Chapter XI. The "Lost Books" of Scripture

Joseph as a Translator. Conference at Fayette. Important Revelation then given. Kirtland the First " Stake " of Zion. Organization of the Mormon Bishopric. Revelations and Illuminations. Great Vision of Joseph and Sidney. Grand Sweep of the Mormon Theology.

SIDNEY GRAND SWEEP OF THE MORMON THE- OLOGY.

"It may be well to observe here," says Joseph, in his journal, " that the Lord greatly encouraged and strengthened the faith of his little flock, by giving some more extended information upon the Scriptures, a translation of which had already commenced.

" Much conjecture and conversation frequently occurred among- the saints, concerning the books mentioned and referred to in various places in the Old and New Testaments, which were now nowhere to be found. The common remark was that they were lost books ; but it seems the apostolic churches had some of those writings, as Jude mentions or quotes the prophecy of Enoch, the seventh from Adam. To the joy of the flock, which in all, from

Colesville to Canandaigua, N.Y., numbered about seventy members, did the Lord reveal the following doings of olden times, from the prophecy of Enoch".

Then came the grand revelation of the " Book of Enoch," which in the sacred literature of the Church has been classed with the " Book of Abraham " and the vision of Moses on the Mount. These books are familiar to the saints, but for the benefit of the general reader a digest of them will be given hereafter.

The view of Joseph most pertinent at this period of his work is that of a re-translator of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, giving " keys " and new renderings to both, by the spirit of revelation, and supplying " lost books" when necessary to the unfolding of the mysteries of God to his saints. Thus did he make them familiar with much of the history of the ancients — Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Moses ; likewise the history of the early peoples of the American Continent, with their patriarchs and prophets.

" The year opened," says the record, " with a prospect great and glorious for the welfare of the kingdom ; for on the 2d of Jan., 1831, a conference was held in the town of Fayette, N. Y., at which was received the following- revelation :

Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the great I AM, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made, the same which knoweth all things, for all things are present before mine eyes : I am the same which spake and the

world was made, and all things came by me; I am the same which have taken the Zion of Enoch into mine own bosom ; and verily I say, even as many as have believed on my name, for I am Christ, and in mine own name, by the virtue of the blood which I have spilt, have I pleaded before the Father for them : but behold, the residue of the wicked have I kept in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day, which shall come at the end of the earth ; and even so will I cause the wicked to be kept, that will not hear my voice but harden their hearts, and woe, woe, woe, is their doom.

But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that mine eyes are upon you ; I am in your midst, and ye cannot see me, but the day soon cometh that ye shall see me and know that I am : for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day ; wherefore, gird up your loins and be prepared. Behold, the kingdom is yours, and the enemy shall not overcome.

And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless: wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio ; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high; and from thence, whomsoever I will, shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do ; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand.

Much more was communicated in this revelation, but the historical point is that the Church was now •directed to remove to Kirtland, Ohio, which became

a grand "stake" of Zion, where the first temple of the Lord was reared by the saints in this dispensation.

"In the latter part of January," continues the Prophet, "in company with brothers Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge, I started with my wife for Kirtland, Ohio, where we arrived about the ist of Feb., and were kindly received and welcomed into the house of brother N. K. Whitney. My wife and I lived in the family of brother Whitney several weeks, and received every kindness and attention which could be expected, and especially from sister Whitney. The branch of the Church in this part of the Lord's vineyard, which had increased to nearly one hundred members, were striving to do the will of God, so far as they knew it, though some strange notions and false spirits had crept in among them With a little caution and some wisdom, I soon assisted the brethren and sisters to overcome them."

It now became necessary to effect the temporal organization of the saints. The "gathering" of a Latter-day Israel had commenced. The saints were fast becoming a people.

