B. H. Roberts

“ Is there any necessity for such a work as is ascribed to Joseph Smith being performed? The Christian world believe that when Christ was upon the earth in the flesh, that he then established his Church and Kingdom, and that it has continued among men from that time until the present. And although many changes have taken place in regard to principles and doctrines, and divisions and subdivisions have distracted the religious world—yet they claim that those things which are essential to the existence of Christ's Church and Kingdom have remained among men. ”

“ It is placed within the reach of all men to test the truth whether Joseph Smith was authorized to make such a promise or not. It is just as much a test as that which Jesus gave to the people in His day, when He taught them in their temples, saying, "If any man will do the will of my Father in Heaven, he shall know of the doctrine, whether I speak of myself or of Him who sent me." ”

“ You, my brethren and sisters, know they are: you know that it is a common thing to send for the Elders to administer to the sick, and they are healed, and thousands in Utah, and hundreds throughout the world, can testify that they have seen the power of God manifest in the Church. If these promises made through Joseph Smith, had not been realized, it would have proven him an impostor ”

“ Paul, speaking of those who minister in the things pertaining to God, says:
"And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron."
The question now for our consideration is, how was Aaron called For if we can find out how he was called, we shall then know how all other men must be called before they have authority to administer in the Gospel. Suppose that on the Statute books of Utah Territory, we should find a law which said, "No man shall be governor of Utah, except he be appointed as was Governor Young." ”

“ We begin by calling your attention to the 24th chapter of Isaiah, commencing with the 4th verse: "The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
"The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant.
"Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left." ”

“ Paul in writing to Titus, gives us to understand that he lived "In hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie, promised before the world began," and this immortal life which God had promised—this everlasting covenant which God had made with man before the world began, was sealed by the blood of Christ, and this life and immortality were brought to light through the Gospel—and is called in the Scripture, the everlasting Gospel or covenant ”

“ I have had men in the world try to reason away the force of this prophecy, in the following manner: They reminded us that Isaiah lived in the Mosaic dispensation, when the law of carnal commandments was in force; and claim that it was of this carnal law of which Isaiah spake—it was the law of Moses that was to be transgressed; the Mosaic ordinances which were to be changed; the Mosaic covenant which was to be broken. These assertions, however, are incorrect—from the fact that the, Mosaic law never was considered, by those who understood it, "an everlasting covenant." ”

“ Yes, and the same are in the Church of Christ to-day, which Joseph Smith, under God, has organized on the earth.
Did the ancient Saints enjoy the spiritual gifts and blessings of the Gospel—the gifts of knowledge, wisdom, faith, healing, tongues, interpretations, discerning of spirits, revelation, prophecy, visitation of angels, etc.? Yes: and do the Latter-day Saints enjoy these things? You know they do, for you are witnesses of these things—then this institution exactly resembles that which Jesus established upon the earth when He was here. ”

“ The Macedonian Empire, founded by Alexander the Great, was pushed out of existence by the Roman Empire, which entirely supplanted it in 161, B.C. The Roman nation is the fourth great nation seen by Nebuchadnezzar in the image, and is represented by the legs of iron; and as iron breaketh in pieces, all other metals, so the Roman nation broke in pieces the other kingdoms of the earth.
We still have left the feet and toes of the image, which are part of iron and part of clay. What kingdom or kingdoms do they represent? ”

“ Concerning the Apostles, Paul says: "We are fools for Christ's sake, * * even unto this present time we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labor, working with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat; we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day." (1 Cor. iv.) Was Joseph Smith despised any more than these ancient servants of God were? ”

“ No handwriting will ever appear upon the walls of the temples of that kingdom, saying the kingdom is divided and given to another people. Whatever may be our fate as individuals, we may rest assured the Kingdom of God has come to stay. ”

“ But whatever the expectations of men might be, the Lord had said the war should "end in the death and misery of many souls." All who are acquainted with the history of the Rebellion know that it thus ended. ”

“ It appears from this passage of Scripture, which you will find in the 14th chapter of Revelation, that the angel who is to come with the Gospel, will make his appearance just prior to the judgments of God being poured out upon the children of men in the last days—"in the hour of God's judgment." ”

“ First, the work itself: the institution which he organized—it is an exact fac simile of that which Christ instituted when He ministered upon the earth. Did the ancient Apostles teach faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world—did they teach salvation in His name? ”