I will make a few remarks upon the same subject that was presented this
forenoon, although there were many leading items in those remarks that
would require a considerable length of time for me to give my views
upon them, and to explain fully what I understand in relation to them.
My brethren, who rise here to speak to the people, are also aware that
it is impossible to fully explain to the congregation all the points
that may be alluded to in a discourse. (1)
Hence I design to speak a few words concerning the Kingdom of God. Not
that I would disagree in the least from the remarks made by brothers
Grant and Pratt, or that we differ in our views upon this subject. It
is an extensive one, and the usual time never permits a person, in one
short discourse, to fully explain such subjects as were presented for
our edification this morning. I noticed throughout the remarks of both
of the brethren that they did not make sufficient distinction, nor make
it plain to the minds of the people, that the Kingdom of God would be
different, in a certain sense, from all other kingdoms and empires upon
the earth: this was for the want of time. In public speaking a man's
mind is often led from one idea to another, branching to the right and
to the left upon matters and points that need explanation, and I
presume this is more particularly the case upon the subject of the
Kingdom than any other. (2)
If you and I could live in the flesh until that Kingdom is fully
established, and actually spread abroad to rule in a temporal point of
view, we should find that it will sustain and uphold every individual
in what they deem their individual rights, so far as they do not
infringe upon the rights of their fellow creatures. (3)
For instance, if the Kingdom of God was now established upon the
continent of North and South America, and actually held rule and
dominion over what we call the United States, the Methodist would be
protected just as much as the Latter-day Saints; the Friend Quakers,
the Shaking Quakers, and the members of every religious denomination
would be sustained in what they considered to be their rights, so far
as their notions were not incompatible with the laws of the Kingdom. (4)
The Calvinist would be equally preserved in his rights, whether he
believed, wished to believe, or said he believed and did not believe,
that God has fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass, and has dictated
from all eternity the acts of the children of men down to the end of
time, embracing every sin and every transgression of the law that has
ever been committed upon the earth, from the first creation of man upon
it; the Kingdom of God will protect him in that belief, and extend to
him the privilege and the liberty of believing that, as fully as we
should have the liberty of believing the opposite. (5)
Again, men would come and say, "We believe in the Christian religion,
but we firmly believe that the God we wish to serve has no eyes, no
ears, no mouth, no head, and no body, that he is not composed of
elements, that he has no parts nor passions, that his centre is
everywhere, his circumference nowhere; we firmly believe in serving
such a God." That people would be preserved in their rights just as
much as the people who believe that God lives, exists, and has the
power of seeing, hearing, knowing, and understanding, and that we are
organized and fashioned after, or, in other words, made like unto Him. (6)
This is what the Kingdom of God will do for the inhabitants of the
earth. If a sect should arise and say, "We do not believe in a God at
all, and only in that which we can see, hear, taste, and handle, that
which we can understand, or in gods our own hands have made, which we
have carved out of wood or stone, or cast from metal, we believe in
serving only such god; we have many gods, we have a god for every
element that has come within the range of our understanding, one for
the air, the water, the sun, the moon, the different planets, and the
stars; we have a god of war and a god of peace, which we carve out of
wood and stone, or make them of silver, gold, iron, or copper, and put
them in our temples. These are the gods we worship, and do not believe
in any other god or gods" - even they would be preserved in their
individual rights and belief, as much so as the Latter-day Saints. (7)
When the Kingdom of God is fully set up and established on the face of
the earth, and takes the pre-eminence over all other nations and
kingdoms, it will protect the people in the enjoyment of all their
rights, no matter what they believe, what they profess, or what they
worship. If they wish to worship a god of their own workmanship,
instead of the true and living God, all right, if they will mind their
own business and let other people alone. (8)
As was observed by brother Pratt, that Kingdom is actually organized,
and the inhabitants of the earth do not know it. If this people know
anything about it, all right; it is organized preparatory to taking
effect in the due time of the Lord, and in the manner that shall please
Him. As observed by one of the speakers this morning, that Kingdom
grows out of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but it is
not the Church, for a man may be a legislator in that body which will
issue laws to sustain the inhabitants of the earth in their individual
rights, and still not belong to the Church of Jesus Christ at all. (9)
And further, though a man may not even believe in any religion, it
would be perfectly right, when necessary, to give him the privilege of
holding a seat among that body which will make laws to govern all the
nations of the earth and control those who make no profession of
religion at all; for that body would be governed, controlled, and
dictated to acknowledge others in those rights which they wish to enjoy
