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Show THE JOURNAL, LOGAN CITY, CACHE COUNTY, UTAH. Saturday, May 4, 1929. The Tailing Away Address Delivered Over Radio Station KSL Sunday Evening, Marh 17, 1929, by Elder B. H. Roberts, of the First Council of the Seventy, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter ' day Saints, at Salt Lake City, Utah , . Ladies and Gentlemen of the Radio Audience; This address as you have just been informed, is a continuance of my general theme, The Falling Away, or the Worlds Loss of the Christian Religion and Church. I invite your atention to the following texts of scripture for this evenings discourse: St Paul: "That day (i.e. meaning as we learn from the context of the passage the second and glorious coming of the Christ) "That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who oposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God,ror that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himseft that he is God. . . . And now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time, for the mystery of iniquity doth already work: Only he who now letteth will let (hinder) until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, the son of perdition, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. (II Thess. 2:3-8The Christ: And as he sat upon the . mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying: Tell us when shall these thing be (i.e. the destruction of the Jerusa- lem Temple, which he had just prophesied would come to pass) ? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them: Take heed that no man ' deceive you ; for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (They should hear of wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes : These would be the beginning of sorrows). . . . "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted,' and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my names sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall be-- . tray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end (individuals) the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the ' world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come. (St. Matt. 24.) Why Should it be Thought Incredible to You That There Would be a Falling Away From the Christian Religion and Church? With these texts for a background I am submitting to you the question. Why should it be thought a thing incredible to you that there would be a "falling away from the Christian religion and church? A falling away from the truth of God by mankind is not a novel thing. It is something that had often happened in times previous to the Christian age, The Falling Away from Adam to Noah . - (hin-deret- or The Worlds Loss of The Christian Religion and Church ... same thing, with equal truth, could not be said at that time; and hence it represents a universal condition. Abraham. To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, :and were the promises made. He saith not, "and thy seed', which is the Christ (Gal. 3:8, 16). Fortunately it is in this same Epistle that St. Paul lays down the doctrine that there is but one gospel. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him (the Christ) which called you into the grace .of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached, unto you, let him be accursed. This he repeats for emphasis (Gal 1:6-9So that when St. Paul says the "gospel was preached to Abraham, we know what gospel it was. It was the gospel of Christ without Wherefore doubt, for there is but one. he inquires a mothen serveth the law? ment later. That is, since the gospel the one and only gospel was preached unto Abraham how came later the law, meaning the law given to Moses? St. Pauls answer is: It was added because of transgression till the seed (i.e. the Christ should come to Wherefore whom the promise was made. the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster (Gal. 3:19-25- ' ), h) 69-75- ). Melchizedek In the days of Abraham we have a brief reference made to that High Priest of God, Melchizedek; said to be" a type of the greater High Priest then to be the Son of God ! It is even said that the Christ was made an High Priest after the order of Melechizedek. This High Priest was known as King of Righteousness" that being the interpretation of his name; and second, King of Salem,' which also by interpretation is King of Peace. Abraham returning from the battle of the kings met the priest and paid him tithes of all; and Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine to the patriarch. Beyond doubt it was a ritualistic service of great significance. The whole circumstance of the meeting of the patriarchs gives evidence of larger and deeper knowledge of than on the surface appears. the-gosp- . Moses wom-an-r(i- ). .e. . The Dispensation Under The Christ Meridian Dispensation anti-deluvi- And now the Christ came : and with him of the had come a dispensation or gospel. And was there to be no more falling away ? Behold the words of warning Christ in the text at the beginning of this discourse: I summarize it: Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ, and shall deceive many ; they shall deliver you Ye up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; shall be hated of all nations' for my names sake ; Then shall many be offended, and betray one another, and shall hate one another; and many false prophets shall rise and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Not a very pleasing prospect for the reception of the gospel, or for the treatment of those who would receive it, and carry it to the world. Remember that these are the forewarnings of the Christ. St.' Pauls view )3 no more promising: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, said he, to the Elders at Ephesus, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after piy departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And also of your own selves shall men. arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. If this was said directly to the Elders of Ephesus, as it was, yet there was not a church or a branch of one, where the of-th- an From Noah to the calling of Abraham was another period of falling away. St. Paul informs us that the "gospel was preach- -. The