"Mormon" Doctrine Plain and Simple; Or, Leaves from the Tree of Life

by Charles W. Penrose

THE LATTER-DAY KINGDOM.

How shall I sing thy beauty, pow'r and light,
O glorious kingdom of the latter days!
I see thy loveliness, I feel thy might,
But find no utterance to speak thy praise!

I search in vain the records of the past,
Which paint dead kingdoms in their short-lived pride,
They cannot picture thee, whose pow'r shall last
While heav'n and truth and Deity abide.

And shall the little "powers that be" to-day,
Be likened for a moment to thy majesty?
As well declare pale vesta's twinkling ray
Unfolds the splendor of eternity.

In hist'ry only Egypt's greatness lives—
Lost are its treasures, all its wisdom hid,
Except the scraps the crumbling mummy gives,
The sculptured sphynx and tow'ring pyramid.

Assyria! Thy sceptre lies in dust.
Thy bow is broken and thy pomp has fled.
Perished thy fruits of conquest, blood and lust,
With all the warriors that Tiglath led!

Where are the palaces of Babylon,
The "hanging gardens" and the golden tow'rs?
With the Chaldeans' starlight wisdom gone,
Walls, gates and glory, images and flow'rs!

And couldst not thou, Greece, avert thy fate,
With oracles and wealth and victory?
Couldst not thy world-wide reign perpetuate,
With all thy gods and deep philosophy?

The soul that moved thee in thy conquering march,
That spoke in poesy and art and grace,
Is disembodied; and the mouldering arch
And chiseled fragment mark thy burial place.

And thou, O Rome! proud mistress of the world!
Thine armored legions spread no terror now.
They bring no blood-bought spoils of gems impearled,
To deck thy bosom and thy haughty brow.

Thy Coliseum's vast and vacant walls,
Rot as an emblem of thy great decay,
And on the ear its mournful echo falls,
A dismal knell of thy departed sway!

O! all ye living governments and states!
Gaze on the relics of far mightier powers!
The hand that shattered them, uplifted waits
The bell that ends your few remaining hours!

In the high chambers of the West, I see
An infant kingdom struggling to the birth.
And the prophetic spirit says to me,
"In manhood this shall govern all the earth."

O Zion! built by Saints of latter days.
Bring forth the promised kingdom to the world!
Upon the mountain tops "the ensign" raise,
And spread its shining folds to all the world!

Gathered from ev'ry clime and tongue and race,
Under the banner, righteous men shall stand,
And the all-conquering Christ shall show His face,
And give dominion to that faithful band.

Armored in truth and God's authority,
Dauntless and terrible, yet full of love,
The King shall lead them unto victory,
And bring a van-guard from the ranks above.

No weapon formed against them shall prevail,
No cunning plan shall prove their overthrow;
The prince of all earth's kingdoms they assail,
And drive his forces to the shades below.

The spirit that gives wisdom to the wise,
Prom Council, Congress, Parliament, shall flee—
Shall rest on those whom all mankind despise,
And leave the world to human policy.

Left, in a day of storms, each bark of state,
Rotten and rudderless, whirled madly on
Against each other on the sea of fate,
With awful crash to depths of death go down.

But see the ship no storm can overwhelm,
Saving the remnants of the wrecks below!
"The Priesthood" 's written on her shining helm,
"God's Kingdom" is inscribed upon her bow.

God's Kingdom! seen in vision by the seers!
God's Kingdom! Clothed in justice truth and light!
Theme of the prophet and the bard appears,
To save the nations from chaotic night.

A perfect government for all the earth.
Not a republic nor a monarchy,
And yet from both all principles of worth
Are blended in this great Theocracy.

Wielding almighty power in ev'ry land,
The willing people bend to its supreme decrees,
And mutual int'rest, like a golden band,
Binds in one social compact men of all degrees.

Appointed by the great Jehovah's voice,
By intellect and virtue qualified,
And a free people's universal choice,
The leading spirits govern and preside.

No longer bound beneath the cruel weight
Of idle vampires, draining their life's blood,
The joyful nations yield the pow'r of state,
To legislators for their country's good.

Earth's treasures, hiding 'neath the deep sea waves,
Bound in the rock, or shining on the strand,
Or glittering in subterraneous caves,
Come sparkling forth at industry's command.

New sciences and arts diffuse new light,
Knowledge of future and of past events,
Wisdom to comprehend the secret might,
And subtle forces of the elements.

In wondrous implements, mechanic skill
Gives unto labor swift and easy wings,
Making each sterile spot with life to thrill,
While water from the thirsty desert springs.

Thought, freed from human trammels, brings to light
Its glorious conceptions without fear,
And mouldy Precedent, struck dead with fright,
Reposes on an unregretted bier.

The laws which life and health perpetuate,
By inspiration's sacred voice are taught,
And every passion made subordinate,
To principles with lasting pleasure fraught.

Jesus, the Sinless, fills the regal throne,
To Him all other rulers bend the knee;
He reigns not by His right and might alone,
But loving homage swells His majesty.

