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

The wisdom of men, and the learning of men, are better than the inspiration of the Almighty, for that is not needed any longer; for you see your calling, brethren, how that the wise and learned, and noble, and mighty are called in these days; for we have chosen such to confound the foolish, the unlearned, and the ignorant; yea, to confound the base things of the world which are despised, that flesh might glory in His presence.

* * *

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God; for I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

And we, brethren, when we came unto you, came with excellency of speech, and with the wisdom and learning of man; and our speech and our preaching were with enticing words of man's wisdom, not in demonstration of the Spirit and power, for that is done away; that your faith should not stand in the power of God, but in the wisdom of man.

* * *

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory; which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But we speak the wisdom of man in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which none but the learned knew; for had others known it, they would never have been under the necessity of employing us to tell it to them.

* * *

But God hath revealed them unto us, by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

But God hath revealed nothing unto us by His Spirit; for the wisdom and learning of man search all things; yea, all the deep things which are necessary for us to know.

* * *

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man, which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man by the Spirit of God in these days, for it is done away, or it reveals nothing.

* * *

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God: that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Now we have not received the Spirit of God, but the spirit of the world, that we might not know for a certainty, but that we might guess at, or give our opinion of, the things of God.

* * *

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth: comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, but which man's wisdom teacheth; for the inspiration of the Holy Ghost is done away.

* * *

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But the learned man may receive and understand the things of God by his own wisdom, without the inspiration of the Spirit; for who will be so foolish as to believe in visions and revelations in this religious age?

* * *

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in the things of God, let him get the wisdom of men, that he may be wise.

* * *

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore, let no man glory in men.

For the wisdom of God is foolishness with the world, for it is written, Let us educate young men for the ministry; and again, Let no man preach who has not been educated for the purpose; and especially, receive no man who professes to be inspired.

* * *

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

Now, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, we would have you entirely ignorant, for they are not needed at all in this generation.

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But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to no man to profit at all.

* * *

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.

But to one is given, by the learning of men, the word of wisdom; and to another, the word of knowledge by human learning.

* * *

To another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit.

And to another, faith, by the same Spirit; but to none the gift of healing by the same Spirit.

* * *

To another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, discerning of spirits; to another, divers kinds of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues.

And to none the working of miracles, and to none to prophesy; and to none discerning of spirits; and to none to speak with divers kinds of tongues, and to none to interpret tongues.

* * *

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

For as the body is composed of many sects and parties who are opposed to each other, and have no gifts, and being many sects, are but one body, so also is Antichrist.

* * *

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

For by many spirits are we all baptized into many bodies, whether we be Catholics or Protestants, Presbyterians or Methodists, but have all drunk into one spirit, even the spirit of the world.

* * *

For the body is not one member, but many.

For the body is not one sect, but many.

* * *

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.

But now hath the God (of this world) set the sects and parties in the body (of Antichrist) as it hath pleased him.

* * *

And if they were all one member, where were the body?

And if they were all one sect, where were the body?

* * *

But now are they many members, but one body.

But now are they many sects, yet but one body (even Babylon).

* * *

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Now ye are the body of Antichrist, and members in particular.

* * *

And God hath set some in the Church: first, Apostles; secondly, Prophets; thirdly, Teachers; after that, miracles; then, gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

And man hath set some in the church, first, a hireling priest; secondly, a board of officers; thirdly, tracts; then commentaries, creeds, and diversities of opinions; hence, societies and wondrous helps.

* * *

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake: rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you.

Woe unto you, when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for Christ's sake. Lament ye, and be exceedingly sorrowful in that hour, for little is your reward among men, for so persecute they the Latter-day Saints.

* * *

Give to him that asketh thee; and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away.

Give to him that asketh of thee, if he be able to make thee a similar present; and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away, if he be able to pay thee again with good interest.

* * *

Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Do not think to be perfect, for it is impossible to live without sin.

* * *

Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in heaven.

Take heed that you do your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise, you have no reward nor praise from the children of men.

* * *

Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, publish it in the Missionary
Herald, or some other paper, that you may get praise of the world.
Verily I say unto you, You shall have your reward.

* * *

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.

And when thou prayest, be like the hypocrites in days of old; go before the public and cry mightily, not expecting to be heard and answered, for that would be miraculous, and miracles have ceased.

* * *

Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Moreover, when ye fast, be like the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, that ye may appear unto men to fast; so that you may get your reward.

* * *

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Lay up for yourselves abundance of treasures on the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; for if your heart is only in heaven, it is no matter how rich you are in this world; for now it is come to pass that ye can serve God and mammon.

* * *

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the Prophets.