Scrap Book of Mormon Literature (Vol. 1 of 2)

Scrap Book of Mormon Literature (Vol. 1 of 2) - Religious Tracts

In presenting Volumes 1 and 2 of Scrap Book of Mormon Literature, the undersigned places within the reach of many of the saints a compilation of religious tracts that have been used and distributed by the elders of the Church in the performance of their missionary labors throughout different nations of the earth. Some of these tracts are used at present by the elders and have been instruments in the hands of the Lord of bringing thousands to a knowledge of the faith. The same may be said concerning those that are not now used, and which are contained within the covers of these volumes, which were distributed by the elders who labored as missionaries in various parts of the earth from thirty to sixty years ago. A religious tract contains the condensed thoughts upon the fundamental principles of the Gospel and the authors of many of these valuable documents, who were active in the missionary field more than half a century ago, are remembered among the brightest minds the Church has produced, they have now passed behind the veil to receive Eternal reward for their faithfulness. There are a few people in the Church who have bound volumes of religious tracts, which they have gathered together from time to time and which they prize beyond the price of money. This can be said by the compiler of these volumes and the appreciation of the few volumes of religious pamphlets which he has gathered in many missionary fields, and had bound together, conveyed to him the thought that many of the saints would appreciate having within their reach such valuable volumes. There is scarcely a man in the Church, who has performed missionary labors in his life, who will not find in these volumes something that will remind him of his missionary days, when canvassing from house to house distributing the word of God; and no doubt will bring back fond recollections of his missionary work. There are no better volumes than these for a family to have within the reach of their children, to enable them to make themselves acquainted with the fundamental doctrines of the Restored Gospel of our Lord and Savior. These documents will be invaluable to young men and ladies who are preparing themselves for future {4} missionary work. The Seventies, whose special calling it is to carry the Gospel abroad, will be benefited by perusing these pages. Many of the saints, by studying them, will remember the days of their conversion to the Gospel and will appreciate the manner in which they are now preserved for future generations. In reading these pamphlets one must understand that the Church has been a system of growth and while we have not changed in any manner the originality of the tracts, the reader will note that in giving the statistics the Church has had a wonderful growth since the first issuance of the pamphlets. It has been a labor of love upon the part of the compiler, who sincerely hopes to produce another volume at some future date that will make the compilation complete in every respect. With a heart full of gratitude to God the Eternal Father for honoring me as He has done, in permitting me to take part in the spread of the Gospel, and praying His blessings upon those who may read the pages of these volumes, I remain, Yours faithfully, BEN. E. RICH. {5} ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. PERSONALITY OF GOD.Gen. i. 26, 27; v. 1; ix. 6; xviii; xxxii, 24-30; Ex. xxiv. 9, 11; xxxiii. 9-11, 20-23; Num. xii. 7, 8; John v. 19, 20; Acts vii. 55, 56; Phil. ii. 5-8; Heb. i. 3. PERSONALITY OF CHRIST.Matt. iii. 17; John v. 26, 27; xv. xvi. xvii.; 1 Tim. ii. 5; 1 John v. 7. HOLY GHOST.Isaiah xi. 1-3; lxi. 1; Matt. iii. 16; Mark i. 10; Luke iii. 22; John i. 32, 33; xvi. 13, 14; Acts i. 5; ii. 4; viii. 17-19; xix. 2-6. 2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. MAN PUNISHED FOR ACTUAL SINS.Jer. xvii. 10; Matt. xii. 36, 37; xvi. 27; 2 Cor. v. 10; Rev. xx. 12-15. 3. We believe that, through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. ATONEMENT OF CHRIST.Isa. liii.; Acts iv. 12; Rom. v. 12-19; 1 John i. 7-10. 4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. FAITH, REPENTANCE, BAPTISM AND LAYING ON OF HANDS.Heb. xi.; Rom. i. 16, 17; x. 14, 15; Jas. ii. 14-26; Mark xvi. 15, 16; Acts ii. 38, 39; 2 Cor. vii. 9, 10; Isa. lv. 6, 7; Eph. iv. 25-32; Luke xiii. 3; Matt. iv. 17; Acts viii. 14-17; xix. 1-6; John iii. 5; Heb. vi. 1, 2. {6} 5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by "prophecy and by the laying on of hands," by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. CALLED OF GOD.Mark iii. 14; John xv. 16; xvii. 18; Acts xiii. 1-4; xiv. 23; Rom. x. 14, 15; Gal. i. 8-16; 1 Tim. ii. 7; Heb. iii. 1; v. 4-10; 1 Peter ii. 5-9: Rev. v. 9, 10. 6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, viz: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. ORGANIZATION.1 Cor. xii; Eph. ii. 19-22; iv. 7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc. SPIRITUAL GIFTS.Mark xvi. 15-20; John xiv. 12; Acts ii. 17; 1 Cor. xii; 1 Thess. v. 19, 20; James v. 14, 15. 8. We believe the Bible to be the Word of God, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God. BOOK OF MORMONIsaiah xxix. 4, 9-24; Ezekiel xxxvii. 