The Articles of Faith Part 54

[1291] Doc. and Cov. lx.x.xiii, 4-6.

[1292] Doc. and Cov. civ, 70-77.

[1293] Doc. and Cov. lx.x.xii, 17-18.

=15.= Freedom of agency is to be secured to every individual; if he be unfaithful he will be dealt with according to the prescribed rules of church discipline. A corresponding power of self-government will be exercised by the several stakes or other divisions of the Church, each having independent jurisdiction over its own store-houses and its affairs of administration,[1294] all being subject to the general authorities of the Church. Only the idler would suffer in such an order as is here outlined; he shall surely meet the results of his negligence. Against him the edict of the Almighty has gone forth. We read in the revelations:--"Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer."[1295]

"The idler shall not have place in the church except he repents and mends his ways."[1296] "And the inhabitants of Zion, also, shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord."[1297]

[1294] Doc. and Cov. li, 10-18, 18.

[1295] Doc. and Cov. xlii, 42; see also lx, 13; lxxv, 3.

[1296] Doc. and Cov. lxxv, 29.

[1297] Doc. and Cov. lxviii, 30; see also lx.x.xviii, 124.

=16. Social Order of the Saints.=--In view of the prevailing conditions of social unrest, of the loud protest against existing systems, whereby the distribution of wealth is becoming more and more unequal,--the rich growing richer from the increasing poverty of the poor, the hand of oppression resting more and more heavily upon the ma.s.ses, the consequent dissatisfaction with governments, and the half-smothered fires of anarchy discernible in almost every nation,--may we not take comfort in the G.o.d-given promise of a better plan--a plan which seeks without force or violence to establish a natural equality, to take the weapons of despotism from the rich, to aid the lowly and the poor,[1298] and to give every man an opportunity to live and to labor in the sphere to which he is adapted? From the tyranny of wealth, as from every other form of oppression, the truth will make men free. To be partakers of such freedom, mankind must subdue selfishness, which is one of the most potent enemies of G.o.dliness.

=17.= The Church teaches the necessity of proper social organization, in harmony with the laws of the land; the sanct.i.ty of the inst.i.tution and covenant of marriage as essential to the stability of society; the fulfillment of the Divine law with respect to the perpetuation of the human family; and the importance of strictest personal purity.

[1298] Doc. and Cov. xlii, 39.

=18. Marriage.=--The teachings of the scriptures concerning the necessity of marriage are numerous and explicit. "The Lord G.o.d said, It is not good that the man should be alone;"[1299] this comprehensive declaration was made concerning Adam, immediately after his location in Eden; Eve was given unto him, and the man recognized the necessity of a continued a.s.sociation of the s.e.xes in marriage, and said:--"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh."[1300]

Neither of the s.e.xes is complete in itself as a counterpart of G.o.d. Of the creation of human kind we read:--"So G.o.d created man in his own image, in the image of G.o.d created he him; male and female created he them."[1301] The purpose of this dual creation is set forth in the next verse of the sacred narrative:--"And G.o.d blessed them; and G.o.d said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth."[1302] Such a command would have been meaningless and void if addressed to either of the s.e.xes alone; for only by the union of both is the propagation of the species possible. And without the power of perpetuating his kind, how insignificant would appear the glory and majesty of man! How little can be accomplished by the individual within the limited range of a single mortal existence!

[1299] Gen. ii, 18.

[1300] Verse 24.

[1301] Gen. i, 27; see also v, 2.

[1302] Verse 28; see also ix, 1, 7; Lev. xxvi, 9.

=19.= Grand as may seem the achievements of a man who is truly great, the culmination of his glorious heritage lies in the possibility of his leaving offspring from his own being to continue, perchance, the triumphs of their sire. And if such be true of mortals with respect to the things of earth, how transcendently greater is the power of eternal increase, as viewed in the light of revealed truth concerning the un-ending progression of the future state! Truly the apostle was wise when he said, "Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord."[1303]

[1303] I Cor. xi, 11.

=20.= The Latter-day Saints accept the doctrine that marriage is honorable,[1304] and apply it as a requirement to all who are not prevented by physical or other disability from a.s.suming the sacred responsibilities of the wedded state. They consider, as part of the birthright of every worthy man, the privilege and duty to stand as the head of a household, the father of a posterity, which by the blessing of G.o.d may never become extinct; and equally strong is the right of every worthy woman to be a wife and a mother in the family of mankind.

In spite of the simplicity, reasonableness, and naturalness of these teachings, false teachers have arisen among men, declaring the pernicious doctrine that the married state is but a carnal necessity, inherited by man as an incident of his degraded nature; and that celibacy is a mark of a higher state, more acceptable in the pure sight of G.o.d. Concerning such the Lord has spoken in this day:--"Whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of G.o.d, for marriage is ordained of G.o.d unto man ... that the earth might answer the end of its creation; and that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made."[1305]

[1304] Heb. xiii, 4.

[1305] Doc. and Cov. xlix. 15-17.

