Truth Never Changes Volume 13, Number 8

TRUTH NEVER CHANGES

A PUBLICATION IN THE SPIRIT AND TRADITON OF TRUTH MAGAZINE

Y          VOLUME 13     JUNE  2010     NUMBER 08           Y

THE MIND AND WILL OF GOD

                               ________________

                                 

President Wilford Woodruff

Salt Lake Stake Conference, June 2, 1895

               

The speaker read from the 8th chapter of Romans, 31st to 39th verses, and then spoke as follows:

                We listened to two discourses this morning, one from Bishop Preston, the other from Brother John Henry Smith.  Bishop Preston in his remarks, expressed a desire that the Presidency of the Church should tell the people at this Conference the mind and will of God concerning ourselves; and he hoped his hearers would give ear to and appreciate the same.

IN THIS ISSUE: THE MIND AND WILL OF GOD……………………………………………….251 MEDITIATIONS ON THE GOSPEL…………………………………………...254 THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIESTHOOD…………………………………..….260 QUOTE………………………………………………………………………………...265 ONE ON EARTH AT A TIME……………………………………………………265 COMMENTARY ON……………………………………………………………….285 EDITORIAL………………………………………………………………………….…286 RECOMMENDED SITES………………………………………………………….288

               

In the first place, I will say, it is the mind and will of God that the Latter-day Saints should thoroughly understand for themselves that they stand in the midst of the great and last dispensation of God unto men; and that they should also thoroughly understand the responsibilities devolving upon them as actors therein.  And they should never lose sight of the fact that all the powers of darkness combined will never be able to frustrate the purposes of God with regard to the work which He has set His hand to perform, in the day and generation in which we live.  The Latter-day Saints should live before the Lord in such a way as to understand the position we occupy, and the duties required at our hands; for the Lord requires certain things of us in our day and generation, as He has required of His people in every age, when He has given unto them the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, and the power and authority of the holy priesthood.

                It is the mind and will of God that every man and woman who have entered into the marriage covenant, and who have sons and daughters given unto them, as soon as those children are old enough, should teach them to pray.  It is the duty of the Latter-day Saints to teach their children to pray while they are young; to teach them to understand the principle and benefits of prayer, so that they can pray for their parents and everything that is necessary.  If you begin with children in this way, and you train them up in the fear of the Lord, they will seldom depart therefrom.  The head of the family should not do all the praying himself, but should call upon members of his family to pray, and to ask the blessing at table.  In our zeal to preach the Gospel to the people of all nations, we should not forget the duties devolving upon us in regard to the proper bringing up of our own children, instilling in them, when young, a love for truth and virtue, and reverence for sacred things, and affording them a knowledge of the principles of the Gospel.  And then, we are surrounded at home with many to whom it is our duty to preach, for it is just as necessary to preach at home as abroad.

                Sixty-five years have passed away since the organization of this Church by the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was raised up by God, the Eternal Father, and ministered to by holy angels in fulfillment of the revelations of St. John.  The holy priesthood was given unto him.  He was ordained to the Aaronic priesthood under the hands of John the Baptist; and to the Melchizedek priesthood and apostleship under the hands of Peter, James and John, giving him power to lay the foundation of this great and mighty dispensation, to prepare the whole world for the coming of the Son of Man.  He lived but a short time, but he accomplished an immense amount of work while he did live. This congregation today are enjoying the fruits and blessings of the principles which God revealed through him.  And I will say to the Latter-day Saints, the Lord is not trifling with us.  He is not trifling with the nation in which we live, or with the generation in which we live.  The events which are transpiring almost daily, dealing out death and destruction to our fellow men, are all foreshadowed in the revelations of God.  We live in a day when the Lord is going to cut His work short in righteousness.  The blood of righteous men has been shed in our day, as well as in former days; men reject the message of life and salvation today as freely as they ever did, and they must abide the consequences.

                It is the will of God also that we should pay our tithes and offerings; it is His will that we should obey the Word of Wisdom; it is His will that we should keep the commandments, and teach them to others.  We shall be held responsible for all we fail to do which we ought to do, as well as that which we do.  We should be of one heart and of one mind, and not permit anything of a temporal or spiritual nature to separate us from the love of God and man.

                I feel that the Lord has been very merciful to us as a people, notwithstanding the extraordinary experiences which we have passed through during the last sixty odd years of our existence as a Church.  We are now permanently located in the midst of these Rocky Mountains, in fulfillment of predictions of ancient prophets.  The Elders, though they were from the plow and the workshop, men with little education at first, went forth with the authority of the holy priesthood as messengers of God to man; and they promised you, in the name of Jesus, that you should receive a testimony for yourselves by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, that you should know for yourselves whether the doctrines they taught were true or not.  Now, if I should call upon you all to testify by the uplifted hand who have received this testimony in accordance with the promise made to you, we would see a regular forest of hands in this congregation.  You did receive this testimony in your own lands.  Had this not been the case, you never would have gathered here to these valleys.

                I feel anxious myself to do my duty, and I feel anxious about the

Latter-day Saints doing their duties.  Great events are at the door.  The Lord is going to make comparatively short work in the earth in fulfillment of the predictions of His servants and His own revelations, and we, above all other people, should be able to recognize His dealings and acknowledge His hand. And as I said before I say again, we ought to be united and we ought to seek each other's welfare.  We ought to teach the principles of the Gospel of Christ to our sons and to our daughters, as well as to the world, and prepare ourselves for the events to come which are spoken of in the revelations which the Lord has given unto us.  He has already commenced His work, His marvelous work, and a wonder, among the inhabitants of the earth, referred to by Isaiah.

He will never withdraw His hand until His purposes are accomplished.  Men want to know what is coming to pass.  Read the revelations of St. John.  I have often referred to them, because in them, as well as in other revelations given unto us in our day, is foreshadowed what is coming to pass in the last days.

                Now I want to bear my testimony to the Latter-day Saints.  God is with this people.  He is shaping our course, and will continue to do so if we will only hearken to His voice, and He will continue to give unto us sufficient grace to withstand the day of trial and trouble.  The Lord has been merciful to His people in every age of the world; but as Christ suffered, as the Apostles suffered--some of them even unto death--for the testimony of Jesus, so have the Latter-day Saints suffered, and some of them have also sealed their testimony with their life's blood.  They have been called upon to pass through sore afflictions for the Gospel's sake, but we have never been required to endure more than we were able to bear, and never shall so long as we follow the counsels of heaven.  We have been led to these valleys of the mountains, and as events shall follow each other in fulfillment of the inspired writings, it will become more and more apparent to all men that Zion is a good place to live in.  Do the nations of the earth understand what is taking place in the earth?  They do not.  It is all the Latter-day Saints themselves can do to understand them.

                Now, Latter-day Saints, let us try to do right.  Let us try to live our religion.  Let us try to prepare ourselves for things to come.  You are here on a mission, and so am I.  The spirits of thousands upon thousands of men have been kept in the spirit world to come forth in the flesh in this generation to take part in the building up of the Kingdom of God on this His earth, and to be messengers of salvation to warn all the world and the islands of the sea of the judgments that are to come, and to offer them the Gospel of Christ.  That has been our mission from the beginning; it will be our mission unto the end.  And my prayer to God, my brethren and sisters, is that we may be able to see and understand the things transpiring in the earth, and have a conscienceness (sic) within us that we are performing acceptably to God and His servants what is required of us as His servants and handmaidens.

                When I look back and contemplate the character of the men who have spent their lives traveling and preaching abroad and traveling at home to establish this great latter-day work, Apostles and Elders and good men, also women, who have finished their mission and passed to the other side of the veil to continue their labors, and who await the coming forth of their bodies from the grave, I rejoice and thank God for the work they have done.  I want to be worthy of their society when I shall finish my labors in the flesh, and worthy to inherit the blessings that God has promised through the Gospel.  They labored for eternal life.  That is of far more value to us than all the riches of this world put together.  They will perish, while the true riches of the Gospel are everlasting.  When you go to the other side of the veil, you will naturally want to meet and associate with those people.  In order to enjoy their society you must labor to build up Zion and have the love of God and your fellowmen continually burning within you.  The only way to do that is to keep the commandments of God.  When I reflect upon the power we have had to erect Temples unto the name of the Most High God in these valleys, and the privileges we have of going into those Temples and doing the work necessary for our own salvation and for the redemption of our dead as well, I rejoice greatly, and feel that we have been greatly blessed.

                I pray that we may be able to magnify our calling and be worthy of the blessings of eternal life, that we may stand justified before the Lord, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

MEDITATIONS ON THE GOSPEL

Elder George Teasdale
Salt Lake City Tabernacle Friday, April 6, 1894

                           

                I am deeply thankful to our Heavenly Father for the privilege of visiting this city, associating with my brethren in council and attending this Conference.  My soul has rejoiced in the instructions given and the spirit that is here.

                I left Colonia Juarez on the 3rd of March to attend two days' conference meetings at Colonia Dublan, of the Mexican Mission.  We went from there to Sonora, visited Colonia Oaxaca on the Bavispe river, enjoyed very much the association of the Saints and organized a ward.  It is a lovely country for those who desire plenty of room and a beautiful climate.  We returned from Sonora to Colonia Diaz, held two days' ward conference meetings there, and then came to Deming, on our way to attend this Conference.  We were very much blessed in our administrations.  Apostles Brigham Young and John Henry Smith and myself have been laboring in the Mexican Mission, and have had a very profitable time with the Saints.  We have five or six settlements in Mexico, and are growing and increasing.  We consider that we have got over the worst of our experience in laying the foundation of new settlements.  The brethren and sisters that are in Mexico went there because they believed that was where the Lord wanted their labors.  One of the brethren, on some intimation of his being released from that Mission, stated that he had no desire to be released.

Our Heavenly Father had opened his eyes to the understanding that that was where his labors were required, and he was perfectly willing to stay.  I believe we should be satisfied in our own minds that where our labors are there is where the Lord wants us.  Then we will build up and make glad the earth, beautifying it as well as we possibly can, and making it blossom like the rose.  I will say for the benefit of those who are interested that we are prospering in the Mexican Mission, and that we are doing as well as we could hope to do.  We have only been there seven years, and we have some very creditable buildings.  We have a good tannery and a flour mill.  We have also a cannery that uses more fruit than we can supply.  The progress that we have made there is certainly wonderful.  Those who visit us are very much surprised.  It is a good country for those who feel that that is the place of their mission.  We are going the way the prophets have declared concerning that Mission and the future of Zion.

                I desire to offer a few meditations this afternoon in connection with the principles of the Gospel that were spoken of by Elder John W. Taylor this morning.  These words I wish to refer you to that he read:

                Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither of man, but by Jesus Christ,  and God the Father, who raised him from the death;) Paul, an apostle, "not of men".  Did Jesus Christ ordain him?  I think not.  Who ordained him?  Peter, I presume.  And who ordained Peter?  Jesus Christ.  To what end was this ordination?  In order that this Gospel might be preached by authority; that mankind might be called to repentance, and, repenting, have baptism for the remission of sins by authority, and hands laid upon them for the reception of the Holy Ghost.  Why?  Because this is the doctrine of Christ--the only way to be saved.  The principles of the Gospel are eternal without beginning of days or end of years.  The Lord Jesus Christ said:

                Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

                Again:

                Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

                We believe that Jesus Christ understood the principles that He advocated.   We believe that His is the only name under heaven whereby mankind can be saved; and when we appeal to our Heavenly Father for anything that we desire, we ask in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul, in speaking of the

necessity of authority, said:

                For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  And  how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

                And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written,  How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things?