themselves. Then the Latter-day Saints would be protected, if a Kingdom
of this kind was on the earth, the same as all other people. (10)
It was observed this morning that the government of the United States
was the best or most wholesome one on the earth, and the best adapted
to our condition. That is very true. And if the constitution of the
United States, and the laws of the United States, and of the several
States, were honored by the officers, by those who sit in judgment and
dispense the laws to the people, yes, had even the letter of the law
been honored, to say nothing of the spirit of it, of the spirit of
right, it would have hung Governors, Judges, Generals, Magistrates,
&c., for they violated the laws of their own States. (11)
Such has been the case with our enemies in every instance that this
people have been persecuted. If a person belonging to the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was guilty of stealing while living
in the States, or if any of that Church were found guilty of murder, or
any other transgression of the civil law, they ought to have been tried
by the law, and have received the punishment affixed to the crime. Did
any of the Latter-day Saints object to that! No, not one. Joseph the
Prophet never objected to it, but on the contrary he urged it, prayed
for it, and wished the Church to be delivered from all transgressors. (12)
While we were in Illinois, if every transgressor of the law of that
State, in our community, had been taken up and tried and punished,
every Saint would have said, "Amen, we are better without than with
them." So we say here, we are far better off without wicked men than
with them. I would rather be in the midst of these mountains with one
thousand, or even five hundred, men who are Latter-day Saints, than
with five hundred thousand wicked men, in case all the forces of the
earth were to come against us to battle, for God would fight the
battles of the Saints, but He has not agreed to fight the battles of
wicked men. (13)
I say again that the constitution, and laws of the United States, and
the laws of the different States, as a general thing, are just as good
as we want, provided they were honored. But we find Judges who do not
honor the laws, yes, officers of the law dishonor the law. Legislators
and law makers are frequently the first violators of the laws they
make. "When the wicked rule the people mourn," and when the corruption
of a people bears down the scale in favor of wickedness, that people is
nigh unto destruction. (14)
We have the proof on hand, that instead of the laws being honored, they
have been violated in every instance of persecution against this
people; instead of the laws being made honorable, they have been
trampled under the feet of lawyers, judges, sheriffs, governors,
legislators, and nearly all the officers of the government; such
persons are the most guilty of breaking the laws. (15)
To diverge a little, in regard to those who have persecuted this people
and driven them to the mountains, I intend to meet them on their own
grounds. It was asked this morning how we could obtain redress for our
wrongs; I will tell you how it could be done, we could take the same
law they have taken, viz., mobocracy, and if any miserable scoundrels
come here, cut their throats. (All the people said, Amen.) (16)
This would be meting out that treatment to wicked men, which they had
measured to innocent persons. We could meet them on their own ground,
when they will not honor the law, but will kill the Prophets and
destroy the innocent. They could drive the innocent from their homes,
take their houses and farms, cattle and goods, and destroy men, women,
and children, walking over the laws of the United States, trampling
them under their feet, and not honoring a single law. (17)
Suppose I should follow the example they have shown us, and say,
"Latter-day Saints, do ye likewise, and bid defiance to the whole clan
of such men?" Some who are timid might say, "O! our property will be
destroyed, and we shall be killed." If any man here is a coward, there
are fine mountain retreats for those who feel their hearts beating, at
every little hue and cry of the wicked, as though they would break
their ribs. (18)
After this year we shall very likely again have fruitful seasons. Now,
you cowards, if there are any, hunt in these mountains until you find
some cavern where no person can find you, and go there and store up
grain enough to last you and your families seven years; then when the
mob comes, take your wives and your children, and creep into your den,
and there remain until the war is over. (19)
Do not apostatize to save your lives, for if you do, you are sure to
lose them. You may do some good by laying up a little more grain than
you want, and by handing out a biscuit to a brave hearted soldier
passing by, hungry and fatigued. I could hide myself in these
mountains, and defy five hundred thousand men to find me. That is not
all, I could hide this whole people, and fifty times more, in the midst
of these mountains, and our enemies might hunt until they died with old
age, and they could not find us. You who are cowards, lay up your crops
another year and hide them away. (20)
You know that almost every time that Gentiles address us in public,
they are very mindful to caution the Latter-day Saints "not to fight,
now don't fight." Have we ever wanted to fight them? No, but we have
wanted to preach to them the Gospel of peace. Again, they say, "We are
afraid that you, Latter-day Saints, are becoming aliens to the United
States; we are afraid your hearts are weaned from the brotherhood down
yonder." Don't talk about weaning now, for we were weaned long ago,
that is, we are or should be weaned from all wickedness and wicked men.
