In the Book of Mormon:
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter!
Easter is a great holiday to celebrate. The resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is truly an incredible event. Thanks to His glorious sacrifice, we too can be resurrected and forgiven of our sins, so that we can return to be in the presence of our Father in Heaven. Our latter-day scriptures provide further witnesses for the reality of the Resurrection of our Savior. I am grateful for these additional witnesses, and I testify that they are true. Here is just a very small sample of such scriptures:
In the Book of Mormon:
In the Book of Mormon:
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Nephi's Psalm
by Wallace Goddard, Feb. 23, 2011
Taken from LDSMag.com
It seems to me that great rejoicing in the Atonement is often evoked by great challenges in life. And Nephi’s Psalm in 2 Nephi 4 is a great case in point.
When we consider this chapter in perspective, we see that in verse 12 Lehi died. Think about what that would have meant to Nephi. Lehi was not only his father, but also the prophet leader. He was Nephi’s mentor and guide. What a keen loss this would have been for Nephi.
Lehi died and, as you might expect, Laman and Lemuel promptly got angry along with those who followed them.
Then Nephi’s thoughts turned to the record he had been keeping. I wonder if in some ways that was a burden to him as well. After all, it was his father who taught him in language and culture and now his father was gone. His father mentored and tutored him in keeping a sacred record and now he felt the pressure to try to keep the people together, to keep the record and to do the work of God.
Sometimes the Atonement becomes more meaningful when we get desperate.
In verse 15, Nephi said, “Upon these I write the things of my soul… For my soul delighteth in the scriptures.” And then in verse 16, “My soul delighteth in the things of the Lord.” But even as he rejoiced, he observed, “Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord…” (v. 17).
There is something about knowing the greatness and goodness of God that makes us more aware, more mindful, more burdened by our limitations and humanness. So he went on in verse 17, “Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of my iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth…”
Nephi gave us no clues about those sins and probably we don’t need to know. We don’t know if he was burdened that sometimes he forgot to do his chores or make his bed in the morning. We don’t know if perhaps he failed to save his best energy for prayer. We don’t know whether he had a sensitive soul that became troubled by fairly small mistakes and failings when God had blessed him so abundantly. Or perhaps Nephi was more like most of us—someone who blundered and soiled his life time and time again. Was he burdened by anger, lust, selfishness and all the other common afflictions of mortality? We don’t know. And we don’t need to know because the principles that Nephi teaches us in this great psalm are the same if our sins are of the minor variety or the larger, more common variety.
So he confessed to us, “Despite the goodness of God, my heart sorroweth, my soul greiveth because of my iniquities.” But then there was a turning point: “Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted” (v. 19). That word trust is going to turn out to be very important in this chapter.
“My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions... he hath preserved me… He hath filled me with his love… He hath confounded mine enemies…” (vs. 20-22).
I don’t know why it took me so long to notice that the real focal point had changed from what was so wrong with Nephi to what was so right with God. That’s quite a transformation isn’t it? Nephi was no longer focused on his little known and, to him, abundant shortcomings. His focus turned to God who time and again, in spite of all his weaknesses, blessed him, looked after him, magnified him, and enlarged him.
I think Nephi’s message is: God is able to do His work even with flawed, fallen, imperfect people like us.
Let’s jump to verse 26. “Oh then, if I have seen so great things...”
Have we seen such great things? Having seen great things, have we appreciated them? Having witnessed God’s work in our lives and in the lives of those around us, have we been mindful of that work and grateful for it?
“O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow… why should I yield to sin…? Why should I give way to temptations…? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?” (vs. 26-27)
These questions are not asked in the sense of, “If I have been given such great training, then why do I behave so badly?” These questions are really very different. The real issue Nephi seemed burdened by was: “If the Lord has been so gracious, then why do I keep myself so vulnerable to sin? Why do I allow myself to be snared by evil?”
Then came the call from his soul which said, “Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul” (v. 28). Notice the theme of “awake and rejoice”. Be mindful of God and His goodness. Be mindful of His readiness to help and bless us. And then, having done that, rejoice.
“Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation” (v. 30).
Then came that plea for divine help because Nephi wanted very much to resist any incursion of sin into his life. “O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin” (v. 31)?
Make it so that sin is ugly to me and detestable and not the least bit attractive. Make it so that sin has no draw to me, but rather it is holiness that I crave. “May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite” (v. 32)! Isn’t that the recognition that all that we have and are is a blessing from God and due to His goodness?
