INDEPENDENCE MO. DECEMBER 25 1884.
“AWAKE, awake, put on thy strength O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments. O Jerusalem, Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the Lord, ye have sold yourselves for naught; and ye shall be redeemed without money.” (Isaiah 52). “God has again set his hand the second time to recover his people” to accomplish the work, and fulfill His purposes with the mission of Joseph Smith.
Zion must be redeemed, but it cannot be redeemed only upon the principles of the celestial law. The law is: “Except ye are one ye are not mine?” And ye cannot be one in spiritual things, except ye are one (equal) in temporal things.’ None can belong to the church and kingdom of Christ unless they obey the laws He has given in the Scriptures for the management, and equalization of all their earthly blessings.
Zion was redeemed and celestialized, in the days of Enoch by obedience to the same laws, and nothing more or less is required, to save mankind in these last days, from a spiritual and temporal hell.
All the Mormon churches are, and have been under condemnation since 1832, “because they treated lightly the things they had received and they shall remain under this condemnation, until they remember the new Covenant, even the Book of Mormon, and the former commandments, not only to say, but to do according to that which is written,” ‘and pretend no other revelation’. Do they not teach us in plainness the ‘Order of Enoch?’ that none are free from this law who belong to the church of the living God?” Do they not teach us plainly, “If you will be perfect, sell all that thou hast and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come take up your cross and follow me”? These words Jesus spake to the young man that said, ‘what shall I do to be saved.’ Is it not written, “All these properties are mine, saith the Lord, and ye are stewards; if otherwise, ye are no stewards, and your faith is vain, and ye are found hypocrites.”
Now it is plain to see the ‘condemnation that resteth upon the children of Zion, even all;’ their ‘faith is vain;’ they are ‘hypocrites;’ hence they are not the Church of Christ.
The New and Everlasting covenant is a covenant that must be made by sacrifice. In addition to the laws of Equality, every man who will be redeemed from the fall, must ‘take up his cross and follow Christ; purify, and sanctify himself, and become as a little child.” and ‘do not defile your flesh;’ but cease the procreation of mortality as Noah did; ‘that the body of sin might be destroyed;’ (Rom. 6), and prepare to bring forth a righteous offspring through the thousand years, when ‘your children shall grow wp without sin, unto salvation and will never die’ (D&C 45). Lasciviousness or lustful desires have defiled and corrupted all mankind, to such a state of degradation, that they are unfit to procreate, and are not any more fit to live than the people in the days before the flood; and except they repent they must all likewise perish, and remain in hell a thousand years. The time has come when men shall be commanded to repent (Mosiah viii 8 9) from practicing the law of sin and death (Rom. viii 2) which was given to Cain by the devil in the beginning; (gen v. 13), also the law of tithing, (one tenth) which maketh nothing perfect (Heb. vii chap. Inspired Translation).
The scriptures are full of evidences that the faith, example, and doctrine of Paul was and is Virginity; and He says ‘follow me as I follow Christ.’ The gospel of Christ Is nothing more or less than the example or life of Christ; for He said ‘I am the Law;’ which Paul endorses by saying ‘I would that all men were even as myself.’ We forbid marriage in the same way that Paul forbids marriage; saying, If you marry and ‘keep your virgin’ you ‘do well, but he that giveth himself not in marriage doeth better;’ and ‘those who have wives, shall be as though they had none.’ (i cor vii 29 87 38). After this faith of Paul is preached, and the kingdom of Christ set up on the foundation Paul laid ‘as a wise master-builder,’ there will be some depart from the faith of Paul, but who will nevertheless advocate a celibate life even as He did. But they ‘speak lies in hypocrisy: having their conscience seared as with a hot iron,’ because they profess to be pure, and ‘follow Paul as He followed Christ,’ but who secretly live in the generative lusts, contrary to their profession; hence departing from the faith, becoming foolish virgins unprepared to meet the Bridegroom; while those who live strictly by the life of Christ (which is his gospel) even as Paul did, will be prepared to meet him: for ‘none but the pure in heart shall see God.’ Therefore Jesus said ‘purify yourselves even as I am pure.’