Scripture forsee- ed unto Abraham! would God justify the heathen that ing faith preached before the gospel to through The out-givi- , ' . ). fellow-workm- en The Affair at Antioch After the settlement of this question by the council at Jerusalem, St. Peter went to the church at Corinth discloses the fact that there were serious schisms among them ; some boasting that they were of Paul, others that they were of Apollos, others of Cephas, and still others of Christ ; which led St. Paul to ask sharply, Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you (I Cor. 1 ;12,13) ? There were endless strifes as well as divisions among them, which caused? St. Paul to denounce them as carnally minded (I Cor. 2:3,4. Among thenr alsfr was such fornication as was not named among the Gentiles, that ohe should have his fathers wife! And this shameful sin had not humbled the church at Corinth, for St. Paul denounced the members for being puffed up in the pres- -' fence of such a crime, rather . .than having mourned over it (I Cor. 5: They were in the habit of going to law one with another, and that before the world, in violation of ; the teachings of Jesus Christ (I Cor. 6:1-2Matt. 18: 15,17). They desecrated the ordinance of the Lords supper by their drunk- enness, for which they were sharply reprovand 29, 30). ed by the apostle (Cor. 11:2-2- 2 They ate and drank unworthily, not discerning the Lords body; for which cause many were sickly among them, and many slept, that is, died. There were heresies also among them (Cor. 11:19, some denying the resurrection of the dead, while others possessed not the knowledge of God, which the apostle declared was their shame (I Cor. 15:12-34). This sharp letter, of reproof made the Corinthian saints sorry, and brought them to a partial repentance ; but in his second Epistle the apostle could still charge that there were many in the church who had not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they had committed (II Cor. 11:21), From this second letter, also, we learn that there were at large who corrupted many in the church Cor. 2:17 ; that there the word of God-(I- I were those,' even in the ministry, who were false prophets, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ (II Cor. 11:12-14- vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; who subverted whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres sake ; and were giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men and turning from the truth (Titus 1;9-14- ). St. Peter on Heresies 1-- 0) . -- ). , ' ' St. Peter also bad something to say with reference to the danger of heresies and falbe teachers which menaced the church. He declared, that there would be false teachers among the saints, who privily would bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many, said he, "shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the truth shall be evil spoken, of. And through covetousness ' shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you; whose judgment' now for a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumber-et- h not. For if. God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them unto chains of darkness tq be reserved unto judgment he argues, theft' the Lord would not spare these corrupters, of the Gospel of Christ, who were like the dog that had turned again to his vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (II Peter 2 . He charged also that some were wresting the epistles of St. Paul, as they were some of the other scriptures, unto their Own destruction , (Ibid 3:16), These are wells without water, he declared, clouds that are' carried with a tempest ; to yhom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. For when they speak great swelling words of Vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, .those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage (II Peter 2:17, 18, 19). St. John on Jesus St. John, the disciple whom loved, also bears testimony to the existence of false prophets, and the depravity of many in the early church. Said he, "As ye have heard that shall come, even now there are many , . . TJhy went out from us, . , . that they might' be manifest that they were not all of us (I John 2:18, 19). Try the spirits, said he again, "whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (I John 4:1). Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a st deceiver, an (II John 7:5),, This apostle also (of whom we have much to say in a subsequent discourse) gives a vivid description of the rather indifferent status of the seven churches of the east, and mainly recounts Gods reproof of their faults. For instance in the case of the church at Ephesus.' While (here were some things for which she could be condemned she had tried some who had claimed to be apostles and had found them to be liars; she had exhibited patience in tribulation, yet the Lord had somewhat against her; she had left her first love, and she is commanded to repent, else God will remove her out of her place reject her (Rev. 2:1-7- ) ! And bo throughout, God in part commends these churches, and then finds much to condemn. And if for the sin of the church at Ephesus God could threaten her with rejection for for falling away leaving her first love so, too, for the whole church if guilty of the same thing could, conceivably, and likely would receive the same threatened fate. Also the Church at Laodicea, that was neither cold nor hot, and therefore God declared he would Jtspue her out of his For the status of $he mouth (Rev. 3:14-16- ). other five churches, see Rev.. Chs. 2 and 3 . 4 Anti-Chris- ts Throughout the province of Galatia there at first mingled unreservedly with both Gentile and Jewish con- was an invasion by Judaizing Christian verts without distinction, Accepting both ministers who were turning away the saints from the grace of Christ back to the beggarJew and Gentile in perfect fellowship, defrom the restraints placed ly elements of the law of carnal command- -' parting entirely ments; a circumstance which led St. Paul on a Jew by the law of Moses, which rendto exclaim : I marvel that ye are so soon reered it, according to their traditions, unlawmoved from him that had called you unto unful for one who was a Jew to have such restricted fellowship with the Gentiles. But the grace of Christ, unto another gospel ; when certain ones came down from James, which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the who resided at Jerusalem, and who is genGospel of Christ (Gal. 1 : 6. 