                On another occasion, Paul, in speaking of the necessity of being called of God, to preach His gospel, said:

                No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

                Paul declared that he was called of Jesus Christ.  Were not all the apostles called of Jesus Christ?  And when one fell into transgression, and Mathias was chosen to fill his place in the quorum, was he not called of Jesus Christ?  Was he not ordained by authority and sent forth to preach His Gospel?  My brethren and sisters, it is necessary, if the principles of truth are preached, that they be advocated by men who have authority. 

In the formula given concerning baptism, the person having authority to baptize says to the candidate for baptism, calling him or her by name, Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name  of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

                Now, this would be terrible blasphemy if he did not have the authority.  He does not officiate in his own name, but in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, having authority to do so.  I look upon the rejection of this Gospel as a very serious thing.  I have wondered why the apostleship was taken from the earth, and why the church was not continued upon the earth, and the only answer that I could get to give me satisfaction was, because of the dreadful condemnation that rests upon the inhabitants of the earth when they reject the word of the Lord, through His authorized servants.  We understand that the apostles were murdered and the world rejected them.  Paul said, speaking of the organization of the Church of Christ:

                God hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily  prophets, thirdly teachers.

                What for?

                For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God.

                Jesus taught that to know God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent was eternal life, and this knowledge is promised unto the children of our Heavenly Father.  When we go forth to preach this Gospel we bear testimony that our Heavenly Father has again spoken from the heavens:  that He has organized His Church upon the earth, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet sent of God; and we call upon the people to worship Him who made the heavens and the earth, the seas and the fountains of waters.  We call upon men to accept of His doctrine and to repent, that they may obtain the remission of their sins by baptism and be prepared for the reception of the Holy Ghost, so that they may be guided by it and taught of God.  Our Heavenly Father says:

                Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.

                He encourages us to hearken unto Him.  The ancient apostles, under the influence of His Spirit, encouraged the people in their day, as we do today.

We say, if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

                But the people have not faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God.  We must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, or we will not seek Him.  We know very well that in all organizations and governments it is necessary to have authority, and that no man can act in any position except he has authority, unless he does it fraudulently.  There are those whose right it is to issue that authority, and all agents have to receive their proper credentials.  Do you not think that the house of God is a house of order?  Do you not think that our Heavenly Father has a perfect organization in His Church?  Why, certainly.  We learn from the history which has been handed down to us in the sacred scriptures that the Lord Jesus Christ chose twelve apostles.  Those were the first officers that He chose.  He ordained them and sent them forth to preach His Gospel.  Jesus Christ was a High Priest and an Apostle.  He also had the power to ordain other Apostles and High Priests.  Afterwards He ordained seventy others, and sent them forth to preach His Gospel, giving them authority to go forth and to heal the sick and perform such miracles as the people might have faith to receive.  Now had that church continued upon the earth, there would have been no necessity for that which John saw in a vision when he was upon the Isle of Patmos.  He says:

                I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him: for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

                As I say, there would be no necessity for this angel flying through the midst of heaven if this Gospel were on the earth.  But John, in the revelation given unto him, had seen the church go into the wilderness and the priesthood taken up into heaven.  He had seen the establishment of a great power that was to hold all nations in subjection, in the which all would drink of the wine of her fornication--and this prior to the judgments of the Almighty being poured out upon the inhabitants of the earth, because they had rejected His gospel and broken the everlasting covenant, they had changed the ordinances, and they were teaching false doctrines, and would not repent.  I wish to bear my testimony that we are living in this hour of God's judgment, and that the Gospel of the kingdom is being preached to all nations for a witness, thus giving the nations a time for repentance.  This Gospel reached us upon the isles of the sea, and upon the continents; and we all received our blessing through that priesthood that our Heavenly Father restored to the earth.  Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery bore testimony that John the Baptist visited them and conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood.  They also bore testimony that Peter, James and John visited them and conferred the Apostleship and High Priesthood.  These testimonies are true.  Those of this congregation who have obeyed the Gospel and received the Holy Ghost know that their testimonies are true.  As I know, so they know.  And I know that God lives.  I know that Jesus is the Christ.  I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet sent of God.  I have seen the signs promised by Christ follow the believer.  It was said by one of the brethren this morning that some claimed we did not enjoy the gifts and the blessings of the Gospel like we did in the early days of the Church.  I would be sorry if that were true.  Why?  Because it would demonstrate to me that instead of increasing in faith the Church was waning in faith.  I can testify that where I have labored that faith is not decreasing; for I have seen marvelous healings by the power of God.  That the people have confidence in the ordinances of the house of God is manifested on fast day by the number of bottles of oil that are brought to be consecrated, to be used in the administrations unto the sick.  I do not know how it is with you here; but with us generally the oil is consecrated upon the Thursday fast day.

                I know that the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church of the living God.  I have known it for a great many years.  I was educated in the Episcopalian church.  I came out of that church in 1852, and from that time to this I have been more or less engaged in the work of the ministry  in this church.  I have had a variety of experiences, have traveled a great many miles, and have preached a great many times--to the glory of our Heavenly Father, be it said.  I have borne testimony to the establishment of the Church of Christ time and time again, and I am not afraid to meet anybody behind the veil who can say to me, "your testimony was false."   I have had ample demonstration that the gifts and blessings promised are in the Church.  I know that the spirit of prophecy is in the Church.  I have been on missions.  I have been set apart for these missions under the hands of Apostles, and they have predicted concerning me as though they knew the work that I was about to accomplish, and those prophecies have been fulfilled.  I am here today a living witness to testify to that.

                Now, in all loving kindness, we offer this Gospel to priest and people.  We ask them to consider these things.  We ask them, for their own sakes, to repent of their sins, to turn from the error of their ways, and to worship the only living and true God; to come and assist us in the establishment of His righteousness upon the earth, to cease their false doctrines, and to humble themselves like little children before our Heavenly Father, as we had to do, and to present unto Him the acceptable sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  It is on the same principle that we entreat the Saints to be kind to themselves, to pay their just tithes and offerings, to live their religion, to be faithful in prayer and in setting a godly example, to act honorably and uprightly, to be honest and chaste, to be loving, gentle and kind.  We thus appeal to them with all love in our hearts that they may enjoy the blessings that are bestowed by our Father upon those who love Him and keep His commandments. The Lord has said that if we will love Him and keep His commandments we shall prosper in the land.  He has also said, in reference to the law of tithing:

                If my people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments may be kept thereon, that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion unto you.

                Then what shall we do?  Will we be faithful and true and do His will, or will we be satisfied with the theory of the Gospel, and be like the man that sees his likeness in the glass and goes away and forgets what manner of man he is?  Are we going to establish the character that we heard the word, but never obeyed it, and that by our example we used our influence against His statutes being kept in the land?  We are making some kind of a record; we are either willing and obedient or we are unwilling and disobedient.  This comes to us individually.  Do I keep the commandments of God?  Do I rob God?  Do I treat Him with contempt?  Do I despise His counsels?  Or am I willing and obedient, learning of His ways and walking in His paths, doing His will that I may be established in His everlasting righteousness?  I tell you if we were to do so, there would not be any question with regard to our children; for we would have such love for our children that we would not neglect them, but we would teach them the principles of righteousness, by practice as well as by precept.  We would be able to say to them, "Follow me as I follow Christ."  If we are His disciples, ought we not to be Christlike?  I think so.  This is what our Heavenly Father requires of us.  I think He has exhorted us to be exemplary men and women, and to teach the principles of righteousness by example.  That is the commission we have in Mexico.  We believe that there is greater force in example than in precept.  It has more influence upon the people.  We would have more influence everywhere if we were all living the principles of the Gospel and glorifying God in our good works.  We are going to be judged according to the deeds done in the body.  We are going to be rewarded according to our works.  For every idle word that we utter we will be brought into condemnation.  Straight is the way  and narrow is the path that leadeth to the exaltations, and few there be that find it.  Why?  Because they do not want it.  God knows men's hearts.  He knows whether a man desires the truth.  He knows whether he is serving Him, and whether he meditates upon His ways.   He understands all about our outgoings and our incomings, and He would do a great deal better for us if we were more faithful and would give to Him our hearts.  He says, "My son, give me thine heart."  Why?  Because if He has our affections we will do anything for Him.  We will do His will because we love Him, and because we understand that our days of probation are but small upon the earth; yet the records of our lives today are going to influence us more or less throughout the countless ages of eternity.

                My beloved brethren and sisters, ought we not to be kind to ourselves?  I cannot think how it is that men and women having children despise to teach  them the principles of righteousness.  I believe it is a bounden duty upon all parents to teach their children correct principles, and then our skirts are clear.  But are our skirts clear if we never demonstrate unto them anything  concerning the principles of the kingdom of God?  If a man is never seen on his knees praying with his family, and having them take part in prayer; if he does not teach them the value of the fellowship of the Spirit of God, can he expect his children to grow up with a love for these things?  What is there like unto the fellowship of the Spirit of God?  I do not think there is anything.  Not the wealth of this little world?  I would sooner have the fellowship of the Spirit of God than I would have the wealth of this world and all its scholastic attainments.  Why?  Because then I would be taught of my Heavenly Father.  Then I would enjoy light and truth.  I would have faith, hope and charity, and be filled with the divine love of God.  I would be a blessing to myself and to my fellows, making an everlasting record for righteousness.  Let me entreat you, as your friend, be ye reconciled to God, and seek wisdom at His hands.  The condemnation of the world is that they have no faith in God but they prefer darkness to light.  They have faith in priests, in ordinances, and in dogmas; but they have no faith in the living and true God.  They have no faith to go and ask Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, for revelation.  He is a God of revelation.  I know that He reveals His mind and will unto His children who seek it, and He satisfies the mind.  To have a living testimony and to know that God lives is a thousand times better than the visit of angels, than gifts and signs and wonders.  To have the fellowship of the Spirit of the Lord; to know that you are right when you lie down in bed; to know when you arise from you bed that you are in the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life--this is far better than dogmas, miracles or outward manifestations. Every man that has the fellowship of the Spirit of God mourns over his fallen condition and his bad disposition; he sees himself and strives to improve his disposition, and to make his individuality more Christlike, be more gentle, more loving, more humble, more meek, and strive to crucify the flesh.  When a man has his eyes opened that he can see, his ears opened that he can hear, and his heart that he can understand; when he is redeemed from false impressions and the Holy Spirit brings light and truth into his soul, then he has liberty indeed.  That is the glorious liberty of the Gospel.  I cannot see how it is that it does not fill the hearts of men with thanksgiving and praise, as well as fear lest they should do anything by which they might lose these bright hopes and aspirations.  What is there outside?  There is nothing.  I know what I am talking about.  I know that we can only be sanctified by the truth.  The Saints have been fed by the revelations of the Almighty, and they are philosophical and as firm as the everlasting hills.  We may reject them, but they remain the same, and always will.  God is the same yesterday, today  and forever, and His course is one eternal round.  We cannot prescribe conditions to Him; we must subscribe to His conditions.  We have to obey the principles of the Gospel and to be humble and meek if we ever expect to attain to the exaltations.  One of my beloved brethren mentioned to me the other day at the funeral of Brother Jesse W. Fox that there was not a man present but would like to speak a word concerning him.  What was the matter with Brother Fox that everybody should love him so?  Why, he was one of the meek of the earth, and every meek man is loved.  Meekness is a natural principle, which we all admire.  It is said that Moses was a meek man.  Every servant of God has to be a meek man, or else he will never be able to stand in his lot and calling.  He has to say, as the Savior said, "Not my will, but Thine, be done."  "Teach me to see as my brethren see.  Let no false impression be upon my mind; but let me be sanctified by the truth."  That is the prayer of every man who desires to be established in the everlasting righteousness of God.

