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Lecture First

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The first Lecture of Faith set the groundwork for the rest of the work, defining faith and its power. 1   Faith being the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness, necessarily claims the first place in a course of lectures which are designed to unfold to the understanding the doctrine of Jesus Christ. 2 In presenting the subject of faith, we shall observe the following order: 3 First, Faith itself—what it is: 4 Secondly, The object on which it rests; and 5 Thirdly, The effects which flow from it. 6 Agreeably to this order we have first to show what faith is. 7 The author of the epistle to the Hebrews, in the eleventh chapter of that epistle, and first verse, gives the following definition of the word faith: 8 Now faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 9 From this we learn, that faith is the assurance which men have of the existence of things which they have not seen; and the principle of action i...
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Lectures of Faith: Preface

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This month marks the one-year anniversary of my blog and to celebrate, I wanted to go over some of the most famous "apocryphal" texts of Mormonism, the Lectures of Faith. The Lectures of Faith were a collection of seven Lectures delivered to the School of the Elders in Kirtland, Ohio in the winter of 1834-35 and first published in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. The authorship of the Lectures is not entirely known, with recent scholarship attributing a lot of the lectures to Sidney Rigdon, with substantial input from Joseph Smith Jr. They were published in the doctrine and covenants by the LDS church until 1921, when they were removed, as they were not revelations in the same way the rest of the D&C was. The RLDS church removed the Lectures from their version of the D&C a few decades earlier, in 1897 (Though they still publish it in a separate volume). Other branches of the restoration, such as the Strangite Church and the Remnant movement still use th...
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Brigham Young "Saints Subject to Temptation"

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Many Latter-day Saints wonder what their lives would be without their religion, and within this sermon, Brigham Young ponder the same question, saying that he would have no life. The fruits of the Gospel are too pure and true to live without.  Within this sermon, a group known as the Gladdenites are mentioned. I might go deeper into their history and spiritual writings in a future post, but for now, all you need to know is that they were followers of Gladden Bishop, an elder of the church who was excommunicated for claiming to be the next prophet after Joseph Smith.  I will embrace the present opportunity for making a few remarks, as I expect to leave this city before another Sabbath, to be gone several weeks. You have heard good instructions, counsel, and advice from Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich; I desire to profit by their sayings, and I hope this people will. We see men before us who are old Elders in this Church, veterans in the kingdom of God; I hope they will live man...
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W. W. Taylor "The Power of Example"

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  The contributor was a monthly periodical of the LDS church between 1879-1896. It was founded by Junius Wells and was primarily for the Youth organizations at the time. Below is an article from an 1880 issue, written by W. W. Taylor. How easy it is to talk. To quote Brother Millen Atwood's favorite phrase: " Talking is the easiest part of our religion," or in other words, to tell others how they should perform their duties. Yet with all the advice that is given, how much 'of it is practically applied? There seems to be a natural desire in man at least to be considered good, and to have the reputation of exercising a good influence over others, and whether this is the cause for it or not, a disposition to teach or advise others very generally exists. How naturally the question arises: "Does he practice what he preaches?" and what a difference in the effects of his teaching does the answer have. The Elders in going abroad to preach to the nations of the earth...
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"The Word of the Lord Brought to Mankind by an Angel" Pt. 2

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Last post, I shared some revelations received by Otto Fetting. This post does the same, but with the revelations of William A. Draves. Message 31 1 “Fear not, let peace be with you. Your prayers have been heard; God hears the prayers of His children; He knows your hearts before you ask. Some are pleading to Him in your behalf, and God has looked on you in favor. The year has been good to you. Blessings have been yours to enjoy. Yea, be humble before your God.  2 Truly God has used you as an instrument in His hands—by the power of that righteous Spirit He spoke through you. Many have obeyed His voice. Many have been made glad, and some have gone through sadness and will, before they will hear Him, but God will not fail the honest—those that seek Him diligently. Seek Him early while it is called today. Man is all selfishness unless he is filled with the Spirit of God.”  At this juncture the visitor raised his right arm and seemed to reach almost over me swaying his arm gently. I...
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