The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-06-14
Obedience Is Heavens FIRST Law
Conditions Of Citizenship in the Kingdom of Coz
BY DR.. JAMES E. TALMAGE
OF the Council of the Twelve Church of Jesus Christ Of
ter-Day Saints; Salt Lake City, Utah.
NOTE For free copies other articles Of this series send
request to the author.

We believe that through the Atone
ment Of Christ all mankind may %
saved, by obedience to the laws and
ordinances OF the Gospel. (Articles
OF Faith. 81.
Pope's famous line, Order is
Heavens first law" has often been
misapplied. Order is a result Of com
pliance with established require
ments; OF necessity, therefore. it can,
not be first. II is an effect, not the
primary cause. A more thoughtful
generalization leads to the conclusion
that obedience is the basal law OF
Heaven. and that this law Is equally
valid and as truly operative IN
things pertining to mortality.
Jesus Christ, through whom the
plan Of salvation has been made
available to mankind. has prescribed
the conditions under which we may
become its beneficiaries-the terms
by which citizenship in the Kingdom
OF God may be secured.
Among these specified conditions is
baptism by Immersion for the remis'
sion Of sins. The gross materialist
who wilfully refuses to see or to
acknowledge anything beyond the
affairs of earth, may ask: How can
water wash away sin? In answer
be it said, water cannot remove the
stain of guilt; nevertheless, obedi'
ence to the law of baptism as re
quired by Jesus Christ Is truly a
means of securing forgiveness
Obedience. not water, Is the cleans
ing JUNCTION.
Have you never read Of Naaman
captain of the Syrian hosts, who
sought relief from his leprosy through
the ministration of Elisha. the man
Of God? Read Kings, chap. s. The
prophet commanded the leper to
wash himself seven times in Jordan
and promised that through obedience
the man would be cleansed. But the
naughty Syrian was offended at the
simplicity OF the requirement. He
had expected some ceremonial spec
tacle of power, display of miracle
But by the counsel of his servant he
went "and dipped himself seven
times in Jordan. according to the say
ling Of the man of God; and his flesh
lcame again. like unto the flesh of a
little child, and he was clean The
waters of Jordan had no special vir
tues of healing. but obedience effect.
ed a cure from the leprous affliction
which was rightly regarded as at
once a bodily disease and curse.
And what of the widow. whose sons
were to be sold into bondage because
she could not pay her late husbands
debt? Read Q Kings ALL. She
came to Elisha in agony of sou:: and
the prophet told her 10 ,aiSe the one
| little pot of oil in her house, and
pour from 1t into as many vessels az
she could borrow. With scrIpuolus
care she complied with every detail
of the instructions given her by the
man of God. and the vessels Were
filled from the single cruise. Then
she came and told the man o. Cof
And he said, GO. sell the oil, and pay
thy debt, and live thou and thy chill
dren of the rest"
Obedience is a source of power
even as is prayer. When the Jews
marveled at the wisdom of Christ
He told them of very simple vet
effective way of obtaining, each for
himself knowledge of supreme
worth. "My doctrine is not mine,
said He, "but his that sent me. II
any man will do his will, he shall
know Of the doctrine, whether It be
Of God, or whether speak of my
self" (John 7:16,17).