Truth Never Changes Volume 11, Number 4

Ytruth never changesY

Volume 11 APRIL 2007  number 04

Spring Conference Edition

A publication in the spirit & tradition of Truth

UNTITLED EDITORIAL

(From Truth Never Changes, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp.75-77)

The other day I was asked the question: Why does the Lord sometimes send people to the earth without the physical capability to procreate if He has commanded to all mankind to be fruitful and multiply and replenish all the earth?

A good question.  To understand we must look “outside the box,” that we are accustomed to looking at.

IN THIS ISSUE: Untitled Editorial……………………...…48 Separation of the Saints from the World..50 Two Remarkable Prophecies…………....51 Quote from George Q. Cannon………….54 Saints Misled by False Traditions…….…55 Commentary On…………………………57 Excerpts from Lessons in Genealogy……59 Questions on Parenthood……………….62 A Vision of the Past & Future………….66 Editorial……………………………….…68

The Lord works upon the principles of perfect free agency and prefect faith.  The Lord allows natural laws and natural selection to occur, this sometimes brings forth defects.  If a genetic pool tightens recessive traits, characteristics or behaviors may come forth to be dominant in an individual and eventually, in the group—all seemingly at random.

Mankind has manipulated this in both plants and animals, by controlling the gene pool (individuals selected for breeding) alterations have occurred.  Producing varieties that are common to as today, that would altogether disappear if the controls were not there.  This leads to another question: Can the Lord use perfect free agency and still exercise controls?  I believe He can and does allow nature to take its course, yet there is a grand design in all of nature.

I was also asked: What if people fear the world is over-populated and therefore do not have children, yet on the other hand, adopt or care for children, wouldn’t that be the same as having children?

Another question often asked is: Why does God allow so much suffering, starvation, killing, etc.?  Many times those who put this forth are trying to use this as an argument that there is no God, otherwise He would intercede in their behalf.

These are all perplexing questions of our times.  If people fail, by choosing not to have children, they are in fact telling the Lord, “You’ve messed up!  You are sending way too many people to the earth!”  These people do not believe the Lord when He said, “There is enough and to spare.”

Those who care for others—children, sick, or elderly, will not lose their reward for their services rendered.  That brings us to the very center.  All laws, eternal laws, have both a reward and a punishment affixed.  We cannot escape these laws.  There is no other way to gain the reward, other by complying with the law upon which it is predicated.  I can’t change this; the Lord can’t change this, and neither can you.  We can eliminate the punishment by faith in the atoning sacrifice and complying with the laws and ordinances.

Therefore, if people, who choose to not have children, for whatever reason—they cannot reap the reward of that law—that has been forfeited by their choice, and the effects of that choice will be farther reaching than such can imagine.  The greatest work a woman can do is that of being a mother—no career can bring the satisfaction of being a Mother in Israel!

Mankind often wants to blame the Lord for the effects or results of choices made here.  Who commanded men to amass great fortunes and turn the poor away?  This is true—both individually and in governments.  Such should seek out the advice of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon.  The starvation of some is the condemnation of those who fail to share.

Those who kill, rape and plunder are the wicked who use their free agency for evil.  God cannot be held responsible for this, but those who made such choices.

It is stated in the scriptures that it is impossible to be saved in ignorance.  Again that a man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge.  If this is true, then how do we gain knowledge?  By reading and this is good to learn from others.  There is great value in histories, journals, and Scripture and surely we should be students of the Gospel all the days of our lives—not just a casual ten-minutes-a-day student.  Christ said, “Search the Scriptures.”  We are also told to feast upon the word of God.

Such studying will bring knowledge.

Nevertheless our experiences bring us a more complete knowledge.  When we know what something feels like or tastes like, our knowledge is more complete.  This is the greatest teacher.

The Father declared the end from before the foundation of the world.  We, as Spirits, and children of our Father, knew and understood the laws and the rewards thereof.  Who is to say that we, on bended knee, did not plead with the Lord for the privilege of going through certain experiences, even sufferings or sickness to be able to receive certain blessings?   Who is to say that we are not the authors of our experiences, that we prevailed with God and obtained permission to have these adverse conditions in our lives?

Adversity is the lot of all mankind—we came here to be tried—not to constantly be rewarded.  Should we have are heaven here?  If we do, Brigham Young says then we must surely go to hell afterwards.

Faith will overcome all, our goal must be for the eternities.  Let us keep the laws and ordinances that lead to exaltation.

Blessings to you all.

(The late Jackson Ted Jessop)

Qadosh L’Adonai

SEPARATION OF THE SAINTS FROM THE WORLD

Apostle John W. Taylor

I notice there is a difference between the turnout today and last Sunday.  The large attendance then was on account of the presence of President Woodruff and Apostle George Q. Cannon.  As a rule you will find in all communities, that about one-half attend worship because of curiosity, or popularity.  In the days of the Apostles some were for Paul and some for Apollos, but when some of the lesser apostles appeared the attendance was small.

…I feel to say the Latter-day Saints who are here that we must change our tactics or the Lord will need another people to carry out His designs.

In the years of 1847, I am told when the pioneers, or fathers, entered this valley, President Brigham Young called upon Apostle Orson Pratt to offer up a prayer dedicating this land, and making a covenant in behalf of the people that they would keep the commandments of God and pay one-tenth of their increase as tithing.  The covenant was also to the effect that the Saints would consider their inheritance as from the Lord, and the people were instructed to dedicate their homes, for their families and their children, and their children’s children after them.

It was a custom in ancient Israel for the elders to dedicate their families; their tents and all that they had to the Lord; and when it was found that the law of God had been violated, the house in which the sin was committed was burned and its contents destroyed.

Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage, and it will yet appear in the history of the Saints that many have sold their inheritances for thirty pieces of silver.  I do not consider that I have a right to sell my home to a stranger.  I believe in treating all honorable people with respect, but I do not believe that the latter-day Saints can serve God while mixing up with the world.

