A.—"He will come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on all those who know not God, AND OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."
Q.—How comes it that the Christian world (so called) have been so long without the Gospel in its fulness?
A.—In fulfilment of the word of prophecy, spoken by the prophet Daniel and by the revelator John, "THEY HAVE MADE WAR WITH THE SAINTS, AND OVERCOME THEM;" and in fulfilment of Paul to Timothy, "They have HEAPED TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS, having ITCHING ears; and these have turned their ears from the TRUTH, and they are turned unto fables, and they will not endure SOUND DOCTRINE."
Q.-How came the Latter-day Saints to understand this Gospel, and to be instruments in restoring it among mankind?
A.—Not for any worth or wisdom that was in them more than others; but because the time had come for this Gospel of the Kingdom to be again restored to the inhabitants of the earth, and to be preached to all nations preparatory to the second coming of Messiah. Therefore the Lord sent forth an Holy Angel to commit the authority of this ministry again unto man, and this in fulfilment of the promises recorded by the ancient prophets and apostles.
Q.—Is it not uncharitable to consider the Christian world all wrong, except such as obey the fulness of the Gospel? and still more so to tell them of it?
A.—No. The man who tells his generation the truth, according to the "law and the testimony," is more charitable to them than ten thousand men who cry, Peace and safety, and prophesy smooth things, when sudden destruction is near at hand.
Q.—But, what will become of all the people who have lived and died since the Gospel was perverted and before it was restored again?
A.—They will be judged according to their works, and according to the light which they enjoyed in their day; and, no doubt many of them will rise up in judgment against this generation, and condemn it; for, had they enjoyed the privileges which we enjoy, they would, no doubt, have gladly embraced the truth in all its fulness. They desired to see the latter-day glory, but died without the sight.—P. P. Pratt.
"Attempts to promote universal peace have failed. The world has had a fair trial for six thousands years; the Lord will try the seventh thousand Himself."
—Joseph Smith, The Prophet.