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Gospel Topics
Apostasy - Reformation of LDS Church
"If we make a bad use of the priesthood, do you not see that the
day will come when God will reckon with us, and he will take it
from us and give it to those who will make better use of it?"
(Heber C. Kimball, Ibid., vol. 6, p. 125).
"But the time will come when the Lord will choose a people out of
this people upon whom he will bestow his choicest blessings"
(Heber C. Kimball, Des. News. Nov. 9, 1865).
"...A people will come forth from among us, who will be zealous of
good works, willing to do the bidding of the Lord, who will be
taught in His ways, and who will walk in His paths" (Daniel H.
Wells, Des. News, Nov. 10, 1875.
"Before the great day of the Lord shall come, and the day of
righteousness and peace dawn upon this fair creation, two potent
cleansing forces shall be in active operation. The first of these
is the preparation of a choice people, purified by an application
to their lives, as individuals, and a community, of the principles
of the Gospel of peace. Such a body will evolve FROM THOSE CALLED
LATTER-DAY SAINTS . . . and from the remnant of the whole house of
Israel will emanate the nucleus or foundation from which will
spring the righteous, millennial population of our globe." (George
Q. Cannon; Millennial Star 42:585)
"I want to say to you, my brethren, the time is coming when we
will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys, to that extent
that it will be difficult to tell the face of a Saint from the
face of an enemy to the people of God. Then, brethren, lookout for
the great sieve. For there will be a great sifting time, and many
will fall; for I say unto you there is a test, a test, A TEST
coming, and who will be able to stand?" (Heber C. Kimball; Life of
Heber C. Kimball by Orson F. Whitney, p. 445)
"And if we as a people do not hold ourselves on the altar ready to
be used with our means and all that God has bestowed upon us,
according to the master's bidding for the upbuilding of His
Kingdom upon the earth, He will pass on and get somebody else;
because He will get a people that will do it. I do not mean to say
that He will pass on and leave this people; no, there will come up
from the midst of this people that people which has been talked so
much about." (Daniel H. Wells; Deseret News of 9 December 1882)
"I know there is a people in the hearts core of this people, that
will arise in their majesty in a day that is near at hand, and
push spiritual things to the front; a people who will stand up for
God." (Orson F. Whitney; Deseret News 11 August 1889)
Elder Orson Pratt: There must be a reformation. There will be a
reformation among this people but He will plead with the stronger
ones of Zion, He will plead with this people, He will plead with
those in high places, He will plead with the priesthood of this
church, until Zion shall become clean before him. I do not know
but what it would be an utter impossibility to commence and carry
out some principles pertaining to Zion right in the midst of this
people. They have strayed so far that to get a people who would
conform to heavenly laws it may be needful to lead some from the
midst of this people and commence anew in the regions round about
in these mountains. (JD 15:360)
Joseph Smith's Last Dream
"I was
back in Kirtland, Ohio, and thought I would take a walk out by
myself, and view my old farm, which I found grown up with weeds
and brambles, and altogether bearing evidence of neglect and
want of culture. I went into the barn, which I found without
floor or doors, with the weather - boarding off, and was
altogether in keeping with the farm.
While I viewed the desolation around me, and was contemplating
how it might be recovered from the curse upon it, there came
rushing into the barn a company of furious men, who commenced to
pick a quarrel with me.
The leader of the party ordered me to leave the barn and farm,
stating it was none of mine, and that I must give up all hope of
ever possessing it.
I told him the farm was given me by the Church, and although I
had not had any use of it for some time back, still I had not
sold it, and according to righteous principles it belonged to me
or the Church.
He then grew furious and began to rail upon me, and threaten me,
and said it never did belong to me nor to the Church.
I then told him that I did not think it worth contending about,
that I had no desire to live upon it in its present state, and
if he thought he had a better right I would not quarrel with him
about it but leave; but my assurance that I would not trouble
him at present did not seem to satisfy him, as he seemed
determined to quarrel with me, and threatened me with
destruction of my body.
While he was thus engaged, pouring out his bitter words upon me,
a rabble rushed in and nearly filled the barn, drew out their
knives, and began to quarrel among themselves for the premises,
and for a moment forgot me, at which time I took the opportunity
to walk out of the barn about up to my ankles in mud.
When I was a little distance from the barn, I heard them
screeching and screaming in a very distressed manner, as it
appeared they had engaged in a general fight with their knives.
While they were thus engaged, the dream or vision ended."
We are reminded in D&C 90:3 that Joseph would always have the keys of this dispensation, "Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come."
Weeds and Brambles reminds us of Matthew 13:22: "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."
The Lord gave a strong denunciation of the church is D&C 50:4, 6:
4
Behold, I, the Lord, have looked upon you, and have seen
abominations in the church that profess my name.
. . .
6 But wo unto them that are deceivers and hypocrites, for, thus
saith the Lord, I will bring them to judgment.
Mormon 8:38
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?
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