| 1067 This proclamation is of vast importance to the Saints of God, to the whole Gentile world, as well as to all the house of Israel. It is made in fulfilment [fulfillment] of the commandments and revelations of God of both ancient and modern times, being an invitation and call to the Gentile nations to receive the gospel of Christ, and come to the assistance of the saints in carrying out the great principles and plan of salvation, and the accomplishment of that work which will end in the coming of Messiah, and great preparation of the marriage supper of the Lamb. Such a call and proclamation is necessary, in order that the present generation may be left without excuse, as the great events of the last days are being fulfilled. In all ages of the world, when the cup of the iniquity of any people was full, and the Lord was about to bring his judgments upon them, he has first sent a warning voice amongst them that all might have a chance of escape and be left without excuse, as in the case of Noah and Lot. We are informed that it should be in like manner at the coming of the Son of Man, and the prophets have all dwelt largely on the great calamities that await the Gentile nations.
In these last days, the Lord has decreed that, previous to the grand consummation about to take place, a universal warning must be given, and all be left without apology. The gospel has been adopted to the capacity of all, both high and low, and that He may judge the world in righteousness. He has resolved that all may have an opportunity of obeying his commandments, from which none are exempt.
This proclamation bears testimony to the nations of the earth that the kingdom of God has come, as has been predicted by the ancient prophets, and prayed for in all ages, even that kingdom which shall fill the whole earth and stand forever. That in connection with the establishment of this kingdom, the authority of the holy priesthood, and apostleship with the keys thereof, have been restored, holding the power to bind on earth that which shall be bound in heaven, and to loose on earth that which shall be loosed in heaven. By virtue of this authority, a message is sent to all commanding them to repent and obey the gospel of the Son of God, with a promise that the obedient shall realize the blessings of the Holy Spirit which have been again dispensed to man.
The American Indians, whose origin has long been a subject of dispute, and which the learned have sought in vain to come to a knowledge of, are here set forth in their true character, through the instrumentality of their records which have been revealed, and that they are about to have restored to them the blessings of the gospel and the holy priesthood, with all its attendant privileges, which were enjoyed by their progenitors, and thereby become a civilized and righteous nation in their own land.
It is set forward that the Lord has appointed a temple and holy city to be built on the continent of America, for the endowment and ordinances pertaining to the priesthood and for the Gentiles and remnants of Israel to resort unto, in order to worship the Lord, to be taught in his ways and walk in his paths, and finish their preparations for the coming of the Lord. A command is also given to the Jews among all nations, to prepare to return to Jerusalem in Palestine, and to re-build that city and temple unto the Lord. Thus, America and Jerusalem are set forth as two places of gathering for the nations, and they may escape the judgments about to overtake the world, as the prophets have testified, that in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance.
Through this medium the rulers and people of all nations are invited to lend their assistance in accomplishing these great and important events, and informed that their salvation depends upon their receiving blessings at the same altar with Israel. They are also informed that, if they withhold their hand, and refuse to come forward to the help of the servants of the Lord, it will not effect the success and final triumph of the work; for it is the work of the great God, for which his word and oath have been pledged from before the foundation of the world. And the same promise and oath have been renewed unto man from the beginning, down through each succeeding dispensation, and confirmed again by his own voice, out of the heavens in the present age; therefore he is bound to fulfil [fulfill] it, and overcome every obstacle. The loss will be on their own part, and not on the part of God or of his Saints, should the people neglect their duty in the great work of modern restoration. The nations of the earth are informed that none of them can be idle spectators of the work of God, but must be affected in either one way or another, for or against the kingdom of God in the fulfilment [fulfillment] of the prophets of the great restoration, and return of his long dispersed covenant people.
When then the Lord has consummated this great work, and Jerusalem has become the seat of empire, and the great center and capital of the old world, priests, bishops, and clergy of every denomination will have to yield their pretended claims to the priesthood, together with titles, honors, creeds and names,
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