                My beloved brethren and sisters, let us strive to do the will of our Heavenly Father.  Let us be true and faithful and exemplary.  Let us pay our just debts and be honorable.  Let us glorify God in our good works, and you will see the establishment of His righteousness upon the earth.  Look at our glorious Temple.  It seems to me that anyone who sees that Temple would have a holy inspiration, and would understand that administrations were being done by divine authority for the living and the dead.  Do we understand it?  Do you not fear lest you should become a castaway?  Do you not fear lest that  light that is within you should become darkness?  I do.  I have seen great and strong men fall and go the way of the sinner, and I have feared lest I, after preaching to others, should become a castaway.  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;" and all our scholastic attainments do not amount to anything if we have not the fear of the Lord; we are like sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.  But if we have the fear of the Lord and the knowledge that comes from Him, we grasp everything, and all things are subject to us, whether it be principles or theories of men or the perishable riches of the earth.   They are our servants, and we stand at the head.  We know that all good comes from our Heavenly Father, who has given us the brain power to comprehend intricate principles and difficult problems, and we glorify Him because we love Him.  I am thankful beyond expression that I have the privilege of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--of being adopted into the royal family of our Heavenly Father; and I earnestly desire to be true and faithful unto the saying and the doing of His will and the keeping of His commandments, that when I pass behind the veil I may have the privilege of the association of those who have gone before us in the Church of the Firstborn, and be able to continue in this redemption of the earth and the human family until every soul shall be saved in some degree of glory.  I pray that the blessings of our Heavenly Father may be upon us.  I know that the Spirit of the Lord is here, and I rejoice in its influence and power. I pray that it may always be our companion, to guide and direct us, and to make us faithful for the testimony of Jesus, that we may be true and valiant unto the doing of His will and the accomplishment of His purposes.  I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

IMPORTANCE OF PRIESTHOOD

President Wilford Woodruff
Salt Lake Stake Conference, Sunday, December 29th, 1897

                Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth  unto life, and few there be that find it.

                I look upon that as one of the most important sayings of Jesus Christ while teaching the people in His day.  Few there are that find the straight and narrow way.  To read such sayings of the Savior as those sets one to reflecting.  If it is necessary for the children of men to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to attend to the ordinances of His house, in order to be saved in the kingdom of God, certainly it would appear as if very few will be saved in the celestial kingdom of our God.  When the Lord called Joseph Smith, he received the ministrations of Moroni, an angel of God from heaven.   According to the teachings that were given to him by the Lord and by the angels of heaven, there was no organization on the face of the whole earth at that time that was accepted of the Lord as His Church.  Joseph Smith had received the holy Priesthood by the administration of angels from God out of heaven before he himself was prepared to preach the Gospel.  The work that he commenced was like a little mustard seed.  Those that followed him were very few in number; and the same spirit of opposition which was manifest in the days of the Savior and in the days of the prophets was manifest in his day and time.  He met with the same fate as the Son of God and His Apostles did.  All laid down their lives and sealed their testimony by the shedding of their blood, excepting John the Revelator, and he was preserved by the power of God.

                This is a subject of vast importance to the inhabitants of the earth, including the Latter-day Saints.  According to statisticians, there are about fourteen hundred millions of humans beings on the earth.  Now, if the Latter-day Saints are all who have received the Gospel of Christ since the organization of the Church, then the numbers who are preparing to go into the celestial kingdom of God are certainly very few.  Even if the Latter-day Saints numbered a half million, they would be a very small percentage of the inhabitants of the earth.

                There was a small congregation of Latter-day Saints here this morning, and we listened to a number of the Bishops represent their wards and testify concerning tithing, the expense of caring for the poor, and the position they were in.  I thought to myself that if we had the desire in our hearts to be one of that number who will go to receive eternal life in the celestial kingdom of God, and to be where God and Christ dwell, it would certainly pay us to thoroughly keep the commandments of God and do our duty.  It causes singular reflections to look upon the history of the inhabitants of the earth.

It does not make much difference what part of the world you take, nor what age, mankind have been prone to evil and to yield to the enemy.  One-third of the hosts of heaven are represented as having been cast down from heaven to earth.  They are fallen angels, who have been on the earth, I suppose, ever since they were cast out of heaven.  What is their mission?  It is to work against God and against Christ; to lead the children of men to do that which is evil, that they may have power and dominion over them in this world and in the world to come.  The children of men in every age have had these fallen spirits to contend with. These powers have been manifest from the fall of Adam down to our day, and will continue until He who holds the keys of death and hell will bind Satan and shut him up in prison for one thousand years, after which he will be liberated to perform his last act for the destruction of the sons of men.

                In reflecting over these things, and seeing how it has been in days that are past and gone, it seems, if we are to judge from the revelations and from the saying of the Savior which I have quoted, that there are very few who find the straight and narrow way that leads to eternal life.  But the Latter-day Saints have a desire to be saved in the kingdom of God.  This is a great desire, and it should be with all men.  We should understand that it will pay us to strive to do right and to keep the commandments of God, that when we get through we may receive those blessings that we are looking for; that we may meet with the Lord, meet with Father Adam, with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with the patriarchs and prophets, and with the few Saints that have been in the flesh on the earth.  I believe this is your desire.  It is my desire.  I have desired it from my boyhood up.  I have thought sometimes that I have made rather a poor attempt at it; perhaps many of us have felt the same; but I think that the little time we have to be here it will pay us to look carefully to our ways and to keep the commandments of God.  It will be worth our while to pay our tithing and attend to every other duty that God requires at our hands while we dwell here, that when we get through we may be satisfied.  This is my desire with regard to the Latter-day Saints.  For when we realize the few that will enter into eternal life compared with those that will go the broad road, it is lamentable.

                As Latter-day Saints we have received the Priesthood; the commandments of God have been made known to us; and we have set before us, through the mouths of inspired men, those principles that shall lead us in the path of life and salvation.  Now, in view of these things, what will it profit us to sin?  What is there in this life that will pay us to lose all those blessings which belong to the first resurrection and to the kingdom of heaven?  It is within our power, by keeping the commandments of God, to come forth out of our graves, clothed in immortal, celestial bodies, with our wives, our children, our fathers, our mothers, our relatives, and our friends, and occupy high and exalted positions in the presence of God and the Lamb, and dwell with them forever and forever.  What is there, brethren and sisters, in this world or anywhere else, that will pay us to pursue a course whereby we shall lose the fulfillment of these blessings?  There is nothing.  Far better for us never to have lived in the flesh than to pursue a course whereby we forfeit these blessings.

                We, as Elders of Israel, have labored faithfully to try to save our fellow men in the Gospel of Christ.  We have been blessed in this.  We have traveled among the nations of the earth and the islands of the sea to instruct the children of men upon these principles.  There is no better calling that a man can have than to go and preach the Gospel to his fellow man and to save the souls of the children of men.  The Lord said to Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer:

                And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of the Father.

                And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have  brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

                Now, our Elders have saved thousands of souls; that is, the Elders have preached the Gospel to them, they have baptized them, ordained them, and given them their blessings.

                We ought to look at these things as they are.  No matter what the world may think of us, or what their desire may be  about us.  Even if we are all saved in the kingdom of God, our numbers will be very few compared with the millions upon millions who have never been willing to receive the Gospel in the earth, and who will occupy positions elsewhere than in the presence of God and the Lamb.  I listened to the Bishops this morning talk about tithing.  It will be profitable to us to pay our tithing.  It will pay us to do anything else that God requires at our hands.  By doing it we will be justified.

                I thank the Lord for my life.  I thank Him for His blessings and mercies to me.  I have reason to rejoice in this, and I am obliged to give God the glory for all I have ever received.  If I have ever done any good; If I have been able to preach the Gospel and to pursue a course whereby I have edified my fellow man, at home or abroad, it has been by the power of God, upon Jesus Christ, upon the Holy Ghost, the testimony of the Father and the Son.  This power has been with us.  That is why we are here today.  That is why this Tabernacle stands here today, in fulfillment of the predictions of the prophets of God in ancient days.  It is why the Zion of God is planted here in these valleys of the mountains.  It has all been by the power of God, and not of man.

                I hope we may contemplate our position, and realize the condition we are in and the obligations we are under to God.  I feel thankful that I have the privilege of meeting with the Latter-day Saints.  I have met with this people nearly all my life when I have had the opportunity.  I embraced the Gospel the first sermon I ever heard.  That was in 1833.  From that day till this I have rejoiced in the Gospel of Christ, and in meeting with the Latter-day Saints, wherever my lot has been cast.  I came to these valleys with the Pioneers, led by President Young.  He finished his work, as Joseph Smith finished his.  But President Young labored more years than was the lot of Joseph Smith.  Joseph Smith, however, labored long enough to perform the work that he was ordained to.  He organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the earth--a thing that all the nations under heaven could not have done.  There was no man on earth that could have done that, only by the power of God.   Joseph Smith was the man appointed and called of God, and he was a noble man; yes, a glorious man, a man filled with the wisdom and power of God.  His life was short, but see what he did during that time!  During the fourteen years he labored for God in the flesh he brought forth more than any other man that ever lived, excepting the Savior.  The organization of the Church itself was one of the most glorious works a man ever had the privilege of performing among the sons of men.  Then he brought forth the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, containing the revelations of God to us.  Well, he laid down his life for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ.  He was martyred.  His brother Hyrum was martyred.  Christ was martyred.  His Apostles were martyred.   Several have been martyred in these last days, besides the Prophet.

                We should not forget these things.  Let us labor faithfully and pray unto the Lord for wisdom day by day, that we may have power to conquer and overcome.  When I get through, I want to go where the Savior is, where the Prophet is, and where our people are that have gone who have been true and faithful.  If I miss that, I miss the object of my creation; and so will any other man who has received the Gospel.  We should be very careful what we do, and watch over ourselves and our course in life, that we may be justified when we get through.

                I want to ask this congregation a question.  Can you point me to any emperor, king, priest, denomination or power on the face of the whole earth, outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who has power to go forth and redeem one of their dead?  There never was a soul anywhere that could do this until God organized His Church upon the earth.  One of the leading principles with Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff, and the Apostles and leading men of this Church, has been the redemption of their dead.  The Lord said He would raise up saviors in the last days upon Mount Zion while the kingdom should be the Lord's.  This is a duty resting upon all Israel, and one that we should comprehend.  The signers of the Declaration of Independence and the men that laid the foundation of this great American government know full well that there has not been a power on the earth where they could apply to have this principle carried out in their behalf, only the Apostles that held the keys of the kingdom of God in this generation.  They have gone to them and plead with them to redeem them because there was no other power on earth could do it, and this has been accomplished.   This principle is today with the Latter-day Saints.  There is no more glorious principle given to man than the power which you have while holding the Priesthood, to go forth and redeem your fathers, your mothers, your progenitors.  It will stand with you in the morning of the resurrection.  Such principles are worthy of contemplation.  There is no man living that can point to any church or people that have this power on the earth, but the Latter-day Saints.  Whether the world believe it or not, it is true.  I  remember very well the first word that was given to us by the Prophet Joseph Smith after we returned from our mission in England.  He called us together and told us that the Lord had revealed to him a principle whereby we could go forth and redeem our dead.  It was like a shaft of light from the throne of God to our hearts.   It opened a field wide as eternity to our minds.  The first thing that entered into my mind was that I had a mother in the spirit world.  She died when I was 14 months old.  I never knew a mother.  I thought to myself, Have I power to go forth and seal my mother to my father?  The word was, yes.  Well, I attended to that, and to everything else, with the help of my friends, until I have thousands of my dead relatives on the list that I have redeemed.  These are blessings the world do not comprehend.  We should lay this to heart and not neglect this work.  I do not want to go into the spirit world and meet with my progenitors who never heard the Gospel in their day and generation, and have them tell me, "You held in your hand the power to go forth and redeem me, and you have not done it."  I do not want to meet that.  I do not want the Latter-day Saints to meet it.  I think we are doing pretty well.  We have four temples reared in these valleys of the mountains, and they are fairly well occupied by the Latter-day Saints.  But we want to continue this until we have redeemed all within our power to redeem.  If we will carry this principle out, we will have the blessing of it.  It will be with us in the morning of the resurrection, when our fathers and mothers and our progenitors come up with us because we have redeemed them.  Jesus Himself went and preached to the spirits in prison, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.  That principle was manifest in that day; it is with us today.