I am so perfectly weaned that when I embraced "Mormonism," I could have
left father, mother, wife, children, and every relation I had, and am
weaned from everybody that will turn a deaf ear to the voice of
revelation. We are already weaned, but remember, we are not weaned from
the constitution of the United States, but only from wickedness, or at
least we should be. Let every man and woman rise up in the strength of
their God, and in their hearts ask no favors of the wicked; that is the
way to live, and then let the wicked persecute, if they choose. Are we
going to fight? No, unless they come upon us and compel us either to
fight or be slain. (21)
Last fall we were visited by some of the brotherhood from the east, and
I said, "Come in, my brother, come into my house; this is Mrs. Young,
this is my daughter, and this is sister so and so. Wilford, Joseph, and
William, open your houses and let these eastern brethren stay with us
in comfortable quarters this winter." Wilford turns his family out of a
fine house into a log cabin, to let the brotherhood in. Not a person,
with but one exception, opened his house for their accommodation,
without first asking my counsel. I said, "Yes, open your houses, turn
out your wives and children, and let the brotherhood come in, and prove
to the old stock, that we are their friends if they will do anything
like what is decent;" and we furnished them comfortable winter
quarters. Directly the brotherhood began to pass around, and, as
brother Grant said to-day, with a glove half way on their fingers,
apparently so virtuous in the day light that they durst not touch a
female's hand with theirs, unless gloved, but under the shadows of
night they would go whisking around, here and there, saying, "Won't you
take a sleigh ride with me this evening? Step into my carriage, and
take a ride." (22)
These proceedings were directly in the face and eyes of this people.
What did they do when I introduced them to a wife, a daughter, or a
sister, with all the grace, politeness, and kindness that could be
expected from any man? As quick as my back was turned, it would be,
"Miss, or Madam, I want to get into bed with you. Look here, you come
to my office, won't you? I have a good bed there." (23)
I will cut the matter short, and ask, once for all, did they return the
compliment, and without exception reciprocate the kindness and courtesy
with which they were invariably met? No, they did not, at least not all
of them, for several returned evil for good, and introduced wickedness
and corruption into our midst, and the Lord knows that we already had
enough of that to contend with. (24)
Past experience has taught the brethren that in future it will probably
be the best policy to let soldiery quarter by themselves, and I am
perfectly willing. If persons come here and behave like gentlemen, they
shall enjoy their rights, and we will enjoy ours or fight to the death.
