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
These are some of the injunctions and commandments that are given
in relation to the partaking of the Lord's Supper. Now let us be
careful what we do, that we may not incur the penalty affixed to the
transgression of this law, remembering that the ordinances which
God has given are sacred and binding, that his laws are in force,
especially upon all that have covenanted with him in baptism, and upon
all unto whom they come, whether they embrace them or not, as Jesus
said, "This is the condemnation of the world, that light has come into
the world, but ye love darkness rather than light." Therefore all men
will be held accountable for the use they make of the light which they
possess. For this reason we are commanded to preach the gospel unto
every creature, that those who obey and are baptized may be saved, and
those who reject it may be condemned.
I bear my testimony to these things. I know that Joseph Smith was and
is a prophet of the living God, and President Young is also a prophet
of God, and that by inspiration and revelation, and not of man. God
bless you, and help us to be faithful, is my prayer in the name of
Jesus. Amen.--Discourse delivered in the Thirteenth Ward Assembly
Rooms, Salt Lake City, February 9, 1873. _Journal of Discourses,_
Vol. 15, pp. 324-328.
ORDER OF ADMINISTERING TO THE SICK. In the matter of administering to
the sick, according to the order and practice {257} established in the
Church, care should be taken to avoid unwarranted repetitions. When
an administration is made, and when the blessing pronounced upon the
afflicted one has been received, the ordinance should not be repeated,
rather let the time be given to prayer and thanksgiving for the
manifestation of divine power already granted and realized. No limit
should be or can be set to the offering of prayer and the rendering
of praise to the Giver of Good, for we are specially told to pray
without ceasing, and no special authority of the priesthood or standing
in the Church is essential to the offering of prayer; but the actual
administration by anointing with oil and by the imposition of hands by
those who hold the proper office in the priesthood is an authoritative
ordinance, too sacred in its nature to be performed lightly, or to
be repeated loosely when the blessing has been gained.--_Juvenile
Instructor,_ Vol. 38, January, 1902, p. 18.
THE USE OF A TESTIMONY. The sanctity of a true testimony should
inspire a thoughtful care as to its use. That testimony is not to be
forced upon everybody, nor is it to be proclaimed at large from the
housetop. It is not to be voiced merely to "fill up the time" in a
public meeting; far less to excuse or disguise the speaker's poverty of
thought or ignorance of the truth he is called to expound.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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