                Brethren and sisters, you have my faith, you have my blessings, and my desire for your welfare.  I want to see Zion arise, and the glory of God rest upon her.  I have faith to believe that what has been promised concerning this people, and concerning our posterity, will be fulfilled.  The Lord will not desert Zion.  It will continue to grow and increase and have power in the earth, until the coming of the Son of Man.  We have been called to this work.   It will rest upon our shoulders, and afterwards upon the shoulders of our children, as those raised up through the loins of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in former times.  God bless you, and give us all wisdom to guide and direct us.  This is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Until we have perfect love we are liable to fall and when we have a testimony that our names are sealed in the Lamb's book of life we have perfect love and then it is impossible for false Christs to deceive us.   (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 9, October 25, 1831)

"ONE ON EARTH AT A TIME..."

                When God revealed His will concerning the patriarchal order of marriage in this last dispensation of time, it was in answer to a query made by the Prophet Joseph Smith as to how the Lord "justified Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines." The Lord told him He would answer him as touching "this" matter. Therefore he must prepare his heart "to receive and obey the instructions" which God was about to reveal unto him. "For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned." (D.&C. 132:1-4)

                The Lord was talking about justifying Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in having many wives and concubines. He was specifically talking about that subject and specifically said that He would answer Joseph as touching that particular matter. It is not a revelation solely on the matter of the sealing of marriages for time and eternity. It is a revelation on celestial plural marriage. There is a, tendency to slide over the real issue of that revelation. God is explicit in telling us that we must obey this commandment, for it is according to His will. Included in the eternity of the marriage covenant is the necessity of righteous men living the order of celestial plural marriage.  We are clearly taught that this order has to be obeyed in this life if men are to rise above the order of angels and be gods in the world to come. "For these angels did not abide my law; (The law in Section 132 is specifically the keynote of the revelation, the law of plural marriage in which God justified David and Solomon.) therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever." (v. 17) Such is the future condition of those who will not abide that law.  The Lord stated in verse 11 that this law was instituted by Him and His Father before the world was, and that no man could come unto the Father, "but by me and by my word which is my law." (v. 12) We call attention again to the words of President Joseph F. Smith, whose entire talk is found in Section One. This is cited to remind us that our complacency in having fulfilled only part of the law is not only unfounded, but presumptuous. The law was instituted before the world was--the full law--and that means that the law always was and always will be. "Some of the Saints have said and believe that a man with one wife, sealed to him by the authority of the Priesthood for time and eternity, will receive an exaltation as great and glorious, if he is faithful, as he possibly could with more than one. I want here to enter my solemn protest against this idea, for I know it is false ... is fulfillment of the celestial law of marriage in part ...." (J.D. 20:24-31) Therefore, the full law of marriage, which is plural marriage, is binding upon the Saints who would receive a fulness of the Father's glory.

                In connection with this, we are surprised to note a paragraph in the latest publication of Dr. Hyrum L. Andrus. He said on page 457 of Doctrines of the Kingdom, "The basic law of eternal marriage was that of monogamy." On the contrary, monogamy has never been eternal marriage.  There are no Gods living in the monogamous state. It is a grievous thing to find attempts being made to sink plural marriage out of existence or to present plural marriage under God's law as a watered-down concept, or as one with rarified application in preference to monogamy. This is a false assumption, and it tends toward apology for God's holy law.

                Monogamy is not God's basic law of eternal marriage. The fact of the matter is that God's system of marriage is the same yesterday, today and forever. God's system of marriage that runs down through the worlds is patterned after the order of marriage that exists in the heavens and has never changed. Orson Spencer writes in his Letters, 1891 edition: "When God sets up any portion of his kingdom upon the earth, it is patterned after his own order in the heavens. When he gives to men a pattern of family organization on the earth, that pattern will be just like his own family organization in the heavens. The family of Abraham was a transcript of a celestial pattern. The likeness was drawn by a master artist, who was perfectly familiar with the celestial pattern .... This family order of Abraham was spread out before God, and met with his entire and full approbation. And why did God approve of it? Because it is the only order practiced in the celestial heavens, and the only peaceful, united and prosperous order that will endure, while man-invented orders and devices will utterly deceive and perish with the using." (p. 192-193)

                Further evidence of that system in heaven was made very clear by Brigham Young: "When our father Adam came into the Garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives with him." (J.D. 1:50-51) Obviously, that represents plurality. Monogamy is not the basic system in heaven or on earth. The order in heaven finds its pattern upon the earth. We find the friends of God, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all living plural marriage. All scripture, it may be added, has been written by polygamist prophets. If monogamy is the basic form of marriage and polygamy is something of an incidental, why do we not find Christ in all His teaching saying something against polygamy and branding it as secondary or wrong or perhaps transitory?

                Instead, we find the writings of Aurelius Cornelius Celsus, the great physician of the first century, teaching a great truth: "The grand reason why the Gentiles and philosophers of his school persecuted Jesus Christ, was because he had so many wives; there were Elizabeth and Mary, and a host of others that followed him." (JMG, J.D. 1:345) Was not Christ the great Exemplar? In all things He led the way.

                Joseph F. Smith taught: "Jesus Christ never omitted the fulfillment of a single law that God has made known for the salvation of the children of men. It would not have done for him to have come and obeyed one law and neglected or rejected another. He could not consistently do that and then say to mankind, `Follow Me.'" (Mill. Star 62:97) Though He was holy, yet he was baptized. Can we safely assume He did not fulfill the highest law of marriage? He was the Word of God.

                Polygamy, not monogamy, was the basic form of eternal marriage.  Brigham Young gave the background for monogamy as it evolved into the substitute for the true form of marriage. "Monogamy, or restrictions by law to one wife, is no part of the economy of heaven among men. Such a system was commenced by the founders of the Roman Empire. That Empire was founded on the banks of the Tiber by wandering brigands. When these robbers founded the city of Rome, it was evident to them that their success in attaining a balance of power with their neighbors, depended on introducing females into their body politic, so they stole them from the Sabines, who were near neighbors. The scarcity of women gave existence to laws restricting one wife to one man. Rome became the mistress of the world, and introduced this order of monogamy wherever her sway was acknowledged. Thus this monogamous order of marriage so esteemed by modern Christians as a holy sacrament and divine institution, is nothing but a system established by a set of robbers." (J.D. 9:322) So we have Brigham Young's opinion of monogamy as the "basic form of eternal marriage."

                The eternity of the marriage covenant comprehends plural marriage.  Charles W. Penrose spoke to the Saints in Centerville: "He showed that the revelation that had been the subject of attention (See. 132) was not the only one published on Celestial marriage, and if the doctrine of plural marriage was repudiated, so must be the glorious principle of marriage for eternity, the two indissolubly interwoven with each other." (Mill. Star 45:454)

                The order of marriage is again set forth: "Why do we believe in and practice plural marriage? Because the Lord introduced it to His servants in a revelation given to Joseph Smith, and the Lord's servants have always practiced it. And is that religion popular in heaven? It is the only popular religion there, for this is the religion of Abraham, and unless we do the works of Abraham, we are not Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." (B. Young, J.D. 9:322) President Young states that the Lord's servants have always practiced it. The Lord's servants, then, ought not to be found diluting a holy principle and encouraging substitutes as better or more basic doctrine.

                Apostle Erastus Snow said, "Joseph Smith said that the parable that Jesus spoke of that the man who had one talent and hid it in the earth was the man who had but one wife and would not take another, would have her taken from him and given to one who had more." (Journal of W. Woodruff, Oct. 14, 1882, meeting of acceptance of the 1882 Revelation.)

                Brigham Young understood the parable similarly: "Now where a man in this Church says, `I don't want but one wife, I will have my religion with one,' he will perhaps be saved in the Celestial Kingdom; but when he gets there he will not find himself in possession of any wife at all. He has had a talent that he has hid up. He will come forward and say, `Here is that which thou gavest me. I have not wasted it, and here is the one talent,' and he will not enjoy it, but it will be taken and given to those who have improved the talents they received, and he will find himself without any wife, and he will remain single forever and ever." (J.D. 16:166)

                Eternal marriage and monogamy are unquestionably incompatible. As a concept of eternal marriage, monogamous marriage has no more substance to it than does it to say that baptism is all that is necessary for the fulness of the Holy Ghost.

                As an interesting matter of fact, the monogamist state was rather repugnant to Heber C. Kimball: "I have noticed that a man who has but one wife and is inclined to that doctrine, soon begins to wither and dry up. For a man of God to be confined to one woman is small business." (J.D. 5:22) We find Apostle George A. Smith speaking from the same platform:  "They are a poor, narrow-minded, pinch-backed race of men who chain themselves down to the law of monogamy and live all their days under the dominion of one wife." (J.D. 3:291) We can safely assume that monogamy is not the "basic law of eternal marriage." Rather, we would agree that monogamy is the basic law of the world.

                Let us now consider a more significant statement made in Dr. Hyrum L. Andrus' otherwise commendable publication. On page 441 of Doctrines of the Kingdom, it is stated: "In a revelation, the Lord announced that there was `never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred.' That man was the Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ .... All things within the divine system, therefore, were to be directed by the eternal law and inspiration of God through a living prophet." This particular issue is the crux of our concentration in this Section, since many Saints become quite nervous when considering the possibility of Priesthood functioning independent of the Church. A statement of J. Reuben Clark comes to mind in connection with this: "The Priesthood is essential to the Church, but the Church is not essential to the Priesthood." (Imp. Era, Mar., 1936, p. 134)

                We agree that God directs His word through a living prophet, for "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) It is true that Joseph as Prophet and President of the Church received the keys for the perpetuation of all of the gospel. It is true that in the early days of the Church he taught the principle of celestial plural marriage to a few trusted friends in whom he felt he could place his confidence. He, himself, entered into it and instituted all of those who could abide it in righteousness into it also.  But it was not a doctrine of the Church at that time. The Prophet, very properly under the direction of God, took action against any who justified themselves in living that principle unless they did it under his direct command. Consequently, we find seemingly contradictory positions on his part, the Prophet teaching it privately for a number of years to trusted individuals, while openly declaring that it was not practiced by the Church and was not a tenet of the Church, which, in both instances, it wasn't. It was a doctrine under the direction of the Priesthood, as it is today. As an example of Joseph's position:

                "I answered the questions which were frequently asked me, while on my last journey. . .`Do the Mormons believe in having more wives than one?' No, not at the same time. But they believe that if their companion dies, they have a right to marry again. But we do disapprove of the custom, which has gained in the world, and has been practiced among us, to our great mortification, in marrying in five or six weeks or even in two or three months, after the death of their companion. We believe that due respect ought to be had to the memory of the dead, and the feelings of both friends and children." (1:6-7)   This was recorded in 1838, and Joseph was living the principle at the time.  Again, Joseph records in February of 1844: "As we have lately been credibly informed that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by the name of Hiram Brown, has been preaching polygamy, and other false and corrupt doctrines, in the county of Lapeer, State of Michigan. This is to notify him and the Church in general, that he has been cut off from the church, for his iniquity; and he is further notified to appear at the Special Conference, on the 6th of April next, to make answer to these charges. Signed Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Presidents of the Church." (3:132)

                The contradiction here is obvious, but there is a position assumed by the Prophet in this that we must understand. He knew the difficulties under which he would have to establish that principle. He saw well in advance that because of the traditions of men, all of the troubles they had formerly experienced would be compounded upon them. He knew it was the disposition of the wicked to enter into the principle as a justification of their wickedness. He intended under God's direction to keep it a pure and a holy principle. With these things in mind and with a view to the future and the danger that it would invite upon the very establishment of the Church itself, he was very, very careful.