“O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness” (2 Nephi 4:33)! In other words—my holiness ultimately is a sacred gift from Thee.
Let’s conclude with verse 34. “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.”
So Nephi really launched into this psalm in earnest as he said, “Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.” He concluded by saying five times: “trust”. Trust God, not myself. Trust God, not any other human. It is God who must save us. And he ended by proclaiming, “He is the rock, the everlasting God”
May we follow the great example set by Nephi. May we trust in God and throw ourselves on the merits, mercy and grace of the Holy Messiah.
To listen to Wally’s discussion of Nephi’s Psalm, click here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jaod4mqf1FY
Taken from LDSMag.com
It seems to me that great rejoicing in the Atonement is often evoked by great challenges in life. And Nephi’s Psalm in 2 Nephi 4 is a great case in point.
When we consider this chapter in perspective, we see that in verse 12 Lehi died. Think about what that would have meant to Nephi. Lehi was not only his father, but also the prophet leader. He was Nephi’s mentor and guide. What a keen loss this would have been for Nephi.
Lehi died and, as you might expect, Laman and Lemuel promptly got angry along with those who followed them.
Then Nephi’s thoughts turned to the record he had been keeping. I wonder if in some ways that was a burden to him as well. After all, it was his father who taught him in language and culture and now his father was gone. His father mentored and tutored him in keeping a sacred record and now he felt the pressure to try to keep the people together, to keep the record and to do the work of God.
Sometimes the Atonement becomes more meaningful when we get desperate.
In verse 15, Nephi said, “Upon these I write the things of my soul… For my soul delighteth in the scriptures.” And then in verse 16, “My soul delighteth in the things of the Lord.” But even as he rejoiced, he observed, “Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord…” (v. 17).
There is something about knowing the greatness and goodness of God that makes us more aware, more mindful, more burdened by our limitations and humanness. So he went on in verse 17, “Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of my iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth…”
Nephi gave us no clues about those sins and probably we don’t need to know. We don’t know if he was burdened that sometimes he forgot to do his chores or make his bed in the morning. We don’t know if perhaps he failed to save his best energy for prayer. We don’t know whether he had a sensitive soul that became troubled by fairly small mistakes and failings when God had blessed him so abundantly. Or perhaps Nephi was more like most of us—someone who blundered and soiled his life time and time again. Was he burdened by anger, lust, selfishness and all the other common afflictions of mortality? We don’t know. And we don’t need to know because the principles that Nephi teaches us in this great psalm are the same if our sins are of the minor variety or the larger, more common variety.
So he confessed to us, “Despite the goodness of God, my heart sorroweth, my soul greiveth because of my iniquities.” But then there was a turning point: “Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted” (v. 19). That word trust is going to turn out to be very important in this chapter.
“My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions... he hath preserved me… He hath filled me with his love… He hath confounded mine enemies…” (vs. 20-22).
I don’t know why it took me so long to notice that the real focal point had changed from what was so wrong with Nephi to what was so right with God. That’s quite a transformation isn’t it? Nephi was no longer focused on his little known and, to him, abundant shortcomings. His focus turned to God who time and again, in spite of all his weaknesses, blessed him, looked after him, magnified him, and enlarged him.
I think Nephi’s message is: God is able to do His work even with flawed, fallen, imperfect people like us.
Let’s jump to verse 26. “Oh then, if I have seen so great things...”
Have we seen such great things? Having seen great things, have we appreciated them? Having witnessed God’s work in our lives and in the lives of those around us, have we been mindful of that work and grateful for it?
“O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow… why should I yield to sin…? Why should I give way to temptations…? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?” (vs. 26-27)
These questions are not asked in the sense of, “If I have been given such great training, then why do I behave so badly?” These questions are really very different. The real issue Nephi seemed burdened by was: “If the Lord has been so gracious, then why do I keep myself so vulnerable to sin? Why do I allow myself to be snared by evil?”
Then came the call from his soul which said, “Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul” (v. 28). Notice the theme of “awake and rejoice”. Be mindful of God and His goodness. Be mindful of His readiness to help and bless us. And then, having done that, rejoice.
“Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation” (v. 30).
Then came that plea for divine help because Nephi wanted very much to resist any incursion of sin into his life. “O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin” (v. 31)?