…There was another law given unto Israel about which I wish to speak plainly.  Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, had not wisdom to keep this law, which was: “Thou shalt not marry without unto a stranger”.  When he broke this law he was shorn of his wisdom.

After he married strange women, many of the people strayed away and married among strange nations.  Afterwards the word of the Lord went forth commanding the children of Israel to separate themselves from the Gentile nations with who they had intermarried.  The result was that husbands were parted from wives, and parents from children.  I believe there is no need to mince these matters, and that the time will come when this people will be separated from all others.  When a Latter-day Saint marries a partner who does not believe in the Gospel, nor in the resurrection of the dead, what is the result?  A house divided against itself.  I admire a nation which separates itself from all others.  For this reason I have always admired the Jews.  They cannot unite with unbelievers without violating the rules of their faith.

…I feel to say to those who are here today, act as leaven; visit among your neighbors and act as a leaven does in the meal.  Scores of young ladies of Latter-day Saint parentage are marrying without the Church unto strangers, and many parents in the Church dress their daughters like dolls, and allow them to mingle with society in which they are led to marry strangers.  Tell your brethren not to do this.  Tell them to separate themselves from the world, but first separate yourselves.

…I do not believe in whitewashing, and I think we ought to do away with everything of the kind.  We are getting into such a condition that if we were to meet the Lord, we could not look Him in the face, and the way we are going it will soon be impossible to tell what we do believe.  Teach your daughters to marry men with whom they can be united for eternity.  (Deseret Weekly News, March 9, 1889)

Two Remarkable Prophecies

Rulon C. Allred, TRUTH, 3:78-79)

The following is found in the 1891 edition of the D&C at the foot of page 461 and refers to the following quotations from Sec. 130 (in the words of the Prophet Joseph):

            I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following: “Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; Therefore, let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.”

            I was left thus without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the Millennium or to some previous appearing or whether I should die and thus see His face.

            I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time.

The little letter “I” is used as a reference citation over the words “eighty-five years old” from the previous quotation, as follows:

(i)                 NEAR THE END OF THE YEAR 1890.  See Sec. 45: 42-44.  Sec. 49: 6-7.  See the prophecy of Joseph uttered 14 FEB 1835.  (Mill. Star, No. 13, Vol. 15).  EVEN FIFTY-SIX YEARS SHALL WIND UP THE SCENE.  Whether this has reference to the coming of Christ, or the “fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles” is unknown.

Under date of February 14, 1835, I found the following.  Omitting the first few verses of the minutes (See Mill. Star 15:205, History of Joseph Smith):

            President Smith then stated that the meeting had been called because God had commanded it, and it was made known to him by vision and by the Holy Spirit.  He then gave a relation of some of the circumstances attending us while journeying to Zion—our trials, sufferings, etc., etc., and said God had not designed all this for nothing, but He had it in remembrance yet; and those who went to Zion with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, it was the will of God that they should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, which was nigh—EVEN FIFTY-SIX YEARS SHOULD WIND UP THE SCENE.  (1890-1891)

“In the mouths of two or three witnesses thou shalt establish all things.”

It is evident from the preceding that the end of the year 1890, or the beginning of the year 1891, was, by the word of the Lord, to witness some remarkable event, i. e. Either the coming of the Savior, ushering in of the millennial reign, the redemption of Zion, or the “Fulness of times of the gentiles.”

We have no evidence of the Savior’s having come then, unless we should accept that fulfillment as having been realized when it is said He appeared to the Prophet John Taylor September 26-27, 1886.  Certainly, Zion has not yet been redeemed.  Evidences of the Lord’s displeasure as witnessed in the continual wars and bloodshed, and upheavals of nature hardly bespeak the peace of the millennial reign.  We must conclude that (unless the Lord’s statements were without meaning whatever) they had reference to the “fulfillment of the times of the gentiles.”  This conclusion seems to have further justification from the following revelations of the leaders of the Church.

Let me indicate its fulfillment upon that date, namely, “during the latter part of the year 1890,” when the Manifesto was signed September 24, 1890 and accepted by the gentile Church on October 6, 1890.

The Lord said in His revelation to Wilford Woodruff, as recorded in tat Prophet’s diary, and received November 24, 1889, after his return to the Gardo House, at which time he was pleading for light regarding concessions demanded by the wicked regarding plural marriage:

Thus saith the Lord to my servant Wilford, I, the Lord, have heard thy prayers and thy request and will answer thee by the voice of my spirit…Let not my servants deny my word or my law which concerns the salvation of the children of men…Place not yourselves in jeopardy to your enemies by promise.  Your enemies seek your destruction and the destruction of my people…Let my servants make their pleadings as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit without any further pledges from my Priesthood…The wicked are fast ripening in iniquity, and they will be cut off by the judgements of God…I cannot deny my word, neither in blessings nor judgements.  Watch and be sober and keep my commandments…Exercise faith in the Lord and in the promises of God.  Be valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ.  The eyes of the Lord are watching over you and your acts.  Therefore, be faithful until I come.

Ten months after this revelation, the Manifesto was signed.  The Lord said in His revelation to Wilford Woodruff in 1880:

And I say again, woe unto that nation or house or people who seek to hinder my people from obeying the patriarchal law of Abraham which leadeth to Celestial glory, which has been revealed unto my saints through the mouth of my servant Joseph, for whoso doeth these things shall be damned, saith the Lord of Hosts, and shall be broken up and wasted away from under Heaven.

The above plainly shows that the Lord intended that the saints should remain faithful to the fulness of the gospel, and that had they done so, he would have appeared unto their salvation.  He told the Prophet John Taylor, September 26-27, 1886, that He had not revoked that law—that He would not revoke it, but that He gave the saints their free agency.

