| 732 did not offer burnt offerings and sacrifice, as they had done before, and did do afterwards. Even Moses, who spake with Jehovah face to face, was not permitted to enter into the promised land-an account of a small circumstance, such as collegians would call a "nonessential."
Thus it is evident that those men who construe the word of the Lord into "nonessentials," deprive themselves of an inheritance in the kingdom of God. While those who dare administer the ordinances appointed by Heaven's King, without authority from him will doubtless share the fate of Saul. (1st Samuel 13th chapter.)
We are informed by the renowned historian, Whelpley, as also in the Revolutions of Europe, that the church of Jesus Christ was overrun, and driven into the wilderness, A. D. 570, and John the Revelator informs us it must remain there 1260 years, which makes exactly the time, the year 1830, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, with the gifts and blessings.
This is a fact beyond contradiction. "In the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall be established." Now truly the prophet's declaration is verified in this fact, that she has come out "As fair as the sun, as clear as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners!" For, at this wonderful crisis, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret to his servants the prophets." (Amos 3-7.) Truly the Lord has chosen a servant, and revealed his secret to the prophet, but as it was in days of yore, so it is now. "All seems an idle tale." As with the old prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus of Nazareth, and his Apostles, so it is now. The children of Israel had blessings annexed to acts of obedience, while at the same time, penalties were affixed to transgression. In the law given by Moses, it was death for any person to despise (violate) it.
Now if the violation of that law was death, which law was only a type or shadow, how can we escape, who trample on the commandment of Jesus, sealed with his own blood? Jesus gave a pattern, by which his people must be made perfect. It is actually necessary to have a pattern in all things; but of what value is a pattern, unless it is observed? Moses was instructed to make the Ark of the Covenant, just like the pattern showed him in the Mount.-However, since there are "Lords many, and Gods many," and men have made so many laws for Heaven's King, and revealed so many acts of Jesus and the Apostles, that the chain is broken, and all has become useless.
Yet amidst all this confusion, even as at the "Tower of Babel," we have shown you that in fulfilment [fulfillment] of Peter's prophecy on the day of Pentecost, that the Lord would pour out of his spirit in the last days, not only on his servants and handmaidens, but also upon all flesh.-Paul said there was one flesh of beast, one of fowls, and one of fish; consequently, the spirit of God will be poured out on all flesh. Then will enmity cease. The cow and the bear will lie down together, the leopard and kid, &c. Peace and harmony will prevail, and the little children shall lead them. Glorions [Glorious] event!
In the prophecy of Daniel, (8th chap. 14th verse,) we are informed that in answer to Daniel's supplications and inquiries, an angel informed him, that 2300 days or years (Ezek. 6th chap. 5th and 6th verses,) from that time the Sanctuary of the Lord should be cleansed.-Still in the course of Daniel's inquiry, (9th chap. 24th verse.) it is made known to him that 70 weeks were determined upon his people &c., at the end of which time the most holy was to be anointed. A day for a year, according to prophetic count, will make (7 times 70 is) 490 years until Christ the Lord should be anointed; which was done according to Luke, when Jesus was 30 years of age. Then from the Christian era 1840 for instance, we will subtract the 30 years and we will have 1810 left. To this sum we will add the 490 years, which will make precisely 2300, making 1840 the year that this same church, that was organized in 1830, should receive her chartered privileges, ordain her own laws, and be free! (See Book of Covenants, Second Edition, page 400.)
This is a fact too clear to need comment.-Here is evidence conclusive, which no man on earth can get round, and still admit for a moment that the Bible, the good old family Bible is true. "The words that I speak (says Jesus) shall judge you at the last day." "There is no other name given under heaven whereby men must be saved." Therefore "God will judge the world in righteousness, by that man Christ Jesus, whom he hath appointed heir of all things," and e'er long all the honest in heart, to earth's remotest bounds, will acknowledge that the dominion of the son of God is an everlasting dominion, and his government the same over all people: while in the dispensation of the fulness [fullness] of times, God is gathering all things into one, both in heaven and in earth. If we will arrive at perfection, we must follow him who was rich, and for our sakes became poor, that we might become rich. When we become willing to be made perfect through suffering, then shall we be comforted; then will his spirit bear witness with our spirit; and we shall know of a truth, that Joseph Smith
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