Joseph Smith, Jun., Apostle of Jesus the Christ:
I was born in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five,
on the twenty-third day of December, in the town of Sharon, Windsor county,
state of Vermont. My father, Joseph Smith, was born July 12th, 1771,
in Topsfield, Essex county, Massachusetts; ...
~~Documentary History of the Church of Jesus Christ, Vol.1, Pg.2
Brigham Young, Apostle of Joseph the Seer:
GREETING:
KNOW YE --
THAT the kingdom of God has come: as has been predicted by ancient
prophets, and prayed for in all ages; even that kingdom which shall fill the
whole earth, and shall stand for ever.
The great Eloheim Jehovah has been pleased once more to speak from the
heavens: and also to commune with man upon the earth, by means of open
visions, and by the ministration of HOLY MESSENGERS.
By this means the great and eternal High Priesthood, after the Order of his
Son, even the Apostleship, has been restored; or, returned to the earth.
This High Priesthood, or Apostleship, holds the keys of the kingdom of God,
and power to bind on earth that which shall be bound in heaven; and to loose
on earth that which shall be loosed in heaven. And, in fine, to do, and to
administer in all things pertaining to the ordinances, organization,
government and direction of the kingdom of God.
Being established in these last days for the restoration of all things
spoken by the prophets since the world began; and in order to prepare the
way for the coming of the Son of Man.
And we now bear witness that his coming is near at hand; and not many years
hence, the nations and their kings shall see him coming in the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory.
In order to meet this great event there must needs be a preparation.
Therefore we send unto you with authority from on high, and command you all
to repent and humble yourselves as little children, before the majesty of
the Holy One; and come unto Jesus with a broken heart and a contrite spirit;
and be baptized in his name, for the remission of sins (that is, be buried
in the water in the likeness of his burial and rise again to newness of
life, in the likeness of his resurrection), and you shall receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit, through the laying on of the hands of the Apostles and
elders, of this great and last dispensation of mercy to man.
This Spirit shall bear witness to you, of the truth of our testimony; and
shall enlighten your minds, and be in you as the spirit of prophecy and
revelation. It shall bring things past to your understanding and
remembrance; and shall show you things to come.
It shall also impart unto you many great and glorious gifts; such as the
gift of healing the sick, and of being healed, by the laying on of hands in
the name of Jesus; and of expelling Demons; and even of seeing visions, and
conversing with Angels and spirits from the unseen world.
By the light of this Spirit, received through the ministration of the
ordinances -- by the power and authority of the Holy Apostleship and
Priesthood, you will be enabled to understand, and to be the children of
light; and thus be prepared to escape all the things that are coming on the
earth, and so stand before the Son of Man.
We testify that the foregoing doctrine is the doctrine or gospel of Jesus
Christ, in its fulness; and that it is the only true, everlasting, and
unchangeable gospel; and the only plan revealed on earth whereby man can be
saved.
We also bear testimony that the "Indians" (so called) of North and South
America are a remnant of the tribes of Israel; as is now made manifest by
the discovery and revelation of their ancient oracles and records.
And that they are about to be fathered, civilized, and made one nation in
this glorious land.
They will also come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and of the
fulness of the gospel; and they will embrace it, and become a righteous
branch of the house of Israel.
And we further testify that the Lord has appointed a holy city and temple to
be built on this continent for the endowment and ordinances pertaining to
the priesthood; and for the Gentiles, and the remnant of Israel to resort
unto, in order to worship the Lord; and to be taught in his ways and walk in
his paths: in short, to finish their preparations for the coming of the
Lord.
And we further testify, that the Jews among all nations are hereby
commanded, in the name of the Messiah, to prepare, to return to Jerusalem in
Palestine; and to rebuild that city and temple unto the Lord:
And also to organize and establish their own political government, under
their own rulers, judges, and governors in that country.
For be it known unto them that we now hold the keys of the priesthood and
kingdom which is soon to be restored unto them.
