THE DESERET WEEKLY.
Truth and Liberty.
No. 18. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, APRIL 21, 1894. VOL. XLVIII.
THE LAW OF ADOPTION.
Discourses delivered at the General Conference of the Church, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday morning, April 8, 1894, by
PRESIDENTS WILFORD WOODRUFF and GEORGE Q. CANNON
-[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]-
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF.
I feel thankful for the privilege of
meeting with so many of the Latter-day
Saints this morning. In order to pre-
sent my position before the Saints I
wish to say that I have been a member
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints over sixty years, a member
of the Quorum of the Apostles fifty-five
years, and the President of the Church
for a short time. During all these years,
and in all my travels, I have never seen
a moment when I have had the power
to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ or
to administer in any of the ordinances
of the House of the Lord, acceptably to
God or to myself, only by the assistance
of the Holy Ghost; and I do not know
of any other man that could ever do
this. Even the Son of God, in referring
to His work, said: "I do nothing of my-
self; but as my Father hath taught me,
I speak these things." [John 8:28] So it has been
with all the prophets and patriarchs in
every age of the world; they have had
to be assisted by the power of God. I
occupy that position today before this
assembly. Therefore, as the Lord com-
manded us not to speak only as we are
moved upon by the Holy Ghost, I
desire that, and in order to obtain it I
want the prayers and faith of the Latter-
day Saints.
I have some things resting upon me
that I wish to present before the Latter-
day Saints, and in order to do this I will
call upon President George Q. Cannon
to read from the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants concerning the subject which
I wish to speak upon.
-[President Cannon read from sec. 128,
as follows:
It may seem to some to be a very bold doc-
trine that we talk of—a power which records or
binds on earth, and binds in heaven. Never-
theless in all ages of the world, whenever the
Lord has given a dispensation of the Priesthood
to any man by actual revelation, or any set of
men, this power has always been given. Hence,
whatsoever those men did in authority, in the
name of the Lord, and did it truly and faith-
fully, and kept a proper and faithful record of
the same, it became a law on earth and in
heaven, and could not be annulled, according
to the decrees of the great Jehovah. This is a
faithful saying! Who can hear it? [Doctrine and Covenants 128:9]
And again, for the precedent, Matthew xvi.
18, 19, "And I also say unto them, that thou
art Peter: and upon this rock I will build my
church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it; and I will give unto thee the keys of
the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou
shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven;
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall
be loosed in heaven." [Doctrine and Covenants 128:10]
Now the great and grand secret of the whole
matter, and the summum bonum of the whole
subject that is lying before us, consists in ob-
taining the powers of the Holy Priesthood.
For him to whom these keys are given, there is
is no difficult in obtaining a knowledge of
facts in relation to the salvation of the children
of men, both as well for the dead as for the
living. [Doctrine and Covenants 128:11]
Herein is glory and honor, and immortality
and eternal life. The ordinance of baptism by
water, to be immersed therein in order to an-
swer to the likeness of the dead, that one prin-
ciple might accord with the other. To be
immersed in the water and come forth out of
the water is in the likeness of the resurrection
of the dead in coming forth out of their graves;
hence this ordinance was instituted to form a
relationship with the ordinance of baptism for
the dead being in likeness of the dead. [Doctrine and Covenants 128:12]
Consequently the baptismal font is insti-
tuted as a simile of the grave, and was com-
manded to be in a place underneath where the
living are wont to assemble, to show forth the
living and the dead; and that all things may
have their likeness, and that they may accord
one with another; that which is earthly con-
forming to that which is heavenly, as Paul hath
declared, I Corinthians XV. 46, 47, and 48. [Doctrine and Covenants 128:13]
"Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual,
but that which is natural, and afterwards that
which is spiritual. The first man is of the
earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord,
from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they
also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly,
such are they also that are heavenly." And as
are the records on the earth in relation to your
dead, which are truly made out, so also are the
records in heaven. This therefore, is the seal-
ing and binding power and in one sense of the
word, the keys of the kingdom which consist in
the key of knowledge. [Doctrine and Covenants 128:14]
And now, my dearly beloved brethren and
sisters, let me assure you that these are prin-
ciples in relation to the dead, and the living,
that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining
to our salvation. For their salvation is neces-
sary, and essential to our salvation, as Paul
says concerning the fathers "that they without
us cannot be made perfect," [Hebrews 11:40] neither can we
without our dead be made perfect. [Doctrine and Covenants 128:15]
And again, in connection with this quotation,
I will give you a quotation from one of the
prophets, who had his eye fixed on the restora-
tion of the Priesthood, the glories to be revealed
in the last days, and in an especial manner this;
most glorious of all subjects belonging to the
everlasting gospel, viz., the baptism for the
dead; for Malachi says, last chapter, verses 5th
and 6th, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the
prophet, before the coming of the great and
dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the
heart of the fathers to the children, and the
heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come
and smite the earth with a curse." [Doctrine and Covenants 128:17]
I might have rendered a plainer translation
to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my
purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know,
in this case, that the earth will be smitten with
a curse, unless there is a welding link of some
kind or other, between the fathers and the
children, upon some subject or other, and be-
hold what is that subject? It is the baptism for
the dead. For we without them cannot be
made perfect; neither can they without us be
made perfect. [Doctrine and Covenants 128:15] Neither can they nor we, be
made perfect, without those who have died in
the gospel also; for it is necessary in the usher-
ing in of the dispensation of the fulness of times;
which dispensation is now beginning to usher
in, that a whole and complete and perfect
union, and welding together of dispensations,
and keys, and power, and glories should take
place, and be revealed from the days of Adam
even to the present time; and not only this, but
those things which never have been revealed
from the foundation of the world, but have
been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall
be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this
the dispensation of the fulness of times. [Doctrine and Covenants 128:18]
Now, what do we hear in the gospel which
we have received? "A voice of gladness! A
voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of
truth out of the earth; glad tiding for the dead;
a voice of gladness for the living and the dead;
glad tidings of great joy; how beautiful upon
the mountains are the feet of those that bring
glad tidings of good things; and that say unto
Zion, behold! thy God reigneth. As the dews
of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God
descent upon them." [Doctrine and Covenants 128:19]
And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings
from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven,
declaring the fulfillment of the prophets—the
book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in
the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, de-
claring the three witnesses to bear record of the
book. The voice of Michael on the banks of
the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he
appeared as an angel of light. The voice of Peter, James and John in the wilderness be-
tween Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna
river, declaring themselves as possessing the [Doctrine and Covenants 128:20]
THE DESERET WEEKLY.
Truth and Liberty.
No. 18. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, APRIL 21, 1894. VOL. XLVIII.
THE LAW OF ADOPTION.
Discourses delivered at the General Conference of the Church, in the
Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday morning, April 8, 1894, by
PRESIDENTS WILFORD WOODRUFF and GEORGE Q. CANNON
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF.
I feel thankful for the privilege of
meeting with so many of the Latter-day
Saints this morning. In order to present my position before the Saints I
wish to say that I have been a member
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints over sixty years, a member
of the Quorum of the Apostles fifty-five
years, and the President of the Church
for a short time. During all these years,
and in all my travels, I have never seen
a moment when I have had the power
to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ or
to administer in any of the ordinances
of the House of the Lord, acceptably to
God or to myself, only by the assistance
of the Holy Ghost; and I do not know
of any other man that could ever do
this. Even the Son of God, in referring
to His work, said: "I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me,
I speak these things." So it has been
with all the prophets and patriarchs in
every age of the world; they have had
to be assisted by the power of God. I
occupy that position today before this
assembly. Therefore, as the Lord commanded us not to speak only as we are
moved upon by the Holy Ghost, I
desire that, and in order to obtain it I
want the prayers and faith of the Latterday Saints.
I have some things resting upon me
that I wish to present before the Latterday Saints, and in order to do this I will
call upon President George Q. Cannon
to read from the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants concerning the subject which
I wish to speak upon.