By this gospel will ‘an hundred and forty four thousand be redeemed from the earth; being the first fruit unto God, and the Lamb. These are they who are not defiled with women, for they are virgins, and they are without fault before the throne of God.” This is the celestial law; while all the churches of Christendom abide a telestial law.
The time has come, when the elect shall be gathered by the celestial law; and be established upon the land of Zion no more to be thrown down, ‘unless they pollute their inheritances. The time has come when the pure parts of the gospel of Christ, shall be preached for a witness unto all nations ere the end comes. ‘The harvest is fully ripe;’ and the wheat must be gathered from among the tares, and secured in the holy places appointed on the land of Zion. For the Lord has said, I will prepare the hearts of the saints, for those judgements I am about to send in my wrath, upon the inhabitants of this land, because of their transgressions; that my people may not faint in the day of trouble.”
All who believe in the revelations given through Joseph Smith, are commanded to join together, and ‘send wise men to purchase all the land in Jackson County, and the adjoining counties that can be purchased, except that portion of Jackson County which the Lord did appoint in the beginning, for the gathering of his saints. (D&C xcviii 9. given Dec 1833.) And after they are purchased, the Lord has commanded ‘that the saints shall possess them according to the laws of consecration which I have given;” ‘otherwise they shall be cut off.’ (cii. sec. given June 22 1834. D&C).
‘Those who receive not their Inheritances by consecration agreeable with the laws of God shall not have their names enrolled with the people of God’ and they cannot be prepared ‘against the day of vengeance and burning,’ that cometh speedily; for the appointed time has come ‘that they who are of the High Priesthood, as well as the lesser Priesthood, or the members’ who will not consecrate their properties, shall not find an inheritance among the saints of the most High. (sec Lxxxv. given Nov. 27 1832 Utah Ed.)
“This is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low;” ‘the obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion, in these last days: and the rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall be sent away, and shall not inherit the land. (Rev. given 1834 & 1831 sec lxiv & civ).
We testify, that those who reject this message of salvation will be left without excuse, and the judgments of the Almighty will immediately follow. ‘This is a day of warning, and not a day of many words;’ ‘those who will, can come and partake of the fruit of the tree of eternal life,’ and be redeemed from the fall; and those who will not, must ‘be cut off from among the people, to fulfill the prophecy of Moses. God will accomplish it, in his own way and by his own power.
This is the beginning of the day of God’s power when He will call, yes compel the poor, lame, and blind, into the marriage supper of the Lamb; the rich will make their excuses and refuse, until it is everlastingly too late, and the judgments of God overtake them. “It is impossible for a rich man to inherit the kingdom of heaven; “for Straight is the gate and narrow the way that leadeth to eternal life and few there be who find it.”
The following is the ‘bond or everlasting covenant that cannot be broken’ except judgment shall speedily follow; remember Annanias and Sapphira. God is not to be mocked in these last days; ‘but His words will be verified, even as they have hitherto been verified’.
‘DEED or COVENANT.’
Know all men by these presents, that I ———, of ———, in consideration of the covenants. I the said —— have made with God by baptism, ‘from henceforth to keep his holy commandments, as they are written; and in consideration of my love, and affection, towards God and my faith in His promises of eternal life, to those who keep His commandments inviolate. Therefore, agreeable with the commandments of God, I the said ———, did sell all the property that I possessed, and hereunto moving, have given, granted, and confirmed, and by these presents, do give, grant and confirm all the proceeds of said sales, into the hands, or custody of the authorized Bishop, or agent of the ‘Lord’s storehouse’, to be the ‘common property of the whole church, or kingdom of Christ, which church and kingdom was organized, and established, on the seventh day of December,in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty four, upon the revelations and commandments, given through Joseph Smith the seer, as well as the New Testament, and Book of Mormon.
In the fear of that God who slew Annanias and Sapphira, of all, and singular, of said properties, I the said ——, have put said organization in full possession, by delivering said properties, into the hands of said Bishop or agent, at the time of the sealing, and delivery of these presents. It is further agreed, that when said Bishop, or agent of said organization, shall appoint me a steward, over an inheritance, or any of the properties belonging to said organization, I the said shall manage the affairs of my stewardship, wisely and economically; and so long as I the said —— shall be true, and faithful to my covenants, and be accounted worthy according to the laws of God, to belong to said organization, I the said shall hold and maintain said inheritance, or stewardship forever.
