Zion’s Redemption Radio Network

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, Chapter 5 of The Church & The Gospel 

 

Pages 54 to 61

 

The Importance of Spiritual Gifts

The Latter-day Saints profess to believe in spiritual gifts. Indeed we say that the true Church of Jesus Christ must have those gifts to be the true church.

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc. (7th Article of Faith)

Many spiritual gifts were given to the ancient prophets, apostles and righteous saints. Miracles were performed which were called blessings, gifts, and signs. These gifts and blessings were evidences that God acknowledged them as His people. Even the great high priests of the Sanhedrin acknowledged that Jesus had power to do miracles. They admitted it by saying to Him, “We know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 3:2) This was an indication that these miracles were from God, and it was a testimony to the divinity of his Priesthood.

Christ performed miracles as foretold by Isaiah (35:5, 6; 42:7), but not to astonish people nor to satisfy their demands and curiosity.

The Word of God, Topic 1 of Ninety Five Thesis 

 

Pages 1 to 11

 

If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an imposter.

–Joseph Smith

Times & Seasons

April 1, 1844

 

When we have God’s word pure and clear, then we think ourselves all right, we become negligent, and repose in a vain security; we no longer pay due heed, thinking it will always so remain, we do not watch and pray against the devil, who is ready to tear the Divine word out of our hearts.

No greater mischief can happen to a Christian people, than to have God’s word taken from them, or falsified, so that they no longer have it pure and clear. God grant we and our descendants be not witnesses of such a calamity.

–Martin Luther

THE CHANGEABLE CHURCH;

THE UNCHANGEABLE GOSPEL, Chapter 4 of The Church and The Gospel 

 

Pages 37 to 53

 

Definition of Terms

Before beginning this section, it is important to know the meaning of the two words church and gospel. According to Webster, they are defined as follows:

Church:

a building set apart for public worshipecclesiastical government of a religious groupa religious servicea congregation

Gospel:

good newsteachings of Jesus and His apostlesabsolute truthdoctrines, rules, commandments

From these definitions, it is easy to see how the church can undergo changes in (1) location and facilities, (2) type of government instigated (3) policies and procedures accepted, and (4) numbers and types of members. Whereas the gospel is not so flexible. If the good news, teachings, truth, doctrines, rules and commandments are from God, they are eternal and unchangeable. The church can vote to accept or reject any or all of the gospel, but that doesn’t change the fact that the eternal gospel itself cannot change. A church can be composed of men holding Priesthood authority, but they are ineffective unless they are in obedience to the gospel’s rules and standards.

BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED, Chapter 3 of The Church and The Gospel 

Pages 26 to 36

“Not of the World”

Shortly after Jesus was born, wicked men began to seek His life. And among His first sermons Jesus told His followers that they, too, would be persecuted. In His first recorded sermon Jesus said:

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matt. 5:10-12)

Within three years they had persecuted His disciples and crucified Christ Himself. All of the Apostles were soon killed and many of the disciples were put in prison or slain. These persecutions by the people of the world were expected and even prophesied. It appears that whenever the Lord is teaching His people, the devil is nearby to cause trouble. James wrote:

. . . know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)

KEYS OF THE MYSTERIES, Part 2 of Chapter 2 of The Church and The Gospel 

 

Pages 19 to 25

Eternal Progression

We have the blessing of learning and progressing in knowledge not only in this life but also in the next-and for all eternity. Said Brigham Young:

Those persons who strive to gain eternal life, gain that which will produce the increase their hearts will be satisfied with. Nothing less than the privilege of increasing eternally, in every sense of the word, can satisfy the immortal spirits. (JD 1:350)

And again:

. . . if we are striving with all the powers and faculties God has given us to improve upon our talents, to prepare ourselves to dwell in eternal life, and the grave receives our bodies while we are thus engaged, with what disposition will our spirits enter their next state? They will be still striving to do the things of God, only in a much greater degree-learning, increasing, growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. (JD 7:333)

Furthermore, President Young taught that if we do not increase in knowledge, we are bound to retrogress:

. . . there is no such thing as principle, power, wisdom, knowledge, life, position, or anything that can be imagined, that remains stationary-they must increase or decrease. To me, life is increase; death is the opposite. (JD 1:350; also Contributor 5:22)

A few scholars have promoted the concept that it was possible for souls to reach a point where they knew everything and there would be an end to gaining knowledge. A dispute arose over this doctrine between Brigham Young and Orson Pratt in 1852.