The great organizing genius of Joseph was called into action, and the Bishopric which has since grown into such magnitude — controlling- both the social and ecclesiastical organizations of the people — sprang, as in a moment, into vigorous life. Its organization commenced with a revelation, as seen from the following passages:

* * * * And again, I have called my servant Edward Partridge, and give a commandment, that

he should be appointed by the voice of the church, and ordained a bishop unto the church, to leave his merchandise and to spend all his time in the labors of the church ; to see to all things as it shall be appointed unto him, in my laws in the day that I shall give them. And this because his heart is pure before me, for he is like unto Nathaniel of old, in whom there is no guile.

Just here Joseph also supplements a brief biographical sketch of the first bishop:

" Edward Partridge was born in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Mass., on the 27th of August, 1793; being of Scotch ancestry. At the age of twenty he had become disgusted with the religious world. He saw no beauty, comeliness, or loveliness, in the character of the God that was preached up by the sects. He however heard a universal restorationer preach upon the love of God. This sermon gave him exalted opinions of God, and he concluded that universal restoration was right according to the Bible. He continued in this belief until 1828, when himself and wife were baptized into the Campbellite Church, by elder Sidney Rigdon. He continued a member of this church until P. P. Pratt, O. Cowdery, P. Whitmer and Z. Peterson came with the Book of Mormon, when he began to investigate the subject of religion anew ; went with Sidney Rigdon t© Fayette, N. Y., where, on the nth of December, I baptized him in the Seneca river."

It is unnecessary to follow the details of the history of the Bishopric, but from this time forward it must be understood as superintending the gatherings of the saints, and their temporal organizations

in the various States, — Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and lastly in Utah. But follow we more especially the evangelical work of the elders. Says the revelation of the Lord to the elders of the Church at Kirtland:

****** Behold, verily I say unto you, I give unto you this first commandment, that ye shall go forth in my name, every one of you, excepting my servants Joseph Smith, jun., and Sidney Rigdon. And I give unto them a commandment that they shall go forth for a little season, and it shall be given by the power of my Spirit when they shall return ; and ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with a voice of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God; and ye shall go forth baptizing with water, saying, Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

And from this place ye shall go forth into the regions westward; and inasmuch as ye shall find them that will receive you, ye shall build up my church in every region, until the time shall come when it shall be revealed unto you from on high, when the city of the New Jerusalem shall be prepared, that ye may be gathered in one, that ye may be my people and I will be your God. * * * *

Again, I say unto you, that it shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority, and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church.

And again, the elders, priests, and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the

which is the fullness of the gospel ; and they shall observe the covenants and church articles to do them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed by the Spirit; and the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith, and if ye receive not the Spirit, ye shall not teach. And all this ye shall observe to do as I have commanded concerning your teaching, until the fullness of my scriptures are given. And as ye shall lift up your voices by the Comforter, ye shall speak and prophesy as seemeth me good ; for, behold, the Comforter knoweth all things, and beareth record of the Father and of the Son. *****

Not the mere letter of the Scriptures were these elders sent forth to preach, but the living word of God ; not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost was the proclamation to be given to the world.

The example is well in keeping with that of Christ, in the days of his flesh, sending out the fishermen apostles ; and the solemn charge, " If ye receive not the Spirit, ye shall not teach," is a grand law to all evangelists. Himself an inspired man, Joseph was abundantly able to test his ministry by the gift of inspiration.

The gospel of the latter-days was now fairly spreading in America, but not yet had it gone into Canada and over the mighty waters into foreign lands. The stupendous prophecy of the angel Moroni to Joseph that his name should be had for good and evil among all nations, was not yet in clear prospect of fulfillment. This consummation was to be in the ministry of the Twelve Apostles,

who were already promised, but who were not chosen until several years later.

Manifestations very similar to those of modern Spiritualism continuing to trouble the churches in and about Kirtland, the Prophet received several revelations concerning the "false spirits" which had gone abroad in the world, in which was given " tests of the spirits" and the proper manner of rebuking evil spirits prescribed.

The saints from the State of New York — the birthplace of the Church — now began to come in, and bishop Partridge, by revelation, was directed how to settle the people and organize their temporal affairs.