Let the laws of the United States be honored, and the laws of the
individual States, and we will do as the Kingdom of God will do -
protect every body in their rights. (25)
The experience of the last winter has taught us a good lesson, and we
hope it has taught the people generally a lesson. I am troubled all the
time with, "Brother Brigham," and "President Young, I do love you,
President Young," when at the same time some, who use such expressions,
will have one arm round my neck, loving me dearly, and the other around
the neck of a scoundrel, trying to get Christ and Belial together; this
I cannot endure. (26)
If a man will keep a grog-shop and permit wickedness to fester around
him, or do anything else that is contrary to the Christian religion
taught in the New Testament, I say to all such, either stop it, or take
your property and leave, for our laws do not tolerate it, and we will
put them in force against you. As to again suffering the wickedness and
misrule of foul spirits that come into our midst, and are treated by us
as gentlemen, I will not. (27)
I will say to such official gentlemen as tell and boast "what the
General Government is going to do," or "what they themselves will do,"
or "what they want to do," thinking to terrify the Latter-day Saints,
that you may as well undertake to terrify the Almighty on His throne,
as to terrify a Latter-day Saint of the true stripe – one who has the
true blood in him. (28)
True, there are many timid persons; timidity or fear is a weakness of
the flesh; but to that person who has so far obtained the victory over
the flesh as to know how God is dealing with the people, there is no
terror, for he is just as ready to die as to live, just as the Lord
pleases; his object is to do right, and he fears not. (29)
The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus taught his disciples to pray
that the kingdom of heaven might come upon the earth, and when it does
come, you will find that it will be very different from what many
people are imagining or expecting it will be. Its spirit will be to
preserve their individual rights sacred to the inhabitants of the
earth. (30)
What is the foundation of the rights of man? The Lord Almighty has
organized man for the express purpose of becoming an independent being
like unto Himself, and has given him his individual agency. Man is made
in the likeness of his Creator, the great archetype of the human
species, who bestowed upon him the principles of eternity, planting
immortality within him, and leaving him at liberty to act in the way
that seemeth good unto him, to choose or refuse for himself; to be a
Latter day Saint or a Wesleyan Methodist, to belong to the Church of
England, the oldest daughter of the Mother Church, to the old Mother
herself, to her sister the Greek Church, or to be an infidel and belong
to no church. As I have just stated, the Lord Almighty has organized
every human creature for the express purpose of becoming independent,
and has designed that they should be capable of receiving the
principles of eternity to a fulness; and when they have received them
unto a fulness, they are made perfect, like unto the Son of Man, and
become Gods, even the Sons of God. (31)
I am so far from believing that any government upon this earth has
constitutions and laws that are perfect, that I do not even believe
that there is a single revelation, among the many God has given to the
Church, that is perfect in its fulness. The revelations of God contain
correct doctrine and principle, so far as they go; but it is impossible
for the poor, weak, low, grovelling, sinful inhabitants of the earth to
receive a revelation from the Almighty in all its perfections. He has
to speak to us in a manner to meet the extent of our capacities, as we
have to do with these benighted Lamanites; it would be of no benefit to
talk to them as I am now speaking to you. Before you can enter into
conversation with them and give them your ideas, you are under the
necessity of condescending to their low estate, so far as communication
is concerned, in order to exalt them. (32)
You have to use the words they use, and address them in a manner to
meet their capacities, in order to give them the knowledge you have to
bestow. If an angel should come into this congregation, or visit any
individual of it, and use the language he uses in heaven, what would we
be benefitted? Not any, because we could not understand a word he said.
When angels come to visit mortals, they have to condescend to and
assume, more or less, the condition of mortals, they have to descend to
our capacities in order to communicate with us. I make these remarks to
show you that the kingdom of heaven is not yet complete upon the earth.
Why? Because the people are not prepared to receive it in its
completeness, for they are not complete or perfect themselves. (33)
The laws that the Lord has given are not fully perfect, because the
people could not receive them in their perfect fullness; but they can
receive a little here and a little there, a little today and a little
to-morrow, a little more next week, and a little more in advance of
that next year, if they make a wise improvement upon every little they
receive; if they do not, they are left in the shade, and the light
which the Lord reveals will appear darkness to them, and the kingdom of
heaven will travel on and leave them groping. Hence, if we wish to act
upon the fullness of the knowledge that the Lord designs to reveal,
little by little, to the inhabitants of the earth, we must improve upon
every little as it is revealed. (34)
When He tells you how to purify your hearts, purify them. He says to
the nations, "I send unto you my servants, I raise up unto you a
Prophet, and call upon you, O inhabitants of the earth, through him, to
repent of your sins." Do the people believe it is right to repent of
their sins? Yes. How shall they repent of them? By forsaking them. If
they will do this, the Lord will teach them how to become Saints. In
what manner? By calling upon them through His servants to be baptized
for the remission of sins, if they want to have their sins remitted, if
they wish to be washed and made clean. (35)
But before they go into the waters of baptism, they must forsake all
their wicked practices, and covenant before the Lord to leave them for
ever behind them, saying "Now we will go and serve the Lord our Maker."