                Had God not directed him to take the steps necessary to conceal the principle where necessary and to teach it where possible, it would have been impossible to establish the Church in its fulness and keep it alive. Joseph also said, "I have constantly said no man shall have but one wife at a time, unless the Lord directs otherwise." (D.H.C. 6:46) That is true. But the Lord has directed otherwise. Joseph received the commandment. Monogamy was the established system of the time, and he knew that if he let everyone go around freely entering into plural marriage, they would abuse the law, and great havoc would be the result. But that it was very definitely established by the Prophet in his lifetime and lived by him and his associates, is impossible to deny. It is also very definitely functioning today, under the Lord's command, and is binding upon His Priesthood.

                Brigham Young gives us insight as to an item of procedure. Said he, "The Keys of the Priesthood were committed to Joseph to build up the Kingdom of God on the earth, and were not to be taken from him in time or in eternity; but when he was called to preside over the Church, it was by the voice of the people, though he held the Keys of the Priesthood independent of their vote." (J.D. 1:133) Joseph could have lost his position as President of the Church, had the people so voted. The Church is democratic in function and is persuaded by the vote. But the Priesthood is theocratic in government, directed by and accountable to God. It was the power of the Priesthood that established the Church. The Church did not and does not preside over the Priesthood. Priesthood directs as to the will of God, whether the people choose to obey or not. God cannot be bound--unless it be through our righteousness. "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." (D.&C. 82:10)

                We mention these things because much is made of the issue that the principle of plural marriage cannot be perpetuated except through the President of the Church. But that is to say that the people can tie the hands of the Lord for all mankind, and that is incorrect. A different procedure was adopted by the Lord when the Church's majority decided to vote the principle of plural marriage into obscurity. The Lord made arrangement to fulfill His word in the last dispensation in order that the fulness of His gospel would remain and accomplish its holy design. That the Lord should do so isn't too surprising, if one ponders the question inevitably placed before us:

                If the keys for perpetuating plural marriage are Church-held but have been suspended, how do you suspend keys without losing them? When a generation passes without an ordinance being perpetuated, how, then, can it be perpetuated? Who has lived the law? Can you hold the keys and perpetuate an ordinance you, yourself, have never received? Can you baptize if you have not been baptized? Can you confer Priesthood if you haven't received Priesthood? Or, if the keys to an ordinance are perpetuated on the earth, can that be so without perpetuating the ordinance? And without all of the keys alive and active, can we have the "winding-up scene"? If keys are lost by being "suspended" so that no one is authoritatively living the principle, can they be dispensed again?  Would that not require another dispensation? Was this not declared by the Lord Himself to be the last? If the keys were taken from the earth or were suspended and no one is living the principle, the keys are lost in the impossibility of perpetuating an ordinance no one has received. We can only build up to making liars out of the Lord and Joseph Smith, for we would need another angel from heaven to restore "suspended" keys that no one could activate.

                Brigham Young provides another clue: "Does a man's being a Prophet in this Church prove that he shall be the President of it? I answer, no! A man may be a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and it may have nothing to do with his being the President of the Church." (J.D. 1:133) The Lord can accomplish His work through any worthy man He chooses, and indeed must, if the Church President is bound by the people.

                Another statement worth our contemplation: "As to a person not knowing more than the written word, let me tell you that there are keys that the written word never spoke of, nor never will." (Times and Seasons, 5:667)

                We have outlined in Section Four the manner in which he Lord chose to ensure the continuation of plural marriage, which was through President John Taylor. We hear and read of protests that there are no "secret ordinations" sanctioned by the Lord. This is covered more completely in Section Eleven. It is an uninformed stand, for unpublished and unannounced ordinations are not unheard of in the early Christian Church as well as in the latter days. For instance, it is recorded in the Life of Joseph F. Smith, by Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 225: "He was ordained an Apostle and Counselor to Pres. Brigham Young--the ordination kept secret." On page 227 is the account of that secret ordination, and it was kept secret for 14 months. Heber C. Kimball, the other member of the First Presidency, was himself unaware. This was not a one-time exception. The same was true of George A. Smith, the Prophet's cousin. Common consent is not always sought, nor should we assume that it would be necessary in all things. Joseph F. Smith, by the way, was an Apostle for 20 years before he was a member of the Quorum. The Church cannot bind the Priesthood, and the Priesthood is never instructed from below.

                Further "secrecy:" "There are men here, brethren, who have got authority, but we don't want to mention their names, for the enemy will try to kill them." (B. Young, Times and Seasons, 5:663) Death may not presently be the issue, but that necessity can demand secrecy if necessary, or require extra measures as events may suggest, should not be questioned or cause us to waver in our faith. The Manifesto brought about the necessity of "re-routing" God's law of plural marriage. Judging such a thing impossible and insisting that the Lord hold to our ideas of procedure indicates an unyielding tendency to counsel the Lord. Surely it isn't in our hearts to do that.

                The president of the Church under the direction of God can instruct any man to function as the Lord sees fit. John Taylor's action tended to disannul an unfortunate covenant with the government, independent of the Church. Subsequent Church presidents carried out the policy. It is very apparent that the presidents of the Church had no intention of allowing the Manifesto, offered to the government and to the petitioning Saints, to stop plural marriages in this last dispensation. There is no question that we cannot have the fulness of celestial glory unless we have the fullness of celestial law. And the fulness of the celestial marriage covenant of necessity includes plural marriages, for so spoke the prophets. There is no revelation in our Standard Works on monogamy--unless it is an exception and a limiting edict to an unworthy people. From the Millennial Star: "We cannot be married ... for eternity without subscribing to the law that admits a plurality of wives." (5:15) That the Lord in His tender mercy would find means for making everything available to us necessary for our exaltation, ought to fill us with gratitude, not shock.

                Therefore, if there is a president of the Church who is not advocating that law either because he will not or he cannot, and he is not living it, then God must choose another prophet from among His Priesthood to perpetuate the principle, who is living it. This is a key: If you desire to seek after the man who holds the keys, look for the man who is living all of the laws. "For it is not meet that men who will not abide my law shall preside over my Priesthood." (1:336) We are reminded of Daniel 2:44 again: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." Whatever its hardships and buffetings, the Kingdom yet stands. It is the Kingdom of God. It should be understood that because the "Gentiles rejected the fulness of the gospel, God took it from them and drove it into the wilderness again, among His Priesthood. (See Section 12.) It could no longer be under the direction of the Church presidents, and they were the first to proclaim that very thing.

                Consider a scripture: Quoting from Doctrine and Covenants Section 130:14-17: "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."

                That would put us into the fall of 1890, Joseph having been born in 1805. Orson Pratt, when writing his footnotes for the Doctrine and Covenants, wrote as a footnote for the scripture just quoted: "Near the end of the year 1890. See the prophecy of Joseph uttered 14 Feb. 1835, Millennial Star (Vol. 15, No. 13). `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." Joseph prophesied in 1835, according to the minutes recorded in the Millennial Star, that "Even fifty-six years should wind up the scene," which again puts us into 1890-91.

                It becomes very evident that the fulness of the times of the Gentiles was fulfilled in the rejection of the principle of plural marriage. "At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel ... and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them." (3 Ne. 16:10) Obviously, who had the fulness of the gospel and were in the position to reject it? Only the Latter-day Saints. It is evident from the Prophet Joseph, cited above, that the end of the year 1890 or the beginning of 1891, was, by the word of the Savior, to witness some remarkable event, either the coming of Lord to usher in the Millennial reign, the redemption of Zion, or the "fullness of the times of the Gentiles." The Savior came to John Taylor in 1886, as well as to others, but we are well aware that the Millennium is not yet. And certainly Zion has not yet been redeemed. It is not living celestial law as stated in D&C 105. Therefore, we must conclude that Joseph had reference to the "fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles," as suggested by Orson Pratt in his footnotes.

                Further, it is in fulfillment of prophecy. Doctrine and Covenants 45:28-30: "And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel; But they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men. And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."

                The Lord said He would not revoke the law of celestial plural marriage in 1886, though the Saints would have their free agency to accept or reject it. They rejected it in large number, forfeiting their opportunity to the fulness of the gospel. Thus, the "times of the Gentiles" was fulfilled. The Savior did not come to redeem them because they failed to keep their covenants. Therefore, the fulness of His gospel was indeed taken from among them, into the arms of the Priesthood. Yet we still have many Saints presuming to state that plural marriage cannot be lived or perpetuated because the president of the Church has to be the one activating the keys. Thus we seek to counsel the  Lord even when rejecting His law.

                Brigham Young would have allowed the Church to do as it chose, taking the power and authority of the Priesthood with him to organize under God's direction elsewhere if necessary. After Joseph's death in 1844, he said:  "I do not care who leads the Church, even though it were Ann Lee." Brigham Young knew who held the keys. He said further, "I know where the keys of the kingdom are, and where they will eternally be." (D.H.C. 7:230-233) We are reminded, "Does a man's being a Prophet in this Church prove that he shall be the President of it? I answer, no!" Plural marriage cannot be perpetuated through the Church president under the circumstances imposed upon the Church in 1890. The Church is presently fulfilling all of the mission that it covenanted to do. It is God's true Church. May we emphasize the fact that the fulness of the gospel is not held out as a substitute for the Church. Indeed not. The fulness of the gospel comprehends all of the gospel restored through the Prophet Joseph.

                It is essential to emphasize that the president of the Church on a number of occasions has commissioned men to act in his behalf, and has made it clear that he does not want to know when they perform marriages. The president of the Church has that authority. For example, here is part of the examination of the witness, President John Taylor, before Judge Zane in the 1884 Polygamy Trials:

                Mr. Dickson: Give me the names, if you can, of the priests or ministers, or whatever name they are known by in the Church, in this city, who were authorized to perform plural marriages within the past three years.

                Taylor: I could not give you these names.

                Q: Can you give me any of them?

                A: No sir.

                Q: Can you not give the name of any person in the Church who was authorized to celebrate plural marriages within this period of time?

                A: I will state in relation to these matters, that I have nothing to do with the details.

                Q: I understand it is you from whom the authority comes?

                A: Yes, sir; but I have nothing to do with the details of the matter.

                Q: But you are the person who confers the authority?

                A: Yes sir.

                Q: Then you do know upon whom you do confer authority?

                A: There are hundreds of people who have authority ....

                Q: You do not know at any time who is authorized to celebrate plural marriages?

                A: No, sir, I do not know ....

                Q: There is no records kept?

                A: Don't have any such records.

                Q: Then if you don't know the names of the persons who celebrate the rites, and there is no record of it known to you, how can you tell whether a marriage is celebrated?

                A: I have nothing to do with details ....

                Q: Is there any record of marriages?

                A: I am not acquainted with the records.

