This chapter is full of quotations varying from the Bible to the Apocryphal New Testament writings. The scribe takes all of these various ancient and modern day quotations to bring together a powerful lesson in developing faith until its fruition.
"This book has only been written to point the finger of light to the things that have already been revealed. There is no new revelation in this work. If the things that have already been revealed are rejected, or not understood, then how can more possibly be given?" In this chapter, Annalee quotes from the book, Ether, to make a point that she is revealing nothing new. She pointed out that the ancient prophet Moroni said long ago to rend the veil of unbelief with a broken heart and a contrite spirit in order that the great and marvelous things that have been hid up from the foundation of the world can be revealed to you. Yes, these things written by Annalee Skarin are nothing new – they have been around from the foundation of the world. The only reason they have been hid from our understanding is because of the veil of unbelief. And a veil is such a delicate and airy thing. How hard can it be to take a finger and push a veil aside? Lift a finger of belief today, and begin to understand the things which have previously been hidden because of hardness of heart and blindness of mind - components of unbelief.
One of the most beautiful records of the development of faith is given in the Apocryphal New Testament writings of Hermas. Just who this Hermas was cannot be positively ascertained, although he was a Greek convert. He lived in the early days of the Christian Church, and may have been the one mentioned in Romans 16:14 by Paul. If it is this same Hermas he was a bishop of Phillippi.
"When I had prayed at home, and was sat down upon the bed; a certain man came in to me with a reverent look, in the habit of a shepherd clothed in a white cloak." (Hermas 1:1).
"The Shepherd, the angel of repentance -- commanded me to write." (II Hermas 1:10).
"Again he said unto me: remove from thee all doubting and question nothing at all, when thou asketh anything of the Lord, saying within thyself; how shall I be able to ask anything of the Lord and receive it, seeing I have so greatly sinned against Him?
"Do not think thus, but turn unto the Lord with all thy heart, and ask of Him without doubting, and thou shalt know the mercy of the Lord; how that he will not forsake thee, but will fulfill the request of thy soul.
"For God is not as men, mindful of the injuries he has received; but he forgets injuries, and has compassion upon his creatures.
"Wherefore purify thy heart from all the views of this present world; and observe the commands I have before delivered unto thee from God; and thou shalt receive whatsoever good things thou shalt ask, and nothing shall be wanting unto thee of thy petitions; if thou shalt ask the Lord without doubting.
"But they that are not such, shall obtain none of these things which they ask. For they that are full of faith ask all things with confidence, and receive from the Lord, because they ask without doubting -- but he that doubts will hardly live unto God, except he repents.
"Wherefore purify thy heart from doubting, and put on faith; and trust in God; and thou shalt receive all that thou shalt ask. But and if thou shouldst chance to ask somewhat and not (immediately) receive it, yet do not therefore doubt, because thou hast not presently (immediately) received the petition of thy soul.
"For it may be thou shalt not presently (immediately) receive it for thy trial, or else for some sin which thou knowest not. But do not thou leave off to ask, and then thou shalt receive. Else if thou shalt cease to ask, thou must complain of thyself, and not of God, that he has not given unto thee what thou didst desire.
"Consider therefore this doubting, how cruel and pernicious it is; and how it utterly roots out many from the faith, who were very faithful and firm. For this doubting is the daughter of the Devil; and deals very wickedly with the servants of God.
"Despise it therefore, and thou shalt rule over it on every occasion. Put on a firm and powerful faith, FOR FAITH PROMISES ALL THINGS, AND PERFECTS ALL THINGS. But doubting will not believe, that it shall obtain anything, by all that it can do.
"Thou seest therefore, says he, how faith cometh from above, from God, and has great power. But doubting is an earthly spirit, and proceedeth from the Devil, and has not strength.
"Do thou therefore keep the virtue of faith, and depart from doubting, in which is no virtue, and thou shalt live unto God. And all shall live unto God, as many as shall do these things." (II Hermas, chapter 9).
This record of Hermas agrees perfectly with the teachings of the Savior of the world wherein he taught by parable that continued asking is necessary -- not just once, not for a week, not for a year -- but if the thing is worth having, then one must continue to petition God until by the development of faith the gift can be completed. Even God cannot perform any great works except through the faith of man. Christ could do no great works in Nazareth because of the unbelief of the people. Continued asking, in itself, develops faith. Faith grows with the petition.