Make it so that sin is ugly to me and detestable and not the least bit attractive. Make it so that sin has no draw to me, but rather it is holiness that I crave. “May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite” (v. 32)! Isn’t that the recognition that all that we have and are is a blessing from God and due to His goodness?
“O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness” (2 Nephi 4:33)! In other words—my holiness ultimately is a sacred gift from Thee.
Let’s conclude with verse 34. “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.”
So Nephi really launched into this psalm in earnest as he said, “Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.” He concluded by saying five times: “trust”. Trust God, not myself. Trust God, not any other human. It is God who must save us. And he ended by proclaiming, “He is the rock, the everlasting God”
May we follow the great example set by Nephi. May we trust in God and throw ourselves on the merits, mercy and grace of the Holy Messiah.
To listen to Wally’s discussion of Nephi’s Psalm, click here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jaod4mqf1FY
Thursday, April 7, 2011
April 2011 LDS World Report
Between General Conference sessions, i always love watching the LDS World Report. They are a great way of keeping up with Church events occurring around the world. It reminds me how proud I am to be a part of a global, unified Church. It can be seen in convenient segments here, or in its entirety here.
"An Address by Judge Higbee and Parley P. Pratt . . . to the Citizens of Washington, and to the Public in General."
Lately I've been reading some of the old writings of Parley P. Pratt, of the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ordained to that office in 1835. He was a brilliant man and writer, and his love of Christ and the Restored Gospel–to which he was one of the first and most enthusiastic converts–is highly evident in his fiery, often poetic writings. It is always interesting to me to gain insights into the minds of the early Church leaders and converts, and I thought this press release was especially enlightening. It is interesting that while this was published in 1840, the ideas and arguments are still highly relevant today. Here it is:
“An Address: by Judge Higbee and Parley P. Pratt, Ministers of the Gospel, of the Church
of Jesus Christ of ‘Latter-day Saints,’ to the Citizens of Washington, and to the Public in
General.” Times and Seasons (Commerce, Illinois) 1, no. 5 (March 1840).
FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS:
Aware of the anxiety of the public mind in relation to the faith and principles of our society, and of the many erroneous notions which are abroad concerning them, and which are calculated to prejudice the mind before we can obtain a hearing, we cheerfully offer this address, in order to give some information of our real principles, and hope it will be perused in the spirit of candor in which it is written.
The "Latter-Day Saints" believe in the true and living God, and in Jesus Christ, the son of God, who was crucified, according to the Scriptures, and who rose from the dead on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of God as a mediator.
We also believe in the Holy Scriptures of the prophets and apostles, as being profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, and that all mysticism or private interpretation of them ought to be done away. The Scriptures should be taught, understood, and practiced in their most plain, simple, easy, and literal sense, according to the legitimate meaning of words and sentences precisely the same as if found in any other book.
Words are but signs of ideas; and if Deity would communicate ideas to mankind by words, he must of necessity do it according to the laws of language; otherwise the communication would be unintelligible or indefinite, and therefore unprofitable. –The prophetical and doctrinal writings contained in the Bible are mostly adapted to the capacities of the simple and unlearned–to the common sense of the people. They are designed to be understood and practiced; without which no one can profit by them.
The gospel dispensation reveled and established one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Holy Spirit; in short one system of religion, one church, or assembly of worshippers united in their doctrine, and built upon the TRUTH; and all bearing the general name of Saints. God is not the author of jarring and discordant systems. His Kingdom is not divided against itself; and for this reason we have no confidence in the sects, parties, systems, doctrines, creeds, commandments, traditions, precepts, and teaching of modern times, so far as they are at variance with each other, and contrary to the Scriptures of truth. We have, therefore, withdrawn form all these systems of error and delusion, and have endeavored to restore the ancient doctrine and faith which was once delivered to the saints, and to build society upon the truth, in its purity and fullness, hoping thereby to enjoy the peculiar gifts and blessing which were so abundantly bestowed upon the church in ancient times.
In saying this we do not call in question the morality, the sincerity, or the spiritual enjoyment of individuals belonging to any religious system. On the contrary, we feel assured that there are many sincere and zealous persons in every denomination. It is the Principles we reject, not men. It is the System that we wish to see established in purity, that those who are builded upon it may be pure also. It is the fountain that should be pure, and then the stream is easily kept so.