Earth linked into the chain of worlds on high,
Among the ransomed planets takes its place,
And finds itself in blest affinity
With orbs that govern time through boundless space.

Such is the kingdom now on earth begun,
A branch of the great Governmental Tree,
Whose roots are grounded in the central sun,
Whose boughs bear fruit through all eternity.

Happy are they who labor in its cause,
Happy are they who suffer for its sake;
For all who are obedient to its laws,
Of all its joys and honors shall partake.

APPENDIX

Scripture references in proof of the doctrines set
forth in the body of this work.

FIRST LEAF.

But one God to worship—I. Cor. viii, 6.
Man's ways not accepted of God—Matt. xv, 9.
Only one correct way—John x, 1.
Faith the first principle—Heb. xi, 6.
Faith a principle of power—Heb. x.
How faith comes—Rom. x, 14, 17.
Human learning inadequate—I. Cor. ii, 5-14.
God the Father of spirits—Heb. xii, 9; Eccles. xii, 7; John xx, 17.
Man in God's image—Gen. i, 26; I. Cor. xi, 7.

SECOND LEAF.

Death by Adam, life by Christ—Rom. x, 12-21
All, good and bad, to be raised from the dead—I. Cor. xv, 22;
John v, 28, 29; Daniel xii, 2.
Christ died for original sin—John i, 29; Rom. v, 18, 19; I.
Cor. xv. 21, 22.
Christ died for our actual sins—Rom. iv, 25: v, 8; viii, 32;
I. Cor. xv. 3; Galatians i, 4; Ephesians, i, 7: Collossians,
i, 14; Heb. ii, 9; ix, 28; I. Peter ii, 24; iii, 18;
I. John ii, 2.
Faith repentance and baptism fundamental principles—Heb.
vi, 1, 2; Matthew xxviii, 19, 20;
True repentance—II. Cor. viii, 10, 11.
Baptism is immersion—Rom. vi, 4; Acts viii, 38, 39; Mark i, 4.
But one baptism—Ephesians iv, 5.
But one door into the fold—John x. 1, 2.

THIRD LEAF.

Gift of the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands—Acts viii,
14-19; xix, 6; II. Timothy i, 6: Deut. xxxiv. 9.
Office of the Holy Ghost—John xiv, 26; xvi, 13.
Fruits of the Spirit-Gal. v, 22, 23.
Birth of the Spirit essential—John iii, 3-5.

FOURTH LEAF.

No man to take the Priesthood upon himself—Heb. v, 1-4.
What is sealed on earth by authority is sealed in heaven—
Matt. xviii, 18; xvi 19.
The Melchisedek Priesthood eternal—Heb. v, 5.
The Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood another order, Heb. vii,
11, 21.
Jesus did not assume the Priesthood—Heb. v, 5.
God called Jesus to the Priesthood—Jeb. v, 10; Psalms cx, 4.
Moses and Elias administered to Jesus—Matt. xvii, 1-5;
Mark ix, 2-7, Luke ix, 30-35.
Jesus ordained apostles to the same authority—John xx,
21-23; xvii, 22; xv, 16.
The Apostles ordained others—Acts i, 23-26; vi, 6; xiii,
1-3; xiv, 23; xv, 22; I. Timothy iv, 134; Titus i, 5.

FIFTH LEAF.

Christ the head of the Church—Ephesians v, 23: i, 22.
Apostleship first authority in the Church—I. Cor. xii. 28;
Ephesians ii, 20.
Peter, James, and John chief Apostles—Galatians ii, 9.
Seventies called and sent forth—x, 1.
Officers of the Church—I. Cor. xii, 28: Eph. iv, 11; I.
Timothy iii, 1-13; v, 1.
Apostles and Prophets to continue—Eph. iv, 13.
Progress of the Church towards perfection—Eph. iv, 12-16;
v, 27.
Church casts out evil doers—II Thess. iii, 6-14; Rom. xvi,
17; I. Cor. v, 4-11; II. Cor vi, 14-17; Matt. xviii, 17.
Members of the Church all one; no nationality—I, Cor. xii, 13;
Galatians iii, 28; Rom. x, 12; Ephesians ii, 19-22.
Church of the present connected with the past—Heb. xii,
22, 23.

SIXTH LEAF

God not the author of confusion—I. Cor. xiii, 33.
Contention among the early Saints—I. Cor. i, 11.
Great apostasy foretold—II. Thess. ii, 2, 3; I. Tim. iv, 1; II.
Tim. iii, 1-7; II. Peter ii, 1-3; Revelations xiv, 8.
The iniquity commenced in the first century—II. Thess. ii, 7;
Rev. ii, 3.
Christ's pure Church symbolized—Rev. xii, 1-5.
The apostate church contrasted—Rev. xvii, 1-6.
Darkness covered the earth—Isaiah lx, 2.
Spirit of the deep sleep poured out—Isaiah xxix, 9, 10.
The world worshipping God only with their mouth—Isaiah
xxix, 13.