There is further evidence that we as the gentile church forfeited our rights to the fulness of the gospel from the following editorial of the Deseret News dated April 23, 1885:

The chief object of the crusade is to get the Church to apostatize.  That arrived at, nothing would be necessary for the satisfaction of the enemies of the work of God.  That accomplished, they would be jubilant and hell would rejoice.

What would be necessary to bring about the result nearest the hearts of the opponents of Mormonism, more properly termed the Gospel of the Son of God?  SIMPLY RENOUNCE, ABROGATE OR APOSTATIZE FROM THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT OF MARRIAGE IN ITS FULNESS (Plural Marriage).  Were the Church to do this as an entirety, God would reject the saints as a body. The authority of the Priesthood would be withdrawn, with its gifts and powers, and there would be no more heavenly recognition of the administrations among the people.  The heavens would permanently withdraw themselves, and the Lord would raise up another people of greater valor and stability.

The article continues by warning the saints that if they turned from that law:

The Church would be shorn of its strength, having surrendered it integrity because of earthly opposition.  Its adherents would no longer be distinctive, but would be like the rest of the world, whose hate would turn to affection because of the love it has for its own, and the saints would have the meager satisfaction of having all men speak well of them.

Since our Lord did not come “during the latter part of 1890”; since the Millennial Reign had not been ushered in, since Zion had not been redeemed, then surely that time must indicate “the fulness of the times of the Gentiles,” as mentioned here and in holy writ.

If, as the leaders stated, in their official statement denouncing the practice of plural marriage, the Manifesto was signed because President Woodruff knew that no HUMAN power could save the church, then the Lord was bound by oath, as seen from the above revelations, to appear to the redemption of the Saints at that time.

Had He not promised to fight the battles of the Saints if they remained faithful?  Had He not decreed that His judgements should begin at His house?  He was therefore under covenant to redeem them in mighty power, or to condemn them.

Thus the “time of the Gentiles” were fulfilled; the Savior did not come to redeem them, because they failed to keep their covenants.

The Lord said (3^rd Nephi, 16), that when the Gentiles rejected the fulness of His Gospel, the fulness of His Gospel would be taken out from among them and given to the house of Israel.

I will concede there is little evidence of the Gospel having gone to the Jews and the House of Joseph, but all of God’s works and words are not known to man, and—some time elapsed after the Jews rejected the gospel and crucified Christ before the gospel went to the Gentiles.  And, in this respect, the Lord has said “The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.”  (See also the Inspired Translation of the Bible, Matthew 21).

I have sometimes thought that the Prophet Joseph, with the knowledge he possessed and the progress he had made, could not stay with the people, so slow were we to comprehend things and so enshrouded in our ignorant traditions.  The Saints could not comprehend Joseph Smith; the Elders could not; the apostles could not.  They did do a little towards the close of his life; but his knowledge was so extensive and his comprehension so great that they could not rise to it.  It was so with President Young and I may say it is so with the leaders of the Church now.  It is a continual labor on their part to lift the people up to the comprehension of the labor of God and his purposes connected with this work.  The people are BOUND DOWN BY TRADITIONS, AND BECAUSE OF THIS IT IS RARELY THAT YOU CAN GET EVEN ELDERS TO SEE THE PROPRIETY OF CERTAIN THINGS.  George Q. Cannon, Utah Stake Conference, April 16, 1899.

Saints Misled by

False Traditions

George Q. Cannon

General Conference, April 6, 1879

…But it is a most difficult thing to get these Latter-day Saints to understand the principles that are as plain as the noonday sun—that they should receive readily, and why?  Because, as I have said, they are heirs of the traditions of cenuries that have come down through the dark ages.  It is a wonderful thing to do what we have done respecting woman.  Look at what monogamy has done.  Look at its effects; trace its influence from the death of the Apostles, or soon afterwards, down to this the nineteenth century, and what do we behold?  Why, in every generation a large percentage of our sisters has been consigned either to that nameless condition of which it is a shame to speak, or have died without ever knowing the joys of maternity.  When I think of it, when I read the history of the boasted civilization of the Greeks and the Romans, and think of the boasted civilization of our day, inherited from these nations, and witness its effect, I wonder how man, standing up in the face of heaven, dare look at woman and talk about being her protector.  Read the history of the sex and of the frightful evils which have been brought upon our sisters through man’s accursed traditions and evils.  If it were to be told to another people differently situated to us, with different traditions to us, they could not believe that intelligent man would entertain for one moment, or that women themselves, in view of what their sex has suffered would cherish and cling to the wretched traditions that have prevailed in Christendom and to a certain extent yet prevail in our midst.

I know I am touching now upon what many people consider a tender spot.  Say they, “The decision of the Supreme Court has arranged all this.”  (Decided the constitutionality of the anti-polygamous law.)  Yes, but it will not stay arranged.  Let me tell you, that wrong may prevail and right may apparently be crushed; but right must at last prevail and claim its own in spite of laws, of decisions, of mandates, and everything that man can utter.

…I consider our false tradition upon this subject one of the greatest evils at the present time that exists upon the earth.  It has come down to us from the Greeks and the Romans, than whom a more abominable lot of people never lived upon the earth.  To read their books is enough to make a man with the least feeling of modesty blush and be ashamed of his race.  Yet there are introduced into our literature.  Whoever reads Horace, Sallust, and numbers of those authors, well knows how full of corruption they are.  Not only crimes, but crimes against natures were justified by some of the best and most noted of Greek philosophers, and were practiced by Sophacles, Socrates, and others; and yet this is the philosophy that has come down to us.  They had a class of women in their midst who were regularly compensated and sustained as courtesans; they were maintained in order that the purity of the domestic circle might be unpolluted.  And this has come down to us in Christendom, in Europe and America to the present time. The fairest of earth’s daughters fall yearly sacrifices to the abominable lusts of men.  How is the domestic circle preserved in monogamous countries today?  It is only preserved at the expense of this class to which I have referred, by these priestesses of humanity, blasted for the sins of the people living short lives and carrying with them the effects of man’s abominable lusts.

