The Story of "Mormonism" and The Philosophy of "Mormonism"Talmage, James E. (James Edward)
Religion
The Story of "Mormonism" and The Philosophy of "Mormonism"
Talmage, James E. (James Edward)
Latter Day Saint churches; Latter Day Saints
There is no claim of universal forgiveness; no unwarranted
glorification of Mercy to the degrading or neglect of Justice; no
thought that a single sin of omission or of commission shall fail
to leave its wound or scar. In the great future there shall be
found a place for every soul, whatever his grade of spiritual
intelligence may be. "In my Father's house are many mansions,"
(John 14:2), declared the Savior to his apostles; and Paul adds,
"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the
glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial
is another. There is one glory of the sun and another glory of
the moon and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth
from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the
dead," (I Cor. 15:40-42). The Latter-day Saints claim a
revelation of the present dispensation as supplementing the
scripture just quoted. From this later scripture (see D&C, Sec.
76), we learn that there are three well-defined degrees in the
future state, with numerous, perhaps numberless, gradations.
There is the _celestial state_ provided for those who have lived
the whole law, who have accepted the testimony of the Christ, who
have complied with the required ordinances of the gospel, who
have been valiant in the cause of virtue and truth. Then there
is the _terrestrial state_, comparable to the first as is the
moon to the sun. This shall be given to the less valiant, to
many who are nevertheless among the worthy men of the earth, but
who perchance have been deceived as to the gospel and its
requirements. The _telestial state_ is for those who have failed
to live according to the light given them; those who have had to
suffer the results of their sins; those who have been of Moses,
of Paul, of Apollos, and of any one of a multitude of others, but
not of the Christ.
We hold that there is a wide difference between salvation and
exaltation; that there are infinite gradations beyond the grave
as there are here, and as there were in the state preceding this.
"Mormonism" is frequently spoken of as a new religion, and the
Church as a new church, a mere addition of one to the many sects
that have so long striven for recognition and ascendency among
men. It is new only as the springtime following the darkness and
the cold of the year's night is new. The Church is a new one
only as the ripening fruit is a new development in the course of
the tree's growth. In a general and true sense, "Mormonism" is
not new to the world. It is founded on the gospel of Christ
which antedates this earth. The establishment of the Church in
the present age was but a restoration. True, the Church is
progressive as it ever has been; it is therefore productive of
more and greater things as the years link themselves into the
centuries; but the living seed contains within its husk all the
possibilities of the mature plant.
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account