SEVENTH LEAF.

Restoration of the gospel by an angel—Rev. xiv, 6, 7.
Knowledge to follow obedience—John vii, 17.
John the Baptist could not confer the Holy Ghost—Matt. iii,
11; Acts xix, 2-4.
Powers of the Aaronic Priesthood—Doctrine and Covenants
Section cvii, 20.
Powers of the Melchisedek Priesthood—Doc. and Cov. Sec.
cvii, 18, 19; Heb. v, ix.
Signs to follow believers—Mark xvi, 17, 18; I. Cor. xii, 7-11.
Dispensation of the fullness of times—Eph. i, 9, 10.

EIGHTH LEAF.

No salvation but by Jesus Christ—Acts. iv, 12.
Birth of water and of spirit essential—John iii, 5.
All to be judged by the gospel—Rom. ii, 16.
Gospel preached to the dead—I. Peter iv, 6.
Christ preached to the spirits in prison—I. Peter iii, 18-20
Preaching to captives foretold—Isaiah lxi, 1: xlii, 6, 7.
Jesus led captivity captive—Eph. iv, 8.
Jesus did not go to heaven when He died—John xx, 17;
Luke xxiii, 43.
Living and dead to hear the gospel—Rom. x, 14; Isaiah xxiv,
21, 22.

NINTH LEAF.

Baptism for the dead—I. Cor. xv, 29.
The fathers without us not perfect—Heb. xi, 39, 40.
Saviors on Mount Zion—Obadiah i, 21.
Order of baptism for the dead—Doc. and Cov. Sections cxxvii,
cxviii.
Elijah the Prophet to come—Malachi iv, 5.
Christ the proxy of blood for all—Heb. ix, 12, 14, 22; x, 10;
I. Tim. ii, 6.
Knowledge about the dead to some from God—Isaiah viii,
19, 20.

TENTH LEAF.

Sin the transgression of law—I. John iii, 14.
Death the wages of sin—Rom. vi, 23.
All men to die—Heb. ix, 27; Eccles. iii, 20.
Death inherited from Adam—Rom. v, 12.
Life after death—II. Cor. vi; Eccles. xii, 7.
Resurrection of the body—Job xix, 25-27; Isaiah xxvi, 19;
Luke xxiv, 26-42; I. Cor. xv, 35-54; Phil. iii, 20, 21.
First resurrection—Rev. xx, 4-6.
Three glories-I. Cor. xv, 15.
A body necessary for full happiness—Ezekiel xxxvii, 2; Doc.
and Cov. Sec. xciii, 23, 24.
The Ancient of Days—Daniel vii, 9-14.

ELEVENTH LEAF.

Woman made for man—I. Cor. xi, 9.
Marriage ordained of God—Gen. ii, 22-24; i, 28.
Marriage honorable—Heb. xiii, 4.
Man the head of the woman—Eph. v, 23; I. Cor. xi, 3.
Man not without the woman in the Lord—I. Cor. xi, 11.
Unmarried persons as the angels—Matt. xxii, 30.
Saints to judge angels—I. Cor. vi, 3.
Angels to be ministering Spirits—Heb. i, 14.
God gave David wives—Judges viii, 30.
Jacob's four wives—Gen. xxx, 1-26
Abraham and his wives—Gen. xviii, 16-19; xvi, 1-3; xxv,
1-6
Abraham and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven—Matt. viii,
11, 12; Luke xiii, 28.
Celestial marriage—Doc. and Cov. Sec. cxxxii.

TWELFTH LEAF.

Christ came to save that which was lost—Matt. xviii, 11.
Christ ministered to His disciples after His resurrection—Acts
i, 3-8; I. Cor. xv, 5-8.
Other sheep besides the fold at Jerusalem—John x, 16.
Christ prepared a place for His disciples—John xiv, 2, 3.
Earth to be cleansed from corruption—Isaiah xxiv, 1-6; Malachi
iv, 1-3; II. Peter iii, 10-12.
Satan to be bound—Rev. xx, 1-3.
Restoration—Isaiah xi, 6-9; lxv, 17-25.
All to be judged according to their works—Rev. xx, 12-15;
Matt. xvi. 27.
Some beaten with few, some with many stripes—Luke xii,
47-48.
Pay the uttermost farthing—Matt. v, 26.
The unpardonable sin—Mark iii, 28, 29; i. John v, 16.
The second death—Rev. xxi. 8; xix, 20.
Remain filthy still—Rev. xxii, 11.
The future of mankind—Doc. and Cov. Section lxxvi.
Every knee shall bow—Philippians ii, 10.
Earth to be made new—II. Peter iii, 13; Rev. xxi. 1.
Sea of glass mingled with first—Rev. xv. 2.
The righteous to inherit all things—Rev. xxi, 7.
The river of life—Rev. xxii, 1; Ezekiel xlvii, 1.
Leaves of the the tree of life—Rev. xxii, 2.
All things become subject to God—I. Cor. xv. 24-28.