Has the Lord called upon the inhabitants of the earth in this way? Has
He not taught you and me to become Latter-day Saints in this way? He
has. Are we Saints still? When we first received the spirit of the
Gospel, what was the world to us, with its grandeur, its riches, its
elegance, its finery, its gaudy show, its glittering array of paltry
honors, its empty titles, and everything pertaining to it? Nothing but
a shadow, when the Lord opened our minds and by the visions of His
Spirit revealed to us a few of the things He had in reserve for the
faithful, which were only, as it were, a drop in the bucket, compared
to the ocean yet to be revealed. Yet that little made our hearts leap
for joy, and we felt that we could forsake everything for the knowledge
of Jesus Christ and the perfections that we saw in his character. (36)
Are you Saints still? If you are not, repent of your sins and do your
first works. Has the Lord taught you how to consecrate yourselves to
His service, build up His kingdom, and send forth the Gospel to the
uttermost parts of the earth, that others may rejoice in the same
Spirit that you have received, and enjoy the same things you enjoy?
Yes, He has; and what more? A great deal more. He has taught you how to
purify yourselves, and become holy, and be prepared to enter into His
kingdom, how you can advance from one degree to another, and grow in
grace and in the knowledge of the truth, until you are prepared to
enter the celestial kingdom; how to pass every sentinel, watchman, and
gate keeper. (37)
Then go on and build the Temples of the Lord, that you may receive the
endowments in store for you, and possess the keys of the eternal
Priesthood, that you may receive every word, sign, and token, and be
made acquainted with the laws of angels, and of the kingdom of our
Father and our God, and know how to pass from one degree to another,
and enter fully into the joy of your Lord. Latter-day Saints, do you
live to this, do you seek after it with all your heart? You are aware
that the Lord is able to reveal all this in one day, but you could not
understand it. The Elders who have preached abroad, and the Sisters who
have taught their neighbors at home, know by experience that this is
true. (38)
When your minds have been lighted up with the candle of the Lord, and
you have been able to speak forth the great things of God, things that
were beyond the capacities of the people to receive, you have felt your
ideas apparently rebound or return to you again. So it is with the
Lord; He would be glad to send angels to communicate further to this
people, but there is no room to receive it, consequently, He cannot
come and dwell with you. There is a further reason - we are not
capacitated to throw off in one day all our traditions, and our
prepossessed feelings and notions, but have to do it little by little.
It is a gradual process, advancing from one step to another; and as we
lay off our false traditions and foolish notions, we receive more and
more light, and thus we grow in grace; and if we continue so to grow we
shall be prepared eventually to receive the Son of Man, and that is
what we are after. (39)
I wish to proceed a little further with regard to the Kingdom of God.
The principles, doctrine, germ, and, I may say, marrow of that Kingdom
are actually planted on the earth, but does it grow to perfection at
once? No. When wheat is planted and germinates, you first see the
blade, and by and by the head forming in the root, from which in due
time it bursts forth and makes its appearance. When this Kingdom is set
up on the earth, and spreads, its condition is happily set forth in the
toast that was given here on the fourth, viz. - "May the wings of the
American Eagle spread over the nations, and its DOWN fall on America."
Suppose the Kingdom of God is compared to the American Eagle; when it
spreads over the nations, what will it do? Will it destroy every other
bird that now flies, or that will fly? No, but they will exist the same
as they do now. When the kingdom of Heaven spreads over the whole
earth, do you expect that all the people composing the different
nations will become Latter-day Saints? If you do, you will be much
mistaken. Do you expect that every person will be destroyed from the
face of the earth, but the Latter-day Saints? If you do, you will be
mistaken. Many of our Elders labor under these erroneous expectations
when reading over the sayings of the Apostles and Prophets in regard to
the coming of the Son of Man. In one verse the Prophet will be
describing the second coming previous to the commencement of the
Millennium, and perhaps in the same verse he will describe a scene that
will take place after the Millennium, and when the earth will be
cleansed from all wickedness, after Satan has been let loose a little
season, and had another tour upon it, and after it is renovated and
becomes sanctified, and is like a sea of glass, as John describes it.