Joseph and a number of the leading elders were also directed to remove to Missouri (where, according to prophecy, the Zion of the Latter-days will in the Lord's due time be established), while Kirtland remained as a chief stake of Zion, for the gathering of the saints at that period.

The elders began to go to the western country, two by two, according to the commandment, and while the Prophet was preparing for the journey, W. W. Phelps and family arrived and enquired of the Lord concerning his will. He received a revelation directing him to be baptized, and appointing his ordination to assist Oliver Cowdery. Thus it was that elder Phelps became a principal man in publishing the first periodicals of the Church.

"On the 19th of June," says Joseph, "in company with Sidney Rigdon, Martin Harris, Edward Partridge, W. W. Phelps, Joseph Coe, and A. S. Gilbert and his wife, I started from Kirtland for Missouri,

agreeably to the commandment before received, wherein it was promised that if we were faithful, the land of our inheritance, even the place for the city of the New Jerusalem, should be revealed. We went by wagon, canal boat and stage to Cincinnati; thence by steamer, via Louisville, to St. Louis. From St.- Louis, myself and brothers Harris, Phelps, Partridge and Coe went on foot by land to Independence, Jackson Co., Missouri, where we arrived about the middle of July, and the residue of the company came by water a few days after. The meeting of our brethren, who had longf waited our arrival, was a glorious one."

Here, however, as Joseph informs us, his mind was filled with painful reflections on account of the "degradation, leanness of intellect, ferocity and jealousy of a people that were nearly a century behind the time." But his anxious thoughts were soon relieved by a revelation declaring that Independence was the centre place of the land of promise, directing where the temple should be located, what lands should be purchased for the saints and how distributed or apportioned to them ; also making certain directions as to their temporal well-being, etc., etc., and directing the final gathering of the body of the Church.

The first Sabbath after their arrival in Jackson Co., elder Phelps preached to an audience beyond the [then] boundary of the United States. This audience was indeed a motley gathering, being made up of Indians, Negroes, and specimen frontiersmen, from many nations.

About this time another revelation was given,

directing the Bishopric. From it we excerpt the following passages, touching the settling of the saints, the laying out of Zion, the dedication of the temple spot, and the publishing of the gospel to the ends of the earth :

* * * * And let there be an agent appointed by the voice of the church, unto the church in Ohio, to receive moneys to purchase lands in Zion.

And I give unto my servant, Sidney Rigdon, a commandment that he shall write a description of the land of Zion, and a statement of the will of God, as it shall be made known by the Spirit unto him ; and an epistle and subscription, to be presented unto all the churches to obtain moneys, to be put into the hands of the bishop to purchase lands for an inheritance for the children of God, of himself or the agent, as seemeth him good or as he shall direct. For, behold, verily I say unto you, the Lord willeth that the disciples, and the children of men should open their hearts, even to purchase this whole region of country, as soon as time will permit. Behold, here is wisdom. Let them do this lest they receive none inheritance, save it be by the shedding of blood.

And again, inasmuch as there is land obtained, let there be workmen sent forth of all kinds unto this land, to labor for the saints of God. Let all these things be done in order; and let the privileges of the lands be made known from time to time, by the bishop or the agent of the church ; and let the work of the gathering be not in haste, nor by flight, but let it be done as it shall be counselled by the elders of the church at the conferences, according to the knowledge which they receive from time to time.

And let my servant Sidney Rigdon consecrate and dedicate this land, and the spot of the temple

unto the Lord. And let a conference meeting- be called, and after that let my servants Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith, jun., return, and also Oliver

Cowdery with them, to accomplish the residue of the work which I have appointed unto them in their own land, and the residue as shall be ruled by the conferences.

