Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-19

L.
Apostles, and Of the Savior Himself.
Joseph wa told that a new dispsn-
sati0n was about 10 open, and that
he had been chosen as an iustru-
ment in the hands Of God 10 begin
great and q marvellous work in
the midst Of mankind, 2 work hey
ing as it. object the preparing Of the
world for the coming Il the Lord
Jesus Christ in His glory.
! When the vision departed and
the young 10y came 10 himself, he
found that he was lying upon his
back gazing up into heaven. He
knew that he had seen the Father
and the Son, and had received a Wis
ion from God. SaFpCsing that those
/ around him would rejoice equally
I with him because OF the great things
he had 10 tell, he began 10 syeak OF
/ his wonderful visitation. He made
a confident Of minister-oT profess
I ing minister-Of the gospel, who had
I shown him some kindness and TAX
en- some interest in his welfare.
I But what vas his surprise when
this man, instead Of rejoicing at the
tidings OF the marvellous manifesto
/ ton which This humhie and pure
minded boy had receivetl-even ms
samuel Of old had received the
word Of the Lori-tOli him that il
was a ielusiOn and n snare, that
God no longer spoke to man, that
the preachers Of the day were his
ministers ami that there was no lon
ger any Necessity for angels b. Wis
il the earth. because the people
were llvinSin the fall blaze Of gus
pei light, III the nineteenth century,
an era Of learning, power, wisdom
ami civilization.
But did this convince Joseph
Smith that he had not received n
visitation from the Lori: No. lie
could not deny IL though ten
thousand ministers chose to doubt
il. said he, Il knew that I had
received q vision. and / knew that
God knew &c, ard that j would be
condemned II / should deny what
my eyes had hehcii." This was
the testimauy which he bore 30
those around him.
But the same fate hofel him that
has usually befaiien men ia every
age when they have come in con
tact with the pTecOnCeivci ideas
aud notions Of their generation
when they have resolved 20 believe
for themselves and not be mis-
guided hy the uninspirc,l and
erroneous teachings Of others. He
q. IN ~
persecution, aud was neglected,
ignored and sighted by those who
should have been his b,st friends.
Wondering into eJath-, giving
way 10 the weakness Of youth, be-
cause fC!>JEUu by his monitors and
guides, and being prosecuted 10y tie
more respectable portions VI society.
lac confess ia the huu,=l IS Of ni-
heart that -hc did many things
which were sirlul IN the sight OF
God. But he upeutei. ami some
time later bowed himself down be-
fore the Llul ami hesCuEht Him
earnestly. and with tears ia his
eyes, that tie would overlook his
youthful iuillys, receive him again
into ills favor, and give him q
that hc might know,
or not he was still accept
able and would he forgiven.
lie had retired 10 b.d: after pray
ing lac saw a light again descend /
ing from heaven. In the midst ui
this light was a parsonage Of glory,
= hO presently stood az his bedside. /
The heavenly vi-itant told Joseph I
.hgt his name was MoaDui. that he 1
was an angel from the presence Of /
iOd, that once he had been q
Prophet upon this American con- I
incut ami was the last Of a race Of /
Prophets who min.slered unto "a 4
people called the Ncphites. whose /
ancestors came from Jerusalem IN I
Ie days OF the Prophet jeremiah. I
80 years before the birth OF the .
savior. MUr0ni told Jos .ph thati
I hill some distance from the place
where ne lived were hidden some
golden plates or records, giviEga /.
history Of the ancient I.hluit-
ants Of this continent, theiE
war;, their civilization: the birth.
growth. ie. line AMI death az I
hviT nation, and telling
l0w the Savior, after lie bad been
mt JcIIs7i-m. came 60 this
and and established His Church,
with Apostles and Prophets, with
he gifts of the Holy Ghost, thr
Of miracles, amt the same
principles that were preached on Ia.
EASTERN hemisphere, 90 Jerusalem 1
mi Otl;er places. Tie told him that
hose records were to Ic translated
" the gift and power NJ God, that
interpreters would bee found hidden
With the plates, and that these
ecordS were the stick % Joseph,
VOkcn Of by the Prophet Ez.kiei, I
which should he joined with The
tick Of Judah, the Bible. and |
hGuli grow together in the last
lays for the putting down Of false
Doctrine and tine establishment 90 I
he Kingdom %! Cod uugI the I
aTth. ID
The speaker next related the visit
I the rr1l bet Jose, IA To- the Liil Cu- /
aorah and the finding Of the plates
: directed 10y tine Angel AlOrOni.
Unlike the Book o. Mormon, he
aid the Holy ScFipturs have FOR
Of year. passed through the |
auds Of uuiu-uircI men. vino have
lken away from the Bible some Of
be piliuesi and most precious parts.
nd involved the rest in mystery. so I
Iat people are confused AMI Devil. I
cred regarding their meaning. This
one cause Of the diesensiOus
nj differences Of opinion which
revail in the Christian wOTld TO-
sy.
Joseph Smith. tic sp, akyr showed,
sCsivcd many v!siiaii1us Of angels,
John the Baptist. who
upon him tine Aar1uic
the authority 20 preach
Ie Gospel or repentance and hsp-
re by immersion in water for the
omission Of sins; also q visitation {
Um Peter, james and John, who !
upon him the Melchiscdek
riesthooi, with power 10 lay hands I
nj hestu~ the Holy GhOsi, until he
Is faily c4aippld in knowledge.
isdom aud authority 90 build up, !
lth his associates, the Church and J {
.ingdom Of God. On the6th Anil.
$50, in the little town u Fayuttc. 8
enec1 County, New York, ELK men !
let together agreeable 10 the laws Il !
he land, which required at beast I
lat number for such an undertake
X, and organized the Church Of
esus ClfFist Of Latter lay Saints.
| need not rehearse here in detail !
&c experience OF the Church sine. /
ien-gatheriug from New York, I
nj Pennsylvania, au1 the eastern / I
nds TO Kirkland, Ohio; abandoning !
.irtland because Of prosecutions z
nj apost3cies. and going 10 Mis- -.
,uri only 10 be east cut and ex /
slled in the depths OF winter be- !
r. the inhumau decrecof Governor /
Dggs, who commanded the mi 1
TIA OF the State b. ext-rmiuate the [
MormOns" or give them irons the Z
nj. Suffice Il that Is GGG men. a