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Show .,Nr Eiva i Churth Deportment THE DESERET NEWS, SATURDAY, APRIL 17 , 1937. - 1.:1 - ' Was Joseph Smith Called Of God? - s a RADIO ADDRESS - SUNDAY APRIL 11; 1937 ICSI, 9:30' P.M. . many who Toprinciples of have heard By , 1. , I , 1 4 , , too when be declared that he had eeived communication from heaven. Had he gone ahead aa reformers had done In the past, and organized , system a perfect in all 'respects as he did, the Multitudes would, have flocked to hi. tender& But at the mention of actual divine and beseeltly agency in the Matter, he was Immediately branded a suspiCows character. ; Put it was no premeditated affair an far as Joseph Smith wan concerned. H. was mincer In hie effort to find and affiliate himself with the true Chureh of God upon the earth. Too young to have been ritioOlded by the eophistrien of men in regards to ocriptunin when he read in James "If any nifin lack wisdom let him ask of God ' Who to all Min ;literally giveth and upbraidelh not, and it shall be given hint," he believed it implicit, ly. prayer, uttered in the solitude of a beautiful: grove. Was answered by the appearance of two heavenly personage: "God the Father and his Son. Jesus Christ. Here as at the beptiam of Jesus, and On the mount of Tranotiguno lion, God announced his only he with these words: This rotten Son 'beloved ennhear Him." When Joseph aaked the personages Which-oall the mode were and which he should loin, heright was told to join none of them, for they , were all wrong, the personage Mat-ta- g that "They trowel for doctrine the commandmenteld men, having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof.".,1 Obedteat Rerviat Following this Joseph had many Visions and revelation, through which he obtained the knowledge of and the key to a' volume of veered records, and also the author. Sy to organise the Kingdom Of Chat here upon the earth.. Joseph Smith did not attempt to reform or purify any existing form of theology. H. wee not a "reformer"; he was on Instrument of "restoration!" he wait an obedient oe$,vant of God in restoring the Kingdom of God. Persecution, bitter and unrelent-- tng, was his reception generally, but through no fault of. his. Them are his words: "I have actually seen a vision and who am 1 that I can withstand God or why does the ' World think to make me deny that Which I have actually 110enr. And so. if ,Joseph Smith were an int-- poster ettempting to perpetuate a ptigantle fraud, he ehoot, a difficult task because of the lofty claims he Made. lier was an ordinary youth declaring to have heard from di. vine lips-thall the church, then of the earth were 'wrong, anti that he himself, if faithful, would be the instrument in the hands of God In motoring for the last time, the truth in the Dispensation of the Funnels of Times, If fraud was the motive, and the organization he fostered was but the product of his human wisdom, it should be an easy minter to locate discrepancies In his doctrine and prove that it was , t re- , - Church? Has apostles. prophets. pastors, teachers, evangelists. high priests. seventy. elders, priests. deacons and 'bishops? Yes. all of these are with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! How do they COTIVItte in points of doctrine? After faith had been established in the hearts of the Jews on the day of Pentecost. Peter taught repentance and baptism and promised the Gift of the Doty Ghost. Joseph Smith said: "We believe the first and ordinances of the 'principles gospel are: first. faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second repentance, third baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. fourth laving on of bands for the gift of the Holy Ghost." So, in first principles, the two agree. In First (tor. 12:4 Paul speaks of -Now there spiritual gifts saving: of are diversities gifts, but by the same spirit." and he goes on to say that "gifts of wisdom, knowledge, healing, prophecy, discerning of divers kinds of tongues etc" spirits, aro given to then through the spirit. Now Joseph Smith said: "We believe in the gift of tongues. proPhocY. revelation. visions, healing, interpretation of tongues etc." So in that there is no contradietion. Joseph Smith said that through him and the organisation The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, would be ushered in the Dispensation of the foulness of Times spoken of by Peter in Acts 3:20 wherein he speaks of the "restitution of all things." which God bath spoken by the mouth of ad his Holy Prophets since the world began." ' e - . -- at 1' - man-matt- Mods tlaiMM ! ,f Joseph Smith claims that through him the genuine Church of God was restored to the earth after John. 'Vision John's Vision while on the Isle of Patmos was a panoramic view of mankind from the beginning of time to the ending thereof and of this latter.day period just prior to Christ's second advent: he was shown the following: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gots, pel to preach to them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and 'Fear pie saying with a loudvoice. God and give glory to-- Him that Inside the heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water.'" This indicates that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was not upon the earth at this particular tints and it of nemust be restored from heavcessity en to be again enjoyed on earth and Incidently. this restoration was to be accomplished through the agency of an angel! This agree thor- Smith's testioughly with , Many that .)0ttil delivered to , him the Gospel which was to be preached to all men. (Now if this man was an Imposter, he was a clever one Inc he vies the first to say he had received the Gospel in the manner in which it had been predicted