•x- •x- -x- * -x- *■

Let the residue of the elders of this church, who are coming to this land, some of whom are exceedingly blessed even above measure, also hold a conference upon this land. * * * * And let them also return, preaching the gospel by the way, bearing record of the things which are revealed unto them ; for verily the sound must go forth from this place unto all the world. * * *

The laying of the foundation of Zion, and the dedication of the land, with a descriptive view of the country, is thus told by Joseph :

" On the 2d of August, I assisted the Colesville branch of the Church to lay the first log, for a house, as a foundation for Zion in Kaw township, 12 miles west of Independence. The log was carried and placed by twelve men, in honor of the twelve tribes of Israel. At the same time, through prayer, the land of Zion was consecrated and dedicated for the gathering of the saints, by elder Rigdon ; and it was a season of joy to those present, and afforded a glimpse of the future, which time will yet unfold to the satisfaction of the faithful. Unlike the timbered States in the East, except upon the water-courses which were verdantly dotted with trees, the beautiful rolling prairies lay spread around like a sea of meadows, decorated with a growth of

flowers that seemed as gorgeous and grand as the brilliancy of stars in the heavens, and exceeding description.

" On the 3d of August the spot for the temple, a little west of Independence, was dedicated in presence of eight men, among whom were myself, Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge. W. W. Phelps, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris and Joseph Coe. The scene was solemn and impressive. On the 4th I attended the first conference in the land of Zion. It was held at the house of brother Joshua Lewis. The spirit of the Lord was there. On the 7th I attended the funeral of sister Polly Knight, the wife of Joseph Knight, sen. This was the first death in the church in this land."

Joseph, Oliver and Sidney were next commanded of the Lord to make a journey to Cincinnati, Ohio, to lift up their warning voices in that city. But their destination was afterward changed to Kirtland, as the record shows. Joseph says:

" On the 9th, in company with ten elders, I left Independence landing, for Kirtland. We started down the river in sixteen canoes, and went the first day as far as Fort Osage. Nothing very important occurred until the third day, when many of the dangers so common upon the western waters began to manifest themselves, and after we had encamped upon the river-bank at M'llwain's Bend, brother Phelps, in open vision by daylight, saw the destroyer in his most horrible power, ride upon the face of the waters. Others heard the noise, but saw not the vision.

"On the 13th I met several of the elders on their

way to Zion, after which we continued our journey by land to St. Louis. I arrived safe and well at Kirtland on the 27th. Many things transpired upon this journey to strengthen our faith."

On the 1 2th of Sept. following, Joseph removed with his family to Hiram, in Portage Co., Ohio, about 30 miles from Kirtland. Here, being domiciled with John Johnson, he prepared to re-commence the translation of the Bible.

On the first Sunday of October following, Orson Hyde was baptized, and became a member of the Church. This gentleman, subsequently so widely and favorably known in the Church, was thus spoken of, by Joseph, at that time:

" He was left in his infancy an orphan, with none to look upon him with a father's eye and feel for him with a mother's heart. The hand that wiped his infant tears was still ; the breast that gave him suck was cold and slumbering in the arms of death. He was thrust abroad upon the cold and friendless bosom of an unfeeling world, so that for twenty years he saw no one in whose veins flowed a drop of kindred blood, and, consequently, grew up as a wild and uncultivated plant of nature. And now he had come into the new and everlasting covenant, to be renewed grace for grace, and put himself under the Fatherly care of Him whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light, and who rewardeth his sons and daughters who serve him faithfully to the end, with eternal life."

Elder Orson Hyde became one ol the chief apostles of the last days.

Thus it may be noticed that about this period the

men were gathering around Joseph who were destined to "bear off the kingdom in all the world."

In the fore part of October Joseph received this short but forceful revelation :

Hearken, and lo, a voice as of one from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men — Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth ; yea, a voice crying — Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the bridegroom; pray unto the Lord, call upon his holy name, make known his wonderful works among the people ; call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth ; wherefore may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, may be glorified in heaven so on earth, that thy enemies may be subdued; for thine is the honor, power and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Soon after this, Joseph, with elder Rigdon as scribe, resumed the translation of the Scriptures; and on the nth of October a conference was held at brother Johnson's, at which, says Joseph, "the

elders were instructed in the ancient manner of conducting meetings, of which knowledge most of them were ignorant."