…So far as religious liberty is concerned we have fought that battle thus far with tolerable success; but we have yet to contend still more for greater liberty, not for ourselves alone, but for every human being that dwells upon this land, from the east to the west and from the north to the south.  The principle must be maintained, the principle that actuated the founders of our government, when they laid the foundation stone thereof, that in matters of religious concern no man has a right to step between his fellowmen and his God.  I may worship idols; I may worship the sun and pay adoration to him, the great luminary of day; I may do other things which may seem equally improper, but have I not the right to do these things under our constitution?  Was it not the intention of the framers of our form of government that every man should have this right?  Certainly it was; and it can be clearly proved that this was their intention that this was the spirit that actuated and prompted them.

In Salt Lake City, if the “Mormons” had supreme control—I say, “Mormons,” I ought to say Latter-day Saints—if they had supreme control from our northern boundary in Idaho to the southern boundary, Arizona, and from our eastern boundary, Colorado, to our western boundary, Nevada; if we had supreme control and undisputed possession of this land, without the right of dominion over us being questioned, we would have no authority under the Constitution under which we live to say to any human being within these confines how he should worship, what he should or should not do in order to please the creator.  But supposing that a man should come along that believes it his right and in accordance with his religious convictions to marry more than one wife, and he takes care of his wives and provides for them properly, according to his religion, believing that in eternity to come he will dwell with them.  Some of us may think that his ideas of heaven are very materialistic; we may think him a very foolish man for having such a belief, and especially for going to the expense of keeping three or four wives: these may be the popular idea about him, but if he carries out his belief from a righteous standpoint, he has a perfect right to do it in the face of God and even under the Constitution of our land.  The Parsee (sic) and fire-worshipper and men of kindred belief may yet come to this land of liberty; and I tell you if the spirit of the Constitution be maintained, as the Latter-day Saints will yet maintain it, they will have a perfect right to worship their God according to the dictates of their own conscience without any to molest or make afraid.  The only time that these men can be interfered with will be when their religious acts interfere with the rights and liberties of their fellow men.

Hear it, Ye Latter-day Saints!  When John Chinaman comes in our midst, teach your children to respect him.  When any other man of any other creed, race or color takes his abode among you, teach your children to respect his form of worship.  And if they should go to the church of the Catholics or that of the Presbyterians or of any other sect, teach them to behave themselves and treat everybody with civility and kindness, and that is none of their business how these sects worship, teach that they violate good order and good law when they in any way make light of religious exercises.  I would whip a boy for it quicker than anything else.  That is the freedom I believe in; that is the freedom I mean to teach my children and to all men so far as my voice and influence extend; that is the freedom I mean to contend for, and as I have said hundreds of times to leading men of the nation, I will, if necessary, take my sons and make them swear that they will stand by and maintain this liberty as long as they live and contend for it and teach their children after them to contend for it also.  I believe in the fullest liberty upon these points.

—COMMENTARY—

ON

The Marriage Covenant

Latter-day Saints have always been a covenant-making people, since the restoration of the Priesthood and the organization of the Church.  Priesthood—the one thing that separates our religion from all others, and, of course, there’s also TRUTH.  We have rites and ordinances within our faith, which is administered by this Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God—which begins with our name and blessing, eight days from our entrance into this world, by a legal administrator—a bearer of this Priesthood.  At eight years of age, we enter into the waters of baptism for the remission of our sins, and receive the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands, by a legal administrator—a bearer of this Priesthood. 

From there, we Latter-day Saints go through our respective lives making preparations and progressions, which lead us into the House of the Lord.  There, under the hands of Legal Administrators—bearers of the Holy Priesthood, we are given more blessings and promises, of which the fruition depends upon our own faithfulness, and make several covenants to keep several laws.  Eternal covenants.  Throughout, one is given opportunities to withdraw, should one feel incapable of living up to those covenants. 

The session usually culminates with a man and woman kneeling across from one another at the altar, being sealed as man and wife for time and for all eternity, and a covenant and promise that each will fulfill all the laws, rites and ordinances pertaining to this holy matrimony and the new and everlasting covenant.  Each couple do so in the presence of God, angels and witnesses.  These covenants are serious, and infractions—whether they be commission or omission thereof, are serious.  Can a person be negligent in the observance of that which he or she covenanted to fulfill, and expect to achieve salvation?  Can a man or woman, having promised to keep those laws, be derelict in their duty and anticipate a glorious reward?  From the moment the covenant is made, one is responsible to see it fulfilled; to see the realization of those promises achieved.  How can one expect the compensation from God if one is unwilling to conform to the contract?  The Lord will surely keep His end of the bargain—will you?

Many Mormons today have the erroneous idea that all one needs to do is go on a mission for the Church, attend your meetings, pay your tithes, and marry in the temple and one is set for life and eternity.  But there is so much more.  And so much more involved in that little marriage rite that all who have entered into it need to make some discoveries.

It is our duty to research and see what our duty entails, regarding the fulfillment of all the laws, rites and ordinances pertaining to that holy matrimony in the new and everlasting covenant, and see to it that we are compliant.  We cannot expect to receive the blessings of Abraham if we do not fulfill the law of Abraham.  If one has made that covenant, then that individual is then bound, by the Law of God to execute and satisfy the requisites.

I am reminded by an art print I saw in an LDS bookstore, of someone’s rendition of the Savior, and the caption beneath read, “I never said it was easy; I only said it was worth it.”  I don’t know if the Savior ever spoke those words verbatim, but the message is true.  It will be well worth our while to see our end of the oath fulfilled.  So that one day, men will rise in the first resurrection with their wives, knowing they will be together for all eternity, and angels will be subject unto them, for they will be gods and goddesses.  Literally.

