very plain by the words of the Savior. Nicodemus was no doubt strictly moral, but Jesus said to him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." The Jews, in the days of Jesus, were very strict in their observance of the moral law, but Jesus said to his disciples, "I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." In the case of Cornelius we have an example of a strictly moral man, but that was not enough to save him; so, God in his mercy sent an angel to him, who told him to send for Peter who would tell him what more he must do to be saved; if he had told the angel that he was living a moral life, that he was satisfied, that he had no use whatever for religion, and had refused to send for Peter, would he have been justified, would he have been saved?

Seeing that by the observance of the moral law alone, we can not be saved, the question of the author of Great Truths is all important. The answer to this question is quite simple. It must of necessity be, "That religion which comes from heaven by direct. revelation." A religion of human origin will be bounded by human limitations; it will contain all the author has, and no more; it will be without divine authority, will not be binding on mankind, and may be ignored without risk of condemnation. Its members will be in constant doubt and uncertainty in regard to its doctrines. Its creed will be subject to revision, as the light of reason reveals its errors.

While the religion that comes from heaven by direct revelation, will be an open fountain of truth. Not that its members will be in possession of a fulness of truth in mortality; they must grow in grace and in knowledge of the truth, as it is revealed, "precept upon precept, line upon line," as their minds expand to receive the truth, and apply it in their lives. It will be with divine authority and binding on mankind, and may not be rejected without condemnation. Its members will be free from doubt and uncertainty in regard to its doctrines; "they will know the truth, and the truth will make them free." It will not be limited by any finite creed; and will never be revised, as truth never changes. Religion, in its broad sense, is the all in all; it is the science of eternal life,

the perfect law of eternal progression. It is inconceivable that the Creator would reveal a system of government for his creatures that is incomplete and must be supplemented by innumerable human devices.

A true religion was established by the Savior, with apostles and prophets, ordained to the priesthood, with authority to preach the gospel and administer its ordinances, and instruct the saints as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit; but the Jews crucified the Savior, and the Jews and Gentiles killed the apostles. Revelation ceased, the church was broken up into fragments, each fragment led by uninspired teachers, none having, "the real, the final, the absolute truth." This condition continued, sects multiplying, confusion increasing, till the year 1820, when Joseph Smith found himself in precisely the same condition as the author of Great Truths finds himself. He wished to know which of all the religions of the world was right, and which he should join to be saved; he also must make his individual choice, and abide by it as best he could. But in making his individual choice, he sought an infallible guide. Not trusting to human wisdom, he bowed in humble prayer, and in child-like, simple faith, he asked the Lord which church he should join. In answer to his prayer, he was told to join none of them, that they were without divine authority, that their ministers taught for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. He was informed that the Lord would soon restore the priesthood and re-establish his Church, and that if Joseph were faithful he should be called to that mission.

So Satan

In this connection, he had a peculiar experience such as no other person ever had either before or since, as we read of. As soon as he commenced to pray an evil power seized him, not an imaginary power, but a real being from the unseen world, which sought to overpower and destroy him. It is evident from the New Testament that evil spirits knew Jesus as the Christ. knew Joseph Smith and the mission he was born to fill, and determined if possible to destroy him. Little could the youthful Prophet imagine at this time the effect the announcement of this vision would have, the thorny path he would have to travel, the opposition he would meet; how men and evil spirits would combine for his destruction, and that in a few years he must give his life

for his testimony.

The announcement that all the religions of the world were without divine authority, that all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, sacraments, and ceremonies, performed by their ministers, for centuries were of none effect, that nothing they had sealed on earth had been satisfied or sealed in heaven, was too true to be passed over in silence. If this had not been true, if the ministers of the various churches had been conscious of their divine calling, that the Lord approved of their administrations, and that their members had an abiding testimony by the Holy Spirit, of the truth of their doctrines, they would have given very little attention to the story of an illiterate forteen-year-old boy. But being aware of the weakness of their position, and filled with fear and anger at seeing their craft in danger, it is not surprising that they commenced a warfare against Joseph Smith and the Church he organized, which has continued till the present time, and will continue; for, as the little stone cut from the mountain smites the feet of the image and breaks in pieces the iron and the clay, so the truth strikes their systems of human origin, and exposes the error in their creeds.