But if any persons prefer their own doctrines to those which we consider to be true, and we cannot by reason and argument convince them of the correctness of ours, we wish them to have the privilege of enjoying their religious rights unmolested. We have no disposition to persecute them.
We hold it as the duty of all men to believe the gospel to repent of their sins, and to immersed in water in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins. And we hold that all who do this in a proper manner, and under proper authority, are legally entitled to the remission of sins, and to the gift of the Holy Ghost, according to the Scriptures. –Now faith and repentance go before baptism as a necessary qualification; and, therefore infant baptism is of no use. All penitent believers should be baptized with the faith and expectation of receiving remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost, as much so as Naaman the Assyrian washed seven times in Jordan with the expectation of being healed of his leprosy; or as much so as the Israelites sounded the trumpets around the walls of Jericho with the expectation of their being thrown down; for the same god who attached a promise to the performances in these cases, has attached a promise to the conditions of the gospel. (See Acts, chapter 2.)
But now, concerning authority in the administrator. When a minister from England comes to our Government to do business as an ambassador, he must be commissioned by his Government, or all his transactions will be null and void, and England would never fulfill any promise which he might make in her name, however sincere our nation might be in believing him sent.
And so it is with the ambassador of Christ. He must be specially sent, or commissioned to minister in his name, or all his baptizing and other ordinances will be null and void, so as never to entitle the candidate to remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost according to the promise.
The "Latter-day Saints," after immersion, lay on hands, in the name of Jesus, for the gift of the Holy Ghost according to the ancient pattern. They are then considered saints, or members of the Church of Christ, in full fellowship and communion. They are taught to observe all things which are required or commanded by Christ and his apostles – such as meeting together often to sing, to pray, to exhort, to testify, to prophesy, to speak with tongues, to interpret, to relate their visions, revelations, and in short, to edify and perfect each other, by a free exercise of all the gifts of God as set in order among the ancient churches. We also teach them to walk in all the ordinances of God blameless: such as the partaking of bread and wine, in remembrance of his broken body and shed blood, on the first day of the week; and also, to send for the elders of the church, when any of them are sick, that they may pray for them and lay their hands on them in the name of Jesus, or anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, that they may be healed, according to the scriptures. We also teach them to abstain from all immorality: such as injustice, pride, vanity, dishonesty, evil-speaking, falsehood, hatred, envy, avarice, intemperance, adultery, fornication, lasciviousness, and to practise all the virtues; such as love to God and good will to man, brotherly kindness, charity, temperance, and industry. He that has two coats let him impart to him that has none, and he that has food let him do likewise; but he that will not work neither shall he eat. In short, we teach them to do all the good in their power – to visit the widow and the fatherless in their affliction, and to keep themselves unspotted from the world.
As to the fulfillment of prophecy, we believe in the great restoration of Israel, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, in Palestine, and that, when that time comes, the Saviour will come in the clouds of Heaven, and all the saints with him; that the dead in Christ will rise to meet him: and that he will destroy the wicked by the brightness of his coming, and bring the whole earth under his own dominion and put it into the possession of the saints; when there will be a reign of universal peace for one thousand years; after which comes the resurrection of the wicked and the last judgment.
As to the signs of the times, we believe that the gathering of Israel and the second advent of Messiah, with all the great events connected therewith, are near at hand. That it is time for the saints to gather together and prepare for the same. But we disclaim all fellowship with the predictions of the Rev. Mr. Miller, Rev. Joseph Wolff, and others – such as, that the Lord will come in 1840, 1841, 1843, 1847, and so on. We do not believe that he will come until the Jews gather to Palestine and rebuild their city.
Having given this brief sketch of our faith and principles thus far, the inquiry may
arise whether we believe in any other writings or books besides the Bible? To which we reply in
the affirmative; for, like all other Christians, we believe in every true book within our
knowledge, whether on science, history, or religion. We have implicit confidence in the “Book of
Mormon,” not, however, as a new Bible to exclude the old, as some have falsely represented. We
consider the “Book of Mormon” as a historical and religious record, written in ancient times by a
branch of the house of Israel, who peopled America, and from whom the Indians are descended.
The Book of Mormon corroborates and confirms the truth of the Scriptures, by showing that the
same principles were revealed and enjoyed in a country and among a people far remote from the
scenes where the Jewish bible was written.