[President Cannon read from sec. 128,
as follows:
It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or
binds on earth, and binds in heaven. Nevertheless in all ages of the world, whenever the
Lord has given a dispensation of the Priesthood
to any man by actual revelation, or any set of
men, this power has always been given. Hence,
whatsoever those men did in authority, in the
name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of
the same, it became a law on earth and in
heaven, and could not be annulled, according
to the decrees of the great Jehovah. This is a
faithful saying! Who can hear it?
And again, for the precedent, Matthew xvi.
18, 19, "And I also say unto them, that thou
art Peter: and upon this rock I will build my
church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it; and I will give unto thee the keys of
the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou
shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven;
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall
be loosed in heaven."
Now the great and grand secret of the whole
matter, and the summum bonum of the whole
subject that is lying before us, consists in obtaining the powers of the Holy Priesthood.
For him to whom these keys are given, there is
is no difficult in obtaining a knowledge of
facts in relation to the salvation of th children
of men, both as well for the dead as for the
living.
Herein is glory and honor, and immortality
and eternal life. The ordinance of baptism by
water, to be immersed therein in order to answer to the likeness of the dead, that one principle might accord with the other. To be
immersed in the water and come forth out of
the water is in the likeness of the resurrection
of the dead in coming forth out of their graves;
hence this ordinance was instituted to form a
relationship with the ordinance of baptism for
the dead being in likeness of the dead.
Consequently the baptismal font is instituted as a simile of the grave, and was commanded to be in a place underneath where the
living are wont to assemble, to show forth the
living and the dead; and that all things may
have their likeness, and that they may accord
one with another; that which is earthly conforming to that which is heavenly, as Paul hath
declared, I Corinthians XV. 46, 47, and 48.
"Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual,
but that which is natural, and afterwards that
which is spiritual. The first man is of the
earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord,
from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they
also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly,
such are they also that are heavenly." And as
are the records on the earth in relation to your
dead, which are truly made out, so also are the
records in heaven. This therefore, is the sealing and binding power and in one sense of the
word, the keys of the kingdom which consist in
the key of knowledge.
And now, my dearly beloved brethren and
sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead, and the living,
that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining
to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary, and essential to our salvation, as Paul
says concerning the fathers "that they without
us cannot be made perfect," neither can we
without our dead be made perfect.
And now, in relation to the baptism for the
dead, I will give you another quotation of Paul,
I Corinthians XV, 29, "Else what shall they do
which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise
not at all; why are they then baptized for the
dead?"
And again, in connection with this quotation,
I will give you a quotation from one of the
prophets, who had his eye fixed on the restoration of the Priesthood, the glories to be revealed
in the last days, and in an especial manner this;
most glorious of all subjects belonging to the
everlasting gospel, viz., the baptism for the
dead; for Malachi says, last chapter, verses 5th
and 6th, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the
prophet, before the coming of the great and
dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the
heart of the fathers to the children, and the
heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come
and smite the earth with a curse."
I might have rendered a plainer translation
to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my
purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know,
in this case, that the earth will be smitten with
a curse, unless there is a welding link of some
kind or other, between the fathers and the
children, upon some subject or other, and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for
the dead. For we without them cannot be
made perfect; neither can they without us be
made perfect. Neither can they nor we, be
made perfect, without those who have died in
the gospel also; for it isnecessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times;
which dispensation isnow beginning to usher
in, that a whole and complete and perfect
union, and welding together of dispensations,
and keys, and power, and glories should take
place, and be revealed from the days of Adam
even to the present time; and not only this, but
those things which never have been revealed
from the foundation of the world, but have
been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall
be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this
the dispensation of the fulness of times.
Now, what do we hear in the gospel which
we have received? "A voice of gladness! A
voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of
truth out of the earth; glad tiding for the dead;
a voice of gladness for the living and the dead;
glad tidings of great joy; how beautiful upon
the mountains are the feet of those that bring
glad tidings of good things; and that say unto
Zion, behold! thy God reigneth. As the dews
of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God
descent upon them."
And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings
from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven,
declaring the fulfillment of the prophets—the
book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in
the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the
book. The voice of Michael on the banks of
the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he
appeared as an angel of light. The voice of
Peter, James and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and
Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna
river, declaring themselves as possessing the
