"Mormon" Doctrine Plain and Simple; Or, Leaves from the Tree of LifePenrose, Charles W. (Charles William)
Religion
"Mormon" Doctrine Plain and Simple; Or, Leaves from the Tree of Life
Penrose, Charles W. (Charles William)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
The mission of Christ was to save that which was lost. It was not
completed when He hung upon the cross. His dying exclamation, "It
is finished!" referred to His sufferings for sin, the ordeals of
mortality, His labors in the flesh. As we have seen, He continued His
work of salvation when out of the body, by preaching to the dead. After
His resurrection He met, on several occasions, with His disciples,
and instructed them in the plan of redemption and sent them to all
nations, that the work He had commenced on earth might be continued.
He ministered to other nations, uttered His voice to other sheep which
were not of the fold in Palestine, that the lost tribes of Israel and
all who could not be reached by His Jewish Apostles might hear the glad
tidings of salvation. This, however, not fully revealed in the Bible,
is made clear in the Book of Mormon. After His ascension, to fulfill
His own promise, He went to prepare a place for His faithful disciples,
that when they left the earth they might be able to abide with Him.
But all this was only a small part of the perfect scheme of redemption.
That which was lost in Adam is to be regained in Christ. Through the
commission of crime, death came into the world. Satan gained dominion.
The earth trembled under the curse. Eden bloomed no more upon its face.
The tree of life was removed. Thorns and briers and noxious weeds came
up in the place of the flowers and fruits of paradise. Deity was hidden
from the sight of man. Sorrow and pain and toil and travail became the
heritage of mortals. Enmity arose between man and beast. Venom entered
the serpent's fangs, and rage the hearts of brute and fowl and aqueous
creature. Strife dwelt in the very elements and death brooded over the
face of the smitten globe.
What, then, was lost? The immortality of man; the blessed tree of
life; communion with Jehovah; the companionship of angels; the purity
of paradise; man's dominion over inferior creatures; freedom from
satanic influence; exemption from toil and pain; earth's affinity with
perfected realms on high.
Until all this has been restored, Christ's work must continue. The
earth must be cleansed from its corruptions. The elements must melt
with fervent heat, and be purified from evil. Satan and his hosts
must be banished and bound. Eden must blossom again as at first. The
lion and the lamb must lie down together. The fig tree and the myrtle
must flourish where the rank weeds grow. The whole race of Adam must
be raised from the dead. The vail between earth and heaven must be
removed. The knowledge and glory of God must cover the earth as the
waters cover the deep, and the spirit of life and peace and light
and joy must be poured out upon all flesh, until the whole creation
vibrates with pleasure and responds with praise.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account