Suppose a traveller should find in China, in the East Indies, or in America, or New
Holland, an historical record, handed down for thousands of years, or deposited in their sacred
archives, or among their sepulchral ruins, or their monuments of antiquity—and in this record
should be found the principles of eternal truth, revealed to that nation, and agreeing with the
revelation and principles contained in the Jewish records. Or suppose, for instance, when the ten
tribes of Israel are discovered, preparatory to their return to Palestine, a record should be found
among them, giving their history from the time they were carried captive by Salmanezer, King of
Assyria, and this record should be interspersed with prophecies and doctrine, as revealed among
them since their captivity. Would it be any thing incredible or injurious in its nature, or any
thing against the truths revealed in the Jewish records? Certainly not. So far from this, it would
be hailed by every lover of truth as a most interesting and important discovery. Its light would be
hailed as a new era in the history of the great events of modern times.
And similar in its nature is the Book of Mormon. It opens the events of ancient America.
It pours a flood of light upon the world on subjects before concealed—upon the history of a
nation whose remnants have long since dwindled to insignificance in midnight darkness, and
whose former greatness was lost in oblivion, or only known by the remains of cities, palaces,
temples, aqueducts, monuments, towers, fortifications, unintelligible inscriptions, sepulchers,
and bones. The slumber of ages has now been broken. The dark curtain of the past has been
rolled up. The veil of obscurity has been removed as it regards the world called new. The ancient
events of America now stand revealed in the broad light of history, as far back, at least, as the
first peopling of the continent after the flood. This discovery will yet be hailed among all nations
as among the most glorious events of the latter times, and as one of the principal means of
overwhelming the earth with knowledge. But why, then, is it so much opposed and neglected at
the present time? Why do prisoners groan in chains and martyrs bleed in its promulgation to the
world?
Answer. Upon the same principle that a Messiah was crucified, a Stephen stoned, a James
slain, a Paul beheaded, a Peter crucified, a John banished, a Rogers burned, a Columbus
neglected, ridiculed, and envied, a Newton counted mad, and a Fulton laughed to scorn. In short,
it is because they know not what it is.
N.B. If the people wish further information we are now here in Washington, and would freely avail ourselves of the opportunity of giving a course of lectures, if a suitable house and audience can be obtained. –We are willing, also, to supply the public with such books as will give information on our religion, as well as the history of our unparalleled persecution in Missouri.
We reside, at present, at the corner of 9th and D streets.
We are, respectfully.
E. Higbee.
P. P. Pratt.
Washington. February 9, 1840.
P.S. Editors through the States would oblige us by publishing the above.
“An Address: by Judge Higbee and Parley P. Pratt, Ministers of the Gospel, of the Church
of Jesus Christ of ‘Latter-day Saints,’ to the Citizens of Washington, and to the Public in
General.” Times and Seasons (Commerce, Illinois) 1, no. 5 (March 1840).
FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS:
Aware of the anxiety of the public mind in relation to the faith and principles of our society, and of the many erroneous notions which are abroad concerning them, and which are calculated to prejudice the mind before we can obtain a hearing, we cheerfully offer this address, in order to give some information of our real principles, and hope it will be perused in the spirit of candor in which it is written.
The "Latter-Day Saints" believe in the true and living God, and in Jesus Christ, the son of God, who was crucified, according to the Scriptures, and who rose from the dead on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of God as a mediator.
We also believe in the Holy Scriptures of the prophets and apostles, as being profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, and that all mysticism or private interpretation of them ought to be done away. The Scriptures should be taught, understood, and practiced in their most plain, simple, easy, and literal sense, according to the legitimate meaning of words and sentences precisely the same as if found in any other book.
Words are but signs of ideas; and if Deity would communicate ideas to mankind by words, he must of necessity do it according to the laws of language; otherwise the communication would be unintelligible or indefinite, and therefore unprofitable. –The prophetical and doctrinal writings contained in the Bible are mostly adapted to the capacities of the simple and unlearned–to the common sense of the people. They are designed to be understood and practiced; without which no one can profit by them.