It is further agreed; that if the covenants, which I the said —— have made, and by these presents do make, shall be broken by transgression, thereby making me unworthy—according to the laws of God—to belong to said Church and Kingdom, of Christ, I the said ——— shall not retain the gift, which by these presents is consecrated unto the Lord, for the benefit of the poor, but shall restore to said Bishop or agent of said organization, all the properties belonging to said organization, over which I the said ——— was made a steward, and shall receive nothing except that portion, said Bishop or agent, and his counselors, shall give unto me according to their discretion.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the ——— day of ———, in the year of our Lord one thousand ———.
Sealed and delivered in
the presence of
‘Behold and lo! the bridegroom cometh, therefore prepare to meet Him. The Bride,— which is the church of Christ—must be a virgin; must be of one heart, and one mind, and sanctify herself, and be purified even as He is pure, that she might reign with Him in glory. Therefore prepare, for the time is at hand. All who are willing to make a covenant with God, by sacrifice, unto the renewing of their bodies, by the power of the resurrection, are called to gather to the land of Zion, to build a city, and temple speedily, on the most holy place, viz. Farwest; and prepare to escape the ‘storm, and wrath, when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole land.’ If you do not prepare quickly, you will be too late; ‘wo unto the house, city or village, who reject this testimony,’ for the hour of judgment is nigh, and your houses shall be left unto you desolate. (Rev. given Sept. 23 1882 sec 85).
The first question that generally arises in the minds of the Latter Day Saints, after hearing this testimony is, where is your authority? We now ask you the same question; you have been ordained it is true; but ordination to the offices of the priesthood, is not priesthood nor authority, any more than baptism, is salvation? If none can belong to the church of Christ except they have all their substance in common; and if God ‘cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance,” and if Christ is ‘the life, light, and the way;” and if God rejected the whole church because of ‘vanity, and unbelief” in 1832; and if they have never since reformed and done according to that which is written; then, where is your authority from Christ, O ye Latter day churches. A revelation given March 20 1839, speaking on priesthood says, ‘the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness, they may be conferred upon us it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins, to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, etc. the Spirit of the Lord is grieved, and when it is withdrawn amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.” If it requires so little to deprive men of priesthood and authority, then how much power do men possess, who transgress God’s Law, and who deceive the people by saying they have obeyed the Fulness of the Gospel, while they deny and reject the teachings of Christ. Order of Enoch, and all,—except that which is pleasing to the carnal mind—living in corruption and sin, like the world, not doing according to that which is written, but the reverse, for which they were condemned in 1832 and are still condemned. (Rev. given Sept. 1832. sec lxxxiii 8).
God cannot ‘dwell in unholy temples” but the Latter day elders claim to have the spirit, power and priesthood of God, while they have their mouth full of tobacco, and are not even willing to deny themselves these small evil habits, that are contrary to the will and order of God; much less those of a greater magnitude upon which our eternal salvation depends.
Priesthood, power, and authority, is obtained only upon ‘the principles of righteousness;’ the Lord says “I am no respecter of persons” but “he that receiveth my law and doeth it, the same is my disciple; and he that saith he receiveth it and doeth it not, the same is not my disciple.” (sec 41 par 2 given Feb 1831). Hence, obedience to law is the source of all the power, authority, and priesthood of God. ‘Whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap the same is called of God.” (sec 11 given may 1829). ‘Whoso goeth forth bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is given power to seal both in heaven and on earth;” etc. these tidings are, “in bringing to light those parts of my Scriptures that have been hid because of iniquity; and those ‘parts’ teach the example of Christ, and also the order of Enoch, Virginity, and Equality. Wherefore whosoever will take that which is written in the scriptures for a law, will receive the priesthood, authority, and power of God, even as Melchizedek. (Alma x 1, Book of Mormon)
The above laws must be observed or Zion cannot be redeemed; after her redemption she will have power to execute, and enforce her statutes and laws, by inflicting the penalty thereof upon all those who transgress, and will not observe them.
Lars Peterson
James Brighouse