KEYS OF THE MYSTERIES, Chapter 2 of The Church and The Gospel 

 

Pages 12 to 25

 

Learning the Gospel is not a simple task because it is coupled with serious contemplation and study, followed with the responsibility to live what we learn. We may learn a great deal from books and some from hearing inspired teachers, but we should not overlook another important source: personal inspiration. The more we study and delve into the Gospel, the deeper we enter into what are termed the mysteries. But according to Joseph Smith, this is our calling:

We are called to hold the keys of the mysteries of those things that have been kept hid from the foundations of the world until now. Some have tasted a little of these things, many of which are to be poured down from heaven upon the heads of babes; yea, upon the weak, obscure and despised ones of the earth. (TPJS, p. 137)

It was in the early days of the Church that Joseph Smith gave such restrictions to the missionaries:

Oh, ye elders of Israel, hearken to my voice; and when you are sent into the world to preach, tell those things you are sent to tell; preach and cry aloud, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; repent and believe the Gospel.” Declare the first principles, and let mysteries alone, lest ye be overthrown. Never meddle with the visions of beasts and subjects you do not understand. (TPJS, p. 292)

KEYS OF THE MYSTERIES, Chapter 2 of The Church and The Gospel 

 

Pages 12 to 25

 

Learning the Gospel is not a simple task because it is coupled with serious contemplation and study, followed with the responsibility to live what we learn. We may learn a great deal from books and some from hearing inspired teachers, but we should not overlook another important source: personal inspiration. The more we study and delve into the Gospel, the deeper we enter into what are termed the mysteries. But according to Joseph Smith, this is our calling:

We are called to hold the keys of the mysteries of those things that have been kept hid from the foundations of the world until now. Some have tasted a little of these things, many of which are to be poured down from heaven upon the heads of babes; yea, upon the weak, obscure and despised ones of the earth. (TPJS, p. 137)

It was in the early days of the Church that Joseph Smith gave such restrictions to the missionaries:

Oh, ye elders of Israel, hearken to my voice; and when you are sent into the world to preach, tell those things you are sent to tell; preach and cry aloud, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; repent and believe the Gospel.” Declare the first principles, and let mysteries alone, lest ye be overthrown. Never meddle with the visions of beasts and subjects you do not understand. (TPJS, p. 292)

The Church and the Gospel, Preface and Chapter 1

 

Pages 5 to 11

 

PREFACE: 

There are volumes and volumes on LDS Church history, but not much has been written on the actual history of its doctrines. Little doubt exists among the Mormon people as to the origin and beginning events of the Church, but there are many diverse opinions on its doctrines.

Mormonism has more than its share of confusion, contradiction, and controversy among its members. For example, about 20 years after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Reorganized LDS Church was born because of disagreements over correct doctrine and authority. Approximately 200 break-offs from the Mormon Church have been created mostly over differences in those two areas.

From dispensation to dispensation, history records that the course of many civilizations and churches is “one eternal round”: (1) pure at its inception from God; (2) gradually changed (“polluted”) by mankind in their efforts to “improve” it; and (3) eventually restored back to its righteous state.  The Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days is no exception, as this book will show by tracing the history and evolution of some of its ordinances and doctrines during the 160+ years since its organization in 1830.

This publication can, of course, contain only a very small representation of quotations and references that could be included on the ten doctrines selected to be discussed:

Gifts of the spiritWithout purse or scripThe SeventiesThe gathering of IsraelRe-baptismUnited OrderThe only true GodPlural marriageBlacks and the PriesthoodThe Kingdom of God

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Chapter 11 of As it is Translated Correctly Part 1 

 

Pages 174 to 188

 

Conclusion: 

Old and New Revelation

 

No one can deny the inspiration and spiritual help the Bible has been to the nations of the earth. Children sitting upon their mothers’ knees have listened with awe and adoration to the marvelous dealings of God with man; Sunday School teachers have enthralled and persuaded men to a better course through life. In the depths of sorrow and difficult trials, good men continue to turn with hope and faith to the Bible. It has been a fortress against trouble, a comfort in sorrow, and a compass through the darkness of life. The Bible has remained the most important and widely read document of spiritual teaching throughout the history of man.

 

No one should deny the veracity and divine purity of the revelations originally given to those ancient prophets. Their inspiration, and the prophecies of those scriptures, are beyond the capacity of any man to create. But no serious advocate of the Bible should be so vain or blind in his faith to say that the Bible is “inerrant”, “perfect”, or “without error”. Through centuries of man-handling, the copyists and translators have had to use the wisdom and weakness of man to transmit and publish those scriptures, resulting in inconsistencies and defects within its pages.

JOSEPH’S INSPIRED TRANSLATION, Chapter 10 of As It Is Translated Correctly Part 2 Episode 710

 

It is evident that some Bible translators received more divine help or inspiration than others. And it should be no great surprise that the Prophet Joseph Smith should receive more than all the others.

 

When the Prophet Joseph was only 20 years old, he understood the adverse effects mortal men had had on Bible translations. From the Book of Mormon, he read about the incompleteness and the inaccuracies of the Bible, and why these conditions had occurred;

 

For behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb, many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have been taken away; and all this have they done, that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord; that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men: wherefore, thou seest that after the book had gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God; and after these plain and precious things were taken away, it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles. (I Nephi 3:168-172)

 

It was clear to the Prophet what had happened to those ancient manuscripts and he commented:

 

From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of men, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. (D.H.C. 1:244)

 

Because so many uninspired translators had made errors in their work of copying or translating, the Bible had lost some of its original scriptures and books. The Prophet clearly indicated that it was the work of men, not the original prophets, who had made the blunders.