History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 2Smith, Joseph, Jr.
History
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 2
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
In the 22nd chapter of Luke's account of the Messiah, we find
the kingdom of heaven likened unto a king who made a marriage
for his son. That this son was the Messiah will not be disputed,
since it was the kingdom of heaven that was represented in the
parable; and that the Saints, or those who are found faithful to
the Lord, are the individuals who will be found worthy to merit a
seat at the marriage supper, is evident from the sayings of John
in the Revelation where he represents the sound which he heard in
heaven to be like a great multitude, or like the voice of mighty
thunderings, saying, the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Let us be
glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the
Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was
granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:
For the fine linen is the righteousness of Saints (Rev. 19).
That those who keep the commandments of the Lord and walk in His
statutes to the end, are the only individuals permitted to sit at
this glorious feast, is evident from the following items in Paul's
last letter to Timothy, which was written just previous to his
death,--he says: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me
a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall
give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also
that love His appearing." No one who believes the account, will
doubt for a moment this assertion of Paul which was made, as he
knew, just before he was to take his leave of this world. Though he
once, according to his own word, persecuted the Church of God and
wasted it, yet after embracing the faith, his labors were unceasing
to spread the glorious news: and like a faithful soldier, when
called to give his life in the cause which he had espoused, he
laid it down, as he says, with an assurance of an eternal crown.
Follow the labors of this Apostle from the time of his conversion
to the time of his death, and you will have a fair {20} sample
of industry and patience in promulgating the Gospel of Christ.
Derided, whipped, and stoned, the moment he escaped the hands of
his persecutors he as zealously as ever proclaimed the doctrine of
the Savior. And all may know that he did not embrace the faith for
honor in this life, nor for the gain of earthly goods. What, then,
could have induced him to undergo all this toil? It was, as he
said, that he might obtain the crown of righteousness from the hand
of God. No one, we presume, will doubt the faithfulness of Paul to
the end. None will say that he did not keep the faith, that he did
not fight the good fight, that he did not preach and persuade to
the last. And what was he to receive? A crown of righteousness. And
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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