At this conference it was decided that Oliver Cowdery should carry the " commandments and revelations" to Independence, Mo., for printing, and that the Prophet was to prepare them for publication. But " all this time," he says, " there were many things which the elders desired to know relative to preaching the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth, and commencing the gathering."

Accordingly, on the 3d of Nov. 1831, a lengthy and explicit revelation was given. We extract as follows:

Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the Lord your God, and hear the word of the Lord concerning you : the Lord who shall suddenly come to his temple : the Lord who shall come down upon the world with a curse to judgment ; yea, upon all the nations that forget God, and upon all the ungodly among you. For he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God.

Wherefore, prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people ; sanctify yourselves ; gather ye together, O ye people of my church, upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded to tarry. Go ye out from Babylon. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Call your solemn assemblies, and speak often one to another. And let every man call upon the name of the Lord ; yea, verily I say unto you again, the time has come when the voice of the Lord is unto you, go ye out of Babylon ; gather ye out from amonor the nations, from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Send forth the Elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea ; send forth unto foreign lands ; call upon all nations ; firstly, upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews. And behold, and lo, this shall be their cry,' and the voice of the Lord unto all people : Go ye forth unto the land of Zion, that the borders of my people may be enlarged, and that her stakes may be strengthened, and that Zion may go forth unto the regions round about , yea, let the cry go forth among all people : Awake and arise and go forth to meet the bridegroom : behold and lo, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord.

Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour. Let them therefore, who are among the Gentiles, flee unto Zion. And let them who be of Judah flee unto Jerusalem, unto the mountains of the Lord's house. Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon. But verily, thus saith the Lord, Let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you ; and he that goeth let him not look back, lest sudden destruction shall come upon him.

The above was -the part for present application by the elders, while the remainder was a lengthy prophetic chapter on the literal gathering of Israel, the "ten tribes," and the coming of Messiah, which shall have review elsewhere among the themes of the Latter-day Prophet.

And soon after this was given to Joseph and Sidney their grand vision concerning the " different glories," in which they conversed with the Saviour and were commanded to bear testimony of his resurrection to this generation.

A testimony most vital in the unfolding of a new Christian civilization !

The vision itself is also a very link of the divine history, and the subject-matter gives a view of Mormon theology so vast and sublime that it should here be presented to the reader as an illustration of its universal spirit and themes:

Hear O ye heavens, and give ear O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Saviour: great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out ; his purposes fail- not, neither are there any who can stay his hand ; from eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail.

For thus saith the Lord, I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end, great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory ; and to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom ; yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I shew them, even the things of many generations ; and their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven : and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to nought; for by my Spirit will I enlighten them, arid by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will; yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.

We, Joseph Smith, jun., and Sidney Rigdon, being

in the spirit on the sixteenth of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirtytwo, by the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God — even those things which were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father, through his only begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, even from the beginning, of whom we bear record, and the record which we bear is the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision; for while we were doing the work of translation, which the Lord had appointed unto us, we came to the twenty-ninth verse of the fifth chapter of John, which was given unto us as follows. Speaking of the resurrection of the dead, concerning those who shall hear the voice of the Son of man, and shall come forth ; they who have done good in the resurrection of the just, and they who have done evil in the resurrection of the unjust. Now this caused us to marvel, for it was given unto us of the Spirit ; and while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about ; and we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fullness ; and saw the holy angels, and they who are sanctified before his throne, worshipping God, and the Lamb, who wrorship him for ever and ever. And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony last of all, which we give of him, that he lives; for we saw him, even on the right hand of God, and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the only begotten of the Father — that by him and through him, and of him the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten

sons and daughters unto God. And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the only begotten Son, whom the Father loved, and who was in the bosom of the Father — was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son, and was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him — he was Lucifer, a son of the morning. And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen ! is fallen ! even a son of the morning. And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision, for we beheld Satan, that old serpent — even the devil — who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God, and his Christ, wherefore he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasses them round about. And we saw a vision of the sufferings of those with whom he made war and overcame, for thus came the voice of the Lord unto us.