The gospel dispensation reveled and established one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Holy Spirit; in short one system of religion, one church, or assembly of worshippers united in their doctrine, and built upon the TRUTH; and all bearing the general name of Saints. God is not the author of jarring and discordant systems. His Kingdom is not divided against itself; and for this reason we have no confidence in the sects, parties, systems, doctrines, creeds, commandments, traditions, precepts, and teaching of modern times, so far as they are at variance with each other, and contrary to the Scriptures of truth. We have, therefore, withdrawn form all these systems of error and delusion, and have endeavored to restore the ancient doctrine and faith which was once delivered to the saints, and to build society upon the truth, in its purity and fullness, hoping thereby to enjoy the peculiar gifts and blessing which were so abundantly bestowed upon the church in ancient times.
In saying this we do not call in question the morality, the sincerity, or the spiritual enjoyment of individuals belonging to any religious system. On the contrary, we feel assured that there are many sincere and zealous persons in every denomination. It is the Principles we reject, not men. It is the System that we wish to see established in purity, that those who are builded upon it may be pure also. It is the fountain that should be pure, and then the stream is easily kept so.
But if any persons prefer their own doctrines to those which we consider to be true, and we cannot by reason and argument convince them of the correctness of ours, we wish them to have the privilege of enjoying their religious rights unmolested. We have no disposition to persecute them.
We hold it as the duty of all men to believe the gospel to repent of their sins, and to immersed in water in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins. And we hold that all who do this in a proper manner, and under proper authority, are legally entitled to the remission of sins, and to the gift of the Holy Ghost, according to the Scriptures. –Now faith and repentance go before baptism as a necessary qualification; and, therefore infant baptism is of no use. All penitent believers should be baptized with the faith and expectation of receiving remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost, as much so as Naaman the Assyrian washed seven times in Jordan with the expectation of being healed of his leprosy; or as much so as the Israelites sounded the trumpets around the walls of Jericho with the expectation of their being thrown down; for the same god who attached a promise to the performances in these cases, has attached a promise to the conditions of the gospel. (See Acts, chapter 2.)
But now, concerning authority in the administrator. When a minister from England comes to our Government to do business as an ambassador, he must be commissioned by his Government, or all his transactions will be null and void, and England would never fulfill any promise which he might make in her name, however sincere our nation might be in believing him sent.
And so it is with the ambassador of Christ. He must be specially sent, or commissioned to minister in his name, or all his baptizing and other ordinances will be null and void, so as never to entitle the candidate to remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost according to the promise.
The "Latter-day Saints," after immersion, lay on hands, in the name of Jesus, for the gift of the Holy Ghost according to the ancient pattern. They are then considered saints, or members of the Church of Christ, in full fellowship and communion. They are taught to observe all things which are required or commanded by Christ and his apostles – such as meeting together often to sing, to pray, to exhort, to testify, to prophesy, to speak with tongues, to interpret, to relate their visions, revelations, and in short, to edify and perfect each other, by a free exercise of all the gifts of God as set in order among the ancient churches. We also teach them to walk in all the ordinances of God blameless: such as the partaking of bread and wine, in remembrance of his broken body and shed blood, on the first day of the week; and also, to send for the elders of the church, when any of them are sick, that they may pray for them and lay their hands on them in the name of Jesus, or anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, that they may be healed, according to the scriptures. We also teach them to abstain from all immorality: such as injustice, pride, vanity, dishonesty, evil-speaking, falsehood, hatred, envy, avarice, intemperance, adultery, fornication, lasciviousness, and to practise all the virtues; such as love to God and good will to man, brotherly kindness, charity, temperance, and industry. He that has two coats let him impart to him that has none, and he that has food let him do likewise; but he that will not work neither shall he eat. In short, we teach them to do all the good in their power – to visit the widow and the fatherless in their affliction, and to keep themselves unspotted from the world.
As to the fulfillment of prophecy, we believe in the great restoration of Israel, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, in Palestine, and that, when that time comes, the Saviour will come in the clouds of Heaven, and all the saints with him; that the dead in Christ will rise to meet him: and that he will destroy the wicked by the brightness of his coming, and bring the whole earth under his own dominion and put it into the possession of the saints; when there will be a reign of universal peace for one thousand years; after which comes the resurrection of the wicked and the last judgment.
As to the signs of the times, we believe that the gathering of Israel and the second advent of Messiah, with all the great events connected therewith, are near at hand. That it is time for the saints to gather together and prepare for the same. But we disclaim all fellowship with the predictions of the Rev. Mr. Miller, Rev. Joseph Wolff, and others – such as, that the Lord will come in 1840, 1841, 1843, 1847, and so on. We do not believe that he will come until the Jews gather to Palestine and rebuild their city.