                Q: Do you know whether a record of marriages is kept?

                A: It is very probable there is.

                Q: Can you say whether there is or not?

                A: I think likely there is.

                Q: Did you ever see it?

                A: I do not know that I have.

Q: If you wanted to see it, is there any means of ascertaining where it is?

                A: I could find out by inquiry.

                Q: Will you be good enough to do so?

                A: Well, I am not good enough to do so." (3:210-224)

                To follow up and make clarification to the Saints, President Taylor spoke of this interview to them. The entire reference on the above-cited pages should be read. It is pure entertainment. He said, "I was lately called upon as a witness--perhaps you may have seen some account of it in the papers--and I want to make some explanation in relation to the matters that I then presented, because they are not generally understood. I was required to divulge certain things. I did not know them to divulge.  Perhaps some of you have had people come to you with their confidences. I have. But I don't want to be a confidant. Why? Because if they made a confidant of me and I was called before a tribunal, I could not, as an honorable man, reveal their confidences, yet it would be said I was a transgressor of law; but no honorable man can reveal confidences that are committed to him. Therefore, I tell them to keep their own secrets, and remember what is called the Mormon creed, `Mind your own business.' I don't want to know the secrets of people, those that I cannot tell. And I could not tell very much to that court; for I have studiously avoided knowing any more than I could possibly help about such matters."  (1:343-344)

                Surely we can understand that the president of the Church was in a position where he made it his business to give the right to perform these marriages, but did not know what was going on so they could not pin him down and get him and the Church into trouble. For example, the writer's father's plural marriage after the Manifesto was with the knowledge and consent of the First Presidency, though they did not perform the sealing. Further, when the writer's grandfather went to President Wilford Woodruff about entering into plural marriage after the Manifesto had just been ratified, President Woodruff said that as President of the Church he could do nothing for the parties. "But if I send you to an Apostle, will you do what he tells you to do? (See page 87) They went to the Apostle, and that marriage was performed. The Apostle did not ask President Woodruff for permission. In fact, President Woodruff made it very apparent that he had nothing to do with it. Yet it was certainly under his authority that it was done.

                Though President Joseph F. Smith did everything in his power to keep from becoming personally involved, he did permit many marriages to be performed during the entire time of his administration. For example, the irritated Salt Lake Tribune drew a bead on President Smith on October 11, 1910: "President Joseph F. Smith said that he was the only one authorized to permit the ceremony of plural marriage and that he is not making this authorization. The Tribune has repeatedly called attention to the fact that he is the only man authorized to permit these marriages and that because this is so, his profession of ignorance of such marriages or of irresponsibility for them on behalf of the Church, is a falsehood. Nothing can be more certain than that under the Mormon doctrine and laws he is the sole one responsible for the new polygamous marriages .... This being so, his denial of complicity in the new polygamous marriages is futile. If he has quit authorizing these new polygamous marriages, how long since is it that he quit?

                "He himself performed the marriage ceremony for Abraham H. Cannon and Lillian Hamlin, one of the first of the transgressions against the Manifesto. He has been silent with regard to this, sustaining polygamists, favoring them, rewarding them in every way, giving the aid and comfort of his position to those who entered into new polygamy, and thus defied the law of God and man as he himself clearly confessed that he was doing." (3:428)

                The Tribune was more clear-eyed than were many of the Saints. We ought to understand that the president of the Church in most instances could honestly say he was not giving any authority to anybody to perform plural sealings, because he had already caused authority to be given. When he said that there was no authority in all the world to perform plural marriages, he was correct at that particular time. He was in complete control of when that authority would have to be briefly quiescent, and when it was to be activated.

                Furthermore, in 1909, President Joseph F. Smith called Elders Nathan Clark, Bishop McKean and Joseph W. Musser and gave them commission to keep celestial plural marriage alive in this last dispensation. It was a command.

                The president of the Church also commissioned presidents of Temples to exercise this authority, and the Church has not known in each instance of all the marriages that they were performing. He trusted them as being one with the president to act in accordance with the whisperings of the revealing Spirit of the Holy Ghost to do that which is right in the sight of God. And they acted under his authority and his keys.

                Presidents of temples, including Ephraim Chapman of the Manti Temple and Edward Wood of the Cardston Temple, entered into the practice of plural marriage after the Manifesto. They received that right and that authority from the president of the Church, though there is no evidence of what time or when or where. God doesn't intend that the world should know how He and the Priesthood act concerning these matters.

                In 1912, President Joseph F. Smith went into Canada and got a select group of faithful brethren around him and instructed them to go ahead in that principle. Among those men was the president of the stake in Raymond, Heber Allen. We know of this personally.

                When the Church took the position that they could no longer perpetuate the principle, which position started in 1886 and not in 1890, only those who sought out where the keys were held, could live the higher law.  Some did seek it out. Angus M. Cannon, a stake president, was instructed by President Taylor to tell people when they came to him that the Church was no longer performing the ordinance. In the suit of the United States against the Church in 1888, the following was Angus M. Cannon'sTestimony:

                Q: "Then it is a cessation because you could not safely perform these marriages; is that the idea?

                A: It is a cessation because the law declared we could not do it; out of honor for the law.

                Q: It was what?

                A: Out of honor for the law.

                Q: Why was it that when the law made these marriages penal that out of honor for the law they were not stopped twenty-five years ago?

                A: I will state that upon persons applying to me for recommends to go, when I believed such was their object, I have told them the consequences.

                Q: And gave them the recommend ... ?

                A: I approved the recommend after explaining to them that if they performed them they must endure the penalty as Daniel did when he prayed contrary to law, and when they insisted that they preferred to endure the penalty to forgoing the promised blessings of God in that direction, I have signed the recommends." (2:77)

                There is a basic teaching in that interview, which ought to be apparent to the reader. The interview was before the Manifesto, and despite the law, marriages still went on. The principle of seeking out the keys still holds. Any man who desires with all his heart to live that principle and is willing to comply to it, the law is binding upon him. (J.F.S. 1:213) Satan fosters many delusions. We must remember that no matter what the delusion may be, the earmarks are the same, one of which is that everything is hopeless. Our intent is to stipulate that this is not so.

                Dr. Hyrum L. Andrus joins the host of others who hold the common concept that plural marriages were stopped in all the world in 1904 by virtue of the public pronouncement of President Joseph F. Smith. On a Church basis, they certainly were. However, the actions of our leaders were far more explicit than their words, as we have noted.

                Dr. Hyrum L. Andrus stresses also that the living of plural marriage under the Priesthood must be by commandment, or it is not acceptable to God. (See Doctrines of the Kingdom, pp. 457-462) We entirely agree. The permission of the servant of God in whom the keys for this work reside must be granted, for it is his position to know the mind and will of the Lord in the matter.

                We wonder, however, that a question should even arise as to the principle being a specific commandment to this dispensation, and therefore binding upon the Priesthood. We can produce no revelation countermanding the commandment to Joseph Smith. Rather, the Lord declared in 1886, "I have not revoked this law, nor will I." President Woodruff taught the same truth when he said that we will live the law until Christ comes again.  Certainly there is overwhelming evidence of that fact, as brought forth in the Summary to this volume.

                The present living of plural marriage is because of commandment, and we dare not do otherwise. Joseph said the revelation on plural marriage was "given by way of commandment and not by way of instruction." (1:26-27) "We have got to observe it," he said. It was obviously regarded as a commandment by the Church leaders through and beyond the Manifesto, and it is yet a commandment binding upon all who would enjoy a fulness of celestial glory. Said Brigham Young in connection with this: "The only men who become Gods, even sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy."  (J.D. 11:268-269)

                The necessity of the principle in the lives of the Saints has been made evident over and over again. Elder Samuel A. Woolley, associate of Joseph Smith, is an example. He had been ill in October of 1843. He records: "One afternoon in the month October, A.D. 1843, I think on a Tuesday, about 2 o'clock, (I cannot explain just how I knew it was 2 o'clock, but I knew it), found myself in the sitting room downstairs, and walking to the door leading into the store. I saw my brother Edwin D. putting up the shutters of the store as though it was night. I turned around, saw Mary, his wife, putting down the blinds of the windows in the sitting room. I stood and looked and wondered what was to be done. I saw two or three other persons there; and presently some others, including Patriarch Hyrum Smith, came in.

                "The fireplace was in the north end of the room, and Hyrum sat down at the east end of the grate, with his face turned to the northwest. Presently I saw him take a paper out of his coat and, as he opened the paper, I read, `A Revelation on Eternal Marriage and Plurality of Wives,' etc. He then commenced to read what is now known as the revelation on plural marriage. I also read it myself as fast as he did. He stopped and explained as he went along. There was a sister present by the name of German, who, when he had read to a certain point, went to the southwest window, raised the curtain, looked out, then turned around and said, `Brother Hyrum, don't read anymore, I am full up to here,' drawing her hand across her throat. It was there told me by the same power that informed me it was 2 o'clock, that that revelation was of God, and that no man could or would receive a fulness of celestial glory and eternal life, except he obeyed that law, and had more than one living wife at the same time. From this time I commenced to get well and did so very speedily."  (1:24-25, 3:128)

                We add also the witness of Abraham Hunsaker, whose record is in the L.D.S. Biographical Encyclopedia by Andrew Jenson, Assistant Church Historian (3:415-416): "When the law of celestial marriage was first whispered to him, he opposed it exclaiming, `It is of the devil,' but God knew his heart and in open day a messenger from heaven with three women clothed in white raiment stood before him several feet from the ground, and addressed him thus: `You never can receive a full and complete salvation in MY kingdom unless your garments are pure and white and you have three counselors like me.' Thus he was convinced that principle was right, and he subsequently married five wives, two of whom survived him, and he became the father of 50 children."

                The command was reiterated by Joseph F. Smith in 1878: "It is a law of the Gospel pertaining to the celestial kingdom, applicable to all gospel dispensations, when commanded and not otherwise, and neither acceptable to God or binding on man unless given by commandment, not only so given in this dispensation, but particularly adapted to the conditions and necessities thereof, and to the circumstances, responsibilities, and personal as well as vicarious duties of the people of God in this age of the world ...." (1:206)

                Apostle Samuel W. Richards also stated: "In ancient Israel, polygamy was regularly practiced in accordance with the Law of the Lord. If it were a true and righteous principle then, what renders it false and unrighteous now? If it met God's approbation then, why should it not now? The Jewish Scriptures contain no record of His prohibiting it. Three or four thousand years make no difference in the truth or validity of the eternal laws and institutions of God." (1:38) The Gods have become exalted on the basis of the same, unchanging eternal laws as are placed before us for our requirements.

                We turn to Orson Pratt in the matter of the commandment that has been placed before us: "... The Lord God who gave revelations to Moses approbating polygamy, has given revelations to the Latter-day Saints, not only approbating it, but commanding it." (1:183)

                Joseph F. Smith adds: "I understand the law of celestial marriage to mean that every man in this Church, who has the ability to obey and practice it in righteousness and will not, shall be damned, I say I understand it to mean this and nothing less, and I testify in the name of Jesus that it does mean that .... This law is in force upon the inhabitants of Zion, and he that is qualified to obey it cannot neglect or disregard it with impunity." (1:214)

                Those among the Saints whose efforts are directed to sink the principle of plural marriage out of existence or to minimize its necessity as part of God's eternal plan, are in danger of losing all hope of eternal exaltation for their whitewashing, for their teachings are a delusion.   Heber C. Kimball said, "That which He revealed He designs to have carried out by His people." (J.D. 5:203) The Lord will prevail despite the weaknesses of men. Apostle Daniel H. Well made a significant prophecy: "If we as a people do not hold ourselves on the altar ready to be used, He will pass on and get somebody else; because He will get a people that will do it. I do not mean to say that He will pass on and leave this people; no, there will come up from the midst of this people that people which has been talked so much about." (Des. News, Dec. 9, 1882) Similarly, Heber C. Kimball said, "But the time will come when the Lord will choose a people out of this people upon whom He will bestow His choicest blessings." (Deseret News, Nov. 9, 1865) Other similar references are cited in the Summary.