7) . head of as Judaizthe the erally recognized ing party, then St. Peter, fearful of offend- THE CHURCH RENT BY- SCHISMS ing them which were of the circumcision, tr There were two distinct parties in the suddenly withdrew his fellowship from the Gentile converts. Other Jewish brethren did church at this time, between whom bitter the same; Barnabas, the friend of St. Paul, contentions arose. Some preached Christ being among the number. Where upon St. even of envy and strife, and some of good The one preach the Christ of conPaul, as he himself testifies, withstood St. will. Peter to the face because he was to be tention, not sincerely, says St. Paul, "supblamed: and directly charging him before posing to add affliction to my bonds : but the all the brethren with dissimulation, say"Other of love, knowing that I am set for the If thou being a Jew, livest after the defense of the Gospel (Phil. 1:15, 16). Being: manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the ware of dogs, said he again to the same x Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to people ; beware of evil workers ; beware of live as do the Jews?. (Galatians 12.) St. Paul the concision (Phil. 3:2). Many walk of seems to have been triumphant in that isWhom I have told you often, and now tell sue, for he boasts of that occasion, saying you even weeping, that they are the enethat Titus who was with him, and being a mies of the cross of Christ : whose end is Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised ; destruction, whose God belly, and the presence of. false whose glory is their shame, who mind nothwithstanding brethren brought in unawares, who came in earthly things (Phil. 3:17,19). To the St. Paul found it necessary to" say: privily to spy out their liberty which they had in Christ. To whom we gave place by Beware lest any man spoil you through subjection, r.o, not for an hour, he continues philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradithat the truth of the gospel might continue tions of men, after the rudiments of the with you (Gal. 2: Yet this same St. world, and not after Christ. Let no man behis loyalty to the guile you of your reward in a voluntary Paul, notwithstanding Gentile converts on that occasion, and his humility and worshipping of angels, inzeal for the decision rendered by the council truding into those things which he hath not of the church at Jerusalem, id notwithseen, vainly puffed up by his fleshy mind (Col. 2: 8, 18). St. Paul sent Timothy to the standing his usually strong, moral courage, subsequently showed by his conduct, that he saints of Ephesus to represent him, that he too, was not beyond the weakness of beReflections: Purpose of the Review might charge some to teach no other doccoming all things to" all men ; for a short trines than those which he had delivered to Let me assure you that what is here set time after the incident with St. Peter at them; neither give heed to fables and endAntioch, when in the province of Lycaonia, less genealogies, which minister questions down respecting the status of the Christian still St. Paul took Timothy and circumcized.him, rather than godly edifying, which church, even while the apostles were cenalive say through the first Christian because it was well known there that while is in faith; for some had turned aside his mother was a Jewess, his father was a from the commandment of charity, out of tury does not exhaust all that could be Greek; and all this for fear of the Jew's a pure heart, and a good conscience, and gleaned from the New Testament as to the existence of evil among the church branches (Acts 16:1:4). Agitation of this question faith unfeigned, unto vile jangling, desirseemed especially to follow close upon the ing to be teachers of the law, understanding but this is all I can crowd into this brief neither what they say nor whereof they af- address. Also let it be understood that I have footsteps of St. Paul in his missonary jourOthers concerning not given this review of the conditions of neys; and in Galatia, at least, turned the firm (I Tim. 1:3-7- ). saints of the province from the grace of faith had made shipwreck, whom St. Paul the Church of Christ in the apostolic age Christ unto another gospel, perverting the had delivered unto Satan that they might with the thought of establishing the idea Gospel of Christ (Gal. l: 6, 7). learn not to blaspheme (I Tim. 1:19, 20). that the church at that time was in a comOthers had, erred concerning the faith and plete state of apostasy; nor have I dwelt The Separation of St. Paul and Barnabas upon the weaknesses and sins of the early had "given heed to vain babblings, and opsaints for the .purpose of holding them up science falsely so called (I Tim. for There was also the withdrawal of John position of contempt. My purpose has been to dispel, In his second to letter 21). 6:20, Timothy, Mark from .the ministry while accompanythat obtain, first all him informs Paul the saints in in of all, the extravagant ideas church that ing St. Paul and Barnabas on their first miswas many minds that the apostolic Asia had turned away from him (II Tim. sion in Asia Minor (Acts 13:13). Subseof .perfect harmony, like a cooing dove-cot- e 1 :15). He admonish to shun Timothy again quently, when Barnabas desired to ; take made up of absolutely sanctified and holy profane and vain babblings, for, said he, John Mark again into the ministry, St. Paul Christians; and secondly, and mainly, to unto will more increase ungodliness, show they seriously- objected; and so pronounced was that there were elements and tendenthe quarrel between them that these two and their word will eat as doth a canker; of cies existing in the early church, even in the conwhom who and is Philetus, Hymenaeus friends and fellow- yokemen in the ministry days of the apostles, that would, when unalso cerning the truth have erred, saying that the restrained parted company. It is just possible by apostolic authority and power, ' resurrection is passed already, and overthat in addition to this misunderstanding to its lead