"But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence, therefore the Lord in his wrath (for his anger was kindled against them) swore that they should not enter into his rest, while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory. "Therefore he took Moses out of their midst, and the holy priesthood also."--(D. & C. 84:19-25.) From Moses Until John.--"And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel; "Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb: "For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power."--(Ibid, 26-28.) CHAPTER VII. The Lamb of God A stranger Star that came from far To fling its silver ray Where, cradled in a lowly cave, A lowlier Infant lay; And led by soft sidereal light, The Orient sages bring Rare gifts of gold and frankincense, To greet the homeless King. O wondrous grace! Will Gods go down Thus low that men may rise? Imprisoned here the Mighty One, Who reigned in yonder skies? Hark to that chime!--What tongue sublime Now tells the hour of noon? O dying world, art welcoming Life's life--Light's sun and moon? Proclaim him, prophet harbinger! Make plain the Mightier's way, Thou sharer of his martyrdom! Elias? Yea and Nay. The crescent Moon, that knew the Sun Ere Stars had learned to shine; The waning Moon, that bathed in blood Ere sank the Sun divine. "Glory to God, good will to man!-- Peace, peace!" triumphal tone. Why peace? Is discord then no more? Are Earth and Heaven as one? Peace to the soul that serveth him, The Monarch manger-born; There, ruler of unnumbered realms; Here, throneless and forlorn. He wandered through the faithless world, A Prince in shepherd guise; He called his scattered flock, but few The Voice did recognize; For minds upborne by hollow pride, Or dimmed by sordid lust, Ne'er look for kings in beggar's garb, For diamonds in the dust. Wept he above a city doomed, Her temple, walls, and towers, O'er palaces where recreant priests Usurped unhallowed powers. "I am the Way, the Life, the Light!" Alas! 'twas heeded not. Ignored--nay, mocked; God scorned by man! And spurned the truth he taught. O bane of damning unbelief! When, when till now, so rife? Thou stumbling stone, thou barrier 'thwart The gates of endless life! O love of self, and Mammon's lust,