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
To the young man or the young woman who is at a loss to know what to
do, among all the various teachings that are extant in the world, I
would say: Search the Scriptures, seek God in prayer, and then read
the doctrines that have been proclaimed by Christ in his sermon on the
mount, as found in Matthew, and as reiterated to the ancient {159}
saints upon this continent (III Nephi). Having studied these splendid
standards, and searched deeply the significance of these matchless
sentiments, you may defy the philosophies of the world, or any of
its ethics to produce their equal. The wisdom of men is not to be
compared with them. They lead to the rest of the peaceable followers
of Christ, and enable mankind to become perfect as he is perfect. No
other philosopher has ever said as Jesus said, "Come unto me." From the
beginning of the world until the present time, no other philosopher
has ever cried unto the people such words of love, nor guaranteed and
declared power within himself to save. "Come unto me, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," is his call to all the
sons and daughters of men.
The Latter-day Saints have answered the call, and thousands thereby
have found rest and peace surpassing all understanding; and this
notwithstanding the outward, fiery ordeals, the turmoil and the strife,
through which they have passed. They rest in the knowledge that no man
could declare or teach such doctrine; it is the truth of God.
I thank our Father that I have come to a knowledge of this truth,
that I know that Jesus is the Christ, in whom alone there is rest
and salvation. As God lives, they are deceived who follow men and
their philosophies; but happy are they who enter into the rest of the
peaceable followers of Christ, obtaining sufficient hope from this
time henceforth until they shall rest with him in heaven. They depend
completely upon the saving power of his gospel, and are therefore at
rest in all the tumult of mind and public agitation which besets their
way.--_Improvement Era,_ 1903-4, Vol. 7, pp. 714-18.
HARMONY. As to harmony, with special reference to the understanding
that the Latter-day Saints should have of it, as affecting the
membership of the Church, or as subsisting {160} in the quorums of
the priesthood, I would say that the harmony that is sought to be
established among the Saints, and in the membership of the respective
quorums is a harmony that comes from seeing eye to eye in all things;
from understanding things alike; a harmony that is born of perfect
knowledge, perfect honesty, perfect unselfishness, perfect love. This
is the harmony the Church would inculcate among its members, and such
the elements from which she would have it arise.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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