When Jesus first established his Church, in the meridian of time, it was the iron age in the political history of the world; and, as the Prophet Daniel predicted, the saints were warred against and overcome. But when he re-established the Church through Joseph Smith, the iron age was passed. For ages the Lord had been preparing the way for this work. He preserved this continent for that purpose; and, in his own time, he caused it to be discovered, and moved upon some noble spirits to come to this land, and from among them he raised up wise men and inspired them to found this government, and frame a constitution guaranteeing freedom of conscience, under which his Church could claim religious freedom. And though the Saints have suffered persecution, it has been the result of ignorance and prejudice, and not the fault of the government, but in violation of the constitution. But, as education has become more general, intelligence increased, and the character of the Saints better known, prejudice has given way till in places from which the Saints were driven by mob violence a generation ago, they are now welcomed and live in peace.

The Church as a whole never was in as good condition as it is

today. Its quorums of priesthood are more fully organized, and working in more perfect harmony; its auxiliary organizations more complete and efficient; its splendid system of Church schools, better equipped than ever before. Its missionaries are better educated and of a higher average of intelligence, and command more attention and respect, and are more efficient in their work. As a consequence all the missions are in better working order, more people are being reached, and more converts made, than ever before.

As one of the signs of his second coming, Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come." This is now being fulfiled, and there is now no necessity for men to remain in doubt as to the divinity of this work. In making their individual choice, they can do as Joseph Smith did, they can go to God for wisdom to guide them. In the Book of Mormon, on page 621, there is a precious promise as follows:

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God the eternal Father in the name of Christ if these things are not true, and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

And by

That this promise is true has been verified by thousands who have put it to the test. Having heard the gospel as taught by the Saints, and found, by comparisons, that in its organization, ordinances and doctrines, it agrees with the scriptures, they have sought a testimony of its divinity by humble prayer; and, having been convinced by the power of the Holy Spirit, and being baptized into the Church, they have found by experience that all the gifts of the gospel are fully enjoyed.

God is no respecter of persons, and every man, including the author of Great Truths, who will go to God and ask for a testimony, with a determination to take upon him the name of Christ, and do the Father's will, may receive a knowledge of the divinity of this work, and that the religion given to the world from heaven, through the mission of Joseph Smith, is "the real, the final, the absolute

truth."

Mancos, Colo.

HERBERT MELBOURNE.

BY EDWIN F. PARRY.

"I have only given you a mere outline of a few of the reasons that might be presented to prove the existence of God," continued Nelson. "It would take too long to give half of those that might be brought forth. I would suggest that you make it a matter of serious study. You know it is impossible to reason upon a subject about which you have no knowledge. Evidence comes with understanding. With the intelligence you possess, I am satisfied the doctrines of our religion will appeal to you when you become better acquainted with them, for they are consistent with reason. If you will devote as much study to religion as you have to law, for instance, or to any of the sciences which you have mastered, you will be satisfied that it is based upon principles of truth."

"Well, I can agree with much that you have presented. One thing let me ask: What evidence can you show to prove that God is a personal being, and that he is in the form of man, as you claim?"

"I cannot conceive of God being anything else than a personal Being, and that he is in the form of man. We are the children of the Deity, and as offspring are like their parents, I cannot believe otherwise than that we are in the image of our Heavenly Parent. But I am giving you the scriptural doctrine of Deity, while I presume you want scientific testimony. However, I would like to refer you to scriptural proof, if you will be kind enough to consider it."

"Let me ask you, Brother Melbourne," interrupted Brother Jones, "what is your estimate of individual testimony as evidence?