                That the principle of celestial plural marriage would be hindered in its perpetuation because of contending Saints or because the Church president would be placed under covenant to cease teaching it, was never the intention of the Lord or His prophets. To assume we cannot live all of God's restored laws because the Church president is handicapped, is not and was not the intent of the Lord. It is misinformation that is perpetrated upon the Saints in many forms. For this reason, we are dwelling upon it at length.

                The Lord God knows the end from the beginning. He was not foolish enough to establish a holy and exalting principle only to have to give in to pressures and remove it from the earth. He was fully aware of the conditions into which the Church and its holy laws were moving. It is unlikely that the encroachment of a Manifesto took Him by surprise.

                God tells us He is the same unchanging God yesterday, today and forever, and that His word changeth not, neither doth it vary in the least degree. If some of the Saints are trying to sink plural marriage, one of God's holy laws, out of existence, it is our responsibility to stand firm for truth. The hearts of the righteous yearn to obey God and become like Him. And none but the righteous should have the privilege of having a marriage that continues for time and all eternity. And those who have an eternal marriage that continues forever, if they are righteous and they hold God's Priesthood and are one with His prophet, they will be given the privilege of living that law or will be commanded to live it. It is singular that those who seek so desperately to convince the Saints that plural marriage is an "untouchable" right now and has been sunk out of existence, will find that for them, it is.

                Suppose that through tremendous pressure the president of the Church and the Quorum of Twelve were put into the position where they had to abandon the work for the dead on pain of going to jail and the confiscation of their properties. They would also, of course, have to suffer disfellowshipping or, more likely, excommunication and wearing the brand of "unfit parents." Assume that the government was using this pressure as a means to stop the autocracy of the Church, the Church's affairs in politics and its influence in Utah. The Church president holds the keys of authority in the ordinance work for the dead. The majority of Church members petition the president to cease the work so their prosecutions will be abated. The president then issues an edict that work for the dead must cease in all the world.     

Under such circumstances, do we have a problem? Could the dead be redeemed and the Saints be relieved of the responsibility for that work?  Or again, suppose baptism was the source of difficulty with the government and with our neighbors, and we are seized upon to cease performing the unpopular baptisms. Under the president's edict, would we therefore be obedient because he held the keys to the ordinance, and doing so, would we be justified before God? Would the Lord make no move to perpetuate baptism? Could we receive the blessings predicated upon baptism and the laying on of hands to enjoy the Gift of the Holy Ghost? Have we ever been forbidden to stand up and claim our blessings, in righteousness?

                Does the color change in applying the same act to baptism that we have so willingly accepted for plural marriage? Parley P. Pratt said that they might just as well pass a law against baptism and the laying on of hands for the Holy Ghost as to do so against plural marriage. Why have the Saints embraced the delusion?

                What is our attitude with respect to baptisms into the Mormon Church in other countries? Have we been hindered in most cases? We seem to urge upon ourselves the obedience to the laws of our land, but have a different measuring stick as to some laws of other lands. The "Forum" column in the Salt Lake Tribune spelled out instances where baptism was forbidden by law in Germany during World War II, but our Elders went about, mostly by night, performing the baptisms. The same has been done in Vietnam. But we stumble over plural marriage and think it is acceptable to do away with that particular holy law, while we would never consider relinquishing the ordinance of baptism. It is a conundrum more than passing strange.

                We sympathize with Orson Pratt's position: "If one portion of the doctrines of the Church is true, the whole of them are true. If the doctrine of polygamy, as revealed to the Latter-day Saints, is not true, I would not give a fig for all your other revelations that came through Joseph Smith the Prophet; I would renounce the whole of them."  (1:185)

                Consider Apostle John W. Taylor's case. He fell victim to Church pressure. The President said that those who were living the principle would have to be removed from their positions because it was embarrassing to the Church. (A strange stand to assume, inasmuch as he himself had five wives.) So Apostle Taylor was un-Churched, which was his position at his death in 1916. We find on record of May 21, 1965, that under the direction of President Joseph Fielding Smith, acting on instruction from President David O. McKay, with the consent of the Quorum of Twelve, that President Smith "performed the ordinance of restoration" for John W. Taylor, Apostle in polygamy. He died branded an "apostate" in some quarters for living the principle of plural marriage. But he was reinstated later. Why? Is there repentance in the grave? We would like to assume, as to reinstatement, that his case is more the rule than the exception.

                So important is the principle of plural marriage because of its inherent design to ennoble and enlarge the character of man, that President Joseph F. Smith told of a learned Jew who visited him on one occasion. The Jew told President Smith that he had, with the consent of his first wife, another wife, and that he was raising two families because he was justified in it, in those things which were written concerning the ancient prophets. President Smith said that there was a man who didn't know the law of God, yet because of his largeness of heart and because of his acceptance of the ancient scriptures, which give us no prerogatives, he accepted that law and lived it. President Smith said he was going to get along and go farther than many of the Saints will today who will not live the celestial law restored through Joseph.

                We have the warnings from the scriptures: "O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than the misery which never dies because of the praise of the world?" (Mormon 8:38) "Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls?" (Mormon 8:33)

It is true that the holy word of God has been transfigured, and the Saints have the praise of the world now. "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!" (Luke 6:26)

Those who are inclined to dilute the law of plural marriage, will join the nation of the United States in the manner described by Wilford Woodruff:

                "The Congress of 1862 and the Supreme Judges of 1879, in their acts and decisions have taken a dangerous and fearful step; their acts will sap the very foundation of our government and it will be rent asunder, and the God of heaven will hold them responsible for these things .... The Constitution once broken by the rulers of the land, there will be no stopping place until the nation is broken in pieces, and no power beneath the heavens can save this nation from the consequences thereof." (Mill. Star, 41:243)

                A cloud hovers over our nation, and all is not well with the Saints. There are those among the Saints, however, who feel, in the quietude of peace with the world, that "All is well in Zion," who have the idea that they can get into the fulness of celestial glory by just paying their tithing and attending their meetings. But Paul sounds the note pertaining to such a deception "... Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." (II Thes. 2:10-11) Again in the Book of Mormon: "... For God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it, God hath done it, that they may stumble." (Jacob 4:14) Many Saints are certain that all is well, and in so doing, believe a lie. They are giving substance to Satan's deception perpetrated against the Saints of the Most High.

                All is not well in Zion. We are literally fulfilling prophecy.  Everyone knows about II Nephi 28 in the Book of Mormon, but we tend to assume that it refers to another people, another time, another place. It is not so. "Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth!" (II Ne 28:16) Plural marriage is sometimes considered of no worth, with the United Order and the law of Consecration considered unsuccessful episodes of history long since laid to rest. The attitudes that have stolen upon us are widespread. But the issue is before us. "And others will he pacify and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well--and thus the devil cheateth their souls and leadeth them away carefully down to hell .... Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion! Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well! Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!

                "Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more! And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! (Is this not typical?) For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall. Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough! ... for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have." (II Ne. 28:21, 24-30) Is this not a perfect description of many among us who have rejected the fulness of the gospel and who are content with the portion they have? How often we have heard from many friends those very words from the scripture in reference to the fulness of the gospel. Who, after all, is Zion?

                Heber C. Kimball was directed three times to practice plural marriage and then commanded in the name of the Lord that he obey. One can understand his reticence. Joseph the Prophet was finally commanded by an angel with a drawn sword on pain of destruction, to enter into that principle. (1:210) It is the nature and disposition of a good man to not do anything that would be offensive to the Lord or to himself because of the traditions of his parents and of the world. The good men in the Church who are honorable and who magnify their Priesthood would be reticent to go ahead in this principle under the present circumstances. So it is not sought out generally. The leaders of the Church speak for the Church and tell them they do it under certainty of excommunication. It is a fearful pronouncement.

                But we are definitely lulled away into carnal security upon that basis, feeling all is well in Zion, and we do not have to worry because these things are upon the shoulders of our leaders. We are reminded of the fact that the 76th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants tells us that the Terrestrial world is made up of those who are not valiant on earth, who were deceived by the craftiness of men. So if the honorable men of the earth can be deceived, it is just barely possible that the honorable men of the Church can be deceived also, if they have leaders who are telling them they don't have to live God's laws in order to receive the fulness of His blessings. It may partially be the responsibility of the leaders, but it is your loss. Where are the latter-day souls who will separate themselves from the multitude and seek the Master beyond His parables?

                A further significant scripture applies to our day: "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." (Isaiah 24:5) President Joseph Fielding Smith remarked on that passage: "Are we not too much inclined to blame the generations that are past for the breaking of the new and everlasting covenant, and to think it is because of the great apostasy which followed ... the Apostles in primitive times ...? Perhaps we should wake up to the realization that it is because of the breaking of covenants, especially the new and everlasting covenant which is the fulness of the gospel that the world is to be consumed by fire and few men left. Since this punishment is to come at the time of the cleansing of the earth when Christ comes again, should not the Latter-day Saints take heed unto themselves? We have been given the new and everlasting covenant, and many among us have broken it." (Deseret News, Oct. 17, 1936) The change of ordinances by our people has been noted and even extolled, as we outlined in Sections Two and Nine.  

One other question that we must ask ourselves. Are the gifts of the Spirit of God more manifest among us since the Manifesto than they were before? The Book of Mormon promises further writings of the prophets for us to read and study. Have we received the rest of those works? Have we received the extension of all those things which were written concerning the life of Christ upon this continent? Have we received the writings of Enoch the Lord promised us in the Pearl of Great Price, to be restored in these last days after we have proven ourselves? The only answer is that we have not proven ourselves, or those records would now be among us for our edification and instruction. Again, has the Lord appeared to the Saints as a body in the Rocky Mountains as Joseph said He would? So despite all of the justifying of ourselves in our position and saying all is well, there is something very wrong. Why are not the gifts more apparent among us? Why so little speaking in tongues, healing, prophesyings, the gifts of the Holy Ghost that were so manifest among the early Saints? Why are they not so evident now?

                It is true that they are about us in a limited way. But so are they in certain degrees among the sectarian world, through faith.   We are not the light that God wants us to be. The Lord says we should be as a light on a hill that can be seen afar off, and men seeing it would be led to glorify God. We might well have the miserable commendation that all men speak well of us. There was never a people generally spoken of who are more well spoken of than the Mormons today. That is not to our glory before God. It is an undeniable fact that if the Saints were walking in obedience to all of the commandments of God, the wicked would be fighting against Zion with all the power of their forces. We have shaken hands with the world and are at peace. We were warned by Brigham Young.

                Though we are teaching the First Principles abroad in the land, our light is not shining as it should, and the condemnation spoken of in the scriptures is coming upon us because we have become very slothful. We are literally in our day fulfilling the prophecies concerning the kind of people who would be in Zion in the latter days, having lamps without the oil of righteousness, saying all is well.

                Another sad prophecy has come to pass and is fulfilled to overflowing. Heber C. Kimball spoke to modern Israel: "You men and women that lift up your voices against that holy principle that has been introduced among this people, the time will come, when your daughters will walk these streets as common harlots, and you cannot help yourselves."