Therefore let them also repent and prepare to obey the ordinances of God.
And now, O ye kings, rulers, and people of the Gentiles: hear ye the word of
the Lord; for this commandment is for you. You are not only required to
repent and obey the gospel in its fulness, and thus become members or
citizens of the kingdom of God, but you are also hereby commanded, in the
name of Jesus Christ, to put your silver and your gold, your ships and
steam-vessels, your railroad trains and your hoes chariots, camels, mules,
and litters, into active use, for the fulfillment of these purposes. For be
it known unto you, that the only salvation which remains for the Gentiles,
is for them to be identified in the same covenant, and to worship at the
same altar with Israel. In short, they must come to the same standard. For,
there shall be one Lord, and his name one, and He shall be king over all the
earth.
The Latter-day Saints, since their first organization in the year 1830, have
been a poor, persecuted, abused, and afflicted people. They have sacrificed
their time and property freely, for the sake of laying the foundation of the
kingdom of God, and enlarging its dominion, by the ministry of the gospel.
They have suffered privation, hunger, imprisonment, and the loss of houses,
lands, home, and political rights, for their testimony.
And this is not all; but their first founder, Mr. Joseph Smith, whom God
raised up as a Prophet and Apostle, mighty in word and in deed, and his
brother Hyrum, who was also a prophet, together with many others, have
suffered a cruel martyrdom in the cause of truth; and have sealed their
testimony with their blood. And still the work has, as it were, but just
begun.
~~Messages of the First Presidency, Vol.1, Pgs.253-255
6 Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and
pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it
maketh manifest, saying:
7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send _one mighty and
strong_, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a
covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels
shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to
arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the
names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the
law of God;
8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth
his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as
a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.
9 And all they who are not found written in the book of remembrance shall
find none inheritance in that day, but they shall be cut asunder, and their
portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers, where are wailing and
gnashing of teeth.
10 These things I say not of myself; therefore, as the Lord speaketh, he
will also fulfil.
11 And they who are of the High Priesthood, whose names are not found
written in the book of the law, or that are found to have apostatized, or to
have been cut off from the church, as well as the lesser priesthood, or the
members, in that day shall not find an inheritance among the saints of the
Most High;
12 Therefore, it shall be done unto them as unto the children of the priest,
as will be found recorded in the second chapter and sixty-first and second
verses of Ezra.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 85:6 - 12, received by Joseph Smith)
1 WOE to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious
beauty [is] a fading flower, which [are] on the head of the fat valleys of
them that are overcome with wine!
2 Behold, the Lord hath a _mighty and strong one_, [which] as a tempest of
hail [and] a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing,
shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
4 And the glorious beauty, which [is] on the head of the fat valley, shall
be a fading flower, [and] as the hasty fruit before the summer; which [when]
he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
5 ¶ In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a
diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for
strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
7 ¶ But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out
of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they
are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they
err in vision, they stumble [in] judgment.
8 For all tables are full of vomit [and] filthiness, [so that there is] no
place [clean].
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand
doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the
breasts.
(Old Testament | Isaiah 28:1 - 9)
68 And I hereby set my seal, saith the Lord, upon this work and unto
whomsoever it may come, that it verily is through and of me, saith the Lord,
and doth teach men the right path which leadeth unto the eternal lives and a
spirit of peace will accompany this work to testify that I have spoken it,
saith the Lord God of the Lives.
69 And is the only true gospel which is authorized by the heavens and
recognized thereby.
70 Even so, be diligent and receive whomsoever I send, saith the Lord, and
if ye receive whomsoever I send, ye shall receive me, even Jesus of
Nazareth, whom the world in its pride and wisdom, and its multitude of
creeds and beliefs which are the very chains and fetters of hell, hath not
known.
71 Even so, until I come.
Revelations of Jesus Christ 1:68-71 (received by Art Bulla)
--
Jong Kim, Apostle of the One Mighty and Strong,
who is Art Bulla, Apostle of Jesus the Christ
.
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