And because we Mormons believe in eternal progression—that earth is our proving ground for gods and devils, we are partial to the real truth of our existence here.  May we all endeavor to keep those promises made within the House of God.  May we ever be a covenant-keeping people, so that we may find favor in God.  I pray, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 Excerpts from Lessons in Genealogy

(Contributed)

                The Genealogical Society of Utah  was organized on Tuesday, November 13, 1894, at a meeting held in the Historian's Office, Salt Lake City, by the following:

Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, John Nicholson, James H. Anderson, Amos Milton Musser, Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, James B. Walkley, Abraham H. Cannon, George Reynolds, John Jacques, and Kuncan W. McAllister.  All of whom prepared and signed the following document:

            "We, the undersigned members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do hereby associate ourselves together in an organization to be known by the name and style of 'The genealogical Society of Utah', the purposes of which are benevolent, educational and religious -- pecuniary profit not being the object; benevolent in collecting, compiling, establishing and maintaining a genealogical library for the use and benefit of its members and others; educational in disseminating information regarding genealogical matters; religious in acquiring records of deceased persons in connection with ordinances of the religion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as that religion is understood in the doctrines and discipline of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and set forth in the revelations of God; said association to be conducted in harmony with the rules and order of said Church."

            In the Year 1921 the "Society was officiated by the following persons:

Directors:

Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose, Joseph Christenson, Hyrum G. Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, Anthony W. Ivins, and Heber J. Grant

Officers:

President - Anthon H. Lund

Vice-President - Charles W. Penrose

Secy. and Treas. - Joseph Fielding Smith

Asst. Secretary - Nephi Anderson

Librarian - Joseph Christenson

Asst. Librarian - Lillian Cameron

Genealogy

The Place of Genealogy in the Plan of Salvation

            Every Latter-day Saint should believe in genealogy as much as he believes in faith, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins; and this belief should be manifested in works, the same as belief in baptism, tithing or any other gospel principle is shown to be genuine by its fulfillment in actual practice.  To establish this statement let me explain by briefly pointing what the Latter-day Saints believe regarding the salvation of the human race.

The Plan of Salvation

Summarized it is this: God's work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man; and this is accomplished through the operations of eternal law.  "All kingdoms have a law given," says the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith, "and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.  All beings are redeemed, justified, and perfected by obedience to the laws given."

            The law by which all human beings which tabernacle on this earth may be justified and perfected was formulated in the heavens before this world was. The Plan of Salvation for the human race was there proclaimed, and we know it by the term, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

            The primary and fundamental principles of this plan or gospel may be stated as follows:

            Faith in God the Father, in His son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

            Acceptance of the infinite atonement of Jesus Christ both for Adam's transgression and for personal sin on condition of repentance.

            Baptism in water for the remission of sins, and baptism of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, by those having authority from God.

            Willingness to serve the Lord and keep His commandments.

            These principles being fundamental cannot be changed or annulled.  They are co-equal and all-important.  None of them can be omitted from the perfect plan.  They are equally binding on all men, who are subject to the law at all times, from the days of Adam to the winding up scene.

Those Who Have Not Known

            Many generations of men have not received this law of the Gospel among them.  Through one cause or another, not always known to us, ignorance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has prevailed among many nations and people.

            Baptism is essential to salvation, but the Gospel can be preached to those called the dead - those of the human race who have laid down the mortal body, and who dwell in the great world of spirits.  The Apostle Peter taught that the Gospel was preached to those that were dead, and that there were those who were baptized for the dead.  There is an interesting legend handed down, based on the teachings of Peter, that Christ, "Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit, by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison."  This legend is called the "Gospel of Nicodemus".  An interesting reading of this is found in Plumptree's "The Spirits in Prison." 

The Coming of the Light

            The Lord revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith the principle of salvation for the dead.  Then the light burst forth, and perplexing questions were answered.  The Gospel is preached in the spirit world - the Gospel in its completeness, including baptism in water for the remission of sins.  The living on the earth may be baptized for the dead; and if the dead exercise faith and repentance, the earthly vicarious work will be credited to them as if they had done it themselves.  Here, then, is harmony between the declaration of Jesus to Nicodemus (John 3: 3-6), and Paul's reference to baptism for the dead.  (I Cor. 13: 29)

            It was on the 21st of September, 1823, that the angel Moroni announced the speedy restoration of these truths; and on April 3, 1836, in the Kirtland Temple, Elijah the prophet delivered the keys pertaining to the salvation of the dead to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.  The time had come.  The hearts of the fathers should turn to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth should be smitten with a curse.

            Joseph received line upon line regarding this subject until the Nauvoo Temple was ready for ordinance work.  He had a clear understanding of this restored principle.  His later years were taken up with it.  When in exile because of enemies he wrote to the Church on the subject.  He said:  "And now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers, 'that they without us cannot be made perfect, neither can we without our dead be made perfect.'"

            Sections 127 & 128 of the D&C contain much of the Prophet's teachings on this subject, which all should read.

The Underlying Principles

            What then are the principles underlying this doctrine of salvation for the dead.  First, that every soul, to be saved, must come under the unchanging law of the Gospel.  Second, that the whole race must be bound together into one complete chain.  There must be a 'welding link' between the fathers and the children.  The hearts of the fathers and the children must be turned to each other.  The salvation of the fathers is necessary to our salvation.  We cannot go alone, unconnected, into the kingdom of our Father.  Note the wording of the angel's message: 'The tie that shall bind together the human race is not of cold compulsion, but hearts shall form the links from father to son from the first man to the last.'  How grand is the thought!  Love, the Eternal Father- love and Mother- Love of Deity is the power that shall link together the human race!

            This work belongs to the Latter-day Saints. 

