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Show J-- Teachings Of Joseph Smifh The Purpose Of .Existence , WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EXISTENCE pH INK for a moment, of the ' greatness of the Being who created the Universe; and ask, could He be so inconsistent with His own character, as to leave man without a law or rule by which to regulate his conduct, after placing him here, where, according to the formation of his nature he must in a short period sink Into the dust? Is there noth- no existing f urtherp-isther- ence beyond this veil of death which is so suddenly to be Cast over all of us? , If there is, why not that Being who had power to place us here, inform us something of the hereafter? If We had power to place ourselves .in this present existence, why not have power to know whathall follow when that dark veil is cast over. our bodies? If in this life we receive our all; if when we crumble back to dust we are yio more, from what source did we emanate, and what was the If purpose of our existence? this life were all, we should be led to query, whether or hot there was really any substance In existence, and we might with propriety say, Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die! But if this life is all, then why this constant toiling, why this continual warfare, and why this unceasing trouble? But this life , is not allp the voice of reason, the language of inspiration, and the Spirit of the living God, oiir Creator, teaches us, as we hold the record of truth in our hands, that this is not the case, that this is not so; for, the heavens declare the glory of a God, find thg firmament showetn- His handiwork; and k moments reflection is sufficient to teach every man of common intelligence, that all these are not the mere productions of chance, nor could they be supported bv any Jjower less than an Almighty hand; and He that can mark the power of Omnipotence, inscribed upon the heavens, can" also see Gods own handwriting in the,1 sacred volume: and he who reads it oftenest will like it best, and he who is acquainted with it, will know the hand wherever he can see it, and when once discovered, it will not only receive an- - acknowledgment, but an obedience to all its heavenly precepts. For a moment reflect: what could have been the purpose of our Father in giving to ust a law? Was it that it might be obeyed, or disobeyed? And think further, too, not only of the propriety, but of the importance of attending to His laws-ievery particular. If, Jhen, there is an importance in this respect, Is there not a responsibility of great weight resting upon those who are called to declareJ.kse truths to men? Were we capable of laying anything before you as a just comparison, we would cheerfully do it; but in this our ability fails, and we are, inclined to think that man is unable, without assistance beyond what has" befen given to those before, pf expressing in words the greatness of this important subject We can only say, that if an anticipation of the joys of the celestial glory, as wit- - nessed to the hearts ot the humble is not sufficient, .we will leave to yourselves the result of your own diligence; for God ere long, will call al His servants before Him, and there from His, own hand they will receive 'a just recompense and a righteous reward for all their, labors. (Page 5657) BLESSINGS - Page. 10 -- October 30, 1943 FOR THE FAITHFUL THE RESURRECTION be proper for ns to notice in this place a few of the many blessings held out in this law of heaven. ward to those who obey its teachings. God hasgpointed a day in-- ' which He wiTT'judge the world, and. this He has given assurance of in that He raised up His Son Jesus Christ, from the dead the point on which Ahe hope of all who believe the inspired record is founded for their future happiness and enjoyment; because, If Christ be not raised, said Paul to the Corinthians, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished (see I Cor. xv). If the resurrection from the dead be not an important point, or item in our faith, we must confess that we know nothing about it; for if there be no resurrection from the dead, then Christ has not risen; and if Christ has not risen He was not the Son of God; and if He was not the Son of God,' there is not nor cannot be a Son of God, if the present book called the Scriptures is true; because the time has gone by when, according to that book. He was to make His appearance. On this subject, however, we are reminded of the words of Peter to the Jewish Sanhedrin, when speaking of Christ, he says that God raised Him from the dead, and we (the apostles) are His witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Ghost, whom God had given to them that obey Him (see Acts v). So that after the testimony of the 1T -- - asra-T.g- . s -- ious kingdom; for, He Him- self says, Where I am, there shall also my servant be (see John xii). In the 22nd chapter of Lukes account of the Messiah, we find the kingdom of heaven likened unto a king who made a marriage for bis son. That this son was the Messiah will not be disputed, since it was the kingdom of heaven that was represented in the parable; and. that the Saints, or those who are found faithful to the Lord, .are the individuals who will be found worthy to inherit a seat at marriage supper, is evident from the sayings of John in the Revelation where he represents the sound which he heard in heaven tobe like a great'hrultitude, or like the voice of mighty thunderings, sayingVthe Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wie hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: For the, tine linen Is the righteousness of Saints (Rev. xix). -- THEY WHO ENDURE TO THE END That those who keep the commandments of the Lord and walk in His statutes to the end, are the only individuals permitted to sit at this glorious feast, is evident from the following items in Pauls last let- - Outline w The Purpose Of Existence (Lesson 76 Second Melchizedek Priesthood Lesson for November. 1943) Read Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 56, - 217, 220, 226, 369, 371375. 62-6- 1. 255 256, What is the purpose of 4. (56, 220) for knowledge of the hereafter , Life not the result of chance The heavens and earth prove the power ofanJVI-- , mighty.. Being. Sacred scriptures represent Gods own handwrit- a. Need b. . n i; . Scripture on this point, the, assurance s given by the Holy Ghost, beaning witness to those who. obey . HimT that Christ Himself has assuredly risen from the dead; and if He has risen from the dead, He will by His power, bring all men to stand before Him: for if He has risen from the dead the bands of the temporal death are broken that the grave has no victory. If then, the grave has no victory, those who keep the sayings; of ; Jesus and obey His teachings have not only a promise of a resurrection from the dead, but an assurance of being admitted Into His glor- , d. ing. recompense and .. righteous reward for the obedient. , 2. Blessings through obedience to the laws of heaven ) a. Atonement of Christ brings resurrection of all mankind (62) b. Faithful' admitted to his glorious, kingdom AIL will be judged of their works (66) a. Those who have kept the faith b. Promises of weight and glory to ancient Saints e. Just (62-65- -- 5. 