The Lions of the Lord: A Tale of the Old WestWilson, Harry Leon
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The Lions of the Lord: A Tale of the Old West
Wilson, Harry Leon
Historical fiction; Latter Day Saint pioneers -- Fiction; Western stories
“I am preaching St. Paul, this morning,” began Brigham, easily.
“Hebrews, Chapter ix., and Verse 22: ‘And almost all things are by the
law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.’
Also, and more especially, first Corinthians, Chapter v., Verse 5: ‘To
deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that
the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.’ Remember these
words of Paul’s. The time has come when justice will be laid to the
line and righteousness to the plummet; when we shall take the old
broadsword, and ask, ‘Are you for God?’ And if you are not heartily on
the Lord’s side, you will be hewn down.”
There was a rustling movement in the throng before him, and he paused
until it subsided.
“I tell you there are men and women amongst you who ought to come and
ask me to select a place and appoint a committee to shed their blood.
Only in that way can they be saved, for water will not do. Their sins
are too deep for that. I repeat—there are covenant-breakers here, and
we need a place set apart and men designated to shed their blood for
their own salvation. If any of you ask, do I mean you, I answer yes. We
have tried long enough with you, and now I shall let the sword of the
Almighty be unsheathed, not only in words but in deed. I tell you there
are sins for which men cannot otherwise receive forgiveness in this
world nor in the world to come; and if you guilty ones had your eyes
opened to your true condition, you would be willing to have your blood
spilt upon the ground that the smoke thereof might go up to heaven for
your sins. I know when you hear this talk about cutting people off from
the earth you will consider it strong doctrine; but it is to save them,
and not destroy them. Take a person in this congregation who knows the
principles of that kind of life and sees the beauties of eternity
before him compared with the vain and foolish things of the world—and
suppose he is overtaken in a gross fault which he knows will rob him of
that exaltation which he desires and which he now cannot obtain without
the shedding of his blood; and suppose he knows that by having his
blood shed he will atone for that sin and be saved and exalted with the
Gods. Is there a man or woman here but would say, ‘Save me—shed my
blood, that I may be exalted.’ And how many of you love your neighbour
well enough to save him in that way? That is what Christ meant by
loving our neighbours as ourselves. I could refer you to plenty of
instances where men have been righteously slain to atone for their sin;
I have seen scores and hundreds of people for whom there would have
been a chance in the last day if their lives had been taken and their
blood spilt upon the ground as a smoking incense to the Almighty, but
who are now angels to the Devil because it was not done. The weakness
and ignorance of the nations forbids this law being in full and open
force; yet, remember, if our neighbour needs help we must help him. If
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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