"Behold I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ. Doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted unto him; and these promises are unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.1 And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth."2
Faith is a petition of the soul knocking at the throne of God, or the gates of heaven. "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds. And to him that knocketh it shall be opened." No promise of the scripture is greater. No one will be turned away. This very asking, seeking, knocking is planting the desire into the realms that have to bring it forth again, for this is the Law.
"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (grow discouraged, or give up). Saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man; And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for awhile; but afterward he said within himself, though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me." (Luke 18:1-5).
"And he said unto them, which of you shall have a friend and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him; And he from within shall answer, and say trouble me not; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth." (Luke 11:5-8).
It is quite necessary to begin to exercise great and mighty faith to be able to escape the things that are coming upon the earth.
The scriptures repeatedly testify that Christ will come the second time in "A day of wickedness and vengeance" -- or in a day when nations and people are seeking revenge. When hate fills the hearts of mankind. We have seen a day of vengeance and retaliation wreaked upon the leaders of almost every country who helped to lead the nations into World War II. We are now able to see this same vengeance begin to lift its head in war atrocities and wickedness.
However along with the wickedness of this day was to be a people purified and prepared to meet the Redeemer of the world. An angel, informing Daniel of the things that would happen at the end of time said: "Many shall be purified and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand." (Dan. 12:10).
And again, in speaking of the elect in the last days: "For they shall hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be purified, even as I am pure."3 This mentions expressly a people who shall abide the day of His coming because they are already purified.
There is a very important record I would like to quote here that explains the work and ministry of the first Comforter, as promised by Christ to the Saints in the fourteenth chapter of St. John. There is also a promise of a second Comforter, or the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to visit those who would be purified. "The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God and the Lord will soon say unto him, son thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him and finds that man is determined to serve Him at all hazards then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses.
"Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more or less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself: and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains the last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions -- Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the First Born." (Joseph Smith's Teachings' pp. 149-151).
And again, "If your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
"Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see Him: for He will unveil His face unto you, and it will be in His own time, and in His own way, and according to His own will.
"Remember the great and last promise that I have made unto you; cast away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you." (D. & C. 88:67-69).4
"But the day soon cometh that you shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day." (Ibid., 38:8).5
"Charity is the pure love of Christ and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure." (Moroni 7:47-48).
"Behold, when ye shall rend the veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things that have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you -- Yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your Fathers, O house of Israel." (Ether 4:15).
There are many who pin their hope on the erroneous idea that we need do nothing but sit down, inactive, and believe, and we will "be saved by grace." We will be saved by grace, but only after we have done everything in our power to perfect ourselves and to glorify God in every thought and word and act of our lives. Thus it is possible for us to grow from grace to grace, or advance from one point to a higher point, until we are enfolded in the complete love and light of our Maker.
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
"Thou believest there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble.
"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:17-20).
The proceeding scripture should be burned into the heart and mind of every human being, for just to believe is doing not one whit better than the devils are doing. Grace only comes after one has hungered and thirsted after knowledge, then with all his soul sought, with an open mind, to appease that hunger and thirst by continued study, opening his mind and soul to the divine direction of the Almighty, toward truth, not just one passage, not one narrowed, bigoted belief, but ALL truth -- which is the growing from grace to grace, then having done all he may be sure that the grace of God will not fail him, and he will be led into all truth.
This advancing, or growing from grace to grace, or purification is never an instantaneous achievement. It has to be reached by preparation.
"We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at the point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station at which no man ever arrived in a moment; he must have been instructed in the laws and government of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same."6 (Joseph Smith, the American Prophet).
"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." (James 3:2).
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God." (Psalms 50:23).
This bridling of the tongue has to come about by a control of the mind, by a righteous desire of the heart, and by the exercise of the will. Gradually as one walks along this path of high attainment he grows from grace to grace, and thus he is truly saved by the grace, or truth of God -- but only as he lives up to each truth that penetrates in to his understanding.
"Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."7
Christ repeatedly informed his followers that they "Would be judged by every idle thought." It isn't the thoughts that are used in our work and our service that will condemn us. It will be those rambling thoughts that steal into our minds in our unoccupied moments and rob us of our power -- these are the thoughts that steal from us the energy to pray always, to hold our minds to the achieving of our righteous aims, to complete our assignments on the earth in honor.
There are many more passages of scripture filled with promise and instruction on this subject, but I shall not quote them here. You who are seeking will find the others -- and God will enlighten your souls.
"Therefore, woe be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
"Woe be unto him that crieth; All is well!
"Yea, woe be unto him that harkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!
"Yea, woe be unto him that saith; We have received, and we need no more!
"And in fine, woe unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.
"Woe be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!
"For behold, thus saith the Lord God; I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who harken unto my precepts and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more: and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."8 (2 Nephi 29:24-30).
"And now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also;
"For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power."9 (D. & C. 71:5-6).
"For my kingdom cometh not in word, but in Power." If one desires to have the power to do the works that Christ did in order to prove his belief in Christ -- yea, even the power to do the greater works, then he must have the ability to open up his heart and soul to receive more and more truth until he is filled with light, and comprehendeth all things. This is the "Grace" of Almighty God that is promised.
There is always the promise of continued light and knowledge to be given: "We believe all that God has revealed. We believe all that He does now reveal. We believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God."10 This book has only been written to point the finger of light to the things that have already been revealed. There is no new revelation in this work. If the things that have already been revealed are rejected, or not understood, then how can more possibly be given?
In the precious record known as the "Word of Wisdom" is given the following promises: "And ALL Saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments -- shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures. " Here is the promise that any individual who is seeking for righteousness shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even knowledge that has been hidden from the world. No one is restricted from this command of God to ask, seek and knock.
"The Spirit of Revelation is in connection with these blessings. A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the Spirit of Revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass: and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus."11 (Joseph Smith).
In order to separate truth from error, it is necessary to live humbly, to live prayerfully, to have the Holy Ghost for a constant companion, for it is as great a wickedness to reject truth and light as it is to follow the dark teachings of the apostates. The Spirit of Christ enlightens every man that cometh into the world, and if one will judge truth by that Spirit of Christ which is within him he need never err in judgment.
"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha -- There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly; There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men. Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; and whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom; and whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefited."12 (D. & C. 91).
"Without revelation direct from heaven, it is impossible for any person to understand fully the plan of salvation. We often hear it said that the living oracles must be in the Church, in order that the Kingdom of God may be established and prosper on the earth. I will give another version of this sentiment. I say that the living oracles of God, or the Spirit of revelation must be in each and every individual, to know the plan of salvation and keep in the path that leads them to the presence of God." (Brigham Young, the great Western Colonizer).
"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 principles, so far as they go; but it is impossible for the poor, weak, low, groveling, sinful inhabitants of the earth to receive a revelation from the Almighty in all its perfection. He has to speak to us in a manner to meet the extent of our capacities." (Ibid).
"And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments. He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things."13 (D. & C. 93-27-28).
God, indeed, gave more in revelations than the mind of man has been able to grasp or comprehend. It is only by humbling oneself before the Almighty in great and mighty prayer that the power and glory of His great teachings are able to find a place in our souls and understanding -- and only by deep, true living can we make them a part of our lives.
"And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.
"And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And, behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
"And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.
"Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and the promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth."14
There is no restriction upon the power of God. No human being, or angel has a monopoly upon righteousness, no human being, no matter how poor, how meek, or humble, or weak is restricted. God is not just the God of the mighty, the powerful, the rich, and those in high places. He is the God of the rich or poor, bond or free, great or humble, wise or weak -- all who will only turn to Him and receive the glorified pattern of their individual lives.
"Seek me early and ye shall find me,"15 this is the invitation to every human being and none will be restricted, from the darkest corner of Africa to the most benighted spot of Russia. Seek Him diligently, at any time, at all times, and you will find Him. And when you find Him there will be no reproach for your past mistakes, no belittling, just the music of the universe rejoicing that another has found his way "home".
