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
So far as I am concerned, if the Lord will give me ability to teach
the people in my native tongue, or in their own language to the
understanding of those who hear me, that will be sufficient gift of
tongues to me. Yet if the Lord gives you the gift of tongues, do not
despise it, do not reject it. For if it comes from the Spirit of God,
it will come to those who are worthy to receive it, and it is all
right. But this idea of seeking it, desiring it, when you don't pay
your tithing, when you don't pray in your families, when you don't pay
your debts, when you desecrate the Sabbath day, and when you neglect
other duties in the Church; I tell you the devil will take advantage of
you by and by, if he does not at first.--_Apr. C. R.,_ 1900, p. 41.
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
is a very important and sacred ordinance; however simple it may appear
to our minds, it is one which will add to our acceptance before God, or
to our condemnation.
It was instituted by the Savior in the place of the law of sacrifice
which was given to Adam, and which continued with his children down to
the days of Christ, but which was fulfilled in his death, he being the
great sacrifice for sin, of which the sacrifices enjoined in the law
given to Adam were a similitude.
The Lord designed in the beginning to place before man the knowledge of
good and evil, and gave him a commandment to cleave to good and abstain
from evil. But if he {253} should fail, he would give to him the law
of sacrifice and provide a Savior for him, that he might be brought
back again into the presence and favor of God and partake of eternal
life with him. This was the plan of redemption chosen and instituted
by the Almighty before man was placed on the earth. And when man did
fall by transgressing the law which was given him, the Lord gave to him
the law of sacrifice, and made it clear to his understanding, that it
was for the purpose of reminding him of that great event that should
transpire in the meridian of time, whereby he and all his posterity
might be brought forth by the power of redemption and resurrection from
the dead, and partake of eternal life with God in his kingdom. For this
reason Adam and his posterity, from generation to generation, observed
this law, and continually looked forward to a time when there should be
provided for them a means of redemption from the fall and restoration
from death to life, for death was the penalty of the law transgressed,
which man was powerless to avert, that fiat of God being, "In the day
that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die," and this penalty
was to follow upon all flesh, all being as helpless and dependent as
he was in this matter. Their only hope of redemption from the grave
and the power of death was in the Savior whom God had promised, who
should suffer death, but being without sin, having himself never
transgressed any law, being without blemish, pure and holy, he should
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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