=21. Celestial Marriage.=--Marriage, as regarded by the Latter-day Saints, is ordained of G.o.d and designed to be an eternal relations.h.i.+p of the s.e.xes. With this people it is not merely a temporal contract to be of effect on earth during the mortal existence of the parties, but a solemn agreement which is to extend beyond the grave. In the complete ceremony of marriage, as prescribed by the Church, the man and the woman are placed under covenant of mutual fidelity, not "until death do you part," but "for time and for all eternity." A contract as far reaching as this, extending not only throughout time, but into the domain of the hereafter, requires for its validation an authority superior to that of earth; and such an authority is found in the holy priesthood, which, given of G.o.d, is eternal. Any power less than this, while perchance of effect in this life, is a.s.suredly void as to the state of the human soul beyond the grave. As the Lord has said:--"All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, a.s.sociations, or expectations, that are not made, and entered into, and sealed, by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation, and commandment, through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power, ...

are of no efficacy, virtue, or force, in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end, have an end when men are dead."[1306] And, as touching the application of the principle of earthly authority for things of earth, and eternal authority for things beyond the grave, to the sacred contract of marriage, the revelation continues:--"Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me, nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world, and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world; Therefore, when they are out of the world, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory; For these angels did not abide my law, therefore they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation in their saved condition, to all eternity, and from henceforth are not G.o.ds, but are angels of G.o.d, for ever and ever."[1307]

[1306] Doc. and Cov. cx.x.xii, 7.

[1307] Doc. and Cov. cx.x.xii, 15-17. See "The House of the Lord,"

p. 101.

=22.= This system of holy matrimony, involving covenants as to time and eternity, is known distinctively as Celestial Marriage,--the order of marriage that exists in the celestial worlds. The sacred ordinance of celestial marriage is permitted to those members of the Church only who are adjudged worthy of partic.i.p.ation in the special blessings of the House of the Lord; for this ordinance, together with others of eternal validity, is to be performed in the temples which are reared and dedicated for such holy service.[1308] Children who are born of parents thus married are natural heirs to the priesthood; "children of the covenant" they are called; they require no ceremony of adoption or sealing to insure them place in the posterity of promise. But the Church sanctions marriages for earthly time only, and bestows upon such the seal of the priesthood, among those who are not admitted to the temples of the Lord, or who voluntarily prefer the lesser and temporal order of matrimony.

[1308] Doc. and Cov. cxxiv, 30-40.

=23. Unlawful a.s.sociations of the s.e.xes= have been designated by the Lord as among the most heinous of sins; and the Church today regards individual purity in the s.e.xual relation as an indispensable condition of members.h.i.+p. The teachings of the Nephite prophet, Alma, concerning the enormity of offences against virtue and chast.i.ty, are accepted by the Latter-day Saints without modification; and such are to the effect:--"That these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins, save it be the shedding of innocent blood, or denying the Holy Ghost."[1309] The command:--"Thou shalt not commit adultery,"--once written by the finger of G.o.d amid the thunders and lightnings of Sinai, has been renewed as a specific injunction in these the last days; and the penalty of excommunication has been prescribed for the offender.[1310]

Moreover, the Lord regards any approach to s.e.xual sin as inconsistent with the professions of those who have received the Holy Spirit, for He has declared that "he that looketh on a woman to l.u.s.t after her, or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith."[1311]

[1309] Alma x.x.xix, 5.

[1310] Doc. and Cov. xlii, 24, 80-83; lxiii, 16-17.

[1311] Doc. and Cov. lxiii, 16; see also xlii, 23.

=24. Sanct.i.ty of the Body.=--The Church counsels its members that each regard his body as "the temple of G.o.d;"[1312] and that he maintain its purity and sanct.i.ty as such. He is taught that the Spirit of the Lord dwells not in unclean tabernacles; and that, therefore, he is required to live according to the laws of health, which const.i.tute part of the law of G.o.d. For the special guidance of His Saints, the Lord has revealed a "Word of Wisdom"[1313] unto the people; in accordance with which they are counseled to eat wholesome food only; to abstain from strong drink, hot drinks, and all kinds of stimulants and narcotics; to eat flesh but sparingly, and to maintain in all respects a healthful state of the physical organism. And, on condition of their compliance with these behests, the Saints have been promised, that all "Who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel, and marrow in their bones, and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint; And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pa.s.s by them, as the children of Israel."[1314]

[1312] I Cor. iii, 16; see also vi, 19; II Cor. vi, 16; Doc. and Cov. xciii, 35.

[1313] Doc. and Cov. lx.x.xix; read the revelation entire.

[1314] Doc. and Cov. lx.x.xix, 18-21.

NOTES.

