Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. SmithSmith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding)
Religion
Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith
Smith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding)
Latter Day Saint churches
men, no matter who they are or where they are. These principles are
always true, and you cannot get away from them. No other name, under
heaven, is given, but that of Jesus Christ, by which you can be saved
or exalted in the Kingdom of God. No man can enter into the kingdom
of heaven except he be born again of the water and of the Spirit.
These principles are indispensable, for God has declared them. Not
only has Christ declared them by his own voice, and his disciples from
generation to generation, in the olden time, but in these latter days,
they have taken up the same testimony and declared these things to the
world. They are true today as they were true then, and we must obey
these things.--_Apr. C. R.,_ 1911, pp. 7, 8.
MAN'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT. The greatest achievement mankind can make
in this world is to familiarize themselves with divine truth, so
thoroughly, so perfectly, that the example or conduct of no creature
living in the world can ever turn them away from the knowledge that
they have obtained. "In the footsteps of the Master," the greatest of
all the teachers that this world has ever received, is the {5} safest
and surest course to pursue that I know of in the world. We can absorb
the precepts, the doctrines and the divine word of the Master, without
any fear that the exemplar will fail of carrying out and executing his
own precepts and fulfilling his own doctrines and requirements.
From my boyhood I have desired to learn the principles of the gospel
in such a way and to such an extent that it would matter not to me who
might fall from the truth, who might make a mistake, who might fail to
continue to follow the example of the Master, my foundation would be
sure and certain in the truths that I have learned, though all men else
go astray and fail of obedience to them. We all have heard of people
who have pinned their faith to the arm of flesh, who have felt that
their belief, their confidence and their love for the principles of
the gospel of Jesus Christ would be shattered, if their ideals--those
possibly who first taught them the principles of the gospel--should
make a mistake, falter or fall.
I know of but One in all the world who can be taken as the first and
only perfect standard for us to follow, and he is the Only Begotten Son
of God. I would feel sorry indeed, if I had a friend or an associate
in this life who would turn away from the plan of life and salvation
because I might stumble or make a failure of my life. I want no man
to lean upon me nor to follow me, only so far as I am a consistent
follower in the footsteps of the Master.--_Juvenile Instructor,_ 1915,
Vol. 50, pp. 738, 739.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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