15-28; Hosea viii. 12; John x. 16. 9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God. LATTER-DAY REVELATIONS.Ezekiel xx. 35, 36; Joel ii. 28, 29; Amos iii. 7; Mic. ii. 6, 7; Mal. iii. 1-4; iv; Acts ii. 17, 18; Jas. i. 5, 6; Rev. xiv-6. 10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and the restoration of the Ten Tribes. That Zion will be built upon the American continent. That Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. GATHERINGNeh. i. 8, 9; Ps. 1. 5; cvii. 1, 7; Isa. ii. 2, 3; v. 26, 27; xi. 11-16; xliii. 5-9; xlix. 21; lx. 4, 5; Jer. iii. 14, 15; xvi 14-16; xxiii. 3-8; xxx. 1-8; xxxi. 8-12; xxxii. 37-39; 1. 4, 5; Ezek. xx. 33-38; xxxix. 28; Zech. xiv.; Matt. xxiv. 31; John xi. 52; Eph. i. 10; Rev. xviii. 4. 11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege; let them worship how, where or what they may. {7} 12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law. 13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul "We believe all things, we hope all things," we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. JOSEPH SMITH. "When the Twelve or any other witnesses stand before the congregations of the earth, and preach by the power and demonstration of the Spirit of God, and the people are astonished and confounded at the doctrine and say: 'That man has preached a powerful discourse, a great sermon,' then let that man, or those men, take care that they are humble and ascribe the praise and glory to God and the Lamb; for it is by the power of the Holy Priesthood and Holy Ghost that they thus speak. What art thou, O man, but dust? and from whom dost thou receive thy power and blessings but from God?" Joseph Smith, The Prophet. {8} NOTES TO BE REFERRED TO DAILY BY MISSIONARIES. Each missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is endowed with the Holy Priesthood of God, and is sent forth as a minister of the restored Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is believed to be morally clean and upright, and should keep himself pure, sweet, and unspotted from the sins of the world. He should avoid and resist the very appearance of evil, and after performing an honorable mission, should return to his home with clean hands and a pure heart. Among the many items of counsel given by the authorities of the Church before his departure for the mission field, he should have the following indelibly stamped upon his mind and heart: 1. Keep a brief, daily journal of your life's labors, especially of all your official acts. 2. Do all things with a prayerful heart; pray vocally morning and evening, oftener when necessary, and pray secretly every day. Make each prayer appropriate to the occasion, as those for the Sacrament and Baptism are. 3. Invariably keep the Word of Wisdom, refraining from the use of tea, coffee, tobacco and intoxicating drinks. 4. Guard against familiarity with womankind. There must be no sparking, kissing, or embracing of womanyour kisses should be for home consumption, and be brought home to your loved ones, where they belong. Kissing and hugging aside from this lead to immorality, and a fallen brother not only crucifies himself, but brings misery and woe to the kindred of both parties. Immorality is the bane of missionary life. There is little more enticing, and nothing more dangerous and deadly. 5. Build up and portray the excellencies of the Gospel, but do not tear down any man's religious structure. Grant sincerity of mind, as you claim it for yourself. Discover and recognize all things praiseworthy about you. 6. Be charitable to unfortunate conditions, and be sympathetic with the afflicted. 7. Bless, but do not curse. 8. Be genteel, and pattern after best in manly manners. Do not engage in rowdy or undignified sports, but follow in the demeanor of a dignified and manly minister. {9} 9. Be pleasant and cheerful, but do not indulge in nonsense, ridicule and unseemly jesting. 10. Defend and justify the right, but contend with no man. 11. Be candid and sincere. 12. Hold sacred and do not use commonly such names as God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Ghost, Apostle, Prophet, Seer and Revelator. Elder or Brother are the common titles for members of the Melchizedek Priesthood. President and Bishop may be used where they belong. 13. Write your first name in full, or abbreviate, as "Geo." for George, "Wm." for William. Initials fail to determine the sex, or to specify clearly which person is meant. 14. Study the Scriptures carefullythe Jewish, Nephite and Latter-day revelations. Store your minds with knowledge of the truth, and the Spirit of the Lord will bring it forth in due season. As the Savior said: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." 15. Be cleanly in your person and clothing, spend as little money as possible, leaving the world and your brethren to assist you in the things that are needful, thereby proving that they are disciples of the Lord. 16. Lodge, feed and pray with the people as much as possible. 17. You are sent out to preach the first principles of the Gospel, and to call all men unto repentance. You are sent to teach, and not to be taught by the world. 18. Leave your visiting and sight-seeing until your mission is completed. 