Thus saith the Lord, concerning- all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves, through the power of the devil, to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power — they are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born, for they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity ; concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come, having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the only begotten Son of the Father — having crucified him unto themselves, and put him to an open shame. These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels, and the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power ; yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due

time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath ; for all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made. And this is the gospel, the glad tidings which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us, that he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness ; that through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him, who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition, who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him; wherefore, he saves all except them : they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment ; and the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows, neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof: nevertheless I, the Lord, shew it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again ; wherefore the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except them who are ordained unto this condemnation. And we heard the voice, saying, Write the vision, for lo ! this is the end of the vision of the sufferings of the ungodly!

And again, we bear record, for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ, concerning them who come forth in the resurrection of the just; they are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried

in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given, that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power, and who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true. They are they who are the church of the first born. They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things — they are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fullness, and of his glory, and are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchisedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the only begotten Son ; wherefore, as it is written, they are Gods, even the sons of God — wherefore all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ's and Christ is God's; and they shall overcome all things; wherefore let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet — these shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ for ever and ever. These are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven, to reign on the earth over his people. These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection. These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just. These are they who are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all. These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the first-born. These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all. These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new

covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.

And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the first-born, who have received the fullness of the Father, even as that of the' moon differs from the sun in the firmament. Behold, these are they who died without law, and also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it. These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men. These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fullness. These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fullness of the Father; wherefore they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun. These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore they obtained not the crown over the kingdom of our God. And now this is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit.

And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament. These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus. These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit. These are they who are thrust down

to hell. These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil, until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb shall have finished his work. These are they who receive not of his fullness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial ; and the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial ; and also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them, for they shall be heirs of salvation. And thus we saw in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding, and no man knows it except him to whom God has revealed it. And thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial, which excels in all things the glory of the telestial, even in glory, and in power, and in might, and in dominion. And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things — where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne for ever and ever; before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence and give him glory for ever and ever. They who dwell in his presence are the church of the first born, and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fullness and of his grace ; and he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion. And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one. And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one. And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one, for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world ; for these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas. These are they who say they are some of one and some of another — some of Christ, and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of

Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch; but received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant. Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up unto the church of the first born, and received into the cloud.' These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. These are they who suffer the wrath of God on the earth. These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fullness of times when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work, when he shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father spotless, saying — I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. Then shall he be crowned with the crown of his glory, to sit on the throne of his power to reign for ever and ever. But behold, and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the sea-shore, and heard the voice of the Lord, saying — these all shall bow the knee, and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne for ever and ever; for they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared, and they shall be servants of the Most High, but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end. This is the end of the vision which we saw, which we were commanded to write while we were yet in the Spirit.

But great and marvelous are the works of the

Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpasses all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion, which he commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not lawful for man to utter ; neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him ; to whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves ; that through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory. And to God and the Lamb be glory, and honor, and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

And this is Mormonism ! A grand universal scheme of salvation! A stupendous structure of divine purposes and divine beneficence !

Consider how narrow were the theological views of the Christian world forty-seven years ago. How rarely spoke the divines of that day of a gospel of universal salvation and glory for the race in the worlds to come. How generally did they preach of an almost universal damnation for the sons and daughters of Adam !

Fifty years ago hell, not heaven, was the view which sectarian divinity chose to present; and damnation, not salvation, its all-potent theme. Salvation was little else than the escape of the few from perdition, and heaven was little else than the refuge of frightened sinners.

Thus considered, Joseph's views commend themselves to the universalian intellect of to-day as being, not only far above, but beyond, his times ; and the

divine economy, and the final destiny of the race, are presented by him more Godlike in cast than ever before by priest or prophet.

It will be observed also that this vision is supremely unique, — unlike any comprehensive presentation of the modern intellect, yet worthy of admiration for the boldness and grandeur of the genius that inspired its type of gospel theme. The vision, in fact, is purely Mormon, with not a thought or form borrowed from modern times.

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