A great and awful crisis is at hand – such a crisis was never known before since the foundation of the world. All nations are looking through the misty future in order to descry, if possible, what is about to happen. Many sermons have been preached, many speeches have been made, and some pamphlets have been published, with the hope of lifting up the veil of the future. Yet none but the servants of God who have the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy, can unfold the mysteries of the future. They can give the trump a certain sound, and their counsel will not be guess work. God will do nothing except He reveal His secrets to His servants and Prophets. God, the Lord God of Israel, will take the control of these great events which are shortly to come to pass. Not a sparrow will fall to the ground without His notice. But His servants will be fully advised to every important event that is to transpire. They will be the heralds of blessings and also of vengeance. For the Lord hath a controversy with all nations, and the hour of recompense is at hand. (more…)
Does Joseph Smith Still Hold All The Keys?
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Individual Accountability
How much responsibility do we have to follow our leaders?
Should this extend to the degree that we should obey those who preside over us even when we know that what they are telling us is wrong?
There is a great difference of opinion within the Church today on this very subject, to the extent that recently a large Sunday School class that the author attended, was literally split down the middle, with one side claiming that: “We should follow our leaders, no matter what they ask us to do, even if we know that what they are asking us to do is wrong,” the other side stressing the point that: “We should only follow our leaders in righteousness, as they follow the Lord.”
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What is the Journal of Discourses?
“The Journal of Discourses deservedly ranks as one of the standard works of the Church, and every rightminded Saint will certainly welcome with joy every Number as it comes forth from the press as an additional reflector of “the light that shines from Zion’s hill.” (Journal of Discourses Preface. Vol.8)
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This statement by George Q. Cannon, Apostle of God, sets the scene for what has become regarded by true Gospel scholars as one of the most important sources of doctrinal teaching in this the dispensation of the fullness of times.
Knowledge
Why is knowledge important? What knowledge is needful to us? How is it essential to our salvation? What are the results if we neglect to learn? What do the scriptures say about knowledge? How can we gain knowledge most effectively? Questions like these should be foremost in our minds, as we progress through this earthly probation. The scripture that usually comes to mind whenever this important subject is mentioned is often: …
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The Mysteries – Seek After or Leave Alone?
“Let us here observe, that after any portion of the human family are made acquainted with the important fact that there is a God, who has created and does uphold all things, the extent of their knowledge respecting his character and glory will depend on their diligence and faithfulness in seeking after Him, until, like Enoch, the brother of Jared, and Moses, they shall obtain faith in God, and power with him to behold Him face to face.” (Lectures on Faith 2:55)
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Obviously, from the above, we are all encouraged to seek after a knowledge of God, yet Saints are also sometimes cautioned to, “leave the mysteries alone,” or, “stick to the first principles.” This series of articles will attempt to outline some of the basic issues involved, enabling Saints to determine what they feel to be the correct attitude to “the mysteries.” (more…)