Will this be in the Millennium? No. But the order of society will be as
it is when Christ comes to reign a thousand years; there will be every
sort of sect and party, and every individual following what he supposes
to be the best in religion, and in everything else, similar to what it
is now. (40)
Will there be WICKEDNESS then as now? No. How will you make this
appear? When Jesus comes to rule and reign King of Nations as he now
does King of Saints, the veil of the covering will be taken from all
nations, that all flesh may see his glory together, but that will not
make them all Saints. Seeing the Lord does not make a man a Saint,
seeing an Angel does not make a man a Saint by any means. A man may see
the finger of the Lord, and not thereby become a Saint; the vail of the
covering may be taken from before the nations, and all flesh see His
glory together, and at the same time declare they will not serve Him.
They may, perhaps, feel something as a woman in Missouri did, who had
been driven four times, and when she was about to be driven again she
said, "I will be damned if I will stand it any longer; if God wants me
to go through such a routine of things, He may take me where He
pleases, and do with me as He pleases; I won't stand it any longer." (41)
When the nations shall see the glory of God together, the spirit of
their feelings may be couched in these words, "I will be damned if I
will serve You." In those days, the Methodists and Presbyterians,
headed by their priests, will not be allowed to form into a mob to
drive, kill, and rob the Latter-day Saints; neither will the Latter-day
Saints be allowed to rise up and say, "We will kill you Methodists,
Presbyterians, &c.," neither will any of the different sects of
Christendom be allowed to persecute each other. (42)
What will they do? They will hear of the wisdom of Zion, and the kings
and potentates of the nations will come up to Zion to inquire after the
ways of the Lord, and to seek out the great knowledge, wisdom, and
understanding manifested through the Saints of the Host High. They will
inform the people of God that they belong to such and such a Church,
and do not wish to change their religion. (43)
They will be drawn to Zion by the great wisdom displayed there, and
will attribute it to the cunning and craftiness of men. It will be
asked, "What do you want to do, ye strangers from afar." "We want to
live our own religion." "Will you bow the knee before God with us?" O
yes, we would as soon do it as not;" and at that time every knee shall
bow, and every tongue acknowledge that God who is the framer and maker
of all things, the governor and controller of the universe. They will
have to bow the knee and confess that He is God, and that Jesus Christ,
who suffered for the sins of the world, is actually its Redeemer; that
by the shedding of his blood he has redeemed men, women, children,
beasts, birds, fish, the earth itself, and everything that John saw and
heard praising in heaven. (44)
They will ask, "If I bow the knee and confess that he is that Saviour,
the Christ, to the glory of the Father, will you let me go home and be
a Presbyterian?" "Yes." "And not persecute me?" "Never." "Won't you let
me go home and belong to the Greek Church?" "Yes." "Will you allow me
to be a Friend Quaker, or a Shaking Quaker?" "O yes, anything you wish
to be, but remember that you must not persecute your neighbors, but
must mind your own business, and let your neighbors alone, and let them
worship the sun, moon, a white dog, or anything else they please, being
mindful that every knee has got to bow and every tongue confess. When
you have paid this tribute to the Most High, who created you and
preserves you, you may then go and worship what you please, or do what
you please, if you do not infringe upon your neighbors." The brethren
who spoke this morning had not time to explain these points, and I have
only just touched upon the subject. (45)
The Church of Jesus Christ will produce this government, and cause it
to grow and spread, and it will be a shield round about the Church. And
under the influence and power of the Kingdom of God, the Church of God
will rest secure and dwell in safety, without taking the trouble of
governing and controlling the whole earth. The Kingdom of God will do
this, it will control the kingdoms of the world. (46)
When the day comes in which the Kingdom of God will bear rule, the flag
of the United States will proudly flutter unsullied on the flag staff
of liberty and equal rights, without a spot to sully its fair surface;
the glorious flag our fathers have bequeathed to us will then be
unfurled to the breeze by those who have power to hoist it aloft and
defend its sanctity. (47)
Up to this time we have carried the world on our backs. Joseph did it
in his day, besides carrying this whole people, and now all this is
upon my back, with my family to provide for at the same time, and we
will carry it all, and bear off the Kingdom of God. And you may pile on
state after state, and kingdom after kingdom, and all hell on top, and
we will roll on the Kingdom of our God, gather out the seed of Abraham,
build the cities and temples of Zion, and establish the Kingdom of God
to bear rule over all the earth, and let the oppressed of all nations
go free. (48)
I have never yet talked as rough in these mountains as I did in the
United States when they killed Joseph. I there said boldly and aloud,
"If ever a man should lay his hands on me and say, on account of my
religion, 'Thou art my prisoner,' the Lord Almighty helping me, I would
send that man to hell across lots." I feel so now. Let mobbers keep
their hands off from me, or I will send them where they belong; I am
always prepared for such an emergency. (49)
I have occupied time enough; may God bless you. Amen. (50)
1) Cult leaders will ensnare their converts through complexity.
Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of
God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in
the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:16-17
2) Entry into the Kingdom of God requires a spiritual conversion.
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17
3) Entry into the Kingdom of God requires a spiritual conversion.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless
one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
4) Not everyone who calls Jesus Christ as Lord will enter the Kingdom of God.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say
to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And
then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who
practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23
5) Faithless religious people will not be in the Kingdom of God.
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed,
“Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even
in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and
sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But
the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:10-12
6) Faithless religious people will not be in the Kingdom of God.
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many
disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening
the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith,
and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of
God.” Acts 14:21-22
7) Do not be deceived into believing that evil people will be in God’s Kingdom.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom
of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
8) The Kingdom of God concerns Jesus Christ not the rights of pagans.
So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging,
to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God,
persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the
Prophets, from morning till evening. Acts 28:23
9) The Kingdom of God concerns Jesus Christ not the LDS church.
Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received
all who came to him, 31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the
things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one
forbidding him. Acts 28:30-31
10) Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins?
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the
kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14
11) The Kingdom of God should not be confused with worldly kingdoms.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And
there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
Matthew 24:7
12) Retribution for antagonistic hatred should never be considered persecution.
And thus, even as I have said, if ye are faithful ye shall assemble
yourselves together to rejoice upon the land of Missouri, which is the
land of your inheritance, which is now the land of your enemies.
Doctrines and Covenants 52:42 (June 7, 1831)
13) Joseph Smith and Brigham Young never inherited the Kingdom of God.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the
like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time
past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdon
of God. Galatians 5:19-21
14) Brigham Young was in violation of the Word of God.
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no
authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed
by God. Romans 13:1
15) Brigham Young was in violation of the Word of God.
Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God,
and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13:2
16) Cut-throats like Brigham Young were in violation of God’s law.
But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this:
that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless
and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and
profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for
manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars,
for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to
sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God
which was committed to my trust. 1 Timothy 1:8-11
17) Brigham Young was in violation of the Word of God.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to
be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise
from the same. Romans 13:3
18) Brigham Young was encouraging Mormons to war against the United States.
For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be
afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s
minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Romans
13:4
19) Brigham Young was encouraging Mormons to war against the United States.
Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. Romans 13:5
20) Cult leaders will always try to lose fear with their converts.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
21) Have you embraced Jesus Christ and the Christian Gospel or retaliation?
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to
you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you
are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless
you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I
also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third
day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then
by the twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
22) Brigham Young was guilty of his false accusations about non-Mormons.
But a eighteen-year-old English girl, Martha Brotherton, chose to speak
her mind. Brigham Young, who had not been lax in following his
prophet’s lead, had set his heart on the high-spirited English lass. He
took her to the famous rendezvous over Joseph’s store, locked the door,
and proceeded with the curious, bobtailed, hortatory courtship that was
becoming so common in the city. No Man Knows My History, page 306.
23) Brigham Young was guilty of his false accusations about non-Mormons.
“Brother Joseph has had a revelation from God that it is lawful and
right for a man to have two wives. If you will accept of me I will take
you straight to the celestrial kingdom, and if you will have me in this
world, I will have you in that which is to come, and brother Joseph
will marry us here today, and you can go home this evening, and your
parents will not know anything about it.” No Man Knows My History,
pages 306-307.
