Divine Authority; Or, the Question: Was Joseph Smith Sent of God?Pratt, Orson
Religion
Divine Authority; Or, the Question: Was Joseph Smith Sent of God?
Pratt, Orson
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
Fifth.--What else besides the "everlasting gospel" does the Book of
Mormon profess to contain? It professes to contain a brief but faithful
history of a small branch of the _tribe of Joseph_, and the revelations
given to them both before and after Christ, written by a succession of
prophets who were the literal descendants of Joseph; hence it professes
to be, in the full sense of the word, the _writings or records of
the tribe of Joseph_. It contains numerous and pointed predictions,
shewing expressly that the age in which their records should, by the
power of God, be revealed to the nations, should also be the day in
which Israel should be gathered; and that their records, in conjunction
with the records of the Jews, should be the powerful instruments in
the hands of the servants of God in bringing about that great work.
Now, how does this accord with the word of the Lord to Ezekiel upon
the same subject? Ezekiel was commanded to write upon two sticks, one
for Judah, and the other for Joseph; after which he was commanded to
join them together into one. And when the children of Israel should
make enquiry what these two united writings of Judah and Joseph meant,
he was to say unto them, that the Lord God would join the writings of
Joseph with those of Judah; immediately after which he would take the
children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they were gone, and
would gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
and that he would make them one nation in the land upon the mountains
of Israel; and that one king should be king to them all; and that they
should no more be two nations or kingdoms. Ezekiel testifies that the
_writings of Joseph_ should be joined with the _writings of Judah_.
Mr. Smith presents this generation with a book, consisting of several
hundred pages, professing to be the sacred writings of the inspired
prophets of the tribe of Joseph, who anciently inhabited the great
western hemisphere. Ezekiel testifies that Israel should be gathered,
never again to be scattered, immediately after the union of these
two records. The professed record of Joseph, brought to light by Mr.
Smith, testifies in the most positive language, that this is the age
in which Israel shall be gathered through the instrumentality of the
word and power of God, contained in the two records. Ezekiel uttered
the prediction. Mr. Smith presents a professed fulfilment. This is
another presumptive evidence in favor of the divine authority of his
mission; for if the gathering of Israel had not been included in the
mission of Mr. Smith, as an important part of the great work of the
last dispensation, all would have had good reason for rejecting him
without further inquiry. The ministering of an angel--the restoration
of the gospel--the conferring of the apostleship--the setting up
of the kingdom of God--the gathering of the Saints--the revelation
of the record of Joseph, and its union with the Jewish record--and
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