A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel 26
Written by different authors, under very different circumstances, and
on opposite sides of the globe, such perfect concordance would have
been impossible, unless the authors had all been actuated by the same
Spirit of divine inspiration.
The admission is general that the Bible was written and compiled on the
Eastern hemisphere, and, more or less continuously through a period
of some 1500 years. The fact is generally recognized that the Book of
Mormon was written on the Western hemisphere, and by those who had
nothing to do in getting up the Bible.
The chain of history it has recorded; the principles it teaches; its
anomalous style as a literary production, and its truthfulness as a
prophetic record, are all against its being a production of modern
times.
As an ancient record, it contains many predictions of prophets and
seers which have been realized, and many others which are now having
a remarkable fulfilment. It has these facts in favor of its divine
origin, as well as the Bible.
Not the least remarkable of its prophecies are those declaring how it
should be written, and why. How it should be hid up in the earth for
many generations, and how it should come forth in the latter times;
every particular of which has been realized.
Bible.
_Isa_. 29. 10-12 the vision of all is become as the words of a book.
13, 14 and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men.
18 in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book.
43. 19 I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth.
_Ezek_. 37, 15-28 the sticks of Judah and Ephraim.
_Hos_. 8. 12 I have written to him the great things of my law.
_Hab_. 1. 5 I will work a work in your days which you will not believe.
2. 3 for the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it
shall speak.
Doctrine and Covenants.
_Sec_. 3. 16-20 the records of the Book of Mormon preserved, that the
promises of the Lord might be fulfilled.
5. 11-15 the testimony of three witnesses to the Book of Mormon.
10. 1-52 concerning that portion of the Book of Mormon which Martin
Harris had permitted to pass into the hands of wicked men.
20. 8 gave him power from on high to translate the Book of Mormon.
9-16 the purposes of God in bringing forth the Book of Mormon.
24. 1 thou wast called and chosen to write the Book of Mormon
27. 5 and with Moroni, whom I have sent to reveal the Book of Mormon.
33. 16 Book of Mormon and Holy scriptures given for instruction.
42. 12 elders to teach the principles contained in the Bible and Book
of Mormon.
124. 119 unless he be a believer in the Book of Mormon and the
revelations.
135. 3 J. Smith, Jun., brought forth the Book of Mormon by the power of
God.
6 Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants cost the best blood of the
nineteenth century.
Pearl of Great Price.
44-57 an account of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in
fulfilment of prophecy.
_See Sermon by O. Pratt, J. of D., Vol. 15, page 178_.
" " " " " _16, " 209_.
_A series of six pamphlets, by O. Pratt, on the Divine Authenticity of
the Book of Mormon_.
_Public Discussion between J. Taylor and Rev'ds C. W. Cleeve, James
Robertson and Phillip Cater_.
_An account of several remarkable visions, by O. Pratt_.
JOSEPH SMITH, JUN., AS A FULFILLER OF BIBLE PROPHECIES.
The mission of Joseph Smith, Jun., is the key of the dispensation of
the fulness of times. If he was not sent of God, the pretentions of the
Latter-day Saints to be the true Gospel church are without foundation,
and their labors for the redemption of the world must prove a failure.
If, in his life's labors, and their results, the predictions of the
ancient prophets are being fulfilled, it should be satisfactory
evidence of the divinity of his mission. For unless a man have the
spirit of the prophets, he can neither understand their predictions,
nor the nature of the events that would fulfil them.
John, the Revelator, in his vision of the latter times, saw another
"Angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to
preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and
kindred, and tongue;" _Rev_. 14. 6.
On page 49, _P. of G. P_., Joseph Smith, Jun., states that a glorious
personage appeared to him and said that his name was Moroni. This
angel told Mr. Smith one thing concerning his own future, that, since
that time, 1823, has had a remarkable fulfilment. This was that his
name "should be had for good or evil among all nations, kindreds and
tongues."
He also informed him that there was a record on gold plates, deposited
in the earth, which gave an account of the ancient inhabitants of this
continent, and of the source from which they sprang.
A book containing such information, as the angel said, was engraven on
the plates, was produced by Mr. Smith, with competent witnesses that it
was a translation from certain plates of gold which were shown to them
by an angel. (_See Book of Mormon for the historical account, and the
third page for the testimony of the witnesses_.)
The angel Moroni further stated, that the record contained the fulness
of the everlasting Gospel. Here we have all the conditions necessary
for the fulfilment of the prophetic vision of St. John, regarding the
restoration of the Gospel in the latter times.
The angel repeated to Mr. Smith the fifth verse of the last chapter of
Malachi, thus: "Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the
hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful
day of the Lord." In _Doc. & Cov_., 110. 13, 14, we find an account of
the fulfilment of this prophecy, by the appearance of Elijah to Mr.
Smith. He stated that he had come in fulfilment of this prediction of
Malachi's.
The angel Moroni quoted the sixth verse as follows: "And he shall
plant in the hearts of the children, the promises made to the fathers,
and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers; if it
were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming."
"Therefore," said the prophet Elijah to Joseph Smith, "The keys of this
dispensation are committed into your hands."
After receiving authority from the prophet Elijah, Mr. Smith made it
the business of his life to lay the foundation for accomplishing the
great work committed to him. He has left the world most important
instructions on this subject, in _Doc. & Cov. sec_. 128.
After referring to the prophecy of Malachi, he says "It is sufficient
to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse,
unless there is a welding link of some kind or other, between the
fathers and the children, upon some subject or other, and behold, what
is that subject? It is baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot
be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither
can they nor we, be made perfect, without those who have died in the
Gospel also;" _verse_ 18. It is necessary that all things be connected
and welded together in one glorious and complete union, from Adam down
to the present time.
To accomplish this it is necessary that the hearts of the fathers and
children be turned towards each other, by understanding the promises
made in the Gospel. We have no information that the Christian world
has had any knowledge of these glorious principles for the universal
redemption of man, from the time of the primitive church until they
were revealed through Joseph Smith, Jun.
In the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon, through the agency of an
angel, we find the fulfilment of _Psalm_ 85. 11, "Truth shall spring
out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven;"
and also of a parallel prophecy of Enoch's, _P. of G. P. page_ 21.
"Righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send
forth out of the earth." What for? "To bear testimony of mine Only
Begotten."
Truth came forth out of the earth, in the Book of Mormon, through the
ministration of the angel Moroni, and righteousness came down out of
heaven through the blessings and ordinances of the holy Priesthood,
as restored to the earth by John the Baptist, when he appeared to J.
Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery, and conferred upon them the Priesthood of
Aaron, "Which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the
Gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of
sins;" _Doc. & Cov_. 13.
And by Peter, James and John, who were sent to Jos. Smith, Jun., and
others, and who ordained them to be apostles and especial witnesses of
Christ. 27. 12. Through these ordinances and blessings came the power
to work righteousness on the earth.
Here we have all the conditions for the fulfilment of the prophecies
of Enoch and David, through the agency of Mr. Smith. We find, by
comparison, that there is no antagonism in doctrine between the Book
of Mormon and Bible. Christ said, "This Gospel of the kingdom shall
be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come;" _Matt_. 24. 14.
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