entire falling away, as foretold .about John Mark, the severe reproof which throw the faith of some (II Tim. 2:16,18'. by St. Paul. with St. Paul, Demas, once a St. Paul administered to Barnabas in the afat Antioch, had had forsaken him, having loved this presfair of dissimulation Furthermore, let it be said, that we have ent world (II Tim. 4:10) ; and at St. Pauls no good reason to believe that there occursomewhat strained their friendship. first answer, when arraigned before the red or would occur any change for the betCharacter of the Early Saints court at Rome, no man stood with him, but ter in the affairs of the church after the deall men forsook him ; he prays that God will mise of the apostles; no reason to believe Turning from these misunderstandings and criminations among the leading officers not lay this to their charge (II that there were fewer heresies or fewer false of the church, let us inquire how it stood St. Paul admonished Titus to hold fast to teachers, or false prophets to lead away the Continued On Page Five) with the members. The Epistle of St. Paul the faith, for there were many unruly and down to Antioch and anti-Chri- st anti-Christ- gospel was offered Even under the to Israel. Brethren, says St. Paul, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and did eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink ; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and fthat Rockwas Christ (Cor. 10:1-4Again St. Paul, speaking of Israel of old who had offended by hardening their hearts, says; But with whom was he (the Lord) grieved forty years ? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not; to those Who had So we see that they could fallen away! not enter in because of unbelief. The next chapter opens with St. Pauls warning to the people of God of his own day, intimating that the same fate might overtake them; Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left'us of entering into his rest, any of .you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them (i. e. Ancient Israel) : But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it (Heb. 3:21; and 4:1,2). That is, the gospel had had been preached to Melchizedek, and to Abraham ; also a dispensation of it had been given to Moses, but as there had come a falling away in ancient Israel, the law of Moses had to be added to that gospel (i. e. given in place of it) that the lesser law might act as a schoolmaster' to bring Israel to Christ. Moses Character of the Eai ly Christians The very general mistake is made of regarding the early Christians as so far removed from the possession of common weakness of humanity, as to preclude the possibility of their falling away from the Christian faith and church. Inquiry into the character of the early saints', however, will disclose that they were very human, and men and women of like passions with ourselves. The mother of Zebedees two sorts exhibited a rather ambitious spirit when she begged the Master that they might sit the one on his right hand and the other on hjs left, when he should come in his kingdom And the two brethren (Matt. 20:20-24themselves gave much offense to their fellow apostles by aspiring to be so placed. Even Peter, the chief apostle, exhibited his full share of human weakness when he thrice denied his Lord in the presence of his enemies, through fear; and even confirmed that denial by cursing and swearing (Matt. 26: It was a heated controversy, too, that arose in the early Christian Church as to whether those who accepted the Christian faith were still bound to the observance of the law of Moses, and more especially to follow the rite of circumcision. Although there seems to have been an amicable and authoritative settlement of' that question by the decision of what has been called the first general council of the church, held by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem (Acts 15) ; yet the old difficulty broke out again and again, not only between the Jewish saints and the Gentile concerts, but even among the apostles themselves, leading to serious accusations one against another, the straining of friendship between ,in t)he ministry, , through criminations and recriminations. ). .) There was such a falling away from the days of Adam to Noah, and the wickedness of man was so great in the earth that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was And the falling only evil continually. of in the ended cataclysm in that age away the flood ; which, save for Noah and his family, destroyed the race. That falling away, too, was a falling away from the gospel from true religion. And the only reason why that truth is not more clearly revealed in Genesis is because of the fragmentary char-- f acter of that ancient scripture. To Adam and his posterity, however, the'coming of1 a was known." The Seed of the The Christ would bruise" the Lucifers head (Gen. 3:15). (i.e. serpents Undoubtedly also Adam and his sons understood the significance of the firstlings of their flocks. The reason for Abels scarifice being acceptable is perfectly understandable. Abels offering was a true symbol of the sacrifice of the Son of God a blood sacrifice such as would be the atonement of the Son of God the only begotten of the Father. the fruit of the , But Cains offering, no element and repre- -. possessed ground, sented no symbol of the future sacrifice for sin. Hence the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering; but unto Cain and his of(Gen. 2). fering he had no respect. Such righteousness was developed in this the period, from Adam to Noah, that Enoch, seventh from Adam, so learned to walk with God that he was not.; for God took him (Gen. 5:23, 24). St. Paul tells us that Enoch was translated that he should not see death ; but before he was translated, he had this testimony, that he pleased God (Heb. 11:5). That period also developed righteous Noah, not only righteous himself, but "a preacher of righteousness; a just and inan, and perfect in his generation; And God 9). 6:8, with (Gen. walked "Noah God in yet such Was the falling away from culminated it that world, the in the flood. The Falling Away From Noah to the Calling of Abraham and the Coming of Moses PAGE FIVE s. , Anti-Chri- r Col-osia- ns ). 3 fellow-labor- er Tim.-4:16- $ ). |