it should be received,) la Mal. 3:1. we are Informed that con-ferr- ed. Perhaps one of the strongest proofs of the divinity of this man's missitin is the Book of Mormon. In GENESIS we read of Jacob bless-hto his son Joseph to the effect that his posterity should become ut numerous and should spread to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, and become a multitude of nations.. It is peculiar that among all the learned men of the world St yet remained for Joseph Smith to say that the multitude of nations which were: the blood of Joseph came to the western hemisphere and the American Indian is Gus remnant of that people. Their racial characterbitick tanguage, traditions, worship etc.., testify to this. le ' Accord With Propitesor Mow is it that some enterprle Joseph Smith's log men long before time, had not noticed the prophecv of Ettekial MEEK. 37:13) which pertains to the coming forth of a , .. .. . , , By H. Alva Fitzgerald Cedar City (Threttor, 8dacallson Oepartnzent of one hundred years ArrEn, how contemporary activity. Latter-daSaints and Protestant Christians compare on of the pivotal. age-ol- d problem Ond and immortality? modDeapite a tendency of the ern world toward Intense specialisation, particularly in vocational pursuits. opportunities for wide with fundamental acquaintance beliefs in philosophy and religion are available. On subjects such as the extent of the universe. the and laws, operation of physical the application of scientific data and invention. disagreement 'rests largely on the degree of informaBon. Acquaintance with the hula usually removes the problem. The average Christian Is experimental. ly minded in material things and of readily accepts the testimony the expert. He is rapidly learn-loto ftxpoet. seek. desire and share material innovations. have Converts to Mormonism the heen gleaned largely from Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran and In chumhel Europe Presbyterian do the Institute) y g all Amerka. Praetically and Protestant churches have eontri,. buttid proselytes. Two dominant modern influences, namely wide diffusion of thought and accept., ante at the new have sereed equally both groups. Under such misunder conditions flagrant would seem Inexcusable standing even on such speculative and catholic problems ise God and immortality. In all the Christian world. Prot. estant thought seems to vary most widely. Judging by the statements of clergy, Protestant beliefs I the being and nature of God fled his relations to man are surprisingly In disagreement. A rottsitierable group held tenaciously to a Su. preme Being who rules by divine fiat. There are Many who believe that the earth was (Tented in six hours, and days of twenty-fou- r that man was formed from the dust of the earth as literally tieacribed in Genesis, In Abraham the and The Books of Moses, same thouebt of the creation of man is expressed. Using as a criterion She condo' - a companion bookam to the Bible: the Bible le Ilhe book of Joseph Book of Judah, and capitalise hie discovery by foisting upon the unpublic an imitation? suspecting But remained for a common man with ,a ,very common name "Smith' to 'present to the world the stick of Joseph. and that In strict accordance with the prophecies uttered concerning it hundreds of yearn before. Within (he Book of Mormon evh dences of the truth of Joseph's beetimony are numerous. Time will pee not only one being mentioned. Durruined cities ing the past few v of great site and grandeur are being discovered and unearthed in the wilds of Central America. In thee cities cement archetectiare was prominent One hundred years igo, were disbefore' these ,cities king covered and 3ong betore cement had become important as a building material, joaeph Smith translated from Gold platen the hiotory of a people dwelling on a narrow neck of land whith connected two tarp er bodies of land end here they built prosperous cities and became exceedingly expert in the working of cement of which they did build houses in which they did dwell be cause of the scarcity of timber on the land at that time. made the claim that he Joseph was a prophet of Cod. The truth of be judged by the prophethis may cies uttered. If one or a few out of many came to pass. it May have been a but if all were fulfilled in their predicted time then his claim stands unassailable. lie proplienied that war ,should be poured out upon all nations, bewith the rebellion of South ginning Carolina which would eventually terminate In the death and misery of many spouts, etc. This was re sealed on Dec. 25. IA32. It is a mat. ter of history that the rebellion of the southern states commenced in South Carotina iii i881. All are ape. quainted with the extent and Potions of the war inlet. , noit Wroteore , Prophecy He prophesied that tam "Sainte would continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky Mountains., Many would apootacise. others would be pat to death by our perscution ee hose their lives Mt consequence el ex.. of podium and disease and morn you will Live to go and assist is making settlements and building Cities and see the Saints become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains." The history of the Church. Its mobbings, privpe lone, diseenaion, spostacy and marvelous growth in the nelly itsDui mountains le a literal tops of fulfillment of this prophecy. occasion one Vpon Joseph Smith la conversation with Stephen A. Douglas. one of the moot promliap big of the yourbg atatesmen of the day, said this: "Judge, you will aspire to the' Presidency of the United States and if you ever turn your hand against me or the Latter-day Saints. you will feel the hand of the Almighty upon you and you will live to see and know that I have verified the truth to you for the conversation of thia day