A Voice of Warning by Parley P. Pratt (read aloud books .txt) 📕

the earth, as the waters do the sea." Now, I ask how this great overturn is to be brought about? And I know no better way to answer this question, than to quote the prophecy of Nephi, Book of Mormon (n.e.), 2 Nephi, xxix, 11-14: "For I command all men, both in the east, and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them: for out of the books which shall be written, I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.

"For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all the nations of the earth, and they shall write it.

"And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the
Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the
Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of
Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the
Nephites and the Jews.

"And it shall come to pass, that my people which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word, and against my people who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham, that I would remember his seed for ever."

[Transcriber's note: the material in the following chapter was originally printed in two side by side columns. Side by side pairs of paragraphs are separated from following pairs by three asterisks.]

CHAPTER VII. A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST AND THE DOCTRINES OF NINETEENTH CENTURY.

    "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
    Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ,
    he hath both the Father and the Son."—2 JOHN, 2.

DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. DOCTRINES OF MEN.

* * *

And these signs shall follow them that believe.

And these signs shall not follow them that believe, for they are done away and no longer needed.

* * *

In my name shall they cast out devils.

In His name they shall not cast out devils.

* * *

They shall speak with new tongues.

The gift of tongues is no longer needed.

* * *

They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

If they take up serpents, they will bite them; if they drink any deadly thing it will kill them. They shall not lay hands on the sick, and if they do they shall not recover; for such things are done away.

* * *

He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.

He that believeth on Christ shall not do any of the miracles and mighty works that He did, for such things have ceased.

* * *

There is nothing secret that shall not be revealed, neither hid that shall not be known.

There is to be no more revelation, for all things necessary are already revealed.

* * *

And He shall send His angels, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, etc.

And there is to be no more ministering of angels, for such things are done away.

* * *

And I saw an angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, etc.

Angels do not appear in this enlightened age, because they are no longer needed.

* * *

And when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; again, "He shall show you things to come."

And inspiration is no longer needed in this age of learning and refinement. Again, it shall not show you things to come: for then you would be a Prophet, and there are to be no Prophets in these days.

* * *

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, in my name, and I will give it you.

It is not so in these days, we must not expect to heal the sick and work miracles, consequently we must not expect to receive what we ask for.

* * *

Father, neither pray I for these alone, but for all them that shall believe on me through their words, that they may all be one, even as we are one.

And we are all good Christians, and we all believe on Him through the
Apostles' words, although divided into several hundred sects.

* * *

One Lord, one faith, and one baptism.

Many Lords, many faiths, and three or four kinds of baptism.

* * *

And by one Spirit are ye all baptized into one body.

And by many spirits are we all torn asunder into different bodies.

* * *

And God gave some Apostles; and some, Prophets; and some, Evangelists; and some, Pastors and Teachers; for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

And there are to be no more Apostles, and no more Prophets. But the work of the ministry, the perfecting of the Saints, and the edifying of the different bodies of Christ, can all be done very well without these gifts of God, only give us money enough to educate and employ the wisdom of men.

* * *

These gifts and offices were to continue until we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Apostles, miracles and gifts were to continue during the first age of Christianity, and then were to cease, because no longer needed, having accomplished their purpose.

* * *

These gifts and offices were given that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

Tracts, creeds, sermons and commentaries of uninspired men, together with a hireling priesthood, are now necessary in order to keep men from being carried about with every wind of doctrine, etc.

* * *

For no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of
God, as was Aaron.

For no man taketh this honor unto himself, but one who has been educated for the purpose, and commissioned by men.

* * *

But how shall they preach, except they be sent (of God)?

But how shall they preach except they be well educated for the purpose, and sent (by the board of officers)?

* * *

Is any sick among you? let him call for the Elders of the Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him.

If any are sick among you, do not send for the Elders of the Church; or, if the Elders come, do not let them lay hands on them, neither let them anoint them in the name of the Lord, for this is all "Mormon" delusion, but send for a good physician, and perhaps they may get well.

* * *

Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; for the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Repent and come to the anxious seat (penitent form), every one of you, and cry, "Lord, Lord," and may be you will get forgiveness of sins; and you may be baptized or not; but if you do, you will not get the Holy Ghost as they did anciently, for such things are done away.

* * *

It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; etc.

And in these last days the Lord will not pour out His Spirit so as to cause our sons and daughters to prophesy, our old men to dream dreams, and our young men to see visions; for such things are no longer needed, and it is all a delusion, and none but the ignorant believe such things.

* * *

Covet earnestly the best gifts, but rather that ye prophesy.

Do not covet any of the supernatural gifts, but especially beware of prophesying, for such things are done away.

* * *

Covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Do not prophesy, and it is all a delusion to speak in tongues.

* * *

But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

It matters not what kind of doctrine, or what system, a man embraces, if he is only sincere and worships Jesus Christ.

* * *

I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.

We thank God that He has revealed nothing to any person, wise or simple, for many hundred years, but that our wise and learned men have been able to know God without a revelation, and that we shall never be favored with any more.

* * *

No man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the
Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.

We all know God in this enlightened age, and yet neither the Father nor the Son has revealed any thing to any of us, for we do not believe revelations are necessary now.

* * *

And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.

And we cannot know for ourselves, by any positive manifestation, in these days, but must depend on the wisdom and learning of men.

* * *

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ, that in everything ye are enriched by Him in all utterance, and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ (the spirit of prophecy) was confirmed in you, so that ye come behind in no good gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank the Lord always, in behalf of the Church in these days, that she has no supernatural gifts given unto her, and that she is not enriched by Christ, neither in the gift of utterance, nor in the gift of knowledge; neither has she the testimony of Jesus (the spirit of prophecy) confirmed in her, and she comes behind in all the gifts; nor is she waiting for, or expecting, the coming of the Lord; for He has come once, and never will come again till the great and last day, the end of the earth.

* * *

The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.