*** In every nation where the blood of Israel has been found more abundantly, the hearts of the children have been turned to their fathers.

            'It is important for us to plead with the Lord to make it known', to bring to light the documents that are more or less obscure, to preserve their valuable contents from possible loss through injury or natural decay; and to disseminate the annals of the past.

            The result of all this labor and research will immensely facilitate it.  It is a great and good work.  Owing to the many hundreds of thousands who are 'depending on and praying for this work to be done for them', it will require many years to accomplish.  'This is the time for this great work.  There is no other time in which we can be instruments, in which the Lord can direct us, that we may have the privilege of being a part of this great work.'  Our time must be occupied in spending our time, talents, energy and means to further the cause.  A good many of the old records, now hidden away in the nooks and corners of the Country will be made known and available 'by the Lord in answer to our earnest pleas.'

Organization of Genealogical Society of Utah

            In the providence of the Lord the time came for some organization to be effected that would help the Latter-day Saints in their important work of searching after their dead; therefore, on Tuesday, November 13, 1894, at a meeting held in the Historian's Office, Salt Lake City, the Genealogical Society of Utah was organized.

            The work is slow in the beginning, but will develop wonderfully 'with the help of the Lord and through much individual fasting and prayers'.  There are many records available.  These consist largely of American and English family history, vital records, parish registers, town and county histories, Genealogical registers, charts, and other publications bearing on the subject of genealogy and history.  A beginning has been made, with prospects of substantial additions.  The members must be devoted to the interests of this great work.  The salvation for the dead makes it of the utmost importance.

            The question is frequently asked, "What advantage will come to me?"  It is yet human to want to know what the personal gain will be by an investment in time or means.  Do the Saints ask to be assured before they will accept a call to go on a mission that they shall reach some of their own kin with the Gospel?  In any good work of the Church, does it matter just who are benefited?  All selfishness is eliminated from the work for the dead.  One soul is as precious as another, and all should have an equal chance for salvation.  And who shall say who is doing more, he who does the work or he who makes it possible.  "No man liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself."  The whole human race is bound together by the relationship of blood, and kinship with God; therefore, no good deed can be done to or in behalf of any fellow being but that will become part of the great whole of good which is to save the race.

 Fifth Edition; published by the Genealogical Society of Utah in 1921

Questions on Parenthood

From TRUTH MAGAZINE, Vol. 7:140-142

(The following taken from “Liahona”, the Elder’s Journal, is submitted for publication by a valued reader.  The principles announced are rich in wisdom and truth, and should be joyfully received by the Saints—Editors of Truth Magazine, Nov. 1941)

(TNC, 4:78-82)

     From Chicago comes a letter to LIAHONA, the Elder’s Journal, written by a woman containing these questions:

1.      What becomes of all those children that are destroyed before birth?  Is that a great a sin as murder?

     Poor woman!  Struggling with the problems and temptations that beset your sex in the day and city in which you live, a day and city of pride and wickedness.  May our Heavenly Father be merciful to you while the ax is laid at the root of the tree, and the great truth is sent home to your soul that God cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.

1.      The body of a child destroyed before birth goes back to the elements of which it was composed, without serving the purpose for which it was formed, namely, the home and complement of an immortal and eternal spirit, which was waiting to enter and possess it.  Nature is thwarted and outraged, and that waiting spirit is disappointed.

    There is good reason to believe that this disappointment causes anguish to the spirit which far exceeds anything the mother could have suffered by giving it birth and a mother’s love and care.  Hence, the wrong magnitude of such a sin.

     “Is it as great a sin as murder?”  It is murder.  It’s a crime that deprives a human spirit of life on this earth, and the privileges and blessings of this probationary state and hence, murder.

2.  Is it wrong for married people to refuse to have children when they can have them?  

2. Yes.  Married people, who refuse to have children when they can do so, are guilty of a great sin, a sin that will bring agony of sorrow and remorse to their souls when the consequences and penalties of it burst upon their realization.  They break the first commandment God gave to man: “Multiply and replenish the earth.”

3.  Is it right for a poor couple to have a large family when the mother is sickly and the children receive very little care?

3. This question includes a specious argument, which leads up to the answer desired by so many misguided husbands and wives.  But the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed to the Latter-day Saints, denies and abhors that answer.  Neither poverty nor impaired health on the part of either both parents can be pleaded in justification of the prenatal destruction of offspring.  The soundness of this view will become apparent if the form of the question is slightly changed, thus: “Is it right for a poor couple to kill some of their children when the wife is sickly and they receive very little care?”

By way of further reply to these three questions, we present a parable.

     A certain woman who was a wife, was proud and loved ease and pleasure, and desired that she might escape the bearing and rearing of children.  She asked herself: "“Why should I endure that pain and care and sacrifice?  What have I to gain?”  And she said, “I will not.” 

One night, a messenger from heaven stood at her bedside and commanded her: “Come with me.”  She obeyed.

Her spirit left her body, which lay upon her bed.  She gazed upon it for a moment, when the messenger said: “I am sent to show you things pertaining to other worlds.  Follow me.”

They entered a city of beauty and splendor beyond the imagination of mortals.  It was a city of homes and parks and gardens.  And there were children everywhere.  The love and laughter of children filled the air, and in their sweet society, their parents found the highest joys of a celestial sphere.  Parents loved their children, and children loved their parents, and this mutual love gave to all the most exquisite happiness which even heaven knew.

“Now let us descend,” said the guide, and the woman closely following him, moved downward swiftly, until the distance between the two worlds was covered.  The one, which they approached, was shrouded in gloom.  They came to a city of vast extent and countless population.  All was dark, wretched and forbidding.  The streets were thronged, but not a child could be seen.