=1. Love, the Fulfilling of the Law.=--"Peter says, 'Above all things have fervent love [charity] among yourselves' [I Peter iv, 8]. _Above all things._ And John goes farther, 'G.o.d is love' [I John iv, 8]. And you remember the profound remark which Paul makes elsewhere, 'Love is the fulfilling of the law' [Rom. xiii, 10; Gal. v, 14]. Did you ever think what he meant by that? In those days men were working their pa.s.sage to heaven by keeping the ten commandments, and the hundred and ten other commandments which they had manufactured out of them. Christ said, I will show you a more simple way. If you do one thing, you will do these hundred and ten things without ever thinking about them. If you love, you will unconsciously fulfil the whole law.... Take any of the commandments, 'Thou shalt have no other G.o.ds before me.' If a man love G.o.d you will not require to tell him that. Love is the fulfilling of that law. 'Take not his name in vain.' Would he ever dream of taking his name in vain if he loved him? 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.' Would he not be too glad to have one day in seven to dedicate more exclusively to the object of his affection? Love would fulfil all these laws regarding G.o.d.

And so if he loved man, you would never think of telling him to honor his father and mother. He could never do anything else. It would be preposterous to tell him not to kill. You could only insult him if you suggested that he should not steal,--how could he steal from those he loved? It would be superfluous to beg him not to bear false witness against his neighbor. If he loved him it would be the last thing he would do. And you would never dream of urging him not to covet what his neighbors had. He would rather they possessed it than himself. In this way 'Love is the fulfilling of the law.'"--Drummond: _The Greatest Thing in the World_.

=2. Charity and Love.=--"According to the etymology and original usage, _beneficence_ is the doing well, _benevolence_ the wis.h.i.+ng or willing well to others; but _benevolence_ has come to include _beneficence_ and to displace it.... _Charity_, which originally meant the purest love for G.o.d and man (as in I Cor. xiii), is now almost universally applied to some form of _alms-giving_ and is much more limited in meaning than _benevolence_."--_Standard Dictionary._

_Charity_ means "properly, love, and hence acts of kindness. The word never occurs in the Old Testament; in the New Testament it is always, with one exception, synonymous with love, and in every case the love of man toward his fellow man, and to that which is good (see especially I Cor. xiii). The 'feasts of charity' in Jude 12, are commonly understood to be the _agapae_, or 'love-feasts,' which were prevalent in the early church, and which consisted in a simple fraternal meeting for wors.h.i.+p, and an equally simple social repast."--_Bible Dictionary_, Ca.s.sell.

"Charity is only a little bit of love; one of the innumerable avenues of love, and there may even be, and there is a great deal of charity without love. It is a very easy thing to toss a copper to a beggar on the street; it is generally an easier thing than not to do it.... We purchase relief from the sympathetic feelings roused by the spectacle of misery, at the copper's cost. It is too cheap--too cheap for us, and often too dear for the beggar.

If we really loved him, we would either do more for him or less."--Drummond: _The Greatest Thing in the World_.

=3. Man's Relations.h.i.+p to G.o.d.=--"'Mormonism' claims an actual and literal relations.h.i.+p of parent and child between the Creator and man--not in the figurative sense in which the engine may be called the child of its builder; not the relations.h.i.+p of a thing mechanically made to the maker thereof; but the connection between father and offspring. In short it is bold enough to declare that man's spirit being the offspring of Deity, and man's body though of earthy components yet being in the very image and likeness of G.o.d, man even in his present degraded--aye, fallen condition--still possesses, if only in a latent state, inherited traits, tendencies and powers that tell of his more than royal descent; and that these may be developed so as to make him, even while mortal, in a measure G.o.dlike.

"But 'Mormonism' is bolder yet. It a.s.serts that in accordance with the inviolable law of organic nature--that like shall beget like, and that multiplication of numbers and perpetuation of species shall be in compliance with the condition 'each after his kind,' the child may achieve the former status of the parent, and that in his mortal condition man is a G.o.d in embryo. However far in the future it may be, what ages may elapse, what eternities may pa.s.s before any individual now a mortal being may attain the rank and sanct.i.ty of G.o.ds.h.i.+p, nevertheless man carries in his soul the possibilities of such achievement; even as the crawling caterpillar or the corpse-like chrysalis holds the latent possibility, nay, barring destruction in an earlier stage, the certainty indeed, of the winged imago in all the glory of maturity.

"'Mormonism' claims that all nature, both on earth and in heaven, operates on a plan of advancement; that the very Eternal Father is a progressive Being; that his perfection, while so complete as to be incomprehensible by man, possesses this essential quality of true perfection--the capacity of eternal increase. That therefore, in the far future, beyond the horizon of eternities perchance, man may attain the status of a G.o.d. Yet this does not mean that he shall be then the equal of the Deity we wors.h.i.+p, nor that he shall ever overtake those intelligences that are already beyond him in advancement; for to a.s.sert such would be to argue that there is no progression beyond a certain stage of attainment, and that advancement is a characteristic of low organization and inferior purpose alone. We believe that there was more than the sounding of bra.s.s or the tinkling of wordy cymbals in the fervent admonition of the Christ to his followers--'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.'"--_The Philosophy of Mormonism_: The Author, in _Improvement Era_, vol. iv, pp. 464-465.

APPENDIX.

=Note.=--In view of the expressed wish of the Church authorities, by whose direction this work is published, that the Lectures on the "Articles of Faith" be used as a text-book and work of reference in the various theological organizations of the Church, a series of questions and suggestive exercises, for the work of cla.s.s review, is herewith presented.