In friendly reconcilement's cordial clasp, They doomed to death and hell "this heresy." None sought, from "Satan's wile," a soul's reclaim, But all were bent his humble name to blast; And pious, would-be murder led the van Of common hatred and hostility. But Truth, thou mother of the living thought, The deathless word, the everduring deed! What puny hand thy giant arm can stay? When crushed, or backward held, thine hour beyond? Can bigot frown or tyrant fetter quell Thy high revolt, O light omnipotent! When God would speak with man, who tells him nay? Can hell prevent, when heaven and earth would join? Still through his soul the solemn warning rang; Still from his mouth the startling message flamed: "No church the Christ's! None, therefore, can I join. All sects and creeds have wandered from the way. Priestcraft, in lieu of Priesthood, sits enthroned, Dead forms deny the power of godliness. Men worship with their lips, their hearts afar. None serve acceptably in sight of heaven. Wherefore a work of wonder shall be wrought, And perish all the wisdom of the wise." --("Elias," Canto V.) A Decreed Consummation.--The Gospel dispensation introduced by the Prophet Joseph Smith was rendered necessary by the apostasy of the Christian world from the ancient Faith, as delivered to the Saints in the Meridian of Time. Nevertheless, according to the foreknowledge of God, and in consonance with his all-wise purposes, this great, all-comprehending dispensation had been preordained from the beginning, as the "winding up scene," or final development, in the divine plan, having for its object the salvation of the sons and daughters of Adam. "It is necessary, in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times; which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories, should take place and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time; and not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this the dispensation of the fulness of times."--(D. and C. 128:18.)