The Strength of the "Mormon" PositionWhitney, Orson F. (Orson Ferguson)
Religion
The Strength of the "Mormon" Position
Whitney, Orson F. (Orson Ferguson)
Latter Day Saint churches
"I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God,
for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether
it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto
men according to their will, whether they be unto salvation or unto
destruction.
"Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that
knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and
evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth
good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.
"Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to
perform the work to which I have been called?
"Why should I desire that I was an angel, that I could speak unto all
the ends of the earth?
"For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation
and tongue, to teach his word; yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit
that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in
wisdom, according to that which is just and true.
"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it; I do
not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded
me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in
the hands of God, to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my
joy." (Alma 29:1-9.)
Does that sound as if "Mormonism" took no cognizance of what is going
on in the outside world? How can any intelligent reader arise from a
study of the "Mormon" religion, honestly convinced that the Latter-day
Saints are interested in nothing beyond the bounds of their own system?
That one passage from the Book of Mormon suffices to refute the false
notion.
"Of Their Own Nation and Tongue."
God's truth has been taught all down the ages by men bearing the
Priesthood, the authority to represent Deity. But other men, not
bearing that authority, wise and worthy teachers, have been raised
up in various nations to give them that measure of truth which they
were able to receive. Hence, such men as Confucius, the Chinese
sage; Zoroaster, the Persian; and Guatama of the Hindus; men not
wielding divine authority, not empowered to present the Gospel, nor to
officiate in its ordinances; but nevertheless endowed with wisdom, with
profundity of thought and learning, to deliver, each to his own people,
that portion of truth which the all-wise Dispenser sees fit that they
should have; people who, if given a fulness of the truth, might trample
it under foot to their condemnation. Therefore they "die without law"
(Doc. & Cov. 76:72); that is, without the higher law, the Gospel,
which, however, will reach after them in a future life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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