Elder George F. Richards.
Meaning of immortality--Eternal life is salvation and glorification of the soul--Man's futile Man's futile substitute for God's plan--Disbelief in Christ's atonement hinders salvation--The principles and ordinances of the Gospel must be obeyed.
I have been honored, my brethren and sisters, with the privilege of addressing this large assembly of Latter-day Saints and our friends who have gathered with us, and while I occupy this position I desire to speak so that all can hear, and more than this, I desire to say something that is worth your hearing. In this I am sure you can very materially aid me. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." It is also true that the prayers and faith of many righteous men and women availeth much with the Lord. I desire to feel that I am in the presence of the Lord, and that you are in His presence and that we are influenced by His presence and by His Spirit, for I desire to say those things only which the Lord would have me to say, on this occasion.
I have thought to use as my text the word of the Lord to His servant Moses, as it is recorded in the Pearl of Great Price, Book of Moses, first chapter, 39th verse, which reads as follows: "For behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." This being the work and glory of the Lord, which I take to mean the all important work of the Lord, it is important that we analyze this expression, and obtain, if possible, a proper understanding of its meaning.
The word immortal means not mortal; that is, not subject to the power of death. I would define immortality as being that state to which we attain in the progress of life when we have passed through death and the resurrection, the spirit and body being reunited and inseparably connected, constituting the soul of man prepared to receive a fullness of the glory of God. Immortality is a means to an end, the end being the accomplishment of man's eternal salvation and glory.
In support of this statement, I call attention to the word of the Lord to the Prophet Joseph, as recorded in the D&C, sec. 93, verses 33 and 34, as follows: "For man is Spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receiveth a fullness of joy, and when separated, man can not receive a fullness of joy." Hence the importance of bringing about the immortality of man.
The eternal life here referred to means something more than that man shall not cease to live. I read the word of the Lord from D&C, Sec. 14, verse 7, as follows: "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end, you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God." The revelations of the Lord indicate to us the height, depth and grandeur of the glory of God to which the righteous may attain. Eternal life, as here used, being the greatest gift of God, must include a fullness of glory of God. in His celestial kingdom.
The Lord uses the expressions "eternal life" and "salvation" synonymously (See D&C, Sec. 6:13): "If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shall be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God: for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation." My text, then, might be stated in other terms expressing the same meaning, such. for example, as the "resurrection and glorification of man," or what, for my purpose, I like better, "the saving of souls." The institution of the Gospel plan from the foundation of the world including the creation of the world, was accomplished with this end in view, the saving of souls. I am convinced that the Lord never planned nor engaged in a greater work than that of saving souls. All His works so far as we have any account, were accomplished with that end in view, and such is the magnitude and importance of the work in which we as Latter-day Saints are engaged as instruments in the hands of the Lord, authorized and directed by Him. The Gospel, which has been revealed from heaven through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as its vehicle, represents the means by which this great work is to be accomplished.
It is a tremendous responsibility men assume when they presume to set aside the plan which the Lord has instituted for the saving of the souls of men, substituting therefor one of man's making. There are, however, thousands and millions who have so done. I think it was this class to whom the Lord referred in his expression contained in John 10:1, which reads as follows: "Verily, verily I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheep fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."
There is another class whose responsibility is still greater, for they have not only accepted a substitute plan for the saving of souls, but they have adopted as their vocation the preaching and teaching of the same to their fellows, thus blinding their eyes to the simple truths of the Gospel, and prejudicing their minds against the true cause of God. I have authority for this statement in the words of the Apostle Paul as addressed to the Galatian Saints (Galatians 1:8), "But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
I thank the Lord with all my soul that the light of the everlasting Gospel has come to me as He has revealed it, that my environment and teachings have been such that the Gospel has appealed to me, that I have accepted it, and so far obeyed it that I have learned of its truth. To those who will obey the Gospel it is one of salvation both in this life and in the life to come. Talk about Christianity in the world! If you can find a people who have not rejected Jesus Christ as the Son of God in the flesh, the Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, then we will not question their right to be called Christians; but, we do not acknowledge those as Christians who deny Him in part or whole of what He is. I understand that many, if not most, of the preachers of today, professed Christians, reject Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the world, accepting Him only as a great philosopher or wise teacher. They have rejected the chief cornerstone of Christianity, and have undermined and rendered powerless for salvation their professed Christianity. Not so with the Latter-day Saints. We realize that there is no virtue for salvation and exaltation outside of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, our Savior. There is no other name under heaven by which man may obtain salvation. The whole plan of salvation is founded upon revelation and Jesus Christ; rejecting these there is no foundation left upon which to build nor to stand. The ordinances of the Gospel have virtue in them by reason of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, and without it there would be no virtue in them for salvation.
In this Gospel of Jesus Christ, revealed to earth through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, through which to accomplish the immortality and eternal life of man, there are certain indispensable principles and ordinances, such, for example, as faith, repentance, baptism, confirmation and the bestowal of the Holy Ghost, etc. Faith in God the eternal Father is an absolute necessity to salvation. The Apostle Paul presents this fact clearly to the Hebrews (Hebrews 11:6), "But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Do men hope to obtain salvation outside of His presence, that they can reject Him or believe Him to be but the shadow of one's self or of one's imagination? I think that such doctrines are as pernicious as the doctrine that there is no God, and those who accept such doctrines place themselves in the condition of those of whom the Psalmist wrote, Psalms 14:1, "The fool hath said in his heart There is no God." God has given us sufficient evidence of His existence, His personality and attributes that unbelieving man is left without excuse. It is no less important that we accept Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of man, as has been already explained.
Repentance is also a necessity. As long as we are mortals we will have sins to be repented of, for sins not repented of will not be forgiven, and, in our sins unforgiven, we cannot attain to salvation. But repentance means something more than to forsake our sins. If we have transgressed against others it is our duty to right the wrong done as far as lies in our power, and, if it so be that we can not fully do so, then he whom we have wronged is under obligation by commandment of the Lord to forgive us and the Lord will forgive us inasmuch as other conditions are satisfactory, for we must forgive others who have transgressed against us (Matthew 6: 15), "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespass." Another condition making our repentance perfect and effective is the water baptism or burial in the grave of water in likeness and typical of the burial and resurrection of the Lamb of God by which the sins are washed away. This ordinance of baptism by water is followed by the baptism of the Spirit or confirmation to membership in the Church of Christ, and the bestowal of the Holy Ghost by those who are duly authorized. We are then to go on to perfection, adding to our faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, chastity, etc. We are to seek after that which is virtuous, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy and obey all commandments of the Lord living by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. This indicates the method of securing salvation for our own souls. There is the further responsibility of laboring for the saving of the souls of others, by the preaching of the Gospel abroad, by laboring in the organizations of the Church where called, and by perceptive teaching wherever opportunity is afforded as well as preaching, always and wherever our lots may be cast, by the consistent exemplary life. If we have uppermost in our minds and hearts the saving of souls we will find ample opportunity of laboring to this end.
I bear my testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, of the truth of these things which I do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
A contralto solo entitled, "Supplication" was sung by Sister Mamie F. Stark; it was written by S. B. Mitton.