24) Joseph Smith and Brigham Young introduced evil into the LDS church.
When the girl demurred and begged for time, Brigham called in Joseph,
who also urged her to make an immediate decision. “Just go ahead, and
do as Brigham wants you to,” he said, and added with a laugh: “He is
the best man in the world, except me.” Then he went on more seriously:
“If you will accept of Brigham, you shall be blessed – God will bless
you, and my blessing shall rest upon you and if you do not like it in a
month or two, come to me, and I will make you free again; and if he
turns you off, I will take you on.” No Man Knows My History, page 307.
25) Religious fanatics will preach vengeance and retaliation to their converts.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for
it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans
12:19
26) Brigham Young was a dictator who ordered people murdered.
Young’s private statements exceeded even the violent language of his
public sermons. “I want their cursed heads cut off that they may atone
for their sins,” he told the Council of Fifty in March 1849. Blood of
the Prophets, page 51.
27) Brigham Young was continually in violation of the New Testament.
Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:7-11
28) Brigham Young was encouraging Mormons to war against the United States.
Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs
to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Romans
13:7
29) Brigham Young was encouraging Mormons to war against the United States.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
30) Entry into the Kingdom of Heaven is via personal conversion.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let
us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and
godly fear. Hebrews 12:28
31) The focus in the Kingdom of Heaven will not be on individuals but on God.
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the
earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard
saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on
the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13
32) Christian love and conversion transcends all human cultures via the Holy Spirit.
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God
by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and
have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the
earth.” Revelation 5:9-10
33) The Kingdom of God is not complete on earth as people are still being converted.
“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Matthew 12:28
34) The law and commandments of God have been pronounced and are perfect.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12
35) Personal conversion comes through faith in Jesus Christ not baptism.
Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be
justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a
tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:24-26
36) Knowing Jesus Christ does not require baptism.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not
with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no
effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1
Corinthians 1:17-18
37) Entry into the Kingdom of God is via faith in Jesus Christ by the grace of God.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should
boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
38) Mormons do not preach the Christian message of salvation.
For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach
Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks
foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
39) Jesus Christ is continually with true Christians even to the end of time.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given
to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo,
I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew
28:18-20
40) Faithless religious people will not be in the Kingdom of God.
The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but
the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is
the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the
angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so
it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His
angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend,
and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace
of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:38-42
41) Faithless religious people will not be in the Kingdom of God.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the
sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew
to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but
threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels
will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them
into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:47-50
42) Mormons were murderous fanatics based on Brigham Young’s public sermon.
I have heard the prophet say that he would yet tread his enemies down
and walk over their dead bodies; and that if they did not leave him in
peace, he would become a second Mohammed to this generation, and would
make this country into a sea of blood from the Atlantic Ocean to the
Rocky Mountains. Testimony of Thomas B. Marsh given on October 24,
1838; Secret History, page 144.
43) Faithless religious people will not be in the Kingdom of God.
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become
as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this
in My name receives Me. Matthew 18:2-5
44) Universal salvation is not in the Holy Bible and is a pagan concept.
“When the Son of Man
comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the
throne of His glory. All
the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from
another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And
He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then
the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for
I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a
stranger and you took Me in; I was
naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you
came to Me.’
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when
did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When
did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or
when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And
the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you
did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to
Me.’ Then He will also say to those on the left
hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the
devil and his angels: for
I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I
was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick
and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then
they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then
He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not
do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And
these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal
life.” Matthew 25:31-46
45) Faithless religious people will not be in the Kingdom of God.
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear
God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly,
for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done
nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come
into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you,
today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:40-42
46) Mormons will not be in the Kingdom of God according to the Holy Bible.
But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from.
Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the
prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. Luke
13:27-28
47) The Kingdom of God will not have separate political entities called countries.
Now when He was asked by the
Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The
kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor
will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is
within you.” Luke 17:20-21
48) Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were false prophets.
“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.” Luke 16:16
49) Brigham Young was not a Christian but a religious cult leader.
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. Luke 6:27-31
50) Murderous vengeful religious fanatics will never be blessed by God.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3-10