My friends, I have only just touched on the outer rim of this great theme of salvation. Our Heavenly Father prepared the plan of salvation before this earth rolled into being, before the cornerstones thereof were laid, "when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy," and when Jesus, our Elder Brother, "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," was prepared for the sacrifice to come in the meridian of time. And Lucifer, who was cast down with his hosts, and who leads men astray, will not gain the victory. He will not triumph over the Redeemer. Christ will "destroy death, and him that hath the power of death, which is the devil;" and, as I have read to you, He will redeem all that the Father hath placed in His power—all His brothers and sisters. They in the spirit will be brought out of darkness and punishment, and they will all reach some condition in the places prepared of God. In the many mansions that there are in the Father's kingdom they will all find a place, after they have paid the penalty, where they can bow the knee to the Lord and be happy; for though "Adam fell that men might be, men are that they may have joy." God has created us to give us happiness and pleasure.
Cherish No Evil Feeling.
My brethren and sisters, let us take care that having received the Gospel, we are led by the spirit thereof and are kind to one another, and that we cherish the spirit of kindness to the world, even to those who may persecute us, and deride us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely. Do not cherish the spirit of retaliation and revenge in your hearts. "Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord." It is not for us to take vengeance. Let us entertain the kindest feelings we can. Where it is appropriate, let us say as Jesus did, "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do." Oh! I wish that I could say that with regard to some of those who speak evil of us—that they know not what they do; I would cherish in my heart a feeling of sympathy and pity for them; but I know to the contrary. Many of them know what they are doing; and when they speak falsely against us they do it wilfully, with a knowledge that they are telling that which is untrue. But even then we leave them in the hands of our Eternal Father; for He will deal out a righteous judgment to all. We can afford to pity them; for they will reap the consequences of their wicked acts, as sure as the sun rises and sets, and as sure as justice will have its own. Let us be kind to one another. Let us help one another on the road of life, and be a comfort and a blessing to those with whom we associate, instead of a curse. Put away all our evil feelings, our jealousies, our faultfinding, our irritability, our disposition to say and do things that are bad, and let the Spirit that comes from Christ our Redeemer flow down into our souls and quicken and enlighten us. I know that that Spirit is in the Church. I know it is a reality. I know this Church is the Church of Christ, that He has established it, that He is with it, and that His revelations and His Spirit are in it. I know it by experience. I know what I am talking about, just as sure as I know that I am standing here. I know this work will prosper and go on. Barriers may be raised in its way; its enemies may come against it like a flood, and weapons may be formed to attack it; but "no weapon that is formed against it shall prosper, and the tongue that rises in judgment against it God will condemn." The truth will be triumphant; the Gospel will be preached to every creature; the honest will be gathered out; the kingdom of our God will be built up; Christ our Redeemer will come; the earth will be redeemed from sorrow, from sin, and from the power of Satan, and Jesus will "reign in Mount Zion and Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously," and a rich reward shall come to all those who are faithful in Him.
May God help us to perform our part in this great and glorious work, and may we obtain the crown in the kingdom of our Father, for Christ's sake. Amen.
MORMONISM JUDGED BY ITS EFFECTS.
By Elder C. W. Penrose, In Millennial Star, 1866.
As every tree is known by its fruits, so every principle may be known by its influences, and every system by its effects. "Mormonism" has been introduced into the world upwards of thirty-six years; and although no fair opportunity has been granted, for the development of its influences, yet by its inherent vitality, it has forced itself into notice and power; and its effects have been sufficiently manifested, to enable us to judge the nature of the cause that produced them.
First, let us examine the effects produced upon the minds of those who embrace "Mormonism." One of the promises held out by its advocates, is that those who obey its precepts shall "come to a knowledge of the truth." Now this is a blessing which professing Christians of modern times are sadly deficient of. They believe, they hope, they desire, but do not come to any definite knowledge in relation to God and their position before him. But those who have embraced "Mormonism," in every place where you meet them, whether in Britain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia, Africa, India, America, or the islands of the sea, all testify that they know they have embraced the truth, that their sins are remitted, and that they are accepted of God, and brought into communion with Him. Doubt has fled from them, and faith has grown into knowledge.
Another effect of "Mormonism" is, that it abolishes the fear of death. All its faithful adherents will testify that the terror of death has entirely departed from them. The great mass of mankind are haunted with a dread of entering upon that "undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveler returns." Even to the most pious members of the various "Christian" sects, there is something awful and terrible in death. This fear brings the whole world into bondage; but "Mormonism" bringing knowledge to the mind, liberates it from doubt and fear, and establishes the soul in "the liberty of the Gospel."