will Stick to you through life." This prediction made on May Ilk Dial wk. published in The Deseret hews of Sept. 24, 1857. Less than a year after the publication of the prophecy, Stephen A. Douglapi set forth his views in regard to "Mori monism." He said: "The knife moat (Continued On Page Sin) Godit And Immorta Ity -- , t. Smith asserts (and his testimony is corroborated by that-o- f Oliver Cowdery) that on the VAlt of May. IS29. John the BAP. TiST. a resurrected being appeared unto them and laid his hands on them and ordained them saying these words: "Upon you my fellow servants. in the name of the Mee. slah. I confer the Priesthood of Aaron which holds the keys of the ministering of angels and of theof BapGospel of Repentance tism by immersion fo ;ind rernis. loon of sins, and thisiehall never be taken from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer an offering to the Lard in righteousness." In this way were the keys of preaching the Gospel and of baptizing for the remission of sins restored to the earth by the man who held them In the former dispensations of the Gospel. (if Joseph Smith were a false pretender is was conning indeed to have recognized this when all others had overlooked it.) The Aethority Now this priesthood (the Aaron. Sc) does not give authority to administer in the higher ordinance. Had Joseph Smith been uninspired. he would have overlooked this higher, priesthood and proceeded to organise a church on his pretenses to authority front John the BAPTIST. This would eventually have Wen the cause of his undoing for the mission and authority of John the Baptist were not to set up the Kingdom of God, but to prepare the way for it. But Joseph was inspired and furthermore, he did no "run until he bad been sent."- ' Shortly after the visit of John the Baptist, Peter, James and John, the presiding apostles of the primitive Church, appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey and upon them the higher or Melchlaettek priesthood which held the key of all spiritual blessings and the authority to Greenlee the Church and the Kingdom of God earth. Then, and not unupon the was tit then, the Church of Jesus Christ of Letter Day Saints mantis Jost-p- it Idiom Deemed Ilitaapheemy when Joaeph Smith. an unletterd boy, made the astounding assertion to the ,world that he had beheld heovenly brings and conversed with them, it was receiv ed by modern religionists much an the ancient Jew received Christ's amertion that he was the Son of God. In each cam, too, it was deemed blasphemy-ariincidently in each ease, the blood of the testator sealed the testimony. Some who have been impreseeti by the of Mormonism. pay philosophy Joseph Smith made Ida mistake to God would send a messenger prepare the way for the second coming of the Messiah, when he shall come as a mighty judge. John the BAPTIST came as the forerun-ne- t of Christ's first advent and did his wOrit well. Beason allows of no than that he would other be the messenger or the second an absence of it for years. if this is the CaP4, the organisation, at the head of which he stood, should be the same as in the one which was ORPt up in the days Christ. and which endured in put ty only a few Nears after he left it. Does it measure up to this standard? Does it have is ithin it the officers mentioned in the New Testament as being In the Primitive 4tof strumeidality in ofuneducated As the.. od's oilyouth. ence increased length became a gen, it erai belief that- He would no er reveal hie mind sihd will tolongthe people. but that the days of apostle,' and miracles and rev., elation,' prophets. bad passed-- But it was through no act of Calti's that mankind was deprived of this divine guidance continually. Men brought it upon themselves hen they lit fulfilled the prophecy of Inalah wherein he aaid that ihey should "Transgress the law, change the ordinance. 'and break the evec!eating covenant." Throusth a gen, eral apoetary from the, Church of Jesus Christ Rome 1800 years ago, the people of the earth very effectively clotted the windows of, heaven le further divine manifeed-- And Elder Elroy L. Christiansen the Texas Mission) (Recently appointed presodent of the disci'soed and preached bY Mormon El& ere 'and who have been impreesed by their truth and '.1.mportance. this queetIon arises: "Was Joseph Smith called of Godr, After God hoot maintained a demo tor upwards of 1800 years it seenin to them incredible that He should. at thin particular time. Condescend to speak to the world through the in- , , , . alone of George Herbert Betts ba his book' The Beliefs of Seven Modred Ministers." this propot lion approximates fifty per cent. It passing. one la led to wonder how this view can square with a philosophy of life which includes the direct implication of scientifie discovery during the last century. of What are the conclusions schools of progressive Protestant do they compare thought and howSaint teachings on with Latter-dathis moot question? Is It Possible that two groups of religious lead. era, who are reverent and who candidly accept the methods and conclusions of Ciente and mOis these a part of their religious, philosophy: hoe come to conclusioris mainly. In eppoaition. or at least widely divergent. relative to the being and nature of God and his relation. to min? With and cultural backa historiCal one ground largely in common. may naturally expect to find some conclusions, shared by both parties. Among Protestant leaders great Interpreliberty is taken In their tation of the formal hrceds of the churches. The I mt herons. who deperhaps show the greatest on current gree of homogeneity Aron. accent the religious toplea. tone, NbTne and Athartastan creeds and define God as a spirit abaci. Lute, in personality eternal. y open-minde- 11 On rage Eight) , , |