Damnation can only come to the one who thinks he possesses all the light and knowledge God has to offer and seals his mind against more truth. For that individual progress is stopped and he is damned; and it is the same whether it is spelled "damned" or "dammed." A dam across a river builds a restraining wall to hold back the tide, the free flow of the waters. Damnation is the same thing -- a wall has been constructed by believing too little and sealing the way to more truth and more knowledge. Man's true heritage is to "know all truth."
The gift of the Holy Ghost will lead to All truth, but when one has reached that point he will also have all power, all love, all goodness and kindness, and will go forth in such humble devotion to do the greater works that none can ever doubt his authority -- for it will not be in the words, but in power -- and he will become the servant of all, with such compassionate tenderness as he seeks only to lift his fellow men to his level of progress.
If one man can have that contact and that power, any man can have it, for God is no respecter of persons. "He that cometh to me will be accepted." The only way any individual can possibly have a greater claim on the approval of God is by special righteousness, not special "self-righteousness." All that is required of any to make that divine contact is "A contrite Spirit and a broken (or cleft or open ) heart," according to the New Testament Apocrypha. This cleft, or open heart makes the meaning much more clear. It means that one needs only unseal himself, cast out his pride, his bigotry, and a super-superior attitude of being God's specially anointed. "Ask and ye shall receive; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receives; And he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks it shall be opened." "Seek me early and ye shall find me." These promises are for every child of earth. "How often would I have gathered you as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you would not."
Gracious, glorious race of men, know this, "That no prophecy (or promise) is of private interpretation." There is nothing too great for you to ask, or desire, that is for the glory of God and the benefit of man. "Seek ye the best gifts." You can ask anything in His name if you only believe, and it will be granted unto you. Then is given the test to see if you believe and if you love Him. "He that loveth me will keep my commandments." Not one of them, but all of them -- not living by one or two passages of scripture, excluding the others, but "living by EVERY WORD that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God." And His words never end, to those who are in tune to hear His voice. To live the Sermon on the Mount as well as the law of repentance -- to love one's neighbors as himself -- to love God with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength as well as to attend church, fulfilling all the spiritual obligations as well as the secular. The outside of men has conformed to the rites and rituals of the Christian creed, but the inside of man is as unclean today as it was in the days of Christ. Only the pure, perfect, divine Christ-like love and deep humility can possibly fulfill all the laws. In this way only will man become worthy of the greater power -- and become so in tune with the infinite that new knowledge will continually unfold until he is led by the Holy Spirit of God into ALL TRUTH -- and will be filled with light and comprehend all things. But this condition is every man's right who will fulfill the laws -- who will continue to hunger and thirst after righteousness, not high positions, -- who will seek diligently -- and who will learn to love greatly.
Oh glorious race of men, I thank the great eternal Creator, the Father of us all, my Father, and your Father, that He has let me come to this beautiful world and be a humble traveler with you along the road of light. I rejoice that the humble street-cleaner, or ragged house-keeper, can be as important in His sight as the proudest monarch, yea, even more so, if he is more worthy. I glory in His love that is so perfect and so all enfolding that none can be excluded by the whims of the self-righteous. None are ever excluded from this great and mighty love, except those who exclude themselves and refuse to "cleanse the inside of the cup," remaining in their unclean condition of worldly pride and blindness. For it is truly the inside of man that needs to be cleansed, his way of thinking, his way of feeling, and his way of being. He who will cleanse the inside of himself will as surely find the outside cleansed and made perfect as he will behold the glorious lily unfold from the drab, green bud.
To him who will only seek for this inner purification nothing will be impossible. My soul rejoices continually that there are none so humble that they have been forgotten. None so lost in insignificance they cannot be heard. None so miserable, so destitute, so burdened that they cannot find help and power to surmount any difficulty if they will only ask.