“There are no children in this city,” explained the guide, “All who dwell here are husbands and wives who did not love children and refused to receive them.”  The woman looked and listened.  From the words and faces of the people she saw that the men hated the women and the women hated the men.  Love was unknown, hate held full sway. 

“Between husband and wife, love was killed by selfishness, and confidence was destroyed by sin, and now they hate each other.  This is part of hell,” said the guide.  Then he added, “I must show you still another world—come.”

The woman could not tell in what direction, upward, downward, or on a plane they moved, but she knew that their speed was that of light.  They reached a region, which she could not describe, save that it seemed neither light nor dark, gay or sad.  All was neutral.  She saw millions of spirits.  “These are awaiting bodies on the earth,” said the guide.  Angels smiling moved among them, and choosing one here and another one there, said to each chosen: “A tabernacle is ready for you—come.”  Each spirit, to whom this news was spoken, was filled with an ecstasy of delight, bade fond farewells and disappeared.

Other angels, whose faces portrayed bitter sorrow moved among the spirits.  One would approach a spirit and say, “The tabernacle that was being prepared for you was destroyed.  You cannot be born upon the earth.”

The anguish caused by this announcement was unutterable.  Earth knows no suffering so appalling.  The woman’s emotions of remorse and horror were indescribable.  She wept and groaned and wrung her hands.  “Oh what can I do!” She cried to her guide.  “Repent,” was all he said.

When morning came, the woman told her husband that it was all so vivid she was not certain whether she had dreamed or really seen and heard.  But she said that neither sacrifice nor temptation could ever again swerve her from her duty as a wife and mother.

        So eager are the spirits of the unborn to receive bodies that neither poverty, nor squalor, nor even the environments of crime deter them from seizing such an opportunity.  Such consideration to them is trifling when compared with the privilege of obtaining a body that will be capable of a resurrection.  Parents err in supposing that the burden of caring for their children rests solely, or even chiefly, upon them.  This is not true.  For every babe born into mortal life, a guardian is appointed from among the angels of the Lord, and that guardian angel has far more power over the environment and destiny of that babe than its parents have.  This truth destroys every argument in support of race suicide.

4. Will you please publish a little prayer to teach a small child to say at the table?

4. A prayer taught to a little child to say the prayer at the table, should express three thoughts: First, thanks to God for the food; second, a request that He will bless it; third, the request should be made in the name of Jesus.  Thus: “Our Father in heaven, we thank thee for this food, and ask thee to bless it, in the name of Jesus, Amen.”

This is a short and simple form, adapted to very small children.  It is well to encourage older children to frame a prayer in language of their own, but the three thoughts above stated should be preserved in asking a blessing upon the food.

5. Is a nursing mother supposed to fast?

5. If a nursing mother can fast without injury or inconvenience to herself or her babe, she ought to do so.  But if fasting causes undue faintness to the mother, or a shortage of milk for the babe, or marked discomfort to the mother, it need not be practiced.  Latter-day Saints do not fast by way of penance, nor the infliction of self-punishment.  One of the reasons why the Lord has established the custom, is its great hygienic value to most persons.  But in cases in which it would be other than beneficial, such as some small children, invalids, nursing mothers, etc., its observance is not required.  The Sprit of the Lord, which is the essence of wisdom and pure intelligence, will indicate the exceptions to the rule.

  

A Vision of the Past and the Future

(Contributed)

  

  I was looking at this beautiful planet earth, from a distance as though I was out in space. A blue orb of magnificence and I sense there were no mortal men, physical men there. The Race of the Gods was here.  Green lawns everywhere. Rivers flowing into lakes. No oceans anywhere.  Refreshing and cool. Men and women dressed in white robes with golden and bright crowns on their heads. Flowers of large proportions with bright colors that were many more than I had ever seen. Children everywhere and we were like the children. We were the children and some of us were the parents as well.

  

  We spoke a language that sounded like Gallic, yet we sang in the most pleasant tones as we spoke and the music in the language and in the air was so pleasing, so uplifting to me.  God, our Father was there, and we loved Him. He loved us. We loved each other.  Why would anyone want to leave this beautiful orb?  This place of Heaven.  Everything there is organic or living. No mechanical things. Just living things that do many things to serve themselves, each other and the Gods.

  

  No contention, yet growth. No misery, yet opposition.  But most of all, PEACE. What a place of incredible peace. I can see into this world.

  

  The Word went out that this earth would become a mortal world as all such worlds are wanton to become and that all of this paradise would go away for a long time and then would come back with even more glory and beauty, which I could not conceive of..

  

  All those who focused on the greater glory, rejoiced. Others were frightened. “What if we don’t come back here? Then what? We lose all that we have attained.” And a man, in glory and with white robes, shining quite brightly, said, “It is simple. You will be forced to do what you must to return here.” And another said, “But if you do that, there will be no greater glory.  There will be only a loss of the status quo, as we must grow or diminish, there is no status quo.  This is according to the Forever Law of Growth or Diminishment”. 

  

  But the others cried out: “We don’t care. We just don’t want to take the risk of losing it all.”

  

  And a Great Debate took place and many sided with the man who said that we shouldn’t have to take a risk, and others sided with the Man who wanted to attain to the Greater Power and Glory.  It was a Healthy Disagreement and each claimed to have it revealed to them from their “Head” that this was the way things should be.  The Contention was then over who should be the “Head” and each group or division chose their Head and said, “We will follow this Man and all those He appoints to be our heads under His authority.  And we will follow His Plan in how we shall proceed forward in our Eternal Lives.”

  

  The Gods themselves divided into two factions, each committed to their own Agenda of how the future should be.  It is an Eternal Law that men must either move forward or go backward.  Going forward means happiness, joy and growth. Men are happy when they are growing, even if that comes through opposition, misery and difficulty. It is in the overcoming that our Glory is assured.  When men seek to retain that which they have, because they are fearful, with no thought to achieve more, they retard and regress back into Darkness, Misery and Hopelessness.

