Continuity of the Kingdom of God on Earth

IMPROVEMENT ERA. Vol. VI. AUGUST, 1903. No. 10.

CONTINUITY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH. BY ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON.

This subject was brought out in notes nine and ten of the Mutual Improvement Manual for 1900-1901. After a lapse of about two years, questions relating to it continue to be forwarded to the Improvement Era for reply. One such has been referred to the writer. The chief quandary seems to arise from the fact that the Prophet Joseph Smith said that the kingdom of God had been on the earth continuously from the beginning. Here are some of his statements: Whenever there was a righteous man on the earth unto whom God revealed his word and gave power and authority to administer in his name, and where there is a priest of God — a minister who has power to administer in the ordinances of the gospel and officiate in the priest- hood of God — there is the kingdom of God — Note 9. Some say the kingdom of God was not set up until the day of Pen- tecost, and that John did not preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; but I say, in the name of the Lord, that the kingdom of God was set up on the earth from the days of Adam to the present time.

• • • What constitutes the kingdom of God? Where there is a prophet,

  a priest, or a righteous man unto whom God gives his oracles, there is the kingdom of God. —Note 10.

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The writer of this takes it for granted that the Prophet Joseph's statements are true. He also assumes that the evidence of the correctness of this view is clear. The reader is invited to peruse verses 5, 6, 8 and 9 of the first chapter of Luke, which embody, in effect, the following statements: Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was a direct descend- ant of Aaron, and a priest of the course of Abia. He and his wife were both righteous before God, "walking in all the com- mandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." Zacharias "executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course." It was his lot to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. This righteous man being a priest to whom God gave his oracles, "there was," according to the Prophet, "the kingdom of God." For information concerning the priestly heritage of the sons of Aaron, see Chronicles, twenty-fourth chapter; likewise Nehemiah, twelfth chapter. It will thus be observed that the authority and oracles of God

were on the earth, running the line backward, from John the Bap- tist to Aaron. One of the revelations of God, given through the Prophet Joseph, shows that the priesthood extended, in an unbroken line, from Moses to Adam;

And the sons of Moses, according to the holy priesthood which he received under the hand of his father-in-law, Jethro; And Jethro received it under the hand of Caleb; And Caleb received it under the hand of Elihu; And Elihu under the hand of Jeremy: And Jeremy under the hand of Gad; And Gad under the hand of Esaias; And Esaias received it under the hand of God. Esaias also lived in the days of Abraham, and was blessed of him Which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who re- ceived it through the lineage of his father, even till Noah; And from Noah till Enoch, through the lineage of their fathers; And from Enoch to Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother, who received the priesthood by the command of God, by the hand of his father Adam, who was the first man.

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Which priesthood continueth in the Church of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years. — Book of Doc- trine and Covenants, 84th section, verses 6 to 17 (inclusive).

It is now necessary to make the line complete by showing that the oracles of God have continued on the earth from the day of Christ and will continue until he shall come in his glory: And the Lord said unto me, John, my beloved, what desirest thou? For if ye shall ask, what you will it shall be granted unto you. And I said unto him, Lord give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto thee. And the Lord said unto me, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindred, tongues and people. — Sec. 7, Book of Doctrine and Covenants.

It is also stated, in the same revelation, that the Lord, speak-

ing to Peter, in relation to John, said: He shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth.

Three of the Nephite disciples, on this continent, were, by the Savior, in response to their desires, given privileges similar to those bestowed upon John. One of the great functions of these representatives of God is "to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation, who dwell on the earth." It appears, in this connection, that those who are heirs of redemption and sanctification exist throughout the gen- erations of men. On this subject the Lord, through the Prophet Joseph, said: Thus saith the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of the Gospel, who would have received it if

they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the kingdom of God; also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom,for I, the Lord will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts. And I also beheld all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability, are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven. From the beginning of the world there has been a continu- ous contest between Christ and Satan for the possession of man.

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This will continue until the master anarchist shall be driven from the earth. It is not presumable that God would, at any period, relinquish this planet to the unchallenged possession of the enemy. With exceedingly limited exceptions,the course of the Eternal Father has been to represent himself in this sphere by men clothed with his divine authority. That he holds these representatives as sacred, is evident in his dealings with mankind. They act by His authority and when men reject them, they reject him. This principle is forcibly expresssed by Christ:

He that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he who receiveth me receiveth my father. — Matt.l0:40. It being clear that there has been "A prophet, a priest or a righteous man unto whom God has given his oracles," on the earth from the beginning, and will be until the coming of Christ, surely the kingdom of God has, in that way and form, been perpetuated from the beginning, according to the statement of the Lord through the Prophet Joseph: The kingdom of God was set up on the earth from the days of Adam to the present time.

THE WORD OF WISDOM. [For the Improvement Era.]

BY J. L. TOWNSEND, OF PAYSON, UTAH.

Ho, for the joy of living! and feeling the heart-pulse thrill,^ All its currents rife With the wine of life, And the vigor of mind and will

Ho, for the joy of being! and feeling renewed in health,. Till our work we plan In the strength of man, As we taste of the sweets of wealth!