| 41:1 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say
concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for
behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone
far astray because of this thing. And I perceive that thy
mind has been worried also concerning this thing. But
behold, I will explain it unto thee. |
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| 41:2 I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of
restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it
is requisite that all things should be restored to their
proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according
to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its
body, and that every part of the body should be restored
to itself. |
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| 41:3 And it is requisite with the justice of God
that men should be judged according to their works; and
if their works were good in this life, and the desires of
their hearts were good, that they should also, at the
last day, be restored unto that which is good. |
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| 41:4 And if their works are evil they shall be
restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall
be restored to their proper order, every thing to its
natural frame--1mortality raised to immortality, corruption to
incorruption--raised to endless happiness to inherit the
kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the
kingdom of the devil, the one on one
hand, the other on the other-- |
[1] I Corinthians 15:53: For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. |
| 41:5 The one raised to happiness according to his
desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of
good; and the other to evil according to his desires of
evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long
even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night
cometh. |
|
| 41:6 And so it is on the other hand. If he hath
repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the
end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto
righteousness. |
|
| 41:7 These are they that are redeemed of the Lord;
yea, these are they that are taken out, that are
delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus
they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own
judges, whether to do good or do evil. |
|
| 41:8 Now, the decrees of God are unalterable;
therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may
walk therein and be saved. |
|
| 41:9 And now behold, my son, do not risk one more
offense against your God upon those points of doctrine,
which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin. |
|
| 41:10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken
concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from
sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness
never was happiness. |
|
| 41:11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of
nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the 1gall of
bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are 2without
God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the
nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to
the nature of happiness. |
[1] Acts 8:23: ...thou art in the gall of
bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
[2] Ephesians 2:12:
...without God in the world: |
| 41:12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word
restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place
it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state
opposite to its nature? |
|
| 41:13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the
meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again
evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for
devilish--good for that which is good; righteous for that
which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful
for that which is merciful. |
|
| 41:14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful
unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and
do good continually; and if ye do all these things then
shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy
restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored
unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment
restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded
unto you again. |
|
| 41:15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto
you again, and be restored; therefore, the word
restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and
justifieth him not at all. |
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