Oh, Lord God, Almighty, I glory in You with every fibre of my being, with every ounce of strength and intelligence I possess. My heart melts in gratitude before Thy great and boundless love -- a love that notes the sparrow's fall -- a love that reaches into the hearts of men, to heal and bless and forgive -- and enfold -- a love so great it can cleanse the soul from darkness if it will only discard its pride and open to Your tenderness and compassion. Yea, let thy "Spirit cover the earth even as the waters cover the sea." Let thy most humble ones, from the highways and the byways of earth, be brought to rejoice forever before Thee and partake of the marriage feast. Let the halt and the lame, the poor and the blind, the meek and the lowly come into Thy presence and praise thy Holy Name forever more. Let those who have drunk of the dregs of bitterness find sweetness in Thy forgiving mercy. Yea, let all the earth rejoice! Let the proud and the haughty be humbled that they might learn to find Thee, and to know Thee in their hour of great humiliation and distress. Gather them close and blot out their evil and their proud self-righteousness. Forgive, oh Lord, though they have sealed the doors of light to those who trusted in their strength and followed their vanities, and forgive all who flattered them in their worldly power. Yea, let thy arms be opened wide to all who will only turn to you in their distress, who will only "ask, seek and knock." Yea, let the meek and the humble and those who have truly loved Thee, be exalted forever in Thy sight -- and let the reign of all unrighteousness, whether in institutions, businesses, nations or churches be brought to a speedy end. Let unrighteous dominion end forever -- and let thy Beloved Son, Jesus Christ be brought to reign, He whose right it is to reign -- so be it -- Amen.
1. Mormon 4:84 RLDS 1908 Book of Mormon: Behold I say unto you, that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ, it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth. return to paragraph →
2. Mormon 4:88 RLDS 1908 Book of Mormon: And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth. return to paragraph →
3. RLDS D&C 34:5b: and the Scriptures shall be given even as they are in mine own bosom, to the salvation of mine own elect; for they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming, for they shall be purified even as I am pure. return to paragraph →
4. RLDS D&C 85:18a-19a: And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you, and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him: for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will. Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you: cast away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you; return to paragraph →
5. RLDS D&C 38:2b: I am in your midst and ye can not see me, but the day soon cometh that ye shall see me and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day: wherefore, gird up your loins and be prepared. return to paragraph →
6. The Evening and the Morning Star Vols I & II p. 135, Price Publishing Company: "We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection the more conspicuous are his views, & the greater his enjoyments, until he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire of sin; and like the ancients, arrives to that point of faith that he is wrapped in the glory and power of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment; he must have been instructed into the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, till his mind was capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equity, and consistency of the same." return to paragraph →
7. RLDS D&C 6:16b: Behold, I do not condemn you, go your ways and sin no more: perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you; look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not: return to paragraph →
8. 2nd Nephi 12:30-38 RLDS 1908 Book of Mormon: Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion. Wo be unto him that crieth, All is well; yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Yea, wo be unto him that saith, We have received, and we need no more. And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God. For behold, he that is built upon the rock, receiveth it with gladness: and he that is built upon a sandy foundation, trembleth, lest he shall fall. Wo be unto him that shall say, We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough. For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little: And blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; For unto him that receiveth, I will give more: and from them that shall say, We have enough, shall be taken away even that which they have. return to paragraph →
9. RLDS D&C 71:2d: Now, behold, this is wisdom; whoso readeth let him understand and receive also; for unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power; return to paragraph →
10. Times and Seasons, Vol. III, pp.709-710: We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God. return to paragraph →
11. RLDS Church History, Vol. 2 Chapter 18:368: "The Spirit of revelation is in connection with these blessings. A person may profit by noticing the first intimations of the Spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing unto you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; i. e., those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus."-Millennial Star, vol. 17, p 279. return to paragraph →
12. RLDS D&C 88: Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, concerning the Apocrypha, There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly; there are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men. Verily I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; and whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom; and whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, can not be benefited; therefore, it is not needful that it should be translated. Amen. return to paragraph →
13. RLDS D&C 90:4d-e: And John bore record of me, saying, He received a fullness of truth; yea, even of all truth, and no man receiveth a fullness unless he keepeth his commandments. He that keepeth his commandments, receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth, and knoweth all things. return to paragraph →
14. Mormon 4:79-84 RLDS 1908 Book of Mormon: And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles. And if there were miracles wrought, then why has God ceased to be a God of miracles, and yet be an unchangeable being. And behold I say unto you, He changeth not; if so, he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles. And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men, is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust. Behold I say unto you, that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ, it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth. return to paragraph →
15. Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. return to paragraph →