  

  And so, each Group moved in those directions dictated by Eternal Law, moving wider and wider apart from each other, one into a Greater and more Glorious Future Heaven, the other into a darker and more ignoble future hell   When the faction that wanted “no risk” began to see the consequences of their decisions, and began to realize the ultimate result of the course of action they had chosen, they were asked to change their minds and their course of action to side with those who are the “risk takers”. A few did change and come over to that Group, but most stayed on course, demanding a return to the status quo, demanding that they not be asked to take any risks in moving forward or maintaining the glory they had.  When they realized that their strategy was not working, in getting them what they wanted, they persisted any way, pride keeping them in bondage to a strategy that will never work in time or eternity.  With some the Pride was so strong and would persist for so long,

 that the light of reason and the light of Eternal Progression was extinguished in them.  The Group of Light mourned for and pleaded all the more for them to obey Eternal Law and side with them to the end that they might also experience the same JOY they were experiencing and would experience in greater degrees as the future unfolded.

  

  The Law of Division is an Eternal Law, the souls of each type of man “gathering” to his place, to carry out the revelations his Head and heads have given him to his glory or to his damnation.

  

  From that Division, came this mortal world, and now comes again the “gathering” of the wheat and the tares.  We seek for a world of greater Glory and Power, all to increase the Power and Dominion, of God our Eternal Father. And in His Graciousness, He will share all that He has with us, for that is His way and is the Way of the Gods in the Eternal Worlds.  Others will wander off into darkness and dissolution, in the face of the constant invitation to “Come and let us reason together and come with us and partake of the Glory of Eternal Life”, which they freely reject and for which we freely mourn.

  

  Such is the Patterns of the Eternities, the Eternal Rounds of the Gods, worlds without end.

E    D    I    T    O    R    I    A    L

ON REVELATION

  

  I have often questioned how men and women can get conflicting revelations from the same God. How is it that one woman can be assured that Plural Marriage is wrong for our time, that the Church President is the ONLY man who holds the Keys of Priesthood and yet another woman can get a rock solid revelation that Plural Marriage is true and must be lived NOW and that there are others who also have the Keys of Priesthood so as to seal herself and her husband into Plural Marriage?  Is God the author of confusion? Does He give different revelations to different people? I think He does, depending on the spiritual capacities and mindset and disposition of His Children He is talking to.

  

  When I would work with those who were learning the Gospel for the first time, I came to believe that some were not right for the Gospel and how did I know that? They would pray to the Lord and He would tell them, “No, that is not TRUE. You must follow the way you are now going and not go for this ‘new way’ of living.”  Others He would say, “Stay in the Church and don’t gather with those people. They have nothing to offer you.” And it would seem that given the situation with the person enquiring of the Lord, that the Lord was right in what He revealed to them

  

  But at the time, I thought to myself, “the devil is deceiving them”.   But in retrospect, the Lord was telling them exactly what they needed to hear. No, they did not belong going in this “new direction” for it would either damn them or create confusion and problems in their life that they were not ready to deal with at the present time. It is to say that most of the time our revelations are not so much the revealing of the Mind of God to us, but rather the revealing of ourselves to ourselves, the Lord acting as the Director or “backdrop” for that revelation.

  

  I recall once in high school, I prayed to “know if this was the girl for me”. And the Lord told me she was the girl for me.  “Oh, I thought—marriage, family and JOY”.  But in time, this girl went away and I reflected to God, “why did You give me that revelation? Were you lying to me?” And the reply came to me peacefully and clearly, “She was the RIGHT girl for that time in your life and you did learn much, did you not from her?” To which I had to agree.  And her presence in my life was a reflection of where I was in that adolescent time in my life.

  

  We receive revelations from God, from ourselves and from the adversary. We must be able to discern the source. But once we do get a revelation from God, can we properly apply it and put the labels and time frame on that revelation so as to make it a TRUE revelation and not a deception to us? 

  

  At the time of Jesus Christ, no doubt many Pharisees prayed long and hard, often and with great fervency, fasting and going to the Temple, asking of the Lord if this Jewish Carpenter was truly their Messiah. It seems that most of them if not all of them got the “revelation” that He was NOT their Messiah and no doubt these “revelations” came after some period of time of long prayer and zealous fasting..  The only Pharisee that we know of who “converted’ and thus became a traitor to the Jewish cause, was Saul of Tarshish, who had to have an open vision of Jesus Christ to get him to wake up and “convert”. But barring that, it is doubtful that mere praying and fasting on his part would have ever brought him to the point of being such a wonderful advocate of Jesus Christ.  I am convinced that his theo phony was the result of some contract he made with God before he came to this earth or why didn’t God do that for ALL of the Pharisees of that time?

  

  So, we look and say, “then what are we to do with the Principle of Revelation? Are we to discard it as too unreliable?”  No, I don’t think so.  There are keys and there is a process by how one acquires true revelation and then confirms it.  One of those keys is to confirm our revelations by observable facts and by other corroborative evidence. As we all know, had this key been effectively applied in the case of Joseph Thompson, no doubt the outcome of his “Priesthood trial” would have been quite the opposite. 

  

  Other times it takes patience, time and faith as we see how things unravel, how things roll out and see where the revelation leads us. Is it leading us home, back to Father in Heaven? Is it leading us to greater love and charity? Is it leading us to build the Kingdom? Or is it leading us to anger, bitterness, heartache and confusion?  The Savior said “By their fruits, ye shall know them” and this Principle applies in how we judge all things in His Kingdom, including the revelations we feel we have received. For in the balance, hangs the eternal destiny of ourselves, our families, and the Kingdom of God that we are purporting to build.

QADOSH L’ADONAI

Holiness

To The LORD

TRUTH NEVER CHANGES

Volume 11, Number 4

Spring Conference Edition

April, 2007

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