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
GOD'S REST. The ancient prophets speak of "entering into God's rest;"
what does it mean? To my mind, it means entering into the knowledge
and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in his plan, to such
an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not hunting for
something else, we are not disturbed by every wind of doctrine, or by
the cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive. We know
of the doctrine that it is of God, and we do not ask any questions of
anybody about it; they are welcome to {72} their opinions, to their
ideas and to their vagaries. The man who has reached that degree of
faith in God that all doubt and fear have been cast from him, he has
entered into "God's rest," and he need not fear the vagaries of men,
nor their cunning and craftiness, by which they seek to deceive and
mislead him from the truth. I pray that we may all enter into God's
rest--rest from doubt, from fear, from apprehension of danger, rest
from the religious turmoil of the world; from the cry that is going
forth, here and there--lo, here is Christ; lo, there is Christ; lo, he
is in the desert, come ye out to meet him. The man who has found God's
rest will not be disturbed by these vagaries of men, for the Lord has
told him, and does tell us: Go not out to seek them: Go not out to hunt
them; for when Christ shall come, he will come with the army of heaven
with him in the clouds of glory, and all eyes shall see him. We do not
need to be hunting for Christ here or Christ there, or prophets here
and prophets there.--_Oct. C. R.,_ 1909, p. 8.
IMPORTANCE OF BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The one
thing now that I desire to impress upon the minds of my brethren
bearing the Holy Priesthood is that we should live so near to the
Lord, be so humble in our spirits, so tractable and pliable, under the
influence of the Holy Spirit, that we will be able to know the mind
and will of the Father concerning us as individuals and as officers
in the Church of Christ under all circumstances. And when we live so
that we can hear and understand the whisperings of the still, small
voice of the Spirit of God, let us do whatsoever that Spirit directs
without fear of the consequences. It does not make any difference
whether it meet the minds of carpers or critics, or of the enemies of
the kingdom of God, or not. Is it agreeable to the will of the Lord? Is
it compatible with the spirit of the great latter-day work in which we
are engaged? Is the end aimed at likely to advance the Church and to
strengthen it in the earth? If its {73} trend is in that direction, let
us do it, no matter what men may say or think.--_Oct. C. R.,_ 1903, p.
86.
HOLY GHOST, HOLY SPIRIT, COMFORTER. The Holy Ghost, who is a member of
the Trinity in the Godhead, has not a body of flesh and bones, like the
Father and the Son, but is a personage of Spirit. (Doc. and Cov., Sec.
130:22.)
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