                Apostle J. Golden Kimball said: "I think some have been guilty of lifting up their voices, and if there is any one thing that some people are glad and happy is done away with, it is that principle." (Deseret News, Mar. 1, 1902)

                Soon after the comment of J. Golden Kimball, Matthias F. Cowley said: "You know President Kimball once prophesied to this people, and especially to the mothers, that if they spoke disrespectfully of a certain principle of the gospel and fought against it, the day would come when their daughters would turn aside and lose their virtue, and become objects of immorality upon the streets of Salt Lake City. I want to say that that prediction, sorrowful though it may seem, has had its fulfillment." (Deseret News, August 9, 1902)  In 1902? How heartbroken would they be in viewing the greatly worsened conditions of the present permissive day?

                It is critical to understand that every man must stand on his own feet and be responsible for his own doing. Seek the Lord. Seek His keys within the Church, and of necessity, independent of its framework.  We must know the truth for ourselves. When President Joseph F. Smith told the Saints in the Salt Lake Temple in 1909 to cease calling upon the arm of flesh, no matter who they were, how much more plainly could the man of God encourage the Saints to seek out the truth for themselves? The Church was and is bound in these matters.

                We remind our readers of the Lord's words in D&C, Section 84: "And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received. Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written. That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father's kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion. For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay." (D.&C. 84:54-59) We encourage a second reading of the above counsel, given to modern Israel.

                Finally, the words of Orson Pratt: "Now, if you want to get into darkness, brethren and sisters, begin to oppose this revelation. Sisters, you begin to say before your husbands, or husbands you begin to say before your wives, `I do not believe in the principle of polygamy, and I intend to instruct my children against it.' Oppose it in this way, and teach your children to do the same, and if you do not become as dark as midnight, there is no truth in Mormonism." (1:187) We must forsake our vain traditions if we are to come out into the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

                We close this section on the above note of warning, because our decisions and our actions are so critical. That which we choose to do and to profess will echo throughout eternity. We wish to add that we know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's true Church upon the earth. Our hearts are bound together forever in testimony of her restoration and mission. We understand the feelings of the good people of the Church. They have a testimony of that Church, and since the Church is true, how can anything independent of the Church be right? Many Saints have wrestled with the question out of devotion and singleness of loyalty.  But the Lord directs, and it does not require divided loyalty to seek out and live all of God's laws. On the contrary, those who accept part of it and will not seek out or accept the fulness of the Gospel, are those with divided loyalty.

                Our intent here is to encourage those with the Spirit of God who wish to know that the Lord has made provision for those who would travel the straight and narrow way to His presence. We must go forward and make our calling and election sure. We wish to firmly establish that monogamy is not God's "basic law of eternal marriage." God's basic law of eternal marriage is plural marriage. We wish to make it clear that plural marriage is not a principle dependent upon the president of the Church for perpetuation, when conditions make that impossible. We wish also to establish the fact that celestial plural marriage was given to this dispensation by way of commandment, re-emphasized in 1886, and is binding "and in force upon the inhabitants of Zion." We also wish to add that we cannot take the right to Gospel law and ordinances to ourselves. But God has prepared a way. When the Church took the position that they would no longer live the law, God's Priesthood took the position that it would be lived, under God's direction through His Priesthood. Hear it, all Israel!  The Priesthood did perpetuate the principle independent of the Church, and it is still being perpetuated independent of the Church. Any man who is righteous, whose heart is right before God, can find out where those keys are.  (The Most Holy Principle, Section Ten, Volume IV, pp 135 – 162)  {For book listings, visit: allofthegospel.com}

—COMMENTARY—

ON

PREPARING
FOR
THE APOCALYPSE

Deep Impact.  The Day After.  2012.  The Book of Eli.  Hollywood certainly has had the apocalypse on the brain the past few years, lulling the public into a slumber and false sense of security as we walk out from the movie theaters squinting into the sunlight thinking, Wow!  I’m sure glad that really didn’t happen. 

But we live in the latter days.  We profess to be Latter-day Saints, and if we believe in the prophecies uttered by prophets of God, we know with a surety these events similar in situation, will happen.  The question I have is: How prepared for disaster are we—collectively and individually?  If our economic system collapsed—and it could in a day—what would happen with our homes?  Our towns?  Our counties?  Our state?  Our nation?  The local grocer would run out of food within days because everyone would be scrambling to replenish their pantries; food riots would break out; there would be marauders and the National Guard would be called in to restore order, because there aren’t enough police to police events of this magnitude, so marshal law would be enforced.  Airports would be shut down.  Travel would be shut down on the interstates, which would also mean that all of those Wal-Mart trucks you would normally see trucking down the line wouldn’t be going to your town’s store to stock the shelves. 

What would happen to the dissenters?  There isn’t enough room in the county and city jails, and the prisons are already full—at least in Arizona, prison wardens would be required to quickly diminish the prison population, which means very few of the incarcerated would be walking out the front gate.  Oh, they’d be herded somewhere for processing—whatever that means.  Sure there are whispers about FEMA camps, but even I know that just because it’s found on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true.  But I’m sure there have been government contingency meetings that have planned for the possibility of an apocalyptic event, so maybe there is some substance of truth to the conspiracy theories.  Just look at New Orleans in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.  Oops!  I can hear it now, “Guys, we need to figure something out here!  And quick!” 

There were people scrambling to the markets to stock up on food and water and supplies.  There was shipping that came to a screeching halt—either because of the weather or weather-related causes.  There were food riots.  There were civilians waiting to be rescued.  There were thugs and raiders and looting.  That city came to a halt.  And anarchy prevailed.

I was in Miami during hurricanes Rita and Wilma.  During the latter, I witnessed people in a panic preparing for the onslaught, and walked through the Publix marveling over the barren shelves.  And it was an eerie feeling that morning, as I stood on the sixth floor of the hotel looking out over Doral, Florida, as transformers erupted in blue explosions across the city in the darkening dawn as the hurricane hit that area.  We were without power for three days, however, I ate well.  I had bacon, eggs, hot soup, fruit, water, and other delightful meals.  And why?  Because I know how to survive without electricity. 

I am a firm believer in food storage, but I’m a firmer believer in practicing to use that food storage once one has it.  Experiment.  That’s all I can say—learn to use it and how to cook with it.  One can store anything.  But it is important to rotate your stores—from wheat to bullets—and yes, you may have to defend your treasure trove one day.  So learn how to shoot; it just may save your life one day, whether you are defending your family from predators or hunting that ugly jackrabbit to feed your family. 

I hope that we will be prepared when these harsh times come into our lives.  I don’t want to see anyone suffer.  We can still enjoy the blessings of God in those tremulous times, if we heed His warnings and take the little time we have left to prepare for them today.

E    D    I    T    O    R    I    A    L

A LETTER FROM A BROTHER

I just wanted to express my appreciation for what you sent.  I long for the day when all things can be set truly in order, but until then we have to just do the best we can…I hope we can be directed by God in all our actions and that we will be diligent to comply with his directions.  I'm not really afraid of our condition, as I believe that God is mindful of us, but I do hope to see more clearly his direction in our lives - in my own life.  I know I personally fall short in so many areas and I don't know what God has in mind for me, but I have to trust that even my own life is His work if I will allow it to be.  

Sometimes I think the hardest thing is to truly trust him and let go so He can take control.  What a trip this life is!  In the end I think we may all be surprised to finally understand the true reality and purpose of it all.  Sometimes we think we have high exalted positions, but I for one don't feel any greatness in my calling.  I feel like a little kid with a responsibility that is way over his head.  I just hope I can be a blessing to at least one other person before I leave this baffling life.  If I can just help even one person realize and accept the truth then perhaps my life will be worth it, and maybe all my own weaknesses and stupidity will be overlooked.

I think the most important thing to remember in our priesthood callings is that we are called to "serve," not to "rule."  Perhaps someday we will be called to rule but for now we should only see ourselves as servants and as such we would be wise to refrain from judgments and condemnations and instead only seek to encourage others (and ourselves) to repent and come unto Christ.  No matter how "right" we may be, if our actions do not lend to the purpose of raising people up then we are missing the mark.  Personally I don't feel to condemn anyone, but I do feel a tremendous desire for all of us to repent.  Especially myself and my own family.

I love the words that Jesus spoke to the Nephites when he came; let there be no more disputations among you, for this is my doctrine; whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.  Whosoever declareth more or less than this cometh of evil and therefore is not of my church.

Sometimes I think we spend so much time arguing over our ideologies that we miss the main point of the gospel.  We should feel free to think and conjecture but in the end to live the gospel is to love one another – in spite of our different views.  Even if we are not committing any gross sin, if we see that we can do better in any area, then we have need to repent.  This is the message of the gospel, that in spite of all our stupid errors, shortcomings, and sins, we can repent and still be accepted.

Plural marriage will only be of benefit to us if we live in a constant state of humility and repentance until we attain perfection.  If we take any other course PM will only be a curse to us and we will fall short of the blessings we seek.  Humility, repentance and forgiveness are the keys.  "Charity covereth a multitude of sins."  Without charity we are nothing, even though we may have many wives and children and hold high callings and be honored by our peers.  More important than plural marriage and priesthood calling is our need for charity (humility, repentance, and forgiveness of one another).

Oftentimes the "enemies" we face in life, those that Christ says we must love and forgive, are the members of our own family, our own household, even our own wives and children.  How painful it is to be betrayed by those we love the most!  I know you understand that. However, I am coming to believe that if we will truly have and maintain the pure love of Christ (unconditional charity) then in spite of what they do in their state of rebellion and anger, if we undauntingly extend our love to them then ultimately they will find security.  When that is found they will eventually gain a desire to be with us and finally they will gain a desire to live the gospel, the true gospel; but if we lack charity then they will feel oppression and without an abundance of love all our efforts to keep these commandments will only serve to drive them away; not only from us but from the gospel itself.  I have seen this happen many times.

 When Christ said, "be ye therefore perfect" he meant it!  Especially if we are going to live this way of life.  And perfection is composed of unconditional love.  I have seen the terrible consequences that a lack of charity brings.  I have witnessed first-hand the repercussions that so many of the children of those "living the law" face.  Children who suffer through this lack of love have a most difficult time in life because they typically develop either a deep bitterness, or insecurity.

Because those "living the law" represent the "saints of God" then to be rejected (to feel unloved) by the "saints" means they must also be unloved by God.  Therefore God must be cruel and unforgiving and certainly NOT a person they would want to spend eternity with.  Like it or not, when we profess to live the "higher law" we represent God to our children and families, and how we represent him will either endear them to Him (and us) or drive them away. Without true love, pure and unconditional, the "law" only brings misery.  That I know from my own experience and from the experiences of those whom I grew up with.

I am certainly no great example of one having the pure love of Christ.  I have made, and continue to make, all the typical foolish mistakes.  I only hope I can sufficiently humble myself before I am compelled to be humble. Honestly, I need all the prayers and help I can get.  I suppose we all do.  I pray God’s blessings for you, not only in your calling, but in your family.

Don't think I'm preaching to you.  I just wanted to express my thoughts and my appreciation for your efforts.

Thanks,

_________

Recommended Sites 4thefamily.us (Open chat & polygamy & Mormon doctrine discussion) fullnessradio.acrobat.com/fullness/ (Internet broadcast Wednesdays 8pm MST.  Discussion of deeper mysteries of the Kingdom of God.) allofthegospel.com  (An in-depth website offering extensive Fundamentalist Mormon information and works) ogdenkraut.com (A website offering discourses from early Church leaders and books of several Gospel-related subjects)

 

H o l i n e s s

Y
T o   T h e  

L o r d

TRUTH NEVER CHANGES
Volume 13, Number 08
June 2010

TRUTH NEVER CHANGES
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