Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 1/Number 2/The Gospel, No. II
THE GOSPEL, No. II.
edit[Continued from the last No. of the Star.]
I conclude that there are no people on earth who believe in the plan of salvation, or gospel, as set forth in the scriptures, but that believe also, that all that will ever be saved, will be saved by virtue of the sacrifice of Jesus—for this is what was taught by prophets, and apostles, as far, at least, as we have knowledge of their teachings: they all testified of Jesus, and had knowledge of his coming into the world, in order that he might save it. Abraham saw his day and when he saw it was glad. John's gospel 8 chap. 56 verse. The Savior says to the Jews "Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me." John's gospel 5 chap. 46 verse. And the author of the epistle to the Hebrews says of Moses "that he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt." 11 chap. from the 22 to the 27 verse. "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents; because they saw that he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God; than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of reward."
It cannot be a matter of dispute, that these men were made acquainted with the mission of Christ into the world, and if so, they were acquainted with the gospel or plan of eternal life, which Paul says, was, before the foundation of the world. But in order that we may have a clear view of this matter let us enquire, what it was that was proclaimed to the world, which is called the gospel; for be that what it may, it is God's plan of saving men: for Paul says that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all them that believe. See Romans 1 chapter 16 verse "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth: to the Jew first and also to the Greek." So, let the proclamation be what it may that was made to the world, by divine authority, that the inspired men called the gospel, that proclamation was the only thing which could save any person of the human family, and that was the thing which existed before the foundation of the world, the purpose, or scheme of things, which was devised in eternity, through which purpose of his own will God designed to save them that believe.
This proclamation, is set forth so clearly in the scriptures, that none need mistake it, not only in the commission given to the twelve after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead; but in different of the epistles, so that the enquirer after truth on this point, need not be mistaken. It is so manifest, that it would require a good deal of ingenuity to render it so obscure that a person could not see it at the first reading: a person must be greatly blinded by tradition, who cannot see it if he reads his bible once through with any degree of attention.
When the Savior gave commission to the apostles after his resurrection from the dead, he said unto them, as recorded by Matthew, 28 chapter, 19 and 20 verses: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."