The Restoration of the GospelWidtsoe, Osborne J. P.
Religion
The Restoration of the Gospel
Widtsoe, Osborne J. P.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
"After the foregoing was received," writes the Prophet, "William
E. M'Lellin, as the wisest man, in his ow estimation, having more
learning than sense, endeavored to write a commandment like unto one
of the least of the Lord's, but failed; it was an awful responsibility
to write in the name of the Lord. The Elders and all present that
witnessed this vain attempt of a man to imitate the language of Jesus
Christ, renewed their faith in the fulness of the Gospel, and in the
truth of the commandments and revelations which the Lord had given
to the Church through my instrumentality; and the Elders signified a
willingness to bear testimony to their truth to all the world."[B]
[Footnote B: "History of the Church," Vol.]
Thus was the test applied in the lifetime of Joseph, and thus was his
declaration of divine inspiration vindicated. No one since the day of
William E. M'Lellin has seen fit to make an attempt like his. Yet, the
test was not for M'Lellin's day only. When the book of Doctrine and
Covenants was finally printed, in 1835, the revelation prescribing the
divinely appointed test was included as Section Sixty-seven. And the
section has retained its place from that day to this. Not a word has
been changed; not one element of the meaning has been altered. As a
test, it is just as applicable at present, and just as forceful, as in
the time of William E. M'Lellin. Any one who doubts may apply the test
today, tomorrow, or at any time; though, some one has very wisely said,
"it is a most dangerous thing to do."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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