6. c. Salvation onq of heavens best gifts to mankind (68) d. For every ..opportunity granted them they are to give an account. Salvation through knowledge (217) a. A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge b. Revelation needed to give us knowledge things of God To dwell 'With God- - the soul must be pure (226) Happiness the object and design of existence (255) a. Path to it is virtue, up- faithfulness, rightness, $ I have he says: a good fight, I have fought finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of death, righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing. No one who believes the account, will doubt fpr a moment this assertion of Paut whichrwair made, as he knew, just before he was to take his leave of this world. Though he once, according to his own words, persecuted the Church of God and wasjbd it, yet after embracing the- faith, his labors were unceasing to spread the glorious news: and like a faithful soldier, when called to givShls life in the cause which he had espoused, he laid it down, as he says, with an assurance of an eternal crown. Follow the labors of this Apostle from the time of his conversion to the time of his. death, and you will have a fair sample of industry and patience in promulgating the Gospel of Christ. Derided, whipped, and stoned, the moment he escaped the hands of his persecutors he as zealously as evr proclaimed the doctrine of the Savior. And all may know that he did not embrace the faith for honor in this life, nor for the gain of earthly goods. What, then, could have induced him to undergo all this toil? It was, as he said, that he might obtain the crown of righteousness from the hand of God. No one, we presume, will doubt the faithfulness of Paul to the end. None will say that he did not keep the faithr that "he "did not fight the good fight, that he did not preach and persuade to the last. And what was he to receive? A crown of righteousness. And what shall others receive who do not labor faithfully, and continue to the end? We leave such to search out their own promises if any they have; and if they have any they are welcome to them, on our part, for the Lord sys that every man is to receive according to his works. Reflect for a moment, brethren, and enquire, whether you would consider yourselves worthy a. seat at the marriage feast with Paul and others like him, if you had been unfaithful? Had you not fought the good fight, and kept the faith, could you expect to receive? Have you a promise of receiving a crown of righteousness from the hand of the Lord, with the Church of the Firstborn? Here then, we understand, that Paul rested his hope in Christ because ad kept and Joved His appearing Sand from His hand he had a promise of receiving a crown of righteousness. A CROWN FOR THE - -- he-h- the-fai- th, ' RIGHTEOUS holiness, and obedience b. Must know command- If the Saints are not to reign, for what purpose are they ments to keep them In- - an exhortation browned? DISCUSS: of the Lord to a certain Church 1. Whatever God .requires in Asia, which was built up is right. Prove this from ex- in the days of the Apostles, un.to whom He communicated amples. 2. Describe the reward God His word on that occasion by has planned for his deserving His servant John, He says, -children. Behold 1 come quickly: hold 3. Why is knowledge of the that fast which thou hast, that things of God essential to at- no man take thy crown. And tainment of, this glorious again, To him that overcom-etwill I grant to sit with Me h i V ter to Timothy, which was written just previous to his in toy throne, even, as I also overcame, and am set down, with My Father in His throne (see Rev. iii). And again, it is Beloved, now are . written, we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we . shall be: but we t know that, when He shall appear, we shall beLlike Him; for weshall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope' in him purifieth himself, even as He is (I John iii:2, 3). How is it that these old Apostles should say so much on the subject of the coming of Christ? He certainly had once come; but Paul says, To all who love His appearing, shall be given the crown; and John says, j; 'When He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. Can We mistake such language as this? Do we not offer violence to our own good judgment when we deny the second coming of the Messiah? When has He partaken of the fruit of the vine new with His ancient Apostles in His Fathers kingdom, as , He promised He would f just before' he was crucified? In Pauls epistle to the& Philip-pian- s For (iii:20, 21) he says: our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fjh- ioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.' We find another prom-- . ise to individuals living in the Church at Sardis who had not defiled their garments: And "me walk in with they shall white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before Tny Fatherland before His angels. John 'represents the sound which h? hearJ from heaven, as giving thanks and ..glory to God, saying .that the 'Lamb was worthy to take the book and to open its seals;, because He was slain, and had made them kings and priests unto God: and they should reign on the earth (see Rev. v). In the 20th chdpter we find a length of time specified, during which Satan is to be "confined in his own place, and the Saints reign in peace, all these promises and blessings we find contained in the law of the Lord, which the righteous are tp enjoy; and we might enumerate many more places where the same or similar promises are made to the faithful, but we do not deem it of importance to rehearse them here, as this epistle is now lengthy; and our brethren, no doubt, are familiar with them all. TIIE, ANCIENT SAINTS OBTAINED PROMISES ' Most assuredly it is, however, that the ancients, though persecuted and afflicted by men, obtained from God promises. of such weight and glory, that our hearts are often filled with gratitude that we are even permitted to look upon them while we contemplate that there is no respect of persons in His sight, and that in every nation, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness, is acceptable with Him. But from the few items previously quoted we can draw the conclusion, that there is to be a day when all will be judged -- of their works, and rewarded according to the same; that . (Continued on Page Twelve) "T I |
