictate to the Lord; they come to naught, but His work moves steadily forward.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 198.
When I cannot feed myself through the means God has placed in my power, it is then time enough for Him to exercise His providence in an unusual manner to administer to my wants. But while we can help ourselves, it is our duty to do so. If a saint of God be locked up in prison, by his enemies, to starve to death, it is then time enough for God to interpose, and feed him.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 108.
It has been, and is now, believed by numerous individuals, that the brute creation, by increase in knowledge and wisdom, change their physical or bodily organization, through numerous states of existence, so that the minutest insect, in lapse of time, can take to itself the human form, and visa versa. This is one of the most inconsistent ideas that could be possibly entertained in the mind of man; it is called the transmigration of souls. It is enough for me to know that mankind are made to improve themselves. All creation, visible and invisible, is the workmanship of our God, the Supreme Architect and Ruler of the whole, who organized the world, and created every living thing upon it, to act in its sphere and order. To this end has He ordained all things to increase and multiply. The Lord God Almighty has decreed this principle to be the great governing law of existence, and for that purpose are we formed. Furthermore, if man can understand and receive it, mankind are organized to receive intelligence until they become perfect in the sphere they are appointed to fill, which is far ahead of us at present. When we use the term perfection, it applies to man in his present condition, as well as to heavenly beings. We are now, or may be, as perfect in our sphere as God and angels are in theirs, but the greatest intelligence in existence can continually ascend to greater heights of perfection.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 92.