19. Proper living and serving the Lord and consequent growth and development of strength and stability at home will aid you in the mission field, and, on your return home, you will be better prepared thereby to continue your labors and keep from backsliding. 20. Be careful of what money you may have; see that you do not get robbed. 21. Do not borrow money of Saints or strangers. 22. Do not make promises to write or do other favors when you get home; wait until you get home, and then do all you reasonably can. 23. Do not praise the beauties of Zion, or magnify the virtues of the Saints. Fortify the people for the trials they must meet, as they will be tried in the furnace. Urge the people to stay and maintain the work abroad in the earth, by their {10} works and their means. Thus they will gain strength to be able to stand when they do gather to Zion. If they must apostatize, it is better that they do so in their native land. 24. Start right, by avoiding all evil habits; never say in public or in private that you do not know the Gospel is true. 25. Get an understanding of the Gospel, and teach it as the spirit directs. 26. Get the spirit of your mission and keep it. 27. Seek learning by faith as well as by good study. If deficient in good English, acquire a knowledge thereof so as not to betray ignorance; but do not depend upon fine words or upon the learning of the world. 28. Live near the Lord, so that you can approach and appeal to Him on all occasions. 29. Let all your talents, affections and power be centered on the work of the ministry. 30. Seek to know the will of the Lord, and to do it. When success attends your labors, give God the glory. 31. In going and in returning, and while sojourning, remember that the Church and the Saints will be judged by your actions. 32. Your duty to yourself and to your God is to do your very best, and to do it always. 33. Be appreciative of favors, and leave your blessing with the deserving. 34. Do not enter into debates with each other or with anyone else over obscure points and passages; nor should you seek to advance beyond what the Lord has revealed. 35. Honor the laws of the country in which you labor. 36. Observe strictly the rules of the Mission and Conference Presidents. 37. Be punctual, that the Spirit of the Lord may not be grieved by the unseemliness of tardy attendance. 38. Your lives are precious; care well for your health. Excesses are wrong and bring disaster. You should not walk too much, talk too much, fast too much, eat or drink too much, or attempt too much to do without needful things. Wisdom is one of the greater gifts. 39. Your ambition to make converts should not lead you to baptize those who are unworthy. Never baptize a married woman without the consent of her husband, or children under age without their parents' consent. FRANCIS M. LYMAN, In behalf of the Council of Twelve Apostles. {11} THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH TELLS HIS OWN STORY. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EARLY VISIONS OF THE PROPHET AND THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. BY JOSEPH SMITH, HIMSELF. WRITTEN IN 1838. "1. Owing to the many reports which have been put in circulation by evil-disposed and designing persons, in relation to the rise and progress of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, all of which have been designed by the authors thereof to militate against its character as a Church and its progress in the worldI have been induced to write this history, to disabuse the public mind, and put all inquiries after truth in possession of the facts, as they have transpired, in relation both to myself and to the Church, so far as I have such facts in my possession. "2. In this history I shall present the various events in relation to this Church, in truth and righteousness, as they have transpired, or as they at present exist, being now the eighth year since the organization of the said Church. "3. I was born in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five, on the twenty third day of December, in the town of Sharon, Windsor county, State of Vermont. My father, Joseph Smith, Senior, left the State of Vermont and moved to Palmyra, Ontario (now Wayne) county, in the State of New York, when I was in my tenth year, or thereabouts. In about four years after my father's arrival in Palmyra, he moved with his family into Manchester, in the same county of Ontario. "4. His family consisted of eleven souls, namelymy father, Joseph Smith; my mother, Lucy Smith (whose name, previous to her marriage, was Mack, daughter of Solomon Mack); my brothers, Alvin (who died November 19th, 1824, in the 27th year of his age), Hyrum, myself, Samuel Harrison, William, Don Carlos; and my sisters, Sophronia, Catherine, and Lucy. "5. Some time in the second year after our removal to Manchester, there was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying, 'Lo, here!' and others, 'Lo, there!' Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist. "6. For notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy, who were active {12} getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling, in order to have everybody converted, as they were pleased to call it, let them join what sect they pleasedyet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more pretended than real; for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued; priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good feelings one for another, it they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about opinions. "7. I was at this time in my fifteenth year. My father's family was proselyted to the Presbyterian faith, and four of them joined that church, namelymy mother, Lucy; my brothers Hyrum, Samuel Harrison; and my sister Sophronia. "8. During this time of great excitement, my mind was called up to serious reflection and great though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong. "9. My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of either reason or sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others. "10. In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself, What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it? "11. While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. "12. Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passage of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. "13. At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to ask of God,' concluding that if He gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture. "14. So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning {13} of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally. "15. After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. "16. But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destructionnot to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any beingjust at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. "17. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said, pointing to the otherThis is my beloved Son, hear Him! "18. My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was rightand which I should join. "19. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight: that those professors were all corrupt; that 'they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.' "20. He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did He say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. "21. Some few days after I had this vision, I happened to be in company with one of the Methodist preachers, who was very active in the before-mentioned religious excitement; and converging with him on the subject of religion, I took occasion to give him an account of the vision which I had had. I was greatly surprised at his behavior; he treated my communication not only lightly, but with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all such things had ceased with the Apostles, and that there would never be any more of them. "22. I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy {14} of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sectsall united to persecute me. "23. It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself. "24. However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a Voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise. "25. So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me, falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision, and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it, at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation. "26. I had now got my mind satisfied so far as the sectarian world was concerned; and that it was not my duty to join with any of them, but to continue as I was until further directed. I had found the testimony of James to be true, that a man who lacked wisdom might ask of God, and obtain, and not be upbraided. "27. I continued to pursue my common vocations in life until the twenty-first of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, all the time suffering severe persecution at the hands of all classes of men, both religious and irreligious, because I continued to affirm that I had seen a vision. "28. During the space of time which intervened between the time I had the vision and the year eighteen hundred and twenty-threehaving been forbidden to join any of the religious sects of the day, and being of very tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends and to have treated me kindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded to have endeavored in a proper and affectionate manner to have reclaimed me,I was left to all kinds of temptations; and mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, {15} and the foibles of human nature; which I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God. "29. In consequence of these things, I often felt condemned for my weakness and imperfections; when, on the evening of the above-mentioned twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him; for I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had one. "30. While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, stand in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor. "31. He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly th ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 60056
Author: Rich, Ben. E. (Benjamin Erastus)
Release Date: Aug 4, 2019
Format: eBook
Language: English