History of Joseph Smith, the Prophet and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph F. Smith. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: Joseph F. Smith
Издательство: Bookwire
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remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.

      33. For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.

      34. And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved law and perfected and sanctified by the same.

      35. That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still.

      36. All kingdoms have a law given;

      37. And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.

      38. And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.

      39. All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified.

      40. For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.

      41. He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever.

      42. And again, verily I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons;

      43. And their courses are fixed, even the courses of the heavens and the earth, which comprehend the earth and all the planets.

      44. And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days, in their weeks, in their months, in their years—all these are one year with God, but not with man.

      45. The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.

      46. Unto what shall I liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand?

      47. Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power.

      48. I say unto you, he hath seen him; nevertheless, he who came unto his own was not comprehended.

      49. The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him.

      50. Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound.

      51. Behold, I will liken these kingdoms unto a man having a field, and he sent forth his servants into the field to dig in the field.

      52. And he said unto the first: Go ye and labor in the field, and in the first hour I will come unto you, and ye shall behold the joy of my countenance.

      53. And he said unto the second: Go ye also into the field, and in the second hour I will visit you with the joy of my countenance.

      54. And also unto the third, saying: I will visit you;

      55. And unto the fourth, and so on unto the twelfth.

      56. And the lord of the field went unto the first in the first hour, and tarried with him all that hour, and he was made glad with the light of the countenance of his lord.

      57. And then he withdrew from the first that he might visit the second also, and the third, and the fourth, and so on unto the twelfth.

      58. And thus they all received the light of the countenance of their lord, every man in his hour, and in his time, and in his season—

      59. Beginning at the first, and so on unto the last, and from the last unto the first, and from the first unto the last;

      60. Every man in his own order, until his hour was finished, even according as his lord had commanded him, that his lord might be glorified in him, and he in his lord, that they all might be glorified.

      61. Therefore, unto this parable I will liken all these kingdoms, and the inhabitants thereof—every kingdom in its hour, and in its time, and in its season, even according to the decree which God hath made.

      62. And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near;

      63. Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you.

      64. Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;

      65. And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation.

      66. Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.

      67. And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

      68. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.

      69. Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you; cast away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you.

      70. Tarry ye, tarry ye in this place, and call a solemn assembly, even of those who are the first laborers in this last kingdom.

      71. And let those whom they have warned in their traveling call on the Lord, and ponder the warning in their hearts which they have received, for a little season.

      72. Behold, and lo, I will take care of your flocks, and will raise up elders and send unto them.

      73. Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.

      74. And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean;

      75. That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you, when I will.

      76. Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.

      77. And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.

      78. Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

      79. Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things