| 38 themselves? Surely they will not form a part of that company who came up through great tribulation.
Perhaps you may think that I am mistaken, and that in consequence of milder government, persecution has measurably ceased; and that now it is not necessary to pass through great tribulation, to be a part of that number. Paul's words are, All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. And I am confident that the same cause will produce the same effect; and that the pure religion of Jesus Christ will be followed by persecution. Let us examine Paul's words closely, All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus, not out of Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution. Paul does not say all or any, who live Godly out of Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. And I consider that there is a great difference between in and out.
Perhaps you may ask is there any who live Godly, out of Christ Jesus? I answer yes, measurably so at least; there are honorable men who never make a profession of religion, or are baptized, who are exemplary men, who love the principles of truth and righteousness, justice and mercy, and who are truly ornaments to society.-They are Godlike, or in other words live Godly lives, but never put on Christ, because their minds are blinded by the craftiness of men. Perhaps you may ask who are in Christ Jesus? I will let Paul answer the question. In writing to his Galatian brethren, 3d chap. he says, "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.-For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's then ye are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." Perhaps you may say that the most of the religious world have been baptized into Christ. If so, I ask by whom, and by what authority? If you answer by the ministers or priests of the different persuasions, and that they have their authority from God.
I then ask when and where did they get their authority from God? Not direct of course, for they deny that any have received revelations since the days of the apostles, and there is none that can trace their authority back to the apostles, without going through the church of Rome, therefore their authority is no better than the Pope's.-It appears to me to be a fact, clear as the sun at noon day, that it became absolutely necessary that God should again reveal himself to man and confer authority upon some one, or more, before his church could be built up in the last days, or at any time after the apostacy [apostasy].
The authority of the priesthood is a subject that I did not look into, until sometime after I was convinced that there was not a true church, according to the Bible, among all the churches of my acquaintance. And when I discovered that they were all without authority from God, I was doubly confirmed in my opinion.
The church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints believes that God has revealed himself, through Jesus Christ to man again, and conferred the Priesthood or authority, upon his servants in this age, as in ancient days. And for this faith we are persecuted; and this we expect. Yet, still we are determined to live Godly in Christ Jesus, persecution or no persecution, tribulation or no tribulation, because we greatly desire to inherit a celestial glory: Yea we count all earthly pleasures but dross, when compared with that glory which is to be revealed, which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither entered into the heart of man to conceive of, which is laid up for those who love and serve God with full purpose of heart. Celestial glory is what we are seeking after, and to obtain it we are willing to suffer some afflictions, for we believe that it cannot be obtained by us upon any other principle. But if you, or any other person can attain to a celestial glory without being persecuted, or passing through great tribulation; I have no objection: but I fear that those who take the smooth road, will find in the end of this life, that it leads to another place. It appears to me to be a law of heaven, that the seed of Abraham should have their faith tried, similar to what his was; because I believe, that God is a reasonable being, and would not require more of Abraham,
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