Origin of the 'Reorganized' Church and the Question of SuccessionSmith, Joseph Fielding
History
Origin of the 'Reorganized' Church and the Question of Succession
Smith, Joseph Fielding
Latter Day Saint churches -- Government; Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- Government
Yes, Jesus taught the Gospel openly as far as the Jews were able to
stand it; but it does not follow that he did not teach His disciples
things that were not for the world! And at times He was constrained by
His Father from teaching His disciples some truths. Why? Because of the
hardness of their hearts they were not able to receive His teachings.
In not revealing everything to the world, did Brigham Young,--aye, did
Joseph Smith represent Christ? for Brigham Young was only following in
the footsteps of the Seer! What was it the Savior said to Peter, James,
and John, when they came down from the mount of transfiguration? Jesus
charged them, saying, "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of Man
be risen again from the dead."--Matt. 17:8. (Inspired Scriptures) Why
didn't he tell them to proclaim it openly from the housetops? Because
it was not for the world! Jesus was in the habit of teaching the people
in parables. On one occasion when He had thus spoken, His disciples
came and said unto him:
"Why speakest Thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto
them, _Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven_, but _to them_ it is not given. For whosoever
receiveth, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance;
but whosoever continueth not to receive, from him _shall be taken
away even that he hath_. Therefore speak I to them in parables;
because they, seeing, see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither
do they understand." (Matt. 13:8-12).
On another occasion Jesus said unto His disciples: "And other sheep
I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they
shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."
(John 10:16). But He did not tell them who those "other sheep" were.
The reason He failed to tell them this interesting fact we learn from
the Book of Mormon:
"And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words,
He said unto those Twelve whom He had chosen, ye are my disciples;
and ye are a light unto this people, who are a remnant of the
house of Joseph. And behold, this is the land of your inheritance;
and the Father hath given it unto you. And not at any time hath
the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto your
brethren at Jerusalem; neither at any time hath the Father given
me commandment, that I should tell unto them concerning the other
tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out
of the land. This much did the Father command me, that I should
tell unto them. That other sheep I have, which are not of this
fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and
there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. And now, _because
of stiffneckedness and unbelief, they understood not my word:
therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning
this thing unto them_." (III. Nephi, 15:11-17).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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