| 559 of the church was inevitable. 13 This is a serious reflection, and causes one to inquire anxiously, "Was the temple ever completed?" If not, we are confronted with evidence conclusive, if the Twelve are correct, that the church organization existing at that time has been rejected of God.
13 BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD.-AN EPISTLE OF THE TWELVE TO THE
SAINT OF THE LAST DAYS.
The building of the temple of the Lord, in the city of Nauvoo, is occupying the first place in the exertions and prayers of many of the saints at the present time, knowing as they do, that if this building is not completed speedily, "we shall be rejected as a church with our dead," for the Lord our God hath spoken it; but while many are thus engaged in laboring, and watching, and praying for this all-important object, there are many, very many more, who do not thus come up to their privilege and their duty in this thing, and in many instances we are confident that their neglect arises from want of proper understanding of the principles upon which this building is founded, and by which it must be completed. . . .
There are individuals who have given nothing as yet, either as tithings or consecration, thinking that they shall be able to do a great deal sometime hence, if they continue their present income to their own use; but this is a mistaken idea. Suppose that all should act upon this principle, no one would do aught at present, consequently the building must cease, and this generation remain without a house, and the church be rejected, then suppose the next generation labor upon the same principle, and the same in all succeeding generations, the Son of God would never have a place on earth to lay his head. Let every individual remember that their tithings and consecrations are required from what they have, and not from what they expect to have sometime hence, and are wanted for immediate use.
All money and other property designed for tithings and consecrations to the building of the temple must hereafter be presented to the Trustee in Trust, President Joseph Smith, and entered at the Recorder's office in the book before referred to; and all receipts now holden by individuals which they have received of the building committee for property delivered to them, must also be forwarded to the Recorder's office for entry, to secure the appropriation of said property according to the original design.
The elders everywhere will instruct the brethren, both in public and in private, in the principles and doctrine set forth in this epistle, so that every individual of the church may have a perfect understanding of his duty and privilege.
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
HEBER C. KIMBALL.
ORSON PRATT.
WILLIAM SMITH.
LYMAN WIGHT.
WILFORD WOODRUFF.
JOHN TAYLOR.
GEO. A. SMITH.
WILLARD RICHARDS.
Nauvoo, Illinois, December 13, 1841.
-Times and Seasons, vol. 3, pp. 625-627
(page 559) |
