Defense of the Faith and the Saints (Volume 2 of 2)Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
Defense of the Faith and the Saints (Volume 2 of 2)
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches
That is the doctrine, gentlemen, that is sweeping the earth, "the
divinity of Jesus," and the divinity of "all other noble and saintly
souls"--the kinship of men and God. That is "Mormonism," and it was
proclaimed by the great prophet of the nineteenth century, half a
century before these modern minds were awakened to its grandeur and
to its uplifting power. I rejoice to see it running in the earth to
be glorified, for in it I recognize the very root principle of all
religion and out of it grow all the relations that link us with all
that is pure, uplifting and divine.
Now, do not misunderstand me. There is much nonsense in this "New
Theology;" but this root principle of it is true, and it is in accord
with the principles that Joseph Smith proclaimed years ago. The
doctrine of the immanence of God in the world, by which we mean the
universe and the divinity of man, instead of its having its origin
some fifteen or twenty years ago, and now finding expression in the
beautiful diction of Mr. Campbell and Sir Oliver Lodge and others, it
was taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith, at least over seventy years
ago. Concerning the immanence of God, he taught the following in 1832:
He first represents that the spirit of Christ is "in all and through
all things, the light of truth; which truth shineth." Then he adds:
"This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the
light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As
also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power
thereof by which it was made. As also the light of the stars, and
the power thereof by which they were made. And the earth also, and
the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. And the
light which now shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who
enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth
your understandings; which light proceedeth forth from the presence
of God to fill the immensity of space. The light which is in all
things; which giveth life to all things; which is the law by which
all things are governed; even the power of God who sitteth upon his
throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all
things."
The prophet further declared, in 1833, that "the elements are eternal,
and spirit and element inseparably connected receive a fullness of joy.
The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of
God, even temples."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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