Having given this brief sketch of our faith and principles thus far, the inquiry may
arise whether we believe in any other writings or books besides the Bible? To which we reply in
the affirmative; for, like all other Christians, we believe in every true book within our
knowledge, whether on science, history, or religion. We have implicit confidence in the “Book of
Mormon,” not, however, as a new Bible to exclude the old, as some have falsely represented. We
consider the “Book of Mormon” as a historical and religious record, written in ancient times by a
branch of the house of Israel, who peopled America, and from whom the Indians are descended.
The Book of Mormon corroborates and confirms the truth of the Scriptures, by showing that the
same principles were revealed and enjoyed in a country and among a people far remote from the
scenes where the Jewish bible was written.
Suppose a traveller should find in China, in the East Indies, or in America, or New
Holland, an historical record, handed down for thousands of years, or deposited in their sacred
archives, or among their sepulchral ruins, or their monuments of antiquity—and in this record
should be found the principles of eternal truth, revealed to that nation, and agreeing with the
revelation and principles contained in the Jewish records. Or suppose, for instance, when the ten
tribes of Israel are discovered, preparatory to their return to Palestine, a record should be found
among them, giving their history from the time they were carried captive by Salmanezer, King of
Assyria, and this record should be interspersed with prophecies and doctrine, as revealed among
them since their captivity. Would it be any thing incredible or injurious in its nature, or any
thing against the truths revealed in the Jewish records? Certainly not. So far from this, it would
be hailed by every lover of truth as a most interesting and important discovery. Its light would be
hailed as a new era in the history of the great events of modern times.
And similar in its nature is the Book of Mormon. It opens the events of ancient America.
It pours a flood of light upon the world on subjects before concealed—upon the history of a
nation whose remnants have long since dwindled to insignificance in midnight darkness, and
whose former greatness was lost in oblivion, or only known by the remains of cities, palaces,
temples, aqueducts, monuments, towers, fortifications, unintelligible inscriptions, sepulchers,
and bones. The slumber of ages has now been broken. The dark curtain of the past has been
rolled up. The veil of obscurity has been removed as it regards the world called new. The ancient
events of America now stand revealed in the broad light of history, as far back, at least, as the
first peopling of the continent after the flood. This discovery will yet be hailed among all nations
as among the most glorious events of the latter times, and as one of the principal means of
overwhelming the earth with knowledge. But why, then, is it so much opposed and neglected at
the present time? Why do prisoners groan in chains and martyrs bleed in its promulgation to the
world?
Answer. Upon the same principle that a Messiah was crucified, a Stephen stoned, a James
slain, a Paul beheaded, a Peter crucified, a John banished, a Rogers burned, a Columbus
neglected, ridiculed, and envied, a Newton counted mad, and a Fulton laughed to scorn. In short,
it is because they know not what it is.
N.B. If the people wish further information we are now here in Washington, and would freely avail ourselves of the opportunity of giving a course of lectures, if a suitable house and audience can be obtained. –We are willing, also, to supply the public with such books as will give information on our religion, as well as the history of our unparalleled persecution in Missouri.
We reside, at present, at the corner of 9th and D streets.
We are, respectfully.
E. Higbee.
P. P. Pratt.
Washington. February 9, 1840.
P.S. Editors through the States would oblige us by publishing the above.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
New Joseph Smith Movie and General Conference
So there's a new version of the movie, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. The original version has been playing for several years in a few LDS visitors' centers around the world. I've seen it several times and really enjoy it. But now there is new version of the film that supposedly focuses more on Joseph Smith as a prophet and is easier to understand for those who know very little about him. I haven't seen this new version yet, but I'm sure it will be good. The movie itself can be viewed or downloaded online at MormonChannel.org/Joseph or on YouTube, and here's a link to the article I just read about it from the LDS Newsroom.
Also, last weekend was the 181st annual LDS General Conference, which was superb as usual. It can be viewed or listened to here. I highly recommend watching some. The chance to hear from inspired prophets and apostles of the Lord over TV and the Internet whenever I want is something I hope to never take for granted.
Also, last weekend was the 181st annual LDS General Conference, which was superb as usual. It can be viewed or listened to here. I highly recommend watching some. The chance to hear from inspired prophets and apostles of the Lord over TV and the Internet whenever I want is something I hope to never take for granted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)